The Book of Mormon Part 97
Helaman 5:29 29 And it came to pa.s.s that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.
Helaman 5:30 30 And it came to pa.s.s when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul--
Helaman 5:31 31 And notwithstanding the mildness of the voice, behold the earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison trembled again, as if it were about to tumble to the earth; and behold the cloud of darkness, which had overshadowed them, did not disperse--
Helaman 5:32 32 And behold the voice came again, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and seek no more to destroy my servants. And it came to pa.s.s that the earth shook again, and the walls trembled.
Helaman 5:33 33 And also again the third time the voice came, and did speak unto them marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man; and the walls did tremble again, and the earth shook as if it were about to divide asunder.
Helaman 5:34 34 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lamanites could not flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them; yea, and also they were immovable because of the fear which did come upon them.
Helaman 5:35 35 Now there was one among them who was a Nephite by birth, who had once belonged to the church of G.o.d but had dissented from them.
Helaman 5:36 36 And it came to pa.s.s that he turned him about, and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels. And he beheld that they did lift their eyes to heaven; and they were in the att.i.tude as if talking or lifting their voices to some being whom they beheld.
Helaman 5:37 37 And it came to pa.s.s that this man did cry unto the mult.i.tude, that they might turn and look. And behold, there was power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi.
Helaman 5:38 38 And they said unto the man: Behold, what do all these things mean, and who is it with whom these men do converse?
Helaman 5:39 39 Now the man's name was Aminadab. And Aminadab said unto them: They do converse with the angels of G.o.d.
Helaman 5:40 40 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?
Helaman 5:41 41 And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.
Helaman 5:42 42 And it came to pa.s.s that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.
Helaman 5:43 43 And it came to pa.s.s that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.
Helaman 5:44 44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
Helaman 5:45 45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of G.o.d did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.
Helaman 5:46 46 And it came to pa.s.s that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:
Helaman 5:47 47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.
Helaman 5:48 48 And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.
Helaman 5:49 49 And there were about three hundred souls who saw and heard these things; and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt.
Helaman 5:50 50 And it came to pa.s.s that they did go forth, and did minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received.
Helaman 5:51 51 And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers.
Helaman 5:52 52 And it came to pa.s.s that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession.
Helaman 6 Chapter 6
Helaman 6:1 1 And it came to pa.s.s that when the sixty and second year of the reign of the judges had ended, all these things had happened and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith.
Helaman 6:2 2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of G.o.d and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.
Helaman 6:3 3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of G.o.d, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.
Helaman 6:4 4 And it came to pa.s.s that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance.
Helaman 6:5 5 Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of G.o.d and the Lamb.
Helaman 6:6 6 And it came to pa.s.s that many of the Lamanites did go into the land northward; and also Nephi and Lehi went into the land northward, to preach unto the people. And thus ended the sixty and third year.
Helaman 6:7 7 And behold, there was peace in all the land, insomuch that the Nephites did go into whatsoever part of the land they would, whether among the Nephites or the Lamanites.
Helaman 6:8 8 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lamanites did also go whithersoever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or among the Nephites; and thus they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire.
Helaman 6:9 9 And it came to pa.s.s that they became exceedingly rich, both the Lamanites and the Nephites; and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of precious metals, both in the land south and in the land north.
Helaman 6:10 10 Now the land south was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south.
Helaman 6:11 11 And behold, there was all manner of gold in both these lands, and of silver, and of precious ore of every kind; and there were also curious workmen, who did work all kinds of ore and did refine it; and thus they did become rich.
Helaman 6:12 12 They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south. And they did multiply and wax exceedingly strong in the land. And they did raise many flocks and herds, yea, many fatlings.
Helaman 6:13 13 Behold their women did toil and spin, and did make all manner of cloth, of fine-twined linen and cloth of every kind, to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did pa.s.s away in peace.
Helaman 6:14 14 And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have great joy and peace, yea, much preaching and many prophecies concerning that which was to come. And thus pa.s.sed away the sixty and fifth year.
Helaman 6:15 15 And it came to pa.s.s that in the sixty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, behold, Cezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat. And it came to pa.s.s that in the same year, that his son, who had been appointed by the people in his stead, was also murdered. And thus ended the sixty and sixth year.
Helaman 6:16 16 And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh year the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again.
Helaman 6:17 17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain.
Helaman 6:18 18 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishk.u.men and Gadianton. And now it had come to pa.s.s that there were many, even among the Nephites, of Gadianton's band. But behold, they were more numerous among the more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gadianton's robbers and murderers.
Helaman 6:19 19 And it was they who did murder the chief judge Cezoram, and his son, while in the judgment-seat; and behold, they were not found.
Helaman 6:20 20 And now it came to pa.s.s that when the Lamanites found that there were robbers among them they were exceedingly sorrowful; and they did use every means in their power to destroy them off the face of the earth.
Helaman 6:21 21 But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circ.u.mstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.
Helaman 6:22 22 And it came to pa.s.s that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant.
Helaman 6:23 23 And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit wh.o.r.edoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their G.o.d.
Helaman 6:24 24 And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness, which had been given by Gadianton and Kishk.u.men.
Helaman 6:25 25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.