HEL 9:0 Nephi's word verified--Chief judge found dead at the
judgment-seat--Nephi and five others accused--Their innocence
established--The murderer made known.
HEL 9:1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Nephi had spoken these words,
certain men who were among them ran to the judgment-seat; yea, even there
were five who went, and they said among themselves, as they went:
HEL 9:2 Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man be a prophet
and God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold,
we do not believe that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he is a prophet;
nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be
true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has
spoken are true.
HEL 9:3 And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and came in unto
the judgment-seat; and behold, the chief judge had fallen to the earth, and
did lie in his blood.
HEL 9:4 And now behold, when they saw this they were astonished exceedingly,
insomuch that they fell to the earth; for they had not believed the words
which Nephi had spoken concerning the chief judge.
HEL 9:5 But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came upon them lest
all the judgments which Nephi had spoken should come upon the people;
therefore they did quake, and had fallen to the earth.
HEL 9:6 Now, immediately when the judge had been murdered--he being stabbed
by his brother by a garb of secrecy, and he fled, and the servants ran and
told the people, raising the cry of murder among them;
HEL 9:7 And behold the people did gather themselves together unto the place
of the judgment-seat--and behold, to their astonishment they saw those five
men who had fallen to the earth.
HEL 9:8 And now behold, the people knew nothing concerning the multitude who
had gathered together at the garden of Nephi; therefore they said among
themselves: These men are they who have murdered the judge, and God has
smitten them that they could not flee from us.
HEL 9:9 And it came to pass that they laid hold on them, and bound them and
cast them into prison. And there was a proclamation sent abroad that the
judge was slain, and that the murderers had been taken and were cast into
prison.
HEL 9:10 And it came to pass that on the morrow the people did assemble
themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the burial of the great chief
judge who had been slain.
HEL 9:11 And thus also those judges who were at the garden of Nephi, and
heard his words, were also gathered together at the burial.
HEL 9:12 And it came to pass that they inquired among the people, saying:
Where are the five who were sent to inquire concerning the chief judge
whether he was dead? And they answered and said: Concerning this five whom ye
say ye have sent, we know not; but there are five who are the murderers, whom
we have cast into prison.
HEL 9:13 And it came to pass that the judges desired that they should be
brought; and they were brought, and behold they were the five who were sent;
and behold the judges inquired of them to know concerning the matter, and
they told them all that they had done, saying:
HEL 9:14 We ran and came to the place of the judgment-seat, and when we saw
all things even as Nephi had testified, we were astonished insomuch that we
fell to the earth; and when we were recovered from our astonishment, behold
they cast us into prison.
HEL 9:15 Now, as for the murder of this man, we know not who has done it; and
only this much we know, we ran and came according as ye desired, and behold
he was dead, according to the words of Nephi.
HEL 9:16 And now it came to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto
the people, and did cry out against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this
Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might
declare it unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith, that he might
raise himself to be a great man, chosen of God, and a prophet.
HEL 9:17 And now behold, we will detect this man, and he shall confess his
fault and make known unto us the true murderer of this judge.
HEL 9:18 And it came to pass that the five were liberated on the day of the
burial. Nevertheless, they did rebuke the judges in the words which they had
spoken against Nephi, and did contend with them one by one, insomuch that
they did confound them.
HEL 9:19 Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken and bound and
brought before the multitude, and they began to question him in divers ways
that they might cross him, that they might accuse him to death--
HEL 9:20 Saying unto him: Thou art confederate; who is this man that hath
done this murder? Now tell us, and acknowledge thy fault; saying, Behold here
is money; and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilt tell us, and
acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with him.
HEL 9:21 But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart, ye
blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lord your God will
suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of sin?
HEL 9:22 O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because of the great
destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye shall repent.
HEL 9:23 Behold ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should murder
Seezoram, our chief judge. But behold, I say unto you, that this is because I
have testified unto you that ye might know concerning this thing; yea, even
for a witness unto you, that I did know of the wickedness and abominations
which are among you.
HEL 9:24 And because I have done this, ye say that I have agreed with a man
that he should do this thing; yea, because I showed unto you this sign ye are
angry with me, and seek to destroy my life.
HEL 9:25 And now behold, I will show unto you another sign, and see if ye
will in this thing seek to destroy me.
HEL 9:26 Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantum, who is the
brother of Seezoram, and say unto him--
HEL 9:27 Has Nephi, the pretended prophet, who doth prophesy so much evil
concerning this people, agreed with thee, in the which ye have murdered
Seezoram, who is your brother?
HEL 9:28 And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay.
HEL 9:29 And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered your brother?
HEL 9:30 And he shall stand with fear, and wist not what to say. And behold,
he shall deny unto you; and he shall make as if he were astonished;
nevertheless, he shall declare unto you that he is innocent.
HEL 9:31 But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the
skirts of his cloak.
HEL 9:32 And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From whence cometh this
blood? Do we not know that it is the blood of your brother?
HEL 9:33 And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale, even as if death had
come upon him.
HEL 9:34 And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and this paleness which
has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou art guilty.
HEL 9:35 And then shall greater fear come upon him; and then shall he confess
unto you, and deny no more that he has done this murder.
HEL 9:36 And then shall he say unto you, that I, Nephi, know nothing
concerning the matter save it were given unto me by the power of God. And
then shall ye know that I am an honest man, and that I am sent unto you from
God.
HEL 9:37 And it came to pass that they went and did, even according as Nephi
had said unto them. And behold, the words which he had said were true; for
according to the words he did deny; and also according to the words he did
confess.
HEL 9:38 And he was brought to prove that he himself was the very murderer,
insomuch that the five were set at liberty, and also was Nephi.
HEL 9:39 And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of
Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the
five, for they had been converted while they were in prison.
HEL 9:40 And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a
prophet.
HEL 9:41 And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god, for except he
was a god he could not know of all things. For behold, he has told us the
thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has brought
unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief judge.
HEL 10:0 Nephi is comforted by the Lord with promise of great power--He
preaches repentance and warns the wicked of impending judgments.
HEL 10:1 And it came to pass that there arose a division among the people,
insomuch that they divided hither and thither and went their ways, leaving
Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of them.
HEL 10:2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house,
pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him.
HEL 10:3 And it came to pass as he was thus pondering--being much cast down
because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works
of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of
iniquities--and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart,
behold, a voice came unto him saying:
HEL 10:4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for
I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I
have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and
hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my
commandments.
HEL 10:5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness,
behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in
deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto
thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to
my will.
HEL 10:6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee
in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people,
and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction,
according to the wickedness of this people.
HEL 10:7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on
earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.
HEL 10:8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in
twain, it shall be done.
HEL 10:9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become
smooth, it shall be done.
HEL 10:10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it
shall come to pass.
HEL 10:11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto
this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye
repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.
HEL 10:12 And behold, now it came to pass that when the Lord had spoken these
words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did
return unto the multitudes who were scattered about upon the face of the
land, and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord which had been
spoken unto him, concerning their destruction if they did not repent.
HEL 10:13 Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done
in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden
their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.
HEL 10:14 Therefore Nephi did declare unto them the word of the Lord, saying:
Except ye repent, thus saith the Lord, ye shall be smitten even unto
destruction.
HEL 10:15 And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the
word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto
his words; therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their
hands upon him that they might cast him into prison.
HEL 10:16 But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take
him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away
out of the midst of them.
HEL 10:17 And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from
multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God, even until he had declared
it unto them all, or sent it forth among all the people.
HEL 10:18 And it came to pass that they would not hearken unto his words; and
there began to be contentions, insomuch that they were divided against
themselves and began to slay one another with the sword.
HEL 10:19 And thus ended the seventy and first year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
HEL 11:0 A great famine--The people turn to the Lord and are again
prospered--Dissension and strife follow--The Gadianton band revived.
HEL 11:1 And now it came to pass in the seventy and second year of the reign
of the judges that the contentions did increase, insomuch that there were
wars throughout all the land among all the people of Nephi.
HEL 11:2 And it was this secret band of robbers who did carry on this work of
destruction and wickedness. And this war did last all that year; and in the
seventy and third year it did also last.
HEL 11:3 And it came to pass that in this year Nephi did cry unto the Lord,
saying:
HEL 11:4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the
sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up
in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn
unto thee.
HEL 11:5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi. And there was a
great famine upon the land, among all the people of Nephi. And thus in the
seventy and fourth year the famine did continue, and the work of destruction
did cease by the sword but became sore by famine.
HEL 11:6 And this work of destruction did also continue in the seventy and
fifth year. For the earth was smitten that it was dry, and did not yield
forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even
among the Lamanites as well as among the Nephites, so that they were smitten
that they did perish by thousands in the more wicked parts of the land.
HEL 11:7 And it came to pass that the people saw that they were about to
perish by famine, and they began to remember the Lord their God; and they
began to remember the words of Nephi.
HEL 11:8 And the people began to plead with their chief judges and their
leaders, that they would say unto Nephi: Behold, we know that thou art a man
of God, and therefore cry unto the Lord our God that he turn away from us
this famine, lest all the words which thou hast spoken concerning our
destruction be fulfilled.
HEL 11:9 And it came to pass that the judges did say unto Nephi, according to
the words which had been desired. And it came to pass that when Nephi saw
that the people had repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried
again unto the Lord, saying:
HEL 11:10 O Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have swept away the
band of Gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they have become extinct,
and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth.
HEL 11:11 Now, O Lord, because of this their humility wilt thou turn away
thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the destruction of those
wicked men whom thou hast already destroyed.
HEL 11:12 O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy fierce anger, and
cause that this famine may cease in this land.
HEL 11:13 O Lord, wilt thou hearken unto me, and cause that it may be done
according to my words, and send forth rain upon the face of the earth, that
she may bring forth her fruit, and her grain in the season of grain.
HEL 11:14 O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be
a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease; and I know that thou
wilt, even at this time, hearken unto my words, for thou saidst that: If this
people repent I will spare them.
HEL 11:15 Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the
famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them.
HEL 11:16 And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, and try again if
they will serve thee? And if so, O Lord, thou canst bless them according to
thy words which thou hast said.
HEL 11:17 And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth year the Lord did
turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon
the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her
fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of
her grain.
HEL 11:18 And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify God, and the whole
face of the land was filled with rejoicing; and they did no more seek to
destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a great prophet, and a man of God,
having great power and authority given unto him from God.
HEL 11:19 And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to
things pertaining to righteousness.
HEL 11:20 And thus it did come to pass that the people of Nephi began to
prosper again in the land, and began to build up their waste places, and
began to multiply and spread, even until they did cover the whole face of the
land, both on the northward and on the southward, from the sea west to the
sea east.
HEL 11:21 And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in
peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace; and the church did
spread throughout the face of all the land; and the more part of the people,
both the Nephites and the Lamanites, did belong to the church; and they did
have exceedingly great peace in the land; and thus ended the seventy and
seventh year.
HEL 11:22 And also they had peace in the seventy and eighth year, save it
were a few contentions concerning the points of doctrine which had been laid
down by the prophets.
HEL 11:23 And in the seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife.
But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew
concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily,
therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end
to their strife in that same year.
HEL 11:24 And it came to pass that in the eightieth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi, there were a certain number of the
dissenters from the people of Nephi, who had some years before gone over unto
the Lamanites, and taken upon themselves the name of Lamanites, and also a
certain number who were real descendants of the Lamanites, being stirred up
to anger by them, or by those dissenters, therefore they commenced a war with
their brethren.
HEL 11:25 And they did commit murder and plunder; and then they would retreat
back into the mountains, and into the wilderness and secret places, hiding
themselves that they could not be discovered, receiving daily an addition to
their numbers, inasmuch as there were dissenters that went forth unto them.
HEL 11:26 And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many years, they
became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the
secret plans of Gadianton; and thus they became robbers of Gadianton.
HEL 11:27 Now behold, these robbers did make great havoc, yea, even great
destruction among the people of Nephi, and also among the people of the
Lamanites.
HEL 11:28 And it came to pass that it was expedient that there should be a
stop put to this work of destruction; therefore they sent an army of strong
men into the wilderness and upon the mountains to search out this band of
robbers, and to destroy them.
HEL 11:29 But behold, it came to pass that in that same year they were driven
back even into their own lands. And thus ended the eightieth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
HEL 11:30 And it came to pass in the commencement of the eighty and first
year they did go forth again against this band of robbers, and did destroy
many; and they were also visited with much destruction.
HEL 11:31 And they were again obliged to return out of the wilderness and out
of the mountains unto their own lands, because of the exceeding greatness of
the numbers of those robbers who infested the mountains and the wilderness.
HEL 11:32 And it came to pass that thus ended this year. And the robbers did
still increase and wax strong, insomuch that they did defy the whole armies
of the Nephites, and also of the Lamanites; and they did cause great fear to
come unto the people upon all the face of the land.
HEL 11:33 Yea, for they did visit many parts of the land, and did do great
destruction unto them; yea, did kill many, and did carry away others captive
into the wilderness, yea, and more especially their women and their children.
HEL 11:34 Now this great evil, which came unto the people because of their
iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of the Lord their God.
HEL 11:35 And thus ended the eighty and first year of the reign of the
judges.
HEL 11:36 And in the eighty and second year they began again to forget the
Lord their God. And in the eighty and third year they began to wax strong in
iniquity. And in the eighty and fourth year they did not mend their ways.
HEL 11:37 And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year they did wax
stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they
were ripening again for destruction.
HEL 11:38 And thus ended the eighty and fifth year.
HEL 12:0 Human frailty and the goodness and power of God--Blessed are the
penitent--Men to be judge according to their works.
HEL 12:1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the
hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great
infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
HEL 12:2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his
people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds,
and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every
kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of
their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not
declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare
and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their
hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the
Holy One--yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great
prosperity.
HEL 12:3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with
many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror,
and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember
him.
HEL 12:4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how
quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea,
how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts
upon the vain things of the world!
HEL 12:5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast,
and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to
remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow
to walk in wisdom's paths!
HEL 12:6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created
them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and
his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not
that he should be their guide.
HEL 12:7 O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even
they are less than the dust of the earth.
HEL 12:8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the
dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God.
HEL 12:9 Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the mountains tremble and
quake.
HEL 12:10 And by the power of his voice they are broken up, and become
smooth, yea, even like unto a valley.
HEL 12:11 Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole earth shake;
HEL 12:12 Yea, by the power of his voice, do the foundations rock, even to
the very center.
HEL 12:13 Yea, and if he say unto the earth--Move--it is moved.
HEL 12:14 Yea, if he say unto the earth--Thou shalt go back, that it lengthen
out the day for many hours--it is done;
HEL 12:15 And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it
appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so;
for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun.
HEL 12:16 And behold, also, if he say unto the waters of the great deep--Be
thou dried up--it is done.
HEL 12:17 Behold, if he say unto this mountain--Be thou raised up, and come
over and fall upon that city, that it be buried up--behold it is done.
HEL 12:18 And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the earth, and the Lord
shall say--Let it be accursed, because of the iniquity of him who hath hid it
up--behold, it shall be accursed.
HEL 12:19 And if the Lord shall say--Be thou accursed, that no man shall find
thee from this time henceforth and forever--behold, no man getteth it
henceforth and forever.
HEL 12:20 And behold, if the Lord shall say unto a man--Because of thine
iniquities, thou shalt be accursed forever--it shall be done.
HEL 12:21 And if the Lord shall say--Because of thine iniquities thou shalt
be cut off from my presence--he will cause that it shall be so.
HEL 12:22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him
that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause,
that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.
HEL 12:23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the
voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.
HEL 12:24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought
unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for
grace, according to their works.
HEL 12:25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the
great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be
cast off from the presence of the Lord;
HEL 12:26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless misery,
fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good shall have
everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall have everlasting
damnation. And thus it is. Amen.
HEL 13:00 The prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, to the Nephites. Comprising
chapters 13 to 15 inclusive.
HEL 13:0 Samuel proclaims his prophecies from the city wall--Sword of justice
to fall on fourth generation--Nephite cities spared for the sake of the
righteous--Land to be cursed--Slippery treasures.
HEL 13:1 And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites
did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites
did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of
Moses.
HEL 13:2 And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a
Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the
people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto
the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own
land.
HEL 13:3 But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should
return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into
his heart.
HEL 13:4 And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter
into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched
forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people
whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart.
HEL 13:5 And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the
words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it
into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over
this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice
falleth upon this people.
HEL 13:6 Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh
unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and
faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and
shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people.
HEL 13:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it unto me, and he
did bring glad tidings to my soul. And behold, I was sent unto you to declare
it unto you also, that ye might have glad tidings; but behold ye would not
receive me.
HEL 13:8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord: Because of the hardness of the
hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my
word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer
them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them.
HEL 13:9 And four hundred years shall not pass away before I will cause that
they shall be smitten; yea, I will visit them with the sword and with famine
and with pestilence.
HEL 13:10 Yea, I will visit them in my fierce anger, and there shall be those
of the fourth generation who shall live, of your enemies, to behold your
utter destruction; and this shall surely come except ye repent, saith the
Lord; and those of the fourth generation shall visit your destruction.
HEL 13:11 But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn
away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they
who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not.
HEL 13:12 Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is
because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great
city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more
part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the
Lord.
HEL 13:13 But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But
behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold,
I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it.
HEL 13:14 But behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is spared. But
behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the
righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be
unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in
her.
HEL 13:15 Yea, and wo be unto the city of Gideon, for the wickedness and
abominations which are in her.
HEL 13:16 Yea, and wo be unto all the cities which are in the land round
about, which are possessed by the Nephites, because of the wickedness and
abominations which are in them.
HEL 13:17 And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of
Hosts, because of the peoples' sake who are upon the land, yea, because of
their wickedness and their abominations.
HEL 13:18 And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great
and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find them
again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous
man and shall hide it up unto the Lord.
HEL 13:19 For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures
unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me; for none
hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous; and he that
hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and
none shall redeem it because of the curse of the land.
HEL 13:20 And the day shall come that they shall hide up their treasures,
because they have set their hearts upon riches; and because they have set
their hearts upon their riches, and will hide up their treasures when they
shall flee before their enemies; because they will not hide them up unto me,
cursed be they and also their treasures; and in that day shall they be
smitten, saith the Lord.
HEL 13:21 Behold ye, the people of this great city, and hearken unto my
words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith; for behold, he saith
that ye are cursed because of your riches, and also are your riches cursed
because ye have set your hearts upon them, and have not hearkened unto the
words of him who gave them unto you.
HEL 13:22 Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he
hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the
Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but
they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling,
envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of
iniquities.
HEL 13:23 For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come
upon the land, and also upon your riches, and this because of your
iniquities.
HEL 13:24 Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived,
that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them,
and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did
of old time.
HEL 13:25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of
our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have
stoned them, and cast them out.
HEL 13:26 Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet
come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth
of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek
all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false
prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth
that your deeds are evil.
HEL 13:27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this,
and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say:
Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your
eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth--and if a man shall come among
you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.
HEL 13:28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your
substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye
will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words
unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with
him.
HEL 13:29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye
stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you?
Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind
guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?
HEL 13:30 Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you;
behold, he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity.
HEL 13:31 And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they
become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye
cannot retain them.
HEL 13:32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in
vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your
destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith
the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say:
HEL 13:33 O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned
them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had
remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then
they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our
riches are gone from us.
HEL 13:34 Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is gone; and
behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for
battle.
HEL 13:35 Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have slipped away from
us, because of the curse of the land.
HEL 13:36 O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came
unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things are become slippery,
and we cannot hold them.
HEL 13:37 Behold, we are surrounded by demons, yea, we are encircled about by
the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls. Behold, our
iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not turn away thine anger from us?
And this shall be your language in those days.
HEL 13:38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated
the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your
destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives
for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing
iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which
is in our great and Eternal Head.
HEL 13:39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray
that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent
and be saved.
HEL 14:0 Samuel the Lamanite predicts the Christ--The sign of Christ's birth
to be given in five years--Sign of his death also foretold.
HEL 14:1 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a
great many more things which cannot be written.
HEL 14:2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for
five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all
those who shall believe on his name.
HEL 14:3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his
coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in
the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall
appear unto man as if it was day.
HEL 14:4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it
were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign;
for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore
they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night;
nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night
before he is born.
HEL 14:5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never
have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
HEL 14:6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in
heaven.
HEL 14:7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder,
insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
HEL 14:8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of
God, the same shall have everlasting life.
HEL 14:9 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I
should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I
should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me: Cry unto
this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
HEL 14:10 And now, because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the
words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it was hard against you,
ye are angry with me and do seek to destroy me, and have cast me out from
among you.
HEL 14:11 And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent have I come up
upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of the judgments of
God which do await you because of your iniquities, and also that ye might
know the conditions of repentance;
HEL 14:12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the
beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent
that ye might believe on his name.
HEL 14:13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that
thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.
HEL 14:14 And behold, again, another sign I give unto you, yea, a sign of his
death.
HEL 14:15 For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it
behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the
resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence
of the Lord.
HEL 14:16 Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and
redeemeth all mankind from the first death--that spiritual death; for all
mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are
considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.
HEL 14:17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even
all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.
HEL 14:18 Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that
whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but
whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh
upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off
again as to things pertaining to righteousness.
HEL 14:19 Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and
not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye
are brought down unto this second death.
HEL 14:20 But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of
his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be
darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the
stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the
time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time
that he shall rise again from the dead.
HEL 14:21 Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be
thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the earth shall
shake and tremble; and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which
are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid,
or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;
HEL 14:22 Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in
seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole
earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.
HEL 14:23 And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many
mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which
are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.
HEL 14:24 And many highways shall be broken up, and many cities shall become
desolate.
HEL 14:25 And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their
dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.
HEL 14:26 And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me
that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours.
HEL 14:27 And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning
lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness
should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.
HEL 14:28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than
these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these
wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent
that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men--
HEL 14:29 And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved,
and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon
them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own
condemnation.
HEL 14:30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth,
perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself;
for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold,
God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
HEL 14:31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he
hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good
and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored
unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.
HEL 15:0 Samuel the Lamanite continues his warning words--A remnant of his
people to be preserved--Nephites to be utterly destroyed unless they repent.
HEL 15:1 And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except
ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate.
HEL 15:2 Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in
the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there
shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for
they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down
and shall be left to perish.
HEL 15:3 Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except
they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which
shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the
Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened
them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he
loveth them.
HEL 15:4 But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated because their
deeds have been evil continually, and this because of the iniquity of the
tradition of their fathers. But behold, salvation hath come unto them through
the preaching of the Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged
their days.
HEL 15:5 And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in
the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they
do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments
according to the law of Moses.
HEL 15:6 Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and
they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder
of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who
do add to their numbers daily.
HEL 15:7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that
as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of
the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe
the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are
written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which
faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them--
HEL 15:8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are
firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been
made free.
HEL 15:9 And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and
they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see
that they fear to sin--for behold they will suffer themselves that they be
trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords
against them, and this because of their faith in Christ.
HEL 15:10 And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in
that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are
once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days,
notwithstanding their iniquity--
HEL 15:11 Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong
their days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our
fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning
the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the
truth--
HEL 15:12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the
Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding
the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be
driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be
smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be
merciful unto them.
HEL 15:13 And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be
brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and
their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.
HEL 15:14 Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you
except ye repent.
HEL 15:15 For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have
been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of
the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never
would again have dwindled in unbelief.
HEL 15:16 Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy them, but I
will cause that in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me,
saith the Lord.
HEL 15:17 And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the
Nephites: If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly
destroy them, saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the
many mighty works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord
liveth shall these things be, saith the Lord.
HEL 16:0 Some of the Nephites join the church of Christ--The majority reject
Samuel's testimony--They attempt to assault and bind him--He escapes and
returns to his own country--Nephi's further ministry--Skepticism abounds.
HEL 16:1 And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of
Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as many
as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had
come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not,
desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord.
HEL 16:2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel
were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many
shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was
with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with
their arrows.
HEL 16:3 Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more
who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be
baptized.
HEL 16:4 For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and preaching,
crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and wonders, working
miracles among the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly
come--
HEL 16:5 Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know
and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto
them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe; therefore as many as
believed on the words of Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they
came repenting and confessing their sins.
HEL 16:6 But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel;
therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and
their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and
bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil
which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore
take him and bind him, and away with him.
HEL 16:7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he did
cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even
unto his own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own
people.
HEL 16:8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and thus
were the affairs of the people.
HEL 16:9 And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi.
HEL 16:10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of the reign of the
judges, the more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness,
and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God.
HEL 16:11 And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth year
of the reign of the judges.
HEL 16:12 And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the people,
save it were the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more
and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God, in the eighty
and ninth year of the reign of the judges.
HEL 16:13 But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the
judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the
words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.
HEL 16:14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them
glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be
fulfilled.
HEL 16:15 Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it
were the most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the
Lamanites, and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own
wisdom, saying:
HEL 16:16 Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold,
we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of
which has been spoken.
HEL 16:17 And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying:
HEL 16:18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come;
if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has
been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who
shall be at Jerusalem?
HEL 16:19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the
land of Jerusalem?
HEL 16:20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been
handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in
some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among us,
but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore they
can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they
are true.
HEL 16:21 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil
one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us
down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we
depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in
ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
HEL 16:22 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts,
which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir
them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and
contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of
the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
HEL 16:23 And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought
among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did
get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land.
HEL 16:24 And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
HEL 16:25 And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the record of
Helaman and his sons.
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