Mormon
41 verses
I, Moroni, am finishing the record of my father, Mormon. I have only a few things to write, which my father commanded me to include.
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.
After the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites until they were all destroyed.
And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.
My father was also killed by them, and I am left alone to write the sad story of my people's destruction. They are gone, and I am fulfilling my father's commandment. I don't know whether they will kill me.
And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.
So I will write and hide the records in the earth, and it doesn't matter where I go.
Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
My father has made this record, and he has written its purpose. I would write it too if I had room on the plates, but I don’t; and I have no ore, for I am alone. My father has been killed in battle, along with all my relatives, and I have no friends or anywhere to go; and I don’t know how long the Lord will allow me to live.
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.
Four hundred years have passed since the coming of our Lord and Savior.
Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior.
The Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, from city to city and from place to place, until they are gone. Their fall has been great, and the destruction of my people, the Nephites, is truly great and remarkable.
And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even until they are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
It is the hand of the Lord that has done this. The Lamanites are at war with each other, and the entire land is caught in constant murder and bloodshed. No one knows when the war will end.
And behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it. And behold also, the Lamanites are at war one with another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.
I won't say anything more about them, because only the Lamanites and robbers still exist on the land.
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.
No one knows the true God except the disciples of Jesus, who stayed in the land until the people's wickedness became so great that the Lord would not allow them to remain with the people; and no one knows whether they are still on the earth.
And there are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth.
My father and I have seen them, and they have ministered to us.
But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us.
Anyone who receives this record and does not reject it because of its imperfections will come to know greater things than these. I am Moroni, and if it were possible, I would make everything known to you.
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.
I will stop talking about this people now. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.
Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.
I am the one who is hiding this record for the Lord. The plates themselves are worthless because of the Lord’s commandment. He has truly said that no one will have them to get gain. But the record is of great value, and whoever brings it to light will be blessed by the Lord.
And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
No one can have the power to bring it to light unless God gives it to them; because God wants it to be done with a focus on his glory, or for the welfare of the ancient and long-dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
Blessed is the one who brings this record to light, for it will be brought out of darkness into light, according to the word of God. It will come out of the earth and shine out of darkness, coming to the knowledge of the people, and it will be done by the power of God.
And blessed be he that shall bring this thing to light; for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God.
If there are faults, they are the faults of a man. But we know of no fault; however, God knows all things. So whoever condemns, let him be careful, or he may be in danger of hell fire.
And if there be faults they be the faults of a man. But behold, we know no fault; nevertheless God knoweth all things; therefore, he that condemneth, let him be aware lest he shall be in danger of hell fire.
Anyone who says, “Show me, or you will be punished, ” should be careful not to demand something the Lord has forbidden.
And he that saith: Show unto me, or ye shall be smitten—let him beware lest he commandeth that which is forbidden of the Lord.
The one who judges rashly will be judged rashly in return; each person will be rewarded according to their actions. So, anyone who strikes others will be struck in return by the Lord.
For behold, the same that judgeth rashly shall be judged rashly again; for according to his works shall his wages be; therefore, he that smiteth shall be smitten again, of the Lord.
The scripture says that man should not strike or judge, because judgment belongs to the Lord, and vengeance is also His, and He will repay.
Behold what the scripture says—man shall not smite, neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.
Anyone who speaks out in anger and contention against the work of the Lord and against the covenant people of the Lord, who are the house of Israel, and says, “We will destroy the work of the Lord, and the Lord will not remember his covenant which he has made with the house of Israel”—that person is in danger of being cut down and cast into the fire.
And he that shall breathe out wrath and strifes against the work of the Lord, and against the covenant people of the Lord who are the house of Israel, and shall say: We will destroy the work of the Lord, and the Lord will not remember his covenant which he hath made unto the house of Israel—the same is in danger to be hewn down and cast into the fire;
The eternal purposes of the Lord will continue until all his promises are fulfilled.
For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.
Search the prophecies of Isaiah. I cannot write them. I tell you, those saints who have gone before me and have possessed this land will cry to the Lord, even from the dust; and as the Lord lives, he will remember the covenant he has made with them.
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.
He knows their prayers, which were for their brothers and sisters. He knows their faith, for in his name they could move mountains; in his name they could make the earth shake; and by the power of his word they caused prisons to fall to the ground. Even the fiery furnace could not harm them, nor could wild beasts or poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.
And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.
Their prayers were also for him, that the Lord would allow these things to come forth.
And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.
No one should say they will not come, because they definitely will, for the Lord has spoken it. They will come out of the earth by the hand of the Lord, and no one can stop it. This will happen in a time when people say that miracles have ended, and it will happen as if someone is speaking from the dead.
And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.
It will happen in a time when the blood of the saints cries out to the Lord because of secret combinations and evil deeds.
And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.
It will come in a day when people deny the power of God, and churches become corrupted and filled with pride; even in a time when church leaders and teachers become proud, to the point that they envy those who belong to their churches.
Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.
It will come in a time when people will hear about fires, storms, and clouds of smoke in other countries.
Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands;
There will also be reports of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places.
And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.
It will come in a time when there are great pollutions on the earth; there will be murders, robbery, lying, deception, sexual immorality, and all kinds of evil. Many will say, "Do this or do that, it doesn’t matter, for the Lord will support such people at the last day. " But sorrow will come to them, for they are in the bitterness of sin and bound by wickedness.
Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.
It will come in a day when churches will be established that say, "Come to me, and for your money you will be forgiven of your sins.
Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
You wicked, perverse, and stubborn people, why have you built churches for yourselves just to get gain? Why have you changed the holy word of God to bring condemnation on your souls? Look to the revelations of God, because the time will come when all these things must happen.
O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
The Lord has shown me great and marvelous things about what will soon happen, at the time when these things will come to you.
Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
I am speaking to you as if you were here, even though you are not. Jesus Christ has shown you to me, and I know what you are doing.
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.
I know that you walk in the pride of your hearts, and there are only a few who do not lift themselves up in pride—wearing very fine clothes, envying, arguing, holding malice, persecuting others, and committing all kinds of sins. Your churches—even every one of them—have become corrupted because of the pride in your hearts.
And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
You love money, your possessions, your fine clothing, and the decoration of your churches more than you love the poor and needy, the sick and the afflicted.
For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
You corrupt people, you hypocrites, you teachers who sell yourselves for things that will decay, why have you polluted the holy church of God? Why are you ashamed to take on the name of Christ? Why don’t you realize that endless happiness is worth more than never-ending misery just for the praise of the world?
O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
Why do you decorate yourselves with things that have no life, yet let the hungry, the needy, the naked, the sick, and the afflicted pass by you without noticing them?
Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
Why do you build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause widows to mourn before the Lord, and orphans to mourn before the Lord, and the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry to the Lord from the ground for vengeance on your heads?
Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
The sword of vengeance hangs over you, and the time is coming soon when he will avenge the blood of the saints on you, for he will not allow their cries any longer.
Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.