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42 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Alma, chapter fifty nine. Now it came to pass, in
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Speaker 1: the thirtieth year of the reign of the Judges over
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Speaker 1: the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had
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Speaker 1: read Heliman's epistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the
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Speaker 1: welfare Yea, the exceeding success which Heliman had had in
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Speaker 1: obtaining those lands which were lost Yea. And he did
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Speaker 1: make it known unto all his people and all the
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Speaker 1: land round about in that part where he was, that
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Speaker 1: they might rejoice also. And it came to pass that
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Speaker 1: he immediately sent an epistle to Pehoran, desiring that he
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Speaker 1: should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Heliman
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Speaker 1: or the armies of Heliman, insomuch that he might with
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Speaker 1: ease maintain that part of the land which he had
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Speaker 1: been so miraculously prospered in regaining. And it came to
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Speaker 1: pass when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land
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Speaker 1: of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that
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Speaker 1: he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities
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Speaker 1: which the Lamanites had taken from them. And it came
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Speaker 1: to pass that while Morona was thus made in preparations
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Speaker 1: to go against the Lamanites to battle. Behold, the people
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Speaker 1: of Nephiha, who were gathered together from the city of Moronai,
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Speaker 1: in the city of Lehi and the city of Moriantin,
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Speaker 1: were attacked by the Lamanites. Yea, even those who had
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Speaker 1: been compelled to flee from the land of Mantai and
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Speaker 1: from the land round about, had come over and joined
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Speaker 1: the Lamanites in this part of the land. And thus
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Speaker 1: being exceedingly numerous yea, and receiving strength from day to
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Speaker 1: day by the command of Amoron, they came forth against
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Speaker 1: the people of Nefhaiha, and they did begin to slay
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Speaker 1: them with an exceedingly great slaughter. And their armies were
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Speaker 1: so numerous that the remainder of the people of Nephija
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Speaker 1: were obliged to flee before them. And they came even
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Speaker 1: and joined the army of Moroni. And now, as Morane
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Speaker 1: had supposed that there should be men sent to the
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Speaker 1: city Nefhaija to the assistance of the people to maintain
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Speaker 1: that city, And knowing that it was easier to keep
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Speaker 1: the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites
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Speaker 1: than to retake it from them. He supposed that they
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Speaker 1: would easily maintain that city. Therefore, he retained all his
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Speaker 1: force to maintain those places which he had recovered. And
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Speaker 1: now when Moroni saw that the city of Nefaiha was lost,
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Speaker 1: he was exceedingly sorrowful and began to doubt, because of
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Speaker 1: the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall
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Speaker 1: into the hands of their brethren. Now this was the
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Speaker 1: case with all his chief captains. They doubted and marveled
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Speaker 1: also because of the wickedness of the people, and this
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Speaker 1: because of the success of the Lamanites over them. And
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Speaker 1: it came to pass that Morony was angry with the
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Speaker 1: government because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their
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Speaker 1: country Alma, chapter sixty. And it came to pass that
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Speaker 1: he wrote again to the governor of the land, who
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Speaker 1: was Pehoran. And these are the words which he wrote, saying, behold,
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Speaker 1: I direct myne epistle to Pehoran and the city of Zarahimla,
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Speaker 1: who was the chief judge and the governor over the land,
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Speaker 1: and also to all those who have been chosen by
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Speaker 1: this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.
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Speaker 1: For behold, I have somewhat to say unto you by
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Speaker 1: way of condemnation. For behold, ye yourselves know that ye
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Speaker 1: have been appointed to gather together men and arm them
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Speaker 1: with swords and with simeters, and all manner of weapons
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Speaker 1: of war of every kind, and send forth against the
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Speaker 1: Lamanites in whatsoever parts they should come into our land.
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Speaker 1: And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and
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Speaker 1: also my men, and also Helimann and his men have
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Speaker 1: suffered exceedingly great sufferings, yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue,
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Speaker 1: and all manner of afflictions of every kind. But behold,
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Speaker 1: were this all we had suffered, we would not murmur
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Speaker 1: nor complain. But behold, great has been the slaughter among
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Speaker 1: our people. Yea. Thousands have fallen by the sword, while
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Speaker 1: it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto
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Speaker 1: our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. YEA, great
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Speaker 1: has been your neglect towards us. And now behold, we
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Speaker 1: desire to know the cause of this exces exceedingly great neglect. Yea,
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Speaker 1: we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.
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Speaker 1: Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a
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Speaker 1: state of thoughtless stupor while your enemies are spreading the
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Speaker 1: work of death around you, yea, while they are murdering
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Speaker 1: thousands of your brethren. Yea. Even they who have looked
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Speaker 1: up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in
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Speaker 1: a situation that ye might have succored them. Yea. Ye
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Speaker 1: might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them,
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Speaker 1: and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.
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Speaker 1: But behold, this is not all. Ye have withheld your
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Speaker 1: provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled
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Speaker 1: out their lives because of their great desires which they
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Speaker 1: had for the welfare of this people. Yea. And this
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Speaker 1: they have done when they were about to perish with hunger,
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Speaker 1: because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them. And now,
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Speaker 1: my beloved brethren, for ye ought to be beloved, yea,
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Speaker 1: And ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for
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Speaker 1: the welfare and the freedom of this people. But behold,
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Speaker 1: ye have neglected them, insomuch that the blood of thousands
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Speaker 1: shall come upon your heads for vengeance, yea. Foreknown unto
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Speaker 1: God were all their cries and all their sufferings. Behold,
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Speaker 1: could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones,
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Speaker 1: and because of the exceeding goodness of God, ye could
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Speaker 1: do nothing, and He would deliver you. Behold, if ye
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Speaker 1: have supposed this, ye have supposed in vain. Do ye
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Speaker 1: suppose that because so many of your brethren have been killed,
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Speaker 1: it is because of their wickedness? I say, and to you,
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Speaker 1: if ye have supposed this, ye have supposed in vain.
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Speaker 1: For I say unto you, there are many who have
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Speaker 1: fallen by the sword. And behold it is to your condemnation.
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Speaker 1: For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain, that
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Speaker 1: his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because
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Speaker 1: they are slain. But behold, they do enter into the
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Speaker 1: rest of the Lord their God. And now behold, I
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Speaker 1: say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judge of
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Speaker 1: God will come upon this people because of their exceeding slothfulness, yea,
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Speaker 1: even the slothfulness of our government, and their exceedingly great
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Speaker 1: neglect towards their brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain.
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Speaker 1: For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced
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Speaker 1: at our head, we could have withstood our enemies, that
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Speaker 1: they could have gained no power over us. Yea. Had
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Speaker 1: it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves, yea.
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Speaker 1: Were it not for these king men who caused so
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Speaker 1: much bloodshed among ourselves, yea, at the time we were
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Speaker 1: contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as
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Speaker 1: we hitherto have done, yea. Had it not been for
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Speaker 1: the desire of power and authority which those king men
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Speaker 1: had over us, Had they been true to the cause
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Speaker 1: of our freedom and united with us and gone forth
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Speaker 1: against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us,
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Speaker 1: which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves, yea.
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Speaker 1: If we had gone forth against them in the strength
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Speaker 1: of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for
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Speaker 1: it would have been done according to the fulfilling of
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Speaker 1: his word. But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us,
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Speaker 1: taking possession of our lands, and they are murdering our
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Speaker 1: people with the sword. Yea, are women and our children,
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Speaker 1: and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they
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Speaker 1: should suffer all manner of afflictions. And this because of
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Speaker 1: the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power
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Speaker 1: and authority, yea, even those king men. But why should
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Speaker 1: I say much concerning this matter? For we know not
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Speaker 1: but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority? We know not?
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Speaker 1: But what ye are also traitors to your country? Or
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Speaker 1: is it that ye have neglected us because ye are
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Speaker 1: in the heart of our country and ye are surrounded
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Speaker 1: by security, that ye do not cause food to be
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Speaker 1: sent unto us and also men to strengthen our armies.
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Speaker 1: Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? Yea?
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Speaker 1: Have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye
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Speaker 1: forgotten the many times we have been delayed out of
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Speaker 1: the hands of our enemies? Or do ye suppose that
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Speaker 1: the Lord will still deliver us while we sit upon
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Speaker 1: our thrones and do not make use of the means
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Speaker 1: which the Lord has provided for us? Yea. Will ye
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Speaker 1: sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of
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Speaker 1: those yea, and tens of thousands who do also sit
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Speaker 1: in idleness? While there are thousands round about in the
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Speaker 1: borders of the land who are falling by the sword, YEA,
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Speaker 1: wounded and bleeding. Do ye suppose that God will look
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Speaker 1: upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold
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Speaker 1: these things. Behold, I say unto you, nay, now I
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Speaker 1: would that ye should remember that God has said that
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Speaker 1: the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall
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Speaker 1: the outer vessel be cleansed also. And now except ye
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Speaker 1: do repent of that which ye have done, and begin
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Speaker 1: to be up and doing, and send forth food and
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Speaker 1: men unto us and also unto Helimun, that he may
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Speaker 1: support those parts of our country which he has regained,
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Speaker 1: and that we may also recover the remainder of our
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Speaker 1: possessions in these parts. Behold, it will be expedient that
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Speaker 1: we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have
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Speaker 1: first cleansed our inward vessel. Yea even the great head
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Speaker 1: of our government, and accept you grant mine epistle, and
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Speaker 1: come out and show unto me a true spirit of freedom,
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Speaker 1: and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant
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Speaker 1: unto them food for their support. Behold, I will leave
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Speaker 1: a part of my freemen to maintain this part of
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Speaker 1: our land. And I will leave the strength and the
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Speaker 1: blessings of God upon them, that none other power can
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Speaker 1: operate against them. And this because of their exceeding faith
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Speaker 1: and their patience and their tribulations. And I will come
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Speaker 1: unto you. And if there be any among you that
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Speaker 1: has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even
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Speaker 1: a spark of freedom remaining, Behold, I will stir up
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Speaker 1: insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to
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Speaker 1: usurp power and authority shall become extinct. Yea. Behold, I
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Speaker 1: do not fear your power nor your authority. But it
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Speaker 1: is my God whom I fear. And it is according
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Speaker 1: to his commandments that I do take my sword to
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Speaker 1: defend the cause of my country. And it is because
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Speaker 1: of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss. Behold,
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Speaker 1: it is time, yea. The time is now at hand
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Speaker 1: that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defense of
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Speaker 1: your country and your little ones, the sword of justice
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Speaker 1: doth hang over you, yea, and it shall fall upon
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Speaker 1: you and visit you even to your utter destruction. Behold,
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Speaker 1: I wait for assistance from you, and accept ye to
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Speaker 1: administer unto our relief. Behold, I come unto you, even
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Speaker 1: in the land of Zarahima, and smite you with the
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Speaker 1: sword insomuch that ye can have no more power to
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Speaker 1: impede the progress of this people in the cause of
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Speaker 1: our freedom. For behold, the Lord will not suffer that
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Speaker 1: ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to
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Speaker 1: destroy His righteous people. Behold, can you suppose that the
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Speaker 1: Lord will spare you and come out in judgment against
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Speaker 1: the Lamanites, when it is the tradition of their fathers
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Speaker 1: that is cause their hatred? Yea, and it has been
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Speaker 1: redoubled by those who have dissented from us. While your
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Speaker 1: iniquity as for the cause of your love of glory
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Speaker 1: and the vain things of the world, ye know that
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Speaker 1: ye do transgress the laws of God, and ye do
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Speaker 1: know that ye do trample them under your feet. Behold,
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Speaker 1: the Lord saith unto me. If those whom ye have
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Speaker 1: appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities,
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Speaker 1: ye shall go up to battle against them. And thou behold,
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Speaker 1: I moron, I am constrained according to the covenant which
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Speaker 1: I have made to keep the commandments of my God.
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Speaker 1: Therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word
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Speaker 1: of God, and send speedily unto me of your provisions
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Speaker 1: and of your men, and also to Heloiman. And Behold,
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Speaker 1: if ye will not do this, I will come unto
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Speaker 1: you speedily. For behold, God will not suffer that we
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Speaker 1: should perish with hunger. Therefore he will give unto us
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Speaker 1: of your food, even if it must be by the sword.
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Speaker 1: Now see that ye fulfill the word of God. Behold,
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Speaker 1: I am Moroni, your chief captain, not for power, but
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Speaker 1: to pull it down. I seek not for honor of
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Speaker 1: the world, but for the glory of my God and
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Speaker 1: the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I
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Speaker 1: close mine epistle Almah, chapter sixty one. Behold, now it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his
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Speaker 1: epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from Pohoran,
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Speaker 1: the chief governor, And these are the words which he received.
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Speaker 1: I Pohoran, who am the chief governor of this land,
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Speaker 1: do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over
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Speaker 1: the army. Behold, I say unto you, Morona, that I
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Speaker 1: do not joy in your great afflictions. Yea, it grieves
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Speaker 1: my soul. But behold, there are those who do joy
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Speaker 1: in your afflictions. Yea, insomuch that they have risen up
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Speaker 1: in rebellion against me. And also those of my people
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Speaker 1: who are freemen, Yea. And those who have risen up
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Speaker 1: are exceedingly numerous. And it is those who have sought
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Speaker 1: to take away the judgment seat from me that have
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Speaker 1: been the cause of this great iniquity. For they have
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Speaker 1: used great flattery, and they have led away the hearts
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Speaker 1: of many people, which will be the cause of sore
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Speaker 1: afflictions among us. They have withheld our provisions and have
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Speaker 1: daunted our free men, that they have not come unto you.
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Speaker 1: And behold, they have driven me out before them, And
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Speaker 1: I have fled to the land of Gideon with as
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Speaker 1: many men as it were possible that I could get.
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Speaker 1: And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part
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Speaker 1: of the land. And behold, they are flocking to us daily,
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Speaker 1: to their arms, in the defense of their country and
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Speaker 1: their freedom, and to avenge our wrongs. And they have
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Speaker 1: come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up
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Speaker 1: in rebellion against us are set at defiance, Yea, insomuch
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Speaker 1: that they do fear us and durst not come out
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Speaker 1: against us to battle. They have got possession of the
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Speaker 1: land or the city of Zarahemla. They have appointed a
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Speaker 1: king over them, and he hath written unto the King
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Speaker 1: of the Lamanites, and the which he hath joined an
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Speaker 1: alliance with him, in the which alliance he hath agreed
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Speaker 1: to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposes
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Speaker 1: will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land,
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Speaker 1: and he shall be placed king over this people when
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Speaker 1: they shall be conquered under the Lamanites. And now in
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Speaker 1: your epistle you have censured me, But it mattereth not.
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Speaker 1: I am not angry, but I do rejoice in the
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Speaker 1: greatness of your heart. I Pohoran, do not seek for power,
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Speaker 1: save only to retain my judgment seat, that I may
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Speaker 1: preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My
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Speaker 1: soul standeth fast in that liberty, in the which God
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Speaker 1: hath made us free. And now behold, we will resist wickedness,
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Speaker 1: even unto bloodshed. We would not shed the blood of
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Speaker 1: the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land.
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Speaker 1: We would not shed the blood of our brethren, if
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Speaker 1: they would not rise up in rebellion and take the
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Speaker 1: sword against us. We would subject ourselves to the yoke
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Speaker 1: of bondage, if it were requisite with the justice of God,
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Speaker 1: or if he should command us to do so. But behold,
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Speaker 1: he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves
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Speaker 1: to our enemies, but that we should put our trust
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Speaker 1: in Him, and he will deliver us. Therefore, my beloved
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Speaker 1: brother Moroni, let us resist evil. And whatsoever evil we
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Speaker 1: cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions,
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Speaker 1: let us resist them with our swords, that we may
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Speaker 1: retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great
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Speaker 1: privilege of our Church and in the cause of our
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Speaker 1: Redeemer and our God. Therefore, come unto me speedily with
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Speaker 1: a few of your men, and leave the remainder in
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Speaker 1: the charge of Lehi and Tiancum. Give unto them power
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Speaker 1: to conduct the war in that part of the land,
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Speaker 1: according to the spirit of God, which is also the
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Speaker 1: spirit of freedom, which is in them. Behold, I have
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Speaker 1: sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not
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Speaker 1: perish until ye can come unto me. Gather together whatsoever
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Speaker 1: force ye can upon your march hither, and we will
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Speaker 1: go speedily against those dissenters in the strength of our God,
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Speaker 1: according to the faith which is in us, and we
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Speaker 1: will take possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we
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Speaker 1: may obtain more food to send forth than too. Lehi
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Speaker 1: and Tiankum. Yea, we will go forth against them in
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Speaker 1: the strength of the Lord, and we will put an
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Speaker 1: end to this great iniquity. And now, Morona, I do
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Speaker 1: joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried
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Speaker 1: concerning what we should do, whether it would be just
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Speaker 1: in us to go against our brethren. But YE have said,
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Speaker 1: except they repent, the Lord hath demanded you that ye
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Speaker 1: should go against them. See that ye strengthen lee High
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Speaker 1: and Tiankum in the Lord tell them to fear not,
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Speaker 1: for God will deliver them, yea. And also all those
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Speaker 1: who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made
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Speaker 1: them free. And now I close mine epistle to my
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Speaker 1: beloved brother Marona Alma chapter sixty two. And now it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that when Marona had received this epistle,
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Speaker 1: his heart did take courage and was filled with exceeding
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Speaker 1: the great joy because of the faithfulness of Bohoran, that
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Speaker 1: he was not also a traitor to the freedom and
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Speaker 1: cause of his country. But he did also mourn exceedingly
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Speaker 1: because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pohoran
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Speaker 1: from the judgment seat Yea, and fine because of those
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Speaker 1: who had rebelled against their country and also their God.
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Speaker 1: And it came to pass that Morona took a small
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Speaker 1: number of men according to the desire of Pohoran, and
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Speaker 1: gave Lehi and Tiankam command over the remainder of his army,
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Speaker 1: and took his march towards the land of Gideon. And
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Speaker 1: he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place
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Speaker 1: he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in
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Speaker 1: all his march towards the land of Gideon. And it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard,
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Speaker 1: and did take up their swords in the defense of
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Speaker 1: their freedom, that they might not come into bondage. And thus,
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Speaker 1: when Morona had gathered together whatsoever men he could in
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Speaker 1: all his march, he came to the land of Gideon,
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Speaker 1: and uniting his forces with those of Pohoran, they became
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Speaker 1: exceedingly strong, even stronger than the man of Pachus, who
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Speaker 1: was the king of those dissenters, who had driven the
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Speaker 1: freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken
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Speaker 1: possession of the land. And it came to pass that
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Speaker 1: Marona and Pohoran went down with their armies into the
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Speaker 1: land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city and
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Speaker 1: meet the men of Pacus, insomuch that they did come
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Speaker 1: to battle and behold. Pecus was slain, and his men
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Speaker 1: were taken prisoners, and Pohoran was restored to his judgment seat.
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Speaker 1: And the men of Pacus received their trial according to
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Speaker 1: the law. And also those king men who had been
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Speaker 1: taken and cast into prison, and they were executed according
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Speaker 1: to the law. Yea. Those men of Paecus and those
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Speaker 1: king men whosoever would not take up arms in the
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Speaker 1: defense of their country, but would fight against it, were
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Speaker 1: put to death. And thus it became expedient that this
18:51
Speaker 1: law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country. Yea.
18:55
Speaker 1: And whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed
18:59
Speaker 1: according to the law. And thus ended the thirtieth year
19:03
Speaker 1: of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
19:06
Speaker 1: Moronai and Pohoran, having restored peace to the land of
19:09
Speaker 1: Zarahemla among their own people, having inflicted death upon all
19:14
Speaker 1: those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
19:17
Speaker 1: And it came to pass in the commencement of the
19:19
Speaker 1: thirty and first year of the reign of the judges
19:21
Speaker 1: over the people of Nephi, Moronai immediately caused that provisions
19:26
Speaker 1: should be sent and also an army of six thousand
19:29
Speaker 1: men should be sent unto Helaman to assist him in
19:31
Speaker 1: preserving that part of the land. And he also caused
19:35
Speaker 1: that an army of six thousand men with a sufficient
19:37
Speaker 1: quantity of food should be sent to the armies of
19:39
Speaker 1: Lehi and Tiancum. And it came to pass that this
19:43
Speaker 1: was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites. And
19:46
Speaker 1: it came to pass that Moronai and Pohoran, leaving a
19:48
Speaker 1: large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took
19:52
Speaker 1: their march with a large body of men towards the
19:54
Speaker 1: land of Nephaija, being determined to overthrow the Lamanites in
19:58
Speaker 1: that city. And it came to pass that as they
20:00
Speaker 1: were marching towards the land, they took a large body
20:03
Speaker 1: of men of the Lamanites and slew many of them
20:06
Speaker 1: and took their provisions and their weapons of war. And
20:09
Speaker 1: it came to pass. After they had taken them, they
20:11
Speaker 1: caused them to enter into a covenant that they would
20:14
Speaker 1: no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.
20:18
Speaker 1: And when they had entered into this covenant, they sent
20:20
Speaker 1: them to dwell with the people of Amen. And they
20:23
Speaker 1: were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.
20:27
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that when they had sent
20:29
Speaker 1: them away, they pursued their march towards the land of Nephaih.
20:33
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that when they had come
20:35
Speaker 1: to the city of Nephaiha, they did pitch their tents
20:38
Speaker 1: in the plains of Nephih, which is near the city
20:41
Speaker 1: of Nephih. Now Maroni was desirous that the Lamanites should
20:45
Speaker 1: come out to battle against them upon the plains. But
20:48
Speaker 1: the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage and beholding
20:52
Speaker 1: the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come
20:55
Speaker 1: out against them. Therefore, they did not come to battle
20:58
Speaker 1: in that day. And when the night came, Morona went
21:03
Speaker 1: forth in the darkness of the night and came upon
21:06
Speaker 1: the top of the wall to spy out in what
21:08
Speaker 1: part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army.
21:12
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that they were on the
21:14
Speaker 1: east by the entrance, and they were all asleep. And
21:17
Speaker 1: now Moroni returned to his army and caused that they
21:20
Speaker 1: should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders to be
21:23
Speaker 1: let down from the top of the wall into the
21:25
Speaker 1: inner part of the wall. And it came to pass
21:28
Speaker 1: that Morona caused that his men should march forth and
21:31
Speaker 1: come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves
21:34
Speaker 1: down into that part of the city. Yea, even on
21:36
Speaker 1: the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.
21:40
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that they were all let
21:42
Speaker 1: down into the city by night by the means of
21:45
Speaker 1: their strong cords and their ladders. Thus, when the morning came,
21:49
Speaker 1: they were all within the walls of the city. And
21:52
Speaker 1: now when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies
21:54
Speaker 1: of Morona were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly
21:58
Speaker 1: insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. And
22:01
Speaker 1: now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him,
22:03
Speaker 1: he did cause that his men should march forth against them,
22:07
Speaker 1: and slew many and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners,
22:11
Speaker 1: and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni,
22:14
Speaker 1: which was in the borders by the sea shore. Thus
22:17
Speaker 1: had Moroni and Pohorn obtained the possession of the city
22:21
Speaker 1: of Nephija without the loss of one soul, And there
22:24
Speaker 1: were many of the Lamanites who were slain. Now it
22:27
Speaker 1: came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were
22:30
Speaker 1: prisoners were desirous to join the people of Amine and
22:33
Speaker 1: become a free people. And it came to pass that
22:36
Speaker 1: as many as were desirous unto them, it was granted
22:39
Speaker 1: according to their desires. Therefore, all the prisoners of the
22:42
Speaker 1: Lamanites did join the people of Amon, and did begin
22:45
Speaker 1: to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain,
22:49
Speaker 1: and flocks and herds of every kind. And thus were
22:52
Speaker 1: the Nephites relieved from a great burden, yea in so
22:56
Speaker 1: much that they were relieved from all the prisoners of
22:58
Speaker 1: the Lamanites. Now it came to pass that Moroni, after
23:02
Speaker 1: he had obtained possession of the city of Nephiha, having
23:05
Speaker 1: taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the
23:08
Speaker 1: Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who
23:12
Speaker 1: had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of
23:15
Speaker 1: Morone exceedingly. Therefore, Morona went forth from the land of
23:19
Speaker 1: Nephiha to the land of Lehi. And it came to
23:22
Speaker 1: pass that when the Lamanites saw that Morona was coming
23:24
Speaker 1: against them, they were again affrighted and fled before the
23:28
Speaker 1: army of Moroni. And it came to pass that Morona
23:31
Speaker 1: and his army did pursue them from city to city
23:34
Speaker 1: until they were met by Lehi and Tiancum. And the
23:37
Speaker 1: Lamanites fled from Lehai and Tiankam even down upon the
23:40
Speaker 1: borders by the sea shore, until they came to the
23:43
Speaker 1: land of Moroni. And the armies of the Lamanites were
23:46
Speaker 1: all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one
23:49
Speaker 1: body in the land of Moroni. Now Amoran, the king
23:52
Speaker 1: of the Lamanites, was also with them, And it came
23:55
Speaker 1: to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Tiankum did camp
24:00
Speaker 1: with their armies round about in the borders of the
24:02
Speaker 1: land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about
24:06
Speaker 1: in the borders by the wilderness on the south and
24:09
Speaker 1: in the borders by the wilderness on the east. And
24:12
Speaker 1: thus they did encamp for the knight. For behold, the
24:14
Speaker 1: Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the
24:17
Speaker 1: greatness of the march. Therefore they did not resolve upon
24:20
Speaker 1: any stratagem in the night time, save it were Tiancum,
24:24
Speaker 1: for he was exceedingly angry with Amoron, insomuch that he
24:28
Speaker 1: considered that Amoron and a Malachia his brother, had been
24:31
Speaker 1: the cause of this great and lasting war between them
24:34
Speaker 1: and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so
24:37
Speaker 1: much war and bloodshed yea, and so much famine. And
24:40
Speaker 1: it came to pass that Tiankam, in his anger, did
24:43
Speaker 1: go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and had
24:46
Speaker 1: let himself down over the walls of the city. And
24:48
Speaker 1: he went forth with a cord from place to place,
24:51
Speaker 1: insomuch that he did find the king, and he had
24:54
Speaker 1: cast the javelin at him, which did pierce him near
24:57
Speaker 1: the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants
25:00
Speaker 1: before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Tiancum and
25:04
Speaker 1: slew him. Now it came to pass that when Lee
25:07
Speaker 1: Hia Moron I knew that Tiancam was dead. They were
25:10
Speaker 1: exceedingly sorrowful. For behold, he had been a man who
25:14
Speaker 1: had fought valiantly for his country Yea, a true friend
25:17
Speaker 1: to liberty, and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions.
25:22
Speaker 1: But behold, he was dead and had gone the way
25:26
Speaker 1: of all the earth. Now it came to pass that
25:29
Speaker 1: Moroni marched forth on the morrow and came upon the Lamanites,
25:33
Speaker 1: insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter,
25:36
Speaker 1: and they did drive them out of the land, and
25:38
Speaker 1: they did flee, even that they did not return at
25:41
Speaker 1: that time against the Nephites. And thus ended the thirty
25:45
Speaker 1: and first year of the reign of the Judges over
25:47
Speaker 1: the people of Nephi. And thus they had had wars
25:51
Speaker 1: and bloodsheds and famine and affliction for the space of
25:55
Speaker 1: many years, and there had been murders and contentions and
25:59
Speaker 1: descens and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi. Nevertheless,
26:04
Speaker 1: for the righteous's sake, Yea, because of the prayers of
26:07
Speaker 1: the righteous, they were spared. But behold, because of the
26:11
Speaker 1: exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and
26:14
Speaker 1: the Lamanites. Many had become hardened because of the exceedingly
26:18
Speaker 1: great length of the war, and many were softened because
26:21
Speaker 1: of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God,
26:25
Speaker 1: even in the depth of humility. And it came to
26:28
Speaker 1: pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the
26:31
Speaker 1: land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they
26:35
Speaker 1: were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla,
26:39
Speaker 1: and also Heliman returned to the place of his inheritance,
26:42
Speaker 1: and there was once more peace established among the people
26:45
Speaker 1: of Nephi. And Morona yielded up the command of his
26:49
Speaker 1: armies into the hands of his son, whose name was
26:52
Speaker 1: moronai Haw, and he retired to his own house, that
26:55
Speaker 1: he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.
26:59
Speaker 1: And Uhrn did return to his judgment seat, and Helaman
27:03
Speaker 1: to take upon him again to preach unto the people
27:05
Speaker 1: the word of God. For because of so many great
27:08
Speaker 1: wars and contentions, it had become expedient that a regulation
27:11
Speaker 1: should be made again in the church. Therefore Heliman and
27:15
Speaker 1: his brethren went forth and to declare the word of
27:17
Speaker 1: God with much power, unto the convincing of many people
27:20
Speaker 1: of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of
27:23
Speaker 1: their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God.
27:26
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that they did establish again
27:29
Speaker 1: the Church of God throughout all the land. Yea. And
27:32
Speaker 1: regulations were made concerning the law, and their judges, and
27:35
Speaker 1: their chief judges were chosen. And the people of Nephi
27:38
Speaker 1: began to prosper again in the land, and began to
27:41
Speaker 1: multiply into wax exceedingly strong again in the land, and
27:44
Speaker 1: they began to grow exceedingly rich. But notwithstanding their riches,
27:49
Speaker 1: or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted
27:52
Speaker 1: up in the pride of their eyes. Neither were they
27:55
Speaker 1: slow to remember the Lord to God. But they did
27:58
Speaker 1: humble themselves exceedingly before him. Yea, they did remember how
28:02
Speaker 1: great things the Lord had done for them, that he
28:04
Speaker 1: had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons,
28:08
Speaker 1: and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered
28:11
Speaker 1: them out of the hands of their enemies. And they
28:13
Speaker 1: did pray unto the Lord their God continually, and so
28:16
Speaker 1: much that the Lord did bless them according to his word,
28:19
Speaker 1: so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land.
28:23
Speaker 1: And it came to pass that all these things were done,
28:26
Speaker 1: and Heliman died in the thirty and fifth year of
28:28
Speaker 1: the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi Alma,
28:32
Speaker 1: chapter sixty three. And it came to pass, in the
28:35
Speaker 1: commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign
28:38
Speaker 1: of the Judges over the people of Nephi, that Shiblon
28:41
Speaker 1: took possession of those sacred things which had been delivered
28:43
Speaker 1: unto Helim and by Alma. And he was a just man,
28:47
Speaker 1: and he did walk uprightly before God, and he did
28:50
Speaker 1: observe to do good continually to keep the commandments of
28:53
Speaker 1: the Lord his God. And also did his brother. And
28:57
Speaker 1: it came to pass that Moroni died also, and thus
29:00
Speaker 1: ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of
29:02
Speaker 1: the Judges. And it came to pass that in the
29:06
Speaker 1: thirty and seventh year of the reign of the Judges,
29:08
Speaker 1: there was a large company of men, even to the
29:10
Speaker 1: amount of five thousand and four hundred men with their
29:13
Speaker 1: wives and their children, departed out of the land of
29:16
Speaker 1: Zarahimla into the land which was northward, and it came
29:19
Speaker 1: to pass that hegoth he being an exceedingly curious man.
29:23
Speaker 1: Therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large
29:27
Speaker 1: ship on the borders of the land Bountiful by the
29:30
Speaker 1: land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west Sea
29:33
Speaker 1: by the narrow neck, which led into the land northward.
29:37
Speaker 1: And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did
29:39
Speaker 1: enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and
29:42
Speaker 1: also many women and children, and they took their course northward,
29:46
Speaker 1: and thus ended the thirty and seventh year. And in
29:49
Speaker 1: the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships,
29:52
Speaker 1: and the first ship did also return, and many more
29:55
Speaker 1: people did enter into it, and they also took much provisions,
29:58
Speaker 1: and set out again to the land world northward. And
30:01
Speaker 1: it came to pass that they were never heard of more,
30:03
Speaker 1: and we supposed that they were drowned in the depths
30:06
Speaker 1: of the sea. And it came to pass that one
30:08
Speaker 1: other ship also did sail forth, and whither she did
30:11
Speaker 1: go we know not. And it came to pass that
30:13
Speaker 1: in this year there were many people who went forth
30:16
Speaker 1: into the land northward, and thus ended the thirty and
30:18
Speaker 1: eighth year, and it came to pass and the thirty
30:21
Speaker 1: and ninth year of the reign of the Judges, Shiblon
30:23
Speaker 1: died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land
30:27
Speaker 1: northward in a ship to carry forth provisions unto the
30:30
Speaker 1: people who had gone forth into that land. Therefore, it
30:34
Speaker 1: became expedient for Shiblon to confer those sacred things before
30:38
Speaker 1: his death upon the son of Heliman, who was called Heliman,
30:41
Speaker 1: being called after the name of his father. Now behold,
30:45
Speaker 1: all those engravings which were in the possession of Heliman
30:48
Speaker 1: were written and sent forth among the children of men
30:50
Speaker 1: throughout all the land. Save it were those parts which
30:53
Speaker 1: had been commanded by Almah should not go forth. Nevertheless,
30:56
Speaker 1: these things were to be kept sacred and handed down
30:59
Speaker 1: from one generation to another. Therefore, in this year they
31:03
Speaker 1: had been conferred upon Heliman before the death of Shiblon.
31:07
Speaker 1: And it came to pass also in this year that
31:09
Speaker 1: there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites,
31:12
Speaker 1: and they were stirred up again to anger against the Nephites.
31:16
Speaker 1: And also in this same year they came down with
31:18
Speaker 1: a numerous army to war against the people of Moroniha,
31:21
Speaker 1: or against the army of Moroniha, in the which they
31:24
Speaker 1: were beaten and driven back again to their own lands,
31:28
Speaker 1: suffering great loss. And thus ended the thirty and ninth
31:32
Speaker 1: year of the reign of the Judges over the people
31:33
Speaker 1: of Nephi. And thus ended the account of Alma and
31:37
Speaker 1: Heliman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.
31:42
Speaker 1: End of Alma, chapters fifty nine through sixty three.