24:1 And it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor
in the eyes of the king of the Lamanites; therefore, the
king of the Lamanites granted unto him and his brethren
that they should be appointed teachers over his people,
yea, even over the people who were in the land of
Shemlon, and in the land of Shilom, and in the land of
Amulon. |
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24:2 For the Lamanites had taken possession of all
these lands; therefore, the king of the Lamanites had
appointed kings over all these lands. |
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24:3 And now the name of the king of the Lamanites
was Laman, being called after the name of his father; and
therefore he was called king Laman. And he was king over
a numerous people. |
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24:4 And he appointed teachers of the brethren of
Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people;
and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught among
all the people of the Lamanites. |
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24:5 And they were a people friendly one with
another; nevertheless they knew not God; neither did the
brethren of Amulon teach them anything concerning the
Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they
teach them the words of Abinadi; |
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24:6 But they taught them that they should keep
their record, and that they might write one to another. |
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24:7 And thus the Lamanites began to increase in
riches, and began to trade one with another and wax
great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to
the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people,
delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder,
except it were among their own brethren. |
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24:8 And now it came to pass that Amulon began to
exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began
to persecute him, and cause that his children should
persecute their children. |
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24:9 For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of
the king's priests, and that it was he that believed the
words of Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and
therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to
king Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put
tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them. |
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24:10 And it came to pass that so great were their
afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God. |
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24:11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop
their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them,
that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be
put to death. |
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24:12 And Alma and his people did not raise their
voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their
hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their
hearts. |
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24:13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord
came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your
heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant
which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my
people and deliver them out of bondage. |
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24:14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put
upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon
your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will
I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and
that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do
visit my people in their afflictions. |
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24:15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which
were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light;
yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up
their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully
and with patience to all the will of the Lord. |
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24:16 And it came to pass that so great was their
faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came
unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the
morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. |
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24:17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before
this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this
people out of bondage. |
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24:18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in
the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also
of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they
gathering their flocks together. |
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24:19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep
to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their
task-masters were in a profound sleep. |
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24:20 And Alma and his people departed into the
wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they
pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the
valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. |
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24:21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out
their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto
them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out
of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could
deliver them except it were the Lord their God. |
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24:22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men
and all their women and all their children that could
speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God. |
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24:23 And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and
get thou and this people out of this land, for the
Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get
thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in
this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this
people. |
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24:24 And it came to pass that they departed out of
the valley, and took their journey into the wilderness. |
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24:25 And after they had been in the wilderness
twelve days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and
king Mosiah did also receive them with joy. |
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