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

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Lumen chapter twelve. And thus we can behold how falts, and also the
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unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men. Yea. We can see
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that the Lord, in his great infinite goodness, doth bless and prosper those
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who put their trust in him. Yea. And we may see at the
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very time when He doth prosper his people yea, in the increase of their
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fields, their flocks, and their herds, and in gold and in silver,
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and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art, sparing
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their lives and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies, softening the
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hearts of their enemies, that they should not declare wars against them, yea.
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And in fine doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people.
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Yea. Then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and
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do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy
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One. Yea. And this because of their ease and their exceedingly great prosperity.
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And thus we see that it accept the Lord doth chasten his people with
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many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror
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and with famine, and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember
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him. Oh, how foolish and how vain, and how evil and devilish,
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And how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good are
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the children of men? Yea, How quick to hearken unto the words of
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the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the
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world. Yea, How quick to be lifted up in pride, yea,
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how quick to boast and do all manner of that which is iniquity. And
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how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear
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unto his counsels. Yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths. Behold,
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they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them,
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should rule and reign over them, notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy
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towards them. They do set it not his counsels, and they will not
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that he should be their guide. Oh, how great is the nothingness of
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the children of men. Yea, even they are less than the dust of
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the earth. For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither
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to the dividing asunder at the command of our great and everlasting God. Yea.
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Behold at his voice, to the heels and mountains tremble and quake,
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and by the power of his voice they are broken up and become smooth.
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Yea. Even like unto a valley, yea. By the power of his
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voice, do the whole earth shake? Yea. By the power of his
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voice, to the foundation's rock, even to the very center, yea.
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And if he say unto the earth, move it is moved. Yea.
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And if he say unto the earth, thou shalt go back that at lengthen
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out the day for many hours. It is done. And thus according to
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his word, the earth goeth back. And it appeareth unto man that the
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sun standeth still. Yea. And behold this is so, for surely it
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is the earth that moveth, and not the sun. And behold also,
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if he say unto the waters of the great deep, be thou dried up?
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It is done. Behold. If he say unto this mountain, be
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thou raised up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it
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be buried up. Behold it is done. And behold of a man hide
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up a treasure in the earth. And the Lord shall say, let it
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be accursed because of the iniquity of him who hath hit it up. Behold,
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it shall be accursed. And if the Lord shall say, be thou
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a cursed, that no man shall find thee from this time henceforth and forever,
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behold, no man getteth it henceforth and forever, and behold. If
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the Lord shall say, unto a man, because of thine iniquities, thou
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shalt be accursed, forever it shall be done. And if the Lord shall
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say, because of thine iniquities, thou shalt be cut off from my presence,
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he will cause that it shall be so. And warrant to him to
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whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do
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iniquity, and he cannot be saved. Therefore, for this cause that men
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might be saved, hath repentance been declared. Therefore, blessed are they who
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will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God. For these
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are they that shall be saved. And may God grant in his gratefulness,
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that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be
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restored unto grace for grace according to their works, and I would that all
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men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day,
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there are some who shall be cast out, yea who shall be cast
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off from the presence of the Lord, Yea who shall be consigned to a
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state of endless misery, fulfilling the words which say, they that have done
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good shall have everlasting life, and they that have done evil shall have everlasting
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damnation. And thus it is amen Helimann chapter thirteen. And now it came
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to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in
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wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to
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keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses. And it
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came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel Lamanite come into the
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land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came
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to pass that he did preach many days repentance unto the people, and they
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did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land,
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But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him that he should
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return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
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And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter
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into the city. Therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and
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stretched forth his hand, and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto
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the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his head heart, and he said
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unto them, Behold, I, Samuel Lamanite, do speak the words of
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the Lord which he doth put into my heart. And behold, he hath
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put it into my heart to say unto this people, that the sword of
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justice hangeth over this people, and four hundred years pass not away. Save
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the sword of justice falleth upon this people. Yea heavy destruction awaiteth this people,
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and it surely cometh unto this people. And nothing can save this people,
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save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely
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shall come into the world and shall suffer many things, and shall be slain
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by his people. And behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it
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unto me, and he did bring glad tidings to my soul. And behold,
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I was sent unto you to declare it unto you also that ye might
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have glad tidings. But behold, ye would not receive me. Therefore,
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thus saith the Lord. Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people
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of the Nephites. Except they repent, I will take away my word from
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them, and I will withdraw my spirit from them, and I will suffer
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them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them.
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And four hundred years shall not pass away before I will cause that they
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shall be smitten. Yea, I will visit them with the sword, and
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with famine and with pestilence. Yea, I will visit them in my fierce
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anger. And there shall be those of the fourth generation who shall live of
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your enemies, to behold your utter destruction. And this shall surely come,
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except ye repent, saith the Lord, and those of the fourth generation shall
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visit your destruction. But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your
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God, I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord. Yea,
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Thus saith the Lord. Blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me.
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But woe to him that repenteth not yea, woe unto this great city
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of Zarahemla. For behold, it is because of those who are righteous that
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it is saved. Yea, woe unto this great city. For I perceive,
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saith the Lord, that there are many yea, even the more part
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of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the
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Lord. But blessed are they who will repent. For them will I spare.
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But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this
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great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of
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heaven and destroy it. But behold, it is for the righteous's sake that
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it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord,
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that when YE shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye
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be ripe for destruction. Yea, woe be unto this great city because of
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the wickedness and abominations which are in her. Yea, and woe be unto
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the city of Gideon, for the wickedness and abominations which are in her.
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Ye And woe be unto all the cities which are in the land round about,
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which are possessed by the Nephites. Because of the wickedness and abominations which
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are in them, And behold, the curse shall come upon the land,
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saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people's sake, who are upon
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the land. Yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations. And it
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shall come to pass, sayeth the Lord of Hosts. Yea, our great
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and True God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find
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them again no more, because of the great curse of the land. Save
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he be a righteous man, and shall hide it up unto the Lord.
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For I will saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto
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me. And cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me.
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For none hideth up their treasures unto me, save it be the righteous.
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And he that hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he,
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and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it because of the curse of
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land. And the day shall come that they shall hide up their treasures,
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because they have set their hearts upon riches, And because they have set their
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hearts upon their riches, and will hide up their treasures when they shall flee
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before their enemies, because they will not hide them up unto me, cursed
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be they and also their treasures, and in that day shall they be smitten.
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Saith the Lord. Behold ye the people of this great city, and
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hearken unto my words. Yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith.
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For Behold, he saith that ye are cursed because of your riches.
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And also are your riches cursed, because ye have set your hearts upon them,
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and have not hearkened unto the words of him who gave them. Unto
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you, Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which
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he hath blessed you. But ye do always remember your riches, not to
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thank the Lord your God for them. Yea, your hearts are not drawn
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out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride unto both and
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unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders,
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and all manner of iniquities. For this cause hath the Lord God cause that
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a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches. And
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this because of your iniquities. YEA, woe unto this people, because of
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this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets and do
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mock them and castones at them, and do slay them, and do all
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manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time. And
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now when ye talk, ye say, if our days had been in the
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days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets.
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We would not have stoned them and cast them out. Behold year worse than
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they, For as the Lord liveth. If a prophet come among you and
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declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and
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iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out, and seek
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all manner of ways to dish destroy him. YEA, you will say that
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he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner and of the
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devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if
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a man shall come among you and shall say, do this, and there
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is no iniquity, do that, and ye shall not suffer YEA, he
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will say, walk after the pride of your own hearts. YEA, walk
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after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth. And
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if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him
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and say that he is a prophet. Yea. He will lift him up,
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and ye will give unto him of your substance. You will give unto
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him of your gold and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with
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costly apparel. And because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith
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that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. Oh,
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ye wicked, and ye perverse, generation, ye hardened, and ye
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stiff necked people. How how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer
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you? Yea? How long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish
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and blind guides? Yea? How long will ye choose darkness rather than light?
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Yea. Behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you.
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Behold he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity. And behold the
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time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye
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cannot hold them, And in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.
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And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord,
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And in vain shall ye cry, For your desolation is already come upon you,
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and your destruction is made sure, and then shall ye weep and howl
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in that day saith the Lord of hosts. And then shall ye lament and
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say, oh, that I had repented and had not killed the prophets and
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stoned them and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say,
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Oh, that we had remember the Lord our God, in the day
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that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery,
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that we should lose them. For behold, our riches are gone from
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us. Behold we lay a tool here, and on the morrow it is
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gone. And behold our swords are taken from us. In the day we
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have sought them for battle. Yea, we have hid up our treasure,
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and they have slipped away from us because of the curse of the land.
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Oh that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came
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unto us. For behold, the land is cursed, and all things are
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become slippery, and we cannot hold them. Behold we are surrounded by demons.
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Yea, we are encircled about by the angels of Him who hath sought
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to destroy our souls. Behold, our iniquities are great, O, Lord,
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canst till not turn away thine anger from us, and this shall be
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your language in those days. But behold, your days of probation are past.
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Ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late,
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and your destruction is made sure, yea, For ye have sought all
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the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain. And ye
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have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature
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of that righteousness which is in our great and eternal head. O ye people
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of the land, that ye would hear my words, and I pray that
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the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would
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repent and be saved Helimann chapter fourteen. And now it came to pass that
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Samuel de Lamanite did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written.
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And behold he said unto them. Behold, I give unto you a sign
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for five years more cometh. And behold then cometh the Son of God,
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to redeem all those who shall believe on his name. And behold this will
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I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming. For
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behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night
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before he cometh, there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear
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unto man as if it was day. Therefore, there shall be one day
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and a night, and a day as if it were one day and there
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were no night. And this shall be unto you for a sign. For
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ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting.
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Therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and night.
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Nevertheless, the night shall not be darkened, and it shall be the
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night before he is born. And behold, there shall a new star arise,
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such an one as ye never have beheld. And this also shall be
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a sign unto you. And behold, this is not all. There shall
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be many signs and wonders in heaven. And it shall come to pass that
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ye shall all be amazed and wonder insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
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And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Sun of
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God, the same shall have everlasting life. And behold, thus hath the
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Lord commanded me by his Angel, that I should come and tell this thing
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unto you. Yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto
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you. Yea he hath said unto me, cry unto this people, repent
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and prepare the way of the Lord. And now, because I am in
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Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me,
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and because it was hard against you, ye are angry with me,
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and do seek to destroy me, and have cast me out from among you.
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And ye shall hear my words. For for this intent have I come
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up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of
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the judgments of God, which do await you because of your iniquities, and
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also that ye might know the conditions of repentance. And also that ye might
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know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father
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of heaven and of earth, the creator of all things from the beginning,
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and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent
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that ye might believe on his name. And if ye believe on his name,
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ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a
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remission of them through His merits. And behold again another sign I give unto
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you, yea a sign of his death, for Behold, he surely must
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die, that salvation may come. Yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient,
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that he dieth to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that
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thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. Yea. Behold,
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this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the
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first death, that spiritual death. For all mankind, by the fall of
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Adam, being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as
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dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. But behold,
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the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind mind, and
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bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea. And it bringeth
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to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn
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down and cast unto the fire. But whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and
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cast unto the fire. And there cometh upon them again as spiritual death.
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YEA, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things
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pertaining to righteousness. Therefore repent, ye repent ye lest by knowing these things
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and not doing them, ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and
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ye are brought down unto this second death. But behold, as I said
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unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death. Behold, in
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that day that he shall suffer death, the sun shall be darkened and refuse
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to give his light unto you, and also the moon and the stars.
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And there shall be no light upon the face of the land, even from
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the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days,
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to the time that he shall rise again from the dead. Yea. At
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the time that he shall yield up the ghost, there shall be thunderings and
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lightnings for the space of many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble,
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And the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are
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both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid,
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or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken
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up. Yea. There shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after
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be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face
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of the whole earth. Yea, both above the earth and beneath. And
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behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid
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low like into a valley. And there shall be many places which are now
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called valleys, which shall become mountains whose height is great. And many highways
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shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate, and many graves
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shall be open and shall yield up many of their dead, and many saints
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shall appear unto many, and behold, thus hath the Angel spoken unto me.
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For he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the
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space of many hours. And he said unto me that while the thunder and
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lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that
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darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.
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And the Angel said unto me, that many shall see greater things than
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these, to the intent that they might believe, that these signs and these
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wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the
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intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men.
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And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that
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whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them. And also
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if they are condemned, they bring upon themselves their own condemnation. And now
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remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself,
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and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself. For behold, ye are
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free. Ye are permitted to act for yourselves. For behold, God hath
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given unto you a knowledge, and he hath made you free. He hath
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given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given
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unto you that ye might choose life or death. And ye can do good
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and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good
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restored unto you, or ye can do evil and have that which is evil
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restored unto you Helimann chapter fifteen. And now, my beloved brethren, behold,
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I declare unto you that except ye shall repent, your houses shall be
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left unto you desolate, yea, accept ye repent. Your women shall have
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great cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck, for ye
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shall attempt to flee, and there shall be no place for refuge, YEA.
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And woe unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy
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and cannot flee. Therefore they shall be trodden down and shall be left to
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perish. Yea, woe unto this people who are called the people of Nephi,
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except they shall repent when they shall see all these signs and wonders which
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shall be showed unto them. For behold, they have been a chosen people
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of the Lord. Yea. The people of Nephi hath he loved, and
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also hath he chastened them. Yea, in the days of their iniquities,
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hath he chastened them because He loveth them. But behold, my brethren,
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the Lamanites hath he hated, because their deeds have been evil continually, and
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this because of the iniquity of the tradition of their fathers. But behold,
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salvation hath come upon them through the preaching of the Nephites. And for this
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intent hath the Lord prolonged their days. And I would that ye should behold
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that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and
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they do one circumspectually before God, and they do observe to keep His commandments
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and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses. Yea,
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I say unto you that the more part of them are doing this, and
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they are striving with unwearied diligence, that they may bring the remainder of their
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brethren to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore there are many who do add
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to their numbers daily. And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for
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ye have witnessed it that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge
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of the truth and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers,
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and are led to believe the holy scriptures. Yea, the prophecies of
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the Holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the
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Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart
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unto them. Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know
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of yourselves, are firm and steadfast in the faith and in the thing wherewith
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they have been made free. And ye know also that they have buried their
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weapons war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they
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should sin. Yea, ye can see that they fear to sin, For
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behold, they will suffer themselves, that they be trodden down and slain by
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their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them. And this because
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of their faith in Christ, and now because of their steadfastness when they do
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believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness,
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when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong
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their days, notwithstanding their iniquity. Yea, even if they should dwindle in
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unbelief, the Lord shall prolong their days until the time shall come, which
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hath been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenus and
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many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites again to
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the knowledge of the truth. Yea, I say unto you that in the
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latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the
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Lamanites. And notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they
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shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be
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hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge,
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the Lord shall be merciful unto them. And this is according to the
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prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is
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knowledge of their Redeemer and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among
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his sheep. Therefore, I say unto you, it shall be better for
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them than for you, except you repent. For behold, had the mighty
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works been shown unto them, which have been shown unto you, yea unto
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them who have dwindled an unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, Ye
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can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled an unbelief. Therefore,
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saith the Lord, I will not utterly destroy them, but I will
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cause that in the day of my wisdom, they shall return again unto me,
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Saith the Lord. And now behold saith the Lord, concerning the people
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of the Nephites. If they will not repent and observe to do my will,
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I will utterly destroy them, Saith the Lord, because of their unbelief,
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notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have done among them. And as
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surely as the Lord liveth shall these things be, Saith the Lord. Helimann
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chapter sixteen. And now it came to pass that there were many who heard
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the words of Samuel the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the
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city, And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for
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Nephi. And when they had come forth and found him, they confessed unto
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him their sins and denied, not desiring that they might be baptized unto the
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Lord. But as many as there were who did not believe in the words
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of Samuel were angry with him, and they cast stones at him upon the
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wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall.
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But the spirit of the Lord was with him insomuch that they could not
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hit him with their stones, neither with their arrows. Now, when they
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saw that they could not hit him, there were many more who did believe
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on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized.
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And behold, Nephi was baptizing and prophesying and preaching, crying repentance unto the
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people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles among the people, that they
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might know that the Christ must shortly come, telling them of things which must
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shortly come, that they might know and remember at the time of their coming,
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that they had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that
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they might believe. Therefore, as many as believed on the words of Samuel
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went forth unto him to be baptized. For they came repenting and confessing their
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sins. But the more part of them did not believe in the words of
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Samuel. Therefore, when they saw that they could not hit him with their
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stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captain, saying, take this
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fellow and bind him, for behold, he hath a devil, and because
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of the power of the devil which is in him, we cannot hit him
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with our stones and our arrows. Therefore, take him and bind him,
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and away with him. And as they went forth to lay their hands on
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him, behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did
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flee out of their lands, yea even unto his own country, and began
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to preach and to prophesy among his own people. And behold he was never
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heard of more among the Nephies. And thus were the affairs of the people.
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And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the Judges
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over the people of Nephi. And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year
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of the reign of the Judges. The more part of the people remaining in
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their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more circumspectfully before God.
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And these were the conditions also in the eighty and eighth year of the reign
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of the Judges, and there was but little alteration in the affairs of the
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people, save it were the people began to be more hardened in iniquity and
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do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God in
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the eighty and ninth year of the reign of the Judges. But it came
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to pass. In the ninetieth year of the reign of the Judges. There
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were great signs given unto the people and wonders, and the words of the
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prophets began to be fulfilled, and angels did appear unto men wise men,
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and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy. Thus, in this
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year the scriptures began to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the people began to harden
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their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both
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of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their
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own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying some things they may have guessed
30:32
right among so many. But behold we know that all these great marvelous works
30:36
cannot come to pass of which has been spoken. And they began to reason
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and to contend among themselves, saying that it is not reasonable that such a
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being as a Christ shall come. If so and he be the Son of
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God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken,
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why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who
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shall be at Jerusalem? Yea, why will he not show himself in this
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land as well as in the land of Jerusalem. But behold, we know
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that this is a wicked tradition which has been handed down unto us by our
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fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great and marvelous thing
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which should come to pass, but not among us, but in a land
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that is far distant, a land which we know not. Therefore they can
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keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they
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are true. And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of
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the Evil One, work some great mystery that we cannot understand, which will
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keep us down to be servants to their words. And also servants unto them,
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for we depend upon them to teach us the word. And thus will
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they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them all the days
31:44
of our lives. And many more things do the people imagine up in their
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hearts, which were foolish and vain, and they were much disturbed, For
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Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually. Yea, he did go
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about spreading rumors and contentions upon all all the face of the land, that
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he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against
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that which should come. And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought
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among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did,
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Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face
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of the land. And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the
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judges over the people of Nephi, And thus ended the Book of Heliman according
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to the record of Heliman and his Sons. End of Heliman, Chapters twelve
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through sixteen,