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Final address of Mormon
composed ca. 384 ad
And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them. And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers. And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war. And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my ten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the midst.
And they passed by me that they did not put an end to my life. And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us: among whom was my son Moroni. And we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me.
And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni. And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst. And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand. And Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand. And Limhah had fallen with his ten thousand. And Joneum had fallen with his ten thousand. And Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each. And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each!
Yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen. And their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left by the hands of those who slew them to molder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their mother earth. And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:
O ye fair ones!
How could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!
O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus,
Who stood with open arms to receive you!
Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen.
But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers,
Ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.
And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality,
And these bodies which are now moldering in corruption
Must soon become incorruptible bodies. And then ye must stand before
The judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works,
And if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed
With your fathers who have gone before you.
O that ye had repented before this great destruction
Had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone.
And the Father, yea, the eternal Father of Heaven, knoweth your state.
And he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy.
And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words. That they may know of the things of their fathers, yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the House of Israel. And these are the words which I speak:
Know ye that ye are of the House of Israel.
Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.
Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war,
And delight no more in the shedding of blood,
And take them not again, save it be
That God shall command you.
Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers,
And repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe
In Jesus Christ: that he is the son of God, and that he was slain
By the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again,
Whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave!
And also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead,
Whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.
And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world,
Whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment
Day hath it given unto him to dwell in
The presence of God in his kingdom, to sing
Ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father,
And unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost,
Which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus!
And lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you,
Not only in this record but also in the record which shall come
Unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record
Shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that.
And if ye believe that, ye will believe this also.
And if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers,
And also the marvelous works which were wrought
By the power of God among them.
And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob.
Therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant!
And if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized,
First with Water, then with Fire, and with the Holy Ghost, following
The example of our savior, according to that which he hath
Commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment.
Amen.
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