Canon of Truth
Mormon Second Order Memories
Fractured Addewid: A Novel In Progress
by
Oliver Smith
OliverSmith@CyberPoet.com
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Second Order Recitation -
THE BOOK OF ALMA
THE SON OF ALMA
The account of Alma, the son of Alma the first, and chief judge
over the people of Nephi, and the high priest over the Church. An
account of the reign of the judges, wars and contentions among
the people and of a war between the Nephites and the
Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.
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
died and fought well, walking proud before God,
leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless
he established laws, and they were acknowledged and followed by the people;
And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma there was
a large, strong man brought before him to be judged, who had been
preaching what he called the word of Nerth to them, bearing down against
the church;
declaring unto the
people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they
ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be
supported by the people. And he also testified unto the people that
all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not
fear nor tremble, but that 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. 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. 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. And it came to pass as he was going, to preach
to those who believed on his word, he met a man who 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. Now the
name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the
hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage. 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 not able to withstand his
blows, therefore he was slain by the sword. 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 crimes which he had committed. And it came
to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for himself with much
boldness. 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 it by
the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it
would prove their entire destruction. And thou hast shed the blood of a
righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and
were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance.
Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has
been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by
this people; therefore this people must abide by the law. 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 he had
taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he
suffered an ignominious death. Nevertheless, this did not put an end to
the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who
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.
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 his belief. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Now this was a great
trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they
were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and
they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them. And
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. 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. And thus they did establish the affairs
of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again,
notwithstanding all their persecutions. And now, because of the
steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly 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. And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send
away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or
that were 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 respect to persons as to those who
stood in need. And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy
than those who did not belong to their church. For those who did not
belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in
idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife;
wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes;
persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing 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 was
possible. 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. And it came to pass in the
commencement 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 -- Now this Amlici had, by
his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they
began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish
Amlici to be king over the people. Now this was alarming to the people
of the church, and also to all those who 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.
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; for it was his intent to destroy the church
of God. 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. And thus they did
assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the
matter; and they were laid before the judges. And it came to pass that
the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king
over the people. Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who
were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to
anger against those who were not in his favor. And it came to pass that
they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be
their king. Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them
that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did
that he might subject them to him. 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. Therefore the
people of the Nephites were aware of the intent of the Amlicites, and
therefore they did prepare 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. And thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at the
time of their coming. And there were appointed captains, and higher
captains, and chief captains, according to their numbers. 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. And it came to pass
that the Amlicites came 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. Now Alma, 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. And they began to slay the
Amlicites upon the hill east of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend
with the Nephites with great strength, insomuch that many of the
Nephites did fall before the Amlicites. Nevertheless the Lord did
strengthen the hand of the Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with
great slaughter, that they began to flee before them. nd it came to
pass that the Nephites did pursue the Amlicites all that day, and did
slay them with much slaughter, insomuch that there were slain of the
Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two souls; and there
were slain of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two
souls. 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 who was slain by
the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this valley the Nephites did
pitch their tents for the night. 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
preserve his people from being destroyed. Now those whom he had sent
out to watch the camp of the Amlicites were called Zeram, and Amnor,
and Manti, and Limher; these were they who went out with their men to
watch the camp of the Amlicites. 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: 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 a numerous host of the Lamanites; and behold, the
Amlicites have joined them; 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. 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. 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. 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. And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with
the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with
another. And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being
exercised with much faith, 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. Now when Alma had said these words he contended again with
Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the
sword. 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. But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards
of the king of the Lamanites until he slew and drove them back. And
thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west
of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the Lamanites who 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. And
it came to pass that the Nephites who were not slain by the weapons of
war, after having buried those who had been slain -- now the number of
the slain were not numbered, because of the greatness of their number
-- after they had finished burying their dead they all returned to
their lands, and to their houses, and their wives, and their children.
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.
And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites who 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.
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. 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 armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their
arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth. 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, who consisted
of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men. 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 Ishmaelitish women. 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. And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed
with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed.
Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites
was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him. 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 in the tradition of their fathers, which
were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them,
were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth
-- And it is they who have kept the records which are true of their
people, and also of the people of the Lamanites. 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. Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words
which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will
set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee
and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent
of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them.
And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy
brethren, that they may be cursed also. And again: I will set a mark
upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed. And again, I say he
that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will
bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and
forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his
seed. 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. 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.
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. And it
came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their
land. Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did not go up to
battle at this time against the Lamanites; 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. And then
they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being
troubled no more for a time with their enemies. Now all these things
were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended
in the fifth year of the reign of the judges. And in one year were
thousands and tens of 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 they listed to obey,
whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. For every man receiveth wages
of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the
spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And
thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges. Now it came to
pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla; But
the people were 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 were trodden under foot and
destroyed by the Lamanites. And so great were their afflictions that
every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the
judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their
abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their
duty. And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many
were baptized in the waters 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. And it came to pass in the seventh year of the
reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls
that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus
endeth the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time. 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 their
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 the pride of their eyes, for
they began to wear very costly apparel. Now this was the cause of much
affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom 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. 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 the 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. 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. And thus ended the
eighth year of the reign of the 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. And it came
to pass in the commencement of the ninth year Alma saw the wickedness
of the church, and he saw 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, he saw
great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with
their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and
the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and
those who were sick and afflicted. 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, who should come
according to the spirit of prophecy; 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. And now
it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble
followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by
the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to
be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail
him. And he selected a wise man who 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. 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. Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest
over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto
himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah. 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 were among his people, seeing no way that he might
reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against
them. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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 his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover,
have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered
their souls from hell? Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he
awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold,
they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, 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. And now I ask of you, my
brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were
not. And again I ask, were 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. And now I ask
of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to
hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the
bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell? Behold, I can tell
you -- did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered
by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not
speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them? And according
to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I
say unto you that this is all true. 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. 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? 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 have been
done in the mortal body? 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? 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? 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? 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? I
say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded
yourselves to become subjects to the devil? 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 has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to
redeem his people from their sins. 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? Behold will they
not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of
all manner of wickedness? 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? 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, ye cannot suppose that
such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast
out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil. 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? 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, who will
come to redeem his people from their sins? 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. 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. nd again I say unto you, is
there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that
heapeth upon him persecutions? 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! Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent,
for the Lord God hath spoken it! Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto
all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith:
Repent, and I will receive you. 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; Yea, come unto me and
bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and
cast into the fire -- "Alma 5:36": 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 have cause to wail and mourn. 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 have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd,
notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling
after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice! 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 ye are
called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. And now if
ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? 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, whosoever
denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil. 0 For I say unto you
that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh
from the devil. 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. And
whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his
wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness,
being dead unto all good works. 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 plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken
according to the commandments of God. 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 are to come. And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know
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? 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 of 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. And moreover, I say unto you that 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. 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, 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 who
steadfastly believeth on his name. "Alma 5:49": 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 that they must repent and be born again. "Alma
5:50": 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. 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 nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you,
the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax 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. 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? Yea,
will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea,
will ye persist in the persecution 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 are meet for repentance --
Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the
needy, and in withholding your substance from them? "Alma 5:56": 56 And
finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you
that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire
except they speedily repent. 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 word
of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not
be mingled with the names of my people;
"Alma 5:58": 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.
"Alma 5:59": 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.
"Alma 5:60": 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.
"Alma 5:61": 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.
"Alma 5:62": 62 I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the
church; and unto those who 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.
"Alma 6:1": 1 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 elders, by laying on his
hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the
church.
"Alma 6:2": 2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the
church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and
were received into the church.
"Alma 6:3": 3 And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the
church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves
before God -- I mean those who 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.
"Alma 6:4": 4 And thus they began to establish the order of the church
in the city of Zarahemla.
"Alma 6:5": 5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of
God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of
assembling themselves together to hear the word of God.
"Alma 6:6": 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.
"Alma 6:7": 7 And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these
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 who was slain by the hand of Nehor
with the sword.
"Alma 6:8": 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, who should
come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which
he was called. And thus it is written. $ Amen.
"Alma 7:1": 1 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 come unto you.
"Alma 7:2": 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.
"Alma 7:3": 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 had 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.
"Alma 7:4": 4 But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to
know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that
they are established again in the way of his righteousness.
"Alma 7:5": 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 affliction and
sorrow.
"Alma 7:6": 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 living God, and
that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an
everlasting faith, which is to come.
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.
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
power to do all things which are according to his word.
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.
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.
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
sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the
bands of death which bind 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 succor his people
according to their infirmities.
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.
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, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to
save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
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 show 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.
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.
And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these
things? $ Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that ye 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.
For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had
much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your
brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified.
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.
I perceive that it has 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.
And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can
filthiness or anything 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 who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.
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.
And now ask that you be be humble, submissive, gentle, easy to be
entreated, full of patience, long-suffering, temperate in all things,
diligent in keeping the commandments of Nerth at all times,
asking for whatever you need, both spiritual and physical, always returning
thanks unto Nerth for that which you receive.
See that ye have faith, hope, and charity and abound in good works.
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 who 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.
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 my word.
And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon
your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you
possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good
works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
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.
And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi.
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.
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.
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 they were baptized throughout all the land;
So that when he had finished his work at Melek he
departed thence, and traveled three days' journey on the north of the
land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah.
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.
And it came to pass that when Alma had come to the city
of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of God unto them.
Now Diawl 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.
"Alma 8:10": 10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling
with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the
people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might
baptize them unto repentance.
"Alma 8:11": 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 thy church, and we
do not believe in such foolish traditions.
"Alma 8:12": 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.
"Alma 8:13": 13 Now when the people had said this, and 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.
"Alma 8:14": 14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying
thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much
tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the
people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma
was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared
unto him, saying:
"Alma 8:15": 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
receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered
it unto you.
"Alma 8:16": 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.
"Alma 8:17": 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 has
given unto his people.
"Alma 8:18": 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 he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way
which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.
"Alma 8:19": 19 And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he
said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to
eat?
"Alma 8:20": 20 And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know
that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel
said 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 wilt
be a blessing unto me and my house.
"Alma 8:21": 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 set before Alma.
"Alma 8:22": 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.
"Alma 8:23": 23 And after he had eaten and was filled he said unto
Amulek: I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God
throughout the land.
"Alma 8:24": 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.
"Alma 8:25": 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.
"Alma 8:26": 26 And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken me
in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many
days.
"Alma 8:27": 27 And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he began
to preach unto the people.
"Alma 8:28": 28 And it came to pass that the people did wax more gross
in their iniquities.
"Alma 8:29": 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.
"Alma 8:30": 30 And 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.
"Alma 8:31": 31 And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they
could not be confined in dungeons; neither was 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.
"Alma 8:32": 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.
"Alma 9:1": 1 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 who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass as I
began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying:
"Alma 9:2": 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?
"Alma 9:3": 3 Now they understood not the words which they spake; for
they knew not that the earth should pass away.
"Alma 9:4": 4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou
shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day.
"Alma 9:5": 5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous works,
for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.
"Alma 9:6": 6 And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more authority
than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such
great and marvelous things?
"Alma 9:7": 7 And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but
behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them,
yea, I did boldly testify unto them, saying:
"Alma 9:8": 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.
"Alma 9:9": 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?
"Alma 9:10": 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?
"Alma 9:11": 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 woe.
"Alma 9:12": 12 Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to
repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of
God. But behold, this is not all -- he has 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.
"Alma 9:13": 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.
"Alma 9:14": 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
has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have been cut off
from his presence, from the beginning of their transgressions in the
land.
"Alma 9:15": 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.
"Alma 9:16": 16 For there are many promises which are extended to the
Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that
caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord
will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land.
"Alma 9:17": 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.
"Alma 9:18": 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.
"Alma 9:19": 19 For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your
iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather
suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people who are called
the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall into sins
and transgressions, after having had so much light and so much
knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God;
"Alma 9:20": 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;
"Alma 9:21": 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;
"Alma 9:22": 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 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 --
"Alma 9:23": 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, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than
for them.
"Alma 9:24": 24 For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to
the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has 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?
"Alma 9:25": 25 And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed,
the Lord has 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;
"Alma 9:26": 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.
"Alma 9:27": 27 And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be
baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name.
"Alma 9:28": 28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time
is at hand that all men 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.
"Alma 9:29": 29 Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying unto
the people.
"Alma 9:30": 30 And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren,
and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are
meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened
against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen
people.
"Alma 9:31": 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 hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.
"Alma 9:32": 32 And also because I 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.
"Alma 9:33": 33 But it came to pass that the Lord did not suffer them
that they should take me at that time and cast me into prison.
"Alma 9:34": 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.
Alma 10
"Alma 10:1": 1 Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the
people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
"Alma 10:2": 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 the same
Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the
temple, which was written by the finger of God.
"Alma 10:3": 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 who was sold into Egypt by the
hands of his brethren.
"Alma 10:4": 4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among
all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and
friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my
industry.
"Alma 10:5": 5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of
the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous 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 marvelous power; yea, even in the
preservation of the lives of this people.
"Alma 10:6": 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 rebelling 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 the judges.
"Alma 10:7": 7 As I was 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,
who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted 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.
"Alma 10:8": 8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the
angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I
found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy
house -- and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you
concerning the things of God.
"Alma 10:9": 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.
"Alma 10:10": 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 has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me;
and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.
"Alma 10:11": 11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath
blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my
kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of
the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
"Alma 10:12": 12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people
began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who
testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the
things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which
was in them.
"Alma 10:13": 13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who 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 their 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.
"Alma 10:14": 14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who
were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer
the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the
people before the judges.
"Alma 10:15": 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.
"Alma 10:16": 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.
"Alma 10:17": 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 said 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.
"Alma 10:18": 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.
"Alma 10:19": 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.
"Alma 10:20": 20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge
of 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.
"Alma 10:21": 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.
"Alma 10:22": 22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the
prayers of the righteous, who 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.
"Alma 10:23": 23 But 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 out 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.
"Alma 10:24": 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 whom we have
selected.
"Alma 10:25": 25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the
mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why
hath Diawl 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?
"Alma 10:26": 26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do
not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have
not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
"Alma 10:27": 27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of
the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the
unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.
"Alma 10:28": 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 says that he has not spoken against
it.
"Alma 10:29": 29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our
judges.
"Alma 10:30": 30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their
hearts that they should remember these things against him.
"Alma 10:31": 31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom.
Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the
most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.
"Alma 10:32": 32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and
they got gain according to their employ. Now it was in the law of
Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were
appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time
which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be
judged. Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he
did 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 judged the man according to the law and the
evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was
compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out
from among the people as a thief and a robber.
"Alma 11:3": 3 And the judge received 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.
"Alma 11:4": 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 who 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 and the circumstances of the people, in every
generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been established
by king Mosiah. Now the reckoning is thus -- a senine of gold, a seon
of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold. A senum of silver, an
amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver. 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. Now the amount
of a seon of gold was twice the value of a senine. And a shum of gold
was twice the value of a seon. And a limnah of gold was the value of
them all. And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums. And an
ezrom of silver was as great as four senums. And an onti was as great
as them all. Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their
reckoning -- A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for
half a measure of barley. And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon. And a
leah is the half of a shiblum. Now this is their number, according to
their reckoning. Now an antion of gold is equal to three shiblons. Now,
it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their
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 were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the
people against Alma and Amulek. 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 who was expert in the devices of the devil,
that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto
Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you? And
Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the
Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the
Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six
onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the
existence of a Supreme Being.
"Alma 11:23": 23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye
me? $ Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?
"Alma 11:24": 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.
"Alma 11:25": 25 And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst
unto me -- Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will
give unto thee -- when thou hadst 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.
"Alma 11:26": 26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true
and living God?
"Alma 11:27": 27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
"Alma 11:28": 28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
"Alma 11:29": 29 And he answered, No.
"Alma 11:30": 30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou
these things?
"Alma 11:31": 31 And he said: An angel hath made them known unto me.
"Alma 11:32": 32 And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is
it the Son of God?
"Alma 11:33": 33 And he said unto him, Yea.
"Alma 11:34": 34 And Zeezrom said 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.
"Alma 11:35": 35 Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember
these things; for he said 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.
"Alma 11:36": 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.
"Alma 11:37": 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, how can ye
be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? $ Therefore, ye
cannot be saved in your sins.
"Alma 11:38": 38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God
the very Eternal Father?
"Alma 11:39": 39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal
Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is
the beginning and the end, the first and the last;
"Alma 11:40": 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.
"Alma 11:41": 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.
"Alma 11:42": 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.
"Alma 11:43": 43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited 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.
"Alma 11:44": 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 every thing 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, 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.
"Alma 11:45": 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.
"Alma 11:46": 46 Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people
began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And
thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written.
"Alma 12:1": 1 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 a
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.
"Alma 12:2": 2 Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by
the people round about; for the multitude was great, and he spake on
this wise:
"Alma 12:3": 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;
"Alma 12:4": 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 --
"Alma 12:5": 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.
"Alma 12:6": 6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of
the adversary, which he has 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.
"Alma 12:7": 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.
"Alma 12:8": 8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he
might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said 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?
"Alma 12:9": 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.
"Alma 12:10": 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 he know them in full.
"Alma 12:11": 11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them 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.
"Alma 12:12": 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.
"Alma 12:13": 13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have
hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been
found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be
condemned.
"Alma 12:14": 14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will
condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also
condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to 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.
"Alma 12:15": 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 our 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 has all power to save
every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for
repentance.
"Alma 12:16": 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 that
whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a
spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto
righteousness.
"Alma 12:17": 17 Then is the time when their torments shall be as a
lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame 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 Diawl, he having
subjected them according to his will.
"Alma 12:18": 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.
"Alma 12:19": 19 Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of
speaking these words, the people began to be more astonished;
"Alma 12:20": 20 But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler
among them, came 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?
"Alma 12:21": 21 What does the scripture mean, which saith that God
placed cherubim 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.
"Alma 12:22": 22 Now Alma said unto him: This is the thing which I was
about to explain, now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the
forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by
his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people.
"Alma 12:23": 23 And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been
possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at
that time, 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.
"Alma 12:24": 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.
"Alma 12:25": 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.
"Alma 12:26": 26 And now behold, if it were possible that our first
parents could have gone 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. But behold, it was not
so; but it was appointed unto men 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. 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; Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to
behold of his glory. And they began from that 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. 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 -- 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. 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 will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall
have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of
his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will
harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that
he shall not enter into my rest. 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 his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to
the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his
word, unto the last death, as well as the first. 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 has
given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared
according to his word. And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds
forward to the time when 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.
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.
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 having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly 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.
And thus they have 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 have had as great privilege as their
brethren.
Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with
their brethren; 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, who was
prepared --
And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high
priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the
children of men, that they also might enter into his rest --
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 --
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 --
Thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the
Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of
years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. $ And thus it is. Amen.
Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood,
there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and
it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their
righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work
righteousness rather than to perish;
Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified,
and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
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 save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly
great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord
their God.
And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before
God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter
into that rest.
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.
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.
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. Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem;
and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they
had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness; 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. 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. Now I need not rehearse the
matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before
you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. 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; 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. 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. 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 to receive his
word at the time of his coming in his glory.
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.
"Alma 13:26": 26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by
the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our
fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken
concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was
in them.
"Alma 13:27": 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;
"Alma 13:28": 28 But 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;
"Alma 13:29": 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.
"Alma 13:30": 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.
"Alma 13:31": 31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which
are not written in this book.
And it came to pass 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.
"Alma 14:2": 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.
"Alma 14:3": 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.
"Alma 14:4": 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.
"Alma 14:5": 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 of 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. Now this was
done before the chief judge of the land.
"Alma 14:6": 6 And it 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.
"Alma 14:7": 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 he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they
reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil?
And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all
those who 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.
"Alma 14:8": 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.
"Alma 14:9": 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 who were consumed by fire.
"Alma 14:10": 10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and
children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he
said 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.
"Alma 14:11": 11 But Alma said 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 suffer that they may do
this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according
to the hardness of 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.
"Alma 14:12": 12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will
burn us also.
"Alma 14:13": 13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the
Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us
not.
"Alma 14:14": 14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who
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 said 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?
"Alma 14:15": 15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who
had been cast into the fire; neither has 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?
"Alma 14:16": 16 Now this judge was after the order and faith of Nehor,
who slew Gideon.
"Alma 14:17": 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.
"Alma 14:18": 18 And when they had been cast into prison three days,
there came many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who
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.
"Alma 14:19": 19 And it came to pass that the judge stood before them,
and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not
that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he commanded
them to speak; but they answered nothing.
"Alma 14:20": 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?
"Alma 14:21": 21 And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing
their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we
look when we are damned?
"Alma 14:22": 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.
"Alma 14:23": 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 were
bound with cords.
"Alma 14:24": 24 And the chief judge stood before them, and smote them
again, and said 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.
"Alma 14:25": 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
rose and stood upon their feet.
"Alma 14:26": 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 broke 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.
"Alma 14:27": 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
rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and
the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek,
were slain by the fall thereof.
"Alma 14:28": 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 within the walls thereof, save
it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth
into the city.
"Alma 14:29": 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.
And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out
of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of
Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out
of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because
they believed in the words of Alma.
"Alma 15:2": 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.
"Alma 15:3": 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 were no
more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity.
And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind
until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore
he began to be scorched with a burning heat.
"Alma 15:4": 4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were 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.
"Alma 15:5": 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 exceedingly sore
because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his
hand, and besought them that they would heal him.
"Alma 15:6": 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?
"Alma 15:7": 7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words
that thou hast taught.
"Alma 15:8": 8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of
Christ thou canst be healed.
"Alma 15:9": 9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.
"Alma 15:10": 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.
"Alma 15:11": 11 And when Alma had said these words, 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.
"Alma 15:12": 12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began
from that time forth to preach unto the people.
"Alma 15:13": 13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom,
and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the
Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.
"Alma 15:14": 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.
"Alma 15:15": 15 But as to the people that were in the land of
Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted 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.
"Alma 15:16": 16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek
having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things,
which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being
rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and
his kindred;
"Alma 15:17": 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 themselves together at their sanctuaries to
worship God before the altar, watching and praying continually, that
they might be delivered from Diawl, and from death, and from
destruction --
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. And thus ended the tenth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. 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.
For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the wilderness
side, into the borders of the land, even into the city of Ammonihah,
and began to slay the people and destroy the city. 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 who were in the city of
Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taken others
captive into the wilderness.
Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous to obtain those who
had been carried away captive into the wilderness. 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 whither the Lord would that they
should go into the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been
taken captive by the Lamanites.
"Alma 16:6": 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 who have been taken captive by the
Lamanites.
"Alma 16:7": 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.
"Alma 16:8": 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 who had been taken captive by the Lamanites, and there
was not one soul of them had been lost that were taken captive. And
they were brought by their brethren to possess their own lands.
"Alma 16:9": 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
was destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could not
destroy, because of its greatness.
"Alma 16:10": 10 But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the
carcasses were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness.
"Alma 16:11": 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, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate.
"Alma 16:12": 12 And 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.
"Alma 16:13": 13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to
the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in
their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.
"Alma 16:14": 14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them they
did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons,
continually.
"Alma 16:15": 15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many
more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout
all the land. And the establishment of the church became general
throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the
people of the Nephites.
"Alma 16:16": 16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did
pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land 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 --
"Alma 16:17": 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.
"Alma 16:18": 18 Now those priests who 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 adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness,
crying that these things ought not so to be --
"Alma 16:19": 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.
"Alma 16:20": 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.
"Alma 16:21": 21 And now after the church had been established
throughout all 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 -- thus ended the
fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
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 journeying towards the
land of Zarahemla. 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.
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
of God.
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 altar of God, to call on his name and confess their
sins before him.
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.
Now these were their journeyings: Having taken leave of their father,
Mosiah, in the first year 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;
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 did that they might provide food for themselves
while in the wilderness.
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.
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. And it came to pass that the Lord did visit
them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were
comforted. 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 show forth good examples
unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto
the salvation of many souls. And it came to pass that the hearts of the
sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go
forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God. And it
came to pass when they had arrived 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. 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 who delighted in 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. Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom
did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of
the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the
Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance.
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. 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.
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.
And Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land being called after the
sons of Ishmael, who also became Lamanites.
"Alma 17:20": 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 who 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.
"Alma 17:21": 21 And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was
over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a
descendant of Ishmael.
"Alma 17:22": 22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire
to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people.
"Alma 17:23": 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.
"Alma 17:24": 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.
"Alma 17:25": 25 But Ammon said 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.
"Alma 17:26": 26 And after he had been in the service of the king three
days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with their
flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of Sebus, and
all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they may have water
--
"Alma 17:27": 27 Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king were
driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a certain
number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood
and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and
they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways.
"Alma 17:28": 28 Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying:
Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks
were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep
exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already.
"Alma 17:29": 29 Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now
when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for,
said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or
the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that
I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them
to believe in my words.
"Alma 17:30": 30 And now, these were the thoughts of Ammon, when he saw
the afflictions of those whom he termed to be his brethren.
"Alma 17:31": 31 And it came to pass that he flattered them by his
words, saying: My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of
the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto
the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king
and he will not slay us.
"Alma 17:32": 32 And it came to pass that they went in search of the
flocks, and they did follow Ammon, and they rushed forth with much
swiftness and did head the flocks of the king, and did gather them
together again to the place of water.
"Alma 17:33": 33 And those men again stood to scatter their flocks; but
Ammon said unto his brethren: Encircle the flocks round about that they
flee not; and I go and contend with these men who do scatter our
flocks.
"Alma 17:34": 34 Therefore, they did as Ammon commanded them, and he
went forth and stood to contend with those who stood by the waters of
Sebus; and they were in number not a few.
"Alma 17:35": 35 Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed
that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for
they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver
his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning
the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their
brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the
king.
"Alma 17:36": 36 But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at them
with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones amongst
them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch that they
began to be astonished at his power; nevertheless they were angry
because of the slain of their brethren, and they were determined that
he should fall; therefore, seeing that they could not hit him with
their stones, they came forth with clubs to slay him.
"Alma 17:37": 37 But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite
Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand
their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch
that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea,
and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the
strength of his arm.
"Alma 17:38": 38 Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew
none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many
of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few.
"Alma 17:39": 39 And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and
they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the king,
and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten
off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay hi