Helaman
17 verses
Now, my beloved brothers, I tell you that unless you repent, your homes will be left to you desolate.
And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate.
Unless you repent, your women will have great reason to mourn when they nurse their children; you will try to escape, but there will be nowhere to hide. And sorrow will come to those who are pregnant, because they will be burdened and unable to flee; so they will be trampled down and left to die.
Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be left to perish.
Woe to the people called the people of Nephi unless they repent when they see all these signs and wonders shown to them. They have been a chosen people of the Lord; he has loved the people of Nephi, and he has also corrected them. In the days of their sins, he has disciplined them because he loves them.
Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them.
My brothers, God has hated the Lamanites because their actions have been continually evil, and this is because of the sinful traditions of their fathers. But salvation has come to them through the preaching of the Nephites; and for this reason, the Lord has prolonged their days.
But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated because their deeds have been evil continually, and this because of the iniquity of the tradition of their fathers. But behold, salvation hath come unto them through the preaching of the Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged their days.
I want you to see that most of them are fulfilling their duties, living carefully before God, and keeping his commandments, statutes, and judgments according to the law of Moses.
And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses.
I tell you, most of them are doing this, and they are working tirelessly to bring the rest of their brothers to the knowledge of the truth. As a result, many are added to their numbers every day.
Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers daily.
You know for yourselves, because you have seen it, that everyone who is brought to know the truth and to recognize the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and who is led to believe the holy scriptures and the prophecies of the holy prophets that are written—which lead them to have faith in the Lord and to repent—this faith and repentance bring a change of heart to them.
And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—
So, everyone who has reached this point, you know for yourselves, are firm and steadfast in the faith and in what has made them free.
Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.
You also know that they have buried their weapons of war, and they are afraid to take them up again because they might sin. You can see that they are afraid to sin—for they would rather allow themselves to be trampled and killed by their enemies than lift their swords against them, and this is because of their faith in Christ.
And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ.
Now, because of their steadfastness when they believe in what they believe, and because of their firmness once they are enlightened, the Lord will bless them and prolong their days, despite their iniquity—
And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their iniquity—
Even if they dwindle in unbelief, the Lord will prolong their days until the time comes that our fathers, the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets have spoken of, concerning the restoration of our brothers, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth.
Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the truth—
I tell you that in the last days the Lord’s promises have been given to our brothers, the Lamanites. Even though they will suffer many hardships, be driven across the earth, hunted, attacked, and scattered with no place to find refuge, the Lord will still show them mercy.
Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them.
This fulfills the prophecy that they will once again come to a true knowledge—the knowledge of their Redeemer and their great and true shepherd—and be counted among his sheep.
And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.
So I tell you, it will be better for them than for you unless you repent.
Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you except ye repent.
If the mighty works that have been shown to you had been shown to those who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, you can see for yourselves that they never would have dwindled in unbelief again.
For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief.
Therefore, says the Lord: I will not completely destroy them, but I will make it so that in the day of my wisdom they will return to me, says the Lord.
Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy them, but I will cause that in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me, saith the Lord.
The Lord says about the Nephite people: If they do not repent and keep my commandments, I will completely destroy them because of their unbelief, even though I have done many mighty works among them. These things will definitely happen, says the Lord.
And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the Nephites: If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall these things be, saith the Lord.