V3.04.02 Lesser Words of Jesus - Reimagining the Book of Mormon

Lesser Words of Jesus

abridged ca. 351 ad

Jesus Christ showeth himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them; and on this wise did he show himself unto them.

And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful. And they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place. And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death. And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of Heaven. And they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard. And it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center! Insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake.

Yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it. And their eyes were towards the sound thereof. And they did look steadfastly towards Heaven, from whence the sound came. And behold! The third time they did understand the voice which they heard! And it said unto them:

Behold my beloved son! In whom I am well pleased,
In whom I have glorified my name. Hear ye him!

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards Heaven. And behold, they saw a man descending out of Heaven! And he was clothed in a white robe. And he came down and stood in the midst of them. And the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant. For they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified
Shall come into the world.
And behold, I am the light and the life of the world!
And I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me,
And have glorified the Father in taking upon me
The sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will
Of the Father in all things from the beginning.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth. For they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into Heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

Arise and come forth unto me!
That ye may thrust your hands into my side,
And also that ye may feel the prints of the nails
In my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am
The God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth,
And have been slain for the sins of the world.

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into His side, and did feel the prints of the nails in His hands and in his feet. And this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record that it was he of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!

And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus and did worship him. And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi; for Nephi was among the multitude. And he commanded him that he should come forth. And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet. And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before him. And the Lord said unto him:

I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people
When I am again ascended into Heaven.

And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise. And he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them:

On this wise shall ye baptize.
And there shall be no disputations among you.
Verily I say unto you,
That whoso repenteth of his sins through your words
And desireth to be baptized in my name,
On this wise shall ye baptize them:
Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water,
And in my name shall ye baptize them.
And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say,
Calling them by name, saying:
Having authority given me of Jesus Christ,
I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son,
And of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye
Immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name,
For behold, verily I say unto you,
That the Father and the Son,
And the Holy Ghost are one!
And I am in the Father, and the Father in me,
And the Father and I are one.

And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize.
And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been;
Neither shall there be disputations among you concerning
The points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention
Is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention,
And he stirreth up the hearts of men
To contend with anger, one with another.
Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger,
One against another! But this is my doctrine,
That such things should be done away.
Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.

And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine
Which the Father hath given unto me
And I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me,
And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me,
And I bear record that the Father commandeth all men,
Everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized,
The same shall be saved.
And they are they who shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned!
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine.
And I bear record of it from the Father.
And whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also
And unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he
Will visit him with Fire and with the Holy Ghost.
And thus will the Father bear record of me!
And the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him
Of the Father and me, for the Father, and I,
And the Holy Ghost are one.

And again I say unto you, ye must repent!
And become as a little child, and be baptized in my name,
Or ye can in nowise receive these things.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent!
And be baptized in my name, and become as a little child,
Or ye can in nowise inherit the Kingdom of God.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine.
And whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and
The gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish
It for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is
Not built upon my rock, but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation,
And the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come
And the winds beat upon them. Therefore, go forth unto this people,
And declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called; now the number of them who had been called and received power and authority to baptize was twelve. And behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude and cried unto them, saying:

Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve,
Whom I have chosen from among you
To minister unto you, and to be your servants.
And unto them I have given power that they may baptize
You with water, and after that ye are baptized with water,
Behold, I will baptize you with Fire
And with the Holy Ghost, therefore
Blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me
And be baptized, after that ye have seen me
And know that I am.

And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words,
Because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know
That I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in
Your words, and come
Down into the depths of humility and be baptized,
For they shall be visited with Fire,
And with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.

Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me,
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
And again, blessed are all they that mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
And blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst
After righteousness, for they shall be filled
With the Holy Ghost.
And blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
And blessed are all the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
And blessed are all the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the Children of God.
And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s
Sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute,
And shall say all manner of evil against you
Falsely, for my sake.
For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad,
For great shall be your reward in Heaven!
For so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth
But if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith
Shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be
Thenceforth good for nothing,
But to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel?
Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all
That are in the House. Therefore let your light so
Shine before this people, that they may see your good works
And glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.
I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not
Passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled.

And behold, I have given unto you the law
And the commandments of my Father: That ye shall believe in me,
And that ye shall repent of your sins,
And come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.
Therefore come unto me and be ye saved!
For verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments,
Which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case
Enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
And it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill?
And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God?
But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother
Shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say
To his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council
And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me,
And rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee —
Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled
To thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart,
And I will receive you.
Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way
With him, lest at any time he shall get thee,
And thou shalt be cast into prison.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence
Until thou hast paid the uttermost senine.
And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay. Behold, it is written by them of old
Time, that thou shalt not commit adultery.
But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her,
Hath committed adultery already in his heart.
Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer
None of these things to enter into your heart.
For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things,
Wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell.

It hath been written, that whosoever shall put away his wife,
Let him give her a writing of divorcement.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife,
Saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery.
And whoso shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery.
And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself,
But shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.
But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at all!
Neither by Heaven, for it is God’s throne.
Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head,
Because thou canst not make one hair black or white.
But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay;
For whatsoever cometh of more than these are evil.
And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but
Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him
Have thy cloak also!
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain!
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow
Of thee turn thou not away! And behold it is written
Also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.
But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you
And persecute you, that ye may be
The children of your Father who is in Heaven!
For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law,
In me are all fulfilled.
Old things are done away, and all things have become new.
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I,
Or your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.

Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor.
But take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them
Otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in Heaven.
Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you,
As will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
That they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But when thou doest alms let not
Thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.
That thine alms may be in secret. And thy
Father which seeth in secret,
Himself shall reward thee openly.
And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites.
For they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in
The corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
And when thou hast shut thy door,
Pray to thy Father who is in secret
And thy Father, who seeth in secret,
Shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen,
For they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them, for
Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will
Also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses
Neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance,
For they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face!
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father,
Who is in secret, and thy Father, who seeth in secret,
Shall reward thee openly.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
Doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven,
Where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
Thieves do not break through nor steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye! If, therefore, thine eye be single,
Thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.
If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great
Is that darkness! No man can serve two masters!
For either he will hate the one and love the other,
Or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and Mammon!

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them:

Remember the words which I have spoken.
For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen
To minister unto this people. Therefore I say
Unto you, take no thought for your life,
What ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink
Nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air! For they sow not,
Neither do they reap nor gather into barns
Yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow!
They toil not, neither do they spin.
And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory,
Was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is,
And tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you,
If ye are not of little faith.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or,
What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take
Thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.
And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,
But considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote
Out of thine eye — and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite! First cast the beam out of thine own eye
And then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye
Your pearls before swine,
Lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and
Rend you. Ask, and it shall be given unto you
Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh, receiveth. And he that seeketh, findeth.
And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will
Give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
How much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give
Good things to them that ask him?
Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
Do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter ye in at the strait gate! For wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
That leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
Which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
But inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit,
But a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
Neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
Into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord!
Shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven,
But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.
Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord!
Have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name
Have cast out devils?
And in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you.
Depart from me, ye that work iniquity!

Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
And beat upon that house. And it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not
Shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.
And the rain descended, and the floods came,
And the winds blew, and beat upon that house.
And it fell, and great was the fall of it.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them:

Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before
I ascended to my Father. Therefore,
Whoso remembereth these sayings of mine
And doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses. For they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. And he said unto them:

Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away,
And that all things had become new.
Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled
That was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he
That gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel.
Therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come
To fulfill the law. Therefore it hath an end. Behold,
I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me,
Verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
And because I said unto you that old things have passed away,
I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning
Things which are to come. For behold, the covenant
Which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled,
But the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.
Behold, I am the law, and the light! Look unto me,
And endure to the end, and ye shall live.
For unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
Behold, I have given unto you the commandments!
Therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law
And the prophets, for they truly testified of me.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he said unto those twelve whom He had chosen:

Ye are my disciples. And ye are a light unto this people, which are
A remnant of the House of Joseph.
And behold, this is the land of your inheritance, and the Father hath
Given it unto you. And not at any time hath the Father given me
Commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem.
Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment
That I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of
The House of Israel, which the Father hath led away out of the land.
This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them:

That other sheep I have which are not of this fold.
Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice.
And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

And now, because of stiff-neckedness and unbelief they understood
Not my word. Therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father
Concerning this thing unto them. But, verily, I say unto you
That the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you,
That ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity.
Therefore it is because of their iniquity that they know not of you.

And verily, I say unto you again that the other tribes hath
The Father separated from them, and it is because
Of their iniquity that they know not of them.
And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said:
Other sheep I have
Which are not of this fold, them also I must bring,
And they shall hear my voice
And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles!
For they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted
Through their preaching.
And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice.
And they understood me not that the Gentiles should not
At any time hear my voice. That I should not manifest
Myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.

But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me!
And ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among
Those whom the Father hath given me.

And verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other sheep which are not
Of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in
Any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister.
For they of which I speak are they which have not as yet heard my voice
Neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them.
But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go
Unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be
Numbered among my sheep,
That there may be one fold and one shepherd.
Therefore I go to show myself unto them.

And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after I am gone.
That if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me
And been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name,
That they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also
Of the other tribes which they know not of, that these
Sayings which ye shall write
Shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through
The Fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be
Scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief,
May be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge
Of me, their Redeemer.
And then will I gather them in from the four quarters of the earth!
And then will I fulfill the covenant which the Father hath made
Unto all the people of the House of Israel.
And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me!
In and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them
Of me and of the Father.
Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father,
And because of the unbelief of you, O House of Israel,
In the latter day shall the truth come
Unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things
Shall be made known unto them.

But wo! saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles!
For notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land,
And have scattered my people who are of the House of Israel,
And my people who are of the House of Israel have been cast out
From among them, and have been trodden under feet by them.
And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles,
And also the judgments of the Father upon my people which are
Of the House of Israel, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that
After all this, and I have caused my people
Who are of the House of Israel to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and
To be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become
Hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them;

And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you:

At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,
And shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up
In the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people
Of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings,
And of deceits, And of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy,
And murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and
Of secret abominations; And if they shall do all those things,
And shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold,
Saith the Father: I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them!
And then will I remember my covenant which I have made
Unto my people, O House of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
And I will show unto thee, O House of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not
Have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you,
O House of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of
The fullness of my gospel. But if the Gentiles will repent and
Return unto me, saith the Father,
Behold they shall be numbered among my people, O House of Israel.
And I will not suffer my people, which are of the House of Israel,
To go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.
But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice,
I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O House of Israel, that
They shall go through among them, and shall tread them down!
And they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth
Good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O House of Israel.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father commanded me
That I should give unto this people this land for their inheritance.
And when the words of the prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled, which say:
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice!
With the voice together shall they sing,
For they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
Break forth into joy! Sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem!
For the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord hath made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations,
And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.

Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them:

Behold, my time is at hand.
I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand
All my words which I am commanded of the Father
To speak unto you at this time. Therefore, go ye
Unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said,
And ask of the Father, in my name that ye may understand,
And prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the
Lost Tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father,
For he knoweth whither he hath taken them.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. And he said unto them:

Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.
Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither.
Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed,
Or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or
That are afflicted in any manner?
Bring them hither and I will heal them,
For I have compassion upon you,
My bowels are filled with mercy.

For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you
What I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem,
For I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.

And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner. And he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him. And they did all, both they which had been healed and they which were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him. And as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears. And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought.

So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. And it came to pass that when they had all been brought and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground. And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said:

Father, I am troubled because
Of the wickedness of the people of the House of Israel.

And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth.¹⁰ And behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record which heard him. And after this manner do they bear record:

The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before,
So great and marvelous things, as we saw and heard Jesus speak
Unto the Father! And no tongue can speak, neither can there be
Written, by any man, neither can
The hearts of men conceive, so great and marvelous things
As we both saw and heard Jesus speak, and no one can conceive
Of the joy which filled our souls, at the time
We heard him pray for us, unto the Father.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose. But so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome. And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise. And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them:

Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full!

And when he had said these words, he wept and the multitude bare record of it. And he took their little children one by one, and blessed them and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this, he wept again. And he spake unto the multitude and said unto them: Behold your little ones!

And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards Heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of Heaven as it were in the midst of fire, and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire, and the angels did minister unto them. And the multitude did see and hear and bear record. And they know that their record is true, for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself. And they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls. And they did consist of men, women, and children.

And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him. And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth. And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it. And he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude. And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples:

Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give
Power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it
Unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe
and be baptized in my name.
And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done,
Even as I have broken bread and blessed it, and gave it unto you.
And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown
Unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do
Always remember me. And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have
My spirit to be with you.

And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it. And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled. And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them:

Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done,
For this is fulfilling my commandments,
And this doth witness unto the Father that ye are
Willing to do that which I have commanded you. And this shall ye
Always do unto those who repent and are baptized in my name
And ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood which I have shed for you,
That ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me.
And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things.
And if ye shall always do these things, blessed are ye, for ye are built
Upon my rock. But whoso among you shall do more
Or less than these are not built upon my rock,
But are built upon a sandy foundation, and when the rain descends,
And the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon them,
They shall fall, and the gates of Hell are ready, open to receive them.
Therefore blessed are ye, if ye shall keep my commandments,
Which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always!
Lest ye be tempted by the Devil, and ye be led away captive by him.
And as I have prayed among you, even so shall ye pray in my church,
Among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name.
Behold I am the light. I have set an example for you.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto his disciples, he turned again unto the multitude and said unto them:

Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always
Lest ye enter into temptation, for Satan desireth to have you,
That he may sift you as wheat.
Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name.
And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right,
Believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name,
That your wives and your children may be blessed.
And behold, ye shall meet together oft, and ye shall not
Forbid any man from coming
Unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come
Unto you and forbid them not.
But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out.
And if it so be that they come unto you oft, ye shall pray
For them unto the Father, in my name.
Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world!
Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up
That which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed
Unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.
And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away,
But rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye
Might feel and see! Even so shall ye do unto the world.
And whosoever breaketh this
Commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he turned his eyes again upon the disciples whom he had chosen, and said unto them:

Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you
Another commandment,
And then I must go unto my Father, that I may fulfill
Other commandments which he hath given me.
And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you:
That ye shall not suffer any one knowingly
To partake of my flesh and blood unworthily,
When ye shall minister it. For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh
And blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul.
Therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink
Of my flesh and blood, ye shall forbid him.
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye
Shall minister unto him and shall pray for him
Unto the Father, in my name, and if it so be that he repenteth
And is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall
Minister unto him of my flesh and blood. But if he repent not,
He shall not be numbered
Among my people, that he may not destroy my people,
For behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered. Nevertheless,
Ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship,
For unto such shall ye continue to minister, for ye know not
But what they will return and repent,
And come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them.
And ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you that ye
Come not under condemnation, for wo unto him whom
The Father condemneth. And I give you these commandments
Because of the disputations which have been
Among you, beforetimes. And blessed are ye if ye have
No disputations among you. And now I go unto the Father,
Because it is expedient, that I should go unto the Father for your sakes.¹¹

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them. And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record. But the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will show unto you hereafter that this record is true. And it came to pass that when Jesus had touched them all, there came a cloud and overshadowed the multitude that they could not see Jesus. And while they were overshadowed, he departed from them, and ascended into Heaven. And the disciples saw and did bear record that he ascended again into Heaven.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended into Heaven, the multitude did disperse and every man did take his wife and his children and did return to his own home. And it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would also show himself on the morrow unto the multitude. Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus. And insomuch did they send forth unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude. And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy; and also his son whose name was Jonas; and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother; and Kumen and Kumenonhi and Jeremiah, and Shemnon and Jonas and Zedekiah, and Isaiah — now these were the names of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen.

And it came to pass that they went forth and stood in the midst of the multitude. And behold, the multitude was so great that they did cause that they should be separated into twelve bodies.

And the twelve did teach the multitude. And behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus. And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people. And when they had ministered the same words which Jesus had spoken — nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken — behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus. And they did pray for that which they most desired. And they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them. And when they had thus prayed they went down unto the water’s edge, and the multitude followed them.

And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the water and was baptized. And he came up out of the water and began to baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen. And it came to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire. And behold, they were encircled about as if it were fire! And it came down from Heaven and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record. And angels did come down out of Heaven and did minister unto them. And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

And it came to pass that he spake unto the multitude and commanded them that they should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his disciples should kneel down upon the earth. And it came to pass that when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should pray. And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their lord and their god. And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them, and went a little way off from them, and bowed himself to the earth. And he said:

Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost
Unto these whom I have chosen.
And it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them
Out of the world.

Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them
That shall believe in their words. Father, thou hast given them
The Holy Ghost because they believe in me, and thou seest that they
Believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me
And they pray unto me because I am with them.

And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all
Them which shall believe on their words, that they may believe
In me, that I may be in them as thou,
Father, art in me, that we may be one.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him. And they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire. And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him. And his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus.¹² And behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof. And Jesus said unto them: Pray on!

Nevertheless they did not cease to pray. And he turned from them again, and went a little way off and bowed himself to the earth. And he prayed again unto the Father, saying:

Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen,
Because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them
Which shall believe on their words:
That they may be purified in me, through faith on their words,
Even as they are purified in me.
Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou
Hast given me out of the world,
Because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be
In them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be
One, that I may be glorified in them.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he came again unto his disciples. And behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing unto him. And he did smile upon them again. And behold they were white, even as Jesus. And it came to pass that he went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father. And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed. And the multitude did hear and do bear record. And their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed. Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed, that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying, he came again to the disciples, and said unto them:

So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews. Wherefore
I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief.
Verily I say unto you, there are none of them that have seen
So great things as ye have seen.
Neither have they heard so great things, as ye have heard.

And it came to pass that he commanded the multitude that they should cease to pray, and also his disciples. And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts. And he commanded them that they should arise and stand up upon their feet. And they arose up and stood upon their feet. And it came to pass that he brake bread again and blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat. And when they had eaten, he commanded them that they should break bread and give unto the multitude. And when they had given unto the multitude, he also gave them wine to drink, and commanded them that they should give unto the multitude. Now, there had been no bread, neither wine, brought by the disciples, neither by the multitude. But he truly gave unto them bread to eat, and also wine to drink. And he said unto them:

He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul
And he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul
And his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.¹³

Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the spirit. And they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus whom they both saw and heard. And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, he said unto them:

Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father
Hath commanded me
Concerning this people, which are a remnant of the House of Israel.
Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when
The words of Isaiah should be fulfilled
–behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them–
And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled
Then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made
Unto his people, O House of Israel. And then shall the remnants,
Which shall be scattered abroad
Upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west,
And from the south and from the north, and they shall be brought
To the knowledge of the Lord their god, who hath redeemed them.
And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land,
For your inheritance. And I say unto you,
that if the gentiles do not repent
After the blessing which they shall receive,
— After they have scattered my people — Then shall ye,
Which are a remnant of the House of Jacob, go forth among them
And ye shall be in the midst of them which shall be many,
And ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest,
And as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through
Both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.¹⁴
Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and
All thine enemies shall be cut off. And I will gather my people
Together, as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.
For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea,
I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hooves brass. And thou
Shalt beat in pieces many people, and I will consecrate their gain
Unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
And behold, I am he who doeth it.
And it shall come to pass, saith the Father,
That the sword of my justice shall hang over them
At that day, and except they repent it shall fall upon them,
Saith the Father, Yea, even upon all the nations of the gentiles.
And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O House of Israel.
And behold, this people will I establish in this land,
Unto the fulfilling of the covenant
Which I made with your father Jacob. And it shall be a New Jerusalem.
And the Powers of Heaven¹⁵ shall be in the midst of this people, yea, even
I will be in the midst of you. Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake,
Saying: A prophet shall the Lord your god raise up unto you
Of your brethren, like unto me. Him shall ye hear
In all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you.
And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not
Hear that prophet shall be
Cut off from among the people. Verily I say unto you, yea, and all
The prophets from Samuel and those that follow after,
As many as have spoken, have testified of me.
And behold, ye are the children of the prophets, and ye are of
The House of Israel and ye are of the covenant which the Father
Made with your fathers, saying
Unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds
Of the earth be blessed.

The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you
In turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
And this because ye are the children of the covenant.
And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant
Which he made with Abraham, saying:
In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed:
Unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me, upon the gentiles,
Which blessing upon the gentiles shall make them mighty above all,
Unto the scattering of my people, O House of Israel.
And they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless,
When they shall have received the fullness of my gospel, then
If they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their iniquities
Upon their own heads, saith the Father.
And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people.¹⁶
And I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together
In mine own due time, that I would give unto them again
The land of their fathers
For their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem,
Which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father.

And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fullness
Of my gospel shall be preached unto them, and they shall believe
In me, that I am:
Jesus Christ the son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.
Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and with
The voice together shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye. Then will
The Father gather them together again,
And give unto them Jerusalem, for the land of their inheritance.
Then shall they break forth into joy! Sing together, ye waste places
Of Jerusalem, for the Father hath comforted his people,
He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Father hath made bare his holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of the Father: and the Father and I are one.

And then shall be brought to pass that which is written: Awake,
Awake again! And put on thy strength, O Zion. Put on
Thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem,
The holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee
The uncircumcised and the unclean.
Shake thyself from the dust! Arise, sit down, O
Jerusalem! Loose thyself from
The bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
For thus saith the Lord: Ye have sold yourselves for naught,
And ye shall be redeemed without money.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name, yea,
In that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak.
And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are
The feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that
Publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings unto them of good,
That publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion: Thy god reigneth!
And then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence,
Touch not that which is unclean! Go ye out of the midst of her!
Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight, for the
Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward.
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted and extolled
And be very high. As many were astonished at thee:
His visage was so marred, more than any man,
And his form more than the sons of men — so shall he sprinkle many
Nations, the kings shall shut their mouths at him,
For that which had not been told them, shall they see
And that which they had not heard, shall they consider.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come,
Even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant
Which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled,
And then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people,
And it shall be the land of their inheritance.
And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign —
That ye may know the time when these things shall be about
To take place: that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people,
O House of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion.
And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign —
For verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you,
And which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself,
And by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you
Of the Father, shall be made known unto the gentiles, that they
May know concerning this people who are a remnant
Of the House of Jacob,
And concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them —
Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made known
Unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from
Them unto you — for it is wisdom in the Father that they should be
Established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth
From them unto a remnant of your seed, that
The covenant of the Father may be fulfilled
Which he hath covenanted with His people, O House of Israel —

Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought
Among you hereafter shall come forth from the gentiles unto your seed
Which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity —
For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth
From the gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto
The gentiles, for this cause that the gentiles, if they will not
Harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be
Baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that
They may be numbered among my people, O House of Israel —
And when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know
These things – it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know
That the Work of the Father hath already commenced
Unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made
Unto the people which are of the House of Israel.¹⁷

And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut
Their mouths for that which had not been told them shall they see
And that which they had not heard shall they consider.
For in that day, for my sake, shall the Father work a work, which shall be
A great and a marvelous work among them, and there shall be
Among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it
Unto them. But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand.
Therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be
Marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will
Show unto them that my wisdom is greater than
The cunning of the Devil. Therefore it shall come to pass, that whosoever
Will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father
Shall cause him to bring forth unto the gentiles,
And shall give unto him power that he shall bring them
Forth unto the gentiles: It shall be done even as Moses said: they shall be
Cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.

And my people which are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the gentiles,
Yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts
Of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who,
If he go through both treadeth down
And teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Their hand shall be lifted up
Upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.
Yea, wo be unto the gentiles except they repent!
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will
Cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots.
And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down
All thy strongholds. And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy land, and
Thou shalt have no more soothsayers.
Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images
Out of the midst of thee,
And thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands.
And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee. So will I
Destroy thy cities. And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings,
And envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall
Be done away.
For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day
Whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved son, them will I
Cut off from among my people, O House of Israel;
And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even
As upon the heathen, such as they have not heard. But if they will
Repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not
Their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come
In unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant
Of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance.
And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob,
And also as many of the House of Israel as shall come, that they may
Build a city which shall be called the new Jerusalem.
And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in,
Who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in
Unto the new Jerusalem.

And then shall the Power of Heaven come down among them, and
I also will be in the midst. And then shall the Work
of the Father commence at that day, even when
This gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.
Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the Work of the Father commence
Among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been
Lost, which the Father hath led away
Out of Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence among all
The dispersed of my people,
With the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me,
That they may call on the Father in my name.
Yea, and then shall the work commence! With the Father among
All nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be
Gathered home to the land of their inheritance. And they shall go out
From all nations and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight,
For I will go before them, saith the Father.

And I will be their rearward.
And then shall that which is written come to pass:
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear! Break forth into singing,
And cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains
Of thy habitations, spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes!
For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed
Shall inherit the gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded,
For thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget
The shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth,
And shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name!
And thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel — the god
Of the whole earth shall he be called.
For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken
And grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused,
Saith thy god. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but
With great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee
For a moment, but with everlasting kindness
Will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer.
For this, the waters of Noah unto me. For as I have sworn that the waters
Of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn
That I would not be wroth with thee.
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed,
But my kindness shall not depart
From thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
Saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold,
I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations
With sapphires. And I will make thy windows
Of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles,
And all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children
Shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children.
In righteousness shalt thou be established!
Thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear, and from terror
For it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together
Against thee, not by me. Whosoever shall gather together against thee
Shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth
The coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work.
And I have created the waster to destroy.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
And every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment,
Thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things.
Yea, a commandment I give unto you, that ye search these things
Diligently, for great are the words of Isaiah.
For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are
Of the House of Israel, therefore it must needs be that he
Must speak also to the gentiles.
And all things that he spake have been and shall be,
Even according to the words which he spake.
Therefore give heed to my words! Write the things which I have told you.
And according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go
Forth unto the gentiles. And whosoever will hearken unto my words
And repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved.
Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.
And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.

And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel the Lamanite,
That he should testify unto this people, that at the day that
The Father should glorify his name in me that there were many
Saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear
Unto many, and should minister unto them.

And he said unto them: Was it not so?
And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.
And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many, and did minister unto them?
And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written. Therefore it was written according as he commanded. And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them. And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he did tell unto them, saying:

Thus said the Father unto Malachi — Behold, I will send my messenger,
And he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek
Shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger
Of the covenant, whom ye delight in!
Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming?
And who shall stand when he appeareth?
For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.
And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord,
As in the days of old, and as in former years.
And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness
Against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers,
And against false swearers, and against those that oppress
The hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless,
And that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts.

For I am the Lord, I change not!
Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances,
And have not kept them. Return unto me and I will return unto you,
Saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye say: Wherein shall we return?
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.
But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be
Meat in my house and prove me now herewith, saith the
Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you
The Windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing
That there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not
Destroy the fruits of your ground.
Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time
In the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land,
Saith the Lord of Hosts. Your words have been stout
Against me, saith the Lord.
Yet ye say: What have we spoken against thee?
Ye have said: It is vain to serve God, and what doth it profit that
We have kept his ordinances and that we have walked
Mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? And now we call the proud happy!
Yea, they that work wickedness are set up!
Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another,
And the Lord hearkened and heard.
And a Book of Remembrance was written before him
For them that feared the Lord,
And that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine,
Saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.
And I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
Between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven!
And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.
And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts,
That it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But unto you that fear my name, shall the sun of righteousness arise¹⁸
With healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth
And grow up as calves in the stall.
And ye shall tread down the wicked! For they shall be
Ashes under the soles of your feet
In the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I
Commanded unto him in Horeb
For all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
The great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall turn
The heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart
Of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude. And he did expound all things unto them, both great and small. And he saith:

These scriptures, which ye had not with you,
The Father commanded that I should give unto you.
For it was wisdom in him that they should
Be given unto future generations.

And he did expound all things, even from the beginning, until the time that he should come in His glory. Yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away. And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation. Being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ which was before the world began.

And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people. But behold the Plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people. And I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the gentiles according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the Plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.¹⁹ Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.

Therefore, I would that ye should behold that the Lord truly did teach the people, for the space of three days. And after that he did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them. And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter. And it came to pass that after He had ascended into Heaven — the second time that he showed himself unto them, and had gone unto the Father after having healed all their sick and their lame, and opened the eyes of their blind, and unstopped the ears of the deaf, and even had done all manner of cures among them, and raised a man from the dead, and had shown forth his power unto them, and had ascended unto the Father — behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the multitude gathered themselves together. And they both saw and heard these children. Yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things. And the things which they did utter were forbidden that there should not any man write them.

And it came to pass that the disciples whom Jesus had chosen began from that time forth to baptize and to teach as many as did come unto them. And as many as were baptized in the name of Jesus were filled with the Holy Ghost. And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things which are not lawful to be written. And they taught and did minister one to another. And they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly one with another. And it came to pass that they did do all things, even as Jesus had commanded them. And they which were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the Church of Christ.

And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting. And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name.
And Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?
And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church. For there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
And the Lord said unto them:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur
And dispute because of this thing?
Have they not read the scriptures, which say
Ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name?
For by this name shall ye be called at the last day.
And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end,
The same shall be saved at the last day.
Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name.
Therefore ye shall call the church in my name.
And ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will
Bless the church for my sake.
And how be it my church, save it be called in my name?
For if a church be called in Moses’ name, then it be Moses’ church.
Or if it be called in the name of a man, then it be the church of a man.
But if it be called in my name, then it is my church,
If it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel.
Therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name
Therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church,
If it be in my name the Father will hear you.
And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel
Then will the Father show forth his own works in it.
But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men,
Or upon the works of the Devil, verily I say unto you, they have
Joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end
Cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire,
From whence there is no return. For their works do follow them,
For it is because of their works that they are hewn down
Therefore remember the things that I have told you.

Behold! I have given unto you my gospel, and
This is the gospel which I have given unto you:
That I came into the world to do the will of my Father,
Because my Father sent me.
And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross.
And after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw
All men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men, even so
Should men be lifted up by the Father,
To stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be
Good or whether they be evil. And for this cause have I been lifted up!
Therefore, according to the power of the Father,
I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to
Their works. And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth
And is baptized in my name shall be filled, and if he endureth
To the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my
Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
And he that endureth not unto the end,
The same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire,
From whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men.

And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given,
And he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
And no unclean thing can enter into his Kingdom! Therefore
Nothing entereth into his rest, save it be those who have washed
Their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and
The repentance of all their sins,
And their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment:

Repent, all ye ends of the earth!
And come unto me and be baptized in my name,
That ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost,
That ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel!
And ye know the things that ye must do in my church
For the works which ye have seen me do, that shall ye also do
For that which ye have seen me do, even that shall ye do.
Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be
Lifted up at the last day.

Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those
Which are forbidden. Write the works of this people, which shall be,
Even as hath been written, of that which hath been.
For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be
Written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works
Be known unto men.
And behold, all things are written by the Father.
Therefore out of the books which shall be written, shall the world
Be judged. And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people?
According to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just?
Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?
Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
And now I go unto the Father.
And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father
In my name, shall be given unto you. Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive!
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you!
For he that asketh, receiveth.
And unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
And now, behold, my joy is great!
Even unto fullness, because of you, and also this generation.
Yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels,
Because of you and this generation: for none of them are lost.
Behold, I would that ye should understand.
For I mean them who are now alive of this generation.
And none of them are lost. And in them I have fullness of joy.
But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation, from
This generation, for they are led away captive by him even as
Was the son of Perdition. For they will sell me for silver and for gold,
And for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break
Through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in
Turning their works upon their own heads.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples:

Enter ye in at the strait gate, for strait is the gate,
And narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it!
But wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death,
And many there be that travel therein,
Until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
And they all spake, save it were three, saying:

We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry,
Wherein thou hast called us, may have an end,
That we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.

And he said unto them:

Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me! Therefore,
After that ye are seventy and two years old, ye shall come unto me
In my kingdom, and with me ye shall find rest.

And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them:

What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?

And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired. And he said unto them:

Behold, I know your thoughts.
And ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved,
Who was with me in my ministry,
Before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death
But ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father, unto
The children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled
According to the will of the Father, when
I shall come in my glory, with the Powers of Heaven.
And ye shall never endure the pains of death!
But when I shall come in my glory, ye shall be changed
In the twinkling of an eye, from mortality to immortality!
And then shall ye be blessed in the Kingdom of my father.
And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh,
Neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world. And all this
Will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye
Have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me,
While the world shall stand.
And for this cause ye shall have fullness of joy!
And ye shall sit down in the Kingdom of my father, yea,
Your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fullness
Of joy, and ye shall be even as I am,
And I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one.
And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me.
And the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto
The children of men, because of me.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he touched every one of them with his finger save it were the three who were to tarry and then he departed. And behold, the heavens were opened, and they were caught up into Heaven and saw and heard unspeakable things. And it was forbidden them that they should utter. Neither was it given unto them power that they could utter the things which they saw and heard. And whether they were in the body or out of the body, they could not tell: For it did seem unto them like a transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of God.

But it came to pass that they did again minister upon the face of the earth. Nevertheless they did not minister of the things which they had heard and seen, because of the commandment which was given them in Heaven. And now, whether they were mortal or immortal, from the day of their transfiguration, I know not. But this much I know, according to the record which hath been given — they did go forth upon the face of the land, and did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching.

Baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost. And they were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they were rent in twain. And they were cast down into the earth, but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth.²⁰ And therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.

And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm. And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts. And behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm. And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land. And they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed according to the word of Jesus.

And now I, Mormon, make an end of speaking concerning these things for a time.

<<Previous Page | Next Page>>