Mosiah 27:21 21 And he caused that a mult.i.tude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him.
Mosiah 27:22 22 And he caused that the priests should a.s.semble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their G.o.d that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength--that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of G.o.d.
Mosiah 27:23 23 And it came to pa.s.s after they had fasted and prayed for the s.p.a.ce of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:
Mosiah 27:24 24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
Mosiah 27:25 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of G.o.d, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of G.o.d, becoming his sons and daughters;
Mosiah 27:26 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of G.o.d.
Mosiah 27:27 27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
Mosiah 27:28 28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulations, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to s.n.a.t.c.h me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of G.o.d.
Mosiah 27:29 29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of G.o.d. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am s.n.a.t.c.hed, and my soul is pained no more.
Mosiah 27:30 30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.
Mosiah 27:31 31 Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is G.o.d; then shall they confess, who live without G.o.d in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.
Mosiah 27:32 32 And now it came to pa.s.s that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of G.o.d in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.
Mosiah 27:33 33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of G.o.d.
Mosiah 27:34 34 And four of them were the sons of Mosiah; and their names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the names of the sons of Mosiah.
Mosiah 27:35 35 And they traveled throughout all the lands of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them.
Mosiah 27:36 36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of G.o.d in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.
Mosiah 27:37 37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.
Mosiah 28 Chapter 28
Mosiah 28:1 1 Now it came to pa.s.s that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of G.o.d to their brethren, the Lamanites--
Mosiah 28:2 2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their G.o.d, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their G.o.d, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their G.o.d had given them.
Mosiah 28:3 3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.
Mosiah 28:4 4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever.
Mosiah 28:5 5 And it came to pa.s.s that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi.
Mosiah 28:6 6 And king Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the word.
Mosiah 28:7 7 And the Lord said unto Mosiah: Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites.
Mosiah 28:8 8 And it came to pa.s.s that Mosiah granted that they might go and do according to their request.
Mosiah 28:9 9 And they took their journey into the wilderness to go up to preach the word among the Lamanites; and I shall give an account of their proceedings hereafter.
Mosiah 28:10 10 Now king Mosiah had no one to confer the kingdom upon, for there was not any of his sons who would accept of the kingdom.
Mosiah 28:11 11 Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of bra.s.s, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of G.o.d, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi;
Mosiah 28:12 12 And this he did because of the great anxiety of his people; for they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning those people who had been destroyed.
Mosiah 28:13 13 And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.
Mosiah 28:14 14 Now these things were prepared from the beginning, and were handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose of interpreting languages;
Mosiah 28:15 15 And they have been kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he should discover to every creature who should possess the land the iniquities and abominations of his people;
Mosiah 28:16 16 And whosoever has these things is called seer, after the manner of old times.
Mosiah 28:17 17 Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.
Mosiah 28:18 18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.
Mosiah 28:19 19 And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account.
Mosiah 28:20 20 And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of bra.s.s, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.
Mosiah 29 Chapter 29
Mosiah 29:1 1 Now when Mosiah had done this he sent out throughout all the land, among all the people, desiring to know their will concerning who should be their king.
Mosiah 29:2 2 And it came to pa.s.s that the voice of the people came, saying: We are desirous that Aaron thy son should be our king and our ruler.
Mosiah 29:3 3 Now Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi, therefore the king could not confer the kingdom upon him; neither would Aaron take upon him the kingdom; neither were any of the sons of Mosiah willing to take upon them the kingdom.
Mosiah 29:4 4 Therefore king Mosiah sent again among the people; yea, even a written word sent he among the people. And these were the words that were written, saying:
Mosiah 29:5 5 Behold, O ye my people, or my brethren, for I esteem you as such, I desire that ye should consider the cause which ye are called to consider--for ye are desirous to have a king.
Mosiah 29:6 6 Now I declare unto you that he to whom the kingdom doth rightly belong has declined, and will not take upon him the kingdom.
Mosiah 29:7 7 And now if there should be another appointed in his stead, behold I fear there would rise contentions among you. And who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong, should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after him, which would cause wars and contentions among you, which would be the cause of shedding much blood and perverting the way of the Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people.
Mosiah 29:8 8 Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his stead.
Mosiah 29:9 9 And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain things he would recall the things which he had said, and claim his right to the kingdom, which would cause him and also this people to commit much sin.
Mosiah 29:10 10 And now let us be wise and look forward to these things, and do that which will make for the peace of this people.
Mosiah 29:11 11 Therefore I will be your king the remainder of my days; nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of this people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge this people according to the commandments of G.o.d.