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

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Hether, chapter ten. And it came to pass that Chez, who was
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a descendant of Hath, for Hath had perished by the famine, and all
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his household save it were Chez. Wherefore Chez began to build up again a
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broken people. And it came to pass that Chez did remember the destruction of
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his fathers, and he did build up a righteous kingdom, for he remembered
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what the Lord had done in bringing Jared and his brother across the deep,
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and he did walk in the ways of the Lord, and he begat sons
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and daughters, and his eldest son, whose name was Chez, did rebel
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against him. Nevertheless, Chez was smitten by the hand of a robber because
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of his exceeding riches, which brought peace again unto his father. And it
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came to pass that his father did build up many cities upon the face of
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the land, and the people began again to spread over all the face of
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the land. And Chez did live to an exceedingly old age, and he
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begat Ripleykish, and he died, and Ripleykish reigned in his stead. And
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it came to pass that Riplikish did not do that which was right in the
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sight of the Lord. For he did have many wives and concubines, and
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did lay that upon men's shoulders, which was grievous to be borne. Yea,
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he did tax them with heavy taxes. And with the taxes he did
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build many spacious buildings, and he did erect him an exceedingly beautiful throne.
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And he did build many prisons. And whoso would not be subject unto taxes,
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he did cast into prison, and whoso was not able to pay taxes,
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he did cast into prison. And he did cause that they should labor
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continually for their support. And whoso refused to labor, he did cause to
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be put to death. Wherefore he did obtain all his fine work Yea,
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even his fine gold, he did cause to be refined in prison, and
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all manner of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prison. And
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it came to pass that he did afflict the people with his hortems and abominations.
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And when he had reigned for the space of forty and two years,
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the people did rise up in rebellion against him, and there began to be
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war again in the land, insomuch that ripley Kish was killed and his descendants
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were driven out of the land, and it came to pass after the space
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of many years, Morianton, he being a descendant of ripley Kish, gathered
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together an army of outcasts and went forth and gave battle unto the people,
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and he gained power over many cities, and the war became exceedingly sore,
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and did last for the space of many years. And he did gain power
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over all the land, and did establish himself king over all the land.
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And after that he had established himself king, he did ease the burden of
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the people, by which he did gain favor in the eyes of the people,
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and they did anoint him to be their king. And he did do
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justice unto the people, but not unto himself, because of his many hortems,
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wherefore he was cut off from the presence of the Lord. And it
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came to pass that Moriantin built up many cities, and the people both became
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exceedingly rich under his reign, both in buildings and in gold and silver,
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and in raising grain, and in flocks and herds and such things which had
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been restored unto them. And mari Anton did live to an exceedingly great age.
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And then he begat Kim, and Kim did reign in the stead of
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his father, and he did reign eight years, and his father died,
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and it came to pass that Kim did not reign in righteousness, wherefore he
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was not favored of the Lord. And his brother did rise up in rebellion
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against him, by which he did bring him into captivity. And he did
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remain in captivity all his days, and he begat sons and daughters in captivity,
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and in his old age he begat Levi, and he died, and
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it came to pass that Levi did serve in captivity after the death of his
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father, for the space of forty and two years, and he did make
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war against the king of the land, by which he did obtain unto himself
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the kingdom. And after he had obtained unto himself the kingdom, he did
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that which was right in the side of the Lord. And the people did
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prosper in the land. And he did live to a good old age and
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begat sons and daughters. And he also begat Koram, whom he anointed king
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in his stead. And it came to pass that Koram did that which was
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good in the sight of the Lord all his days, and he begat many
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sons and daughters. And after he had seen many days, he did pass
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away, even like unto the rest of the earth. And Kish reigned in
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his dead. And it came to pass that Kish passed away also, and
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Lib reigned in his stead. And it came to pass that Lib also did
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that which was good in the sight of the Lord. And in the days
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of Lib, the poisonous serpents were destroyed. Wherefore they did go into the
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land southward to hunt food for the people of the land, for the land
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was covered with animals of the forest. And Lib also himself became a great
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hunter. And they built a great city by the narrow neck of land,
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by the place where the sea divine the land. And they did preserve the
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land southward for a wilderness to get game. And the whole face of the
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land northward was covered with inhabitants. And they were exceedingly industrious. And they
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did buy and sell and traffic one with another that they might get gain.
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And they did work in all manner of ore, and they did make gold
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and silver, and iron and brass, and all manner of metals, and
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they did dig it out of the earth. Wherefore they did cast up mighty
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heaps of earth to get ore of gold and of silver, and of iron
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and of copper. And they did work all manner of fine work, and
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they did have silks and fine twined linen, and they did work all manner
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of cloth, that they might clothe themselves from their nakedness. And they did
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make all manner of tools to till the earth, both to plow and to
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sow, to reap and to hoe, and also to thrash. And they
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did make all manner of tools with which they did work their beasts. And
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they did make all manner of weapons of war, and they did work all
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manner of work, of exceedingly curious workmanship. And never could be a people
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more blessed than were they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord.
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And they were in a land that was choice above all lands, for
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the Lord had spoken it. And it came to pass that lib did live
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many years and begat sons and daughters, and he also begat he Artham.
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And it came to pass that hi Artham reigned in the stead of his father.
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And when h Artham had reigned twenty and four years, behold the kingdom
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was taken away from him, and he served many years in captivity, yea,
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even all the remainder of his days. And he begat Heth, and
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Heth lived in captivity all his days, and Heth begat Erin, and Erin
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dwelt in captivity all his days, and he begat Amnagada. And Amnagada also
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dwelt in captivity all his days, and he begat Kriantum, and Kriantum dwelt
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in captivity all his days, and he begat Combe. And it came to
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pass that Coombe drew away the half of the kingdom, and he reigned over
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the half of the kingdom forty and two years. And he went to battle
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against the king Amgd, and they fought for the space of many years,
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during which time Coomb gained power over Amgd and obtained power over the remainder of
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the kingdom. And in the days of Comb there began to be robbers in
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the land, and they adopted the old plans and administered oaths after the manner
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of the ancients, and sought again to destroy the kingdom. Now Coomb did
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fight against them much. Nevertheless, he did not prevail against them ether chapter
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eleven. And there came also in the days of Coombe, many prophets and
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prophesied of the destruction of that great people, except they should repent and turn
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unto the Lord and forsake their murders in wickedness. And it came to pass
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that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Coomb for
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protection, for the people sought to destroy them. And they prophesied unto comb
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many things. And he was blessed in all the remainder of his days,
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and he lived to a good old age, and Begat Shiblam, and Shiblam
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reigned in his stead, and the brother of Shiblam rebelled against him, and
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there began to be an exceedingly great war in all the land. And it
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came to pass that the brother of Shiblam caused that all the prophets who prophesied
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of the destruction of the people should be put to death. And there was
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great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse
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should come upon the land and also upon the people, and that there should
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be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon
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the face of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth
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upon the face of the land, except they should repent of their wickedness.
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And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked
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combinations. Wherefore there began to be wars and content in all the land,
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and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction,
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such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth.
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And all this came to pass in the days of Shiblam, and the people
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began to repent of their iniquity, and inasmuch as they did, the Lord
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did have mercy on them. And it came to pass that Shiblam was slain,
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and Seth was brought into captivity, and did dwell in captivity all his
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days. And it came to pass that Aha his son, did obtain the
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kingdom, and he did reign over the people all his days, and he
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did do all manner of iniquity in his days, by which he did cause
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the shedding of much blood. And few were his days. And Etham,
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being a descendant of Aha, did obtain the kingdom, and he also did
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do that which was wicked in his days. And it came to pass that
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in the days of Ethim, there came many prophets and prophesied again unto the
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people. Yea, they did prophesy that the Lord Lord would utterly destroy them
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from off the face of the earth, except they repented of their iniquities.
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And it came to pass that the people hardened their hearts and would not hearken
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unto their words. And the prophets mourned and withdrew from among the people.
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And it came to pass that Ethan did execute judgment and wickedness all his days,
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and he begat Morun. And it came to pass that Morn did reign
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in his stead, and Morun did that which was wicked before the Lord.
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And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion among the people because of
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that secret combination which was built up to get power and gain. And there
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arose a mighty man among them in iniquity and gave battle unto Morn in the
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which he did overthrow the half of the kingdom. And he did maintain the
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half of the kingdom for many years. And it came to pass that Morn
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did overthrow him and did obtain the kingdom again. And it came to pass
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that there arose another mighty man, and he was a descendant of the brother
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of Jared, And it came to pass that he did overthrow Morn and obtain
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the king kingdom. Wherefore Morum dwelt in captivity all the remainder of his days,
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and he begat Corianter. And it came to pass that Corianer dwelt in
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captivity all his days. And in the days of Corianer, there also came
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many prophets and prophesied of great and marvelous things, and cried repentance unto the
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people, And except they should repent, the Lord God would execute judgment against
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them, to their utter destruction, and that the Lord God would send or
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bring forth another people to possess the land by his power, after the manner
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by which he brought their fathers. And they did reject all the words of
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the prophets because of their secret society and wicked abominations. And it came to
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pass that Corianter begat Ether, and he died, having dwelt in captivity all
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his days. Ether chapter twelve. And it came to pass that the days
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of Ether were in the days of Koreantemer, and Kriantomer was king over all
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the land, and there was a prophet of the Lord. Wherefore Ether came
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forth in the days of Coriantomer and began to prophesy unto the people, For
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he could not be restrained because of the spirit of the Lord which was in
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him. For he did cry from the morning even until the going down of
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the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God, unto repentance, lest
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they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled.
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Wherefore whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world.
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Yea even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh.
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Of faith maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them
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sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
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And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto
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the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.
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And now I Maroni would speak somewhat concerning these things. I would show and
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the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen. Wherefore
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dispute not because ye see not, for ye received no witness until after the
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trial of your faith. For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto
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our fathers after he had risen from the dead, And he showed not himself
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unto them until after they had faith in him. Wherefore it must needs be
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that some had faith in him. For he showed himself not unto the world,
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but because of the faith of men. He has shown himself unto the
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world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that
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thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for
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those things which they have not seen. Wherefore ye may also have hope and
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be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith. Behold,
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it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of
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God. Wherefore by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the
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gift of his son hath God prepared a more excellent way. And it is
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by faith that it hath been fulfilled. For if there be no faith among
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the children of men, God can do no miracle among them. Wherefore he
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showed nought himself until after their faith. Behold, it was the faith of
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Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth. Behold,
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it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites,
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that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. Behold,
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it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which brought so great a miracle
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among the Lamanites. Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them
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by faith, even those who were before Christ, and also those who were
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after. And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that
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they should not taste of death. And they obtained not the promise until after
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their faith. And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their
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faith. Wherefore they first believed in the Son of God. And there were
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many whose faith was so exceedingly strong even before Christ came, who could not
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be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things
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which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
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And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the
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brother of Jared, For so great was his faith in God, that when
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God put forth his finger, he could not hide it from the sight of
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the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him,
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which word he had obtained by faith. And after the brother of Jared
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had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother
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of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his
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sight. Therefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be
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kept without the veil. And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained
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the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles. Therefore
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the Lord hath commanded me, yea even Jesus Christ, And I said,
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unto him, Lord, the gentiles will mock at these things because of our
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weakness in writing. For Lord, thou hast made us mighty in word by
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faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing. For thou hast
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made all this people that they could speak much because of the holy ghost which
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thou hast given them, And thou hast made us that we could write but
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little because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made
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us mighty in writing, like unto the brother of Jared. For thou madest
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him that the things which he wrote were mighty, even as thou art unto
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the overpowering of man to read them. Thou hast also made our words powerful
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and great, even that we cannot write them. Wherefore, when we write,
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we behold our weakness and stumble because of the place in of our words.
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And I fear lest the gentiles shall mock at our words. And when
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I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying, fools mock,
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but they shall mourn. And my grace is sufficient for the meek,
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that they shall take no advantage of your weakness. And if men come unto
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me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness
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that they may be humble. And my grace is sufficient for all men that
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humble themselves before me. For if they humble themselves before me and have faith
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in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Behold,
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I will show unto the gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto
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them that faith, hope, and charity bringeth unto me the fountain of all
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righteousness. And I Maron, I, having heard these words, was comforted
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and said, O Lord, thy righteous will be done. For I know
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that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith. For the
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brother of Jared said, unto the mountain Zarin, remove, and it was
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removed. And if he had not had faith, it would not have moved.
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Wherefore thou workest after men have faith. For thus didst thou manifest thyself
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unto thy disciples. For after they had faith and did speak in thy name,
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Thou didst show thyself unto them in great power. And I also remember
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that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea even
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among the mansions of my father, in which man might have a more excellent
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hope. Wherefore man must hope or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place
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which thou hast prepared. And again I remember that thou hast said that thou
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hast loved the world even unto the lane down of thy life, for the
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world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children
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of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for
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the children of men is charity. Wherefore, except men shall have charity,
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they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy father.
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Wherefore I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the
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gentiles have not charity because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them and
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take away their talent yea, even that which they have received, and give
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unto them who shall have more abundantly. And it came to pass that I
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prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the gentiles grace, that they
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might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said, unto
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me, if they have not charity, it mattereth not unto thee thou hast
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been faithful. Wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast
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seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down
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in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my father. And
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now I, Marona, bid farewell unto the gentiles, yea, and also
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unto my brethren, whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment
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seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted
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with your blood. And then shall we know that I have seen Jesus,
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and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told
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me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language,
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concerning these things. And only a few have I written, because of
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my weakness in writing. And now I would commend you to seek this Jesus,
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of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God
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the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost which
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beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever, Amen,
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Ether chapter thirteen. And now I, Marona, I proceed to finish my
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record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing. For
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Behold, they rejected all the words of Ether, for he truly told them
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of all things from the beginning of man, and that after the waters had
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receded from off the face of this land, it became a choice land above
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all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord. Wherefore the Lord would
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have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof, And
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that it was the place of the new Jerusalem, which should come down out
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of Heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord. Behold, ether saw
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the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a new Jerusalem upon this land.
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And he spake also concerning the House of Israel and the Jerusalem from whence
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Lehigh should come. After it should be destroyed, it should be built up
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again a holy city unto the Lord. Wherefore it could not be a new
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Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old. But it should
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be built up again and become a holy city of the Lord. And it
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should be built unto the House of Israel. And that a new Jerusalem should
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be built upon this land unto the remnant of the Seed of Joseph, for
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which things there has been a type. For as Joseph brought his father down
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into the land of Egypt, even so he died there. Wherefore the Lord
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brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem,
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that he might be merciful, and to the seed of Joseph, that they
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should perish, not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph,
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that he should perish. Not. Wherefore the remnant of the House of
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Joseph shall be built upon this land, and it shall be a land of
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their inheritance. And they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord,
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like unto the Jerusalem of old. And they shall no more be confounded until
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the end come, when the earth shall pass away, and there shall be
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a new Heaven and a new Earth, and they shall be like unto the
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Old, save the Old have passed away, and all things have become new.
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And then cometh the New Jerusalem. And blest are they who dwell therein,
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For it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb.
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And they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the Seat of
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Joseph, who were of the House of Israel. And then also cometh the
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Jerusalem of Old, and the inhabitants thereof Blessed are they, for they have
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been washed in the blood of the Lamb. And they are they who were
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scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth and from the north
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countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with
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their father Abraham. And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture
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which saith. There are they who were first, who shall be last.
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And there are they who were last, who shall be first. And I
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was about to write more, but I am forbidden. But great and marvelous
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were the prophecies of ether. But they esteemed him as not and cast him
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out. And he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day,
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and by night he went forth, viewing the things which should come upon the
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people. And as he dwelt in the cavity of a rock, he made
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the remainder of his record, viewing the destructions which came upon the people by
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night. And it came to pass that in that same year in which he
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was cast out from among the people, there began to be a great war
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among the people. For there were many who rose up, who were mighty
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men, and sought to destroy Kriantomer by their secret plans of wickedness, of
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which hath been spoken. And now Koreantomer, having studied himself in all the
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arts of war and all the cunning of the world, wherefore he gave battle
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unto them who sought to destroy him. But he repented not neither his fair
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sons nor daughters, neither the fair sons and daughters of Kohor, neither the
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fair sons and daughters of Korihor. And in fine there were none of the
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fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole earth who repented of their
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sins. Wherefore it came to pass that in the first year that Ether dwelt
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in the cavity of a rock, there were many people who were slain by
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the sword of those secret combinations fighting against Koreantomer that they might obtain the kingdom.
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And it came to pass that the sons of Coriantomer fought much and bled
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much. And in the second year the word of the Lord came to Ether
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that he should go and prophesy unto Coriantomer, that if he would repent and
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all his household, the Lord would give unto him his kingdom and spare the
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people. Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were
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himself, and he should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which
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had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance, and Coriantomer
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should receive a burial by them, and every soul should be destroyed save it
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were Choriantomer. And it came to pass that Koreantomer repented not neither his household,
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neither the people, and the wars ceased not, and they sought to
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kill Ether, but he fled from before them and hid again in the cavity
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of the rock. And it came to pass that there arose up Shrid,
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and he also gave battle unto Koreantema, and he did beat him insomuch that
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in the third year he did bring him into captivity. And the son of
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Kriantemer, in the fourth year, did beat Shard and did obtain the kingdom
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again unto their father. Now there began to be a war upon all the
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face of the land, every man with his band, fighting for that which
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he desired. And there were robbers and in fine all manner of wickedness upon
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all the face of the land. And it came to pass that Kriantimer was
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exceedingly angry with Shared, and he went against him with his armies to battle.
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And they did meet in great anger, and they did meet in the
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valley of Gilgal, and the battle became exceedingly sore, and it came to
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pass that Shard fought against him for the space of three days, and it
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came to pass that Korantemer beat him and did pursue him until he came to
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the plains of Heshlon, And it came to pass that Shard gave him battle
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again upon the plains, and behold, he did beat Kriantemer and drove him
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back again to the valley of Guildelgall. And Coriantomer gave shared battle again in
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the valley of Gilgal, in which he beat Shard and slew him, and
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Shrid wounded Coriantemer in his thigh, that he did not go to battle again
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for the space of two years, in which time all the people upon the
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face of the land were shedding blood, and there was none to restrain them.
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And of Ether Chapters ten through thirteen,