ALM 41:0 Alma to Corianton continued--What restoration signifies--men to be
judged according to their deeds and desires--Self-judgment.
ALM 41:1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration
of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and
have gone far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has
been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto
thee.
ALM 41:2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite
with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be
restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according
to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be
restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to
itself.
ALM 41:3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be
judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life,
and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last
day, be restored unto that which is good.
ALM 41:4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for
evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every
thing to its natural frame--mortality raised to immortality, corruption to
incorruption--raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or
to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand,
the other on the other--
ALM 41:5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness,
or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to
his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even
so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
ALM 41:6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and
desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded
unto righteousness.
ALM 41:7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they
that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness;
and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether
to do good or do evil.
ALM 41:8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is
prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.
ALM 41:9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your
God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit
sin.
ALM 41:10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration,
that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you,
wickedness never was happiness.
ALM 41:11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would
say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of
iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to
the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of
happiness.
ALM 41:12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a
thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it
in a state opposite to its nature?
ALM 41:13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word
restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or
devilish for devilish--good for that which is good; righteous for that which
is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is
merciful.
ALM 41:14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren;
deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all
these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy
restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye
shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have
good rewarded unto you again.
ALM 41:15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be
restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner,
and justifieth him not at all.
ALM 42:0 Alma to Corianton continued--Justice and mercy expounded--The tree
of life--Mortality a period of probation--Spiritual and temporal
death--Repentance, atonement, law, punishment, all necessary.
ALM 42:1 And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry
your mind, which ye cannot understand--which is concerning the justice of God
in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is
injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery.
ALM 42:2 Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee. For behold,
after the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to
till the ground, from whence they were taken--yea, he drew out the man, and
he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming
sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life--
ALM 42:3 Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil;
and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and
eat and live forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword,
that he should not partake of the fruit--
ALM 42:4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent,
yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.
ALM 42:5 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partaken
of the tree of life, he would have lived forever, according to the word of
God, having no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have
been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.
ALM 42:6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to die--therefore, as they
were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of
the earth--and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man.
ALM 42:7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both
temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see
they became subjects to follow after their own will.
ALM 42:8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from
this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.
ALM 42:9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought
upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were
cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should
be reclaimed from this spiritual death.
ALM 42:10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by
nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became
a preparatory state.
ALM 42:11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of
redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were
miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.
ALM 42:12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state,
which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;
ALM 42:13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not
be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this
probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these
conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of
justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would
cease to be God.
ALM 42:14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the
grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be
cut off from his presence.
ALM 42:15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an
atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the
world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice,
that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
ALM 42:16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a
punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed
opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of
the soul.
ALM 42:17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin
if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?
ALM 42:18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which
brought remorse of conscience unto man.
ALM 42:19 Now, if there was no law given--if a man murdered he should
die--would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?
ALM 42:20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be
afraid to sin.
ALM 42:21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do,
or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?
ALM 42:22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a
repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice
claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the
punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would
cease to be God.
ALM 42:23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and
mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the
resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men
into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be
judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
ALM 42:24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy
claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are
saved.
ALM 42:25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you,
Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.
ALM 42:26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which
were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the
salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
ALM 42:27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of
the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not
compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him
according to his deeds.
ALM 42:28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days,
behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.
ALM 42:29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble
you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which
shall bring you down unto repentance.
ALM 42:30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more.
Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins,
by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his
mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring
you down to the dust in humility.
ALM 42:31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto
this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and
soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan
of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according
to my words. Amen.
ALM 43:0 Another Lamanite invasion--Armies of Moroni and Lehi surround and
overpower the enemy.
ALM 43:1 And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the
people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not
rest, and he also went forth.
ALM 43:2 Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that
they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy
and revelation; and they preached after the holy order of God by which they
were called.
ALM 43:3 And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and
the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.
ALM 43:4 For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites;
therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the
Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them; therefore they made
preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of
Jershon.
ALM 43:5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands;
and they came into the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites;
and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader.
ALM 43:6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous
disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore,
Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all
Amalekites and Zoramites.
ALM 43:7 Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the
Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of
his designs.
ALM 43:8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger
against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them,
and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into
bondage.
ALM 43:9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and
their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve
them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they might preserve their
rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might
worship God according to their desires.
ALM 43:10 For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the
Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true
and the living God, the Lamanites would destroy.
ALM 43:11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards
their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the
people of Ammon--and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into
a covenant and they would not break it--therefore, if they should fall into
the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.
ALM 43:12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed;
therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance.
ALM 43:13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion
of their substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were
compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of
Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented
from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of
the priests of Noah.
ALM 43:14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the
Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren,
even unto bloodshed.
ALM 43:15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered
together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites were
prepared to meet them in the land of Jershon.
ALM 43:16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed
to be the chief captain over the Nephites--now the chief captain took the
command of all the armies of the Nephites--and his name was Moroni;
ALM 43:17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars.
And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain
over the armies of the Nephites.
ALM 43:18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of
Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all
manner of weapons of war.
ALM 43:19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi,
or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with
arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were
dressed with thick clothing--
ALM 43:20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing;
they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows,
their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which
was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites
and the Amalekites;
ALM 43:21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields--therefore,
they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their
armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.
ALM 43:22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the
Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land
of Antionum into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the
wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into
the land of Manti and take possession of the land; for they did not suppose
that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.
ALM 43:23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the
wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and
Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him,
desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the
Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
ALM 43:24 And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and
Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were
marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the
land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the
people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.
ALM 43:25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest
by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take
possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over
into the land of Manti.
ALM 43:26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land
should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend
their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties; therefore
they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites.
ALM 43:27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should be
secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was
on the west of the river Sidon in the wilderness.
ALM 43:28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the
camp of the Lamanites should come.
ALM 43:29 And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was
their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them
into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the
land;
ALM 43:30 And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to
preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he
thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he
found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take.
ALM 43:31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the
valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah;
ALM 43:32 And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of
the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti.
ALM 43:33 And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was
prepared to meet them.
ALM 43:34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the
hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
ALM 43:35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into the
valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on
the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lehi, and he led
his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
ALM 43:36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites
coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with
the army of Lehi.
ALM 43:37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more
dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the
heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which
brought death almost at every stroke.
ALM 43:38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among
the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from
the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being
shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their
armshields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the
work of death among the Lamanites.
ALM 43:39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, because
of the great destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards
the river Sidon.
ALM 43:40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by
Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi
retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not
cross.
ALM 43:41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in
the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them
and to slay them.
ALM 43:42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of
Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.
ALM 43:43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never
had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength
and courage, no, not even from the beginning.
ALM 43:44 And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who
were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief
captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like
dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they
did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their
breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the
Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
ALM 43:45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for
they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for
their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their
all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
ALM 43:46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they
owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their
fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither
the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your
enemies.
ALM 43:47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families
even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending
with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their
lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
ALM 43:48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness
and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them.
And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts
with these thoughts--yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea,
their freedom from bondage.
ALM 43:49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they
cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their
freedom from bondage.
ALM 43:50 And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in
that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the
Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of
Sidon.
ALM 43:51 Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the
number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they
were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the bank by the river
Sidon.
ALM 43:52 Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on
both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi.
ALM 43:53 Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of the
river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the river Sidon, that
they were encircled about by the Nephites, they were struck with terror.
ALM 43:54 Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they
should stop shedding their blood.
ALM 44:0 Moroni's magnanimity--Zerahemnah rejects his peace offer, but is
compelled to accept terms--Lamanites make covenant of peach--End of Alma's
record.
ALM 44:1 And it came to pass that they did stop and withdrew a pace from
them. And Moroni said unto Zerahemnah: Behold, Zerahemnah, that we do not
desire to be men of blood. Ye know that ye are in our hands, yet we do not
desire to slay you.
ALM 44:2 Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might
shed your blood for power; neither do we desire to bring any one to the yoke
of bondage. But this is the very cause for which ye have come against us;
yea, and ye are angry with us because of our religion.
ALM 44:3 But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he
has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand
that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ.
And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.
ALM 44:4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God
will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him,
and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we
shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our
faith.
ALM 44:5 And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful
God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our
faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and
by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that
liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the
maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and
by all that is most dear unto us--
ALM 44:6 Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the desires which ye
have for life, that ye deliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will
seek not your blood, but we will spare your lives, if ye will go your way and
come not again to war against us.
ALM 44:7 And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I will
command my men that they shall fall upon you, and inflict the wounds of death
in your bodies, that ye may become extinct; and then we will see who shall
have power over this people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into
bondage.
ALM 44:8 And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings
he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow into
the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war;
we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an
oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but
take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness;
otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.
ALM 44:9 Behold, we are not of your faith; we do not believe that it is God
that has delivered us into your hands; but we believe that it is your cunning
that has preserved you from our swords. Behold, it is your breastplates and
your shields that have preserved you.
ALM 44:10 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words,
Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received, unto
Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end the conflict.
ALM 44:11 Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken, therefore as the
Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will
not return again against us to war. Now as ye are in our hands we will spill
your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions which I have
proposed.
ALM 44:12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his
sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay
Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it
even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah
that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew
from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
ALM 44:13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off
the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair,
and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them,
saying unto them with a loud voice:
ALM 44:14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of
your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your
weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
ALM 44:15 Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp
which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and
threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a
covenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to
depart into the wilderness.
ALM 44:16 Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he
did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more
powerfully against the Nephites.
ALM 44:17 And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the
Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them
and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the
Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.
ALM 44:18 But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed to
the sharp swords of the Nephites; yea, behold they were pierced and smitten,
yea, and did fall exceedingly fast before the swords of the Nephites; and
they began to be swept down, even as the soldier of Moroni had prophesied.
ALM 44:19 Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be
destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and
also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives,
that they never would come to war again against them.
ALM 44:20 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death
should cease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the
Lamanites; and after they had entered into a covenant with him of peace they
were suffered to depart into the wilderness.
ALM 44:21 Now the number of their dead was not numbered because of the
greatness of the number; yea, the number of their dead was exceedingly great,
both on the Nephites and on the Lamanites.
ALM 44:22 And it came to pass that they did cast their dead into the waters
of Sidon, and they have gone forth and are buried in the depths of the sea.
ALM 44:23 And the armies of the Nephites, or of Moroni, returned and came to
their houses and their lands.
ALM 44:24 And thus ended the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi. And thus ended the record of Alma, which was written
upon the plates of Nephi.
ALM 45:00 The account of the people of Nephi, and their wars and dissensions,
in the days of Helaman, according to the record of Helaman, which he kept in
his days. Comprising chapters 45 to 62 inclusive.
ALM 45:0 Nephite extinction again foretold--Alma's departure compared to that
of Moses--Dissension in the church.
ALM 45:1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were
exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the
hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God;
yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with
exceedingly great joy.
ALM 45:2 And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said
unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those
records which have been kept?
ALM 45:3 And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.
ALM 45:4 And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?
ALM 45:5 And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.
ALM 45:6 And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?
ALM 45:7 And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.
ALM 45:8 Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall
prosper thee in this land.
ALM 45:9 But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I
prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee
shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore
write the words which I shall say.
ALM 45:10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people,
the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four
hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto
them, shall dwindle in unbelief.
ALM 45:11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and
bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct--
ALM 45:12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into
the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea,
I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and
knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth
generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come.
ALM 45:13 And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh
that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the
people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi.
ALM 45:14 But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and
dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like
unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the
Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become
extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled.
ALM 45:15 And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to
Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed the
earth for the righteous' sake.
ALM 45:16 And he said: Thus saith the Lord God--Cursed shall be the land,
yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto
destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said
so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the
land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.
ALM 45:17 And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed the church, yea,
all those who should stand fast in the faith from that time henceforth.
ALM 45:18 And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of
Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he
was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.
ALM 45:19 Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying
went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by
the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the
Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma
in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing
concerning his death and burial.
ALM 45:20 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the nineteenth year
of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Helaman went forth
among the people to declare the word unto them.
ALM 45:21 For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many
little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it
became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and
that a regulation should be made throughout the church.
ALM 45:22 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the
church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land
which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass that they did
appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches.
ALM 45:23 And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his brethren had
appointed priests and teachers over the churches that there arose a
dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman
and his brethren;
ALM 45:24 But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of
their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes,
and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God.
ALM 46:0 Amalickiah conspires to be king--Moroni and the title of
liberty--The people covenant to maintain freedom--flight of Amalickiah.
ALM 46:1 And it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words
of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren.
ALM 46:2 And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were
determined to slay them.
ALM 46:3 Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a
large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.
ALM 46:4 And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were
wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the
greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for
power.
ALM 46:5 And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they
would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them
rulers over the people.
ALM 46:6 Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions,
notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea,
notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were
high priests over the church.
ALM 46:7 And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering
words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus
were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous,
notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites,
and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by
the hand of the Lord.
ALM 46:8 Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their
God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
ALM 46:9 Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can
cause to take place among the children of men.
ALM 46:10 Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device
and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many
people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to
destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which
blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake.
ALM 46:11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief
commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he
was angry with Amalickiah.
ALM 46:12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece
thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom,
and our peace, our wives, and our children--and he fastened it upon the end
of a pole.
ALM 46:13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his
shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which
had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty)
and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for
the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a
band of Christians remain to possess the land--
ALM 46:14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the
church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.
ALM 46:15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all
those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of
Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ
who should come.
ALM 46:16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the
Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
ALM 46:17 And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he
named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine,
all the land, both on the north and on the south--A chosen land, and the land
of liberty.
ALM 46:18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised
because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and
destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
ALM 46:19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the
people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see
the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud
voice, saying:
ALM 46:20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them
come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they
will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless
them.
ALM 46:21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words,
behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their
loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not
forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the
commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon
them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent
their garments.
ALM 46:22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their
garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we
shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall
fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even
as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we
shall fall into transgression.
ALM 46:23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of
Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by
his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep
the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and
we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
ALM 46:24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let
us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a
part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed.
And he said--Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved,
so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and
be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall
perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
ALM 46:25 Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath
joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto
God.
ALM 46:26 Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
ALM 46:27 And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph,
which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea,
and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of
Christ.
ALM 46:28 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he
went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were
dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to
maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had
dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.
ALM 46:29 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of
Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites--and he also saw that his
people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had
undertaken--therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took
those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.
ALM 46:30 Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should
have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of
Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death;
yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them,
and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that
Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.
ALM 46:31 Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his
armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and
entered into a covenant to keep the peace--and it came to pass that he took
his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the
course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.
ALM 46:32 And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and
marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.
ALM 46:33 And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his
men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were
taken back into the land of Zarahemla.
ALM 46:34 Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and
the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with
the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.
ALM 46:35 And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that
would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they
might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there
were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.
ALM 46:36 And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be
hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by
the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the
Nephites.
ALM 46:37 And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did
maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the
reign of the judges.
ALM 46:38 And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the
church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and
rejoicing in the church.
ALM 46:39 And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing
that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out
of the world rejoicing.
ALM 46:40 And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of
the year were very frequent in the land--but not so much so with fevers,
because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had
prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the
nature of the climate--
ALM 46:41 But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in
the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.
ALM 47:0 Amalickiah, by treachery, becomes king of the Lamanites--His awful
wickedness.
ALM 47:1 Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had
fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went
with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir
up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king
of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his
people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle
against the Nephites.
ALM 47:2 And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among
them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king,
and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should
lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part
of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.
ALM 47:3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their
disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his
army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should
go forth and compel them to arms.
ALM 47:4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very
subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the
king of the Lamanites.
ALM 47:5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who
were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not
obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for
thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and,
supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to
Onidah, to the place of arms.
ALM 47:6 And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them,
being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not
be subjected to go against the Nephites.
ALM 47:7 And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon
the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.
ALM 47:8 Now it was not Amalickiah's intention to give them battle according
to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain
favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their
head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.
ALM 47:9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their
tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
ALM 47:10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy
into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the
mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the
mount, for he desired to speak with him.
ALM 47:11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst
not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah
sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass
that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
ALM 47:12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not
get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount,
nearly to Lehonti's camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto
Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards
with him.
ALM 47:13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards
to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the
night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had
given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti's hands, if
he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
ALM 47:14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and
surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of
day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
ALM 47:15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded,
they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their
brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which
Amalickiah desired.
ALM 47:16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the
commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he
might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
ALM 47:17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader
was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
ALM 47:18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants
should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.
ALM 47:19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to
be their leader and their chief commander.
ALM 47:20 And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he
had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was
the chief city.
ALM 47:21 And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed
that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered
together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle.
ALM 47:22 But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that
his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed
themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness.
ALM 47:23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them,
as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they
had taken from the Nephites.
ALM 47:24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the
ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.
ALM 47:25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah
raised a cry, saying:
ALM 47:26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and
he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.
ALM 47:27 And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies
should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had
come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended
to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue
his servants that they may be slain.
ALM 47:28 And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they
heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king.
ALM 47:29 Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them,
they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into
the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon.
ALM 47:30 And the army which pursued after them returned, having pursued
after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his fraud, gained the hearts of
the people.
ALM 47:31 And it came to pass on the morrow he entered the city Nephi with
his armies, and took possession of the city.
ALM 47:32 And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had heard that the
king was slain--for Amalickiah had sent an embassy to the queen informing her
that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with
his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape--
ALM 47:33 Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto
Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she
also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him
that he should bring witnesses with him to testify concerning the death of
the king.
ALM 47:34 And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew
the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto
the place where she sat; and they all testified unto her that the king was
slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this
testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death
of the king.
ALM 47:35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen,
and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance
of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged
king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were
composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the
dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
ALM 47:36 Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same
information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same
knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after
their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild,
wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites--drinking in with the traditions of
the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness;
yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
ALM 48:0 Amalickiah incites the Lamanites against Nephites--Moroni prepares
for the conflict--A true patriot and a mighty man of God.
ALM 48:1 And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the
kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of
Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers,
against the Nephites.
ALM 48:2 And thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites, insomuch
that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, he
having accomplished his designs thus far, yea, having been made king over the
Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people
who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites.
ALM 48:3 Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the
hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to
anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle
against the Nephites.
ALM 48:4 For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his
people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage.
ALM 48:5 And thus he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being
the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of
resort, and the weakest parts of their cities; therefore he appointed them to
be chief captains over his armies.
ALM 48:6 And it came to pass that they took their camp, and moved forth
toward the land of Zarahemla in the wilderness.
ALM 48:7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining
power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the
minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.
ALM 48:8 Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and
erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round
about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle
them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all
round about the land.
ALM 48:9 And in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number
of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the land which was possessed
by the Nephites.
ALM 48:10 And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands,
their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live
unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called
by their enemies the cause of Christians.
ALM 48:11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect
understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul
did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from
bondage and slavery;
ALM 48:12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for
the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man
who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
ALM 48:13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he
had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and
his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
ALM 48:14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their
enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they
were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword
except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.
ALM 48:15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them
in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the
commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to
flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;
ALM 48:16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they
should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the
Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did
glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving
his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting
iniquity.
ALM 48:17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were,
and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would
have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the
hearts of the children of men.
ALM 48:18 Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and
even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were
all men of God.
ALM 48:19 Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto
the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did
baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words.
ALM 48:20 And thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves
because of their words, insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord,
and thus they were free from wars and contentions among themselves, yea, even
for the space of four years.
ALM 48:21 But, as I have said, in the latter end of the nineteenth year, yea,
notwithstanding their peace amongst themselves, they were compelled
reluctantly to contend with their brethren, the Lamanites.
ALM 48:22 Yea, and in fine, their wars never did cease for the space of many
years with the Lamanites, notwithstanding their much reluctance.
ALM 48:23 Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because
they did not delight in the shedding of blood; yea, and this was not
all--they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out
of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God.
ALM 48:24 Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down their lives, that
their wives and their children should be massacred by the barbarous cruelty
of those who were once their brethren, yea, and had dissented from their
church, and had left them and had gone to destroy them by joining the
Lamanites.
ALM 48:25 Yea, they could not bear that their brethren should rejoice over
the blood of the Nephites, so long as there were any who should keep the
commandments of God, for the promise of the Lord was, if they should keep his
commandments they should prosper in the land.
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