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

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Speaker 1: Third ney Phi, Chapters five through eight. Third ney Phi,
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Speaker 1: Chapter five. And now behold, there was not a living
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Speaker 1: soul among all the people of the Nephiites who did
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Speaker 1: doubt in the least the words of all the holy
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Speaker 1: prophets who had spoken. For they knew that it must
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Speaker 1: needs be that they must be fulfilled. And they knew
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Speaker 1: that it must be expedient that Christ had come. Because
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Speaker 1: of many signs which had been given according to the
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Speaker 1: words of the prophets, and because of the things which
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Speaker 1: had come to pass already, they knew that it must
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Speaker 1: needs be that all things should come to pass according
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Speaker 1: to that which had been spoken. Therefore they did forsake
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Speaker 1: all their sins and their abominations, and their hortoms, and
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Speaker 1: would serve God with all diligence, day and night. And
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Speaker 1: now it came to pass that when they had taken
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Speaker 1: all the robbers prisoners in so much that none did
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Speaker 1: escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners
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Speaker 1: into prison, and did cause the word of God to
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Speaker 1: be preached unto them. And as many as would repent
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Speaker 1: their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder,
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Speaker 1: no more were set at liberty. But as many as
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Speaker 1: there were who did not enter into a covenant, and
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Speaker 1: who did still continue to have those secret murders in
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Speaker 1: their hearts. Yea, as many as were found breathing out
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Speaker 1: threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished according to
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Speaker 1: the law. And thus they did put an end to
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Speaker 1: all those wicked and secret and abominable combinations in the
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Speaker 1: which there was so much wickedness and so many murders committed.
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Speaker 1: And thus had the twenty and second year passed away,
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Speaker 1: and the twenty and third year, also in the twenty
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Speaker 1: and fourth and the twenty and fifth, and thus had
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Speaker 1: twenty and five years passed away, And there had many
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Speaker 1: things transpired, which, in the eyes of some would be
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Speaker 1: great and marvelous. Nevertheless, they cannot all be written in
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Speaker 1: this book. Yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth
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Speaker 1: part of what was done among so many people in
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Speaker 1: the space of twenty and five years. But behold, there
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Speaker 1: are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people,
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Speaker 1: and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: or I have made my record of these things according
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Speaker 1: to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the
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Speaker 1: plates which were called the plates of Nephi. And behold,
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Speaker 1: I do make the record on plates which I have
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Speaker 1: made with mine own hands. And behold, I am called Mormon,
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Speaker 1: being called after the land of Mormon, the land of
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Speaker 1: which Almon did establish the church among the people yea,
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Speaker 1: the first church which was established among them after their transgression. Behold,
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Speaker 1: I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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Speaker 1: I have been called of Him to declare this word
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Speaker 1: among his people, that they might have everlasting life. And
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Speaker 1: it hath become expedient that I, according to the will
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Speaker 1: of God, that the prayers of those who have gone
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Speaker 1: hence who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according
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Speaker 1: to their faith, should make a record of these things
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Speaker 1: which had been done, YEA, a small record of that
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Speaker 1: which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem,
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Speaker 1: even down until the present time. Therefore, I do make
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Speaker 1: my record from the accounts which have been given by
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Speaker 1: those who were before me and till the commencement of
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Speaker 1: my day. And then I do make a record of
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Speaker 1: the things which I have seen with mine own eyes.
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Speaker 1: And I know the record which I make to be
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Speaker 1: a just and a true record. Nevertheless, there are many
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Speaker 1: things which, according to our language we are not able
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Speaker 1: to write. And now I make an end of my saying,
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Speaker 1: which is of myself, and proceed to give my account
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Speaker 1: of the things which have been before me. I am
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Speaker 1: Mormon and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason
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Speaker 1: to bless my God and my Savior, Jesus Christ. That
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Speaker 1: he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem,
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Speaker 1: and no one knew it save it word himself, and
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Speaker 1: those whom he brought out of that land. And that
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Speaker 1: he hath given me and my people so much knowledge
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Speaker 1: unto the salvation of our souls. Surely he hath blessed
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Speaker 1: the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the
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Speaker 1: seed of Joseph. And insomuch as the children of Lehi
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Speaker 1: have kept his commandments, he hath blessed them and prospered
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Speaker 1: them according to his word. Yea, and surely shall he
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Speaker 1: again bring a remnant the seed of Joseph to the
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Speaker 1: knowledge of the Lord their God. And as surely as
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Speaker 1: the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four
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Speaker 1: quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed
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Speaker 1: of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face
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Speaker 1: of the earth. And as he hath covenanted with all
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Speaker 1: the House of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith
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Speaker 1: he hath covenanted with the House of Jacob, be fulfilled
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Speaker 1: in his own due time unto the restoring of all
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Speaker 1: the House of Jacob, unto the knowledge of the covenant
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Speaker 1: that he hath covenanted with them. And then shall they
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Speaker 1: know their redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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Speaker 1: And then shall they be gathered in from the four
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Speaker 1: quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence
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Speaker 1: they have been dispersed. Yea, as the Lord liveth, so
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Speaker 1: shall it be namen. Third Nephi Chapter six. And now
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Speaker 1: it came to pass that the people of the Nephites
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Speaker 1: did all return to their own lands in the twenty
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Speaker 1: and sixth year, every man with his family, his flocks,
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Speaker 1: and his herds, his horses, and in his cattle, and
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Speaker 1: all things whatsoever did belong unto them. And it came
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Speaker 1: to pass that they had not eaten up all their provisions.
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Speaker 1: Therefore they did take with them all that they had
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Speaker 1: not devoured, of all their grain of every kind, and
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Speaker 1: their gold, and their silver and all their precious things.
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Speaker 1: And they did return to their own lands and their possessions,
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Speaker 1: both on the north and on the south, both on
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Speaker 1: the land northward and on the land southward. And they
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Speaker 1: granted unto those robbers who had entered into a covenant
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Speaker 1: to keep the peace of the land, who were desirous
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Speaker 1: to remain Lamanites lands according to their numbers, that they
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Speaker 1: might have with their labors wherewith to subsist upon. And
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Speaker 1: thus they did establish peace in all the land, and
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Speaker 1: they began again to prosper and to wax great. And
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Speaker 1: the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and
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Speaker 1: there was great order in the land, and they had
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Speaker 1: formed their laws according to equity and justice. And now
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Speaker 1: there was nothing in all the land to hinder the
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Speaker 1: people from prospers continually, except they should fall into transgression.
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Speaker 1: And now it was Gidgadona and the Judge Laconius, and
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Speaker 1: those who had been appointed leaders, who had established this
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Speaker 1: great peace in the land. And it came to pass
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Speaker 1: that there were many cities built anew, and there were
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Speaker 1: many old cities repaired, and there were many highways cast up,
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Speaker 1: and many roads made which led from city to city,
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Speaker 1: and from land to land, and from place to place,
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Speaker 1: And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and
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Speaker 1: the people had continual peace. But it came to pass
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Speaker 1: in the twenty and ninth year. There began to be
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Speaker 1: some disputings among the people, and some were lifted up
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Speaker 1: unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches. Yea,
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Speaker 1: even unto great persecutions. For there were many merchants in
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Speaker 1: the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers. And
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Speaker 1: the people began to be distinguished by ranks according to
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Speaker 1: their riches and their chances for learning. Yea. Some were
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Speaker 1: ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great
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Speaker 1: learning because of their riches. Some were lifted up in pride,
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Speaker 1: and others were exceedingly humble. Some did return railing for railing,
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Speaker 1: while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner
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Speaker 1: of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but
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Speaker 1: were humble and penitent before God. And thus there became
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Speaker 1: a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the
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Speaker 1: church began to be broken up. Yea, insomuch that in
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Speaker 1: the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all
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Speaker 1: the land save it. Were among a few of the
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Speaker 1: Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith, and they
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Speaker 1: would not depart from it, for they were firm and
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Speaker 1: steadfast and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the
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Speaker 1: commandments of the Lord. Now the cause of this iniquity
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Speaker 1: of the people was this Satan had great power unto
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Speaker 1: the stirring up of the people to do all manner
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Speaker 1: of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride,
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Speaker 1: tempting them to seek for power and authority, and riches
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Speaker 1: and the vain things of the world. And thus Satan
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Speaker 1: did lead away the hearts of the people to do
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Speaker 1: all manner of iniquity. Therefore they had enjoyed peace but
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Speaker 1: a few years. And thus in the commencement of the
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Speaker 1: thirtieth year, the people having been delivered up for the
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Speaker 1: space of a long time, to be carried about by
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Speaker 1: the temptations of the devil, whithersoever he desired to carry them,
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Speaker 1: and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should. And
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Speaker 1: thus in the commencement of this the thirtieth year, they
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Speaker 1: were in a state of awful wickedness. Now they did
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Speaker 1: not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God
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Speaker 1: concerning them, for it had been taught unto them. Therefore
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Speaker 1: they did wilfully rebel against God. And now it was
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Speaker 1: in the days of Laconius, the son of Laconius, for
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Speaker 1: Laconius to fill the seat of his father and govern
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Speaker 1: the people that year, and there began to be men
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Speaker 1: inspired from heaven and sent forth standing among the people
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Speaker 1: in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the
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Speaker 1: sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them
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Speaker 1: concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people,
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Speaker 1: or in other words, the resurrection of Christ. And they
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Speaker 1: did testify boldly of his death and sufferings. Now there
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Speaker 1: were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because
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Speaker 1: of those who testified of these things. And those who
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Speaker 1: were angry were chiefly the chief priests, and they who
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Speaker 1: had been high priests and lawyers. Yea, all those who
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Speaker 1: were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things. NEI,
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Speaker 1: there was no lawyer, nor judge, nor high priest that
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Speaker 1: could have power to condemn any one to death, save
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Speaker 1: their condemnation was signed by the governor of the land.
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Speaker 1: Now there were many of those who testified of the
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Speaker 1: things pertaining to Christ, who testified boldly, who were taken
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Speaker 1: and put to death secretly by the judges, that the
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Speaker 1: knowledge of their death came not unto the governor of
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Speaker 1: the land until after their death. Now behold, this was
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Speaker 1: contrary to the laws of the land, that any man
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Speaker 1: should be put to death except they had power from
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Speaker 1: the governor of the land. Therefore, a complaint came up
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Speaker 1: unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the
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Speaker 1: land against these judges who had condemned the prophets of
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Speaker 1: the Lord, and to death not according to the law.
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Speaker 1: Now it came to pass that they were taken and
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Speaker 1: brought up for the judge to be judged of the
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Speaker 1: crime which they had done according to the law which
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Speaker 1: had been given by the people. Now it came to
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Speaker 1: pass that those judges had many friends and kindreds, and
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Speaker 1: the remainder yea, even almost all the lawyers and the
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Speaker 1: high priests did gather themselves together and unite with the
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Speaker 1: kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according
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Speaker 1: to the law. And they did enter into a covenant
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Speaker 1: one with another, Yea, even into that covenant which was
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Speaker 1: given by them of old, which covenant was given and
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Speaker 1: administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness. Therefore
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Speaker 1: they did combine against the people of the Lord, and
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Speaker 1: enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver
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Speaker 1: those who were givety of murder from the grasp of
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Speaker 1: justice which was about to be administered according to the law.
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Speaker 1: And they did set at defiance the law and the
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Speaker 1: rights of their country. And they did covenant one with
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Speaker 1: another to destroy the governor and to establish a king
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Speaker 1: over the land, that the land should no more be
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Speaker 1: at liberty, but should be subject unto kings. Third Nephive,
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Speaker 1: Chapter seven. Now behold, I will show unto you that
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Speaker 1: they did not establish a king over the land. But
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Speaker 1: in this same year, Yea, the thirtieth year, they did
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Speaker 1: destroy upon the judgment seat. Yea did murder the chief
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Speaker 1: judge of the land. And the people were divided one
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Speaker 1: against another, and they did separate one from another into tribes,
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Speaker 1: every man according to his family and his kindred and friends.
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Speaker 1: And thus they did destroy the government of the land.
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Speaker 1: And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader
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Speaker 1: over them, and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.
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Speaker 1: Now behold, there was no man among them save he
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Speaker 1: had much family, many kindreds, and friends. Therefore their tribes
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Speaker 1: became exceedingly great. Now all this was done, and there
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Speaker 1: were no wars as yet among them. And all this
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Speaker 1: iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield
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Speaker 1: themselves unto the power of Satan. And the regulations of
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Speaker 1: the government were destroyed because of the secret combinations of
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Speaker 1: the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.
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Speaker 1: And they did cause a great contention in the land,
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Speaker 1: insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had
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Speaker 1: nearly all become wicked. Yea, there were but few righteous
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Speaker 1: men among them. And thus six years had not passed away,
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Speaker 1: since the more part of the people had turned from
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Speaker 1: their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like
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Speaker 1: the soal to her wallowing in the mire. Now, this
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Speaker 1: secret combination, which had brought so great iniquity upon the people,
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Speaker 1: did gather themselves together, and did place at their head
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Speaker 1: a man whom they did call Jacob, and they did
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Speaker 1: call him their king. Therefore he became a king over
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Speaker 1: this wicked band, and he was one of the chiefest
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Speaker 1: who had given his voice against the prophets who testified
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Speaker 1: of Jesus. And it came to pass that they were
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Speaker 1: not so strong in number as the tribes of the people,
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Speaker 1: who were united together, save it were their leaders to
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Speaker 1: establish their laws, every one according to his tribe. Nevertheless,
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Speaker 1: they were enemies. Notwithstanding they were not a righteous people.
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Speaker 1: Yet they were united in the hatred of those who
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Speaker 1: had entered into a covenant to destroy the government. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: a Jacob, seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they,
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Speaker 1: he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded
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Speaker 1: his people that they should take their flight into the
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Speaker 1: northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto
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Speaker 1: themselves a kingdom until they were joined by dissenters. For
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Speaker 1: he flattered them that there would be many dissenters. And
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Speaker 1: they became sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of
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Speaker 1: the people. And they did so, and so speedy was
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Speaker 1: their march that it could not be impeded until they
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Speaker 1: had gone forth out of the reach of the people.
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Speaker 1: And thus ended the thirtieth year. And thus were the
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Speaker 1: affairs of the people of Nephi, And it came to
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Speaker 1: pass in the thirty and first year that they were
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Speaker 1: divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred
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Speaker 1: and friends. Nevertheless, they had come to an agreement that
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Speaker 1: they would not go to war one with another. But
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Speaker 1: they were not united as to their laws and their
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Speaker 1: manner of government, for they were established according to the
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Speaker 1: minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders.
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Speaker 1: But they did establish very strict laws, that one tribe
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Speaker 1: should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree
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Speaker 1: they had peace in the land. Nevertheless, their hearts were
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Speaker 1: turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone
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Speaker 1: the prophets, and had cast them out from among them.
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Speaker 1: And it came to pass that Nephi, having been visited
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Speaker 1: by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore
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Speaker 1: having seen angels, and being eye witness, and having had
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Speaker 1: power given unto him that he might know concerning the
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Speaker 1: ministry of Christ, and also being eye witness to their
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Speaker 1: quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the
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Speaker 1: blindness of their minds, went forth among them in that
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Speaker 1: same year, and began to testify boldly repentance and remission
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Speaker 1: of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. And
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Speaker 1: he didminister many things unto them, and all of them
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Speaker 1: cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice.
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Speaker 1: Therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi
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Speaker 1: did minister with power and with great authority. And it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that they were angry with him, even
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Speaker 1: because he had a greater power than they, for it
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Speaker 1: were not possible that they could disbelieve his words. For
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Speaker 1: so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ,
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Speaker 1: that angels did minister unto him daily. And in the
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Speaker 1: name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits.
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Speaker 1: And even his brother did he raise from the dead
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Speaker 1: after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.
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Speaker 1: And the people saw it and did witness of it,
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Speaker 1: and were angry with him because of his power. And
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Speaker 1: he did also do many more miracles in the sight
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Speaker 1: of the people in the name of Jesus. And it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that the thirty and first year did
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Speaker 1: pass away, And there were but few who were converted
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Speaker 1: unto the Lord. But as many as were converted, did
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Speaker 1: truly signify unto the people that they had been visited
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Speaker 1: by the power and spirit of God, which was in
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Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, in whom they believed. And as many as
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Speaker 1: had devils cast out of them and were healed of
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Speaker 1: their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the
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Speaker 1: people that they had been wrought upon by the spirit
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Speaker 1: of God and had been healed. And they did chof
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Speaker 1: forth signs also, and did do some miracles among the people.
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Speaker 1: Thus passed away the thirty and second year also, and
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Speaker 1: Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of
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Speaker 1: the thirty and third year, and he did preach unto
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Speaker 1: them repentance and remission of sins. Now, I would have
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Speaker 1: you to remember also that there were none who were
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Speaker 1: brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: there were ordained of Nephi men unto this ministry, that
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Speaker 1: all such as should come unto them should be baptized
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Speaker 1: with water. And this as a witness and a testimony
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Speaker 1: before God and unto the people, that they had repented
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Speaker 1: and received a remission of their sins. And there were
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Speaker 1: many in the commencement of this year, that were baptized
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Speaker 1: unto repentance. And thus the more part of the year
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Speaker 1: did pass away. Third Nephi, Chapter eight. And now it
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Speaker 1: came to pass that according to our record, and we
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Speaker 1: know our record to be true. For behold, it was
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Speaker 1: a just man who did keep the record, for he
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Speaker 1: truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus. And
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Speaker 1: there was not any man who could do a miracle
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Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus, save he were clan whit
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Speaker 1: from his iniquity. And now it came to pass, if
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Speaker 1: there was no mistake made by this man in the
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Speaker 1: reckoning of our time. The thirty and third year had
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Speaker 1: passed away, and the people began to look with great
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Speaker 1: earnestness for the sign which had been given by the
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Speaker 1: prophet Samuel the Lamanite Yea for the time that there
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Speaker 1: should be darkness for the space of three days over
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Speaker 1: the face of the land. And there began to be
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Speaker 1: great doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many
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Speaker 1: signs had been given. And it came to pass in
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Speaker 1: the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on
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Speaker 1: the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm,
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Speaker 1: such an one as never had been known in all
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Speaker 1: the land. And there was also a great and terrible tempest,
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Speaker 1: and there was terrible thunder insomuch that it did shake
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Speaker 1: the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
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Speaker 1: And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings such as never had
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Speaker 1: been known in all the land. And the city of
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Speaker 1: Zarahemla did take fire, and the city of Moroni did
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Speaker 1: sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants
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Speaker 1: thereof were drowned, and the earth was carried up upon
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Speaker 1: the city of Moroniha that in the place of the
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Speaker 1: city there became a great mountain. And there was a
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Speaker 1: great and terrible destruction in the land southward. But behold,
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Speaker 1: there was a more great and terrible destruction in the
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Speaker 1: land northward. For behold, the whole face of the land
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Speaker 1: was changed because of the tempest and the whirl winds,
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Speaker 1: and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great
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Speaker 1: quaking of the whole earth. And the highways were broken up,
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Speaker 1: the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough,
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Speaker 1: and many great and notable cities were sunk, and many
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Speaker 1: were burned, and many were shaken, till the buildings thereof
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Speaker 1: had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain,
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Speaker 1: and the places were left desolate. And there were some
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Speaker 1: cities which remained, but the damage thereof was exceedingly great.
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Speaker 1: And there were many of them who were slain. And
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Speaker 1: there were some who were carried away in the whirl wind,
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Speaker 1: And whither they went no man knoweth, save they know
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Speaker 1: that they were carried away. And thus the face of
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Speaker 1: the whole earth became deformed because of the tempests and
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Speaker 1: the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
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Speaker 1: And behold, the rocks were rent and twain, and they
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Speaker 1: were broken up upon the face of the whole earth,
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Speaker 1: insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in
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Speaker 1: seams and in cracks upon all the face of the land.
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Speaker 1: And it came to pass that when the thunderings and
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Speaker 1: the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest and the
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Speaker 1: quakings of the earth did cease, for behold, they did
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Speaker 1: last for about the space of three hours, and it
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Speaker 1: was said by some that the time was greater. Nevertheless,
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Speaker 1: all these great and terrible things were done in about
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Speaker 1: the space of three hours. And then behold, there was
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Speaker 1: darkness upon the face of the land. And it came
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Speaker 1: to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the
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Speaker 1: face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who
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Speaker 1: had not fallen, could feel the vapor of darkness. And
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Speaker 1: there could be no light because of the darkness. Neither
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Speaker 1: case candles, neither torches, neither could there be fire kindled
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Speaker 1: with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there
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Speaker 1: could not be any light at all. And there was
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Speaker 1: not any light scene, neither fire nor glimmer, neither the sun,
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Speaker 1: nor the moon, nor the stars. For so great were
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Speaker 1: the mists of darkness which were upon the face of
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Speaker 1: the land. And it came to pass that it did
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Speaker 1: last for the space of three days that there was
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Speaker 1: no light seen, and there was great mourning and howling
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Speaker 1: and weeping among all the people continually. Yea great were
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Speaker 1: the groanings of the people because of the darkness and
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Speaker 1: the great destruction which had come upon them. And in
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Speaker 1: one place they were heard to cry, saying, oh, that
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Speaker 1: we had repented before this great and terrible day, and
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Speaker 1: then would our brethren have been spared that they would
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Speaker 1: not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla. And
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Speaker 1: in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying, oh,
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Speaker 1: that we had repented before this great and terrible day,
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Speaker 1: and had not killed and stoned the prophets and cast
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Speaker 1: them out, Then would our mothers and our fair daughters
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Speaker 1: and our children have been spared and not have been
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Speaker 1: buried up in that great city Moroniha. And thus were
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Speaker 1: the howlings of the people great and terrible. End of
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Speaker 1: Third Nephi, chapters five through eight,