Mormon
24 verses
I went among the Nephites and regretted the oath I had made that I would no longer help them. They gave me command of their armies again, because they believed I could deliver them from their troubles.
And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions.
I had no hope, because I knew the judgments of the Lord that would come upon them. They didn’t repent of their sins, but fought for their lives without calling on the Being who created them.
But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them.
The Lamanites came against us as we fled to the city of Jordan, but they were driven back and did not take the city at that time.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, they were driven back that they did not take the city at that time.
They attacked us again, and we defended the city. There were also other cities held by the Nephites, and these strongholds blocked them from entering the land ahead of us to destroy the people living there.
And it came to pass that they came against us again, and we did maintain the city. And there were also other cities which were maintained by Nephites, which strongholds did cut them off that they could not get into the country which lay before us, to destroy the inhabitants of our land.
Any lands we had passed by, whose inhabitants had not been gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, villages, and cities were burned with fire; and in this way, three hundred seventy-nine years went by.
And it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had passed by, and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages, and cities were burned with fire; and thus three hundred and seventy and nine years passed away.
In the three hundred and eightieth year, the Lamanites came against us again to battle, and we stood against them boldly; but it was all in vain, because their numbers were so great that they trampled the people of the Nephites under their feet.
And it came to pass that in the three hundred and eightieth year the Lamanites did come again against us to battle, and we did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain, for so great were their numbers that they did tread the people of the Nephites under their feet.
We fled again, and those who ran faster than the Lamanites escaped, but those who couldn’t outrun the Lamanites were overtaken and destroyed.
And it came to pass that we did again take to flight, and those whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites’ did escape, and those whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites’ were swept down and destroyed.
Now, I, Mormon, do not want to trouble people's souls by describing such a terrible scene of blood and carnage as I saw; but I know these things must be made known, and that everything hidden must be revealed openly—
And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
A knowledge of these things must come to the remnant of this people, and also to the Gentiles, whom the Lord has said will scatter this people, and this people will be considered as nothing among them. For this reason, I am writing a brief summary, not daring to give a full account of what I have seen because of the commandment I have received, and also so you will not have too much sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.
And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.
I say this to their descendants, and also to the Gentiles who care about the house of Israel, so they can recognize and understand where their blessings come from.
And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.
I know that they will mourn for the tragedy of the house of Israel; they will grieve over the destruction of this people; they will be saddened that this people did not repent so they could have been embraced in the arms of Jesus.
For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.
These things are written to the remnant of the house of Jacob, and they are written this way because God knows that wickedness will not bring them to the people; they are to be kept for the Lord so they can come forth in his own due time.
Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time.
This is the commandment I have received: they will come forth according to the Lord’s commandment, when he sees fit, in his wisdom.
And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.
They will go to the unbelieving Jews for this purpose: to persuade them that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, so that the Father can accomplish, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose of restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God has given them, fulfilling his covenant.
And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;
And also so that the descendants of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which will be brought to them by the Gentiles; for this people will be scattered and will become a dark, filthy, and loathsome people, beyond anything we have ever seen, even more than what has been among the Lamanites, and this will happen because of their unbelief and idolatry.
And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.
The Spirit of the Lord has already stopped striving with their fathers; they are without Christ and God in the world, and they are driven about like chaff before the wind.
For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.
They were once a delightful people, and Christ was their shepherd; they were even led by God the Father.
They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.
But now they are led by Satan, like chaff blown by the wind, or like a ship tossed on the waves without a sail, anchor, or anything to steer it; and just as the ship is, so are they.
But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.
The Lord has saved the blessings that they could have received in the land for the Gentiles who will possess the land.
And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land.
They will be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, then the Lord will remember the covenant he made with Abraham and with all the house of Israel.
But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel.
The Lord will also remember the prayers of the righteous that have been offered to Him for them.
And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.
So then, Gentiles, how can you stand before the power of God unless you repent and turn from your evil ways?
And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
Don’t you know that you are in the hands of God? Don’t you know that he has all power, and at his great command the earth will be rolled together like a scroll?
Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?
So repent and humble yourselves before Him, or He will come against you in justice—if not, a remnant of the descendants of Jacob will go among you like a lion and tear you to pieces, and no one will be able to save you.
Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.