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1:1 Chapter 1 And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things
which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.
1:2 --And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto
the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age; and
I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning
of my people, ) And Ammaron saith unto me, I perceive that thou
art a sober child, and art quick to observe;
1:3 therefore when ye are about twenty and four years old, I would
that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning
this people; and when ye are of that age, go to the land of Antum,
unto a hill, which is called Shim; and there have I deposited
unto the Lord, all the sacred engravings concerning this people.
1:4 And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself,
and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are;
and ye shall engrave upon the plates of Nephi, all the things
which ye have observed concerning this people.
1:5 And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father's
name was Mormon,) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded
me.
1:6 And it came to pass that I being eleven years old, was carried
by my father into the land southward, even to the land of Zarahemla:
1:7 the whole face of the land having become covered with buildings,
and the people were as numerous almost, as it were the sand of
the sea.
1:8 And it came to pass in this year there began to be a war between
the Nephites, which consisted of the Nephites, and the Jacobites,
and the Josephites, and the Zoramites: and this war was between
the Nephites and the Lamanites, and the Lamanites and the Lemuelites,
and the Ishmaelites.
1:9 Now the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites,
were called Lamanites, and the two parties were Nephites and Lamanites.
1:10 And it came to pass that the war began to be among them,
in the borders of Zarahemla, by the waters of Sidon.
1:11 And it came to pass that the Nephites had gathered together
a great number of men, even to exceed the number of thirty thousand.
And it came to pass that they did have in this same year a number
of battles, in the which the Nephites did beat the Lamanites,
and did slay many of them.
1:12 And it came to pass that the Lamanites withdrew their design,
and there was peace settled in the land, and peace did remain
for the space of about four years, that there were no blood shed.
1:13 But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land,
insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and
the work of miracles and of healing did cease, because of the
iniquity of the people.
1:14 And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost
did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.
1:15 And I, being fifteen years of age, and being somewhat of
a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted
, and knew of the goodness of Jesus.
1:16 And I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth
was shut, and I were forbidden that I should preach unto them:
for behold they had wilfully rebelled against their God, and the
beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because of
their iniquity.
1:17 But I did remain among them, but I were forbidden that I
should preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts;
and because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed
for their sake.
1:18 And these Gaddianton robbers, which were among the Lamanites,
did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began
to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery,
because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold
them, nor retain them again.
1:19 And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts,
and magics: and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all
the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words
of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite.
2:1 --And it came to pass in that same year, there began to be
a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding
I being young, was large in stature, therefore the people of Nephi
appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their
armies.
2:2 Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year, I did
go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites;
therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.
2:3 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and
seventh year, the Lamanites did come upon us with exceeding great
power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they
would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries.
2:4 And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angelah,
and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations
to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass
that we did fortify the city with our mights; but notwithstanding
all our fortifications, the Lamanites did come upon us, and did
drive us out of the city.
2:5 And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David.
2:6 And we marched forth, and came to the land of Joshua, which
was in the border west by the seashore.
2:7 And it came to pass that we did gather our people as fast
as it were possible, that we might get them together in one body.
2:8 But behold, the land was filled with robbers and with Lamanites;
and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung over my people,
they did not repent of their evil doings; therefore there was
blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land,
both on the part of the Nephites, and also on the part of the
Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the
face of the land.
2:9 And now the Lamanites had a king, and his name was Aaron;
and he came against us with an army of forty and four thousand.
And behold, I withstood him, with forty and two thousand. And
it came to pass that I beat him with my army, that he fled before
me. And behold, all this was done, and three hundred and thirty
years had passed away.
2:10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of
their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by
Samuel the prophet: for behold no man could keep that which was
his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers,
and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land.
2:11 Thus there began to be mourning and lamentation in all the
land, because of these things; and more especially among the people
of Nephi.
2:12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation,
and their mourning, and their sorrowing before the Lord, my heart
did begin to rejoice within me: knowing the mercies and the long
suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful
unto them, that they would again become a righteous people.
2:13 But behold this my joy was in vain, for their sorrowing was
not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God, but it was
rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not
always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
2:14 And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite
spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless
they would struggle with the sword for their lives.
2:15 And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again,
and I saw that the day of grace was past with them, both temporally
and spiritually: for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open
rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung upon the face
of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and four years had
passed away.
2:16 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and
fifth year, the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites,
and they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon,
before it were possible to stop them in their retreat.
2:17 And now the city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron
had deposited the records unto the Lord, that they might not be
destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron,
and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record according
to the words of Ammaron.
2:18 And upon the plates of Nephi, I did make a full account of
all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did
forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and abominations:
for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has
been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold
the ways of man.
2:19 And wo is me, because of their wickedness: for my heart has
been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days;
nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.
2:20 And it came to pass that in this year the people of Nephi
again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we were
driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was
called Shem.
2:21 And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of Shem,
and we did gather in our people in as much as it were possible,
that perhaps we might save them from destruction.
2:22 And it came to pass in the three hundred and forty and sixth
year, they began to come upon us again.
2:23 And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and
did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly
before the Lamanites, and fight for their wives, and their children,
and their houses and their homes.
2:24 And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch
that they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand
with boldness against them.
2:25 And it came to pass that we did contend with an army of thirty
thousand, against an army of fifty thousand. And it came to pass
that we did stand before them with such firmness, that they did
flee from before us.
2:26 And it came to pass that when they had fled, we did pursue
them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them;
nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us: yea, we
were left to ourselves, that the spirit of the Lord did not abide
in us; therefore we had become weak, like unto our brethren.
2:27 And my heart did sorrow because of this great calamity of
my people; because of their wickedness and their abominations.
But behold we did go forth against the Lamanites, and the robbers
of Gaddianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands
of our inheritance.
2:28 And the three hundred and forty and ninth year had passed
away. And in three hundred and fiftieth year, we made a treaty
with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gaddianton, in which we
did get the lands of our inheritance divided.
2:29 And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward; yea,
even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward.
And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward.
3:1 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did not come to battle
again until ten years more had passed away. And behold, I had
employed my people, the Nephites, in preparing their lands and
their arms against the time of battle.
3:2 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me, Cry unto
this people repent ye, and come unto me and be baptized, and build
up again my church, and ye shall be spared.
3:3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain, and they
did not realise that it was the Lord that had spared them, and
granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold, they did
harden their hearts against the Lord their God.
3:4 And it came to pass that after the tenth year had passed away,
making in the whole, three hundred and sixty years from the coming
of Christ, the king of the Lamanites sent an epistle unto me,
which gave unto me to know that they were preparing to come again
to battle against us.
3:5 And it came to pass that they should gather themselves together
at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by
the narrow pass which lead into the land southward.
3:6 And there we did place our armies, that we might stop the
armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of
any of our lands; therefore we did fortify against them with all
our force.
3:7 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and
first year, the Lamanites did come down to the city of Desolation
to battle, against us. And it came to pass that in that year,
we did beat them, insomuch that they did return to their own lands
again.
3:8 And in the three hundred and sixty and second year, they did
come down again to battle. And we did beat them again, and did
slay a great number of them, and their dead was cast into the
sea.
3:9 And now because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites,
had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began
to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves
of the blood of their brethren which had been slain by their enemies.
3:10 And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne
of God, that they would go up to battle against their enemies,
and would cut them off from the face of the land.
3:11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly refuse from
this time forth, to be a commander and a leader of this people,
because of their wickedness and abomination.
3:12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness,
I had lead them many times to battle, and had loved them, according
to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my
soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long,
for them; nevertheless it was without faith, because of the hardness
of their hearts.
3:13 And thrice have I delivered them out of the hands of their
enemies, and they have repented of their sins.
3:14 And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them,
by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto
their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of
their brethren, behold, the voice of the Lord came unto me saying:
3:15 Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people
repented not after that I had delivered them, behold, they shall
be cut off from the face of the earth.
3:16 And it came to pass that I utterly refused to go up against
mine enemies; and I did even as the Lord had commanded me; and
I did stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world the
things which I saw and heard, according to the manifestations
of the spirit which had testified of things to come.
3:17 Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you,
house of Israel, when the work shall commence that ye shall be
about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;
3:18 yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth; yea,
unto you, twelve tribes of Israel. which shall be judged according
to your works, by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his disciples
in the land of Jerusalem.
3:19 And I write also unto the remnant of this people, which shall
also be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose in the land
of Jerusalem.
3:20 And these things do the spirit manifest unto me; therefore
I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that
ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment seat of
Christ, yea, every soul which belong to the whole human family
of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether
they be good or evil;
3:21 and also that ye may believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
which ye shall have among you; and also that the Jews, the covenant
people of the Lord, shall have other witness besides that which
they saw and heard, that Jesus, whom they slew, was the very Christ,
and the very God;
3:22 and I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth
to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
4:1 Chapter 2 And now it came to pass that in the three
hundred and sixty and third year, the Nephites did go up with
their armies to battle against the Lamanites, out of the land
Desolation.
4:2 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites were driven
back again to the land of Desolation. And while they were yet
weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them; and they
had a sore battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession
of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the Nephites, and
did take many prisoners;
4:3 and the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the
city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore;
and it was also near the city Desolation.
4:4 And it was because of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites,
that they began to be smitten: for were it not for that, the Lamanites
could have no power over them.
4:5 But behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked;
and it is by the wicked, that the wicked are punished: for it
is the wicked that stireth up the hearts of the children of men
unto bloodshed.
4:6 --And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make preparation
to come against the city Teancum.
4:7 And it came to pass in the three hundred and sixty and fourth
year, the Lamanites did come against the city Teancum, that they
might take possession of the city Teancum also.
4:8 And it came to pass that they were repulsed and driven back
by the Nephites. And when the Nephites saw that they had driven
the Lamanites, they did again boast of their strength; and they
went forth in their own might, and took possession again of the
city Desolation.
4:9 And now all these things had been done and there had been
thousands slain on both sides, both the Nephites and the Lamanites.
4:10 And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and
sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon
the Nephites to battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the
evil which they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually.
4:11 And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for a
man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the
blood and a carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites
and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they
delighted in shedding of blood continually.
4:12 And there never had been so great wickedness among all the
children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according
to the words of the Lord, as were among this people.
4:13 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take possession
of the city Desolation, and this because their number did exceed
the number of the Nephites.
4:14 And they did also march forward against the city Teancum,
and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many
prisoners of women and of children, and did offer them up as sacrifices
unto their idol gods.
4:15 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and
seventh year, the Nephites being angry because the Lamanites had
sacrificed their women and their children, that they did go against
the Lamanites with exceeding anger, insomuch that they did beat
again the Lamanites, and drive them out of their lands;
4:16 and the Lamanites did not come again against the Nephites,
until the three hundred and seventy and fifth year.
4:17 And in this year they did come down against the Nephites
with all their powers; and they were not numbered, because of
the greatness of their number.
4:18 And from this time forth did the Nephites gain no power over
the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them even as a dew
before the sun.
4:19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down against
the city of Desolation; and there was an exceeding sore battle
fought in the land Desolation, in which they did beat the Nephites.
4:20 And they fled again from before them, and they came to the
city Beaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with
exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them
until they had come again the second time.
4:21 the Nephites were driven and slaughtered with an exceeding
great slaughter; their women and their children were again sacrificed
unto idols.
4:22 And it came to pass that the Nephites did again flee from
before them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in towns
and villages.
4:23 And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were about to
overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim, and did
take all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord.
5:1 And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites,
and did repent of the oath which I made, That I would no more
assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies: for
they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their
afflictions.
5:2 But behold, I was without hopes, for I knew the judgments
of the Lord which should come upon them: for they repented not
of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives, without
calling upon that Being who had created them.
5:3 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us
as we fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, they were driven
back that they did not take the city at that time.
5:4 And it came to pass that they came against us again, and we
did maintain the city. And there were also other cities which
were maintained by the Nephites, which strong holds did cut them
off that they could not get into the country which lay before
us to destroy the inhabitants of our land.
5:5 But it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had passed by,
and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in, were destroyed
by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages, and cities were
burned with fire; and thus the three hundred and seventy and nine
years passed away.
5:6 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and eightieth
year, the Lamanites did come again against us to battle, and we
did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain, for so
great were their numbers that they did tread the people of the
Nephites under their feet.
5:7 And it came to pass that we did again take to flight, and
they whose flight were swifter than the Lamanites did escape,
and they whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites, were swept
down and destroyed.
5:8 And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the
souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood
and carnage as was laid before mine eyes, but I, knowing that
these things must surely be made known, and that all things which
are hid must be revealed upon the house tops,
5:9 and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the
remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, which the
Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should
be counted as nought among them, therefore I write a small abridgement,
daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen,
because of the commandment which I have received, and also that
ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of
this people.
5:10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to
the Gentiles, which hath care for the house of Israel, that realize
and know from whence their blessings come:
5:11 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the
house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of
this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented,
that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.
5:12 Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house
of Jacob; and they are written after the manner, because it is
known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them;
and they are to be hid up unto the Lord, that they may come forth
in his own due time.
5:13 And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold
they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord,
when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.
5:14 And behold they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews;
and for this intent shall they go: that they may be persuaded
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the
Father may bring about, through his most beloved, his great and
eternal purpose, in the restoring the Jews or all the house of
Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their
God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant,
5:15 and also that the seed of this people may more fully believe
his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles:
for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a
filthy, and loathsome people beyond the description of that which
ever hath been amongst us; yea, even that which hath been among
the Lamanites; and this because of their unbelief and idolatry:
5:16 For behold, the spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to
strive with their fathers, and they are without Christ and God
in the world, and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.
5:17 They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ
for their Shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.
5:18 But now, behold they are led about by Satan, even as chaff
is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon
the waves, without sail or anchor, or without any thing wherewith
to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.
5:19 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessing, which
they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles, which
shall possess the land.
5:20 --But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven
and scattered by the Gentiles; and after that they have been driven
and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember
the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house
of Israel.
5:21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous,
which hath been put up unto him for them.
5:22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power
of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
5:23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not
that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall
be rolled together as a scroll?
5:24 Therefore repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest
he shall come out in justice against you; lest a remnant of the
seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you
in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
6:1 Chapter 3 And now I finish my record concerning the
destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it came to pass that
we did march forth before the Lamanites.
6:2 And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the Lamanites,
and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we might gather
together our people unto the land of Camorah, by the hill which
was called Camorah, and there we would give them battle.
6:3 And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites did grant
unto me the thing which I desired.
6:4 And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of
Camorah; and we did pitch our tents round about the hill of Camorah;
and it was in a land of many waters, rivers and fountains; and
here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites.
6:5 And when three hundred and eighty and four years had passed
away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people unto
the land Camorah.
6:6 And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people
in one to the land of Camorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old;
knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been
commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer that the records
which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred,
to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would
destroy them,) therefore I made this record out of the plates
of Nephi, and hid up in the hill of Camorah, all the records which
had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were
these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.
6:7 And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their
children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites a marching
towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the
breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them.
6:8 And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and
every soul was filled with terror, because of the greatness of
their numbers.
6:9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with
the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the
axe, and with all manner of weapons of war.
6:10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even
my ten thousand which were with me, and I fell wounded in the
midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my
life.
6:11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people
save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni,)
and we having survived the dead of our 34 people, did behold on
the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps,
from the top of the hill Camorah, the ten thousand of my people
which were hewn down, being led in front by me,
6:12 and we also beheld the ten thousand of my people which were
led by my son Moroni.
6:13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and
he also in the midst;
6:14 and Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had
fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with his ten
thousand; and Joneam had fallen with his ten thousand; and Camenihah
and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh,
had fallen with their ten thousand each.
6:15 And it came to pass that there were ten more which did fall
by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people,
save it were those twenty and four which were with me, and also
a few which had escaped into the south countries, and a few which
had dissented over unto the Lamanites, had fallen, and their flesh,
and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left
by the hands of those who slew them, to moulder upon the land,
and to crumble and to return to their mother earth.
6:16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of
my people: And I cried,
6:17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways
of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus,
who stood with open arms to receive you!
6:18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen.
But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
6:19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye
husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have
fallen!
6:20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your
return;
6:21 and the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality,
and these bodies which are now mouldering in corruption, must
soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before
the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works:
and if it so be that ye are righteous, then ye are blessed with
your fathers which have gone before you.
6:22 O that ye had repented before that this great destruction
had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea,
the eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth
with you according to his justice and mercy.
7:1 And now behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of
this people which are spared, if it so be that God may give unto
them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers;
yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and
this is the words which I speak:
7:2 Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.
7:3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be
saved.
7:4 Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight
no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save
it be that God shall command you.
7:5 Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers,
and repent of all of your sins and iniquities, and believe in
Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain
by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again,
whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in
him is the sting of death swallowed up.
7:6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby
man must be raised to stand before his judgment seat.
7:7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby
he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day, hath
it given unto them to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom,
to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father,
and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which is one God, in
a state of happiness which hath no end.
7:8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and
lay hold upon the Gospel of Christ, which shall be set before
you, not only in this record, but also in the record which shall
come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come
from the Gentiles unto you.
7:9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe
that; and if ye believe that, ye will believe this also; and if
ye believe this, ye will know concerning your fathers, and also
the marvellous works which were wrought by the power of God among
them;
7:10 and ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of
Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first
covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized,
first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following
the example of our Saviour according to that which he hath commanded
us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.
8:1 Chapter 4 Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of
my father Mormon. Behold, I have but a few things to write, which
things I have been commanded of my father.
8:2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous
battle at Camorah, behold, the Nephites which had escaped into
the country southward, were hunted by the Lamanites, until they
were all destroyed;
8:3 and my father was also killed by them; and I, even I remaineth
alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But
behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father.
And whether they will slay me, I know not;
8:4 therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth:
and whither I go it mattereth not.
8:5 Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written
the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also. if I had
room upon the plates; but I have not; and ore I have none, for
I am alone: my father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk,
and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long that the
Lord will suffer that I may live, I know not.
8:6 Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming
of our Lord and Saviour.
8:7 And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites,
down from city to city, and from place to place, even until they
are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvellous
is the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
8:8 and behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it.
And behold also, the Lamanites are at war one with another; and
the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and
bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.
8:9 And now behold, I say no more concerning them, for there are
none, save it be Lamanites and robbers, that do exist upon the
face of the land;
8:10 and there are none that do know the true God, save it be
the disciples of Jesus, which did tarry in the land until the
wickedness of the people were so great, that the Lord would not
suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon
the face of the land, no man knoweth.
8:11 But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have
ministered unto us.
8:12 And whoso receiveth this record and shall not condemn it
because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know
of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it
possible, I would make all things known unto you.
8:13 Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this people.
I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi;
8:14 and I am the same which hideth up this record unto the Lord;
the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment
of the Lord. For he truly saith, That no one shall have them to
get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso
shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
8:15 For none can have power to bring it to light, save it be
given him of God: for God will that it shall be done with and
eye singled to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long
dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
8:16 And blessed be him that shall bring this thing to light:
for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light, according
to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the earth,
and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge
of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God:
8:17 and if there be faults, they be the faults of a man. But
behold, we know no fault. Nevertheless, God knoweth all things;
therefore he that condemneth, let him be aware lest he shall be
in danger of hell fire.
8:18 And he that sayeth, Shew unto me, or ye shall be smitten,
let him beware lest he commandeth that which is forbidden of the
Lord.
8:19 For behold, the same that judgeth rashly, shall be judged
rashly again: for according to his works shall his wages be; therefore,
he that smiteth, shall be smitten again of the Lord.
8:20 Behold what the Scriptures saith: Man shall not smite, neither
shall he judge: for judgment is mine, saith the Lord; and vengeance
is mine also, and I will repay.
8:21 And he that shall breathe out wrath and strifes against the
work of the Lord, and against the covenant people of the Lord,
which is the house of Israel, and shall say, We will destroy the
work of the Lord, and the Lord will not remember his covenant
which he hath made unto the house of Israel, the same is in danger
to be hewn down and cast into the fire:
8:22 for the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until
all his promises shall be fulfilled.
8:23 Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them.
Yea, behold I say unto you, That those saints which have gone
before me, which have possessed this land, shall cry; yea, even
from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and the Lord liveth,
he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them.
8:24 And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in the behalf
of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith: for in his name
could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause
the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause
prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could
not harm them; neither wild beasts, nor poisonous serpents, because
of the power of his word.
8:25 And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him that
the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.
8:26 And no one need not say, They shall not come, for they surely
shall, for the Lord hath spoken it: for out of the earth shall
they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and
it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are
done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from
the dead.
8:27 And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall
cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works
of darkness;
8:28 yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be
denied, and churches become defiled, and shall be lifted up in
the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of
churches, and teachers, in the pride of their hearts, even to
the envying of them who belong to their churches;
8:29 yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of
fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands;
8:30 and there shall also be heard of wars, and rumors of wars,
and earthquakes in diverse places;
8:31 yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions
upon the face of the earth: there shall be murders, and robbing,
and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations;
when there shall be many which will say, Do this, or do that,
and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last
day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness,
and in the bonds of iniquity.
8:32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches
built up that shall say, Come unto me, and for your money you
shall be forgiven of your sins.
8:33 O ye wicked and perverse, and stiffnecked people, why have
ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye
transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation
upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God.
For behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things
must be fulfilled.
8:34 Behold, the Lord hath shewn unto me great and marvellous
things concerning that which must shortly come at that day when
these things shall come forth among you.
8:35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye
are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shewn you unto me, and
I know your doings;
8:36 and I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and
there are none, save a few only, which do not lift themselves
up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine
apparel, unto envyings, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions,
and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every
one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
8:37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substances, and your
fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye
love the poor and the needy, the sick and afflicted.
8:38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, which sell yourselves
for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church
of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?
Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness,
than that misery which never dies, because of the praise of the
world?
8:39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life,
and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the
sick, and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
8:40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain,
and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans
to mourn before the Lord; and also the blood of their fathers
and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance
upon your heads?
8:41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the
time cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you,
for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
9:1 And now, I speak also concerning those who do not believe
in Christ.
9:2 Behold, will ye believe in the day of your visitation, behold,
when the Lord shall come; yea, even that great day when the earth
shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat; yea, in that great day when ye shall be brought
to stand before the Lamb of God, then will ye say that there is
no God?
9:3 Then will ye longer deny the Christ, or can ye behold the
Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under
a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be
happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked
with a consciousness of your guilt that ye have ever abused his
laws?
9:4 Behold I say unto you, that ye would be more miserable to
dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your
filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned
souls in hell?
9:5 For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness
before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus
Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you.
9:6 O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily
unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found
spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood
of the Lamb, at that great and last day.
9:7 And again I speak unto you, who deny the revelations of God,
and say that they are done away, that there is no revelations,
nor prophecies, and the interpretation of tongues.
9:8 Behold I say unto you, He that denieth these things, knoweth
not the Gospel of Christ; yea, they have not read the Scriptures;
if so, they do not understand them.
9:9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, to-day,
and forever: and in him there is no variableness, neither shadow
of changing.
9:10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god which
doth vary, and in him there is shadow of changing, then have ye
imagined up unto yourselves a god which is not a God of miracles.
But behold, I will shew unto you a God of miracles,
9:11 even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob; and it is that same God which created the heavens and
the earth, and all things that in them is.
9:12 Behold, he crated Adam; and by Adam came the fall of man.
And because of the fall of man, came Jesus Christ, even the Father
and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ, came the redemption
of man.
9:13 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus
Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea,
this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ
bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption
from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awoke
by the power of God, when the trump shall sound; and they shall
come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his
bar, being redeemed and loosed from their eternal band of death,
which death is a temporal death;
9:14 and then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and
then cometh the time that he that is filthy, shall be filthy still;
and he that is righteous, shall be righteous still: he that is
happy, shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy, shall be
unhappy still.
9:15 And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a
god which can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these
things past, of which I have spoken? Has, the end come yet? Behold
I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.
9:16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought, marvellous
in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvellous works
of God?
9:17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle, that by his word
the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word,
man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of
his word, hath miracles been wrought?
9:18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many miracles?
And there was many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the
apostles.
9:19 And if there was miracles wrought, then why has God ceased
to be God of miracles, and yet be an unchangeable being. And behold
I say unto you, He changeth not: if so, he would cease to be God;
and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
9:20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children
of men, is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from
the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
9:21 Behold I say unto you, That whoso believeth in Christ, doubting
nothing what so ever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ,
it shall be granted them: and this promise is unto all, even unto
the ends of the earth.
9:22 For behold, thus saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto
his disciples which should tarry; yea, and also to all his disciples,
in the hearing of the multitude, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature;
9:23 and he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved, but
he that believeth not, shall be damned.
9:24 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name
shall they cast out Devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover;
9:25 and whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing,
unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the
earth.
9:26 And now behold, who can stand against the works of the Lord?
Who can deny his sayings? Who will rise up against the almighty
power of the Lord? Who will despise the works of the Lord? Who
will despise the children of Christ? Behold, all ye that are despisers
of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder and perish.
9:27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the
words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for
what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but believing
and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all
your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
before him.
9:28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of
all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts,
but ask with firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation,
but that ye will serve the true and living God.
9:29 See that ye are baptized unworthily; see that ye partake
not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do
all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ,
the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the
end, ye will in no wise be cast out.--
9:30 Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead:
for I know that ye shall hear my words.
9:31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection; neither my father,
because of his imperfection; neither them which have written before
him, but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest
unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise
than that which we have been.
9:32 And now behold, we have written this record according to
our knowledge in the characters, which are called among us the
reformed Egyptian being handed down and altered by us, according
to our manner of speech.
9:33 And if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should
have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us
also; and if we could have written in the Hebrew, behold, ye would
have had none imperfection in our record.
9:34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and
also that none other people knoweth our language; and because
that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath
prepared means for the interpretation thereof.
9:35 And these things are written, that ye may rid our garments
of the blood of our brethren which have dwindled in unbelief.
9:36 And behold, these things which we have desired concerning
our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of
Christ, is according to the prayers of all the saints which have
dwelt in the land.
9:37 And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may
be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember
the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and
may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
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