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1:1 Chapter 1 Now it came to pass that in the first year
of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, from this
time forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth,
having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving
none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he established laws,
and they were acknowledged by the people; therefore they were
obliged to abide by the laws which he had made.
1:2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of
Alma in the judgment seat, there was a man brought before him
to be judged; a man which was large, and was noted for his much
strength;
1:3 and he had gone about among the people, preaching to them
that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against
the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher
had ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with
their own hands, but they had ought to be supported by the people;
1:4 and he also testified unto the people that all mankind should
be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear or tremble,
but they might lift up their heads and rejoice: for the Lord had
created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and in the end,
all men should have eternal life.
1:5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much,
that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began
to support him and give him money;
1:6 and he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and
to wear very costly apparel; yea, and even began to establish
a church, after the manner of his preaching.
1:7 And it came to pass as he was going to preach to those who
believed on his word, he met a man which belonged to the church
of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to contend
with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church;
but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God.
1:8 Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was him that was
an instrument in the hands of God, in delivering the people of
Limhi out of bondage.
1:9 --Now because Gideon withstood him with the words of God,
he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite
him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was
able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword;
1:10 and the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church,
and was brought before Alma, to be judged according to the crime
which he had committed.
1:11 And it came to pass that he stood before Alma, and plead
for himself with much boldness.
1:12 But Alma said unto him, Behold, this is the first time that
priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold,
thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to
enforce among this people, it would prove their entire destruction.
1:13 And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man
which has done much good among this people; and were we to spare
thee, his blood would come upon us for vengeance;
1:14 therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law
which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and they have
been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide
by the law.
1:15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was
Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and
there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens
and the earth, that what we had taught to the people was contrary
to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious death.
1:16 Nevertheless this did not put an end to the spreading of
priestcraft through the land: for there was many which loved the
vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false
doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.
1:17 Nevertheless they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear
of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they pretended
to preach according to their belief: and now the law could have
no power on any man for their belief.
1:18 And they durst not steal, for fear of the law; for such were
punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder: for he that murdered
was punished unto death.
1:19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the
Church of God, began to persecute those that did belong to the
Church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ;
1:20 yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner
of words, and this because of their humility; because they were
not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word
of God, one with another, without money and without price.
1:21 Now there was a strict law among the people of the Church,
that there should not any man, belonging to the Church, arise
and persecute those that did not belong to the Church, and that
there should be no persecution among themselves.
1:22 Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be
proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even
unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists.
1:23 Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and
it was a cause of much affliction to the Church; yea, it was the
cause of much trial with the Church;
1:24 for the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were
blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people
of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them.
1:25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in
faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immoveable in keeping
the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution
which was heaped upon them.
1:26 And now when the priests left their labor, to impart the
word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors
to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto
them the word of God, they all returned again diligently unto
their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his
hearers; for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither
was the teacher any better than the learner: and thus they were
all equal and they did all labor, every man according to his strength;
1:27 and they did impart of their substance every man according
to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick,
and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they
were neat and comely:
1:28 and thus they did establish the affairs of the Church: and
thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding
all their persecutions.
1:29 And now because of the steadiness of the Church, they began
to be exceeding rich; having abundance of all things whatsoever
they stood in need; an abundance of flocks, and herds, and fatlings
of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of
silver, and of precious things; and abundance of silk and fine
twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.
1:30 And thus in their prosperous circumstances they did not send
away any which was naked, or that was hungry, or that was athirst,
or that was sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did
not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal
to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and
female, whether out of the Church or in the Church, having no
respects to persons as to those who stood in need;
1:31 and thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy, than
those who did not belong to their Church.
1:32 For those who did not belong to their Church, did indulge
themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in bablings,
and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted
up in the pride of their own eyes; lying, thieving, robbing, commiting
whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless,
the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it,
inasmuch as it were possible.
1:33 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon
them, every man suffering according to that which he had done,
they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness, if
it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people
of Nephi, until the fifth year of the reign of the judges.
2:1 And it came to pass in the commandment of the fifth year of
their reign, there began to be a contention among the people,
for a certain man, being called Amlici; he being a very cunning
man, yea, a wise man, as to the wisdom of the world; he being
after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who
was executed according to the law.
2:2 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much of the
people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful;
and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over
the people.
2:3 Now this was alarming to the people of the Church, and also
to all those that had not been drawn away after the persuasions
of Amlici: for they knew that according to their law that such
things must be established by the voice of the people;
2:4 therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the
voice of the people, he being a wicked man, would deprive them
of their rights and privileges of the Church, &c: for it was
his intent to destroy the Church of God.
2:5 And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together
throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether
it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much
dispute and wonderful contentions one with another:
2:6 and thus they did assemble themselves together, to cast their
voices concerning the matter: and they were laid before the judges.
2:7 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against
Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
2:8 Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those which were
against him; but Amlici did stir up those which were in his favor,
to anger against those which were not in his favor.
2:9 And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together,
and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
2:10 Now when Amlici was made king over them, he commanded them
that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this
he done, that he might subject them to him.
2:11 Now the people of Amlici were distinguished by the name of
Amlici, being called Amlicites; and the remainder were called
Nephites, or the people of God;
2:12 therefore the people of the Nephites was aware of the intent
of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare for to meet them;
yea, they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters, and
with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings,
and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind;
2:13 and thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at the
time of their coming. And there was appointed captains, and higher
captains, and chief captains, according to their numbers.
2:14 And it came to pass that Amlici did arm his men with all
manner of weapons of war, of every kind; and he also appointed
rulers and leaders over his people, to lead them to war against
their brethren.
2:15 And it came to pass that the Amlicites came up upon the hill
Amnihu, which was east of the river Sidon, which ran by the land
of Zarahemla, and there they began to make war with the Nephites.
2:16 Now Alma, he being the chief judge, and the governor of the
people of Nephi therefore he went up with his people, yea, with
his captains, and chief captains, yea, at the head of his armies,
against the Amlicites to battle;
2:17 and they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill east of
Sidom. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with great
strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before the
Amlicites;
2:18 nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the Nephites,
that they slew the Amlicites with a great slaughter, that they
began to flee before them.
2:19 And it came to pass that the Nephites did pursue the Amlicites
all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter, insomuch
that there was slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred
thirty two souls; and there was slain of the Nephites, six thousand
five hundred sixty and two souls.
2:20 And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites
no longer, he caused that his people should pitch their tents
in the valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that Gideon,
which was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this
valley the Nephites did pitch their tents for the night.
2:21 And Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the Amlicites,
that he might know of their plans and their plots, whereby he
might guard himself against them, that he might prepare his people
from being destroyed.
2:22 Now those which he had sent out to watch the camp of the
Amlicites, were called Zeram, and Amnor, and Manti, and Limher;
these were they which went out with their men to watch the camp
of the Amlicites.
2:23 And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned into
the camp of the Nephites, in great haste, being greatly astonished,
and struck with much fear, saying,
2:24 Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to our
great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla,
in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw numerous hosts of the
Lamanites; and behold the Amlicites have joined them,
2:25 and they are upon our brethren in that land; and they are
fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their
children, towards our city; and except we make haste, they obtain
possession of our city; and our fathers, and our wives, and our
children be slain.
2:26 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi took their tents,
and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their city, which
was the city of Zarahemla.
2:27 And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the Lamanites
and the Amlicites being as numerous almost, as it were, as the
sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy them;
2:28 nevertheless the Nephites being strengthened by the hand
of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would deliver
them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore the Lord did
hear their cries, and did strengthen them, and the Lamanites and
the Amlicites did fall before them.
2:29 And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with the
sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with another.
2:30 And it came to pass that Alma, he being a man of God, being
exercised with much faith, and he cried, saying, O Lord, have
mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands,
to save and preserve this people.
2:31 Now when Alma had said these words, he contended with Amlici;
and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the
sword.
2:32 And he also contended with the king of the Lamanites; but
the king of the Lamanites fled back from before Alma, and sent
his guards to contend with Alma.
2:33 But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of the
king of the Lamanites, until he slew and drove them back;
2:34 and thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which
was on the west side of the river Sidon, throwing bodies of the
Lamanites which had been slain, into the waters of Sidon, that
thereby his people might have room to cross and contend with the
Lamanites and the Amlicites, on the west side of the river Sidon.
2:35 And it came to pass that when they had all crossed the river
Sidon, that the Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee before
them, notwithstanding they were so numerous that they could not
be numbered;
2:36 and they fled before the Nephites, towards the wilderness
which was west and north, away beyond the borders of the land;
and the Nephites did pursue them with their might, and did slay
them;
2:37 yea, they were met on every hand, and slain, and driven,
until they were scattered on the west, and on the north, until
they had reached the wilderness, which was called Hermounts, and
it was that part of the wilderness which was infested by wild
and ravenous beasts.
2:38 And it came to pass that many died in the wilderness of their
wounds, and were devoured by those beasts, and also the vultures
of the air; and their bones have been found, and have been heaped
up on the earth.
3:1 And it came to pass that the Nephites, which were not slain
by the weapons of war, after having buried those which had been
slain: now the number of the slain were not numbered because of
the greatness of their number; and after they had finished burying
their dead, they all returned to their lands, and to their houses,
and their wives, and their children.
3:2 Now many women and children had been slain with the sword,
and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many of
their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down
by the hosts of men.
3:3 And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites which had
been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon, were cast into the
waters of Sidon; and behold, their bones are in the depths of
the sea, and they are many.
3:4 And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for
they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads, after
the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their
heads like unto the Lamanites.
3:5 Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked,
save it were skin, which was girded about their loins, and also
their armour, which was girded about them, and their bows, and
their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, &c.
3:6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the
mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon
them because of their transgression and their rebellion against
their brethren, which consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and
Sam, which were just and holy men.
3:7 And their brethren sought to destroy them; therefore they
were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon
Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and the Ismaelitish
women:
3:8 and this was done, that their seed might be distinguished
from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might
preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect
traditions, which would prove their destruction.
3:9 And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with
that of the Lamanites, did bring the same curse upon his seed;
3:10 therefore whomsoever suffered himself to be led away by the
Lamanites, were called under the head, and there was a mark set
upon him.
3:11 And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the
tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were
brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also the tradition of
their fathers, which were correct, which believed in the commandments
of God, and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people
of Nephi, from that time forth;
3:12 and it is they which have kept the records which are true
of their people, and also the people of Lamanites.
3:13 Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also
had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves,
yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads.
3:14 Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words
which he saith to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed;
and I will set a mark upon them, that they and their seed may
be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth
and forever, except thy repent of their wickedness and turn to
me, that I may have mercy upon them.
3:15 And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed
with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also.
3:16 And again: I will set a mark upon them that fighteth against
thee and thy seed.
3:17 And again I say, He that departeth from thee, shall no more
be called thy seed, henceforth and forever: and these were the
promises of the Lord unto Nephi, and to his seed.
3:18 Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the
words of God, when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads;
nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God;
therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.
3:19 --Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves
the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed, bring upon
himself his own condemnation.
3:20 Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which
was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the
Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in
upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first army
met the Amlicites.
3:21 And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive
them out of their lands.
3:22 --Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound, did not
go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites;
3:23 but he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went
up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of
them out of the borders of their land;
3:24 and then they returned again, and began to establish peace
in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies.
3:25 Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions
was commenced and ended, in the fifth year of the reign of the
Judges;
3:26 and in one year was thousands of souls sent to the eternal
world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works,
whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal
happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which he
listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one,
3:27 for every man receiveth wages of him who listeth to obey,
and according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore
let it be according to the truth. And thus ended the fifth year
of the reign of the Judges.
4:1 Chapter 2 Now it came to pass in the sixth year of
the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, there was no
contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla;
4:2 and the people being afflicted, yea greatly afflicted for
the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks
and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which
was trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lasmanites,
4:3 and so great was their afflictions, that every soul had cause
to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgment of God sent
upon them, because of their wickedness and their abominations;
therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.
4:4 And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and
many were baptized in the water of Sidon, and were joined to the
church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who
had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church
by the hand of his father Alma.
4:5 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the
Judges, there was about three thousand five hundred souls that
united themselves to the church of God, and were baptized. And
thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the Judges over the
people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time.
4:6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the
Judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because
of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine
twined linen, and because of many flocks and herds, and their
gold, and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which
they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were
they lifted up in pride of their eyes, for they began to wear
costly apparel.
4:7 Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and
to many of the people which Alma had consecrated to be teachers,
and priests, and elders, over the church; yea, many of them were
sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to
be among their people.
4:8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow, that the people
of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes,
and to set their hearts upon riches and upon vain things of the
world; that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and
they began to persecute those that did not believe according to
their own will and pleasure.
4:9 And thus in this eighth year of the reign of the Judges, there
began to be great contentions among the people of the church;
yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions,
and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong
to the church of God.
4:10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of Judges; and
the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block to those
who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to
fail in its progress.
4:11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year,
Alma seeking the wickedness of the church, and seeing also that
the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers,
on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the
destruction of the people; yea, seeing great inequality among
the people,
4:12 some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others,
turning their backs upon the needy, and the naked, and those which
were hungry, and those which are athirst, and those which were
sick and afflicted.
4:13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people,
while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood
in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to
the poor and the needy; feeding the hungry; and suffering all
manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, which should come according
to the spirit of prophecy,
4:14 looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of
their sins; being filled with great joy, because of the resurrection
of the dead, according to the will, and power, and deliverance
of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.
4:15 And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions
of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which was
heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all
their inequality, he began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless
the spirit of the Lord did not fail him.
4:16 And he selected a wise man which was among the elders of
the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people,
that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which
had been given, and to put them in force, according to the wickedness
and the crimes of the people.
4:17 Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was appointed Chief
Judge; and he sat in the judgment seat, to judge and to govern
the people.
4:18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being High
Priests over the church, but he retained the office of High Priest
unto himself; but he delivered the judgment seat unto Nephihah:
4:19 and this he did, that he himself might go forth among his
people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the
word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their
duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the
pride and craftiness, and all the contentions which was among
his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them, save it
were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.
4:20 And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign
of the Judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the
judgment seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the
high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of
the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
5:1 Chapter 3 Now it came to pass that Alma began to deliver
the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla,
and from thence throughout all the land.
5:2 And these are the words which he spake to the people in the
Church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according
to his own record, saying:
5:3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father Alma, to be
a High Priest over the Church of God, he having power and authority
from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you, that he began
to establish a Church in the land which was in the borders of
Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea,
and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.
5:4 And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the
hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.
5:5 And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by
the hands of the Lamanites, in the wilderness; yea, I say unto
you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them
out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into
this land and here we began to establish the Church of God throughout
this land, also.
5:6 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong
to this Church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance
the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently
retained in remembrance of his mercy and long-suffering towards
them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance
that he hath delivered their souls from hell?
5:7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awaked them out of
a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the
midst of darkness, their souls were illuminated by the light of
the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands
of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction
did await them.
5:8 And now I ask you my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold,
I say unto you, nay, they were not.
5:9 And again I ask, was the bands of death broken, and the chains
of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto
you, yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they
did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you, that they are saved.
5:10 And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea,
what grounds had they to hope for salvation? Yea, and also, the
chains of hell?
5:11 Behold, I can tell you: did not my father Alma believe in
the words which was delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was
he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the word of God, and my
father Alma believe them?
5:12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought
in his heart. Behold I say unto you, that this is all true.
5:13 --And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and
a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled
themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God. And
behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were
saved.
5:14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the Church,
have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image
in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in
your hearts?
5:15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created
you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal
body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption,
to stand before God, to be judged according to the deeds which
hath been done in the mortal body?
5:16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear
the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day. Come unto
me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness
upon the face of the earth?
5:17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord
in that day, and say, Lord, Our works have been righteous works
upon the face of the earth, and that he will save you?
5:18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the
tribunal of God, with your souls filled with guilt and remorse;
having a remembrance of all your guilt; yea, a perfect remembrance
of all your wickedness; yea, a remembrance that ye have set at
defiance the commandments of God?
5:19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a
pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having
the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
5:20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have
yielded yourselves to become subjects to the Devil?
5:21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day, that ye cannot
be saved: for there can no man be saved except his garments are
washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are
cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it hath
been spoken by our fathers which should come to redeem his people
from sins.
5:22 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel,
if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments
stained with blood, and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what
will these things testify against you?
5:23 Behold, will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea,
and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
5:24 Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have
a place to sit down in the Kingdom of God, with Abraham, with
Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments
are cleansed, and are spotless, pure and white?
5:25 I say unto you, nay, except ye make our creator a liar from
the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning;
or also, ye cannot suppose that such an one can have a place in
the kingdom of heaven, but they shall be cast out, for they are
the children of the kingdom of the Devil.
5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced
a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming
love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
5:27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?
Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves,
that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have
been cleansed and made white, through the blood of Christ, which
will come to redeem his people from their sins?
5:28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are
not, ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold, ye must prepare
quickly, for the Kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand, and such an
one hath not eternal life.
5:29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped
of envy? I say unto you, that such an one is not prepared, and
I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close
at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come: for such
an one is not found guiltless.
5:30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth
make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?
5:31 Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time
is at hand that he must repent, or he cannot be saved;
5:32 yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent,
for the Lord hath spoken it.
5:33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men; for the arms
of mercy is extended toward them, and he saith, Repent, and I
will receive you;
5:34 yea, he saith, Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit
of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink, of the bread
and the waters of life freely;
5:35 come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and
ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire:
5:36 for behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth
not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness,
the same hath cause to wail and mourn.
5:37 O ye workers of iniquity, ye that are puffed up in the vain
things of the world; ye that have professed to have known the
ways of righteousness; nevertheless ye have gone astray, as sheep
having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after
you, and art still calling after you, but ye will not hearken
unto his voice.
5:38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call
you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name
of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good
shepherd, to the name by which you are called, behold, ye are
not the sheep of the good shepherd.
5:39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of
what fold are you? Behold, I say unto you, that the Devil is your
shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now who can deny this? Behold,
I say unto you, whoever denieth this, is a liar and a child of
the Devil;
5:40 for I say unto you, that whosoever is good, cometh from God,
and whatsoever is evil, cometh from the Devil;
5:41 therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works, he hearkeneth
unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but
whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child
of the Devil: for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow
him.
5:42 And whosoever doeth this must receive the wages of him; therefore,
for his wages he receiveth death, as to the things pertaining
unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.
5:43 --And now my brethren, I would that ye should hear me, for
I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken unto
you plain, that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to the
commandments of God.
5:44 For I am called to speak after this manner, according to
the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded
to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been
spoken by our fathers, concerning the things which is to come.
5:45 And this is not all. Do ye suppose that I know not of these
things myself? Behold, I testify unto you, that I do know that
these things whereof I have spoken, are true. And how do ye suppose
that I know of their surety?
5:46 Behold, I say unto you, they are made known unto me by the
holy spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days,
that I might know these things myself. And now I do know of myself
that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto
me by his holy spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which
is in me.
5:47 And moreover, I say unto you, that as it has thus been revealed
unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers,
are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy, which is
in me, which is also by the manifestation of the spirit of God,
5:48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall
say unto you concerning that which is to come, is true; and I
say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come; yea, the
Son of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy,
and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins
of the world; yea, the sins of every man which steadfastly believeth
on his name.
5:49 And now I say unto you, that this is the order after which
I am called; yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren; yea, and
every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all,
both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you, the
aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea,
to cry unto them they must repent and be born again;
5:50 yea, thus saith the spirit, Repent all ye ends of the earth,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God
cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power and dominion.
Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the spirit saith,
Behold, the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King
of Heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of
men;
5:51 and also the spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with
a mighty voice, saying, Go forth and say unto this people, repent,
for except ye repent ye can in no wise inherit the Kingdom of
Heaven.
5:52 And again I say unto you, the spirit saith, Behold, the axe
is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire;
yea, a fire which cannot be consumed; even an unquenchable fire.
Behold, and remember, the holy one hath spoken it.
5:53 And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand
these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample
the holy one under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the
pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing
of costly apparel, and setting your hearts upon the vain things
of the world, upon your riches;
5:54 yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one
than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecutions of your
brethren, who humble themselves, and do walk after the holy order
of God, wherewith they have been brought into this Church, having
been sanctified by the holy spirit; and they do bring forth works
which is meet for repentance;
5:55 yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the
poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?
5:56 And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness,
I say unto you, that these are they which shall be hewn down and
cast into the fire, except they speedily repent.
5:57 And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow
the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and
be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold,
their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked
shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the
sword of God may be fulfilled, which saith, The name of the wicked
shall not be mingled with the names of my people.
5:58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in the Book
of Life; and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right
hand. And now my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I
say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the
word of God must be fulfilled.
5:59 For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep, doth
not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his
flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock, doth he not drive
him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can he will destroy him.
5:60 And now I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call
after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice, he will bring
you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you
that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may
not be destroyed.
5:61 And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of him who
hath commanded me, that ye observe to do the words which I have
spoken unto you.
5:62 I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church;
and unto those which do not belong to the church, I speak by way
of invitation, saying, Come and be baptized unto repentance, that
ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.
6:1 Chapter 4 And now it came to pass that after Alma had
made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was
established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and
elder, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to
preside and watch over the church.
6:2 And it came to pass that whomsoever did not belong to the
church who repented of their sins, was baptized unto repentance,
and was received into the church.
6:3 And it also came to pass that whomsoever did belong to the
church, that did not repent of their wickedness, and humble themselves
before God; I mean those which were lifted up in the pride of
their hearts; the same were rejected, and their names were blotted
out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous;
6:4 and thus began to establish the order of the church in the
city of Zarahemla.
6:5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God
was liberal unto all; that no one was deprived of the privilege
of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God;
6:6 nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they
should gather themselves together oft and join in fasting and
mighty prayer, in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those
who knew not God.
6:7 And now it came to pass that when Alma had made those regulations,
he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city
of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon,
into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built which
was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was
called Gideon, being called after the man which was slain by the
hand of Nehor with the sword.
6:8 And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the
church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according
to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken
by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which
was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, which should come for to redeem his people from their
sins, and by the holy order by which he was called. And thus it
is written. Amen.
7:1 Chapter 5 Behold my beloved brethren, seeing that I
have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address
you in my language; yea, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the
first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth,
I having been wholly confined to the judgment seat, having had
much business that I could not have come unto you;
7:2 and even I could not have come now at this time, were it not
that the judgment seat hath been given to another, to reign in
my stead; and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should
come unto you.
7:3 And behold, I have come, having great hopes and much desire
that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God,
and that ye have continued in the supplicating of his grace, that
I should find that ye were blameless before him; that I should
find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were
in at Zarahemla;
7:4 but blessed be the name of God that he hath given me to know,
yea, hath given unto me the exceeding great joy of knowing that
they are established again in the way of his righteousness.
7:5 And I trust according to the spirit of God which is in me,
that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire
that my joy over you, should come by the cause of so much afflictions
and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla: for
behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much afflictions
and sorrow.
7:6 But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much
unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted
up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not
set your hearts upon riches, and the vain things of the world;
yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship
the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the
remission of your sins with an everlasting faith which is to come.
7:7 For behold, I say unto you, there be many things to come;
and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than
they all: for behold, the time is not far distant, that the Redeemer
liveth and cometh among his people.
7:8 Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time
of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the spirit
hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to
this thing I do not know, but this much I do know, that the Lord
God hath the power to do all things which is according to his
word.
7:9 But behold, the spirit hath said this much unto me, saying:
Cry unto this people, saying, Repent ye, and prepare the way of
the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight: for behold,
the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon
the face of the earth.
7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem, which
is the land of our forefathers, she being a Virgin, a precious
and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed, and conceive by
the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even
the Son of God;
7:11 and he shall go forth, suffering pains, and afflictions,
and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be
fulfilled which saith, He will take upon him the pains and the
sickness of his people;
7:12 and he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands
of death which binds his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according
to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to suffer
his people according to their infirmities.
7:13 Now the spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of
God suffereth according to the flesh, that he might take upon
him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions,
according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this
is the testimony which is in me.
7:14 Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again:
for the spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye cannot inherit
the Kingdom of Heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance,
that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world, which
is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness;
7:15 yea, I say unto you, Come and fear not, and lay aside every
sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to
destruction; yea, come and go forth, and shew unto your God that
ye are willing to repent of your sins, and enter into a covenant
with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this
day, by going into the waters of baptism;
7:16 and whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of
God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him,
yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have
eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which
testifieth in me.
7:17 And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these things?
Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that you believe them; and
the way that I know that ye believe them, is by the manifestation
of the spirit which is in me. And now because your faith is strong
concerning that, yea, concerning the things which I have spoken,
great is my joy.
7:18 For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much
desire that ye was not in the state of dilemma like your brethren,
even so I have found that my desires have been gratified.
7:19 For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness;
I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom
of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight;
7:20 I perceive that it hath been made known unto you by the testimony
of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth
he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow
of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right
to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round.
7:21 And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness,
or any thing which is unclean be received into the kingdom of
God; therefore I say unto you, the time shall come, yea, and it
shall be at the last day, that he which is filthy, shall remain
in his filthiness.
7:22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto
you, that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that
ye may walk blameless before him; that ye may walk after the holy
order of God, after which ye have been received.
7:23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive,
and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long suffering;
being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments
of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in
need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto
God for whatsoever things ye do receive,
7:24 and see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye
will always abound in good works;
7:25 and may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless,
that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, and the Holy Prophets, which have been ever since the
world began, having your garments spotless, even as their garments
are spotless in the kingdom of Heaven, to go no more out.
7:26 And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto
you, according to the spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul
doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and
heed which ye have given unto your word.
7:27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your
houses and land, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that
you possess; your women and your children, according to your faith
and good works, for this time forth and forever. And thus I have
spoken. Amen.
8:1 Chapter 6 And now it came to pass that Alma returned
from the land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon
many things which cannot be written, having established the order
of the church, according as he had before done in the land of
Zarahemla; yea, he returned to his own house at Zarahemla, to
rest himself from the labors which he had performed.
8:2 And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the Judges over
the people of Nephi.
8:3 And it came to pass in the commencement of the tenth year
of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma
departed from thence, and took his journey over into the land
of Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west, by the
borders of the wilderness;
8:4 And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek, according
to the holy order of God by which he had been called; and he began
to teach the people throughout all the land of Melek.
8:5 And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout
all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness side.
And it came to pass that they were baptized throughout all the
land,
8:6 so that when he had finished his work at Melek, he departed
thence, and travelled three days' journey on the north of the
land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah.
8:7 Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi, to call their
lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their
small villages, after the name of him, who first possessed them;
and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah.
8:8 And it came to pass that when Alma came to the city of Ammonihah,
he began to preach the word of God unto them.
8:9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people
of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto
the words of Alma.
8:10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with
God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his spirit upon the
people which was in the city; that he would also grant that he
might baptize them unto repentance;
8:11 nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him,
Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art
High Priest over the church which thou hast established in many
parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not
of the church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions.
8:12 And now we know that because we are not of thy church, we
know that thou hast no power over us; and thou hast delivered
up the judgment seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the
Chief Judge over us.
8:13 Now when the people had said this, and had withstood all
his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that
he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took
his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.
8:14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither,
being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation
and anguish of souls, because of the wickedness of the people
which was in the city of Ammonihah. And it came to pass that while
Alma was weighed down with sorrow, behold, and angel of the Lord
appeared unto him saying,
8:15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore lift up thy head and rejoice,
for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful
in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou received
thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it
into you;
8:16 and behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to
the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the
city; yea, preach unto them. --Yea, say unto them, except they
repent, the Lord God will destroy them.
8:17 For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy
the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord,) which is
contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which
he hath given unto his people.
8:18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message
from the angel of the Lord, he returned speedily to the land of
Ammonihah. And it came to pass that he entered the city by another
way, yea, by the way which was on the south of the city of Ammonihah.
8:19 And it came to pass that as he entered the city, he was an
hungered, and he saith to a man, Will ye give to an humble servant
of God something to eat?
8:20 And the man saith unto him, I am a Nephite, and I know that
thou art a Holy Prophet of God, for thou art the man which an
angel saith in a vision, Thou shalt receive; therefore go with
me into my house, and I will impart unto thee of my food; and
I know that thou will be a blessing unto me and my house.
8:21 And it came to pass that the man received him into his house;
and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and
meat, and sat before Alma.
8:22 And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was filled; and
he blessed Amulek and his house, and he gave thanks unto God.
8:23 And after he had eat and was filled, he said unto Amulek,
I am Alma, and am the High Priest over the church of God throughout
the land.
8:24 And behold, I have been called to preach the word of God
among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and
prophecy; and I was in this land, and they would not receive me,
but they cast me out, and I was about to set my back towards this
land forever.
8:25 But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn again
and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against them
concerning their iniquities.
8:26 And now Amulek, because thou hast fed me and took me in,
thou art blessed: for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many
days.
8:27 And it came to pass that Alma tarried many days with Amulek,
before he began to preach unto the people.
8:28 And it came to pass that the people did wax more gross in
their iniquities.
8:29 And the word came to Alma, saying, Go; and also say unto
my servant Amulek, Go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying:
Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord: Except ye repent, I will visit
this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce
anger away.
8:30 And it came to pass that Alma went forth, and also Amulek,
among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they
were filled with the Holy Ghost;
8:31 and they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could
not be confined in dungeons; neither were it possible that any
man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their
power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now
this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.
8:32 And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach
and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power
which the Lord had given them.
9:1 Chapter 7 And again: I Alma, having been commanded
of God that I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again
unto this people, or the people which was in the city of Ammonihah.
--And it came to pass as I began to preach unto them, they began
to contend with me, saying:
9:2 Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony
of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should
pass away?
9:3 Now they understood not the words which they spake, for they
knew not that the earth should pass away.
9:4 And they sayeth also, We will not believe thy words, if thou
shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in
one day.
9:5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvellous works,
for they were a hard hearted and a stiffnecked people.
9:6 And they sayeth, Who is God, that sendeth no more authority
than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth
of such great and marvellous things?
9:7 And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; behold, they
did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them, yea,
I did boldly testify unto them, saying:
9:8 Behold, O ye wicked and perverse generation, how have ye forgotten
the tradition of your fathers; yea, how soon ye have forgotten
the commandments of God.
9:9 Do ye not remember that our father Lehi was brought out of
Jerusalem by the hand of God? Do ye not remember that they were
all led by him through the wilderness?
9:10 And have ye forgotten so soon how many times he delivered
our fathers out of the hands of their enemies, and preserved them
from being destroyed, even by the hands of their own brethren?
9:11 Yea, and if it had not been for his matchless power, and
his mercy, and his long suffering towards us, we should unavoidably
have been cut off from the face of the earth, long before this
period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state of endless
misery and wo.
9:12 Behold, now I say unto you, that he commandeth you to repent;
and except ye repent, ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of
God. But behold, this is not all: he hath commanded you to repent,
or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the earth;
yea, he will visit you in his anger, and in his fierce anger he
will not turn away.
9:13 Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto
Lehi, saying, That inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments,
ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said, That inasmuch
as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from
the presence of the Lord.
9:14 Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the
Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been
cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the word
of the Lord hath been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites
have been cut off from his presence, from the beginning of their
transgressions in the land.
9:15 Nevertheless I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable
for them in the day of judgment, than for you, if ye remain in
your sins; yea, and even more tolerable for them in this life,
than for you, except ye repent,
9:16 for there are many promises which is extended to the Lamanites:
for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that causeth
them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord
will be merciful unto them, and prolong their existence in the
land.
9:17 And at some period of time they will be brought to believe
in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions
of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord
will be merciful unto all who call on his name.
9:18 But behold, I say unto you, that if ye persist in your wickedness,
that your days shall not be prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites
shall be sent upon you; and if ye repent not, they shall come
in a time when you know not, and ye shall be visited with utter
destruction; and it shall be according to the fierce anger of
the Lord;
9:19 for he will not suffer you that ye shall live in you iniquities,
to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather suffer
that the Lamanites might destroy all this people which is called
the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall
into sins and transgressions, after having so much light and so
much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God;
9:20 yea, after having been such a highly favored people of the
Lord; yea, after having been favored above every other nation,
kindred, tongue, or people; after having had all things made known
unto them, according to their desires, and their faith, and prayers,
of that which has been, and which is, and which is to come;
9:21 having been visited by the spirit of God; having conversed
with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord;
and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation,
and also many gifts: the gift of speaking with tongues, and the
gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift
of translation;
9:22 yea, and after having been delivered of God out of the land
of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Lord; having been saved from
famine, and from sickness, and all manner of diseases of every
kind; and they having been waxed strong in battle, that they might
not be destroyed; having been brought out of bondage time after
time, and having been kept and preserved until now; and they have
been prospered until they are rich in all manner of things.
9:23 And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have
received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress,
contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have; I say
unto you, that if this be the case; that if they should fall into
transgression, that it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites
than for them.
9:24 For behold, the promises of the Lord, are extended to the
Lamanites, but they are not unto you, if ye transgress: for hath
not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed, that if ye
will rebel against him, that ye shall utterly be destroyed from
off the face of the earth?
9:25 And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed, the
Lord hath sent his angel to visit many of his people, declaring
unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto this people,
saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is nigh at hand;
9:26 and not many days hence, the Son of God shall come in his
glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace, equity and truth, full of patience,
mercy, and long suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people,
and to answer their prayers.
9:27 And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized
unto repentance, through faith on his name;
9:28 therefore prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is
at hand that every man shall reap a reward of their works, according
to that which they have been: if they have been righteous, they
shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power
and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil, they
shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power
and captivation of the Devil.
9:29 --Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying unto
the people.
9:30 And now my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and
ye had ought to be loved, and ye had ought to bring forth works
which is mete for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been
grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are
a lost and fallen people.
9:31 Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken these words,
behold, the people were wroth with me, because I said unto them
that they were a hardhearted and a stiffnecked people;
9:32 and also because I had said unto them that they were a lost
and a fallen people, they were angry with me, and sought to lay
their hands upon me, that they might cast me into prison;
9:33 but it came to pass that the Lord did not suffer them that
they should take me at a time and cast me into prison.
9:34 And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood forth, and
began to preach unto them also. And now the words of Amulek are
not all written; nevertheless a part of his words are written
in this book.
10:1 Chapter 8 Now these are the words that Amulek preached
unto the people which was in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
10:2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of
Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi: and it was that same
Aminadi which interpreted the writing which was upon the wall
of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.
10:3 --And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son
of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant
of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph, which was sold into Egypt
by the hands of his brethren.
10:4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among
all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindred and
friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my
industry;
10:5 nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of
the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvellous power.
I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake,
for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvellous power;
yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people;
10:6 nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many
times, and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these
things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on unbelieving
against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth
day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign
of our Judges.
10:7 As I was a journeying to see a very near kindred, behold
an angel of the Lord appeared unto me, and said, Amulek, return
to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord;
yea, a holy man , which art a chosen man of God; for he hath fasteth
many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered,
and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he
shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall
rest upon thee and thy house.
10:8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel,
and returned towards my house. And as I was a going thither, I
found the man which the angel said unto me, Thou shalt receive
into thy house; and behold it was this same man which hath been
speaking unto you concerning the things of God.
10:9 --And the angel said unto me, He is a holy man; wherefore
I know he is a holy man, because it was said by an angel of God.
10:10 And again: I know that the things whereof he hath testified
are true; for behold, I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth,
even so he hath sent his angel to make these things manifest unto
me; and this he hath done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house;
10:11 for behold, he hath blessed mine home, he hath blessed me,
and my woman, and my children, and my father, and my kinsfolks;
yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessings of
the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
10:12 And now when Amulek had spoken these words, the people began
to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness which
testifieth of the things whereof they were accused, and also of
the things which was to come, according to the spirit of prophecy
which was in them;
10:13 nevertheless, there were some among them which thought to
question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch
them in their words, that they might find witness against them,
that they might deliver them to the Judges, that they might be
judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast
into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear,
or witness against them.
10:14 Now it was those men which sought to destroy them, which
were Lawyers, which were hired or appointed by the people to administer
the law at their times of trials, or at trials of the crimes of
the people, before the Judges.
10:15 Now these Lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning
of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be
skilful in their profession.
10:16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek,
that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict
the words which he should speak.
10:17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs.
But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived
their thoughts, and he saith unto them, O ye wicked and perverse
generation; ye Lawyers and hypocrites; for ye are laying the foundation
of the Devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the
holy ones of God;
10:18 ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous,
and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the
utter destruction of this people;
10:19 yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he
was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it
upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own
voices; yea, well did he say, that if the time should come that
the voice of this people should choose iniquity; that is, if the
time should come that this people should fall into transgression,
they would be ripe for destruction.
10:20 And now I say unto you, that well doth the Lord judge your
iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of
his angels, Repent ye, repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand.
10:21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels, that
I will come down among my people with equity and justice in my
hands.
10:22 Yea, and I say unto you, that if it were not for the prayers
of the righteous, which are now in the land, that ye would even
now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by
flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be
by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
10:23 Now it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared;
now therefore if ye will cast out the righteous from among you,
then will not the Lord stay his hand, but in his fierce anger
he will come down against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine,
and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand,
except ye repent.
10:24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry
with Amulek, and they cried out saying: This man doth revile against
our laws, which are just, and our wise Lawyers, which we have
selected.
10:25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier
unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation; why hath
Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield
yourselves unto him, that he may have power over you, to blind
your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken,
according to their truth?
10:26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not
understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but have
I not; but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
10:27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the
destruction of this people is a beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness
of your lawyers and your Judges.
10:28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these
words, the people cried out against him, saying, Now we know that
this man is a child of the Devil, for he hath lied unto us; for
he hath spoken against our law. And now he saith that he hath
not spoken against it.
10:29 And again: he hath reviled against our Lawyers, and our
Judges,
10:30 &c. And it came to pass that the Lawyers put it into
their hearts that they should remember these things against him.
10:31 And it came to pass that there was one among them whose
name was Zeezrom. Now he being the foremost to accuse Amulek and
Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much
business to do among the people.
10:32 Now the object of these Lawyers were to get gain; and they
got gain according to their employ.
11:1 Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man which was
a Judge of the law, or which was appointed to be Judges, should
receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge
those which were brought before them to be judged.
11:2 Now if a man oweth another, and he would not pay that which
he owe, he was complained of to the Judge; and the Judge executed
authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought
before him; and he judgeth the man according to the law and the
evidence which are brought against him; and thus the man was compelled
to pay that which he oweth, or be striped, or be cast out from
among the people, as a thief and a robber.
11:3 And the Judge receiveth for his wages according to his time:
a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal
to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was
given.
11:4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of their
gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names
are given by the Nephites; for they did not reckon after the manner
of the Jews which were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure
after the manner of the Jews, but they altered their reckoning
and their measure, according to the minds of the circumstances
of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the Judges;
they having been established by king Mosiah.
11:5 Now the reckoning is thus: A senine of gold, a seon of gold,
a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold.
11:6 A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver,
and an onti of silver.
11:7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold; and either
for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind
of grain.
11:8 Now the amount of a seon of gold, was twice the value of
a senine;
11:9 and a shum of gold was twice the value of a seon;
11:10 and a limnah of gold was the value of them all;
11:11 and an amner of silver was as great as two senums;
11:12 and an ezrom of silver was as great as four senums;
11:13 and an onti was as great as them all.
11:14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning:
11:15 A shiblon is half of a senum: therefore a shiblon for half
a measure of barley;
11:16 and a shiblum is a half of shiblon;
11:17 and a leah is the half of a shiblum.
11:18 Now this is their number, according to their reckoning.
11:19 Now an antion of gold is equal to three shublons.
11:20 Now it was for the sole purpose for to get gain, because
they received wages according to their employ; therefore they
did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances
and wickedness , that they might have more employ; that they might
get money according to the suits which was brought before them;
therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.
11:21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will
ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom
was a man which was expert in the devises of the Devil, that he
might destroy that which was good; therefore he saith unto Amulek,
Will ye aaswer the questions which I shall put unto you?
11:22 And Amulek saith unto him, Yea, if it be according to the
spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing contrary
to the spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom saith unto him, Behold,
here is six onties of silver, and all these will I give to thee
if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.
11:23 Now Amulek saith, O thou child of Hell, why tempt ye me?
Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?
11:24 Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, nay:
thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more
than him.
11:25 And now thou hast lied unto God before me. Thou saidst unto
me, Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will
give unto thee, when thou had it in thy heart to retain them from
me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and
living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now
behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward.
11:26 And Zeezrom saith unto him, Thou sayest there is a true
and living God?
11:27 And Amulek saith, Yea, there is a true and living God.
11:28 Now Zeezrom saith, Is there more than one God?
11:29 And he answered No.
11:30 Now Zeezrom saith unto him again: How knowest thou these
things?
11:31 And he saith An angel hath made them known unto me.
11:32 And Zeezrom saith again: Who is he that shall come? Is it
the Son of God?
11:33 And he said unto him, Yea.
11:34 And Zeezrom saith again: Shall he save his people in their
sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him, I say unto you he
shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.
11:35 Now Zeezrom saith unto the people, See that ye remember
these things; for he saith there is but one God; yet he saith
that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people,
as though he had authority to command God.
11:36 Now Amulek saith again unto him, Behold thou hast lied,
for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command
God, because I said he shall not save his people in their sins.
11:37 And I say unto you again, that he cannot save them in their
sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean
thing can inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? --Therefore ye cannot
be saved in your sins.
11:38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the
very Eternal Father?
11:39 And Amulek saith unto him, Yea, he is the very Eternal Father
of Heaven and of Earth, and all things which in them is; he is
the beginning and the end, the first and the last;
11:40 and he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and
he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe
on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life,
and salvation cometh to none else;
11:41 therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no
redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;
for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and
stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
11:42 Now there is a death which is called a temporal death; and
the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death,
that all shall be raised from this temporal death;
11:43 the spirit and the body shall be re- united again, in its
perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper
frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought
to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright
recollection of all our guilt.
11:44 Now this restoration shall come to all, both old and young,
both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked, and
the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their
heads be lost; but all things shall be restored to its perfect
frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and
be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son of God, the Father,
and the Holy Spirit, which is the Son, and God the Father, and
the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according
to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
11:45 Now behold I have spoken unto you, concerning the death
of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the
mortal body. I say unto you, that this mortal body is raised to
an immortal body; that is from death; even from the first death,
unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with
their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual
and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.
11:46 Now when Amulek had finished these words, the people began
to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus
ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written.
12:1 Chapter 9 Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek
had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him
in his lying and deceiving, to destroy him, and seeing that he
began to tremble under the consciousness of his guilt, he opened
his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words
of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the Scriptures
beyond that which Amulek had done.
12:2 Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom, was heard by
the people round about: for the multitude was great, and he spake
on this wise:
12:3 Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying
and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only, but thou
hast lied unto God. For behold, he knows all thy thoughts; and
thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his spirit;
12:4 and thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle
plan, as to the subtlety of the Devil, for to lie and to deceive
this people, that thou mightest set them against us, to revile
us and to cast us out.
12:5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised
his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what
I say unto thee, I say unto all.
12:6 And behold, I say unto you all, that this was a snare of
the adversary, which he hath laid to catch this people, that he
might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle
you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting
destruction, according to the power of his captivity.
12:7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble
more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power
of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge
of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents
of his heart: for power was given unto them that they might know
of these things, according to the spirit of prophecy.
12:8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he
might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he saith unto
Alma, What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning
the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead,
both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before
God, to be judged according to their works?
12:9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying,
It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless
they are laid under a strict command, that they shall not impart
only according to the portion of his word, which he doth grant
unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence
which they give unto him;
12:10 and therefore he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth
the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his
heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until
it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God, until they
know them in full;
12:11 and he that will harden his heart, to him is given the lesser
portion of the word, until they know nothing concerning his mysteries;
and then they are taken captive by the Devil, and led by his will
down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of
Hell;
12:12 and Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being
raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being
brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works.
12:13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened
our hearts against the word, insomuch that it hath not been found
in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned:
12:14 for our words will condemn us, yea, all our work will condemn
us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also
condemn us; and in this awful state, we shall not durst look up
to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the
rocks and the mountains to fall upon us, to hide us from his presence.
12:15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before
him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty,
and dominion, and acknowledge to the everlasting shame, that all
his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and
that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he hath
all power to save every man that believeth on his name, and bringeth
forth mete for repentance.
12:16 And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even
a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time whosoever
dieth in his sins, as to the temporal death, shall also die a
spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto
righteousness;
12:17 then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake
of fire and brimstone, whose flames ascendeth up forever and ever;
and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting
destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan; he
having subjected them according to his will.
12:18 Then I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been
no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God's
justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption.
12:19 Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of speaking
these words, the people began to be more astonished;
12:20 but there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler among
them, come forth and said unto him, What is this that thou hast
said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this
mortal to an immortal state, that the soul can never die?
12:21 What does this Scripture mean, which saith that God placed
Cherubims and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden,
lest our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit of
the tree of life, and live forever? And thus we see that there
was no possible chance that they should live forever.
12:22 Now Alma saith unto him, This is the thing which I was about
to explain. Now we see that Adam did fall by partaking of the
forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see
that by his fall, that all mankind became a lost and a fallen
people.
12:23 And now behold, I say unto you, that if it had been possible
for Adam for to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life
at that time, that there would have been no death, and the word
would have been void, making God a liar: for he said, If thou
eat, thou shalt surely die.
12:24 --And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death
which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death;
nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might
repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time
to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state,
which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection
of the dead.
12:25 Now if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which
was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been
no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption
laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead,
of which has been spoken.
12:26 And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents
could have went forth and partaken of the tree of life, they would
have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and
thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the
word of God would have been void, taking none effect.
12:27 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto man
that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment;
even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the
end.
12:28 And after God had appointed that these things should come
unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should
know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;
12:29 therefore he sent angels to converse with them, which caused
men to behold of his glory.
12:30 And they began from the time forth to call on his name;
therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the
plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation
of the world; and this he made known unto them, according to their
faith and repentance, and their holy works;
12:31 wherefore he gave commandments unto men, they having first
transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal,
and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves
in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act, according
to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good;
12:32 therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having
made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should
not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was
an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness;
for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the
works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the Supreme
goodness of God.
12:33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being
the plan of redemption which was laid,) saying: if ye will repent,
and harden not your hearts, then I will have mercy upon you, through
mine only begotten Son;
12:34 therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart,
he shall have claim on mercy through mine only begotten Son, unto
a remission of their sins; and these shall enter into my rest.
12:35 And whosoever will harden his heart, and will do iniquity,
behold, I swear in my wrath that they shall not enter into my
rest.
12:36 And now my brethren, behold I say unto you, That if ye will
harden your hearts, ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord;
therefore your iniquity provoketh him, that he sendeth down his
wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to
this word in the last provocation, as well as in the first, to
the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according
to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.
12:37 And now my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they
are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke
not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his
second commandments which he hath given unto us; but let us enter
into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word.
13:1 And again: My brethren, I would cite your minds forward to
the time which the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children;
and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained
Priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his
Son, to teach these things unto the people;
13:2 and those Priests were ordained after the order of his Son,
in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner
to look forward to his Son for redemption.
13:3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained, being
called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according
to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith
and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or
evil; therefore they being chosen good, and exercising exceeding
great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy
calling which was prepared with and according to, a preparatory
redemption for such;
13:4 and thus they having been called to this holy calling on
account of their faith, while others would reject the spirit of
God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of
their minds, while, if it had not been for this, they might had
as great privilege as their brethren. Or in fine: In the first
place they were on the same standing with their brethren;
13:5 thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation
of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being
in and through the atonement of the only begotten Son, which was
prepared;
13:6 and thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained
unto the High Priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach us
his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might
enter into his rest,
13:7 this High Priesthood being after the order of his Son, which
order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words,
being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared
from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge
of all things.
13:8 Now they were ordained after this manner: Being called with
a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking
upon them the High Priesthood of the holy order, which calling,
and ordinance, and High Priesthood, is without beginning or end;
13:9 thus they become High Priests forever, after the order of
the Son of the only begotten of the Father, which is without beginning
of days or end of years, which is full of grace, equity and truth.
And thus it is. Amen.
13:10 Chapter 10 Now as I said concerning the holy order
of this High Priesthood: There were many which were ordained and
became High Priests of God; and it was on account of the exceeding
faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they
choosing to repent and work righteousness, rather than to perish;
13:11 therefore they were called after this holy order, and were
sanctified, and their garments were washed white, through the
blood of the Lamb.
13:12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having
their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God,
could not look upon sin, saving it were with abhorrence; and there
were many, exceeding great many, which were made pure, and entered
into the rest of the Lord their God.
13:13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves
before God, and bring forth fruit mete for repentance, that ye
may also enter into that rest;
13:14 yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of
Melchizedek, who was also a High Priest after this same order
which I have spoken, who also took upon him the High Priesthood
forever.
13:15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes;
yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of
all he possessed.
13:16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that
thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being
a type of his order, or it being his order; and this, that they
might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that
they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
13:17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem;
and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abominations;
yea, they had all gone astray: they were full of all manner of
wickedness;
13:18 but Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received
the office of the High Priesthood, according to the holy order
of God, did preach repentance unto his people. --And behold, they
did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in
his days; therefore he was called the Prince of Peace, for he
was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
13:19 Now there were many before him, and also there were many
afterwards, but none were greater; therefore of him they have
more particularly made mention.
13:20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said, may
suffice. Behold, the Scriptures are before you; if ye will arrest
them, it shall be to your own destruction.
13:21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words
unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with
a mighty voice, saying, Now is the time to repent, for the day
of salvation draweth nigh;
13:22 yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels,
doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they
may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these
glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are
scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have
come unto us.
13:23 --And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we
may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being
wanderers in a strange land; therefore we are thus highly favored,
for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of
our vineyard.
13:24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time
in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts
of the children of men for to receive his word, at the time of
his coming in his glory.
13:25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto
us by the mouth of angels, of his coming: for the time cometh,
we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day;
but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
13:26 And it shall be knowon unto just and holy men, by the mouth
of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers
might be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning
him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in
them.
13:27 And now my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart,
yea, with great anxiety, even unto pain, that ye would hearken
unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the
day of your repentance;
13:28 that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call
on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may
not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by
the holy spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full
of love and all long suffering;
13:29 having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive
eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that
ye may be lifted up at the last day, and enter into his rest;
13:30 and may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may
not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down
by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.
13:31 And it came to pass that Alma spake many more words unto
the people, which are not written in this book.
14:1 And it came to pass that after he had made an end of speaking
unto the people, many of them did believe on his words, and began
to repent, and to search the Scriptures;
14:2 but the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy
Alma and Amulek: for they were angry with Alma, because of the
plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek
had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law, and also
against their Lawyers and Judges.
14:3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because
they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought
to put them away privily.
14:4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them
and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the Chief
Judge of the land.
14:5 And the people went forth and witnessed against them, testifying
that they had reviled against the law, and their Lawyers and Judges
of the land, and also all the people that were in the land; and
also testified that there was but one God, and that he should
send his Son among the people, but he should not save them; and
many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek.
And it came to pass that it was done before the Chief Judge of
the land.
14:6 And it also came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the
words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the blindness
of the minds which he had caused among the people, by his lying
words; and his soul began to be harrowed up, under a consciousness
of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains
of hell.
14:7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people,
saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before
God. And it came to pass that he began to plead for them, from
that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed
with the Devil? And it came to pass that they spit upon him, and
cast him out from among them, and also all those that believed
in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they
cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them.
14:8 And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever
believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God, they
caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought
forth their records which contained the Holy Scriptures, and cast
them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed
by fire.
14:9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried
them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness
the destruction of those which were consumed by fire.
14:10 And it came to pass that when Amulek saw the pains of the
women and children which were consuming in the fire, he was also
pained; and he saith unto Alma, How can we witness this awful
scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise
the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
14:11 But Alma saith unto him, The spirit constraineth me that
I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold, the Lord receiveth
them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth not suffer that they
may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them,
according to the hardness if their hearts, that the judgments
which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath, may be just; and
the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them,
yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
14:12 Now Amulek saith unto Alma, Behold, perhaps they will burn
us also.
14:13 And Alma saith, Be it according to the will of the Lord.
But behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.
14:14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those which
had been cast into the fire, were consumed, and also the records
which were cast in with them, the Chief Judge of the land came
and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote
them with his hand upon their cheeks, and saith unto them, After
what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that
they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?
14:15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save these which
had been cast into the fire; neither hath God saved them because
they were of thy faith. And the Judge smote them again upon their
cheeks, and asked, What say ye for yourselves?
14:16 Now this Judge was after the order and faith of Nehor, which
slew Gideon.
14:17 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered him nothing;
and he smote them again, and delivered them to the officers to
be cast into prison.
14:18 And it came to pass that when they had been cast into prison
three days, there came many Lawyers, and Judges, and Priests,
and teachers, which were of the profession of Nehor; and they
came in unto the prison to see them, and they questioned them
about many words; but they answered them nothing.
14:19 And it came to pass that the Judge stood before them, and
saith, Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye
not that I have the power to deliver ye up unto the flames? And
he commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.
14:20 And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways,
but came again on the morrow; and the Judge also smote them again
on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying:
Will ye stand again and Judge this people, and condemn our law?
If ye have such great power, why do ye not deliver yourselves?
14:21 And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their
teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying, How shall
ye look when we are damned?
14:22 And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did
they say unto them; and thus they did mock them, for many days.
And they did withhold food from them. that they might hunger,
and water, that they might thirst; and they also did take from
them their clothes, that they were naked; and thus they were bound
with strong cords, and confined in prison.
14:23 And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for many
days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in the
tenth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi,)
that the Chief Judge over the land of Ammonihah, and many of their
teachers and their Lawyers, went in unto the prison where Alma
and Amulek was bound with cords.
14:24 And the Chief Judge stood before them, and smote them again,
and saith unto them, If ye have the power of God, deliver yourselves
from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will
destroy this people according to your words.
14:25 And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them,
saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last
had spoken unto them, the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek,
and they arose and stood upon their feet;
14:26 and Alma cried, saying, How long shall we suffer these great
afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our
faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance; and they break
the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw
this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come
upon them.
14:27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear, that they
fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison;
and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were
wrent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the Chief
Judge, and the Lawyers, and Priests, and teachers which smote
upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.
14:28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they
were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according
to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came
forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands;
and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul which was
within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, were slain;
and they straightway came forth into the city.
14:29 Now the people having heard a great noise, came running
together by multitudes, to know the cause of it; and when they
saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls
thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear,
and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek, even as a goat
fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from
the presence of Alma and Amulek.
15:1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to
depart out of the city; and they departed, and came out even into
the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people
which had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been
cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma.
15:2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto their
wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their
power of deliverance.
15:3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever,
which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind, on account
of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek was no
more; and he supposed that they had been slain, by the cause of
his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did
harrow up his mind until it did become exceeding sore, having
no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning
heat.
15:4 Now when he heard that Alma and Amulek was in the land of
Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message
immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.
15:5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the
message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the
house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed sick, being
very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceeding
sore, because of his iniquities; and when he saw them, he stretched
forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.
15:6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by
the hand, Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?
15:7 And he answered and said, Yea, I belive all the words that
thou hast taught.
15:8 And Alma saith, If thou believest in the redemption of Christ,
thou canst be healed.
15:9 And he saith, Yea, I believe according to thy words.
15:10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying, O Lord our God,
have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which
is in Christ.
15:11 And it came to pass that when Alma said these words, that
Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was
done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge
of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.
15:12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from
that time forth to preach unto the people.
15:13 And Alma established a Church in the land of Sodom, and
consecrated Priests and teachers in the land to baptize unto the
Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.
15:14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock
in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized;
15:15 but as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah,
they yet remained a hardhearted and a stiffnecked people; and
they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma
and Amulek to the Devil: for they were of the profession of Nehor,
and did not believe in the repentance of their sins.
15:16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having
forsaken all his gold, and his silver, and his precious things,
which was in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being
rejected by those which were once his friends, and also by his
father and his kindred;
15:17 therefore, after Alma having established the Church at Sidom,
seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked
as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves
before God, and began to assemble together at their sanctuaries
to worship God before the alter, watching and praying continually,
that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from
destruction:
15:18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore
he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took
him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations,
and strengthened him in the Lord.
15:19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the Judges
over the people of Nephi.
16:1 Chapter 11 And it came to pass in the eleventh year
of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, on the fifth
day of the second month, there having been much peace in the land
of Zarahemla; there having been no wars nor contentions for a
certain number of years; even until the fifth day of the second
month, in the eleventh year, there was a cry of war heard throughout
the land;
16:2 for behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in on the
wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city
of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people, and to destroy the
city.
16:3 And now it came to pass before the Nephites could raise a
sufficient army to drive them out of the land, they had destroyed
the people which were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some
around the borders of Noah, and taking others captive into the
wilderness.
16:4 Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous to obtain
those which had been carried away captive into the wilderness;
16:5 therefore he that had been appointed Chief Captain over the
armies of the Nephites, (and his name was Zoram, and he had two
sons, Lehi and Aha:) Now Zoram and his two sons, knowing that
Alma was High Priest over the Church, and having heard that he
had the spirit of Prophecy, therefore they went unto him and desired
of him to know whether the Lord would that they should go into
the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been captive
by the Lamanites.
16:6 And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning
the matter. And Alma returned and said unto them, Behold the Lamanites
will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond
the borders of the land of Manti. --And behold there shall ye
meet them, on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord
will deliver unto thee thy brethren which have been taken captive
by the Lamanites.
16:7 And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over
the river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond the
borders of Manti, into the south wilderness, which was on the
east side of the river Sidon.
16:8 And they came upon the armies of the Lamanites, and the Lamanites
were scattered and driven into the wilderness; and they took their
brethren which had been taken captive by the Lamanites, and there
was not one soul of them which had been lost, that were taken
captive. And they were brought by their brethren to possess their
own lands.
16:9 And thus ended the eleventh year of the Judges, the Lamanites
having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah
were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites were
destroyed , and also their great city, which they said God could
not destroy, because of its greatness.
16:10 --But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and their
carcases were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness;
16:11 nevertheless, after many days, their dead bodies were heaped
up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow
covering. And now so great was the scent thereof, that the people
did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years.
And it was called desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession
of Nehor, which were slain; and their lands remained desolate.
16:12 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did not come again
to war against the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign
of the Judges over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years
did the people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land.
16:13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance unto
the people in their tempels, and in their sanctuaries, and also
in their synagogues, which was built after the manner of the Jews.
16:14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did
impart the word of God, without any respects of persons continually.
16:15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more
which had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout
the land. And the establishment of the Church became general throughout
all the land, in all the region round about, among all the people
of the Nephites.
16:16 And there was no inequality among them, for the Lord did
pour out his spirit on all the face of the land, for to prepare
the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to
receive the word which should be taught among them at the time
of his coming,
16:17 that they might not be hardened against the word,, that
they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that
they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted
into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the
Lord their God.
16:18 Now those priests which did go forth among the people, did
preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes,
and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering,
murdering, committing adultry, and all manner of lasciviousness,
crying that these things ought not so to be;
16:19 holding forth things which must shortly come; yea, holding
forth the coming of the Son of God, his sufferings and death,
and also the resurrection of the dead.
16:20 And many of the people did inquire concerning the place
where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he
would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people
did hear with great joy and gladness.
16:21 And now after the Church having been established throughout
the land, having got the victory over the Devil, and the word
of God being preached in its purity in all the land; and the Lord
pouring out his blessings upon the people; and thus ended the
fourteenth year of the reign of the Judges, over the people of
Nephi.
17:1 Chapter 12 And now it came to pass that as Alma was
journeying from the land of Gideon, southward, away to the land
of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of
Mosiah, a journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.
17:2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel
first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly,
to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were
still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong
in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding,
and they had searched the Scriptures diligently, that they might
know the word of God.
17:3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer,
and fasting, therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the
spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power
and authority, even as with the power and authority of God.
17:4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the space
of fourteen years, among the Lamanites, having had much success
in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power
of their words, many were brought before the alter of God, to
call on his name, and confess their sins before him.
17:5 Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their
journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much,
both in body and in mind; such as hunger, thirst and fatigue,
and also much labor in the spirit.
17:6 Now these were their journeyings, having taken leave of their
father Mosiah, in the first year of the reign of the Judges; having
refused the kingdom which their father was desirous to confer
upon them; and also this was the minds of the people;
17:7 nevertheless they departed out of the land of Zarahemla,
and took their swords, and their spears, and their bows, and their
arrows, and their slings; and this they done that they might provide
food for themselves while in the wilderness:
17:8 and thus they departed into the wilderness, with their numbers
which they had selected, to go up to the land of Nephi, to preach
the word of God unto the Lamanites.
17:9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the
wilderness, and they fasted much, and prayed much, that the Lord
would grant unto them a portion of his spirit to go with them,
and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands
of God, to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites,
to the knowledge of the truth; to the knowledge of the baseness
of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
17:10 And it came to pass that the Lord visit them with his spirit,
and said unto them, Be comforted; and they were comforted.
17:11 And the Lord said unto them also, Go forth among the Lamanites,
thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in
long suffering and afflictions, that ye may shew forth good examples
unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands,
unto the salvation of many souls.
17:12 And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah,
and also those which were with them, took courage to go forth
unto the Lamanites, to declare unto them the word of God.
17:13 And it came to pass when they had arriven in the borders
of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves,
and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord, that they
should meet again at the close of their harvest: for they supposed
that great was the work which they had undertaken.
17:14 --And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to
preach the word of God to a wild, and a hardened, and a ferocious
people; a people which delighted in the murdering the Nephites,
and robbing, and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon
riches, or upon gold, and silver, and precious stones; yet they
sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that
they might not labor for them with their own hands:
17:15 thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did
worship idols, and the curse of God had fell upon them because
of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding, the promises
of the Lord were extended unto them, on the conditions of repentance;
17:16 therefore this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah
had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto
repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the
plan of redemption;
17:17 therefore they separated themselves one from another; and
went forth among them every man alone, according to the word and
power of God, which was given unto him.
17:18 Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer
unto them; and he departed from them, after having blessed them
according to their several stations, having imparted the word
of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure;
and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land.
17:19 And Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land being called
after the sons of Ishmael, which also became Lamanites.
17:20 And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites
took him and bound him, as was their custom, to bind all the Nephites
which fell into their hands, and carry them before the king; and
thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or
to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to
cast them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure;
17:21 and thus Ammon was carried before the king which was over
the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant
of Ishmael.
17:22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were desirous to dwell
in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people?
17:23 And Ammon said unto him, Yea, I desire to dwell among this
people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.
17:24 And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with
Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and he would
that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.
17:25 But Ammon saith unto him, Nay, but I will be thy servant;
therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni. And it came to
pass that he was set, among other servants, to watch the flocks
of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites.
17:26 And it came to pass that after he had been in the service
of the king three days, tha