Latest / Sacred Texts Archive / 29 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr

Transcript

29 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Sacred Texts Archive

0:00
Chapter fourteen. And it came to pass after he had made an end of
0:04
speaking unto the people, many of them did believe on his words and began
0:10
to repent and to search the scriptures. But the more part of them were
0:16
desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek, for they were angry with Alma
0:22
because of the plainness of his words, and too Ziazram. And they also
0:26
said that Amulek had lied unto them and had reviled against their law, and
0:31
also against their lawyers and judges. And they were also angry with Alma and
0:37
Amulek. And because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought
0:43
to put them away privily, But it came to pass that they did not.
0:48
But they took them and bound them with strong accords, and took them
0:52
before the chief judge of the land. And the people went forth and witnessed
0:58
against them, testified that they had reviled against the law and their lawyers and
1:03
judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the
1:07
land, and also testified that there was but one God, and that he
1:11
should send his son among the people, but he should not save them.
1:15
And many such things did the people testify against Almah and Amulek. Now this
1:22
was done before the chief judge of the land. And it came to pass
1:27
that Ziezram was astonished at the words which had been spoken. And he also
1:33
knew concerning the blindness of the minds which he had caused among the people by
1:38
his lying words. And his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness
1:42
of his own guilt. Yea, he began to be encircled about by the
1:47
pains of hell. And it came to pass that he began to cry into
1:52
the people, saying, behold, I am guilty, and these men are
1:57
spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth.
2:01
But they reviled him, saying, art thou also possessed with the devil?
2:07
And they spit upon him and cast him out from among them. And
2:10
also all those who believed in the words which have been spoken by Almah and
2:15
Amulek. And they cast them out and sent men to cast stones at them.
2:21
And they brought their wives and children together, and whose whoever believed or
2:25
had been taught to believe in the word of God, they caused that they
2:29
should be cast into the fire. And they also brought forth their records,
2:34
which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire, also that
2:38
they might be burned and destroyed by fire. And it came to pass that
2:43
they took Alma and Amulek and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom,
2:47
that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire. And
2:53
when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the
2:58
fire, he also pained, and he said, unto Almah, how can
3:01
we witness this awful scene? Therefore, let us stretch forth our hands and
3:07
exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the
3:12
flames. But Almah said, unto him, the spirit constraineth me that I
3:17
must not stretch forth thine hand. For behold, the Lord receiveth them up
3:23
unto himself in glory. And He doth suffer that they may do this thing,
3:28
or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the
3:30
hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which He shall exercise upon them in
3:36
his wrath may be just, and the blood of the innocent shall stand as
3:40
a witness against them yea, and cried mightily against them at the last day.
3:46
Now, Amulek said to Almah, behold, perhaps they will burn us
3:50
also. And Almah said, be it according to the will of the Lord.
3:54
But behold, our work is not finished. Therefore they burn us not.
4:00
Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been
4:02
cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in
4:08
with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and
4:12
Amulek as they were bound. And he smote them with his hand upon their
4:15
cheeks and said, unto them, after what ye have seen, ye will
4:20
preach again and to this people that they shall be cast into a flake of
4:25
fire and brimstone. Behold, ye see that she had not the power to
4:30
save those who had been cast into the fire. Neither has God saved them,
4:34
because they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon
4:39
their cheeks and asked, what say ye for yourselves? Now this judge was
4:45
after the order and fate of Nihor, who slew Gideon. And it came
4:49
to pass that Almah and Amulek answered him nothing, And he smote them again,
4:55
and delivered them to the officers to be cast into prison. And when
5:00
they had been cast into prison three days, there came many lawyers and judges,
5:03
and priests and teachers who were of the profession of Niehor. And they
5:09
came into the prison to see them, and they questioned them about many words,
5:14
but they answered them nothing. And it came to pass that the judge
5:17
stood before them and said, why do ye not answer the words of this
5:21
people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up into the
5:26
flames? And he commanded them to speak, but they answered nothing, And
5:31
it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again
5:35
on the morrow, and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks.
5:40
And many came forth also and smote them, saying, will ye stand again
5:46
and judge this people and condemn our law? If ye have such great power,
5:50
why do ye not deliver yourselves? And many such things did they say
5:55
unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and
6:00
saying, how shall we look when we are damned? And many such things
6:03
yea all manner of such things did they say unto them, And thus did
6:09
they mock them for many days, and they did with whole food from them
6:15
that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst. And they also
6:19
did take from them their clothes, that they were naked. And thus they
6:24
were bound with strong cords and confined in prison. And it came to pass
6:30
after they had suffered thus for many days. And it was on the twelfth
6:33
day in the tenth month, in the tenth year of the reign of the
6:36
Judges over the people of Nephi, that the chief Judge over the land of
6:43
Amaniha, and many of their teachers and their lawyers went into the prison where
6:47
Almah and Amulek were bound with cords. And the chief judge stood before them
6:54
and smoked them again and said unto them, if ye have the power of
6:58
God, deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the
7:02
Lord will destroy this people according to your words. And it came to pass
7:08
that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words even until
7:13
the last. And when the last had spoken unto them, the power of
7:17
God was upon Almah an Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet,
7:24
and Almah cried, saying, how long shall we suffer these great afflictions,
7:30
O Lord, O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which
7:34
is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which
7:40
they were bound. And when the people saw this, they began to flee,
7:44
for the fear of destruction had come upon them. And it came to
7:48
pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth and did
7:53
not obtain the outer door of the prison. And the earth shook mightily,
7:58
and the walls of the prison were in twain, so that they fell to
8:01
the earth. And the chief judge, and the lawyers, and the priests
8:07
and teachers who smote upon Alma and Amulek were slain by the fall thereof.
8:13
And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not
8:16
hurt, for the Lord had granted unto them power according to their faith,
8:22
which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison.
8:26
And they were loosed from their bands. And the prison had fallen to the
8:30
earth, and every soul within the walls thereof save it were Almah and Amulek
8:37
was slain. And they straightway came forth into the city. Now the people,
8:43
having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause
8:46
of it. And when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the
8:52
prison, and all the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were
8:56
struck with great fear and fled from the presence of Almah Amulek, even as
9:01
a goat fleeth with her young from two lions. And thus they did flee
9:05
from the presence of Alma and Amulek Chapter fifteen. And it came to pass
9:13
that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of the city. And they
9:18
departed and came out even into the land of Saidom. And behold there they
9:22
found all the people who had departed out of the land of Amaniha, who
9:28
had been cast out and stoned because they believed in the words of Alma.
9:33
And they related unto them all that had happened, and to their wives and
9:37
children, and also concerning themselves and of their power of deliverance. And also
9:43
Ziazram lay sick at Seidom with a burning fever, which was caused by the
9:48
great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, For he supposed that
9:54
Alma and Amulek were no more, and he supposed that they had been slain
9:58
because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and as many other sins,
10:03
did harrow upon his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no
10:09
deliverance. Therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat. Now,
10:13
when he heard that Alma and Amuleik were in the land of Sidom, his
10:18
heart began to take courage, and he sent a message immediately unto them,
10:22
desiring them to come unto him. And it came to pass that they went
10:26
immediately, obeying the message which he had scented to them, And they went
10:31
in under the house of Zyazram, and they found him upon his bed sick,
10:37
being very low with a burning fever. And his mind also was exceedingly
10:41
sore because of his iniquities. And when he saw them, he stretched forth
10:45
his hand and besought them that they would heal him. And it came to
10:48
pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand, believest thou
10:54
in the power of Christ and to salvation. And he answered and said,
10:58
yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught. And Almah said
11:05
if thou believest in the redemption of Christ, thou canst be healed. And
11:11
he said, yea, I believe according to thy words. And then Almah
11:16
cried unto the Lord, saying, O, Lord, our God, have
11:20
mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in
11:24
Christ. And when Almah had said these words, Zizram leaped upon his feet
11:31
and began to walk. And this was done to the great astonishment of all
11:35
the people. And the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of
11:39
Sidom. And Almah baptized Zizram unto the Lord. And he began from that
11:45
time forth to preach unto the people. And Almah established a church in the
11:50
land of Saidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land to baptize unto
11:54
the Lord, whosoever were desirous to be baptized, and came to pass that
12:00
there were many, for they did flock in from all the region around about
12:05
Saidom and were baptized. But as to the people that were in the land
12:11
of Ammaniha, they yet remained a hard hearted and a stiff necked people,
12:16
and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma an
12:22
Amulek to the devil, for they were of the profession of nihor and did
12:26
not believe in the repentance of their sins. And it came to pass that
12:31
Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold and silver and his precious
12:37
things which were in the land of Amaniha for the word of God, he
12:43
being rejected by those who were once his friends, and also by his father
12:48
and his kindred. Therefore, after Alma, having established the church at saidom,
12:54
seeing a great check Yea, seeing that the people were checked as to
12:58
the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and
13:03
began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar,
13:09
watching and praying continually that they might be delivered from satan and from death and
13:13
from destruction. Now, as I said, Alma, having seen all these
13:20
things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla,
13:26
and took him to his own house, and did administer to him in his
13:30
tribulations and strengthened him in the Lord. And thus ended the tenth year of
13:35
the Reign of the Judges over the People of Nephi, Chapter sixteen. And
13:43
it came to pass in the eleventh year of the reign of the Judges over
13:46
the People of Nephi, on the fifth day of the second month, there
13:50
having been much peace in the land of Zarahemla, there having been no wars
13:54
or contentions for a certain number of years, even until the fifth day the
14:00
second month in the eleventh year, there was a cry of war heard throughout
14:05
the land. For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon
14:09
the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city
14:15
of Amaniha, and began to slay the people and destroy the cities. And
14:20
now it came to pass before the Nephites could raise a sufficient army to drive
14:24
them out of the land. They had destroyed the people who were in the
14:26
city of Amaniha, and also some around the borders of Noah had taken others
14:33
captive into the wilderness. Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous
14:39
to obtain those who had been carried away captive into the wilderness. Therefore,
14:43
he that had been appointed the chief captain over the armies of the Nephites,
14:48
and his name was Zorim, and he had two sons, Lehi and Aha.
14:56
Now Zorim and his two sons, knowing that Alma was high priest over
15:01
the church, and having heard that he had the spirit of prophecy, therefore
15:05
they went unto him and desired of him to know whither the Lord would that
15:09
they should go into the wilderness in search of their brethren who had been taken
15:13
captive by the Lamanites. And it came to pass that Almah inquired of the
15:18
Lord concerning the matter. And Almah returned and said unto them, behold,
15:22
the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond
15:28
the borders of the land of Manti, And behold there ye shall meet them
15:33
on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver unto
15:37
thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the Lamanites. And it came
15:41
to pass that Zorim and his sons crossed over the river Sidon with their armies
15:46
and marched away beyond the borders of Mante into the south wilderness, which was
15:52
on the east side of the river Sidon, and they came upon the armies
15:56
of the Lamanites, and the Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness,
16:02
and they took their brethren who had been taken captive by the Lamanites. And
16:06
there was not a soul of them had been lost that were taken captive,
16:10
and they were brought by their brethren to possess their own lands. And thus
16:15
ended the eleventh year of the Judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of
16:21
the land, and the people of Ammoniha were destroyed. Yea, every living
16:26
soul of the Ammonihah heights was destroyed, and also their great city, which
16:30
they said God could not destroy because of its greatness. But behold, in
16:36
one day it was left desolate, and the carcasses were mangled by dogs and
16:40
wild beasts of the wilderness. Nevertheless, after many days, their dead bodies
16:45
were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with
16:48
a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people
16:55
did not go in to possess the land of Ammoniha for many years, and
17:00
it was called desolation of Nihors, for they were of the profession of Nihor
17:07
who were slain, and their lands remained desolate, And the Lamanites did not
17:11
come again to war against the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of
17:17
the Judges over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years did the
17:21
people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land. And Almah an Amulek
17:26
went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples and in their sanctuaries,
17:33
and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews,
17:37
and as many of them would hear their words unto them, they did
17:41
impart the word of God without any respect of persons continually. And thus did
17:48
Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for
17:52
the work to preach the Word throughout the land, and the establishment of the
17:59
church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among
18:03
all the peoples of the Nephites, and there was no iniquity among them.
18:10
The Lord did pour out his spirit on all the face of the land to
18:12
prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to
18:18
receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming,
18:22
that they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not
18:27
be unbelieving and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word
18:33
with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that
18:37
they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God. Now, those
18:44
priests who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings and deceivings,
18:48
and envyings, and strifes, and malice and revilings, and stealing,
18:55
robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lessivie busness,
19:00
crying that these things ought not so to be holding forth things which must
19:06
shortly come, yea holding forth the coming of the Son of God, his
19:11
sufferings and death, and also the resurrection of the dead. And many of
19:15
the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come,
19:21
and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection. And
19:25
this the people did here with great joy and gladness. And now after the
19:30
Church had been established throughout all the land, having got the victory over the
19:36
devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the
19:40
land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people. Thus ended
19:45
the fourteenth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi,
19:51
Chapter seventeen. And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from
19:56
the land of Gideon southward away to the the land of Mantai, behold to
20:02
his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah, journeying towards the land
20:07
of Zarahemla. Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the
20:12
Angel first appeared unto him. Therefore Almah did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren.
20:18
And what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in
20:22
the Lord Yea. And they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth.
20:27
For they were men of a sound understanding, and they had searched the
20:30
scriptures diligently that they might know the Word of God. But this is not
20:37
all. They had given themselves to much prayer and fasting. Therefore they had
20:42
the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation. And when they taught,
20:47
they taught with power and authority of God. And they had been teaching the
20:52
word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had
20:56
much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth Yea, by the
21:00
power of their words, many were brought before the altar of God to call
21:06
on his name and confess their sins before him. Now these are the circumstances
21:11
which attended them in their journeyings, For they had many afflictions. They did
21:18
suffer much both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst,
21:22
and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit. Now these were their
21:29
journeyings, having taken leave of their father Mosiah in the first year of the
21:34
Judges, having refused the kingdom which their father was desirous to confer upon them.
21:40
And also this was the minds of the people. Nevertheless, they departed
21:45
out of the land of Zarahemla and took their swords and their spears, and
21:51
their bows, and their arrows and their slings. And this they did that
21:55
they might provide food for themselves while in the wilderness. And thus they departed
22:00
into the wilderness with their numbers which they had selected to go up to the
22:06
land of Nephi, to preach the word of God unto the Lamanites. And
22:10
it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they
22:14
fasted much and prayed much, that the Lord would grant unto them a portion
22:18
of his spirit to go with them and abide with them, that they might
22:22
be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible,
22:26
their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to
22:30
the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not
22:34
correct. And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his
22:40
spirit and said unto them, be comforted. And they were comforted, and
22:45
the Lord said unto them, also go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren,
22:51
and establish my word. Yet ye shall be patient in long suffering and
22:56
afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and
23:00
I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many
23:04
souls. And it came to pass at the hearts of the sons of Mosiah,
23:10
and also those who were with them took courage to go forth under the
23:14
Lamanites and declare into them the word of God. And it came to pass
23:19
what they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that
23:23
they separated themselves and departed from one another, trusting in the Lord, that
23:29
they should meet again at the close of their harvest. For they supposed that
23:33
great was the work which they had undertaken, and assuredly it was great.
23:38
For they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a
23:41
hardened and a ferocious people, a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites and
23:48
robbing and plundering them. And their hearts were set upon riches, upon gold
23:52
and silver and precious stones. Yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering
23:59
and plunder, that they might not labor for them with their own hands.
24:03
Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols.
24:10
And the curse of God had fallen upon them because the traditions of their fathers,
24:15
notwithstanding the promises of the Lord, were extended unto them on the conditions
24:18
of repentance. Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah
24:23
had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance, that
24:29
perhaps they might bring them to know the plan of redemption. Therefore they separated
24:34
themselves from one another and went forth among them every man alone according to the
24:41
word and power of God which was given unto him, now Ammon being the
24:45
chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed
24:51
from them after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the
24:56
word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure. And
25:00
thus they took their several journeys throughout the land. And Amon went to the
25:07
land of Ishmael, the land being called after the sons of Ishmael, who
25:11
also became Lamanites. And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites
25:18
took him and bound him, as was their customed to bind all the Nephites
25:22
who fell into their hands, and carry them before the king. And thus
25:26
it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or to
25:30
retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast
25:33
them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure. And thus
25:37
Amon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael, and
25:42
his name was Lamoni, and he was a descendant of Ishmael. And the
25:48
king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among
25:52
the Lamanites or among his people. And Amon said unto him, yea,
25:59
I desired to well among this people for a time yea, and perhaps until
26:03
the day I die. And it came to pass that King Lamoni was much
26:07
pleased with Amon, and caused that his band should be loose to kneed wood,
26:12
that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife. But Amon said
26:18
unto him, nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became
26:22
the servant to King Lamoni. And it came to pass that he was set
26:26
among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of
26:30
the Lamanites. And after he had been in the service of the king three
26:36
days, as he was with the lamanitish servants going forth with their flocks to
26:41
the place of water, which was called the water of Cebis. And all
26:45
the Lamanites drive their flocks hither that they may have water. Therefore, as
26:51
Ammon and the servants of the king were driving forth their flocks to his place
26:55
of water. Behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been
26:59
with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Amon and the
27:03
servants of the king. And they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways.
27:10
Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying, now the
27:12
king will slay us, as he has our brethren, because their flocks were
27:17
scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep exceedingly,
27:22
saying, behold, our flocks are scattered already. Now they wept because of
27:26
the fear being slain. Now, when Amon saw this, his heart was
27:32
swollen within him with joy, for said he, I will show forth my
27:34
power under these my fellow servants, or the power which is in me,
27:40
in restoring these flocks, and to the King, that I may win the
27:42
hearts of these my fellow servants, that I may lead them to believe in
27:48
my words. And now these were the thoughts of Amine when he saw the
27:52
afflictions of those whom he termed to be his brethren. And it came to
27:56
pass that he flattered them by his words, saying, my brethren, be
28:00
of good cheer. Let us go in search of the flocks, and we
28:03
will gather them together and bring them back to the place of water. And
28:07
thus we will preserve the flocks under the King, and he will not slay
28:11
us. And it came to pass that they went in search of the flocks,
28:15
and they did follow Amon. And they rushed forth with much swiftness,
28:18
and did head the flocks of the king, and did gather them together again
28:22
to the place of water. Those men again stood to scatter their flocks.
28:27
But Ammon said, unto his brethren, encircle the flocks round about, that
28:33
they flee not, and I go and contend with these men who do scatter
28:37
our flocks. Therefore they did as Amon commanded them, and he went forth
28:44
and stood to contend with those who stood by the waters of Cebis. And
28:48
they were in number not few. Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for
28:52
they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure.
28:56
For they knew not that the Lord had promised Mazariah that he would deliver his
29:00
sons out of their hands. Neither did they know anything concerning the Lord Therefore
29:07
they delighted in the destruction of their brethren, and for this cause they stood
29:11
to scatter the flocks of the king. But Ammon stood forth and began to
29:17
cast stones at them with his sling. Yea, with mighty power did he
29:21
sling stones amongst them, And thus he slew a certain number of them,
29:26
insomuch that they began to be astonished at his power. Nevertheless, they were
29:30
angry because of the slain of their brethren, and they were determined that he
29:33
should fall. Therefore, seeing that they could not hit him with their stones,
29:38
they came forth with their clubs to slay him. But behold, every
29:42
man that lifted his club to spite Ammon, he smote off their arms with
29:47
his sword. For he did with stand their blows by smiting their arms with
29:51
the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished and began
29:56
to flee before him. Yea, and they were not few in number,
30:00
and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm. Now six
30:03
of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were
30:07
their leader, with his sword, and he smote off as many of their
30:11
arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few. And
30:15
when he had driven them afar off, he returned, and they watered their
30:19
flocks, and returned them to the pasture of the king, and then went
30:25
in unto the King, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the
30:29
sword of Ammon of those who sought to slay him. And they were carried
30:33
in unto the King for a testimony of the things which they had done.
30:40
End of Alma, chapters fourteen through seventeen.