8
I know thy works: behold, I
have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou
hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my
name.
9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
• • •
11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
• • •
20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
10
Behold, I said unto
them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How
is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
• • •
12
Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive-tree, by the Spirit of the Lord which was in our father; and behold are we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are we not a branch of the house of Israel?
• • •
16
Behold, I say unto
you, Yea; they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; they
shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive-tree, into the
true olive-tree.
• • •
34
But behold, I say
unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean
thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a
place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.
6
But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I
have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God,
which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to
all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them.
7
But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I
know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies
of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times
when they shall come to pass.
• • •
20
And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly
that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up
out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal
the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if
they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before
them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the
water should come forth; yea, behold I
say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God
liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this
Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
• • •
29
And now behold, I
say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him
not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down
before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and
your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.
2
For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among my people.
• • •
14
But behold, I
prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the days when the
Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men.
• • •
25
Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
26
Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
27
Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I
say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath
commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
28
Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.
11
Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I
inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get
thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.
• • •
14
And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you, and if ye persist in these things his judgments must speedily come unto you.
• • •
31
For behold, I, the
Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of
my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my
people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
18
And he said unto the servant: Behold, the
branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root
thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and
because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have
brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches,
the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
• • •
23
And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I
have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit;
therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self.
24
And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto his servant: Look hither, and behold another branch also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit.
25
And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I
have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath
brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought
forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others.
• • •
42
Behold, I knew that
all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become corrupted.
And now these which have once brought forth good fruit have also
become corrupted; and now all the trees of my vineyard are good for
nothing save it be to be hewn down and cast into the fire.
• • •
48
And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the
loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the
roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots
thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?
2
Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I
fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from
falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done.
• • •
9
Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother; for behold, I
saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he
wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And after this
manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of
our fathers. And I make an end.
10
Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.
• • •
12
Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold,
he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of
Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should
also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
• • •
23
Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.
24
And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold,
the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that
king Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.
10
And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I
say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he
shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
11
Behold I say unto
you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the
holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I
say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and
believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward
to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
• • •
18
And behold, I say
unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of
peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has
granted salvation unto his people;
3
I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father,
Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and
authority from God to do these things, behold, I
say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was
in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of
Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.
4
And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.
• • •
6
And now behold, I
say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you
sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and
long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently
retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?
• • •
8
And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not.
• • •
11
Behold, I can tell
you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by
the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak
the words of God, and my father Alma believe them?
12
And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
• • •
14
And now behold, I
ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of
God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye
experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
• • •
26
And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
• • •
29
Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I
would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand,
and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not
found guiltless.
• • •
38
Behold, I say unto
you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he
doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken
unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called,
behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.
39
And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.
• • •
43
And now, my brethren, I would that ye should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to the commandments of God.
• • •
45
And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46
Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I
do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them
manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of
revelation which is in me.
3
And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla.
• • •
6
But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I
trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true
and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your
sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
7
For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.
8
Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.
• • •
17
And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these things? Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that ye believe them; and the way that I
know that ye believe them is by the manifestation of the Spirit which
is in me. And now because your faith is strong concerning that, yea,
concerning the things which I have spoken, great is my joy.
15
Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for
thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping
the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first
message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.
16
And behold, I am
sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and
preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea,
say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.
• • •
24
And behold, I have been called to preach the word of God among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy; and I was in this land and they would not receive me, but they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever.
25
But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn again and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against them concerning their iniquities.
12
Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. But behold,
this is not all—he has commanded you to repent, or he will utterly
destroy you from off the face of the earth; yea, he will visit you in
his anger, and in his fierce anger he will not turn away.
• • •
18
But behold, I say
unto you that if ye persist in your wickedness that your days shall not
be prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you; and
if ye repent not they shall come in a time when you know not, and ye
shall be visited with utter destruction; and it shall be according to
the fierce anger of the Lord.
• • •
23
And now behold I say
unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from
the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and
knowledge which they do have, I say unto you
that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression,
it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them.
4
And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.
5
Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
• • •
10
And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I
say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to
make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this
Alma hath dwelt at my house.
• • •
26
For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
27
And now behold, I
say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is
beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your
judges.
6
And behold I say
unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid
to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him,
that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain
you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his
captivity.
• • •
16
And now behold, I
say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a
spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a
temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as
to things pertaining unto righteousness.
• • •
23
And now behold, I
say unto you that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of
the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no
death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar, for he
said: If thou eat thou shalt surely die.
• • •
35
And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
36
And now, my brethren, behold I
say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter
into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he
sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea,
according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to
the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his
word, unto the last death, as well as the first.
1
And now, these are the words of Ammon to his brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I
say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have
supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have
granted unto us such great blessings?
• • •
3
Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold
the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been
bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God
to bring about this great work.
• • •
16
Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will
rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold,
who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his
great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the
children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
• • •
33
And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not, even among the Nephites.
24
Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.
25
Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say that a child is not guilty because of its parents.
26
And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say also that he shall be slain for the sins of the world—
• • •
32
Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I
have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges
until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many
travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people.
• • •
39
Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
• • •
41
But, behold, I have
all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have
all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny
them? Believest thou that these things are true?
42
Behold, I know that
thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have
put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the
devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices
that he may destroy the children of God.
• • •
46
And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I
am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will
still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.
10
Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?
• • •
18
Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
• • •
20
Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.
• • •
22
And now, behold, I say unto you, and I
would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who
believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye
should believe, yea, even on his word.
• • •
36
Behold I say unto
you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only
exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment
to know if the seed was good.
5
Behold, Ammoron, I
have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged
against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them,
and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death.
6
Behold, I would tell
you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his
almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw
your armies into your own lands, or the land of your possessions, which
is the land of Nephi.
• • •
13
Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land, the land of our first inheritance.
• • •
16
I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your threatenings.
• • •
24
And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni.
16
And when we saw that they were making preparations to come out against us, behold, I
caused that Gid, with a small number of men, should secrete himself in
the wilderness, and also that Teomner and a small number of men should
secrete themselves also in the wilderness.
17
Now Gid and his men were on the right and the others on the left; and when they had thus secreted themselves, behold, I
remained, with the remainder of my army, in that same place where we
had first pitched our tents against the time that the Lamanites should
come out to battle.
• • •
41
And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has
redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea,
and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in
obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from
us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma.
1
And it came to pass that he wrote again to the governor of the
land, who was Pahoran, and these are the words which he wrote, saying: Behold, I
direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who is the
chief judge and the governor over the land, and also to all those who
have been chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this
war.
2
For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation; for behold,
ye yourselves know that ye have been appointed to gather together men,
and arm them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons
of war of every kind, and send forth against the Lamanites, in
whatsoever parts they should come into our land.
3
And now behold, I
say unto you that myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men,
have suffered exceedingly great sufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst,
and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.
• • •
14
And now behold, I say unto you, I
fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people,
because of their exceeding slothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of
our government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their
brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain.
• • •
23
Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I
would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel
shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed
also.
• • •
25
And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and show unto me a true
spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and
grant unto them food for their support, behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them—
• • •
27
And I will come unto you, and if there be any
among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark
of freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct.
28
Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.
• • •
30
Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and, except ye do administer unto our relief, behold, I
come unto you, even in the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the
sword, insomuch that ye can have no more power to impede the progress of
this people in the cause of our freedom.
• • •
34
And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained, according to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I
would that ye should adhere to the word of God, and send speedily unto
me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Helaman.
• • •
36
Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.
5
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I
will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea,
even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for
thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
6
Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I
declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have
power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with
pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this
people.
7
Behold, I give unto
you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in
heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.
• • •
11
And now behold, I
command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus
saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be
smitten, even unto destruction.
2
Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I
write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you exceedingly great
praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people,
in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea,
ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the
defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that
which ye do call so.
• • •
8
And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I
will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall
not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall
let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct.
9
And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.
1
And it came to pass that when Jesus had
spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now
the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority
to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he
stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them,
saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these
twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I
will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed
are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have
seen me and know that I am.
• • •
19
And behold, I have
given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall
believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me
with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.
• • •
29
Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;
• • •
44
But behold I say
unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute
you;
4
Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
5
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.
6
Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
• • •
9
Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
10
Behold, I have given
unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is
the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
6
And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
• • •
25
Behold, I was about to write the names of those who were never to taste of death, but the Lord forbade; therefore I write them not, for they are hid from the world.
26
But behold, I have seen them, and they have ministered unto me.
• • •
36
And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality—
37
But behold, since I wrote, I
have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that
there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs
be that they must taste of death;
1
Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.
• • •
5
Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.
• • •
9
And now, behold, I say no more concerning them, for there are none save it be the Lamanites and robbers that do exist upon the face of the land.
• • •
12
And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the
imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things
than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you.
13
Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.
• • •
23
Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. Yea, behold I
say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have
possessed this land, shall cry, yea, even from the dust will they cry
unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth he will remember the covenant
which he hath made with them.
• • •
35
Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
4
Behold, I say unto
you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God,
under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to
dwell with the damned souls in hell.
• • •
8
Behold I say unto
you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea,
he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
• • •
11
But behold, I will
show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the
heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
• • •
15
And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.
• • •
19
And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
• • •
21
Behold, I say unto
you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he
shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and
this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
• • •
30
Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.
8
Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I
came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to
repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick;
wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of
committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me,
that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done
away in me.
• • •
10
Behold I say unto
you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who
are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that
they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little
children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
• • •
14
Behold I say unto
you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the
gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither
faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the
thought, he must go down to hell.
• • •
16
Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.
• • •
28
Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I
fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part
of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority
which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost.
1
Behold, I
say unto you, that as my servant Martin Harris has desired a witness at
my hand, that you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., have got the plates
of which you have testified and borne record that you have received of
me;
• • •
9
Behold, verily I say unto you, I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations;
• • •
20
Behold, I tell you these things, even as I
also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem; and my word shall
be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified.
• • •
22
And that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain.
• • •
24
Behold, I say unto
him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before
me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty
prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.
25
And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man.
• • •
28
And now, except he humble himself and acknowledge unto me the things
that he has done which are wrong, and covenant with me that he will keep
my commandments, and exercise faith in me, behold, I say unto him, he shall have no such views, for I will grant unto him no views of the things of which I have spoken.
• • •
30
And if this be the case, behold, I say unto thee Joseph, when thou hast translated a few more pages thou shalt stop for a season, even until I command thee again; then thou mayest translate again.
2
Behold, I am God;
give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a
two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow;
therefore give heed unto my words.
• • •
6
Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion;
• • •
21
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
• • •
25
And, behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate, even as my servant Joseph.
• • •
28
And now, behold, I
give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift,
which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or
three witnesses shall every word be established.
• • •
35
Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
1
Now, behold, I
say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you
had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and
Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them.
• • •
11
And behold, I say
unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary
from that which you translated and caused to be written;
• • •
30
Behold, I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands;
• • •
36
Behold, I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous;
• • •
52
And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.
• • •
57
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.
• • •
65
For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;
2
Behold, I am God;
give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a
two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow;
therefore give heed unto my word.
• • •
6
Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
• • •
11
For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
• • •
15
Behold, I command you that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called.
• • •
27
Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.
28
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
2
Behold, I am God;
give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a
two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow;
therefore, give heed unto my word.
• • •
6
Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
7
Behold, I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work;
• • •
9
Behold, I am the
light and the life of the world, that speak these words, therefore give
heed with your might, and then you are called. Amen.
2
Behold, I have
manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things
which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.
3
And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;
• • •
9
And now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.
• • •
37
And now, behold, I
give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto David Whitmer, that you
shall search out the Twelve, who shall have the desires of which I have spoken;
• • •
47
Behold, I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, and your Redeemer, by the power of my Spirit have spoken it. Amen.
1
Behold, I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold, thou art blessed, and art under no condemnation. But beware of pride, lest thou shouldst enter into temptation.
• • •
3
Behold, I speak unto
you, Hyrum, a few words; for thou also art under no condemnation, and
thy heart is opened, and thy tongue loosed; and thy calling is to
exhortation, and to strengthen the church continually. Wherefore thy
duty is unto the church forever, and this because of thy family. Amen.
4
Behold, I speak a
few words unto you, Samuel; for thou also art under no condemnation, and
thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen the church; and thou
art not as yet called to preach before the world. Amen.
5
Behold, I speak a
few words unto you, Joseph; for thou also art under no condemnation, and
thy calling also is to exhortation, and to strengthen the church; and
this is thy duty from henceforth and forever. Amen.
6
Behold, I manifest
unto you, Joseph Knight, by these words, that you must take up your
cross, in the which you must pray vocally before the world as well as in
secret, and in your family, and among your friends, and in all places.
14
But, behold, I say
unto you that before this great day shall come the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in heaven above and
in the earth beneath;
• • •
26
But, behold, verily I
say unto you, before the earth shall pass away, Michael, mine
archangel, shall sound his trump, and then shall all the dead awake, for
their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth—yea, even all.
• • •
29
And now, behold, I say unto you, never at any time have I declared from mine own mouth that they should return, for where I am they cannot come, for they have no power.
• • •
35
Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.
• • •
42
But, behold, I say unto you that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I,
the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance
and redemption, through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son.
• • •
46
But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;
1
Hearken unto my word, my servants Sidney, and Parley, and Leman; for behold, verily I say unto you, that I
give unto you a commandment that you shall go and preach my gospel
which ye have received, even as ye have received it, unto the Shakers.
2
Behold, I say unto you, that they desire to know the truth in part, but not all, for they are not right before me and must needs repent.
• • •
26
Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.
27
Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.
28
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
5
Behold, I, the Lord, utter my voice, and it shall be obeyed.
• • •
19
And now behold, I, the Lord, say unto you that ye are not justified, because these things are among you.
• • •
22
And now, verily I say unto you, that as I said that I would make known my will unto you, behold I will make it known unto you, not by the way of commandment, for there are many who observe not to keep my commandments.
• • •
41
Behold, I, the Lord,
will give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., power that he shall be
enabled to discern by the Spirit those who shall go up unto the land of
Zion, and those of my disciples who shall tarry.
• • •
55
And now behold, verily I say unto you, I,
the Lord, am not pleased with my servant Sidney Rigdon; he exalted
himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but grieved the Spirit;
• • •
59
Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me.
60
Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.
• • •
62
For behold, verily I
say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the
name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.
15
Behold, I, the Lord,
was angry with him who was my servant Ezra Booth, and also my servant
Isaac Morley, for they kept not the law, neither the commandment;
• • •
31
And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it.
• • •
37
Behold, I, the Lord,
have made my church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a
hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations.
• • •
41
For, behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her;
2
Behold, I say unto
you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking
concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed
even now.
• • •
12
For behold, I have
prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them,
inasmuch as they are faithful and continue in humility before me.
• • •
14
For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles.
• • •
16
Behold, I have
commanded my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to say unto the strength of my
house, even my warriors, my young men, and middle-aged, to gather
together for the redemption of my people, and throw down the towers of
mine enemies, and scatter their watchmen;
• • •
25
And behold, I will
give unto you favor and grace in their eyes, that you may rest in peace
and safety, while you are saying unto the people: Execute judgment and
justice for us according to law, and redress us of our wrongs.
26
Now, behold, I say
unto you, my friends, in this way you may find favor in the eyes of the
people, until the army of Israel becomes very great.
6
For, behold, I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her.
• • •
45
And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
• • •
62
Behold, verily I say
unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and
my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, organize themselves,
and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum for the
purpose of building that house.
• • •
102
Behold, I say unto you, I
have a mission in store for my servant William, and my servant Hyrum,
and for them alone; and let my servant Joseph tarry at home, for he is
needed. The remainder I will show unto you hereafter. Even so. Amen.
• • •
104
And if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering, and acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold, I,
the Lord your God, will heal him that he shall be healed; and he shall
lift up his voice again on the mountains, and be a spokesman before my
face.
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