The Book of Mormon - Plain

King Benjamin teaches his sons...
(compare Mosiah, chapter 1)

This peace among all the people in the land of Zarahemla lasted for the rest of King Benjamin's days. He had three sons, Mosiah, Helorum and Helaman, and taught them the writing language of their forefathers --modified Egyptian.

He did this so they would become men of understanding, knowing the prophecies the Lord had given their forefathers (engraved on Nephi's plates).

Benjamin also taught his sons concerning the records engraved on the brass plates, saying,

"My sons, I want you to remember that if it were not for these plates which contain records and commandments, we would now be in ignorance, not knowing the mysteries of God. It would have been impossible for our forefather, Lehi, to have remembered all these things, and to have taught them to his children without these plates.

Lehi had been taught in the Egyptian language. This is why he could read the brass plates and teach them to his children. They in turn taught their children Egyptian, fulfilling God's commandments, even down to this present time.

My sons, if it were not for these brass plates that have been preserved by the hand of God, our forefathers would have faltered in unbelief. We would be like the Lamanites, who know nothing about God's commandments and mysteries. They don't believe these things because they are misguided by their forefathers' false traditions. Remember this, for these records are true.

And these plates Nephi made, which contain our forefathers' words from the time they left Jerusalem until now, are also true. Remember to search them diligently so you may profit from them.

I want you to keep God's commandments so you will prosper in the land, according to the promises He made to our forefathers."

As he grew old and realized he would soon die, he felt it necessary to confer the kingdom upon one of his sons. And so he called for Mosiah, named after his grandfather, and said to him,

"My son, I want you to make a proclamation throughout all the land of Zarahemla. Tell the people to assemble tomorrow, when I will proclaim that you are now a king and ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God has given us.

Tomorrow I will also give this people a name to distinguish them from all the people the Lord God has brought out of Jerusalem. I will do this because they have been diligently keeping the Lord's commandments. It will always be their name unless they become sinful.

For if this people, who are now highly favored of the Lord, become wicked and adulterous, the Lord will deliver them to the Lamanites by taking away their strength and protection.

Then He will no longer save them by His matchless and marvelous power as He saved our forefathers. If the Lord had not extended His arm to save our forefathers, they would have fallen victim to the Lamanites, who hated them."

He also gave Mosiah the brass plates, Nephi's plates, Laban's sword and the Liahona--the ball with spindles, made by the Lord, which had led Lehi and his people through the wilderness when they diligently obeyed the Lord.

Mosiah did as he was asked and made a proclamation to all the people in the land of Zarahemla to go up to the temple to hear his father speak.

The Nephites had become very numerous, even too numerous to count. They brought the firstborn of their flocks as sacrifices and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses. They gave thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought their forefathers out of Jerusalem and delivered them from their enemies.

They were also grateful for the just men who had been appointed to be their teachers, and for Benjamin, a just man, who had been appointed as their king. These just men had established peace in the land of Zarahemla and had taught the people to keep God's commandments, that they might rejoice and be filled with love toward God and all mankind.

Each family--a man with his wife, sons, daughters and grandchildren, from the oldest down to the youngest, set up separate tents around the temple. Their tent doors faced the temple so they could stay in their tents and still hear King Benjamin.

The multitude was so large that all the people could not fit inside the temple walls,
and so King Benjamin had a tower built.

"My brothers and sisters, I have not commanded you to come here to make light of what I will tell you, but to open you hearts and minds, so that God's mysteries may be unfolded to your view.

I have not commanded you to come here to fear me, or to make you think I am more than a mortal. Like everyone else, I too, am sometimes weak in body and mind.

But I've been chosen by you and consecrated by my father Mosiah, and I've been allowed to be your ruler and king. I've been saved by the Lord's matchless power to serve you with all the might, mind and strength that He gives me.

I've spent my life in your service, not seeking gold, silver or any kind of riches from you. I have not allowed slavery or confinement in dungeons. I have not allowed murder, plunder, stealing or adultery.

I have not condoned any kind of wickedness, but I have taught you to keep all the Lord's commandments. I've even labored with my own hands to serve you so you would not be burdened with taxes. You, yourselves, know all these things.

I do not say these things to boast or to accuse you. I say these things so that you will know that I can answer to God with a clear conscience today.

Saying I've spent my days in your service doesn't mean I'm boasting, for I've only been serving God.

You will be wise when you learn that
serving your brothers and sisters is serving your God.

If I, your king, work with my own hands to serve you, then shouldn't you do the same for one another?

And if I, your earthly king (who serves God by serving you), deserve thanks, then how much more should you thank your Heavenly King!

If you gave God all the thanks and praise that you could, for creating and protecting you, and for giving you reason to rejoice and live in peace, it would not be enough.

He lends you breath to live, to move about, to do as you wish, supporting you from moment to moment.

If you served Him with all your souls forever, you could never do enough to profit Him. Yet all He requires of you is to keep His commandments. He has promised you that if you keep His commandments, you will prosper in the land. And you see that He has blessed you.

But since He created you, giving you your life, you are still in debt to Him. He does not require payment for your life, but only for you to keep His commandments. When you do this, He immediately pays you with blessings.

Since you still owe Him for your life no matter what you do, how can you boast?

Can you, yourselves, say you are great? No, you are no greater than the dust of the earth, for it was the Creator's dust from which you were created.

Even I, whom you call your king, am no better than you, for I, too, am made from dust. You see that I am old, and am about to give up this mortal body to its mother earth.

I have asked you to gather here so that I might be found blameless, so that your blood will not come upon me when I stand before God to be judged for the things I have done for you--things that I have been commanded to do.

I do this to rid my robes of your blood before I die--that I might die in peace and my immortal spirit join the choirs above in singing praises to a just God.

I also need to tell you that I can no longer be your teacher nor your king. For even now, my whole body shakes while I attempt to speak to you. But the Lord supports me, and He has commanded me to tell you that my son Mosiah is now your king and ruler.

Now, my brothers and sisters, continue to keep the Lord's commandments that my father, Mosiah, and I have given to you.

Because you have been keeping these commandments, you have prospered, and have been protected from your enemies.

If you continue to keep God's commandments that will be given to you by my son Mosiah, you will continue to prosper in the land, and your enemies will never have power over you.

But beware of contentions among you, oh my people, which arise when you obey the evil spirit. There is a curse pronounced upon those who obey that spirit.

If you have a knowledge of God's laws and transgress them, choosing to obey the evil spirit, and then die in your sins, your souls will not progress (will be damned).

All of you, except your little children, have been taught these things. You know that after you have given your Heavenly Father all the service and substance He requires, you will still owe Him, never being able to fully repay.

You have also been taught from the brass plates, which contain the ancient prophecies of the holy prophets down until the time our forefather, Lehi, left Jerusalem.

You also know everything that has been spoken by our forefathers, who said what the Lord commanded them to say. This is why their words are just and true.

After having been taught all these things and knowing that they are true, if you go against them, you withdraw yourselves from the Lord's Spirit. Then you will no longer have Him as a guide to keep you on the paths of wisdom, which lead you to blessings, prosperity and safety.

If you go against what you know is true, then you are in open rebellion against God, obeying the evil spirit. You become an enemy to all righteousness. In this condition, the Lord cannot help you because He cannot send His Holy Spirit to live in unholy temples.

If you do not repent, but choose to remain an enemy to God until you die, then the demands of divine justice will suddenly awaken your immortal soul to a clear awareness of your own guilt. This will cause you to shrink from the Lord's presence and will fill your heart with guilt, pain and anguish, like an unquenchable fire with flames that go up forever and ever. Mercy has no claim on such a person. His final doom, or judgment, is to endure this never-ending torment.

I have spoken plainly so that you may all understand, both old and young alike. Wake up and remember the awful situation of those who have fallen into transgression.

But more than this, I want you to consider the blessed and happy state of those who keep God's commandments. They are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual. If they are faithful to the end of their lives, they will be received into heaven to live with God in a state of never-ending happiness. Oh remember, remember that these things are true because the Lord God has spoken them."

Listen carefully, brothers and sisters, because I have things to tell you of the future. An angel from God told me these things, saying,

"Listen, because I have come to give you news of great joy, for the Lord has heard your prayers and has judged you to be righteous. You will rejoice with your people when you give them this news.

In not many years the Lord Omnipotent, who reigns for all eternity, will come down from heaven with power among His people. He will live in a mortal body, performing mighty miracles--healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, the deaf to hear, and curing all types of diseases. He will cast out the evil spirits that live in people's hearts.

He will suffer temptations, pain, hunger, thirst and fatigue that would certainly kill an ordinary man. His suffering and anguish for the sins of His people will be so great, He will sweat blood from all His pores. He will be called Jesus Christ--the Son of God--the Father of Heaven and Earth--the Creator of all things from the beginning.

His mother will be called Mary. He will come to save His own--those who have faith in Him. But after doing all this for His chosen people, they will treat Him like an ordinary man, and say, 'He is possessed by a devil.' Then they will whip and crucify Him.

After three days, He will rise from the dead and stand to judge the world. He will do all this to qualify to make perfect judgment upon all people. His blood will even atone for those who sin in ignorance--those who die not knowing God's will for them.

But there is great cursing upon those who do know God's will and rebel against it, for among such, only those who repent and rely upon the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.

The Lord God has sent His holy prophets to give this news to all the people of the world. Those who believe in Christ and change their ways will be forgiven of their sins, and they may rejoice as though Christ had already come.

Because the Lord's covenant people--the house of Israel--were stubborn, He gave them a lower law--the law of Moses. He showed them many signs, wonders, types and shadows of His coming. Their holy prophets also spoke of His coming.

But the children of Israel still hardened their hearts and did not understand that the law of Moses was given to prepare them to accept the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

It is impossible for little children to sin. Even if they could sin, the law of Moses could not save them. Because Adam and Eve fell from God's presence, all their children are in an imperfect state. This is why Christ's blood will atone even for their little children.

It is important to know there is no other name or way that can save anyone other than Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, for His judgments are just.

Infants who die are saved in His kingdom because they are innocent. But those who know God's laws and refuse to humble themselves as children damn their own souls, for they do not believe their salvation has always been through the atoning blood of Christ, who is Lord over all things.

Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, all of their descendants are born into a fallen, natural state. As mortals, with natural desires to serve themselves, they are enemies to God forever. But if they allow the Holy Spirit to guide them, rejecting their natural desires, then they become saints through the atonement of Christ the Lord.

"In the last days, all people throughout the world will know of the Savior. When that time comes, only little children, and those who have become like them through repentance and faith in the Lord God Omnipotent, will be found innocent.

When you have given your people the knowledge that the Lord your God commanded you to give them, they will only become innocent in His sight if they have repented, with faith in their Savior."

The Lord said these words will stand as a bright testimony against this people on judgment day, when all will be judged according to the good or evil that they have done. If they have done evil, they will see their own guilt and sins, which will cause them to cower in the Lord's presence. They will be in a state of misery and endless torment from which they cannot return, having already damned their own souls.

Mercy will never claim them, for they will receive God's justice as Adam and Eve received it (through the fall) for eating of the forbidden fruit. Their torment will be like a lake of fire and burning sulfur, with unquenchable flames and smoke that will go up forever.

After King Benjamin finished quoting the angel, he saw the multitude bowing upon the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them. They had realized that in their carnal state they were lower than the dust of the earth.

They all shouted with one voice, "Oh have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ to us, so that our sins may be forgiven--that our hearts may be purified. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven, the earth and all things, and who will come down among His people."

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins and a peace of conscience, because of their great faith in Jesus Christ, of whom King Benjamin had spoken.

Then King Benjamin said to the multitude, "My friends, brothers and sisters, my family and my people. Listen and understand the rest of my words. The knowledge of the goodness of God has made you realize your nothingness in your fallen state.

You now know the goodness of God, His matchless power, wisdom, patience and His long-suffering toward all people. You know that the atonement, planned from the beginning of the world, brings salvation to those who trust in the Lord and diligently keep His commandments throughout their lives.

This salvation is offered to Adam and Eve's descendants until the end of the world. This salvation, and the conditions for it, come only through Christ.

I repeat, now that you know the glory of God (or His goodness, having tasted of His love, having been forgiven, and having received His great joy), I want you to remember His greatness and your own nothingness.

Remember His goodness and patience, humbling yourselves as much as you can, praying to the Lord daily with faith in Christ, who will come.

The devil is the master of sin, an enemy to all righteousness.
He is the evil spirit, of whom our forefathers wrote.

Help those who need your help, and give your substance to those who need it. Do not turn away those who ask for your help, saying,

Anyone who does this has great need to repent. Otherwise, he or she will spiritually perish forever, having no place in God's kingdom.

For we're all beggars! We all depend upon the same Being, even God, for everything we have....food, clothing and all our prosperity.

Today you've been calling on His name, begging for a remission of your sins. And have you begged in vain? No, for God has poured out His Spirit upon you, and you could not even speak because your hearts were filled with so much joy.

God, the one on whom you depend for your lives, and for everything you have and are, gives you what you ask for, if you ask in faith for what is right, believing you will receive it. So how much more should you give your substance to those who are in need!

If you judge and condemn those who ask you for substance just to survive, then you will be condemned for holding it back. For what you think is yours is really God's, including your life.

Yet while under this condemnation, do you ask God's forgiveness or change your ways? If not, you are cursed, for your substance will perish with you.

If you who are poor feel this way in your hearts, then you are guiltless. Otherwise, you are condemned for not being willing in your hearts to give up things that you do not even have.

In order to be forgiven of your sins each day, to walk guiltless before God, give your substance to the poor. Having more, the rich must give more. Having less, the poor will give less.

Yet everyone must feed the hungry, clothe the ill-clothed, and visit and relieve the sick according to their wants, both spiritual and temporal.

To obtain eternal life, it is necessary to do these things. But you must do them in wisdom and order, for you are not required to give more than you are able.

Whoever borrows something from his neighbor and does not return it when he says he will commits sin, and he may also prompt his neighbor to sin by becoming angry with him.

I cannot tell you all the ways you can sin because there are too many. But this much I can tell you.......if you do not watch yourselves--your actions, words, and even your thoughts, and keep God's commandments, having faith in the coming of our Lord until the end of your lives, then you must perish spiritually.

After saying these things to his people, King Benjamin sent messengers among them to ask if they believed his words.

All the people looked up at King Benjamin and shouted with one voice, "Yes, we believe everything you have told us. We know it is the truth because the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent has brought about a mighty change in our hearts.

We no longer have any desire to do evil, but only to do good continually. We have seen what is coming through the infinite goodness of God and the manifestations of His Spirit.

Because we first had faith in what you our king told us, we are now overjoyed to have a great knowledge of it ourselves!

We are willing to make a covenant with our God to do His will, and to be obedient to His commandments in all things for the rest of our lives!

We do not want to bring a never ending torment upon ourselves and experience God's wrath, as the angel described."

"This is what I wanted to hear. The covenant you have made is a righteous covenant.

Only as Children of Christ can you be made free, for no other name could free you and save your souls from hell.

Remember that all who have entered into this covenant with God should be obedient to Him for the rest of their lives. Those who do this will be found at the right hand of God, where Christ is.

Those who are righteous will know their name, for they will be called The Children of Christ.

Those who do not take the name of Christ upon themselves must be called by another name, and will find themselves on the left hand of God.

Children of Christ is the name I said I would give to you--a name that will never be forgotten in your hearts unless you sin.

Remember always to keep this name written in your hearts so you will not be found on the left hand of God, so you will recognize His voice and know the name by which He will call you.

For how can you know someone that you have not served, who is a stranger to you, far from the thoughts and intentions of your heart?

Does a shepherd keep his neighbor's goat? No. He will not even allow it to feed among his sheep. He'll drive it out, away from his flock. Your fate will be like the goat's if you don't recognize your Shepherd's voice, if you're not one of His sheep.

Be strong and immovable, always doing good works. If you do this, then Christ the Lord God Omnipotent will seal you His. Then you will be brought to heaven--to everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, power, justice and mercy of Him who created all things in heaven and earth, who is God above all. Amen."

After speaking, King Benjamin felt that it was necessary to write down the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep His commandments. Everyone in the multitude, except their little children, had entered into the covenant and had taken the name of Christ upon themselves.

Then King Benjamin consecrated his son
Mosiah to be a ruler and king over his people,
giving him charge of everything concerning the kingdom.

Benjamin appointed priests to teach the commandments of God to the people, and to help them always remember the oath they had made. Then he dismissed the multitude and they all returned to their homes with their families.

In the year 124 BC, at age thirty, Mosiah began to reign in his father's place. About 476 years had passed since Lehi had left Jerusalem.

King Mosiah walked in the ways of the Lord, observing His judgments, statutes and commandments. He told his people to farm the earth. Like his father, he himself farmed so that he would not be a burden to his people.

After three years of peace, King Mosiah wanted to know about his people (Zeniff and his followers) who had gone to live in the city of Lehi-Nephi, for none of Mosiah's people had heard from them since they had left the land of Zarahemla 56 years prior, in 174 BC (20 years before Mosiah was born).

Mosiah's people constantly bothered him, asking permission to send out a search party. King Mosiah finally allowed sixteen of their strong men to go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi to learn of their brethren.

The next day the search party set off. They were led by Ammon, a strong, mighty man, and a descendant of Zarahemla. He and his men didn't know the way to the land of Lehi-Nephi, so they wandered in the wilderness forty days.

Finally, they camped on a hill, from where to the south they saw the land of Shilom. From their camp, Ammon took three of his brethren, Amaleki, Helem and Hem, and went down into the land of Nephi. Outside the city walls, they approached the king of the people in the land of Nephi and the city of Shilom.

The king's guard quickly surrounded and captured them, and they were thrown into prison. After spending two days in prison, they were brought before the king and untied. They stood before him and were commanded to answer his questions.

The king said, "I am Limhi, son of Noah. My grandfather, Zeniff, led people up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land, which was once the land of our forefathers. After arriving here, the people he had led voted him king.

Now why were you bold enough to come near the city walls when I was outside the gate with my guards? I could have had my guards kill you, but I wanted to ask why you were so bold. You are permitted to speak."

Ammon bowed himself before the king, and upon rising he said, "Oh king, I am very thankful before God that I am yet alive and am permitted to speak. I will speak with boldness, for I'm sure that if you had known me, you would not have had me bound.

I am Ammon, a descendant of Zarahemla. I have come from the city of Zarahemla to find out what happened to our brethren, whom your grandfather, Zeniff, brought out of our land."

When Limhi heard this he was very happy and said, "Now I know for sure that my brethren in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive! Now I will rejoice, and tomorrow I will cause my people to also rejoice! For we're in bondage to the Lamanites, paying a high tax, a hardship to pay.

And now our fellow Nephites will deliver us from this Lamanite bondage, and we will be their slaves if they wish. For it's better to be slaves to Nephites than pay tribute to the Lamanite king."

After saying this, King Limhi commanded his guards to free Ammon and his brethren, who then went to the hill north of Shilom to bring the rest of their men into the city, to eat, drink and rest from their long, hard journey.

The next day, King Limhi sent a proclamation among all his people, to assemble at the temple to hear him speak.

After they had gathered, Limhi said, "Oh my people, lift up your heads and be comforted, for soon we will no longer be controlled by our enemies, in spite of all our futile resistance. I believe we may yet be effective in our struggle.

Lift up your heads, rejoice, and put your trust in that God who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--the same God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, to walk through the Red Sea on dry ground--He who fed them with manna in the wilderness, and did many more things for them.

Trust that same God who brought our fathers out of Jerusalem, who has kept and preserved His people even until now. We know it's because of our sinfulness that He brought us into bondage.

You're all witnesses today that my grandfather, Zeniff (who was made king over this people), being over-zealous to inherit the land of his forefathers, was deceived by the cunning and craftiness of King Laman. He entered into a treaty with Zeniff, giving him possession of part of the land--the city of Lehi-Nephi, the city of Shilom and surrounding area.

King Laman did this to bring Zeniff and his people into bondage. Even now we must pay a fifty percent annual tribute to King Laman of all our grain, increase of flocks and herds, and of everything we own, or else he will kill us. Isn't this a terrible tax? Isn't our affliction great? What great reason we have to mourn!

Yes, we do have great reason to mourn, for many of our brethren have died in vain, all because of sinfulness. For if this people had not been so sinful, the Lord would not have allowed this great evil to come upon them. But they would not listen to Him. Instead, they fought among themselves and killed one another.

Before that war, they killed Abinadi, a prophet of the Lord. He was a chosen man of God, who told them of their great wickedness. He prophesied of many things, and of the coming of Christ. He told them that Christ was God, the Father of all things, and that He would come down among His people to take upon Himself a body of flesh and blood in the image of man, who was created in God's image.

Because Abinadi said these things, they killed him. They also did many other things to bring God's wrath down upon them. This is why we're sorely afflicted and in bondage. For the Lord has said,

Now this promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and you are stricken and afflicted. But if you will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, trusting and serving Him with all diligence of mind, then He will deliver you out of bondage according to His own will and pleasure."

King Limhi said many other things to his people not written in this book, telling them all of their fellow Nephites living in Zarahemla.

Then Limhi had Ammon tell them everything that had happened in Zarahemla, from the time Zeniff had left until Ammon and his fifteen companions went out to search for them.

Ammon also repeated and explained King Benjamin's last speech to King Limhi's people so they would know and understand Benjamin's prophecies of Christ.

After all this, King Limhi dismissed the multitude and they returned to their homes.

Then Limhi brought a set of plates to Ammon which contained the record of his people from the time his grandfather, Zeniff, left the land of Zarahemla.

When Ammon finished reading this record, Limhi asked him if he could interpret languages. Ammon told him that he could not.

Limhi then explained to Ammon, "Being grieved over the afflictions of my people, I sent out forty-three men into the wilderness to find the land of Zarahemla, to ask their fellow Nephites to deliver us out of bondage. These men became lost in the wilderness for many days.

They never found the land of Zarahemla, and returned home, having traveled through a land of many lakes and rivers. They discovered a land covered with the bones of people and animals, and with the ruins of all types of buildings. The land had once been populated with as many people as the hosts of Israel.

To prove their findings, my men brought back twenty-four plates of pure gold, filled with engravings. They also brought large breastplates in perfect condition, made of brass and copper, and rusty swords with the handles rusted away.

No one in this land is able to interpret the language engraved on the plates. This is why I asked if you could translate. If not, perhaps you know someone who can translate.

I want these records to be translated into our language, for maybe they will tell us about any of the survivors of those who were destroyed, and from where these plates came. Or maybe the plates will tell us about the very people who were destroyed. I am very curious to know how they were destroyed."

Ammon replied, "I know of a man who can translate ancient records by simply looking at them through what are called interpreters. This is a gift from God. No man can look into them unless commanded to, or else he would look for what he should not, and perish. Whoever is commanded to look into them is called a seer, or one who sees.

The man who has this high gift from God is King Mosiah, king of the people of Zarahemla."

Ammon explained, "A seer is both a revelator and a prophet. No man can have a greater gift from God unless he possesses God's power, which no man can. But a man can be given great power from God.

A seer can know the past and the future. Through a seer, all things are revealed, secret things are shown, and hidden things come to light. God has provided this method for a man, through faith, to work mighty miracles and become a great benefit to his fellow beings."

King Limhi was overjoyed at hearing this news. He thanked God by saying, "No doubt a great mystery is contained within these plates. These interpreters must have been prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to all people.

Oh how marvelous are the works of the Lord. How long He suffers with His people. How blind and dense people are in their understanding, for they will not seek to be governed by wisdom. They are like a wild flock running from the shepherd, and once scattered, are chased and eaten by wild animals."

I, Zeniff, was taught both of the Nephite languages (Hebrew for speaking and reformed Egyptian for engraving). I also knew of our forefather, Nephi, and of the land that he and his people had settled.

I was sent out to spy on the Lamanites who had taken over the land of Nephi--to see how our army could destroy them. But when I saw the good things they were doing, I did not want them to die.

I returned to our camp, requesting of our leader to make a treaty with the Lamanites. But our leader, a strict and bloodthirsty man, ordered our men to kill me. I was spared because many disagreed with our leader, and a battle broke out between fellow Nephites.

Father fought against father and brother against brother. Only fifty of us survived the battle, and we returned to Zarahemla to tell the sad tale to the wives and children of those who had been killed.

And yet I, being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, gathered many who also wanted to regain the land of our forefathers.

We started out again on our journey into the wilderness. We suffered with hunger and fatigue because we were slow to remember the Lord our God.

After many days of wandering, we camped in the place where our brethren had killed one another, near the land of Nephi.

Then I went into the city with four of my men. We went to ask the Lamanite king if I might go in with my people and possess the land in peace.

Laman, the king, covenanted with me that I could possess the land of Lehi-Nephi and the land of Shilom. He even commanded his people to leave the land so that my people could take possession of it.

After coming into the land, we began to construct buildings and to repair the city walls of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom.

We farmed the land and raised corn, wheat, barley and other crops. We also planted all types of fruit from seeds, and began to multiply and prosper in the land.

But from the beginning, King Laman was being crafty, planning to bring my people into bondage. This is why he gave us the lands so easily.

Twelve years after our arrival, King Laman started getting restless, seeing how we were growing stronger by the day. He knew that if he didn't take us over soon and bring us into bondage, it would be too late.

The Lamanites were lazy and idolatrous. They wanted to bring us into bondage so they could feast upon our flocks while we did all the work. This is why King Laman stirred up his people to fight with mine, and we began to have wars in the land.

After eighteen years of warring, during the thirteenth year of my reign, in the southern part of Shilom, my people were watering and feeding their flocks and working their lands. All at once a very large Lamanite army attacked them and began to kill them in their fields, taking their flocks and corn.

My people ran from the army. Those who were not overtaken ran to the city of Nephi, calling upon me for protection! I armed them with bows and arrows, swords, scimitars, clubs, slings and with all the weapons we could invent. Then I went out with my people to battle the Lamanites.

We went with the strength of the Lord against them, for we all cried mightily to Him to deliver us from our enemies, remembering how our forefathers had been delivered.

God heard our cries and answered our prayers. We went forth in His might against the Lamanites, and in one day and night we killed 3,043 of them and drove the rest out of our land. I, myself, with my own hands, helped bury them.

And to our great sorrow, 279 of our brethren had been killed (yet an 11 to 1 kill rate).

After this war, we established our kingdom again in peace. I told my people to make every kind of weapon to be used if the Lamanites attacked us again. I set guards around the land to watch for Lamanites and to protect my people and my flocks, and we continued to live in the land of our forefathers for an additional twenty-two years.

Our men continued to farm the land, raising all types of grain and fruit, and our women spun all types of cloth and fine linen. We peacefully prospered in the land during those twenty-two years.

Then King Laman died, and his son began to reign in his stead. He encouraged his people to rebel against my people and to prepare for war.

I had sent my spies around the land of Shemlon to find out what the Lamanites were doing. My spies saw a very large Lamanite army coming into northern Shilom, armed with bows and arrows, swords, scimitars, stones and slings. They had shaved their heads and wore nothing more than a leather loincloth.

Knowing their plans, we hid our women and children in the wilderness. All of our young and old men who were able-bodied were armed and placed in ranks according to their age. Then we fought the Lamanites.

Even I, Zeniff, in my old age (most likely around 75 years old) fought. We went to battle strengthened by the Lord.

The Lamanites were ignorant of the Lord and of His strength. They depended on their own strength, being strong as to the strength of men, and they were wild, ferocious and blood-thirsty

They believed in the false traditions of their forefathers, Laman and Lemuel, who had taught their children that Lehi's sins had caused him and his family to be thrown out of Jerusalem, that they had been treated badly by Nephi in the wilderness and while crossing the ocean.

Laman and Lemuel had also taught their children that they were wronged after arriving in the land of their first inheritance.

The truth was that Nephi was favored by the Lord, who heard and answered his prayers because he had been more faithful in keeping the Lord's commandments. This is also why Nephi had been Laman and Lemuel's leader during their wilderness journey.

Laman and Lemuel had hated Nephi because they had not understood how the Lord deals with His people.

They were angry with Nephi because they hardened their hearts against the Lord while crossing the ocean. They still hated Nephi upon arriving in the promised land, saying he had taken the leadership of the people away from them, and they had planned to kill him.

They hated Nephi because the Lord had told him to take the brass plates and to go into the wilderness. Because he did this, they said Nephi had robbed them.

Laman and Lemuel taught their children this eternal hatred toward Nephi and his followers. They taught their children to murder, rob and plunder the Nephites, and to do everything in their power to destroy them.

This is why King Laman deceived me with his cunning, lying craftiness and fair promises. All he wanted was to bring my people into this land so he could destroy them. And we have suffered for many years in this land.

I, Zeniff, told all these things to my people to motivate them to fight with their might while putting their trust in the Lord.

Then we fought the Lamanites face to face. We drove them out of our land again, killing too many of them to count.

Then we returned to our land, and my people tended their flocks and raised food again.

Since I was growing old, I conferred the kingdom upon one of my sons, Noah. This is all that I will engrave. May the Lord bless my people. Amen.

Zeniff's son Noah is corrupt, Abinadi cries repentance...
(compare Mosiah, chapter 11)

Now I, Mormon, will continue to write about Zeniff's people while referring to the records of King Benjamin and his son Mosiah (chapters 11-22).

King Noah did not follow the ways of his father, Zeniff. Rather than keep God's commandments, Noah followed the desires of his own heart. He had many wives and mistresses. He also allowed his people to commit adultery and other sins that were offensive to the Lord.

He imposed a 20% tax on everything the people owned and acquired. This meant that his people had to give him 20% of all their gold, silver, copper, brass, iron, cattle, sheep and grain.

Noah did this to support himself, his priests, and all their wives and mistresses. He completely changed the way the kingdom was run, replacing all the humble priests his father had consecrated with new, proud ones.

Noah and his priests were supported in their laziness, materialism and immorality by Noah's high taxes, which the people worked hard to pay.

Soon the people had also become materialistic, being deceived by the vain and flattering words of their king and his priests.

King Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings, finely decorated with wood and precious metals. Noah had a spacious palace built with a throne in the middle of it. This palace was lavishly decorated with precious metals and woodwork.

Noah also hired fine craftsman to decorate the inside of the temple with wood, copper and brass. The seats for the high priests, trimmed with pure gold, were placed above the other seats. A pulpit was built for them to lean on and to rest their arms while they spoke vain and lying words to the people.

King Noah had a very high tower built next to the temple, upon which he could overlook all the surrounding lands, including his land of Shilom and the Lamanite land of Shemlon.

With the tax money, Noah ordered many buildings to be built in Shilom and a great tower to be built on a hill north of Shilom. That hill had once been a hiding place for the Nephites' forefathers when fleeing from their lands.

Noah loved his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living with his wives and mistresses. His priests also spent their time with prostitutes.

Noah told his people to plant vineyards and to build wine-presses in order to make lots of wine. He and his people soon became drunkards.

Then small groups of Lamanites began to attack his people, killing them in their fields. King Noah responded by posting guards around the land, but he did not post enough, so the Lamanites killed them and stole the people's flocks.

This is how the Lamanites, in their hatred, began to destroy the Nephites under King Noah's reign.

After these attacks, King Noah sent out his armies, who drove the Lamanites back and then returned, boasting of their victory. They were very proud, boasting in their own strength, saying that fifty of them could fight thousands of Lamanites. They delighted in war because of their wicked king and his priests.

After Abinadi said this to the people, they became angry with him and tried to kill him, but the Lord delivered him out of their hands. When King Noah heard what Abinadi had said, he was very angry and said,

"Who does Abinadi think he is, judging my people? And who is the Lord, saying He will afflict my people? Guards, bring Abinadi to me. He is trying to stir up my people to fight among themselves. For doing this, he will die!"

Because the people had been blinded to the truth, they would not listen to Abinadi. They were determined to find him and see that he was killed, but he was nowhere to be found.

King Noah also hardened his heart against the Lord's word and did not repent of his evil deeds.

This is how Abinadi prophesied against the people, and they became angry with him again. They tied him, carried him to King Noah and said,

"This man has prophesied evil about your people, saying, 'God will destroy all of you'. He has prophesied about you, saying, 'King Noah's life will be as worthless as an old coat that is burned.'

He said your burned body will be like a dry stalk of corn that is trampled by people and animals--that your ashes will be like ripe thistle blossoms blowing in the wind across the land. He pretends the Lord has said these things to him, and that all this will come upon you, oh King, unless you repent.

And now, oh King, what great evil have you done, and what great sins have your people committed to deserve this man's judgment and God's condemnation?

This man has lied about you and has prophesied in vain. We know how strong we are. We will not come into bondage or be captured by our enemies. You have prospered in the land and will continue to prosper. Here is the man. We deliver him into your hands to do whatever you wish with him."

King Noah had Abinadi put into prison and then called his priests together to counsel with him. The priests told King Noah that they wanted to question Abinadi, so the king had him brought before them. The priests began to question Abinadi in order to accuse him of some crime.

But to their astonishment, Abinadi answered their questions boldly and confounded them. Then one of the priests asked,

"How can you call yourselves priests? You pretend to teach this people, and pretend to understand the spirit of prophecy--yet you ask me what that means? If you do understand these things, you certainly do not teach them.

Because of this, you have distorted the Lord's ways and are cursed! In your hearts you have not desired understanding. This is why you are not wise. So, what do you teach this people?"

Abinadi responded, "If you teach the law of Moses, then why don't you keep it? Why do you set your hearts upon riches? Why do you commit adultery with prostitutes, causing this people to also commit sin?

This is why the Lord has sent me to prophesy a great evil against this people. Don't you know that I speak the truth? Yes, you do know, and you should be trembling before God.

Soon you will be stricken for your sinfulness, for you have said that you teach the law of Moses, but you know nothing about it. Does salvation come by the law of Moses? What do you say?"

Then Abinadi said, "I know you will be saved if you keep the commandments that the Lord gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai, saying,

Abinadi then asked, "Have you obeyed these commandments and taught this people to also obey them? No, you have not."

Upon hearing this, Noah said to his priests, "Why do you keep this crazy man around? Take him away and kill him!"

The priests stepped forward to take hold of Abinadi, but he boldly said to them, "Do not touch me! God will strike you if you do, for I have not yet delivered the Lord's message to you nor explained Isaiah's words as you asked me to. Until I do this, God will not allow me to be killed. For I must fulfill the commandments that God has given me.

Noah, because I told you the truth, speaking God's words, you are angry with me and say that I am crazy."

Because the Lord's Spirit was upon Abinadi, no one dared touch him. His face shone very brightly, the way Moses' face shone while he spoke with the Lord on Mt. Sinai.

With God's power and authority, Abinadi continued, "Now that you realize you do not have the power to kill me, I will finish my message.

I know my words cut you to the center of your hearts, for they testify of your sins. My words fill you with wonder, amazement, and anger!

After I deliver my message to you, it will not matter where I go, as long as my soul is saved. But whatever you do with me will be a type and shadow of the future.

Now I will read the rest of God's commandments. I see that they are not written in your hearts because you have studied and taught sin for most of your lives. The Lord said,

After saying this, Abinadi asked Noah's priests, "Have you taught the people to keep these commandments? No, you have not, for if you had, the Lord would not have sent me to prophesy evil about this people.

You have said that salvation comes by the law of Moses. I tell you that it is necessary to keep the law of Moses for now, but in the future it will not be.

Salvation does not come by the law of Moses alone, for if the atonement were not made by God Himself for the sins of His people, they would all die spiritually--even after keeping the law of Moses!

It was necessary for the Lord to give the children of Israel a very strict law because they were stubborn, quick to sin, and slow to remember the Lord their God. If this strict, daily law of performances and ordinances had not been given to them, they would not have remembered God and their duty to Him. All of their performances and ordinances were types of things to come.

But did the children of Israel understand the law? No. Most of them did not understand it because of their pride, which kept them from realizing that they could only be saved through God's redemption. Moses prophesied to them about the coming of the Messiah, and that God would redeem His people.

All of the prophets since the world began have said the same. They have all said that God Himself would come down among His people, take the form of a man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth, and that He would be oppressed and afflicted, and then bring to pass the resurrection of the dead."

I want you to know that God Himself will come down among His people to redeem them.

Because He will have a mortal body, He will be called the Son of God.Because He will do the Father's will in the flesh, He will be called the Father.

And again, because He will be conceived by the power of God, He will be called the Father. And because He will be partly mortal, He will be called the Son.

And this is how the Father and His Son are one God, the very Eternal Father of Heaven and Earth.

As the Son in the flesh submits to the Holy Spirit, His desires become the desires of the Father, and the Savior will not give in to temptation.

He will allow Himself to be mocked, scourged, thrown out and disowned by His people.

After suffering all this, and after working many mighty miracles among His people,

This is how God will break the bands of death and gain victory over it. He will give the Son the power to intercede on our behalf--to plead our cause through His mercy.

The Savior will be able to do this because He will take the sins of all people upon Himself, redeeming them and satisfying the demands of justice. He will break the bands of death and go into heaven with mercy and compassion toward all people, standing between them and justice.

And who will be called His children? After offering His body and spirit for sin, He will see His children, whom He has spiritually borne. And who do you think His children will be?

They will be those who believe the holy prophets, who prophesy that the Lord will come to redeem His people. They will be those who look forward to Him for a remission of their sins, patiently waiting to inherit God's kingdom.

For Christ will bear the sins of His people and die for them to redeem them from their transgressions. These people are called The Children of Christ.

All the holy prophets who have spoken of Christ since the world began are also His children, for they have published peace, bringing good news of salvation to Zion, saying, 'Your God reigns!'

The sight of them will be beautiful among the nations. Those who continue to publish peace will also be beautiful to see among the nations!

And again, those who publish peace from now until all eternity will be beautiful among the nations! But this is not all. For how beautiful it will be to see the Lord among the nations, who will redeem His people, granting them salvation, and bringing good news as the founder of their peace.

Without the redemption of Christ, which was planned from the beginning of the world, everyone would die and never rise again. But the bands of death will be broken, and the Son will reign with power over the dead, bringing to pass their resurrection!

The first to be resurrected will be the righteous who lived before Christ. The first resurrection will also include the prophets and all who have believed and kept God's commandments. They will be raised to live with their Redeemer and have eternal life through Christ's redemption.

Those who die in ignorance of Christ, who have not had salvation preached to them, will also be redeemed by the Lord and be a part of the first resurrection--have eternal life. And little children who die also have eternal life.

But you priests should be trembling before God, for since the world began the Lord has never redeemed those who have willfully rebelled against Him and died in their sins--those who knew His commandments but would not keep them.

Such people will have no part in the first resurrection. This is why you should tremble. For salvation cannot come to you in your condition. The Lord cannot deny Himself by redeeming men such as you when justice has its rightful claim.

In the last days, the Lord's salvation will be declared to every nation, tribe and people, in all languages. The Lord's watchmen--His righteous servants--will sing aloud together, for they will be one when the Lord again brings Zion.

"The time will come when all the people of the earth, in every nation, tribe, and of every language, will witness the Lord's salvation. They will understand the truth together, and confess before God that His judgments are just.

After this, the wicked will be cast out to their own place. They will have good reason to moan, cry, wail and clench their teeth, for they will not be redeemed, having ignored the Lord's voice.

After they die, the wicked will still be carnal and devilish, and the devil will still have power over them.

After the devil decieved Adam and Eve, they fell into this lower world. This is why their descendants are carnal, sensual and devilish when without God's Spirit. And in this fallen state, we would all be lost forever if God did not redeem us.

But all those who choose to remain in their fallen state, to be controlled by their own carnal nature, going the way of sin and rebellion against God, will remain in the devil's power. For them it will be as if no redemption had ever been made, for like the devil, they will be God's enemies.

If Christ does not come to earth, there will not be any redemption from sin. If Christ does not rise from the dead, breaking the bands of death and gaining a victory over the grave, there will not be a resurrection.

But there will be a redemption and a resurrection! The grave will not have the final victory because Christ will come. He is the light and life of the world, putting an end to darkness and death forever.

Because of Christ, all mortals will be resurrected and then brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged by Him according to their good or evil works. If their works were good, they will be resurrected to endless life and happiness. If their works were evil, they will be resurrected to endless damnation, which is to become one of the devil's subjects.