Mosiah 18:1 1 And now, it came to pa.s.s that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi--
Mosiah 18:2 2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pa.s.s through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Mosiah 18:3 3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many did believe his words.
Mosiah 18:4 4 And it came to pa.s.s that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.
Mosiah 18:5 5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
Mosiah 18:6 6 And it came to pa.s.s that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.
Mosiah 18:7 7 And it came to pa.s.s after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
Mosiah 18:8 8 And it came to pa.s.s that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of G.o.d, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another"s burdens, that they may be light;
Mosiah 18:9 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of G.o.d at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of G.o.d, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life--
Mosiah 18:10 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Mosiah 18:11 11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
Mosiah 18:12 12 And now it came to pa.s.s that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
Mosiah 18:13 13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty G.o.d, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
Mosiah 18:14 14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
Mosiah 18:15 15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.
Mosiah 18:16 16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of G.o.d.
Mosiah 18:17 17 And they were called the church of G.o.d, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pa.s.s that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of G.o.d was added to his church.
Mosiah 18:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s that Alma, having authority from G.o.d, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of G.o.d.
Mosiah 18:19 19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
Mosiah 18:20 20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
Mosiah 18:21 21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.
Mosiah 18:22 22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of G.o.d.
Mosiah 18:23 23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their G.o.d.
Mosiah 18:24 24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.
Mosiah 18:25 25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their G.o.d, and also, as often as it was in their power, to a.s.semble themselves together.
Mosiah 18:26 26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of G.o.d, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of G.o.d, that they might teach with power and authority from G.o.d.
Mosiah 18:27 27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.
Mosiah 18:28 28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards G.o.d, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.
Mosiah 18:29 29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of G.o.d; and they did walk uprightly before G.o.d, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.
Mosiah 18:30 30 And now it came to pa.s.s that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.
Mosiah 18:31 31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king.
Mosiah 18:32 32 But behold, it came to pa.s.s that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them.
Therefore on the day that they were a.s.sembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king.
Mosiah 18:33 33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.
Mosiah 18:34 34 And it came to pa.s.s that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king"s army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.
Mosiah 18:35 35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls.
Mosiah 19 Chapter 19
Mosiah 19:1 1 And it came to pa.s.s that the army of the king returned, having searched in vain for the people of the Lord.
Mosiah 19:2 2 And now behold, the forces of the king were small, having been reduced, and there began to be a division among the remainder of the people.
Mosiah 19:3 3 And the lesser part began to breathe out threatenings against the king, and there began to be a great contention among them.
Mosiah 19:4 4 And now there was a man among them whose name was Gideon, and he being a strong man and an enemy to the king, therefore he drew his sword, and swore in his wrath that he would slay the king.
Mosiah 19:5 5 And it came to pa.s.s that he fought with the king; and when the king saw that he was about to overpower him, he fled and ran and got upon the tower which was near the temple.
Mosiah 19:6 6 And Gideon pursued after him and was about to get upon the tower to slay the king, and the king cast his eyes round about towards the land of Shemlon, and behold, the army of the Lamanites were within the borders of the land.
Mosiah 19:7 7 And now the king cried out in the anguish of his soul, saying: Gideon, spare me, for the Lamanites are upon us, and they will destroy us; yea, they will destroy my people.
Mosiah 19:8 8 And now the king was not so much concerned about his people as he was about his own life; nevertheless, Gideon did spare his life.
Mosiah 19:9 9 And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children.
Mosiah 19:10 10 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them.
Mosiah 19:11 11 Now it came to pa.s.s that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites.
Mosiah 19:12 12 Now there were many that would not leave them, but had rather stay and perish with them. And the rest left their wives and their children and fled.
Mosiah 19:13 13 And it came to pa.s.s that those who tarried with their wives and their children caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites that they would not slay them.