THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF JESUS TO THE NEPHITES.
Copy of painting by Wm. T. Armitage in the Logan Temple.

By ELDER GEORGE REYNOLDS.

Author of “The Myth of the Manuscript Found;” “Are we of Israel?”
Treatise on “The Book of Abraham;” “Dictionary of the Book
of Mormon;” “Concordance of the Book of Mormon.”

“Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall
look down from heaven.”—Psalm, LXXXV, 11.

FOURTH EDITION.

PRESS OF
HILLISON & ETTEN CO.
CHICAGO

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1888, by
GEORGE REYNOLDS
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

THE Book of Mormon is the record of God’s dealings with
the peoples of ancient America, from the age of the building
of the Tower of Babel to four hundred and twenty-one
years after the birth of Christ. It is the stick of Ephraim,
spoken of by Ezekiel: the Bible of the western continent. Not
that it supersedes the Bible or in any way interferes with it,
any more than the history of Peru interferes with or supersedes
the history of Greece; but, on the other hand, in many
places it confirms Bible history, demonstrates Bible truths, sustains
Bible doctrines, and fulfills Bible prophecy.

For many years we have taken great pleasure in perusing
its sacred pages and studying its truths. The more we
read it the more we found it contained. Like other inspired
records, every time it was opened we discovered new and
oft-times unexpected testimonies of its divinity. From reading
it we turned to writing of it; and much that this volume
contains has been penned at various intervals, from the days
we were in prison for conscience sake, where portions were
written, to the present. And now we present it to the reader
with the feeling that the work is but commenced; that what
remains unsaid is probably as important as what is given, but
with the hope that what we have done will not prove ineffectual
in spreading the truth, in increasing knowledge concerning
God’s dealings with mankind, and aiding in the development
of the purposes of Jehovah. If this be accomplished
we shall feel that great has been our reward.

This volume presents one unique feature, in that it is the
first attempt made to illustrate the Book of Mormon; and we
have pleasure in realizing that the leading illustrations are the
[Pg iv]
work of home artists. To break fresh ground in such a direction
is no light undertaking; the difficulties are numerous,
none more so than the absence of information in the Book
of Mormon of the dress and artificial surroundings of the
peoples whose history it recounts. Each artist has given his
own ideas of the scenes depicted, and as so much is left to the
imagination, some readers will doubtless praise where others
will blame; and the same effort will be the subject of the most
conflicting criticism.

Not the least interesting feature of the book will, we believe,
be found in the reproductions of portions of certain
ancient Aztec historical charts. These have been the subjects
of controversy for centuries past; many efforts have
been made at their translation; but all such attempts have
been ineffectual, and in many cases ludicrous. It required the
publication of the Book of Mormon to turn on them the light
of divine truth, when their intent at once became apparent.
Others, we trust, in time will be discovered which will be
added testimonies to its genuineness and divine authenticity,
as well as to the sacred mission of the instrument in God’s
hands in bringing it forth—the youthful Prophet, Joseph
Smith.

Geo. Reynolds

December, 1888.

[Pg v]

[Pg xiv]

[Pg 15]

THE

Story of the Book of Mormon.

AMERICA THE FIRST INHABITED OF ALL LANDS—ITS ANCIENT
PEOPLES—THE GARDEN OF EDEN—THE ANTEDILUVIANS—THE
JAREDITES—THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES.

THE story that we are about to relate is a true one. It is
the history of the races who lived on this broad land of
ours long, long ago. From it we shall learn many lessons of
God’s great love for man. We shall also learn how oft his
love has been spurned, how apt his favored children have been
to walk in ways of sin, and how prone to disobey his holy
law. It is a story full of light and shade, one which it will be
well for all of us to take to heart, for by so doing our faith in
God will increase, and we shall be prompted to strive the more
earnestly to avoid the evils that others, by their misdeeds,
have brought upon themselves and their posterity.

America, the land we love, is, in our Heavenly Father’s
eyes, choice above all other lands as the home of those of
his sons and daughters, whom he has placed upon this earth.
For all God’s creatures are not here. He has made many
worlds and filled them with his children. How many we
know not; they are countless to us. The stars, that shine in
myriads in the heavens, are nearly all suns like the one that
gives us light: the remaining few are worlds like unto this on
which we dwell; and ours is one of the very smallest of them
all. To the works of God there is no beginning, neither is
there any end.

[Pg 16]

God made America the richest of all lands. He filled its
depths with precious minerals; he caused the most lovely
trees, and herbs, and flowers to grow upon its surface. In all
things he made it most desirable as a home for man. And
here he planted the Garden of Eden, and placed our first
parents, Adam and Eve, therein. From that garden they
were afterwards driven forth when they failed to keep God’s
law. But they did not leave this continent. Here they still
remained; here their sons and daughters were born, until
many strong peoples had sprung from them. It was in this
land that Cain slew his brother Abel; it was here that Enoch
and his city dwelt, that Noah preached to the ungodly, and
the ark was built. But when the flood was over and the
waters sank, that ark, by the winds and waves, had been
carried far away to a new land, until it rested on the Mountains
of Ararat. Then for a short time America was without
inhabitant.

But not long after the deluge the wicked tried to build a
tower that would reach so high that if ever another flood
came they might escape the rising waters by ascending it.
This is called the Tower of Babel. The Lord was angry
with those who attempted to build this tower, for he had promised
that he would never again destroy the earth with the
waters of a flood. But they did not believe him; and in their
unbelief they went to work to construct it. In his anger he
confounded their language, that they could not understand
each other. Then he scattered them abroad upon the face of
the earth. Some few, better than the others, he brought to
America. Here he made them a great nation; and they
filled the land for many hundreds of years. By and by they
grew exceedingly wicked and gathered together in vast
armies to war one with another. And they fought so terribly
that at last they were all destroyed,—all except one man.
These people were called the Jaredites.

By this we see that this continent was a second time left
[Pg 17]
without inhabitants because of the great wickedness of the
people.

After this the Lord brought another people to fill this
land. They were a branch of the house of Israel, and we
call them the Nephites and Lamanites. They also grew
great, prospered, flourished, and fell. Like the Jaredites, at
the last, they destroyed each other in war, and there were but
few left. But from those few have come the many tribes of
Indians that today are found scattered far and wide over both
North and South America, and also on some of the outlying
islands of the sea.

Thus fell a third race who would not serve God; for he
had decreed that the wicked should not inherit this land. To
one of his ancient servants he declared, “If iniquity shall
abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes; but unto the
righteous it shall be blessed for ever.” (II. Nephi 1:7.)

North America was the first of all lands to be inhabited;
it was here that Adam and Eve dwelt. The Jaredites from
the Tower of Babel also first landed here. But the Nephites
made their earliest settlements on the western shores of the
southern continent, where by degrees they spread north and
south, then east and west, until their cities and villages could
be seen in every part of the land.

[Pg 18]

ANCIENT JERUSALEM—LEHI—HIS VISION—HIS CALL TO
PREACH TO THE JEWS—THEY PERSECUTE HIM—HE IS
COMMANDED OF GOD TO TAKE HIS FAMILY INTO THE WILDERNESS—THEIR
DEPARTURE—THE RETURN OF HIS SONS
TO JERUSALEM TO OBTAIN THE RECORDS—THEY ARE ILL-TREATED
BY LABAN—HIS DEATH—ZORAM ACCOMPANIES
THE BROTHERS INTO THE WILDERNESS.

(I. NEPHI CHAP. 1 TO 4.)

OUR story opens in the royal city of Jerusalem, in the first
year of the reign of King Zedekiah, or exactly six
hundred years before the birth of our Savior. It was then
very grand and very beautiful, the capital of the Kingdom of
Judah, and the chief city of all Israel. In name it was holy,
for the Temple of the Lord was there. Its busy streets were
crowded with a mixed multitude. Priests and Levites, who
officiated in the ordinances of the law of Moses, worshipers
from the other tribes of Jacob, warriors of the armies of
Judah, courtiers and attendants on the king, merchants from
Egypt, from Tyre and Sidon and from many other parts,
artificers in various trades, all these combined to make it
wealthy and renowned, a busy mart of trade, a center of
civilization, and a sacred city.

Holy it should have been, but the glory of the Lord had
departed from his house. Its people had become very wicked.
They were filled with pride and greed; they heeded not the
law of the Lord; their affections were set upon the things of
this world; they served God with their lips only, while their
hearts were far from him. He had sent unto them his
[Pg 19]
prophets, but one after another they had rejected these holy
men; many they had persecuted, and some they had
slain.[1]

In this city, at that time, dwelt a worthy man named
Lehi. He was of the tribe of Manasseh, but had made his
home in Jerusalem all his days, though it was a city of the
Kingdom of Judah. He was a man who had been prospered
of the Lord and had gathered around him considerable wealth.
His wife’s name was Sariah, and they had four sons and some
daughters. The names of the sons, in the order of their
ages, were Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi; the number or
names of the daughters are nowhere given in the sacred
history.

To this good man the word of the Lord came. God
raised him up to be a prophet. He sent him with a message
to the people of Jerusalem. As a servant of the Lord he had
to warn them of many evils that would come upon them if
they did not cease from their wicked ways. But they paid
no heed to his words; they refused to listen to his warning.
Indeed, they became very angry because he told them of their
sins, and before long they sought to kill him.

God gave to Lehi many dreams and visions. One day a
pillar of fire came and rested on a rock before him; and then
he heard and saw many wonderful things. The things which
he had seen and heard so overpowered him that he went
home to his house at Jerusalem, and threw himself on his bed.
Then being overcome by the Holy Spirit he was carried away
in a vision. In that vision he saw God sitting upon his throne,
surrounded by vast hosts of angels who were singing and
praising the Lord. And he saw a holy Being, surrounded by
a glory as bright as the sun at noon day, come down out of
the midst of heaven. It was the Lord Jesus. Our Savior
was followed by twelve others whose brightness exceeded that
[Pg 20]
of the stars. They were Christ’s Apostles. These came down
and went forth on the face of the earth.

And in the vision the Savior came to Lehi and gave him
a book, and bade him read it. In that book was an account
of events that had not yet taken place. It was full of the
woes that should happen to Jerusalem and her people if they
repented not of their sins and follies. It told how that great
city should be taken by her enemies and destroyed; how
numbers of the inhabitants should perish, while many should
be carried captive into Babylon. All of which was fulfilled a
few years later. These things with others were what Lehi
told the Jews; and as they did not believe his words they
became enraged at him and ill treated him. How gracious
was our heavenly Father to show such great things to Lehi,
and to reveal to him so much with regard to the earthly life
of our Lord and Savior, whose coming in the flesh was yet
six hundred years in the future.

Before long the Lord was satisfied with what Lehi had
said and done. He told him, in a dream, that as the Jews
had rejected his message and sought his life, to leave them to
the destruction that would surely come upon them. God then
directed him to leave Jerusalem and take his family and
journey into the wilderness. This Lehi did. He left behind
him his gold and other precious things, and only carried with
him what was needful for the use of his family during their
travels. Like Abraham before him, he went not knowing
whither he was going, but went because God had commanded
him; and, like Abraham, he was led by Divine power to a
blessed land of promise.

When Lehi and his family left Jerusalem they traveled
southward to the borders of the Red Sea. There they pitched
their tents and rested for a season in a valley near a river
which emptied into the sea. In this valley Lehi built an altar,
and upon it he offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and gave thanks
[Pg 21]
unto him for his great goodness in bringing them out of the
doomed chief city of Judah.

It was while Lehi’s little company were camped in this
valley, to which he gave the name of the Valley of Lemuel,
that the dispositions of the four young men began to show
themselves. Laman and Lemuel here commenced to grumble,
to complain and to rebel, while Nephi was obedient in all
things to the word of God and the wishes of his father. He
sought the Holy One in earnest prayer in his own behalf and
in that of his brothers, and the Lord made him many precious
promises, all of which were, in due time, fulfilled.

While encamped in this valley the Lord, in a dream,
commanded Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain
certain plates on which was engraven a record of the Jews.
They also contained a genealogy or list of Lehi’s forefathers.
These plates were kept by a rich man named Laban, who
held them because, like Lehi, he was a descendant of that
Joseph who was sold into Egypt.

When Lehi’s elder sons heard this they murmured.
They did not want to go back to the city. They said it was
a hard thing to do, and they claimed to be afraid of Laban.
But Nephi neither feared nor murmured, for he was a man of
much faith. On this occasion he said to his father, I will go
and do the things which God has commanded, for I know
that the Lord gives no commandment to the children of men,
save he prepares a way that they may do the thing that he
requires of them. When Lehi saw how strong was his son’s
faith he greatly rejoiced, for he perceived that Nephi had been
much blessed of the Lord.

ANCIENT AZTEC CHART SHOWING LEHI’s TRAVELS. NO. 1.

At last all the sons consented to return and get the plates.
They took their tents with them, traveled as they came, and
in a few days reached Jerusalem. When they arrived they
cast lots to decide which of them should first visit Laban.
The lot fell upon Laman. As he had no faith in his mission,
we can readily understand that he failed to get the records.
[Pg 23]
He went to Laban’s house, which was a very fine one, and
talked with him on the matter. But Laban grew angry, would
not let him have the plates, called him a robber, and drove
him out of the house. When Laman returned to his brothers
they were very sad at hearing how violently Laban had acted.
All but Nephi wished to return to their father in the wilderness;
but he would not consent. He had come up to Jerusalem
to do what God had commanded, and he would not return
until he had done it. He said to his brothers, “As the Lord
liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in
the wilderness, until we have accomplished the thing which
the Lord has commanded us.” Brave words from a heart of
faith, and by that faith their purpose was accomplished.

Nephi next proposed that they should go to their father’s
house and collect some of the gold, silver and other precious
things which he had left behind, take them to Laban and offer
them to him in exchange for the records.

They did all this; still Laban would not let them have
the plates. But when he saw how great was the value of the
property which they offered him, he coveted it; for he was
a wicked man, filled with greed and covetousness. So he thrust
the brothers out of his house and kept their property. Not
content with this he sent his servants after them to slay them.
But the servants did not overtake them, for Nephi and his
brothers outran them and hid themselves in a cave in the
wilderness outside of the walls of the city.

Laman and Lemuel were now furious at their lack of
success. In their anger they said many hard things to Sam
and Nephi, and moreover they beat them with a rod. While
thus engaged an angel of the Lord stood before them and
rebuked them for their cruel treatment of their younger
brothers. He further told them to go up to Jerusalem once
again, and Laban should be delivered into their hands.

Even though an angel from heaven had appeared to them,
Laman and Lemuel still murmured and did not want to go
[Pg 24]
back to the house of Laban. But after some persuasion from
Nephi they reluctantly followed him. His faith had made him
their leader, which position he ever afterwards held.

Nephi caused his brethren to hide themselves without the
walls, and then went forward alone, not knowing exactly
where he was going, but suffering himself to be guided by
the Spirit of the Lord. It was now night. When near the
house of Laban he came across a man lying in a drunken
stupor on the ground. It proved to be Laban himself.

The Spirit of the Lord now directed Nephi to slay Laban,
telling him that it was better that one man should die
than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
This the Nephites undoubtedly would have done had they not
had the law of the Lord with them; and this law was engraved
on these plates. As we proceed we shall find that
both the Lamanites and the people of Zarahemla sank in sin
and dwindled in unbelief from this very cause,—they had no
Divine records.

For all that the Spirit thus prompted, still Nephi felt
loath to slay Laban, although he had robbed him and his
brothers of their father’s property and sought to take their
lives. But at last he obeyed the voice of the Spirit, and
drawing Laban’s own sword from its sheath, with it he smote
off this wicked man’s head.

Nephi next removed Laban’s armor from the dead body
and put it on his own person; he also took the sword of
Laban and girded it around his waist. Then he went to the
dead man’s house, and, imitating Laban’s voice, he commanded
the servant who had the keys of the room where the
records were kept to go with him and get them. The servant,
whose name was Zoram, obeyed, and brought forth the
records, for in the darkness, he thought it was his master who
was talking to him.

Nephi, still acting as though he was Laban, had Zoram
go with him to where his brothers were hid. When Laman,
[Pg 25]
Lemuel and Sam saw him coming they became greatly afraid,
for they did not know him, dressed as he was in the armor of
Laban; and he had some little difficulty in making them understand
that he was their brother, and that they had no cause
for fear. But when Zoram discovered that Nephi was not
his master, he also was seized with fear, and would have run
away had not Nephi held him. We may be sure Nephi did
not want Zoram to return to Jerusalem, lest he should gather
a body of men and follow him and his brothers into the wilderness
and slay them. So he spake kind and encouraging
words to Zoram, who soon consented to make a covenant of
friendship with Nephi and go with him to the place where
Lehi had pitched his tents. This covenant Zoram most faithfully
kept.

THE REJOICING OVER THE RECORDS—NEPHI AND HIS BROTHERS
AGAIN RETURN TO JERUSALEM—THEY CONDUCT ISHMAEL
AND HIS FAMILY INTO THE WILDERNESS—LEHI’s DREAM—THE
TREE OF LIFE—THE ROD OF IRON—THE BOTURINI
MANUSCRIPT—NEPHI’s VISION.

(I. NEPHI CHAP. 5 TO 15.)

WHEN Nephi and his companions reached their father’s
tent in the wilderness their parents were exceedingly
glad. Sariah had mourned during their absence because she
fancied her sons would never return alive; and with those
feelings she had upbraided her husband for sending them
away. She charged him with being a visionary man, who was
always giving heed to dreams in which she had little faith.
All this was changed when her boys got back; then she was
willing to acknowledge the inspiration of Heaven in her husband’s
visions.

[Pg 26]

The first thing Lehi did when his sons arrived was to
offer a sacrifice to the Lord, as a token of his gratitude for
their safe return. Next he examined the records, and rejoiced
greatly to find that they contained the five books of
Moses and a history of the Jews to the commencement of the
reign of King Zedekiah. These plates also contained many
of the prophecies of the holy prophets, and a genealogy of
Lehi’s fathers. We may be well assured how grateful Lehi
felt to the Lord for placing these sacred records in his hands,
so that his people could have the Law of the Lord and the
history of their ancestors always in their possession. It is a
great stay and a help to any people, who, like Lehi’s family,
are separated from the rest of mankind and who are building
up a new civilization to possess the annals of their forefathers.
It tends to keep them from sinking into idolatry, and from
corrupting the laws of heaven; it preserves the purity of their
language, and connects them with those from whom they have
sprung.

But the four young men had to return once again to
Jerusalem. God intended to make of Lehi’s posterity a great
nation. This could scarcely be done unless his sons married.
But they had no young maidens with them in the wilderness
who would do for wives. So the Lord told Lehi to send his
sons to a man named Ishmael, of the tribe of Ephraim, who
dwelt in Jerusalem, and desire him and his family to join them
on their journey. The reason why God sent them to Ishmael
was that he was a good man and had a number of daughters.
When Lehi’s sons delivered their message the Lord softened
Ishmael’s heart and he consented to go with them; and soon
he and his family were on the way to the valley by the Red
Sea where Lehi was encamped.

As they journeyed, however, they had the usual trouble.
Laman and Lemuel had another rebellious fit. They induced
some of the family of Ishmael to join them, and for a time
there was great division in the little company. Nephi, inspired
[Pg 27]
with the Spirit of the Lord, rebuked them for their
folly. This so angered them that they bound him with cords,
intending in their cruelty to leave him to perish in the wilderness,
or to be devoured by wild beasts. But Nephi prayed in
great faith to the Lord to give him strength to burst the bands
which held him. The Lord answered his prayer and the cords
were loosened from his hands and feet. Being now free he
again reproved his brethren, which renewed their anger.
Once more they sought to take his life, but Ishmael’s wife
and one of her sons and a daughter so earnestly plead for him
that the hearts of the rebels were softened and they ceased
their efforts to slay him. By and by, when their anger had
cooled down, they felt very sorry for their great wickedness
in trying to kill their brother. Then they humbled themselves
before him and sought his forgiveness, which he, in the goodness
of his heart, at once most gladly granted.

When the company reached the tents of Lehi, after the
usual custom they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to the
Lord.

While Lehi dwelt in the Valley of Lemuel he had another
remarkable dream. It was like unto this: He dreamed that a
man stood before him and bade him follow him. This Lehi
did. They traveled for many hours through a dark and
dreary waste. When they had thus journeyed for so long a
time Lehi began to pray to the Lord to have mercy on him.
After he had prayed he beheld a large and spacious field. In
it grew a tree whose fruit was very desirable to make one
happy. Lehi partook of this fruit. He found it whiter and
sweeter than any fruit he had ever before seen or tasted.
When he had eaten his heart was filled with great joy, and
he was very anxious that his family should partake of it also.
So he looked around in the hope of seeing some of them,
and in doing so his eyes fell upon a river. Its waters were
filthy, and it ran along near the tree upon which the sweet
fruit grew. Not far off was the fountain from whence the
[Pg 28]
river sprang; and near by he saw his wife Sariah, and his
sons, Sam and Nephi. They stood there hesitating, as if they
knew not where to go. Lehi there-upon beckoned, and called
them to come to him and taste of the fruit. Then they all
three came and partook of it.

Lehi now felt desirous that his two elder sons, Laman
and Lemuel, should also partake; but when he called them,
they would not come.

Lehi also saw a rod of iron. It extended along the bank
of the river and led to the tree by which he stood. And there
was a straight and narrow path which ran along by the rod of
iron to the tree. This path led into a broad field, so spacious
that it might have been a world. He likewise saw vast
numbers of people, many of whom were pressing forward to
get to the path which led to the tree. Then it seemed that as
soon as these people began to walk in the path there arose a
great mist of darkness, that many missed their way, wandered
off, and were lost. Others, by taking hold of the rod of iron,
and clinging thereto, kept in the narrow path, reached the
tree and partook of its precious fruit.

Some of those who tasted the fruit appeared to soon
grow ashamed; and Lehi, casting his eyes across the river,
beheld on the other side a very large and fine building, which
stood as if it were in the air high above the earth.

This building was filled with men and women of all ages,
whose style of dress was very rich and grand. These people
were mocking and ridiculing those who ate of the fruit of the
tree. Because of this taunting and derision some felt
ashamed, and they fell away into forbidden paths and were
lost. Lehi also saw other multitudes groping their way towards
the spacious building; and some were drowned in the
fountain of filthy water, and others were lost to sight wandering
in strange roads.

The interpretation of Lehi’s dream is this: The tree
which bore the precious fruit, of which Lehi, Sariah, Sam
[Pg 29]
and Nephi ate, was the tree of life. The rod of iron which
led thereunto represented the word of God, and whoso will
hearken unto the word of God, and will cleave unto it, will
never perish, but partake of the fruit of the tree of life. The
river of filthy water showed the awful gulf which separates
the wicked from the tree of life and from the saints of God.
The vast and costly building represented the wicked world,
with those who belong thereto.

Lehi further saw that Laman and Lemuel ate not of the
fruit of the tree, and it gave him much sorrow.

We present a copy of a portion of an ancient Aztec map
or chart. The original map is about twenty feet in length, it
was found in Mexico more than a hundred years ago by an
Italian gentleman named Boturini.
[2] On a previous page we
have inserted a copy of the first part of this map or panorama,
which seems to show the departure of Lehi from Jerusalem,
his crossing some waters, his journey in the desert, and
the names of his family. In the second part we consider is
yet more clearly shown Lehi’s dream. We can plainly see the
tree of life, with its twelve branches, with Lehi near by, the
rod of iron that led thereto, Sariah, Sam and Nephi partaking
of the fruit; while Laman and Lemuel are not touching it.
Then the journey is continued, and we see them all weeping
over one man. This we think represents the death of Ishmael,
[Pg 31]
of which we shall speak hereafter. Above again appear
the names of the family.
[3]

ANCIENT AZTEC CHART, SHOWING LEHI’S TRAVELS. NO. 2.

Nephi was very desirous to have the same dreams as his
father; and he prayed earnestly to the Lord that this favor
might be granted him. God answered his prayers, and
showed him many of the greatest events that would take
place in the future history of the world. For while Nephi
was pondering these things in his heart he was caught away
in the Spirit of the Lord, into an exceedingly high mountain,
[Pg 33]
on which he had never before set his foot. There the Spirit,
which was in the form of a man, showed him the things which
he desired. After the Spirit left him he was shown Jerusalem
and other cities, especially Nazareth, and therein a virgin
exceedingly white and fair. While gazing upon this scene, he
beheld the heavens open, and an angel came down and stood
before him, who explained to him the various scenes that were
brought before his vision.

VISION OF NEPHI.

The virgin that Nephi saw was named Mary; she was
the mother of Jesus. Next the angel showed him the virgin
with the babe in her arms. The angel also showed him the
Savior; how he should be baptized of John in the Jordan;
how he went forth among the people preaching the gospel
and doing marvelous works, and how that he was taken and
crucified, and thus died for the sins of the world. Nephi
further saw how the world fought against the disciples of
Christ, and how, in the end, all those who contended against
heaven and against God’s servants were destroyed.

Furthermore he was shown the land of America filled
with a numerous people, who were the seed of his father.
He also saw the terrible earthquakes and devastating storms
that took place on this land at the time of the crucifixion of
the Redeemer.

He saw the Savior visit this land, and how he chose
twelve disciples and here established his holy church. He
saw the reign of profound peace that continued for three generations,
and also the time of awful wickedness that followed
this blessed era. And there were shown to him the final
wars in which the Nephite nation was destroyed.

Nor was this all. Like a vast panorama, the kingdoms
and nations of the Gentiles were presented to his view. He
saw a man inspired by the Spirit of God cross the great
waters which separated the Gentiles from the land on which
the remnants of his father’s seed dwelt, and that this man was
followed by numerous hosts of others who came out from the
[Pg 34]
nations and occupied the land. He saw the remnants of the
seed of his father, the Indians, abused, robbed and massacred
by the Gentiles. Then the war of the revolution was shown
to him, the triumph of the colonies, and the growth of the
people of this land in power, riches and pride.

And again he saw the rise of a great and abominable
church which exercised power and dominion over many peoples.
It was the great apostate Christian Church which held
sway after the true gospel ceased to exist on the earth by
reason of the wickedness of mankind. Nephi also saw the
coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the establishment of the
great Latter-day work, the preaching of the gospel to Gentile
and Jew, and the final triumph of God’s cause. Indeed he
saw to the end of the world and thereafter; but much that he
had revealed to him he was told not to write, as the Apostle
John would have the same things shown to him in a later day,
and John would be instructed of the Lord to write the things
which he heard and saw.

[Pg 35]

MARRIAGES IN THE COMPANY—THE LIAHONA—THE JOURNEY
CONTINUED—NEPHI BREAKS HIS BOW—DEATH OF ISHMAEL—THEY
REACH THE OCEAN—NEPHI BUILDS A SHIP—THEY
CROSS THE GREAT WATERS AND REACH THE
PROMISED LAND.

(I. NEPHI CHAP. 16 TO 18.)

WHILE the two families dwelt in the Valley of Lemuel
they had a number of marriages. Zoram, Laban’s
servant, married Ishmael’s eldest daughter, and each of Lehi’s
four sons married one of her sisters. We are not told whether
Lehi’s daughters were married at this time or not.

Soon after these marriages the voice of the Lord spake
unto Lehi by night and commanded him that on the morrow
he should resume his journey. When Lehi arose the next
morning and went to the door of his tent he saw a strange
object lying on the ground before him. It was a brass ball
of very fine workmanship. Within this ball were two spindles
or needles, one of which pointed the way that the little company
should travel in the wilderness.

God had prepared this strange instrument or guide for
them. In the days of Moses, when he led the children of
Israel out of Egypt, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by
night moved in front of them. This the Hebrews followed.
But to Lehi he gave this Liahona, or compass, as the ball
was called; and it pointed the way they should travel. It had
one strange peculiarity, which was that it worked according
to their faith and diligence. When they kept God’s law it
showed them much more clearly the way they should go than
when they were careless or rebellious.

ANCIENT AZTEC CHART, SHOWING LEHI’S TRAVELS. NO. 3.

ANCIENT AZTEC CHART, SHOWING LEHI’S TRAVELS. NO. 4.

[Pg 38]

Some people have confused this ball, because it is called
a compass, with the mariner’s compass, that sailors use at sea
to direct the course of their ships. But there is a great
difference between the two. The Liahona pointed the way
that Lehi’s company should travel, while the needle in the
mariner’s compass points to the north. The one showed the
way Lehi should go, the other informs the traveler which
way he is going. The one was specially prepared by the
Lord for Lehi and his companions, and was used through
faith only; the other can be used by all men, whether believers
in the true God, pagans or infidels. At times, also,
writing would miraculously appear on the Liahona, giving
directions or reproving for sin, as the company most needed.

According to the command of the Lord the company
gathered their provisions, their tents, their seeds and other
things and again started on their long and oft-times wearisome
journey. They traveled a little east of south, and after four
days again rested at a place to which they gave the name of
Shazer. Here they hunted and killed game for food. When
they had obtained enough for present use they again started,
traveling in very much the same direction, and keeping near
the eastern shore of the Red Sea.

About this time a slight accident occurred which gave
cause for much trouble and discontent. It would appear that
Nephi was the chief hunter of the company. Going out one
day to slay beasts for food he broke his bow, which was made
of very fine steel. This made his brothers very angry, for
they obtained no food, as their bows had lost their springs.
Hungry, angry and dejected, they returned to their tents.
They were very much fatigued, and, like most men when
hungry and tired, they were in bad humor. Even Lehi so
far forgot himself, at this time, that he also murmured against
the Lord. But Nephi, in this trying hour, retained his trust
in God. He did not murmur nor complain, but, after having
reasoned with the rest of the family, he went to work, and
[Pg 39]
out of suitable wood he made a bow, and out of a straight
stick he cut an arrow. When he had done this he went to
his father, who had now humbled himself before the Lord
and sought forgiveness, and asked him where he should go
to obtain food.

Then the voice of the Lord came to Lehi and he was
truly chastened because of his murmuring. The voice said,
Look upon the ball. When he looked he was seized with
fear because of the things which were written thereon, and
the rest of the family also feared and trembled exceedingly
when they read the writing.

The writing on the ball also directed Nephi to go to the
top of a certain high mountain, and there slay game for food.
This he did, and brought it with joy to the tents of his people.

We think it probable that the design near the top of the
accompanying Aztec map is intended to represent this incident;
as the bird has evidently been shot by an arrow from
the hunter’s bow. The lower portion seems to show some of
the many attempts made by Nephi’s brethren to slay him,
when they bound him to trees in the wilderness and otherwise
abused him. Picture four is evidently a record of the months
or years occupied in the journey.

The journey was thus continued for a long time. The
company would travel for a few days, then rest and hunt, then
again take up the line of march as the compass directed. It
generally guided them through the most fertile portions of the
desert. Their journeys appear to have been frequently disturbed
by the bad conduct of Laman and Lemuel and of
those who would heed them. Before long, Ishmael, who was
an aged man, died, at a place which they named Nahom.
This was a cause of great grief to his children, and a
fresh excuse for Laman and his following to murmur. They
complained that they had been led into that strange land to
die of want and fatigue, and desired to go back to Jerusalem.
So hard hearted had Laman by this time become that, with
[Pg 40]
others, he formed a plot to murder his own father and his
brother Nephi. But the voice of the Lord came to them,
chastened them severely for their sins, and reproved them with
such power that their hearts were softened and they repented.
After this the Lord again blessed them.

From this time the compass changed the course of their
travel and they journeyed almost directly eastward. This
must have taken them across the peninsula of Arabia to its
eastern coast.

It took them eight years to make the journey, during
which time a number of children were born, including two
sons to Lehi’s wife. These he called Jacob and Joseph. As
they went the Lord strengthened them, that they endured
their privations and labors without fatigue. He would not
permit them to make much fire to prepare their food, but rendered
it sweet to them without cooking.

They had great joy when they came to the sea. They
gave to it the name of Irreantum, which word means many
waters. The land on the coast they called Bountiful, because
of its much fruit and wild honey. While they rested on the
sea shore the Lord gave Nephi a new command. It was that
he should build a ship to carry the company across the ocean.
As we may suppose, Nephi’s brothers made all kinds of fun
of him when they found he was about to try to build a ship.
But this did not affect him. He knew that God never told a
man to do a thing that he did not give him power to do. It
was so in this case. The Lord revealed to Nephi all that was
necessary, and the building of the ship began.

At first Nephi’s brothers would not help him in the least.
They treated him as the people did Noah when he was building
the ark. They called him a fool, and mocked him, and
then threatened to throw him into the sea. But the power of
God was so strong upon Nephi that had his brothers attempted
to carry out their threat they would have withered
before him like a dried reed. As it was, when he stretched
[Pg 41]
forth his hand towards them they felt a shock, which made
their whole frames quiver. This convinced them that God
was with their brother, for no man could have such power
unless God was with him. After this they went to work and
helped Nephi build the ship; and a good ship it was, the
Lord having directed the way in which it should be fashioned.

When the vessel was finished the Lord told Lehi and his
people to go on board. They took with them fruit, meat,
honey, and other food in abundance, with many other things
needful for their comfort; also seeds to plant in the soil of the
promised land. Then they all embarked—men, women and
children—beginning at the eldest, down to the least. A
favorable wind sprang up and they were swiftly carried towards
the promised land. First they crossed the Indian
Ocean, then the South Pacific Ocean, and after many days
reached the west coast of South America. They landed at a
point near where the city of Valparaiso, in Chili, now stands.

But we must not forget to tell you that on the voyage
they had another of those ever-recurring outbreaks. Laman,
some of the sons of Ishmael and others, at one time, grew
very merry. By and by they became boisterous and rude.
They danced and sang and talked improperly. Nephi reproved
them. This opened the old sore. They said they
would not have him for their ruler, but would do as they
pleased. Then they seized and bound him, hands and feet,
so tightly that he suffered a great deal. The result was that
the Lord was angry and the compass ceased to work. A
heavy storm arose, a head wind drove them back upon the
waters, the waves threatened to engulf them, and they were
all in danger of being drowned. For three days the rebels
continued stubborn in their anger; during that time they would
not loose Nephi, and every one who plead for him or spoke
in his favor was threatened with like tortures. At last, however,
the danger grew so threatening that they released him;
[Pg 42]
but his legs and arms had swollen so greatly by reason of
the way in which he had been tied that he could scarcely use
them. Notwithstanding his great weakness and suffering, as
soon as he was loosed he took the compass, and in his hands
it began to work. Then the wind fell, the storm ceased, and
there came a great calm. And Nephi took charge of the ship
and guided it without further trouble, to the promised land.
[4]

Ancient Hieroglyphic Chart.

[Pg 44]

THE PROMISED LAND—CHILI—ITS NATURAL PRODUCTIONS—THE
DEATH OF LEHI—HIS BLESSING ON HIS POSTERITY—PROPHECIES
OF HIS ANCESTOR JOSEPH.

(I. NEPHI CHAP. 18 TO II. NEPHI CHAP. 4.)

WHEN the little colony, which numbered, we imagine,
from sixty to eighty souls, landed on the promised land
they pitched their tents and soon after began to till the ground.
From their sowing they reaped abundant crops. They explored
the wilderness around them, and found beasts of the
forest of many kinds; also the ox, the horse, the goat and the
wild goat. In the rocks they discovered ores of gold, silver
and copper. Of the gold ore Nephi was commanded of the
Lord to make plates on which to keep the records of his
people.

The description given by Nephi of the region where the
colony landed exactly corresponds with what we know of the
country now called Chili; and it was on its coast, the Prophet
Joseph Smith informs us, that the Nephites landed, and there
they established their first homes. Chili is favored with one
of the finest and healthiest climates in the world. The soil is
exceedingly fertile, and the productions of both hemispheres
seem to thrive equally well there. The most delicious fruit
grows in abundance—the apple, peach, grape, strawberry,
etc. Its forests are magnificent, and furnish many kinds of
beautiful wood. The grass, in its rich meadow pastures, is
often so tall and luxuriant as to hide the cattle grazing
amongst it. Chili also possesses valuable mines, especially of
gold, silver, copper and coal.

THE FIRST SACRIFICE ON THE PROMISED LAND.

The people of Lehi were so few in number that they
were a quiet and solemn race, with few amusements, but with
[Pg 46]
an oppressing sense of the vastness of the land which they
occupied, and of their own insignificance. Nor was there
entire peace amongst them, for Laman and Lemuel, with
others, were still fractious and turbulent.

In course of time Lehi felt that his earthly life was near
its close, for he was aged and in failing health. So he called
to him his sons and daughters and the other members of his
colony, and blessed them in the same manner as his forefather
Jacob blessed his family before he died. Lehi also prophesied
many things that should happen to his posterity after him, for
he was possessed of much of the Spirit of the Lord. After he
had done this he died and was buried.

Lehi appears to have taken great pleasure in the knowledge
that he was a descendant of that Joseph who was sold
by his brethren, and afterwards carried into Egypt. In the
blessing that he pronounced upon his own son Joseph, Lehi
quotes largely from the prophecies of the former Joseph;
prophecies which are nowhere given us, except in the Book
of Mormon. From them we learn that this mighty son of
Jacob was greatly favored of the Lord in having revealed
to him much that related to the future of his father’s house,
especially to his own posterity. He saw the days of Moses and
the work that that prophet performed; he saw Lehi’s day and
his work, and, more interesting to us than all, he saw the
establishment of the kingdom of God in our day. He was told
that the prophet whom the Lord would raise up to be the
leader of God’s people in the latter days would be of his seed,
and the name of this prophet, and that of his father also,
would be the same as his—that is, it would be Joseph. Many
other events of great moment that are even now taking place,
were also made manifest to him by the Lord.

[Pg 47]

THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES SEPARATE—THE NEPHITES
SEEK A NEW HOME—NEPHI CHOSEN KING—HE BUILDS
A TEMPLE—INSTRUCTS HIS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS OF
PEACE—WAR WITH THE LAMANITES—THE SWORD OF LABAN—NEPHI’S
DEATH—JACOB, HIS BROTHER, BECOMES
THE CHIEF PRIEST—JACOB’S TEACHINGS ON MARRIAGE.

(II. NEPHI CHAP. 5 TO JACOB, CHAP. 4.)

SCARCELY was Lehi buried than fresh trouble arose.
Laman and Lemuel, with their friends, would not be led
by Nephi. They asserted that they were the elder brothers
and theirs was the right to rule. They would not recognize
Nephi’s authority, though they knew that God had appointed
him to be their leader. So, by the command of Heaven, the
two parties separated. Nephi, and those who would listen to
him, moved away, and left those who clung to Laman in possession
of their first home.

Those who went with Nephi were his own family, Zoram,
Sam, Jacob and Joseph, and their families, and some others
whose names the Book of Mormon does not give. Henceforth
those who belonged to this branch of Lehi’s house were
known as Nephites, after Nephi, their leader; while those who
remained with Laman were called Lamanites.

The condition of the Lamanites was now pitiable; they
had cut themselves off from the presence of the Lord, the
Priesthood was withdrawn from them, the records and scriptures
were beyond their grasp. Hatred and malice reigned
supreme in their souls; they had no inclination for the arts of
peace; they were restless, cunning and idle, whilst they sought
in the wilderness the food necessary to sustain life. Already
[Pg 48]
the curse of God was falling upon them. Lest they should
appear pleasant to Nephite eyes, their fair and beautiful skins
grew dark and repulsive, their habits became loathsome and
filthy, and the same skin of darkness came upon the children
of all those who intermarried with them.

The Nephites called the new country in which they made
their homes the land of Nephi. There, Nephi by the wish of
the people, became their king, though this step was contrary
to his own feelings. So greatly was he beloved by his subjects
that when he died the people called the next king, Nephi
the second, the next, Nephi the third, and so on. All the
kings were thus called Nephi, in the same way as all the monarchs
of ancient Egypt were Pharaohs, and the emperors of
modern Russia are Tzars.

One of the first things that Nephi and his people did in
their new home was to build a temple. This showed great
faith and courage on the part of so small a community. And
their faith and courage triumphed, for the temple was finished.
It was built after the manner of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem,
but it was not so large, so costly, or so grand. Yet it
was a magnificent edifice to be erected by a people so few
in number. Here the Nephites offered burnt offerings according
to the law of Moses, which they strictly observed; and
Nephi consecrated Jacob and Joseph to be priests, to officiate
therein.

Nephi not only built a temple, but he taught his people
to be industrious and thrifty, honest and virtuous. He caused
them to build dwellings and other edifices, and to work in
wood, iron, copper, brass, steel, silver and gold; for there
was a great abundance of precious ores in the land in which
they now dwelt.

Nephi still retained possession of the sword of Laban;
and, taking it as a pattern, he made many swords for his
people to use in their own defense should they be attacked by
the Lamanites. This precaution proved a very wise one, for
[Pg 49]
in less than forty years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem
the Lamanites had followed up the Nephites and commenced
war upon them. But the Lamanites were not successful,
for Nephi, wielding the sword of Laban with his own
hands, led his people to battle and drove back the invaders.

When fifty-five years had passed away Nephi handed
the small plates which he had made to his brother Jacob, that
he might keep the sacred records thereon. Sometime after,
how long we are not told, Nephi anointed another man to be
king over his people; and then, having grown old, he died.

Great was the love of the people for Nephi. He had
been their prophet, priest and king; father, friend and guide;
protector, teacher and leader; next to God, their all in all.
He labored diligently all the days of his life to teach the
people to serve God, to believe in Christ, to keep the laws of
heaven, and to be and to do all that God’s holy law required.
In all these labors his brother Jacob nobly aided him.

When Nephi died Jacob became the chief religious
teacher of the people. He was a man of much faith and
diligence, and received the word of the Lord from time to
time in great fullness, as the church needed.

We know but little of what occurred among the Nephites
in Jacob’s time. The people, however, appear in some respects
to have fallen into sin. They had grown in worldly
pride, and devoted far too much of their time and energies to
the search for wealth. By reason of their isolated position,
and because the Jews, their forefathers, had abused the
principle of plural marriage, the people of Lehi had been
commanded that each man should have but one wife. Some
of them did not heed this special law, but took other wives,
not only without God’s sanction, but entirely contrary to his
express command. Indeed they committed other grievous
sins, excusing themselves therefor by quoting the actions of
King David, and Solomon, his son. At this the Lord was
greatly displeased, and he instructed Jacob to reprove them
[Pg 50]
sharply. This he did in the temple. He re-affirmed the law
that the Nephites of that age should have only one wife; but
added, in the name of the Lord of Hosts, that if he (God)
wanted to raise up a holy seed to himself, he would command
his people. This we have reason to believe, from reading
the Book of Mormon, he afterwards did, though we find
therein no direct statement on the matter.

THE CONDITION OF THE LAMANITES—SHEREM, THE FIRST
ANTI-CHRIST—HIS RECANTATION AND DREADFUL END.

(JACOB, CHAP. 3 TO 7.)

WHILST the early Nephites were polygamists, and, unfortunately
for them, unrighteous ones, the Lamanites
were monogamists, which form of marriage they appear to
have ever after retained.

One phase of Lamanite character, originating, doubtless,
in their Israelitish ancestry, is worthy of our praise. It was
the great strength of their domestic affections, their love for
their wives and their kindness to their families. As we shall
have to refer so often to their vices, we must, in justice to
them, here insert the description of their virtues given by
Jacob, the son of Lehi. He says, “Behold, their husbands
love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and
their husbands and wives love their children; and their
unbelief and their hatred towards you, is because of the iniquity
of their fathers.” Nor is there anything in this incompatible
with the ferocity of their character or their blood-thirstiness
in war. In the earlier ages of the Lamanite nationality,
[Pg 51]
rigid chastity was observed by the men as well as by
the women. Indeed, it may be said that while they manifested
most of the prominent vices of semi-barbarous people,
they also possessed the virtues that such races, uncorrupted
by a more luxurious mode of life, generally show. Nor
would it be consistent, nor historically true, to give one
general description and apply it to the whole Lamanite race,
for as their numbers increased the state of society amongst
them grew more complex, and we read of different grades of
civilization in their midst.

It must not be forgotten that the Lamanites occupied a
much wider extent of country than did the Nephites. In this
vast area were found people who dwelt in cities and cultivated
the arts to the extent generally found amongst races of the
same grade and characteristics. Whilst others, degraded in
life and habits, roamed in the wilderness, building no houses,
forming no permanent abiding places, but wandering from
place to place, and depending for food and clothing upon the
animals they caught in the chase, the fishes that abounded in
the waters, and whatever they could steal from the hated
Nephites, or indeed of their somewhat more highly civilized
fellow-countrymen.

It was in the days of Jacob that the first Nephite Anti-Christ
appeared. His name was Sherem. He openly and
unblushingly taught that there would be no Christ and that
there was no necessity for an atonement. He was a type of
many who came after, and a well fitted instrument for his
evil work. Bland in manners, fluent of speech, much given to
flattery, and withal, well versed in the learning of the
Nephites, he, by his sophistries, led many astray. His success
fired his zeal and filled him with conceit. He actually
sought to convert to his views Jacob, the prophet and presiding
priest of the church, a man rich in wisdom, and the recipient
of many divine revelations; one indeed who had oft-times
seen angels and heard the voice of the Lord.

[Pg 52]

In the interview that occurred between these two widely
differing men, Sherem charged that Jacob had changed the
law of Moses, which was the right way, into the worship of a
being whom Jacob said should come many hundred years
hence. He added, “Now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you,
that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of these things;
for he cannot tell of things to come.” Thus he denied prophecy,
styled good evil, and exalted error in the place of truth.

Jacob, being filled with the Spirit of God, confounded his
arguments, brought forward the testimony of the scriptures,
and proved that the very law of Moses, on which he lay so
much stress, was from beginning to end but the type and
foreshadowing of the more perfect law of the Christ who
should come.

Beaten in his arguments, Sherem fell back upon that
almost universal refuge of the false teacher. He defiantly
called for a sign. A sign was given him. The power of
God came upon him and he fell stricken to the ground. For
many days he was nourished, but ineffectually. He himself
perceived that death was approaching, and with this perception
gathered in his soul all the fears and horrors of an
apostate’s doom. But before his death he called the people
to him and confessed his iniquity. He denied the things he
had taught, he “confessed the Christ and the power of the
Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.” He avowed
that he had been deceived by the power of the devil, and
bitterly bewailed his condition; as the fear that he had committed
the unpardonable sin, in denying the Savior, weighed
his soul down to hell. Having made these small amends for
his past iniquities, he could say no more, and gave up the
ghost.

When the people who had gathered to hear his last words,
witnessed the terrors of his death, they were softened in their
hearts, the power of God rested upon them, and they fell to
the earth. The corrupt weeds he had sown in their hearts
[Pg 53]
had withered, the truth had been vindicated, the cause of the
Savior extolled, and peace and the love of God were restored
again among the people. Thus was this apostasy eradicated,
and God glorified; the Nephites of that generation from that
time searching the scriptures and cleaving unto the truth.

When Jacob grew old he gave the sacred records to the
keeping of his son Enos.

ENOS, THE SON OF JACOB—THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES OF
HIS DAY—HIS TESTIMONY AND PROPHECIES.

(BOOK OF ENOS.)

IN THE days of Enos the struggle still continued between
the Nephites and Lamanites. The latter seem to have
made it the business of their lives to harass and annoy their
more peaceful brethren. Their hatred was fixed. They swore
in their wrath that if it were possible they would destroy the
Nephites, and also their records, that they might no longer
be compelled to listen to their warnings, or be annoyed by
their appeals for peace and friendship.

The picture that Enos draws of the degradation into which
the Lamanites had fallen at this early day is a very pitiable
one. He says they were led by their evil nature that they
became wild and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, full of
idolatry and filthiness, feeding upon beasts of prey, dwelling in
tents, and wandering about in the wilderness with a short skin
girdle about their loins, and their heads shaven; and their skill
was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the axe. And many
[Pg 54]
of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat. This last
named practice they seem to have inherited from their fathers
in the wilderness.

On the other hand, the Nephites at this time were a rural,
pastoral people, rich in grain and fruits, flocks, and herds.
They were industrious in their habits, and committed but few
serious offenses. They observed the law of Moses, but were
lacking in faith, hard to understand gospel principles, way-ward
and stiff-necked. The terrors of the word had to be
sounded in their unwilling ears more often than the gentler
strains of gospel invitation.

Enos was one of the most zealous servants of the Lord
who ministered and prophesied to the early Nephites. As
the son of Jacob, he succeeded his father in the sacred offices of
priest and historian. He appears to have inherited his father’s
faith, gentleness and devotion. Of his personal life we have
no particulars, but it is evident that he was a very aged man
at the time of his death. His father Jacob was the elder of
the two sons born to Lehi in the Arabian wilderness, between
the years 600 and 590 before Christ; let us place the event
about 594 B. C. Enos, in closing his record, states that one
hundred and seventy-nine years had passed since Lehi left
Jerusalem. Supposing Enos was born when Jacob was thirty
years old, it would make his age one hundred and forty-three
years at the date of his writing. But we have no direct statement
either of his birth or the exact time of his death; all we
know is that when he left this earth he gave the records and
the other sacred things into the hands of his son Jarom.

One incident in the life of Enos is given us which is very
interesting. It affords a deep insight into the purity and
strength of his character. On one occasion when he went
into the forest to hunt, his whole soul was filled with thoughts
of the prophecies and teachings of his devout father, and he
greatly hungered for more light regarding eternal things.
In this fitting frame of mind, surrounded by the solitudes of
[Pg 55]
the forest, he bowed before the Lord, and in prayers long
and fervent, sought his face. All day long he raised his
voice to heaven, and when the night came he did not cease.
At last his steadfast faith and godly yearnings prevailed.
There came a heavenly voice of comfort to his heart, saying:

Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, thou shalt be blessed.

Lord, how is it done? he anxiously asked.

The answer came: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom
thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years
pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh;
wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Enos continued struggling with the Lord for promises in
behalf of both the Nephites and Lamanites. He received
many precious assurances of things yet to be; amongst others,
that the Lord would preserve the holy records and bring them
forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time. Of these
things Enos gladly testified to the people, prophesying of the
mighty events yet in the future, and bearing record of that
which he had both seen and heard.

JAROM—OMNI—AMARON—CHEMISH—ABINADOM—AMALEKI—MOSIAH—REVIEW
OF NEPHITE HISTORY FOR FOUR HUNDRED
YEARS.

(BOOKS OF JAROM AND OMNI.)

THE days of the prophet Jarom were neither few nor unimportant.
During the sixty years that he had charge of
the holy things (B. C. 422 to B. C. 362) the Nephites may
be said to have grown from a powerful tribe to a wealthy,
[Pg 56]
though not as yet very numerous, nation. Indeed, their numbers
were far from being equal to those of the wild and
blood-thirsty Lamanites. The latter, like their descendants of
today, spent their time almost exclusively in the chase of wild
animals and in war; yet, notwithstanding their vigorous and
repeated onslaughts, the age of Jarom was to the Nephites
one of marked progress in the arts of peace.

They ceased to be entirely a pastoral people. They
gave much attention to the adornment of their homes and
public buildings with fine and curious work in wood and
metal. Agriculture and manufacture received a new impetus
by the invention of various labor-saving machines, implements
and tools. Their safety from successful attack from the
Lamanites was also measurably secured by the introduction
of more perfect weapons of war, and the development of a
rude system of fortification, sufficient, however, to protect
their cities and settlements from the means of attack at the
command of their foes.

Though the Nephites of this age were stiff-necked and
perverse, requiring the constant warnings of prophets to keep
them from backsliding, yet the pervading tone of their society
was simple and unaffected, and the people were generally industrious,
honest and moral. They neither blasphemed nor
profaned the holy name of the Deity, they kept sacred the
Sabbath day, and strictly observed the law of Moses. Their
prophets, priests and teachers not only instructed them in this
law, but also expounded the intent for which it was given,
and while so doing, directed their minds to the coming of the
Messiah, in whom they taught the people to believe as though
he had already come. These pointed and constant teachings
preserved the Nephites from destruction, by softening their
hearts and bringing them to repentance, when war, wealth or
pride had exerted its baneful influences.

Shortly before Jarom died he delivered the sacred plates
to his son Omni. Omni kept them for about forty-four years
[Pg 57]
and then handed them to his son Amaron; who in turn transferred
them to his brother Chemish. Chemish, when his end
drew near, placed them in the hands of his son Abinadom,
who afterwards gave them in charge of his son Amaleki.

It is very little that we know of the history of the
Nephites from the death of Jarom to the time of Amaleki, a
period of about one hundred and fifty years. The political
records of the nation were engraved on other plates, which
were kept by the kings, and as there was little that the ecclesiastical
historians felt it necessary to write beyond what
Nephi and Jacob had written, their records are very short.
From what little we can glean from these writings it is evident
that during this era the Nephites had frequent wars with
the Lamanites, in many of which they suffered severely.
The Lord permitted these wild sons of the wilderness to be
a constant scourge to the people of Nephi when they turned
away from him; and we fear that the seasons were not unfrequent
when they had to be reminded of their duty in this terrible
way. It also seems probable that, to avoid the constant
incursions of the warriors of the house of Laman, the
Nephites had more than once forsaken their homes and retired
farther northward into the wilderness. We judge this
from the fact that in the days of Amaleki, the land of Nephi
appears to have been in or near the region we call Ecuador,
a country far distant from the place where Lehi’s colony first
landed; and it is scarcely consistent with the narrative of the
Book of Mormon to believe that Nephi and his little band,
when they first separated from their brethren, made a journey
of so many hundreds of miles before they established their
homes. Then the very fact that the Lamanites almost immediately
began to harass them in the new land which they occupied
is strong evidence that their first removal was not so
distant but that these enemies could, without great difficulty,
reach them, a thing that would have been almost impossible
if they had gone directly to the far distant region of Ecuador.

[Pg 58]

We now come to the days of the first Mosiah. But before
relating the story of his life and reign we will briefly
summarize what we know of the history of the Nephites
during the first four hundred years of their national existence.

They were governed by kings who were the direct descendants
of Nephi. These kings were, as a rule, righteous
men and wise rulers. The law of Moses was strictly observed,
and other good and just laws were enacted to regulate
those matters which the Mosaic laws did not touch.

The Nephites multiplied greatly, and also grew exceedingly
rich in the wealth of this world; while their artisans and
mechanics were very expert in the arts and manufactures.
They also spread abroad on the face of the land of Nephi
and were much scattered.

The Lamanites followed them from the land of their first
possession, and were constantly harassing them by incursions
and invasions, which led to numerous and bloody wars. These
were sometimes very disastrous to the Nephites.

Spiritually, the Nephites had many seasons of faithfulness
to God when they listened to and obeyed the words
of his prophets; and, unfortunately, they had also many seasons
of apostasy, at which times the judgments of God fell
upon them; the Lamanites being often used by him as a
sharp instrument to bring them to repentance and reformation.

[Pg 59]

CAUSES THAT LED TO THE MIGRATION FROM THE LAND OF
NEPHI—THE PEOPLE OF ZARAHEMLA—MULEK AND HIS
COLONY—THE FUSION OF THE TWO NATIONS—MOSIAH
MADE KING—HIS HAPPY REIGN.

(BOOK OF OMNI.)

MOSIAH resided in the land of Nephi, and lived there as
near as we can discover during the latter half of the
third century before Christ. Whether he was originally a
prophet, priest, or king, the historian (Amaleki) does not inform
us. Most certainly he was a righteous man, for the
Lord made choice of him to guide the obedient Nephites
from their native country to a land that he would show them.

The causes that led the Lord to make this call upon the
Nephites are not stated, but some of them can be easily surmised.
Amongst such we suggest that:

The aggressive Lamanites were constantly crowding upon
them, ravaging their more remote districts, entrapping
and enslaving the inhabitants of the outlying settlements,
driving off their flocks and herds, and keeping them in a constant
state of anxiety and dread, which hindered their progress
and stayed the growth of the work of God. The Lord
therefore led them to a land of peace.

Again, this course of events, continued for so long a
period, had caused much hard-heartedness and stiff-neckedness
in the midst of the Nephites. Some of the people had
remained righteous, some had grown very wicked. To separate
these classes the Lord called the faithful and obedient
to follow Mosiah to another land.

For a third reason: there was a portion of the house of
[Pg 60]
Israel, a few hundred miles to the north, entirely unknown to
their Nephite brethren. These people had sunk very low in
true civilization; they were so degraded that they denied the
being of their Creator, they had had many wars and contentions
among themselves; they had corrupted their language,
had no records nor scriptures, and were altogether in a
deplorable condition. To save and regenerate this branch of
God’s covenant people, Mosiah and his people were led to the
place where they dwelt.

Few are the words and brief is the statement made by
Amaleki regarding this great migration under Mosiah. We
are altogether left to our imagination to picture the scenes
that occurred at this division of a nation.

Imagine the conflict that perplexed many a heart between
the appeals of love and faith, between duty and affection,
when the old homes had to be deserted, when families had to
be parted, and the one stern, uncompromising feeling of duty
to the right and devotion to God had to be the all-controlling
sentiment. Nor can we tell how many, preferring home,
kindred and friends, and the endearments and associations of
their native land, faltered and tarried behind, whilst the
faithful started on their journey northward into the untrodden
wilderness. Nor are we told what afterwards became of
those who allowed the allurements of the world to prevail.
It is most probable that they united with the Lamanites, were
absorbed into that race, and, like them, became darkened,
blood-thirsty and savage. Neither do we know the proportion
to the whole population of those who left with Mosiah and
those who stayed behind.

The Nephite evacuation of the cities built in the land of
Nephi no doubt had a beneficial effect on those portions of
the Lamanite race that took possession of them. They thereby
became acquainted with some of the comforts and excellencies
of civilization, and, though very slow to learn,
their experience at this time laid the foundation for a slight
[Pg 61]
advance of the arts of peace in their midst, and from this time
we read of two classes of this people, the one living in cities,
the other roaming in the wilderness.

Mosiah gathered up the willing and obedient and, as
directed by the Lord, started on the journey.

Whither they were going they understood not, only they
knew that the Lord was leading them. Like their forefathers
under Moses, when in the wilderness of Sinai, they
were taught continually by the word of Jehovah and were led
by his arm. With preachings and prophesyings they crossed
the wilderness and passed down into the land of Zarahemla.

On the west bank of the river Sidon the people of
Mosiah found a populous city of whose existence they had
never before heard. Its people were a semi-civilized and
irreligious race, speaking a strange language, and with many
habits and customs different from those of the new comers.

The meeting must have been a perplexing one to both
people. Heretofore both had considered themselves the
owners of the whole continent. Now they were brought face
to face, but unable to understand each other by reason of
their different modes of speech. We often read in history of
the irruption of an inferior or more barbarous race into the
domains of one more highly civilized, but it is seldom, as in
this case, that the superior race moves in a body, occupies the
country, and unites with the less enlightened people. It is
probable that the first feelings of the old settlers were akin to
awe and dismay as they learned of the hosts of the invaders
that were marching upon them; but these feelings were soon
soothed and an understanding arrived at by which the two
people became one nation. Though the Book of Mormon
gives us no details on this point, we are forced to the conclusion
that this arrangement could not have been effected without
the direct interposition of heaven, by and through which
both people were brought to a united purpose and common
understanding.

[Pg 62]

THE JEWS LED AWAY TO CAPTIVITY.

When the Nephites began to comprehend the language
of their new fellow citizens, they found that they were the
descendants of a colony which had been led from Jerusalem
by the hand of the Lord in the year that that city was destroyed
by the king of Babylon (say B. C. 589). In that little
colony was a child named Mulek: he was the only son of king
Zedekiah who had escaped the fury of the Babylonish monarch.
After wandering in the wilderness, they were brought
across the great waters and landed in the southern portion of
the North American continent, and in after years moved southward
to the place where they were discovered by Mosiah and
his people. At this time their king or ruler was named Zarahemla
(about B. C. 200). He was a descendant of Mulek,
and consequently of the tribe of Judah and of the house of
David. The reason assigned for their departure from the
worship of the true God, their degradation and the corruption
of their language, was that their forefathers brought from
their ancient home in Palestine no records or copies of the holy
[Pg 63]
scriptures to guide and preserve them from error in their isolated
land of adoption.

When the two races joined, it was decided that Mosiah
should be the king of the united people, though the Nephites
were then the less numerous. This arrangement probably
grew out of the fact that though less in numbers they were
the most civilized, and being worshipers of the God of Israel
they would not willingly submit to be ruled by those who had
no knowledge of his laws.

The education of the people of Zarahemla to the standard
of the Nephites, and the work of harmonizing the two
races, were not the task of an hour. It required much wisdom,
patience and faith. Mosiah gave stability to the new kingdom
by his own virtues and wise example, by the just laws he
established, and by placing the service of the Lord before all
earthly considerations. It is evident that he built a temple in
the new land, as its existence is particularly mentioned in the
days of his son, king Benjamin, and as the people observed
the law of Moses in the matter of sacrifices and offerings, a
temple would be one of the very first necessities to enable
them to carry out the requirements of their religion. But to
the forms, types, shadows and ceremonies of the Mosaic law
were added gospel principles, with a clear and definite understanding
of the coming and divine work of the Messiah, all of
which is very evident in the instructions given to their subjects
by Mosiah’s two successors.

Mosiah was not only a divinely inspired leader and king,
but he was also a seer. Whilst reigning in Zarahemla a large
engraved stone was brought to him, and by the gift and power
of God he translated the engravings thereon. They gave an
account of the rise, fall and destruction of the great Jaredite
nation, from the days of its founders, who came out from the
Tower of Babel, to the time of their last king, Coriantumr,
who himself was discovered by the people of Zarahemla and
lived with them nine moons.

When Mosiah died he was succeeded by his son Benjamin.

[Pg 64]

THE REIGN OF KING BENJAMIN—THE PROGRESS OF HIS PEOPLE—HIS
LAST GREAT SPEECH—HE ESTABLISHES THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST—ALL THE PEOPLE COVENANT WITH
GOD—MOSIAH II. ANOINTED KING.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 1 TO 6.)

A MIGHTY man in the midst of Israel was Benjamin, the
son of Mosiah. Blessed were the people over whom he
reigned, for he governed them in righteousness, and for their
welfare he labored with all the might of his body and every
faculty of his soul. Holy and pure in his individual life,
he was ministered to by angels, and was the frequent recipient
of revelations from on high.

The reign of Benjamin was a long one; he died at a very
advanced age. Some time during this period, the aggressive
Lamanites, not content with occupying the land of Nephi,
actually followed the Nephites into the land of Zarahemla
and invaded that also. The war was a bloody one. King
Benjamin led his forces, armed with the historic sword of
Laban, (which appears to have been handed down from
monarch to monarch from the days that Nephi first wielded
it,) and with his own strong arm slew many of the enemy.
Benjamin was ultimately successful in driving the invading
hosts out of all the regions occupied by his people, with a
loss to the Lamanites of many thousand warriors slain.

The reign of Benjamin was also troubled with various
religious impostors, false Christs, pretended prophets, etc.,
who caused apostasy and dissensions among the people, much
to the sorrow of the good king. However, by the aid of
some of the many righteous men who dwelt in his dominions,
[Pg 65]
he exposed the heresies, made manifest the falsity of the
claims of the self-styled Messiahs and prophets, and restored
unity of faith and worship among his subjects; and where
these innovators had broken the civil law, they were arraigned,
tried, and punished by that law. It must not be forgotten
that freedom of conscience was absolutely protected
among the Nephites, and even the civil law was administered
with great mercy in the days of these kings. In his last great
speech to his people, Benjamin reminded them of the justice
and clemency with which he had caused the law to be administered,
how none of them had been arbitrarily cast into prison
or otherwise punished, but only for actual proven violations
of the law. He also reminded them how he, their king, had
labored with his own hands to defray the expenses of royalty,
in order that they might not be ground down by excessive
taxation. No wonder that he was so greatly loved and his
name held in such high reverence by his people. Recorded
history scarcely affords such another instance of kingly
humility and regard for the welfare of his people.

We may presume that the original inhabitants of Zarahemla,
just awakening to a newness of religious life, were
particularly subject to the influences brought to bear by impostors.
They had but lately learned the mysteries of the
plan of salvation and of the coming of the Messiah to dwell
among men. The glory and beauty of this Divine advent
filled their new-born souls with joyous hope. Looking forward
for the arrival of that happy day, with their first love
undiminished and their zeal unslackened, they were especially
open to the deception of those who cried, Lo, the Christ is
come! or, Behold, a great prophet hath arisen! To this
peculiar phase of spiritual condition in the midst of the lately
consolidated races in the land of Zarahemla, we may attribute
the frequency with which false prophets troubled the reign of
Benjamin.

There was another class who, moved by the spirit of
[Pg 66]
unrest, were a source of perplexity to the king. They were
those who, having left the land of Nephi with the righteous,
still permitted their thoughts and affections to be drawn
toward their former homes and old associations. Like Lot’s
wife, these Nephites were ever longing for that which they had
left behind. The natural consequence was that they were constantly
agitating the idea of organizing expeditions to visit
their old homes. The first of these that actually started, of
which we have an account, was led by an austere and blood-thirsty
man. When they approached the land of Nephi, a great
dissension arose in the company. The leader and some others
desired to attack, and if possible, destroy the Lamanite inhabitants,
but others, seeing that there was good amongst them, desired
to make a treaty with them. This division of feeling led
to a disastrous battle, in which the members of the expedition
fought against each other with such fury that they ceased not
to contend until all were slain except fifty men, who, in shame
and sorrow, returned to Zarahemla to recount the miserable
end of their venture. Yet some remained unsatisfied, they
were still over-zealous to inherit the land of their forefathers,
and, under the leadership of a man named Zeniff, another
company started on the ill-advised journey. Nothing was
heard from them while Benjamin reigned.

When king Benjamin was well stricken with years, the
Lord directed him to consecrate his son Mosiah as his successor
on the Nephite throne. Feeling that age was impairing
his energies he directed his son to gather the people together
at the temple that had been erected in Zarahemla, and he
would then give them his parting instructions. (B. C. 125.)
Agreeable to this call the people gathered at the temple, but
so numerous had they grown that it was too small to hold
them. They also brought with them the firstlings of their
flocks that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings
according to the Mosaic law. As the assembled thousands
could not get inside the temple they pitched their tents by
[Pg 67]
families, every one with its door towards the building, and the
king had a tower erected near the temple from which he
spake.

The teachings of king Benjamin at these meetings were
some of the most divine and glorious ever uttered by man.
He preached to them the pure principles of the gospel—the
duties which men owe to their God and to their fellows. He
also told them how he had been visited by an angel, and what
wondrous things that angel had shown him concerning the
coming of the God of Israel to dwell with men in the flesh.
So great were the things that this angel revealed and king
Benjamin repeated to the people that we think it best to
give his own words. They are:

“For behold the time cometh, and is not far distant, that
with power, the Lord Omnipotent, who reigneth, who was, and
is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from
heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle
of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working
mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead,
causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight and
the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he
shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the
hearts of the children of men. And lo, he shall suffer temptations,
and pain of body, hunger, thirst and fatigue, even more
than men can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold,
blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish
for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

“And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from
the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. And
lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto
the children of men, even through faith on his name; and even
after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he
hath a devil and shall scourge him and shall crucify him.
And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold he
[Pg 68]
standeth to judge the world; and behold all these things are
done, that a righteous judgment might come upon the children
of men.”

When Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words
which had been delivered to him by the angel, he observed
that the power of his testimony had so worked upon the
Nephites that they, in the deep sense of their own unworthiness,
had fallen to the ground. And they cried out confessing
their faith in the coming Messiah, and pleading that through
his atoning blood they might receive the forgiveness of their
sins, and that their hearts might be purified. After they had
lifted their deep-felt cry to heaven, the Spirit of the Lord
came down upon them, and because of their exceeding faith
they received a remission of their sins.

Their inspired ruler then continued his discourse. He
enlarged therein on the truths of the atonement and other soul-saving
doctrines. Having finished his address he sent amongst
his hearers to know if they believed and accepted the heavenly
truths he had been teaching. Great was his joy when he
found that they not only believed, but, because of the workings
of the Spirit of the Lord in their hearts, they knew of their
truth. Still more, the Holy Spirit had wrought such a change
within them that they had no more disposition to do evil, but
to do good continually. The visions of eternity were opened
to their minds, their souls were filled with the spirit of prophecy,
they longed to serve the Lord with undivided hearts,
and declared themselves willing to make a covenant with him
to keep his commandments and do his will the remainder of
their days.

The king then gave them a new name, because of the
covenant they desired to make, which thing he had greatly
desired. The name they were to bear for ever after was the
name of Christ, which should never be blotted out except
through transgression. Thus was established the first Christian
church in Zarahemla (B. C. 125), for every soul who
[Pg 69]
heard these teachings (except the very little children who could
not understand) entered into this sacred covenant with God,
which most of them faithfully observed.

King Benjamin’s truly royal work was now done. He
had lived to bring his people into communion with their
Creator, his spirit was full of heavenly joy, but his body
trembled under the weight of many years. So before he
dismissed the multitude he consecrated his son Mosiah to be
their king, appointed priests to instruct the people in the ways
of the Lord, and, with his patriarchal blessing, dismissed his
subjects. Then according to their respective families they all
departed for their own homes.

Mosiah now reigned in his father’s stead, whilst Benjamin,
beloved and honored, remained yet another three years
on the earth before he returned to the presence of his Father
in heaven.

ZENIFF RETURNS TO THE LAND OF NEPHI—HIS TREATY WITH
THE LAMANITES—THE PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE OF
ZENIFF—THE TREATY BROKEN—WAR—PEACE AND WARS
AGAIN—THE DEATH OF ZENIFF—NOAH’S WICKED REIGN—HIS
WARS WITH THE LAMANITES—THE PROPHET ABINADI—HIS
TERRIBLE MESSAGE OF GOD’S WRATH—HE IS MARTYRED—ALMA—HE
PLEADS FOR ABINADI—IS CAST OUT—FLEES
TO THE PLACE OF MORMON.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 7 TO 18.)

BEFORE proceeding with the story of king Mosiah’s reign,
we will return to the land of Nephi, and learn how
matters are progressing there. It will be recollected that
[Pg 70]
during the reign of king Benjamin a company started from
Zarahemla to return to the old home of the Nephites. Their
leader’s name was Zeniff. What became of him and them
was a question that was never answered during Benjamin’s
lifetime.

Zeniff and his people, having left Zarahemla, traveled
southward towards the land of Nephi. The blessings of the
Lord were not greatly with them, for they did not seek him
nor strive to do his will. In the wilderness they lost their
way, and suffered from famine and many afflictions; but after
many days they reached the neighborhood of the city of
Lehi-Nephi, the former home of their race. Here Zeniff
chose four of his company, and accompanied by them went to
the king of the Lamanites. This monarch received them
with the appearance of kindness. He made a treaty with
them, and gave them the lands of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom to
dwell in. He also caused his own people to remove out of
these cities and the surrounding country that Zeniff’s people
might have full possession. The king of the Lamanites was
in reality not as friendly as he pretended to be. His object
was to get the industrious Nephites to settle in the midst of
his people, then by his superior numbers to make them his
slaves; for his own subjects were a lazy, unprogressive race.

As soon as Zeniff and his followers occupied their new
possessions they went to work to build houses and to repair
the walls of the city; for the idle Lamanites had suffered them
to fall into decay. They also commenced to till the ground,
and to plant all manner of seeds of grain, vegetables and fruit
therein. Soon, through their thrift and industry, they began to
prosper and multiply. This caused king Laman to grow uneasy.
He desired to bring them into bondage that his people
might reap the benefits of the labors of the Nephites. But they
were growing so rapidly that he feared that if he did not soon
put a stop to their increase they would be the stronger of the
two people. To prevent this he began to stir up the hearts
[Pg 71]
of his people in anger against the Nephites. He succeeded
so well that in the thirteenth year of Zeniff’s reign in the land
of Lehi-Nephi a numerous host of Lamanites suddenly fell
upon his people, while they were feeding and watering their
flocks, and began to slay them. They also carried off some
of their flocks, and the corn from their fields.

Those of the Nephites who were not slain or overtaken
fled to Zeniff. As quickly as he could he armed his people
with bows and arrows, swords and cimeters, clubs and slings,
and with such other weapons as they could invent. Thus
armed they went forth in the strength of the Lord to meet
the enemy, for in their hour of peril they had cried mightily
unto him, and he heard their cries and answered their prayers.

Thus strengthened they met their foes. The battle was
an obstinate and a bloody one. It lasted all day and all night.
At last the Lamanites were driven back with a loss of 3043
warriors, while the people of Zeniff had to mourn the death
of 279 of their brethren. After this there was peace in the
land for many years.

During this time of peace Zeniff taught his people to be
very industrious. He caused his men to till the ground and
raise all kinds of fruit and grain. The women he had spin
and make cloth for clothing, fine linen, etc. In this way for
twenty-two years they prospered and had uninterrupted peace;
but at the end of that period the Lamanites again came up to
war against them.

At this time the old king Laman died, and his son succeeded
him upon the throne. Like many young men, he
desired to distinguish himself in war. So he gathered a
numerous host of the Lamanites and having armed them in
the same manner as the Nephites, he led them to the north
of the land of Shemlon, which lay by the side of the land of
Nephi-Lehi.

The warriors of the Lamanites were at this era a strange
sight to look upon. Their heads were shaven, the only
[Pg 72]
covering of their bodies was a leathern girdle around their
loins, otherwise they were naked. Their arms were bows,
arrows, slings, swords, etc.

When Zeniff learned of the approach of young king
Laman’s armies, he caused the women and children of his
people to hide in the wilderness; but every man, young or
old, who was able to bear arms was placed in the ranks to go
out against the foe. Zeniff himself was then an aged man,
but he still continued to command his forces and to lead them
in person to battle. But before doing so he recounted to his
soldiery the history of the two peoples, stimulated them to
valor by showing them that in this contest they were in the
right; then calling upon them to put their trust in God, he
led them to the onset. Strengthened by the faith Zeniff had
renewed in their hearts, the Nephites gained a great victory;
and so numerous were the slain of the Lamanites that they
were not counted. After this there was peace again in the
land, which continued all the remaining days of Zeniff.
Shortly after this he died, and, unfortunately for his kingdom,
chose for his successor an unworthy son, named Noah, who
drew the people into many sins and ruled with such folly and
weakness that they fell an easy prey to the ever-watchful foe
that everywhere surrounded them.

King Noah did not walk in the ways of his father, for
he was a very wicked man. He was filled with lust and
cruelty, and ruled his people with a tyrant’s hand. He
removed the good priests who had been consecrated by his
father, and placed corrupt men, of his own stamp, in their
stead. Then he lay heavy taxes upon the people, even one-fifth
of all they possessed, whether it was gold or silver,
grain or fruit, flocks or herds. These taxes he wasted upon
himself and his priests, upon his wives and concubines, and
the harlots with whom the priests consorted. Noah also
built a very grand palace in Lehi-Nephi for his own comfort,
and spent much in lavishly ornamenting the temple in that
[Pg 73]
city. Near the temple he erected a very high tower, so high
that any one standing on its top could see all over the surrounding
country. He also did much building in the land of
Shilom, and there erected another high tower. Furthermore,
he planted many vineyards and made his people a drunken
race. All this he did with the riches which he ground out of
his tax-burdened subjects.

How different was his course to that of the righteous
Benjamin, who was at that time reigning in Zarahemla! We
can scarcely conceive of two men more different in habits
and character. The great care of the one was to serve God
and benefit his people, the other had no other thought than to
gratify his own desires and live for his own pleasure, no
matter how much pain or suffering it caused his fellow-men.

Again the Lamanites attacked the Nephites while
engaged in their labors, killed many and drove off their
flocks. King Noah then set guards around the land, but in
such small numbers that they were destroyed. He finally
sent his armies and drove the Lamanites away. This victory
made him and his people conceited and boastful, and developed
in them a delight in shedding the blood of the Lamanites.

At this time a prophet, named Abinadi, appeared among
them, and predicted that they would be brought into bondage
unless they repented of their wickedness. The king and the
people were very angry with Abinadi, and sought to take his
life. Two years after he came among them in disguise.
This time he uttered, in the name of the Lord, very terrible
prophecies against Noah and his people. He told them that
they should go into bondage to their enemies, that they should
be smitten like dumb beasts and be slain. That vultures and
dogs should devour their carcasses. That famine and pestilence
should come upon them, and hail and insects should
destroy their crops. And in the end, if they did not repent,
[Pg 74]
they should be utterly destroyed. All of which was fulfilled in
a very few years.

Abinadi was one of the greatest of prophets; he was
filled with the Holy Ghost, but the people would not heed
him, and the more he exposed their iniquities the more furious
raged their anger against him. Neither did they believe his
words; in their own opinion they were everything that was
good. They were mighty in their own strength, and
unapproachably wise in their own conceit. Never, if you
could believe them, had a better, more valiant, more innocent
people lived. Filled with this spirit of self-conceit they took
Abinadi, bound him, and hurried him, with railing accusations,
before the king. There the priests began to cross-question
him, that they might confuse him and cause him to say something
that would give them a pretext for slaying him. This
conduct was providentially turned to the glory of God and to
the good of many souls. It gave Abinadi the chance in turn
to question his accusers, by which he showed their deceit and
iniquity; and it also enabled him to explain many of the principles
of the gospel of life and salvation. His teachings
pricked the hearts of a few, while they more greatly enraged
the greater number. Particularly did he impress upon their
minds the great truth that Christ should come, and quoted
the words of Isaiah and other Hebrew prophets to sustain his
words. His teachings are among the strongest and plainest
that any of the scriptures record, and should be read by all
who desire to become fully acquainted with the truths of
Divine love and mercy for fallen humanity.

These doctrines were, however, exactly what Noah’s
infidel priests did not want. They charged Abinadi with
having reviled the king, and on this charge obtained Noah’s
consent for his execution. So Abinadi was cruelly tortured
and burned to death by his fellow-citizens in the sin-stained
city of Lehi-Nephi. How strange that a people could so
quickly grow wicked! In Zeniff’s reign they kept God’s
[Pg 75]
laws, if only after a fashion, but in Noah’s days, led by his
bad example, they sank to the depth of shedding innocent
blood, and taking the life of one who had done them no
wrong, but whose only fault lay in reproving them for their
sins, and in striving to teach them repentance and the road to
heaven.

Abinadi’s last words were very terrible in their prophetic
denunciations. When the flames began to scorch him he
cried out:

Behold even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come
to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer, even
the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the
salvation of the Lord their God. And it will come to pass
that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because
of your iniquities. Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every
hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a
wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts. And in that
day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hands
of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains
of death by fire. Thus God executeth vengeance upon those
that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.

But all the people did not in their hearts consent to this
great crime. One among them especially, whose name was
Alma, confessed to the truth of Abinadi’s words. He knew
that the grave charges the prophet made were true. He was a
young man, one of Noah’s priests, and when the clamor was
highest for Abinadi’s death, he went to the king and plead in
Abinadi’s behalf. This so angered Noah that he had Alma
cast out of his presence, and then sent his servants after the
young priest to slay him. Alma, however, hid from his pursuers,
and, during his concealment, wrote the words he had
heard Abinadi speak, which teachings now form one of the
most important of the doctrinal portions of the Book of
Mormon.

The power and importance of Abinadi’s teachings had
[Pg 76]
sunk deep in the heart of Alma; he not only realized their
truth, but he comprehended their saving value. The first
lesson they impressed upon his mind was the necessity of his
own repentance. This he did sincerely; and then began to
teach the same lesson to others. For fear of the king he
did not do this openly, but secretly as opportunity permitted.

Alma’s preaching of God’s holy word was not without
fruit. Many received the truth with joy. These gathered to
a convenient spot on the borders of the wilderness, but not far
off their city. This place was called Mormon. It was admirably
suited for a hiding-place, having been formerly infested
by ravenous beasts, and as such was dreaded and avoided by
the people. Near by was a thicket or forest of small trees,
in which the gospel believers could hide should they be pursued
by the king’s servants; here also was a fountain of pure
water, most excellently adapted for the purposes of baptism.
Here was this holy rite first administered, and here was the
church of Christ organized. How different the circumstances
of its organization to those which attended the same event in
the land of Zarahemla, under king Benjamin, of which we
have already spoken.

[Pg 77]

THE WATERS OF MORMON—ALMA, HELAM AND OTHERS BAPTIZED
THEREIN—THE CHURCH ORGANIZED—THE KING
WARNED—HE SENDS TROOPS—ALMA AND HIS PEOPLE
FLEE TO THE LAND OF HELAM—THEY BUILD A CITY.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 18 AND 23.)

THE FIRST to go down into the waters of Mormon for
baptism were Alma and a fellow-believer named Helam.
When they entered the water Alma lifted his voice in prayer,
and besought the Lord for his Holy Spirit. This blessing
having been bestowed, he proceeded with the sacred ordinance.
Addressing his companion, he said, Helam, I baptize
thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony
that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you
are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the
Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you
eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has
prepared from the foundation of the world. Having said
these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water,
from which they came forth rejoicing, being filled with the
Holy Spirit.

Others, to the number of two hundred and four souls,
followed Helam into the waters of baptism, but in none of
these cases did Alma again bury himself beneath the wave,
but only the repentant believer. From this time we may date
the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ in that land,
and henceforth its members assembled for worship and testimony
once a week.

Notwithstanding the care and secrecy with which the
members of the church acted, Noah soon discovered that there
[Pg 78]
was some hidden movement among his subjects, and by the
help of his spies he discovered what was taking place at Mormon.
Making the tyrant’s usual excuse, that the Christians
were in rebellion against him, he sent his armies to capture
and destroy them. But a greater than he stretched forth his
arm to preserve his people. The Lord warned Alma of the
king’s intentions, and by divine direction he assembled his
people, (some 450 souls,) and they gathered their flocks and
herds, loaded up their grain, provisions and other supplies,
and departed into the wilderness.

Being strengthened by the Lord, notwithstanding that
they were impeded by their flocks and families, the pilgrims
traveled with sufficient rapidity to escape the pursuing forces
of king Noah, who were reluctantly compelled to return to
the land of Nephi without having accomplished the object of
the expedition. At the end of eight days Alma’s company
ceased their flight, and settled in a very beautiful and pleasant
land where there was an abundant supply of pure water.
We have no direct information with regard to the course
taken by this colony, but it is evident from the details of their
later history that the new settlement lay somewhere between
the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla, though possibly somewhat
aside from the most direct route. We think it far from
improbable that it was situated at the head waters of some
one of the numerous tributaries to the Amazon that take their
rise on the eastern slope of the Andes.

The colonists, whose industry is especially referred to
by the inspired historian, immediately set to work to till the
soil and build a city. The city, with the surrounding territory,
they named the city and land of Helam. Now that
they were established as a separate people, independent of
both Lamanite and Nephite princes, they desired a form of
government and requested Alma to be their king. This
honor he declined. He rehearsed to them the history of
their fathers; he pictured to them the infamies of king Noah’s
[Pg 79]
reign; he showed them how a wicked ruler could lead his
subjects into all manner of evil, and how such things led to
bondage; and, on the other hand, how much better it was to
have the Lord as their king and ruler, and to be guided by
his servants under his inspiration. This counsel the people
wisely accepted. Alma, though not bearing the title of king,
acted as their leader, as their high priest and prophet, and as
the mouthpiece of Heaven whenever God’s holy word was
graciously given them. In this happy state the people of
Helam continued for some years, the Lord greatly prospering
them and crowning their labors with abundant increase.
Nevertheless, the Lord saw fit to chasten this devoted people,
and to try their patience and their faith, of which trial and its
results we shall have more to say as we proceed with our
story.

THE LAND OF HELAM.

We must leave Alma and his people for a time and
return to king Noah.

[Pg 80]

KING NOAH’S SUBJECTS REBEL—GIDEON—THE LAMANITES
INVADE LEHI-NEPHI—THE NEPHITES RETREAT—A PART
SURRENDER—THE NEW TERMS OF PEACE—NOAH IS
BURNED TO DEATH—LIMHI MADE KING—NOAH’S PRIESTS
ESCAPE—THEY SEIZE SOME LAMANITE MAIDENS—ANOTHER
WAR—THE NEPHITES VICTORIOUS—THE KING
OF THE LAMANITES WOUNDED—MUTUAL EXPLANATIONS.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 19 AND 20.)

SOON AFTER the return of Noah’s army from their
unsuccessful attempt to capture Alma and his people, a
great division grew up amongst that monarch’s subjects.
They were heartily tired of his tyranny and his debaucheries.
One of those most dissatisfied was an officer of the king’s
army named Gideon. We have no reason to believe that he
was at that time a wicked man though he did rebel against
the king, but rather that he was a good, pure and wise man,
for in after life he proved that he possessed all these virtues.
In the disturbances that now arose between Noah and his
people Gideon sought to slay the king. But Noah fled to
the tower near the temple in the city of Lehi-Nephi. Thither
Gideon, sword in hand, quickly followed. The king mounted
to the top, and there his eye accidentally caught sight of an
army of Lamanites in the land of Shemlon. In the terror
caused by this unexpected sight, he appealed to Gideon’s
patriotism and besought him to spare him. Not that the king
cared for his people, but he made this excuse for pleading for
his own life. Gideon consented, and Noah in mortal terror
ordered his people to flee into the wilderness from before the
advancing hosts of the Lamanites.

[Pg 81]

The people obeyed their king’s command, and with their
wives and children fled into the wilderness. But the forces
of the Lamanites, unencumbered by women and children,
soon overtook them. Then the coward king commanded the
men to continue their flight and leave their wives and children
to the mercy of the enemy. Some obeyed and fled, others
would not, but preferred to stay and perish with those to
whom they were the natural protectors. Those who stayed,
in the agony of their terror when the Lamanites drew near,
sent their fair daughters to plead with their enemies for their
lives. This act saved them. For the dark-skinned warriors
of Laman were so charmed with the beauty of the women
that they spared all their lives. Yet they took them captives,
carried them back to Lehi-Nephi, and gave them permission
to retain that land, but under some very hard conditions.
These conditions were that they should surrender king Noah
into the hands of the Lamanites, and deliver up one-half of
everything they possessed, and continue this tribute of one-half
of their property year by year.

Gideon now sent men to search for Noah that he might
be delivered up to the Lamanites. They found that the men
who were with Noah, being ashamed of their cowardly
flight, swore that they would return; and, if their wives and
children had been killed, they would have revenge. The king
commanded that they should not return, at which they grew
angry with him, and burned him to death as he had done Abinadi.
His priests saved themselves from a like terrible fate by
flight. When the men who put Noah to death were about to
return to the land of Nephi, they met Gideon and his party,
and informed them of the end of Noah and the escape of the
priests; then, when they heard the news that Gideon brought,
they rejoiced much that their wives and children had been
spared by the Lamanites.

Noah being dead, one of his sons, Limhi by name, was
made king. It was almost an empty honor, for his people
[Pg 82]
were in bondage to the Lamanites. Still he made a treaty of
peace with the king of the Lamanites, and because he could
do no better he agreed to pay a yearly tribute of one-half of
the increase of the products of his subjects. The Lamanites
set guards all around the land, for they were now most
anxious that the Nephites should not escape. The latter
were to all intents and purposes bond-servants, and the
Lamanites obtained all the advantages of their labor without
any of the responsibilities that generally fall upon the slave
owner. Out of the tribute the guards that held them in
bondage were paid. This state of things continued without
an outbreak for two years.

In these times there was a romantic spot in the Land of
Shemlon, on the Nephite borders, where the Lamanite
maidens were in the habit of gathering on pleasure bent.
Here they sang, danced and made merry with all the gaiety
of youthful innocence and overflowing spirits. One day
when a few were thus gathered they were suddenly surprised,
and twenty-four of their number were carried off by strange
men, who, from their appearance, were unmistakably Nephites.

On learning of this act of treachery the Lamanites were
stirred to uncontrollable anger, and without seeking an
explanation they made a sudden incursion into the territory
held by king Limhi. This attack, however, was not successful,
for their movements, though not understood, had
been discovered, and their intended victims poured forth to
meet them.

With Limhi and his people it was a war for existence;
to be defeated was to be annihilated; his warriors therefore
fought with superhuman energy and desperation, and eventually
they succeeded in driving the Lamanites back. So
speedy did their flight become, that in their confusion the
Lamanites left their wounded king lying amongst the heaps
of slain. There he was discovered by his victors. In the
interview between him and Limhi that followed, mutual
[Pg 83]
explanations ensued. The Lamanite king complained bitterly
of the outrage committed on the daughters of his people,
while Limhi protested that he and his subjects were innocent
of the base act. Further investigation developed the fact
that some of the iniquitous priests of king Noah, who had
fled into the wilderness from the dreaded vengeance of their
abused countrymen, were the guilty parties. Being without
wives, and fearing to return home, they had adopted this
plan to obtain them.

On hearing this explanation, king Laman consented to
make an effort to pacify his angry hosts. At the head of
an unarmed body of Nephites he went forth and met his
armies who were returning to the attack. He explained
what he had learned, and the Lamanites, possibly somewhat
ashamed of their rashness, renewed the covenant of peace.

This peace, unfortunately, was of short duration. The
Lamanites grew arrogant and grievously oppressive, and
under their exactions and cruelty the condition of Limhi’s
subjects grew continually worse, until they were little better
off than were their ancestors in Egypt before Moses, their
deliverer, arose. Three times they broke out in ineffectual
rebellion, and just as often their task-masters grew more
cruel and exacting, until their spirits were entirely broken;
they cowered before their oppressors, and bowed “to the
yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to
be driven to and fro, and burdened according to the desires
of their enemies.”

[Pg 84]

THE BONDAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF LIMHI—AN EXPEDITION
NORTH—FINDING OF THE JAREDITE RECORDS—THE ARRIVAL
OF AMMON—THE PEOPLE OF LIMHI ESCAPE—THE
PURSUIT—THE AMULONITES—THE PEOPLE OF ALMA—THEY
ARE BROUGHT INTO BONDAGE—THEIR DELIVERANCE.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 21 to 24.)

AFTER A TIME the Lord softened the hearts of the
Lamanites so that they began to ease the burdens of
their slaves, but he did not at once deliver the Nephites out
of bondage. They, however, gradually prospered, and raised
more grain, flocks and herds, so that they did not suffer with
hunger.

The people of Limhi kept together as much as possible
for protection. Even the king did not trust himself outside
the walls of the city without his guards, lest he might fall
into the hands of the Lamanites.

In this sad condition of bondage and serfdom the people
of Limhi had one hope. It was to communicate with their
Nephite friends in the land of Zarahemla. To this end
Limhi secretly fitted out an expedition consisting of a small
number of men. This company became lost in the wilderness,
and traveled a long distance northward until they found
a land covered with the dry bones of men who appeared to
have fallen in battle. Limhi’s people thought this must be
the land of Zarahemla and that their Nephite brethren who
dwelt there had been destroyed. But in this they were
wrong, for they found with the dead some records engraved
on plates of ore, which, when afterwards translated by the
[Pg 86]
power of God, showed that these bones were those of some
of the Jaredites who had been slain in war.

DISCOVERY OF THE RECORDS OF THE JAREDITES.

They missed the land of Zarahemla, having probably
traveled to the west of it and passed northward through the
Isthmus of Panama.

Shortly after this a small company numbering sixteen
men reached them from Zarahemla. Their leader’s name
was Ammon. He had been sent by king Mosiah to the land
of Nephi to find out what had become of the people, or their
descendants, who left with Zeniff. When Ammon and those
that were with him reached Lehi-Nephi, king Limhi happened
to be without the walls of the city, and his guards
fancying that Ammon and his friends were some of the priests
of Noah took them and put them in prison. The next day
the mistake was discovered, and Limhi and his people were
overjoyed to hear from their friends. Soon plans were laid
to effect the escape of the enslaved Nephites, which, under
the guidance of Limhi, Ammon and Gideon, was successfully
accomplished. The Lamanite guards were made drowsy
with a large present of wine, and while they were in this
drunken stupor, the people of Limhi escaped through an unfrequented
pass, taking with them such things as they could
safely carry away. They were then led by Ammon to Zarahemla.

When the Lamanites found, to their great surprise, that
their bond servants had escaped, they sent an army after them.
It so happened that these troops lost themselves in the wilderness.
Whilst traveling hither and thither, not knowing which
way to go, they came across the priests of king Noah. These
priests, at the instigation of Amulon, their leader, joined the
Lamanite troops, and they unitedly endeavored to get back to
the land of Nephi. While thus engaged, they wandered near
the city of Helam.

When the people of Alma first perceived the approach of
this body of men, they were engaged in tilling the soil around
[Pg 87]
their city, into which they immediately fled in great fear. In
this perilous hour the faith and courage of Alma were conspicuous.
He gathered his people around him, called upon
them to cast aside their unsaintly fears, and to remember the
God who had ever delivered those who trusted in him. The
words of their leader had the desired effect; the people
silenced their fears and called mightily upon the Lord to soften
the hearts of the Lamanites that they might spare their lives
and those of their wives and little ones. Then, with the
assurance in their hearts that God would hearken unto their
prayers, Alma and his brethren went forth out of their city
and delivered themselves up to their former foes.

The Lamanites were in a dilemma, therefore they were
profuse in promises. They were willing to grant the people
of Helam their lives and liberty if they would show them the
way to the land of Nephi. Having obtained this information
and reached home in safety, they broke their promises and
made Amulon the king over a wide district of country, including
the land of Helam.

Alma and Amulon had known each other in the days
when they both belonged to king Noah’s priesthood, and with
the venom so often conspicuous in apostates, the latter soon
commenced to persecute those who were faithful to the Lord.
He placed task-masters over them, imposed inhuman burdens
upon them, and otherwise afflicted them grievously.

In their agony they called continually upon the Lord for
deliverance. Their prayers annoyed their cruel masters and
they were forbidden to pray aloud; but no tyrants, however
powerful or cruel, could prevent them praying in their hearts.
This the people of Alma continued to do most fervently, and
in due time, though not immediately, deliverance came. In
the meanwhile the Lord comforted and strengthened them in
their afflictions, so that their burdens were easily borne.

The time for their deliverance finally came, for on a
certain day the Lord promised them that he would deliver
[Pg 88]
them on the morrow. The night was occupied in getting their
flocks and provisions together, and preparing for their journey.
In the morning, when their Lamanite guards and task-masters
were in a deep sleep, they set out on their journey
into the wilderness. After traveling all day they pitched their
tents in a valley which they named Alma. The Lord warned
Alma to hasten out of this country, for the Lamanites were
in pursuit, but he said he would stop them in the valley where
Alma was then camped. Alma and his company traveled
yet twelve days, at the end of which time they arrived in
Zarahemla. This, with the eight days occupied in traveling
from the waters of Mormon to the land of Helam, makes
twenty-one days’ travel from Lehi-Nephi
[5] to Zarahemla.

Amulon and the priests of Noah, possibly because of
their Lamanitish wives, soon gained great favor with king
Laman and were made teachers to his people. Educated in
the language of the Nephites, they began to instruct the
Lamanites therein. They, however, taught the people nothing
of the religion of their fathers, or of the law of Moses, but
instructed them how to keep their records, and to write one
to another. All this time king Laman ruled over a numerous
people, inhabiting distant regions, governed by tributary
kings and rulers. Having no written standard, the language
of the Lamanites had become greatly corrupted. The coming
of the priests of Noah among them gave rise to the introduction
of a higher civilization. As a result, they increased
in wealth; and trade and commerce extended among them.
They became cunning and wise, and therefore powerful, but
were still addicted to robbery and plunder, except among
themselves.

[Pg 89]

MOSIAH’S GOOD REIGN—THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS ADVENT—HE
ASSEMBLES THE PEOPLE—THE BAPTISM OF LIMHI—CHURCHES
ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 25.)

WE MUST now leave the Lamanites in the land of Nephi,
and return to king Mosiah in Zarahemla. It will be
remembered that we left the people of Zarahemla at the time
of the death of king Benjamin, three years after the ascent of
his son Mosiah to the throne.

Mosiah was born in the land of Zarahemla, 154 or 155
years before the coming of Christ. He was instructed in all
the wisdom of the Nephites, and trained in youth in the fear
of the Lord. By the direction of the Almighty he was consecrated
by his father to succeed him on the throne, which
ceremony was attended to at the time the whole nation had
gathered at the temple to listen to the words of their aged
and beloved ruler; at the same time, they all covenanted with
God to be his servants ever after. There, in the presence of
his future subjects, under the shadow of the holy house, he
was set apart to rule a people whose sins were all forgiven
through their abiding faith in the unborn Savior. Could a
king come to a throne under more auspicious circumstances?
Profound peace with all outside his dominions, and within its
borders reigned union, contentment, prosperity, happiness, and
what is more, righteousness.

Mosiah was thirty years old when he began to reign,
which event happened 476 years after Lehi left Jerusalem.

Mosiah followed in the footsteps of his father, taught his
people to be industrious, and set them the example by tilling
[Pg 90]
a portion of the earth to maintain himself and his dependents.

It was in the fourth year of his reign that Mosiah sent
out the expedition under Ammon to find the people of Zeniff.
Of its success, and the happy arrival of Limhi and his subjects,
and of Alma and his people, we have already spoken.

Soon after the coming of Limhi and Alma, Mosiah gathered
all the Nephites at one place that they might hear how
God had dealt with both. First he had the records of Zeniff
and Alma read in their hearing, at which they were greatly
amazed; but when they beheld the new comers they were
filled with exceeding great joy, mingled with sadness for the
loss of their kindred slain by the inhuman Lamanites, and
many tears were shed for those departed ones. Again, when
they listened to the marvelous deliverances wrought by
heaven in behalf of Alma and his faithful few, the assembled
thousands raised their voices on high and gave thanks to
God. Still another shade of feeling came across their sympathetic
hearts, that of pain and anguish when they learned
of the sinful and polluted state of their Lamanite brethren.

Taking advantage of the presence of so many of his
subjects, Mosiah addressed them on such matters as he
deemed necessary and desirable. At his request Alma also
taught them. When assembled in large bodies Alma went
from one multitude to another, preaching repentance and
faith in the Lord. After hearing his teaching Limhi requested
to be baptized, and so did all his people. Then
Alma baptized them in the same manner as he had their
brethren. He afterwards, by Mosiah’s direction, went through
the land, organizing and establishing churches and ordaining
priests and teachers over every church. Thus were seven
churches established at this time in the land of Zarahemla.

BAPTISM OF LIMHI.

[Pg 92]

THE UNBELIEF OF THE YOUTH OF ZARAHEMLA—THE YOUNGER
ALMA AND THE SONS OF MOSIAH—THEY ENCOURAGE THE
PERSECUTIONS AGAINST THE CHURCH—THEY ARE MET BY
AN ANGEL—HIS MESSAGE—ALMA’S AWFUL CONDITION—HIS
VISION AND TESTIMONY—THE CHANGED LIFE OF THE
YOUNG MEN.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 26 AND 27.)

IN THE course of the years many of the rising generation
gave no heed to the word of God. These were mostly such
as were too young to enter into covenant with the Lord at
the time that king Benjamin anointed Mosiah to be his successor.
Not only did they themselves reject the doctrines of
the atonement, the resurrection and other gospel principles,
but they led away many of the members of the church into
darkness and iniquity, and abused, reviled and persecuted
those who remained faithful to the cause of Christ. Neither
the fear of the civil nor of the divine law restrained them.
Their course, and that of those in the church who gave way
to evil doing, gave much trouble, and caused deep anxiety to
Mosiah and Alma, the latter now the high priest of the whole
church. When sought in prayer, the Lord directed what
action should be taken with transgressors in the church, and
after due consultation with his priests, with Alma and others,
Mosiah issued a proclamation of equality to his people, forbidding
all his subjects to persecute, vex or abuse their fellows
because of their faith or religion, and announcing that
in matters of conscience all men were equal before the law,
and all were the subjects of his protection. Still it required
a greater than an earthly king to bring to naught the evil intents
[Pg 93]
of the disbelievers, who were greatly encouraged in
their misdeeds by the fact that the king’s four sons and one
of the sons of Alma were their leaders.

Frequent and fervent were the prayers offered by Mosiah
and the elder Alma in behalf of their rebellious sons, and
those prayers prevailed with Him who sits on heaven’s eternal
throne.

One day, as the younger Alma and his company were
going about persecuting the members of the church, an angel
descended in a cloud and stopped them in the way. When
he spoke his voice was as thunder, that caused the whole
earth to tremble beneath their feet. Naturally this manifestation
of the power of God spread terror and dismay in the
hearts of those who witnessed it. They fell to the ground,
and so confused and terrified were they that they failed to
understand the words of the holy messenger. Arise, Alma,
and stand forth, he cried; and when Alma arose, his eyes
were opened to see who stood before him. Why persecutest
thou the Church of God? he was asked, for the Lord hath
said, This is my Church, and I will establish it; and nothing
shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.
If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy
the Church of God. Besides this, the angel spoke to him of
his father’s prayers in his behalf, and told him that because
of those prayers, he had been sent to convince him of the
power of God. The messenger also recounted to Alma the
captivity of his fathers in the lands of Helam and Nephi,
and of their miraculous deliverance therefrom. But Alma
heard none of these latter sayings, for the terrors of the first
salutation had overpowered him.

When the angel departed Alma was overcome, and dismayed
and soul-stricken, he sank to the ground. When his
companions gathered around him, they found he could not
move, neither could he speak. Outwardly he was dead to
the world; but the torments of the damned had taken hold of
[Pg 94]
his soul, and in the most bitter pain and mental anguish he
lay racked with the remembrance of all his past sins. The
thought of standing before the bar of God to be judged for
his iniquities overwhelmed him with horror. He desired to
become extinct both body and soul without being brought
before his Creator. Thus he continued for three days and
three nights to suffer the pains of hell, which, to his racked
conscience, must have seemed an eternity.

When his companions found that he could neither speak
nor move, they carried him to his father, and related all that
had happened. Strange as it must have seemed to them, the
elder Alma’s heart was filled with joy and praise when he
looked upon the body of his much-loved son, for he realized
it was God’s power that had wrought all this, and that his
long-continued prayers had been answered. In his joy he
gathered the people to witness the mighty manifestation of
the goodness and power of Jehovah. He assembled the
priests, sought their co-operation, and unitedly, in God’s own
way, they prayed and fasted for the stricken youth. For two
days they continued their cries to heaven, at the end of which
time Alma stood upon his feet and spoke. He comforted
them by declaring, I have repented of my sins, and have
been redeemed of the Lord, behold I am born of the Spirit.

In later years, Alma, in relating to his son Helaman the
details of his conversion, thus describes the causes that led
him to bear this testimony. He says: Behold, I remembered
also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning
the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to
atone for the sins of the world. Now as my mind caught
hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart, O Jesus, thou
Son of God, have mercy on me, who art in the gall of bitterness
and art encircled about by the everlasting chains of
death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember
my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the
memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what
[Pg 95]
marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with
joy as exceeding as was my pain; yea, I say unto you my
son, there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as my
pain. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the
other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as
was my joy; yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi
saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless
concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising
their God; yea, my soul did long to be there.

From that time to the end of his mortal career, Alma
labored without ceasing to bring souls to Christ, and to guide
his fellow-man in the paths of salvation.

What effect had this heavenly visit upon the sons of
Mosiah? A very great one. From that moment they were
changed men. As the voice of the angel reached their astonished
ears, the essence of divinity entered their souls, they
knew, they felt, they realized there was a God, and that they
had been fighting against him. The sense of their own utter
unworthiness filled their hearts; remorse and anguish reigned
supreme therein, and they condemned themselves as the vilest
of sinners. By and by the bitterness of their remorse was
swallowed up in their faith in the coming of Christ, and they
determined by God’s help, to their utmost strength, to undo
the evil that their previous course had wrought. These resolutions
they faithfully carried out. If they had been energetic
in their wrong-doing they were yet more active in their
works of restitution. They journeyed from city to city, from
land to land, and everywhere bore triumphant testimony of
the incidents of their miraculous conversion, and in no equivocal
tones proclaimed the glorious gospel message of love to
God, salvation to mankind.

[Pg 96]

THE GROWTH OF THE PEOPLE IN ZARAHEMLA—THEY BUILD
MANY CITIES—MOSIAH’S SONS DESIRE TO TAKE A MISSION
TO THE LAMANITES—MOSIAH INQUIRES OF THE LORD—THE
DIVINE ANSWER.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 28.)

THE INHABITANTS of Zarahemla at this time were
all considered Nephites, though the descendants of
Mulek and his companions were the most numerous. But
the Nephites, though the last comers to Zarahemla, were the
governing race, and the kingdom had been conferred upon
none but those who were the descendants of Nephi. The
Nephites ruled by the right of their higher civilization, the
possession of the records and the authority of the holy priesthood.
There is another strange fact with regard to the inhabitants
of South America at this time, it is that the Lamanites
were twice as numerous as the combined people of Nephi and
Zarahemla. This may have been owing to the fact that when
any defection occurred among the Nephites, the dissatisfied
portions of the community generally went over to the Lamanites
and became absorbed in that race.

In these days there was much peace in the land of Zarahemla.
The Lord blessed the people and they became very
numerous, contented and wealthy. When Benjamin was
king his people appear to have all resided in and immediately
around the city of Zarahemla, as the king directed his son to
gather them at the temple on the morrow, and on the morrow
they were all there, which would have been impossible had
they lived at any great distance from headquarters. We
judge that at that time the majority inhabited the city and
[Pg 97]
farmed the land around. Up to this time no other city than
Zarahemla is mentioned in that land, but now the people began
to spread abroad, building, as the historian states, large
cities and villages in all quarters of the land. We may reasonably
suppose that at this epoch were founded the cities of
Aaron, Ammonihah, Gideon, Manti, Melek and others mentioned
in the annals of the succeeding twenty years.

Notwithstanding the great good they had done, the sons
of king Mosiah were not content to confine their labors to the
land of Zarahemla. They longed to carry the glad tidings
of salvation to the benighted Lamanites. Ignoring the dangers
and despising the pains of such a mission, they plead
with their father many days for his consent for them to go to
the land of Nephi. The blood-thirsty, revengeful character of
the Lamanites was too well known to the king for him to
think of his sons going into their midst without causing him
feelings of dread and apprehension, but he had no desire to
quench their holy zeal towards God and their love towards
their unfortunate fellows, lest he should sin by so doing, and
rob thousands of the opportunity of hearing the everlasting
truths through obedience to which mankind is saved. He
therefore inquired of the Lord. The answer came, Let them
go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall
have eternal life, and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands
of the Lamanites. With this divine assurance Mosiah consented,
and shortly after, with some other missionaries, whom
they had chosen, these four valiant, God-fearing youths
started on their perilous mission.

[Pg 98]

MOSIAH’S SONS REFUSE THE KINGDOM—HE GRANTS THE
PEOPLE A CONSTITUTION—THE PEOPLE TO ELECT THEIR
RULERS—ALMA, THE YOUNGER, FIRST CHIEF JUDGE.

(MOSIAH CHAP. 29.)

MOSIAH now felt that it was time that the question of the
succession to the throne should be settled. In his magnanimity
he sent among the people to learn whom they would
have for their king. The people chose his son Aaron, but
Aaron would not accept the royal power; his heart was set
upon the conversion of his fellow-men to the truths of the gospel.
This refusal troubled the mind of Mosiah; he apprehended
difficulties if Aaron at some future time should change
his mind and demand his rights. Mosiah therefore issued
another address to his much-loved subjects, as usual full of the
spirit of divine wisdom and love. In it, after recounting the
peculiarities of the situation, he says: Let us be wise and
consider these things, for we have no right to destroy my son,
neither should we have a right to destroy another, if he should
be appointed in his stead. And if my son should turn again
to his pride and vain things, he would recall the things which
he had said and claim his right to the kingdom, which would
cause him and also his people to commit much sin. * * *
Therefore, I will be your king the remainder of my days;
nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people according
to our law, and we will newly arrange the affairs of
this people; for we will appoint wise men to be judges that
will judge this people according to the commandments of God.

Inspired and directed by the Lord, the king further advised
many changes of the law, so that all things might be
[Pg 99]
done by the voice of the whole people. These changes
were gladly accepted by the people, as they gave them
greater liberty and a voice in all important national affairs.
As a law-maker Mosiah may be ranked among the most eminent
this world has produced. We regard him in some respects
as the Moses, in others as the Alfred the Great, of his
age and nation. But besides being a king he was also a seer.
The gift of interpreting strange tongues and languages was
his. By this gift he translated from the twenty-four plates
of gold, found by the people of king Limhi, the records of
the Jaredites. No wonder that a man possessed of such
gifts, so just and merciful in the administration of the law, so
perfect in his private life, should be esteemed more than any
man by his subjects, and that they waxed strong in their love
towards him. As a king, he was a father to them, but as a
prophet, seer and revelator he was the source whence divine
wisdom flowed unto them. We must go back to the days of
the antediluvian patriarchs to find the peers of these three
kings (the two Mosiahs and Benjamin), when monarchs ruled
by right divine, and men were prophets, priests and kings by
virtue of heaven’s gifts and God’s will.

His sons having started on their mission to the Lamanites,
Mosiah chose Alma, the younger, and gave the sacred plates
and the associate holy things into his care. The elder Alma
made this same son the presiding high priest of the church,
and the people chose him for their first chief judge. The
church, the records, the nation, all things being thus provided
for, Mosiah passed away to the joys of eternity, B. C. 91. He
was sixty-three years old, and he had ruled his people in righteousness
thirty-three years. When he passed away no fierce
convulsions wrecked the ship of state, the political atmosphere
was calm, the people joyfully assumed their new responsibilities,
and the first of the judges succeeded the last of
the kings without causing one disturbing wave on the placid
waters of the national life.

[Pg 100]

THE MISSION OF THE SONS OF MOSIAH TO THE LAMANITES—THEIR
JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS—AMMON BROUGHT
BEFORE KING LAMONI—THE CONFLICT AT THE WATERS OF
SEBUS—THE MIRACULOUS CONVERSION OF LAMONI AND
HIS FAMILY—ABISH THE WAITING WOMAN.

(ALMA CHAP. 17 TO 19.)

BEFORE we take up the history of the Nephites, during
the reigns of their judges, we will follow the sons of
Mosiah and their brethren to the land of Nephi, on the perilous
mission that they had undertaken, to convert the Lamanites.
The names of the four sons of Mosiah were Aaron,
Ammon, Omner and Himni; amongst their companions were
Muloki and Ammah.

These all took their journey into the southern wilderness
during the last year of Mosiah’s reign, or B. C. 91.
They carried with them their bows and arrows and other
weapons, not to wage war but to kill game for their food in
the wilderness. Their journey was a tedious one; they lost
their way and almost lost heart, and indeed were on the
point of returning when they received divine assurance of
their ultimate success. Nerved by this assurance, and with
much fasting and prayer, they continued their wanderings,
and before long reached the borders of the Lamanites.
Commending themselves to God they here separated, each
one trusting to the Lord to guide him to the place where
he could best accomplish the purposes of heaven.

Ammon entered the Lamanite territory at a land called
Ishmael. Here Lamoni was the chief ruler, under his father,
who was king of all the Lamanites. Ammon was no sooner
[Pg 101]
discovered than he was taken, bound with cords and conducted
into the presence of Lamoni. It was the custom of
the Lamanites to so use every Nephite they captured, and it
rested with the whim of the king whether the captive be
slain, imprisoned or sent out of the country. The king’s
will and pleasure were the only law on such matters.

Through God’s grace, Ammon found favor in the eyes
of Lamoni, and, learning that it was his desire to reside
amongst the Lamanites, the king offered him one of his
daughters to wife. Ammon courteously declined this intended
honor and begged to be accepted as one of the king’s
servants, which arrangement pleased Lamoni, and Ammon
was placed in that part of the royal household that had
charge of the monarch’s flocks and herds.

A glance at Lamanite society may not here be out of
place. It would appear that in Lamoni’s days the will of
the sovereign was the law of the land. The king’s power
over the lives and property of his subjects was unlimited.
We read of no constitution that prescribed or limited his
authority. The more degraded portions of the race wandered
in the vast wilderness, dwelling in tents, and subsisting
on what they killed in the chase or stole. The more civilized
Lamanites resided in cities, were wealthy in cattle, and followed
the occupations general among semi-civilized races.

Lamoni was rich in flocks and herds, probably the results
of the taxation of the people, but even the king’s property
was not secure from theft. Marauding bands would
watch for his numerous cattle as they approached their
watering places. Then with yell and prolonged shout they
would stampede the herds and drive away all they could
beyond the reach of the king’s servants. These would
gather up what few animals, if any, they found, and return to
the king in the full expectancy of being made to pay for the
loss by the forfeit of their lives. They were seldom disappointed,
for Lamoni or some of his predecessors had established
[Pg 102]
a somewhat unique criminal code with regard to stealing
the royal cattle. They had adopted the idea that it was
easier and cheaper to make the herdsmen responsible for the
losses and punish them therefor, than to hunt out and capture
the thieves. It had at least one virtue, it prevented collusion
between the robbers and the servants; but it produced much
dissatisfaction among Lamoni’s subjects.

On the third day of Ammon’s service, one of these raids
was made on the king’s cattle as they were being taken to
the waters of Sebus, the common watering place. The cattle
fled in all directions, and the dispirited servants, with the fear
of death before their eyes, sat down and wept instead of
attempting to stop them. Ammon perceived that this was
his opportunity. He first reasoned with the servants, then
encouraged them, and having sufficiently aroused their feelings,
he led them in the attempt to head off the flying herds.
With much exertion they succeeded. The cattle were all
gathered, but the robbers still waited at the watering place to
renew the attack when they drew near enough. Ammon
perceiving this, placed the servants at various points on the
outside of the flock and himself went forward to contend
with the robbers. Though they were many, he knew that
he was more powerful than them all, for God was with him.
The idea of one man withstanding so many was supremely
ridiculous to the robbers. But as one after another fell
before his unerring aim, they were astonished, and dreaded
him as something more than human. Enraged at the loss of
six of their number they rushed upon him in a body, determined
to crush him with their clubs. Ammon, undaunted,
drew his sword and awaited the onslaught. Their leader
fell dead at his feet, and as one after another raised their
clubs, Ammon struck off their arms until none dared to approach
him, but instead retreated afar off.

It was a strange procession that returned to the palace.
The fears of the herdsmen had been turned to joy, and they
[Pg 103]
marched in triumph into the presence of the king, with the
arms of the robbers as testimonies of the truth of the story of
Ammon’s prowess. Doubtless they did not diminish the telling
points in the narrative; the numbers of the band, the
courage and strength of the Nephite, were each dilated upon
with the vividness of superstitious imagination. When the
king had heard their marvelous story his heart was troubled,
and he came to the conclusion that Ammon must be the
Great Spirit, of whose existence he had an indistinct idea.
He trembled at the thought that perhaps this Spirit had come
to punish him because of the number of his servants whom he
had slain for permitting his cattle to be stolen.

Notwithstanding his misgivings, Lamoni desired to see
Ammon, who, acting as though nothing particular had happened,
was preparing the king’s horses and chariots, as the
servants had been directed. When he entered the royal
presence, the king was too much filled with emotion to speak
to him. More than once Ammon drew to the king’s attention
that he stood before him, as he had been requested, and
wished to know what were his commands. But Ammon’s
inquiries elicited no response. At last, perceiving the monarch’s
thoughts, he began to question Lamoni regarding
sacred things, and afterwards to expound to him the principles
of life and salvation. Lamoni listened and believed. He
was conscience-stricken, and with all the strength of his new-born
faith, he humbly begged that the Lord would show that
same mercy to him and to his people that he had shown to
the Nephites. Overcome with the intensity of his feelings he
sank to the earth as in a trance. In this state he was carried
to his wife, who with her children anxiously watched over
him for two days and two nights, awaiting his return to consciousness.
There was great diversity of opinion among his
retainers as to what troubled the king. Some said the power
of the Great Spirit was upon him, others that an evil power
possessed him, yet others asserted that he was dead, and
[Pg 104]
with remarkable acuteness of smell affirmed, He stinketh. At
the end of this time they had resolved to lay him away in the
sepulchre, when the queen sent for Ammon and plead with
him in her husband’s behalf. Ammon gave her the joyful
assurance, He is not dead, but sleepeth in God, and tomorrow
he shall rise again. Then he added, Believest thou this?
She answered, I have no witness, save thy word and the word
of our servants, nevertheless I believe it shall be according as
thou hast said. Then Ammon blessed her, and told her there
had not been such great faith among all the people of the
Nephites.

So the queen lovingly continued her watch by the bed of
her husband until the appointed hour. Lamoni then arose,
as Ammon had foretold. His soul was filled with heavenly
joy. His first words were of praise to God, his next were
blessings on his faithful wife whose faith he felt or knew.
He testified to the coming of the Redeemer, of whose greatness,
glory, power and mercy he had learned while in the
spirit. His body was too weak for the realities of eternity
that filled his heart. Again he sank overpowered to the
earth, and the same spirit overcame his wife also. Ammon’s
rejoicing heart swelled within him as he heard and witnessed
these things. He fell on his knees and poured out his soul in
praise and thanksgiving until he also could not contain the
brightness of the glory, the completeness of the joy that
overwhelmed him. Unconscious of all earthly things he
sank beside the royal pair. The same spirit of unmeasured
joy then fell upon all present and with the same results.
There was but one exception, a Lamanitish waiting woman
named Abish, who many years before had been converted to
the Lord, but kept the secret in her own bosom. She comprehended
the why and wherefore of this strange scene.
She saw the workings of the Almighty through which the
untutored minds of the Lamanites could be brought to an
understanding of the plan of salvation. From house to house
[Pg 105]
she went, calling the people to witness what had occurred in
the palace. They gathered at her call, but as might naturally
be expected their impressions were very conflicting. Some
said one thing, some another; some argued for good, some
for evil; to some, Ammon was a god, to others, a demon.
One man, who had his brother slain at the waters of Sebus,
drew his sword and attempted to slay Ammon, but was
struck dead by an unseen power before he could carry his
rash intent into action. So fierce was the contention, so angry
grew the controversy, that Abish, fearing greater trouble, by
an inspiration took hold of the hand of the queen, who there-upon
rose to her feet. The queen’s first thought was of her
husband. She took his hand and raised him up, and ere long
all who had been reposing in the spirit stood upon their feet.
The king, the queen, the servants, all rejoiced with joy unspeakable.
They all bore testimony to God’s abundant love
and goodness, and some declared that holy angels had visited
them. Still the contention was not entirely appeased until
Lamoni stood forth and explained to them the divine mysteries
of which they were so ignorant. Many believed,
others did not, but Ammon had the indescribable happiness of
shortly after establishing a church to the Lord in the midst of
the people of the land of Ishmael. Ammon’s humility, faith
and patience were bringing forth their fruit; while his soul
gathered faith and strength in the fulfillment of the promises
of the great Jehovah in answer to the pleadings of his faithful,
loving father.

[Pg 106]

AMMON AND LAMONI START FOR THE LAND OF MIDDONI—THEY
MEET THE OLD KING—HIS RAGE AT SEEING AMMON—HE
ENDEAVORS TO KILL HIS SON—AARON AND HIS BRETHREN
LIBERATED—A SKETCH OF THEIR LABORS AND SUFFERINGS—THE
CONVERSION OF LAMONI’S FATHER AND HIS HOUSE-HOLD.

(ALMA CHAP. 20 TO 22.)

WHEN the church was satisfactorily established in the
land of Ishmael, Lamoni arranged to pay a visit to his
father, the great king in the land of Nephi, to whom he was
desirous of introducing Ammon. However, the voice of the
Lord warned his servant not to go, but instead thereof to
proceed to the land of Middoni, where his brother Aaron
and other missionaries were suffering in prison. When
Lamoni heard of Ammon’s intention, and the cause thereof,
he decided to accompany him. He felt that he could be of
service in delivering the prisoners, as Antiomno, the king of
Middoni, was one of his special friends, and likely to grant
any favor he might ask. They accordingly started on their
errand of mercy, but on their way were surprised to meet
Lamoni’s father, who grew exceedingly angry when he found
Ammon in the company of his son. All the hatred born and
nurtured of false tradition boiled up in his breast. He listened
impatiently to Lamoni’s story of Ammon’s visit and its
fruits, and when it was finished be broke out in a torrent of
abuse toward the Nephite “son of a liar,” as he ungraciously
styled him, and ordered Lamoni to slay him. Lamoni without
hesitation refused to become the murderer of his most
loved friend, whereupon the old monarch, in the blind fury of
[Pg 107]
his anger, turned upon his own son, and would have killed
him if Ammon had not interposed. Little used to controversy,
much less to direct opposition, the king was not softened
by Ammon’s interference. Savagely he turned upon
him; but youth, strength, dexterity, and above all the protecting
care of the Lord were with Ammon, and he struck the
king’s sword arm so heavy a blow that it fell useless at his
side. Realizing he was now in the power of the man he had
so foully abused, he made abundant promises, even to half
his kingdom, if his life was spared. This boon Ammon immediately
granted, asking only favors for Lamoni and his
own imprisoned brethren. The king, unused to such generosity
and manly love, granted all his requests, and when he
proceeded on his journey his mind was filled with reflections
regarding Ammon’s courage and great love for his son. He
was also troubled in his heart concerning certain expressions
of Ammon on doctrinal points, which opened up ideas that
were entirely new to his mind.

Lamoni and Ammon continued their journey to Middoni,
where by God’s grace, they found favor in the eyes of king
Antiomno, and by his commands the prisoners were released
from the horrors and inhumanities practiced upon them.
When Ammon met these faithful brethren, he was greatly
grieved because of their naked, wounded, starved and wretched
condition, but when they were delivered they enjoyed a season
of grateful joy, thanksgiving and mutual congratulation. After
this Ammon returned to the land of Ishmael to continue his
labors.

It appears that when Ammon and his brethren separated
on the borders of the Lamanites, Aaron took his journey
towards a land called Jerusalem, which was situated near the
waters of Mormon. Here the Lamanites, the people of
Amulon and others, had built a great city to which they gave
the name of Jerusalem. In this great city the people, many
of whom were Nephite apostates, were very wicked. They
[Pg 108]
would not listen to his teachings, so he left them and went to
a village called Ani-Anti. There he found Muloki, Ammah
and others preaching the word. But their efforts were fruitless;
the people of this place would not receive the truth,
therefore they left them and went over into the land Middoni.
There they preached unto many though but few believed in
their words. Before long the wicked raised a persecution,
and some of the brethren were cast into prison, whilst others
fled into the regions round about. In prison they were treated
with great cruelty; they were bound with strong cords, which
cut into their flesh; they were deprived of proper food, drink
and clothing, and otherwise suffered nameless afflictions.
There they remained until they were released through the
intercession of Ammon and Lamoni.

Some time after Aaron and his fellow-prisoners were released,
he, with some others, went to the land of Nephi, or
Lehi-Nephi, as it is sometimes called. They there presented
themselves before the old king who was the father of Lamoni.
When this monarch saw them he was greatly pleased, for his
heart had been touched by the words and conduct of Ammon.
At his request Aaron explained to him many things relating
to the nature of God; for, though he recognized the power
and might of the Great Spirit, he was altogether ignorant of
things concerning the Deity.

Aaron by degrees explained to him the principles of the
everlasting gospel. He commenced with the creation of man,
showed how Adam fell that man might be, and how the plan
of redemption through a Savior’s sufferings was devised before
the world was, and how man, by obedience to the gospel,
would triumph over death, hell, and the grave.

His words were gratefully received by the king, who besought
Aaron to teach him how he might obtain this eternal
life of which he spoke. Aaron instructed him to bow down
before the Lord in prayer, and then in faith ask for the blessings
he desired.

[Pg 109]

The aged king did so. He prostrated himself on the
ground and cried mightily, saying, O God, Aaron hath told
me there is a God, and if there is a God, and if thou art
God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will
give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be
raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. So
great was his emotion, that when he had said these words,
he was struck as if he were dead.

When the king thus fell his servants ran and told the
queen what had happened. She at once came into the room
where he lay, and seeing Aaron and his brethren standing by
she became very angry, as she supposed that they were the
cause of the evil that had, in her estimation, befallen her husband.
She, without hesitation, ordered the king’s servants to
take the brethren and slay them; but the servants dared not,
for they feared the power which was in Aaron. The queen
was also afraid, but she seemed to think that the best way to
get rid of the trouble was to destroy those who she fancied
brought it. As the king’s servants refused to obey her command,
she ordered them to go out into the streets and call
upon the people to come in and kill Aaron and his companions.

When Aaron saw the temper of the queen, he feared
lest the multitude, in the hardness of their hearts, would raise
a great commotion, and be a cause of hindering the work of
God, which had so auspiciously commenced with the king.
Therefore he put forth his hand and raised the monarch from
the earth, and at the same time said unto him, Stand. The
king at once received his strength and arose, at the sight of
which the queen and the servants wondered greatly and were
filled with fear.

Then the king began to explain to them what he had
learned with regard to God and the Gospel, and he spoke
with such great power that his whole household was converted.
The multitude also that had gathered at the call of
[Pg 110]
the queen were pacified by his words, and when he saw that
their hearts were softened he caused that Aaron and his
brethren should teach them the word of God.

THE KING ISSUES A PROCLAMATION—THE RESULTS OF THE
LABORS OF THE SONS OF MOSIAH—THE PEOPLE OF ANTI-NEPHI-LEHI—THEY
BURY THEIR WEAPONS OF WAR—ARE
MASSACRED BY THE THOUSAND—THEY REMOVE TO THE
TERRITORY OF THE NEPHITES, WHO GIVE THEM THE LAND
OF JERSHON.

(ALMA CHAP. 23 TO 27.)

AFTER the king was converted he sent a proclamation
throughout the land forbidding any and all from persecuting
Ammon and his fellow-missionaries, giving them liberty
to preach anywhere and everywhere that they desired.
Our readers may be sure that this privilege was not neglected.
To use Ammon’s own words, the missionaries entered into the
houses of the people and taught them; they taught them
in their temples and synagogues, in the open streets and on
the lofty hills. But often they were cast out, spit upon,
smitten, stoned, bound, cast into prison and made to suffer all
manner of afflictions, from which the Lord, in his mercy, delivered
them and from which the king’s proclamation afterward
protected them. Nor was the result of their labors
trifling, but glorious in the saving of many thousand souls;
for unto the Lord were converted the people of the Lamanites
who dwelt in the lands of Ishmael, Middoni, Shilom and
[Pg 111]
Shemlon, and in the cities of Nephi, Lemuel and Shimnilon;
and they became a righteous, peaceful, God-serving people;
and from faithful obedience to his law they never fell away.
But the various bodies of Nephite apostates who dwelt among
the Lamanites universally rejected the gospel message, with
the exception of one single Amalekite, and of what ultimately
became of him we have no record.

History often repeats itself, but we have no recollection
of any parallel to the events that followed this marvelous
conversion. The Lamanite people now became two as distinct
and separate bodies as they and the Nephites had beforetimes
been. But with this strange complication, the
apostate Nephites now occupied the place and did the work
of the natural Lamanites, while the true descendants of
Laman and Lemuel took the ground previously held by the
righteous Nephites. So clearly defined did the division become
that the supreme ruler (Lamoni’s father), having turned
from the tradition, habits and customs of the Lamanites, was
determined to also cast aside the old name. If they were
Lamanites in name only they would cut that weak cord which
alone held them to the past, and be as new in name as they
were in feelings, hopes, loyalty and religion. So, after advising
with Ammon and his fellow-missionaries, he gave to
his people the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehies, and to his son, to
whom he transferred the royal power, that of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.

The renegade Amalekites, Amulonites and others were
not willing to be ruled by a Christian monarch. They had
rejected Christianity altogether, and would not have it as the
ruling power, either in Nephi or Zarahemla. With the old
sophistries and falsehoods they raised a mutiny in the hearts
of their associate Lamanites and urged them on to rebellion
against the rightful king and his believing subjects. But the
converted Lamanites made no preparations to resist them;
they felt that in times past with unholy hands they had spilt
[Pg 112]
blood as water on the land; blood that they could never atone
for, but they would do it no more. Passive non-resistance
should for the future be their policy, but the blood of a fellow-being
they would never again shed, no matter how great the
peril, how intense the aggravation. As a witness of the
completeness of this resolve, they took their weapons of war
and buried them deep in the earth with an oath and covenant
that they would never dig them up again. When the maddened
hosts of their embittered brethren rushed upon them,
they came forth unarmed, bowed down before their assailants,
and submitted to their fate. With them to live was Christ,
to die was salvation. The vengeful Nephite apostates led the
inglorious charge and shed most of the blood that flowed that
day, when one thousand and five unresisting martyrs glorified
the Lamanite race by the tribute of their lives to God
and the truth. A thousand ransomed souls, washed white
in the blood of the Lamb, that day entered the gates of
heaven to stand amongst the saviors on Mount Zion in the
great day of the redeemed. Nor was there joy alone in that
bright world beyond, but on earth the church was gladdened
by fresh accessions to the cause. When many of the actual
Lamanites witnessed the great change that had taken place
in their brethren, that they would quietly, peacefully joyously
lay down their lives, their consciences smote them; they
stayed their hands, and rose in tumult against their Amalekite
leaders, and would no longer be the murderers of their kin.
The blood of the martyrs was indeed the seed of the church,
for there were more added to the fold of Christ on that
memorable day than those who passed away to the presence of
their God.

Foiled in their attempt to destroy the Anti-Nephi-Lehies
(or Ammonites as we shall hereafter call them), the blood-thirsty
Lamanites, led as usual by Nephite apostates, made a
sudden incursion into the land of Zarahemla, and, in fulfillment
of Alma’s prophecies, destroyed the great city of Ammonihah,
[Pg 113]
of which we shall say more hereafter, but met with
most disastrous defeat later on in the campaign. Still vowing
vengeance they returned to their own lands, and feeling that
the Ammonites were in sympathy with the Nephites, they
satisfied their hatred by again slaughtering many of these
unresisting people, who, as before, permitted themselves to be
slain, without making the first effort at defense. But Ammon
and his brethren were not willing to have the disciples continually
harassed and eventually exterminated; they judged
that the Lord having so thoroughly tried the faith of this devoted
people, would provide some way of escape.

Ammon counseled with the king and it was thought it
would be better to forsake their all so far as worldly possessions
were concerned, than to sacrifice their lives. But first
let them inquire of the Lord. Ammon did so and the Lord
said, Get this people out of this land, that they perish not, for
Satan has great hold upon the hearts of the Amalekites who do
stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay
them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are the
people of this generation for I will preserve them.

The word of the Lord thus received was joyfully
obeyed. The Ammonites gathered up their flocks and their
herds and departed into the wilderness that lay between the
lands of Nephi and Zarahemla. There they rested whilst
Ammon and his brethren went forward and treated with the
Nephites in behalf of the persecuted hosts they had left behind.
The people, by united voice, gladly welcomed their
co-religionists and set apart the land of Jershon as their inheritance.
Thither the Ammonites with happy feet repaired,
and there they dwelt until the breaking out of war made it
desirable that they should remove to the land of Melek, and
many thousands in after years emigrated to the land north.
Of their future history we shall speak, from time to time,
when it connects with that of the Nephites.

[Pg 114]

REVIEW OF THE MISSION OF THE SONS OF MOSIAH—ITS IMPORTANCE
AND GREAT LENGTH—ITS RESULTS TO BOTH
RACES—THE DATES OF ITS LEADING OCCURRENCES.

(ALMA CHAP. 17 TO 27.)

SO FAR as we can gather from the records, the great
mission of Ammon and his brethren to the Lamanites
was productive of results new to the history of the Nephites.
On many previous occasions dissenters from the latter had
gone over to the Lamanites, until that nation consisted of a
mixed race. But the Nephite people appear to have been,
almost without exception, the literal descendants of the first
founders of the monarchy, Nephi, Sam, Jacob, Joseph and
Zoram, and of the people of Zarahemla. But now a large
body of Lamanites was incorporated in the Nephite nation
and became partakers of the liberties accorded to all other
citizens. As the history of the two nations proceeds, the
original distinctions of descent become less and less observable,
as defections from both people were constantly occurring,
so that in process of time a Nephite was not so much a literal
descendant of Lehi’s greatest son, as one who recognized
the Nephite government, was an observer of the law of
Moses and a believer in the gospel; while the Lamanite was
he who dwelt in the dominions of that people, rejected the
law and the gospel, and adopted the false traditions of that
race.

The mission of Ammon and his brethren was not only
important but it was of great length. They left Zarahemla
in the first year of the Judges (B. C. 91) and returned in the
fourteenth (B. C. 78). It seems altogether probable that the
[Pg 115]
conversion of king Lamoni took place in the first year of their
ministry, unless Ammon was detained in prison a lengthened
period before he was brought before the king (for which suggestion
we find no warrant), as it was only the third day of
Ammon’s service when his conflict occurred with the cattle
thieves at the waters of Sebus. The conversion of Lamoni
was the immediate result. Yet we judge that the establishment
and organization of the church in the land of Ishmael
was a work of considerable time. We are strengthened in
this opinion by the account of the labors performed by Aaron
and others during this same period.

In the fifth year of the Nephite Judges (B. C. 87) the
Lamanites invaded Zarahemla and were disastrously defeated,
about which time we suggest Aaron and his fellows were
confined in prison in the land of Middoni, and the results of
the war would measurably account for the great cruelty with
which they were treated by the exasperated Lamanites, as
well as for the ferocity of the old king when he found his son
in the company of the hated Nephite. After the incidents of
that eventful meeting the king was not in a frame of mind to
go to war with the Nephites; the generous words and magnanimous
conduct of Ammon had produced such a deep
influence, that though not yet converted, his heart had experienced
a great change. Probably a year or two passed before
Aaron and his fellow-laborers brought him to a full
knowledge of the true plan of redemption. For these reasons
we consider the meeting of Lamoni and his father did not
take place earlier than B. C. 87. The old king’s conversion
was followed by the issuance of his proclamation of protection
and unqualified religious liberty to the Nephite missionaries
and to all his subjects; of which proclamation Aaron
and his co-laborers took the fullest benefit by preaching from
city to city throughout the wide Lamanite territory, establishing
churches and ordaining officers therein. This labor
occupied some years. As the church grew the spirit of rebellion
[Pg 116]
developed amongst the unconverted, until they declared
open war against the king, and massacred their gospel-believing
brethren.

Immediately after the massacre of the 1005 Anti-Nephi-Lehies
the angry Lamanites broke out in war with the
Nephites, under the idea that the latter were the cause of
their internal troubles. They made a sudden incursion into
the land of Zarahemla and destroyed the city of Ammonihah,
which event took place in the eleventh year of the Judges
(B. C. 81), and after that they had many battles with the
Nephites, in which they were driven and slain. After their
return from this inglorious campaign they wreaked their
vengeance on their unoffending brethren, and again commenced
to massacre them, which murders, we suggest, took
place during the thirteenth year of the reign of the Judges (B.
C. 79), as in the year following the whole of the believing
Lamanites migrated to the land of Jershon, as before narrated
(B. C. 78). These dates are simply suggestive as far as the
history of the mission is concerned, but those that relate to
the Nephites are distinctly stated in the annals of that people.

[Pg 117]

THE DAYS OF THE JUDGES—THEIR NAMES AND REIGNS—THE
HERESY OF NEHOR—HE SLAYS GIDEON AND IS EXECUTED—AMLICI’S
REBELLION—THE BATTLE OF AMNIHU—THE
CONFLICT AT THE CROSSING OF THE SIDON—A THIRD
BATTLE.

(ALMA CHAP. 1 TO 3.)

FOR a period of about one hundred and twenty years succeeding
the death of king Mosiah, the Nephite commonwealth
was governed by judges. These were chosen by the
united voice of the people, as provided in the constitution
framed under Divine inspiration by the last king, and acknowledged
as the supreme law of the nation, through its
unanimous acceptance as such, by the entire people. At the
end of this period the republic was overthrown through the
great wickedness of all classes of the community, and the
people divided themselves into numerous independent tribes.

It is not actually certain that the Book of Mormon gives
us the names of all the Nephite chief judges. In the earlier
portion of the annals of these times the order of succession
is plainly stated, but in the record of later years the name of
the judge is sometimes only mentioned incidentally in the historic
narrative. It is therefore beyond our power to determine
if there were, or were not, others whose names have
been omitted by the sacred historians. The judges mentioned
by name or description are twelve in number. Of
these, five, Pahoran II., Cezoram, Cezoram’s son (whose
name is not given), Seezoram and Lachoneus II., were assassinated;
one, Pacumeni, was slain in battle with the Lamanites;
two, Alma and Nephi, were translated or taken by the Lord;
[Pg 118]
three, Nephihah, Pahoran I., and Helaman, died a natural
death, whilst of the manner of the decease of one, Lachoneus
I., we have no record. They judged the Nephites in the following
order: 1 Alma (the younger), from B. C. 91 to B. C.
83; 2 Nephihah, from B. C. 83 to B. C. 68; 3 Pahoran I.,
from B. C. 68 to B. C. 53; 4 Pahoran II., from B. C. 52 to
B. C. 52; 5 Pacumeni, from B. C. 52 to B. C. 51; 6 Helaman
(the younger), from B. C. 50 to B. C. 39; 7 Nephi, from B.
C. 39 to B. C. 30; 8 Cezoram, from B. C. 30 to B. C. 26;
9 Cezoram’s son, from B. C. 26 to B. C. 26; 10 Seezoram,
B. C. — to B. C. 23, 11 Lachoneus I., from — to —; 12
Lachoneus II., from — to A. C. 30.

It is possible that some unnamed judge may have ruled
the Nephites for a short time after the murder of Cezoram’s
son, and before Seezoram was chosen, and still more probable
that one or more rulers presided over the destinies of the
nation between the death of Seezoram and the election of
Lachoneus I., as there was a space of fifty-three years between
the murder of Seezoram and that of Lachoneus II.,
who succeeded his father. Alma, the son of Alma, was the
first chief judge of the Nephite republic, having been called
to that high position before the death of king Mosiah.

It was the first year of Alma’s reign. Could our readers
have taken a glimpse at the fair capital of the Nephites at
that time (B. C. 91), already rich in the awards of human industry,
combined with the lavish productions of nature in that
much favored land, they might have noticed in the principal
street, a portly, handsome man, manifesting in his carriage
the evidence of great bodily strength, combined with vanity,
self-sufficiency and subtlety. They might have observed that
his raiment was made of the finest fabrics that the looms of
Zarahemla could produce, lavishly embroidered and ornamented
[Pg 119]
with labors of the cunning workman in silk, in
feathers and the precious metals, whilst at his side hung a
richly decorated sword. This man was no king, no governor,
no general of the armies of Israel; he was simply Nehor,
the successful religious charlatan of the hour, to whom the
unstable listened and the weak-minded flocked. His teachings
had at any rate the interest of novelty to the Nephites,
yet some of his theories were older than Idumea. They had
been rejected in the counsels of heaven before Lucifer, the
son of the morning, fell. He would save all men in their sins
and with their sins; he abolished hell, established a paid
order of priests, and taught doctrines so liberal that every man
could be a member of his church and yet continue to gratify
every vice his nature inclined to. For this liberality of doctrine,
Nehor expected in return liberality of support for himself
and assistants, in which anticipation he was not disappointed.
Many adopted his heresies; his success fired his
zeal and developed his vanity. He was so used to the
sycophancy of his converts that he was restive under contradiction,
and when Gideon, the aged patriot, and teacher in
the true church, one day met him in the streets of Zarahemla
and upbraided him for his wicked course, neither respecting
his great age nor his many virtues, Nehor drew his sword
and smote him till he died. For this wilful and unprovoked
crime, the murderer was tried, convicted, and afterward executed.
His execution took place on the hill Manti, and, from
the way in which his death is spoken of, we imagine that he
was hanged.

Though Nehor’s shameful life was thus ended, unfortunately
his doctrine did not die with him. It was too pleasant
to those who desired to gain heaven without a life of righteousness.
Consequently it spread widely through the teachings
of his followers. In later years the traitorous Amlicites,
the apostate Amalekites, the blood-thirsty Amulonites and
Ammonihahites, were all believers in his soul-destroying
[Pg 120]
doctrines. The bloodshed, the misery produced, the treasure
expended through the wickedness and folly of these base
creatures, cannot be computed.

The increase of these false teachers among the Nephites
rapidly developed class distinctions and social divisions; their
adherents being generally gathered from amongst those who
loved the vain things of the world. Naturally they became
proud and overbearing, and bitter in their feelings towards
the members of the true church of Christ. Many of the latter
received severe persecution at the hands of the dissenters
and bore it without retaliation, while others returned insult for
insult and gave blow for blow.

The example of these self-appointed teachers produced a
like spirit throughout their churches, and their members became
idle and full of devices to enable them to live without
honest toil. They gave way to sorcery and idolatry, to robbery
and murder, and to all manner of wickedness, for which
offenses they were duly punished according to the law, whenever
conviction could be obtained, and when the intent of the
law was not thwarted by their unholy combinations. This
development of priestcraft also gave rise to another evil.
Many belonging to the apostate churches, though not willing
to openly plunder or murder for gain, were anxious for a
monarchy to be established, that thereby they might be appointed
office holders, etc., and fatten at the public crib.
Their hope and intention was to destroy the church of God,
and undoubtedly to despoil its members.

In the fifth year of the Judges, a willing instrument arose
to effect their purpose. His name was Amlici, a follower of
Nehor, corrupt and ambitious, but cunning in the wisdom of
the world. He was chosen by the enemies of the commonwealth
to be the king of the Nephites. The whole question
was brought before the people at a general election, as provided
by the code of Mosiah. The monarchists were out-voted;
the republic and the church were saved.

[Pg 121]

This should have ended the matter, but it did not; the
turbulent minority, incited by Amlici, would not accept this
constitutional decision. They assembled and crowned their
favorite as king of the Nephites, and he at once began to
prepare for war, that he might force the rest of the people to
accept his government. Nor was Alma idle; he also made
ready for the impending contest. He gathered his people
and armed them with all the weapons known to Nephite
warfare. The two armies of those who so short a time before
were brethren, met near a hill called Amnihu, on the
east bank of the river Sidon. There a bloody battle followed,
in which Amlici’s forces were disastrously defeated
with a loss of 12,532 men, whilst the victors had to mourn
the loss of 6,562 warriors slain.

After pursuing the defeated monarchists as far as he was
able, Alma rested his troops in the valley of Gideon (named
after the martyr slain by Nehor). He there took the precaution
to send out four officers with their companies to watch
the movements and learn the intentions of the retreating foe.
These officers were named Zeram, Amnor, Manti and Limher.
On the morrow these scouts returned in great haste, and
reported that the Amlicites had joined a vast host of Lamanites
in the land Minon, where unitedly they were slaying the
Nephite population and ravaging their possessions; at the
same time they were pushing rapidly towards the Nephite
capital with the intent of capturing it before Alma’s army
could return. Alma at once headed his troops for Zarahemla,
and with all haste marched toward it. He reached the crossing
of the Sidon without meeting the enemy, but while attempting
to pass to the western bank he was confronted by
the allied armies.

WILDERNESS OF HERMOUNTS.

A terrible battle ensued; the Nephites were taken somewhat
at a disadvantage, but being men of faith, they fervently
sought Heaven’s aid, and in the increased fervor this faith inspired,
they hastened to the combat. With Alma at their
[Pg 122]
head, the advanced guard forded the river and broke upon the
enemy who stood awaiting them. By the impetuosity of their
charge they drove in the ranks of the enemy, and as they
pushed onward they cleared the ground by throwing the
bodies of their fallen foes into the Sidon, thus making an
opening for the main body to obtain a foothold. In this
[Pg 123]
charge Alma met Amlici face to face, and they fought desperately.
In the midst of this hand to hand combat, Alma
lifted his heart on high, and prayed for renewed strength that
he might not be overpowered, but live to do more good to his
people. His prayers were answered, and thereby he gained
new vigor to battle with and eventually slay Amlici. Amlici
slain, Alma led the attack to where the king of the Lamanites
fought. But that monarch retired before the impetuous
valor of the high priest and commanded his guards to close
in upon his assailant. The order was promptly obeyed, but
it did not succeed. Alma and his guards bore down upon
them with such fury that the few of the monarch’s warriors
who escaped made a hasty retreat. Pushing steadily on,
Alma kept driving the allies before him, until his whole army
had crossed the Sidon. There the enemy, no longer able to
meet his well ordered advance, broke in all directions, and
retreated into the wilderness that lay to the north and west.
They were hotly pursued by the Nephites as long as the latter’s
strength permitted, and were met on all quarters by
patriots rallying to the call of the commonwealth who slew
them by thousands. A remnant eventually reached that part
of the wilderness known as Hermounts. There many died
and were devoured by the wild beasts and vultures with
which that region abounded.

A few days after this decisive battle, another invading
Lamanite army appeared. This one advanced along the east
bank of the Sidon. Alma, having been wounded, sent one
of his officers, who met the hosts of the Lamanites, and drove
them back to their own lands.

[Pg 124]

ALMA RESIGNS THE CHIEF JUDGESHIP—NEPHIHAH CHOSEN—ALMA
MINISTERS IN ZARAHEMLA, GIDEON, MELEK AND
AMMONIHAH—CONDITION OF THE LAST NAMED CITY—IT
REJECTS THE MESSAGE ALMA BEARS—AN ANGEL MEETS
HIM—AMULEK—THE LAWYER ZEEZROM—THE GREAT
CONTROVERSY—ZEEZROM CONVERTED AND CAST OUT—THE
MARTYRDOM OF THE BELIEVERS—ALMA AND AMULEK
IN PRISON—THEIR DELIVERANCE.

(ALMA CHAP. 4 TO 14.)

THE great losses sustained by the Nephites in this war,
not of warriors alone, but of women and children, together
with the vast amount of their property destroyed, had
the effect of humbling them and softening their way-ward
hearts, so that many thousands, during the next few years,
were added to the church by baptism. But the recollection
of their former disasters was gradually worn away by time
and prosperity. Three years later we find great inequality
in the church—some poor and some rich, the more powerful
abusing and oppressing their weaker brethren. This course
proved a great stumbling-block to those who were not numbered
with the church, as well as being the cause of much
sorrow and ill-feeling amongst its members. Finding that
no man could properly attend to the duties of his many
offices, Alma determined to resign the chief judgeship, and
devote his entire time to his duties as the earthly head of the
church. Preparatory to this resignation, he selected one of
the leading elders, named Nephihah, to be his successor as
chief judge. This choice was confirmed by the people. (B.
C. 83.)

[Pg 125]

Alma now gave his entire attention to the duties of his
calling as a preacher of righteousness. He commenced his
labors in Zarahemla. Thence he went to the city of Gideon.
After ministering there for some time, he returned for rest to
his home in the capital city.

The next year (B. C. 82), Alma turned his face westward.
He visited the land of Melek, where his labors were
crowned with abundant blessings. Having satisfied himself
with the good that he had accomplished, he traveled three
days’ journey on the north of the land of Melek, to a great and
corrupt city called Ammonihah. There he found a godless
people, filled with the falsehoods of Nehor, who were committing
all manner of abominations without repentance, because
they cherished the flattering lie, as the foundation of
their creed, that all men would be saved. This city was in
the hands of a corrupt clique of judges and lawyers, who
stirred up sedition, tumult and rioting, that they might make
money out of the suits that followed such disturbances.
Further than this, they were secretly plotting to overthrow
the government, and rob the people of their highly prized
liberties. Among such a people Alma labored in vain; none
would listen, none would obey, none offered him rest and
food. Scorn and mockery were his reward; and he was spat
upon, maltreated and cast out of the city.

Weary in body and sick at heart because of the iniquity
of the people, after many fruitless efforts, fervent prayers and
long fastings, Alma sought some other people more worthy
of salvation’s priceless gifts. He bent his way toward the
city of Aaron; but as he journeyed, an angel of the Lord
(that same angel that beforetime had been the agent in his
conversion to God) stood before him and blessed him. He
told him to lift up his heart and rejoice, for because of his
faithfulness he had great cause to do so. The angel then
directed Alma to return to the sin-cursed city he had just
[Pg 126]
left, and proclaim unto its citizens the awful message that except
they repented the Lord would destroy them.

Without delay the prophet obeyed the angel’s words.
By another road he drew near the doomed city, which he entered
by its south gate. As he passed in he hungered, and
asked a man whom he met, Will ye give to an humble servant
of God something to eat? With joy the man (and,
strange though it appear, he was a rich man) took him to
his home and fed, clothed and lodged him. Furthermore,
Amulek, for such was his name, told Alma that he also had
received a visit from a holy angel who had informed him of
the high priest’s coming, and directed him to receive him into
his house. Then Alma blessed Amulek and all his household,
and tarried with them and recruited his strength under
the generous hospitality which their home afforded. But his
rest was not to be a lengthened one; the people waxed
stronger in sin; the cup of their iniquity was nearly full. Go,
came the word of the Lord, Go forth, and take with thee my
servant Amulek, and prophesy unto his people, saying, Repent
ye, for thus saith the Lord, Except ye repent, I will
visit this people in mine anger; yea, I will not turn my fierce
anger away. Filled with the Holy Ghost, these servants of
God went forth and valiantly delivered their terrible message.
One of those who most bitterly opposed Alma and Amulek
was a lawyer named Zeezrom. We find recorded at great
length, in the Book of Mormon, the details of the controversy
that occurred between him and the two servants of the
Lord. As a result we have handed down to us some of the
plainest teachings regarding the atonement, the resurrection,
the powers of the priesthood, etc., that are had among mankind.
No matter what Alma and his companion said, Zeezrom
could twist it from its proper meaning; find blasphemy
and heresy in the sublime truths of the gospel, and extract
treason from the simplest of God’s laws. He questioned and
cross-questioned, he promised and threatened, he twisted and
[Pg 127]
turned, he abused and vilified, but all to no purpose, he was
caught in his own trap. His heaven-inspired opponents
made manifest his thoughts and intentions, they exposed his
lying, they overthrew his sophistries and, with a power more
than human, they exhibited the blackness of his heart. As
they proceeded the power of God increased upon them, their
words grew yet more forcible until Zeezrom himself felt their
power. As his corruptions were laid bare he began to tremble,
first with rage, then with fear. Bad as he was, he was
not the worst among his people, and when once he realized
the power he was combating, his heart began to acknowledge
its guilt.

With this feeling he commenced to inquire of Alma, not
now in mockery, but in solemn earnestness, with regard to the
kingdom of God. The answers he received were like a two-edged
sword, piercing to his inmost soul, bringing to him a
terrible sense of his awful position before God, and encompassing
him about with the pains of hell. He realized that
he had been a leader in iniquity, that his lyings and deceivings
had greatly contributed to drag the people down to their
existing corruption, and that he was among those most responsible
for their hardness of heart.

In this frame of mind he made an effort to plead with
the people; he acknowledged his guilt, testified to the virtue
and integrity of Alma and Amulek and interceded in their
behalf. But in vain. The degraded populace reviled him,
they mocked at him, they said he also was possessed of a
devil, and further, they spat on him; then they cast stones at
him, and ultimately, with some others, drove him out of their
city; while the two prophets, with many who believed in their
holy message, were thrown into prison, there to suffer all the
indignities, persecutions and annoyances that apostate hate
could inflict. Nor was this the worst; these reprobates took
the wives and babes of those believers whom they had driven
away, with such as had accepted the truth who still remained
[Pg 128]
in the city, and, gathering them in a body they mercilessly
burned them to death in one great martyrs’ fire. Into the
torturing flames they also cast the records that contained the
holy scriptures, as though they imagined, in their blind fury,
that they could thereby destroy the truths that were so odious
to them.

In their devilish glee and savage exultation they carried
the two enchained prophets to the place of sacrifice, that
they might harrow up their souls with a view of the sufferings
of the perishing women and children. Amulek’s brave
and impetuous spirit could ill bear the fearful scene. The
groans, the cries and supplications of the tortured innocents
carried untold agony to his soul. He begged Alma to exercise
the power of God that was in them to save the martyrs.
But the Holy Spirit revealed to Alma that this sacrifice was
by heaven’s consent, and he replied, The Spirit constraineth
me that I must not stretch forth mine hand, for behold the
Lord receiveth them up unto himself in glory; and he doth
suffer that the people may do this thing, according to the
hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall
exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood
of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea,
and cry mightily against them at the last day. Then Amulek
said, Perhaps they will burn us also. To which Alma responded,
Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold,
our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.

When the fire had burned low, and the precious fuel of
human bodies and sacred records was consumed, the chief
judge of the city came to the two prisoners as they stood
bound, and mocked them. He smote them on the cheek,
and jeeringly asked them if they would preach again that
his people should be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone,
seeing that they had no power to save those who had been
burned, neither had God exercised his power in their behalf.
[Pg 129]
But neither answered him a word. Then he smote them
again and remanded them to prison.

After they had been confined three days, they were visited
by many judges and lawyers, priests and teachers, after
the order of Nehor, who came to exult in the misery of their
prisoners. They questioned and badgered them, but neither
would reply. They came again the next day, and went
through the same performance. They mocked at, smote and
spat upon the two disciples. They tantalized them with blasphemous
questions, such as the nature of their peculiar faith
inspired. How shall we look when we are damned? sneeringly
asked these unbelievers in damnation.

Patiently and silently all this was borne. Day after day
was it repeated. Harder and harder grew the hearts of the
Ammonihahites towards their prisoners. Fiercer and stronger
grew their hatred. They stripped Alma and Amulek, and,
when naked, bound them with strong ropes. They withheld
food and drink from them, and in various ways they tortured
their bodies, and sought to aggravate and tantalize them and
harrow up their minds. On the 12th day of the tenth month
of the tenth year of the Judges (B. C. 82), the chief judge
with his followers again went to the prison. According to
his usual custom he smote the brethren, saying as he did so, If
ye have the power of God, deliver yourselves from these
bonds, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy
this people according to your words. This impious challenge
the crowd one by one repeated as they passed by the
prophets, and smote them in imitation of their leader. Thus
each individual assumed the responsibility of the defiance cast
at the Almighty, and virtually said, Our blood be upon our
own heads.

The hour of God’s power had now come—the challenge
had been accepted. The prophets, in the majesty of their
calling, rose to their feet. They were endowed with the
strength of Jehovah. Like burnt thread the cords that bound
[Pg 130]
them were snapped asunder and they stood free and unshackled
before the terror-stricken crowd. To rush from the
prison was the first impulse of the God-defying followers of
Nehor. In their fear some fell to the earth, others, impelled
by the crowd behind stumbled and fell over the prostrate
bodies, until they became one confused mass, blocking each
other’s way; struggling, yelling, cursing, pleading, fighting;
frantically, but vainly, endeavoring to reach the outer gate.

At this moment of supreme horror an earthquake rent
the prison walls. They trembled, then tottered, then fell on
the struggling mass of humanity below, burying in one vast,
unconsecrated grave, rulers and judges, lawyers and officers,
priests and teachers. Not one was left alive of all the impious
mob who a few moments before defied heaven
and challenged Jehovah’s might. But Alma and Amulek stood
in the midst of the ruins unhurt. Straightway they left this
scene of desolation and went into the city. When the citizens
saw the two servants of God, great fear fell upon them, and
they fled, as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions.

Alma and Amulek were then ordered to leave the city.
This they did, and went to the neighboring town of Sidom.
There they found those who had been cast out of Ammonihah,
and in grief and sorrow they related the story of the
burning of the wives and children of the fugitives, and also
the history of their own miraculous deliverance.

[Pg 131]

ZEEZROM SICK WITH FEVER—HIS MIRACULOUS RECOVERY—THE
DESTRUCTION OF AMMONIHAH—THE INVASION OF
THE LAND OF NOAH—ZORAM, THE NEPHITE COMMANDER,
SEEKS THE MIND OF THE LORD—IT IS GIVEN—ITS
RESULTS—THE WAR ENDED—ALMA’S MINISTRATIONS.

(ALMA CHAP. 15 AND 16.)

WHILE the fearful tragedy that we have just related was
being enacted in Ammonihah, Zeezrom—trembling,
heart-sick and faint—wandered with the others to Sidom.
The horrors of the damned took hold of him, until his body
succumbed to the agony of his mind. He was scorched with
a burning fever, which continually increased until the glad
tidings reached his ears that Alma and Amulek were safe;
for he had feared that through his iniquities they had been
slain. No sooner did they reach Sidom than he sent for
them, as his heart then began to take courage. They did
not hesitate, but at once proceeded to where he lay. When
they entered his presence, he stretched forth his hands and
besought them to heal him. Alma questioned him regarding
his faith in Christ, and finding that the good seed planted in
his bosom had brought forth fruit, this mighty high priest
cried unto the Lord, O Lord our God, have mercy on this
man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.
When Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his
feet and walked, to the great astonishment of all who witnessed
it. Alma then baptized the repentant lawyer, who
began from that time forth to preach the glorious message
of eternal salvation. His energy, wisdom, learning and talents
[Pg 132]
were now used towards the upbuilding of the kingdom of
God, with as much zeal as he had before labored for corruptible
riches and worldly fame; for Zeezrom was a whole-souled,
courageous man, he did nothing by halves—when he served
the devil, he was a profitable servant; when he turned to
God, he did it with all his heart. From this time Zeezrom
became a preacher of righteousness, laboring under the direction
of Alma, and we next hear of him ministering with
Amulek to the people in the land of Melek.

Next year Ammonihah was destroyed. Less than four
months had elapsed since the two inspired followers of the
Lamb had left it to its fate, when the Lamanites fell upon it
like a whirlwind in its suddenness, and as an avalanche in its
utter desolation. The dark skinned warriors of Laman
swept over these murderers of the saints like a tempest of
fire, leaving neither young nor old, babe nor grandsire, to
repeat the story of their woes. Not one of Ammonihah’s
boasting children was left to defy heaven.

Nor was the city spared; it, also, was given to the
destroyer, and its palaces and temples, its homes and its
workshops, were consumed by the devouring fire. For one
day the fierce flames consumed the walls and towers of
Ammonihah. Their light illumined the lurid sky, shone on
the distant mountain tops, and lit the neighboring valleys.
Then an uninhabitable desolation, stinking with the rotting
carcasses of man and beast, only remained to mark the place
where Ammonihah once stood. As the Desolation of
Nehors, it was known and avoided by the Nephites for
many succeeding years.

Emboldened by this signal triumph, the Lamanites
entered the borders of the neighboring land of Noah. There
they continued their depredations, carrying off many Nephite
captives into the wilderness. At this juncture the Nephite
general Zoram, with his two sons (Lehi and Aha), rallied his
forces, in the hope of intercepting the Lamanite armies in
[Pg 133]
their return to the land of Nephi, and of delivering the
captives.

Before starting on their march Zoram determined to
inquire of the Lord. He and his sons knew that Alma was a
prophet and revelator to the nation. Wisely they went first
to him and inquired if it was the Lord’s will that they should
advance into the wilderness in search of their captive
brethren.

Alma laid the matter before the Lord. The Divine answer
came: Behold the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon
in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of
the land of Manti. And behold there shall ye meet them,
on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver
unto thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the
Lamanites.

Obedient to these plain instructions, Zoram and his sons
crossed over the river Sidon with their armies, and marched
southward beyond the borders of the land of Manti, into that
portion of the great southern wilderness which lay east of
the river Sidon. There they came upon the enemy, as the
word of the Lord had declared, and there they joined in
battle. The Lamanites were defeated, scattered and driven
into the wilderness, and the Nephite captives were delivered.
Great was the joy in the land of Zarahemla when it was
found that not one Nephite had been lost of all those taken
prisoners; but every one, great and small, had escaped the
horrors of slavery in the hands of the Lamanites, and they
all returned in peace to possess their own lands. Here we
have a most happy result of seeking the word of the Lord
and then faithfully carrying out his instructions.

Again there was peace throughout the land, and the
name of Zoram is no more mentioned in the sacred record.

During this period of peace, Alma and his fellow-priesthood
preached God’s holy word in the power and demonstration
of the Spirit, and with much success. Great prosperity
[Pg 134]
came to the church throughout all the lands of the Nephites.
At this happy time there was no inequality among them; the
Lord poured out his Spirit on all the face of the land, as
Alma supposed to prepare the hearts of his people for the
coming of Christ. Like many others of the ancient prophets,
he antedated that glorious appearing. He little knew of the
wars and contentions, the apostasies and dissensions, the
spiritual tribulation and material commotion that would precede
that blessed day. But with this prospect full in view,
he labored and rejoiced, preached, blessed and prophesied,
never tiring in his energies, and feeling sorrowful only because
of the hard-heartedness and spiritual blindness of some
of the people.

In one most glorious event, Alma had unspeakable joy.
His youthful companions, the sons of king Mosiah, returned
from their fourteen years’ mission amongst the Lamanites,
during which time, after sore trials and great tribulation,
they, by the grace of the Father, had brought many thousands
of that benighted race to a knowledge of the principles
of the everlasting gospel.

Alma was traveling south on one of his missionary
journeys from the land of Zarahemla to the land of Manti,
when he met Ammon and his brethren coming from the land
of Nephi. On hearing the story of the mission, he at once
returned with them to Zarahemla. There the condition of
affairs amongst the Lamanites was rehearsed to the chief
judge, who laid the whole subject before the people, so that
whatever was done in relation to the Christian Lamanites
might be done by common consent. The Nephites decided
to give the land of Jershon to these people for an inheritance.
With this cheering news Ammon, accompanied by Alma,
returned into the southern wilderness, to the place where his
people were awaiting the decision of the Nephites. There
the Ammonites were ministered to and comforted by Alma
and others, after which they resumed their march to the land
[Pg 135]
set apart for their future abode. There, however, we shall
find, as we proceed with our story, they remained but a few
years.

KORIHOR THE ANTI-CHRIST—HIS FALSE TEACHINGS AND
BLASPHEMY—HE IS TAKEN BEFORE ALMA—IS STRUCK
DUMB—HIS MISERABLE END—THE HERESY ROOTED OUT.

(ALMA CHAP. 30.)

THE NEXT notable event in the history of the Nephites
was the appearance of Korihor, the anti-Christ. (B.
C. 75.)

The doctrines advocated by Korihor were of a kind that
would gain ready adhesion from those who did not fervently
love purity, truth and righteousness, as they flattered their
vanity and gave them liberty to follow the lead of their passions
without fear of the judgment or condemnation of a
Divine Being. Spiritually he was a Nihilist. He denied the
coming of the Messiah, he ridiculed prophecy and revelation,
and asserted that it was impossible for men to know the
future. He inveighed against the atonement of the Redeemer
as a foolish superstition, and taught, instead of the unchanging
truths of the everlasting gospel, the theory that every
man fared in this life according to the management of the
creature, prospered according to his genius, and conquered
according to his strength. Further, he announced that whatsoever
a man did was no crime, for that when a man was
dead, there was an end thereof.

It is almost needless to say that those who accepted such
[Pg 136]
dogmas gave way to all manner of evil doing. They became
overbearing to others, exceedingly keen in business transactions,
were full of covetousness, duplicity, and lasciviousness,
and indulged in various wanton pleasures. Their motto
might be said to have been, Let us eat, drink and be merry,
for tomorrow we die; and what we do here will not be
brought against us hereafter.

Korihor also gained a strong hold among the discontented,
for such are ever found where universal perfection
does not dwell. He railed at the holy priesthood with fierce
words of falsehood. He charged that they sought to keep
the people down, that they encouraged ignorance in the
masses, that they bound their minds with foolish traditions;
all this, and much more, that they might usurp power and
authority, and glut themselves with the results of their victims’
daily toil.

In Alma’s answer to this charge we have a pleasing insight
into his private life. He said: Thou knowest that we do
not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people, for behold,
I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of
the Judges until now, with mine own hands, for my support,
notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to
declare the word of God unto my people; and notwithstanding
the many labors I have performed in the church, I have
not so much as received even one senine for my labor;
neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment
seat, and then we have received only according to law for
our time.

As a propagandist, Korihor, for a short time, was a
success. We first hear of him preaching his satanic doctrines
in the land of Zarahemla, and as he claimed to fully believe
all he taught, the law could not touch him, as full religious
liberty was guaranteed under the constitution and laws of the
Nephite commonwealth. From Zarahemla he went to the
land of Jershon to inoculate the Ammonites with his soul-
[Pg 137]destroying
vagaries. But they were a wiser and more
zealous people for the gospel than were many of the
Nephites. They took him, bound him, and carried him before
Ammon (son of king Mosiah), their high priest. He directed
that Korihor should be removed beyond the border of their
land, which command having been obeyed, we next find the
unabashed impostor laboring amongst the people of the land
of Gideon. There he also met with rebuffs. He was
arrested by the people and taken before the chief officers in
that land. They found they could do nothing that would
be satisfactory with him, so they remanded him into the custody
of the proper officers, with instructions to carry him before
Alma and Nephihah, in Zarahemla.

When brought before these worthies—the highest dignitaries
of the church and state—Korihor continued in his
course of loud-mouthed blasphemy, defiant assumption, and
wilful falsehood.

He argued against the existence of the Father and the
coming of his Only Begotten. Alma accused him of arguing
against his convictions, but this he stoutly denied, and
clamored for a sign to be given, as he pretended, that he might
be convinced. Alma at length, wearied by his impious importunities,
told him that God, as a sign, would smite him
dumb. This terrible warning, though it caused the pretender
some uneasiness, only resulted in an attempt at prevarication
on his part. He said: I do not deny the existence of a
God, but I do not believe there is a God; and I say also,
that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show
me a sign I will not believe. Then Alma answered: This
will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck
dumb according to my words; and I say that, in the name of
God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have
utterance.

Korihor received his sign; Alma’s words were fulfilled;
the sign-seeker never more spoke on earth. When the hand
[Pg 138]
of the Lord fell upon him he recanted. By writing, as he could
not speak, he confessed the power of God, and acknowledged
that he had been led astray by Satan, who had come
to him in the form of an angel of light. He begged that the
curse might be removed, but Alma, well knowing the baseness
of his heart, refused to intercede before heaven in his
behalf lest when restored to speech he would again strive to
deceive the people.

And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off
Korihor; but he was cast out and went about from house to
house begging for his food.

A proclamation was next sent throughout all the land.
In it the chief judge recited what had happened to Korihor,
and called upon those who had believed in his words to
speedily repent, lest the same judgments should come upon
them.

This proclamation put an end to the iniquity of Korihor,
for his followers were all brought back again to the truth.
But Korihor, deserted by the devil, a vagabond and a beggar,
still continued to beg his way from town to town, from house
to house; until, one day, in a city of the Zoramites, he was
run over and trodden down. The injuries that he received
at this time were so great that he soon after died.

[Pg 139]

ZORAM AND THE ZORAMITES—THEIR PECULIAR HERESY—THE
LAND OF ANTIONUM—THE RAMEUMPTOM—ALMA’S
MISSION TO THESE PEOPLE—THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS
TEACHINGS PERSECUTED—THEY FLEE TO JERSHON.

(ALMA CHAP. 31 TO 35.)

IN OUR last chapter we stated that Korihor, the anti-Christ
was killed in a city of the Zoramites. Who was
Zoram? and who were the Zoramites? are the questions
that now present themselves.

There are two distinct classes of people called Zoramites
in the Book of Mormon. The first, the descendants of
Zoram, the servant of Laban, who accompanied Nephi from
Jerusalem. The second were the followers of the apostate
Zoram, whose defection and treason caused so much trouble
and bloodshed in the Nephite republic.

Of the last named Zoram and his individual life we have
no history. We only know him through his pernicious
teachings, and the sad results thereof. But it is altogether
probable that before he started out as a religious reformer on
his own account, he was a follower of Nehor, as the majority
of his adherents appear to have been gathered from that sect
and to have belonged to that order.

Zoram assembled his people in a region of the South
American continent, at that time but very thinly settled by
the Nephites. It was called the land of Antionum, and lay to
the east of the river Sidon, while it stretched from the land of
Jershon in the north, to the great wilderness south, which
was infested with the more savage, wandering Lamanites.
To this broad land the Zoramites gathered, and there built
[Pg 140]
their cities, erected their synagogues, and grew in material
wealth; until, in the year B. C. 75, they had become an important,
though undesirable portion of the Nephite commonwealth.
As friends they were unreliable, as enemies
formidable.

In the various apostasies, partial or total, that from time
to time disgraced the Nephites, there is one characteristic
feature that seems universal to them all, however much they
may have differed on minor points. It was the denial of the
coming of the Savior in the flesh, and of the necessity of His
atonement for the sins of the world. This was the evil one’s
strong point in his efforts to mislead the ancient Nephites.
Let him but persuade any people to reject this, the foundation
of the gospel scheme, and little he cares what else they
believe or disbelieve; for when this fundamental truth is
rejected their spiritual enslavement is secured.

This was the case with the Zoramites. They claimed to
be a chosen and a holy people, separate from their fellow-men,
and elected of God to eternal salvation, while all around were
predestined to be cast down to hell. This atrocious creed
naturally resulted in its adherents and advocates being puffed
up in vanity and consumed with pride. They became
haughty, uncharitable and tyrannical, and oppressors of their
poorer neighbors. They covered their bodies with the finest
apparel, and profusely adorned their persons with costly ornaments
of gold and jewels. In their arrogance and self-righteousness
they became the Pharisees of their age and
country; but in other phases of iniquity they far exceeded
their counterparts in the Holy Land. They bowed down
to idols, denied the coming of Christ, declared the doctrine of
the atonement to be a foolish tradition, and, like many of the
sects of modern Christendom, they misinterpreted the teachings
of holy scripture with regard to the being of God.
Their declaration of faith was: Holy, holy God; we believe
that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that
[Pg 141]
thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou
wilt be a spirit forever.

This strange medley of ideas gave birth to corresponding
vagaries of worship. They left off praying. Being
chosen and elected to be God’s holy children, they had no
need of prayer. Once a week they assembled in their synagogues
and went through an empty form, which was a little
prayer, a little praise and considerable self-glorification.
Having done this, they never mentioned God or holy things
again throughout the week; indeed, it was a portion of their
creed that their synagogues were the only places in which it
was lawful to talk or think of religious matters.

Their ceremonies were as absurd as their creed. In the
centre of each of their synagogues was erected a holy stand,
or pulpit, called rameumptom, which stood high above the
congregation. From the slight description given of it in the
book of Alma we judge it may have been somewhat pyramidical
in form, the top being only large enough for one person
to stand upon. Each worshiper mounted to the top, stretched
out his hands toward heaven, and, in a loud voice, repeated
their set form of worship. Having done this, he descended
and another took his place, and so on, until all who desired
to go through the mummery had satisfied their conscience or
gratified their pride.

The tidings of this defection having reached Alma, he
selected several of the leading members of the priesthood,
and, as soon as possible, proceeded to the land of Antionum.
Those who accompanied him were his two younger sons,
three of the sons of king Mosiah, Amulek and Zeezrom. To
his anxiety to bring these dissenters back from the error of
their ways and to avert heaven’s righteous wrath from falling
upon them, was added the fear that if they remained in their
wickedness they would join the Lamanites and bring trouble
upon the more faithful Nephites by urging the renewal of
war.

[Pg 142]

On the arrival of Alma and his fellow-laborers at the
seat of this apostasy, they at once commenced their ministrations.
They taught in the synagogues and preached in the
streets. They visited the people from house to house, using
every possible effort to bring these misguided dissenters to an
understanding of their perilous condition. To these labors
we are indebted for some of the plainest and most powerful
gospel teachings contained in the Book of Mormon, all of
which will well repay our perusal. Suffice it to say, that
many of the poor and humble, those who were oppressed,
abused and trodden down by their false priests and unrighteous
rulers, as well as by the wealthier portion of the community,
received the words of salvation, while the majority rejected
them with contemptuous scorn. Some of the missionaries
were maltreated. Shiblon, the son of Alma, was imprisoned
and stoned for the truth’s sake, while others fared
but little better. Unfortunately the work of God was retarded
by the misconduct of Corianton, the brother of Shiblon,
who, for a time, deserted his ministerial duties for the
company of a harlot. This folly caused Alma great sorrow,
as it gave the ungodly a pretext for rejecting the gospel, of
which they were not slow to avail themselves.

When Alma and his associates had done all the good
they deemed possible, they withdrew to the neighboring land
of Jershon. No sooner had they left than the more crafty of
the Zoramites devised a plan to discover the feelings of the
community. They gathered the people together throughout
the land and consulted with them concerning that which they
had heard. In this way they discovered who favored the
truth and who rejected it. Finding that the poor and uninfluential
were those who had received it, they resorted to
persecution and plunder. They drove the believers from
their homes and out of the land. Most of these fled to the
land of Jershon, whither the priesthood had preceded them.

The land of Jershon was inhabited by the people of
[Pg 143]
Ammon. They also had left home and country for the
truth’s sake, and now that others were suffering from the
same cause, they received them with open arms. They fed
and clothed those who needed such help, and gave them
lands whereon they might build up new homes.

When the wicked Zoramites heard of the kind reception
their injured fellow-citizens had received in Jershon they
were greatly angered. They were not content to spoil them
themselves, but they wanted to make them fugitives and vagabonds
on the face of the whole earth. Their leader, a very
wicked man, sent messages to the Ammonites, desiring them
to expel the refugees, adding many threats of what would
follow, should his cruel demand not be complied with. But
the Ammonites were a brave people; they had already suffered
unto death for the cause of God; and they were not of
the stamp to desert their afflicted brethren. Rather than do
so, they would again forsake their homes and find in some
other region a land of peace: for we must remind our
readers that the Ammonites had entered into covenant with
God never again to bend the bow or draw the sword to take
human life. They, therefore, withdrew to the land of Melek,
and the armies of the Nephites occupied the land of Jershon.

[Pg 144]

ANOTHER WAR—MORONI, THE LEADER OF THE NEPHITES—THE
TACTICS OF THE LAMANITES—ZERAHEMNAH—THE
BATTLE AT RIPLAH—DEFEAT OF THE LAMANITES.

(ALMA CHAP. 43 AND 44.)

THE cause which led the Nephite armies to occupy Jershon
was that the Zoramites, finding that their haughty
and unjust demands would not be complied with, had excited
the Lamanites to invade the territory of the Nephites. The
Lamanite forces which were commanded almost entirely by
Nephite apostates, on account of their fierce hatred to their
former associates, marched first into the land of Antionum,
where they were joined by the Zoramites. Then the whole
of the invading hosts, under the command of a dissenter
named Zerahemnah, advanced northward towards the land of
Jershon.

This was a day of peril for the Nephites. Their enemies
were much more numerous than they, and were filled
with a savage thirst for blood, which was especially felt
against those who were of their own race and kindred who
had bowed in obedience to Heaven’s commands. At this
juncture the Lord raised up one of the greatest heroes ever
born on American soil. He was not only a military leader,
but a priest and prophet, and by his inspiration and devoted
courage the Nephites were for many years led to uninterrupted
victory. Such was Moroni, who now, though but twenty-five
years old, took the chief command of the armies of his
nation.

Though the forces of the Lamanites were much more
numerous, all other advantages were on the side of their foes.
[Pg 145]
The discipline of the Nephites was better by far; the bodies
of their soldiers were protected by armor, breastplates, helmets,
shields, etc., and they were fighting for the sacred cause
of their religion and their country, their altars and their fire-sides,
their wives and their little ones. Inspired by the justness
of their cause and the extremity of their circumstances,
they fought with a courage and a desperation never exceeded
in their annals.

The Lamanites, on the other hand, had no such holy impulses
to nerve their arms for the combat. They were the aggressors,
and were hasting to shed the blood of their brethren.
Insane and infernal hatred alone inspired them for the warfare.
Besides, they were ill-prepared to meet the Nephites,
who had such a tactician as Moroni for their commander-in-chief.
The descendants of Laman were simply armed with
swords and cimeters, bows and arrows, slings and stones.
Their bodies were naked with the exception of a skin wrapped
about their loins. The Zoramites and other dissenters from
the Nephites were better clothed; in dress they followed the
fashion of the people from whom they sprang.

The Lamanites, finding that Moroni was too well prepared
for their attack on the land of Jershon, retired through
Antionum into the wilderness, where they changed direction
and marched towards the headwaters of the river Sidon,
with the intention of taking possession of the land of Manti.
But Moroni was too vigilant to allow his enemies to slip away
without knowing what had become of them. He had his
spies watch the movements of Zerahemnah’s forces, and in
the meanwhile sent to Alma to inquire the mind and will of
the Lord with regard to his future course. The word of the
Lord was given to Alma, and he informed Moroni’s messengers
of the movements of the Lamanites. The young general,
with becoming prudence, then divided his army. One
corps he left to protect Jershon, and with the remainder he
advanced by rapid marches toward Manti, by the most direct
[Pg 146]
route. On his arrival he at once mustered all the men who
could bear arms into his forces, to help in the defense of their
rights and their liberties against the advancing foe. So rapid
had been his movements and so prompt had been the response
to his calls that when the Lamanites reached the
neighborhood of the Sidon he was prepared for their coming.

The battle that was fought when the opposing armies
met was one of the most stubborn and bloody in Nephite
history. Never from the beginning had the Lamanites been
known to fight with such exceeding great strength and
courage. Time after time their hosts rushed upon the well-ordered
ranks of the Nephites, and notwithstanding the latter’s
armor they crushed in their heads and cut off their arms.
But the cost of these charges to their own numbers was terrible.
The battle began at a hill called Riplah, and afterwards
extended to both banks of the Sidon. At one time a lull
took place in the carnage, and Moroni, who had no pleasure
in the shedding of blood, made an offer of such terms of surrender
as he considered the circumstances warranted. But
Zerahemnah and other captains of the Lamanite hosts rejected
the offer and urged their troops to renewed resistance.
So the battle recommenced with unabated ferocity. At last
the faith and valor of the Nephites prevailed; many of the
Lamanites surrendered and agreed to a covenant of peace.
Even Zerahemnah himself, wounded and scalped by one of
Moroni’s body guard, to prevent the total annihilation of his
armies, at last consented to the proposed terms and entered
into the required covenant of peace. So great were the
losses on both sides, especially of the Lamanites, that the
dead were not numbered.

Thus ended the war, but not the Zoramite heresy, for
we read, in the history of later wars between the two nations,
of certain Lamanite captains being of the Zoramites. Foiled
in their attempts to destroy their former brethren and to
overthrow the church of God, they still adhered to their false
[Pg 147]
faith, and on every possible occasion made manifest their undying
hatred to those whose only offense was that they
would not join them in their crimes nor consent to the destruction
of the liberties of the people.

ALMA’S CHARGE TO HIS SONS—HE TRANSFERS THE RECORDS
TO HELAMAN—HE LEAVES THIS WORLD—ZEEZROM’S LATTER
DAYS—HELAMAN’S MINISTRATIONS.

(ALMA CHAP. 36 TO 42, 45.)

ALMA was now growing old. Notwithstanding his unceasing
efforts and fervent prayers, the Nephites were
again backsliding into iniquity. To every Nephite city, and
to every Nephite land he went or sent, to revive the gospel
fires in the souls of the inhabitants. But many became
offended because of the strictness of the gospel’s laws, which
forbade not only sin itself, but the very appearance of sin.
As this feeling grew, Alma’s heart became exceedingly sorrowful
and he mourned the depravity of his people.

Like many of the ancient patriarchs, when they felt that
their mortal career was drawing to its close, he called his
sons to him, and gave them his last charge and blessing,
speaking to each as the spirit of instruction and prophecy inspired.
To Helaman, his eldest, he transferred the custody
of the sacred plates, with many words of warning and caution
regarding them. With hearts strengthened and renewed
by the inspiration of his fervent admonitions, his sons went
forth among the people; nor could Alma himself rest while
[Pg 148]
there was a soul to save or a wrong to make right. He also
went forth once again in the spirit of his holy calling, and
raised his voice in advocacy of the principles of the everlasting
gospel.

It was in the nineteenth year of the Judges (B. C. 73),
that Alma took his beloved son, Helaman, and after having
discovered, through divers questions, the strength and integrity
of his faith, he prophesied to him of many important
events in the distant future, especially with regard to the destruction
of the Nephites. This prophecy he commanded
him to record on the plates, but not to reveal to anyone.
Alma then blessed Helaman, also his other sons; indeed he
blessed all who should stand firm in the truth of Christ from
that time forth. Shortly after this he departed out of the
land of Zarahemla, as if to go to the land of Melek, and was
never heard of more. Of his death and burial no men were
witnesses. Then the saying went abroad throughout the
church that the Lord had taken him, as he beforetime had
taken Moses. This event occurred exactly one hundred
years from the time of the elder Alma’s birth.

After the departure of Alma we learn no more of the
life of his associate Zeezrom, though his name and teachings
are more than once referred to by later servants of God. We
also read of a city of Zeezrom, and, as it was the custom of
the Nephites to name their cities, towns and villages after
whoever founded them, it is highly probable that, in the colonization
of the country so vigorously carried on in the age
that these men lived, he commenced the building of this
place, and it would not be unreasonable to believe that he
dwelt in the midst of its citizens as their high priest or chief
judge.

Alma’s son Helaman appears to have succeeded him as
the presiding High Priest. After Alma’s departure from this
earth Helaman and others went through the cities of the
Nephites and regulated the affairs of the church. Owing to
[Pg 149]
the pride of many who would not give heed to the instructions
given them, nor walk uprightly, dissensions arose, which
in after years led to numerous evils, among the greatest of
which was a long continued war, or series of wars, between
the faithful Nephites on one side, and the apostates, and afterwards
the Lamanites on the other. Still, for four years,
Helaman and his associate priesthood were enabled to maintain
order in the church. Many died in full faith of the gospel
and in joyous hope of its never-ending rewards; indeed,
during that period there was much peace and great prosperity
enjoyed by those who remained faithful.

AMALICKIAH—HIS APOSTASY AND TREASON—MORONI’S TITLE
OF LIBERTY—THE NEPHITES RESPOND TO HIS CALL—LEHONTI-HE
IS POISONED BY AMALICKIAH—THE KING
OF THE LAMANITES TREACHEROUSLY SLAIN—AMALICKIAH
MARRIES THE QUEEN AND IS PROCLAIMED KING—A DISASTROUS
LAMANITE RAID.

(ALMA CHAP. 46 AND 50.)

PEACE, however, was but short lived. Internal dissensions
created by the intrigues of apostates and royalists
convulsed the Nephite community. The rebels were led by
a descendant of Zoram, the servant of Laban, named Amalickiah,
one of the most ambitious, cunning and unscrupulous
characters that ever disgraced the history of ancient America.
It was a perilous day for the Nephite nation when this subtle
creature bent all his brilliant energies to the fulfillment of his
[Pg 150]
ambitious dreams. True, he had been a member of Christ’s
holy church, but now the love of God had given place to the
hatred of his servants; he was the citizen of a republic, but
he aspired to overthrow its liberties, and reign as king over
his fellow-citizens. Indeed he had cherished thoughts of still
greater power, even to be monarch of the entire continent;
both Nephite and Lamanite should bow to his undisputed
sway. Such were his nightly dreams, and the continual
thoughts of his waking hours, and to this end he bent all the
energies of his mind, all the craft of his soul, all the cunning
of his tongue, all the weight of his influence. With promises
rich as the gold of Ophir and numerous as the snow-flakes
in a winter’s hurricane, he beguiled his weaker fellows;
men who, like him, loved power, hated the truth, delighted in
iniquity, but who had not the lofty ambition, the unhallowed
valor, and the deep designing cunning that distinguished their
leader. To his call the dissatisfied, the corrupt and the
apostate rallied.

Opposed to him stood Moroni, the dauntless leader of
the armies of the Nephites. Inspired by an unquenchable
love for truth and liberty, he sensed with every heart’s pulsation
that no man could fight for a holier, more glorious cause
than virtue and liberty. Thus inspired, he tore a portion of
his robe from it surrounding parts, and inscribing thereon
his battle cry, he lifted it high upon a pole. Then girding on
his armor, incasing his head with its fit covering, shielding
his body with its breastplates, placing the proper pieces round
his thighs and loins, he kneeled in humble, heartfelt prayer
before Jehovah, presented his “Title of Liberty” before him
and asked his blessing, protection, guidance and victorious
aid in the coming struggle. Then he gathered the hosts
of the Nephites; from place to place he sped, waving
in the air the ensign on which all could read the burning
words he had inscribed: In memory of our God, our religion
and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children.

MORONI RAISES THE “TITLE OF LIBERTY.”

[Pg 152]

Nor did he cry in vain; the patriot Nephites, the members
of the church of Christ, hastened with ready feet to the
response. The streets of Zarahemla were alive with the
gathering hosts. Each warrior, to show his devotion to the
liberties with which God had endowed them, and his fealty
to the Great Giver, rent his robe, as the young general had
done, and thereby made covenant with God and his brethren
to be faithful and true, in life and in death, in the council
chamber and on the battle field, while an enemy remained to
menace their liberties, national or religious.

Nor was Zarahemla alone in the manifestation of her
patriotic love. Moroni’s stirring appeal was spread far and
wide throughout the lands of the Nephites. Swift-footed,
banner-bearing messengers hastened down the Sidon’s banks
to the dwellers in the north, arousing the patriots of each
peaceful city to the peril of the hour. Onward they hurried
until Desolation echoed back to Bountiful the battle cry of
liberty. Others gave no rest to the soles of their feet until
Mulek, and her sister cities that lined the Caribbean Sea had
flung from their tower tops the hallowed banner. Through
the narrow defiles and rocky canyons that lay between the
Andes’ lofty peaks, other couriers pushed their unwearied
way into the western wilderness and hence to the Pacific’s
strand, until every city held by Nephites had gathered her
sons to the defense of their rights and their liberties, their
altars and their fire-sides. Nor were Manti and the other
cities of the south forgotten; the faithful and the brave who
lined the borders of the great southern wilderness heard the
rallying cry. From every city, every vale, the converging
hosts poured forth with sword and spear, with bow and
arrow, with slings and stones; while from the top of every
tower and citadel throughout the Nephites’ land, the sacred
standard fluttered in the breeze. Men of strong arms and
stout hearts were they, of faith unfaltering, and courage
undiminished.

[Pg 153]

No wonder, then, that when Amalickiah’s emissaries
brought the evil-boding news of this great awakening to his
unwilling ears that he faltered in his purpose, that his followers
lost heart, that retreat was deemed the fittest show of
wisdom, and discretion the better part of valor. No wonder
that when, by Moroni’s vigilance, that retreat was cut off,
that the rebels succumbed and surrendered, that Amalickiah
fled for safety to the Lamanites, and that the “Title of
Liberty” continued to float uninterruptedly from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast, as far as Nephi’s children ruled or
Nephite homes were found, and that Moroni and his people
rejoiced with intensified joy in their liberties, now more than
ever dear to them through the valorous efforts they had put
forth for their preservation.

When Amalickiah fled to the court of the king of the
Lamanites he evolved a plot worthy of a demon, which only
ceased with life. He was a Napoleon in ambition and diplomacy,
and possibly also in military skill. On the first favorable
opportunity after reaching the Lamanite court, he commenced
to rekindle the fires of hatred toward his former
friends. At first he was unsuccessful, the recollection of
their late defeats was too fresh in the memory of the multitude.
The king issued a war proclamation, but it was disregarded.
Much as his subjects feared the imperial power,
they dreaded a renewal of war more. Many gathered to
resist the royal mandate. The king, unused to such objections,
raised an army to quell the advocates of peace, and
placed it under the command of the now zealous Amalickiah.

The peace-men had chosen an officer named Lehonti for
their king and leader, and he had assembled his followers at
a mountain called Antipas. Thither Amalickiah marched,
but with no intention of provoking a conflict; he was working
for the good feelings of the entire Lamanite people. On
his arrival he entered into a secret correspondence with Lehonti,
in which he agreed to surrender his forces on condition
[Pg 154]
that he should be appointed second in command of the
united armies. The plan succeeded. Amalickiah surrendered
to Lehonti and assumed the second position. Lehonti
now stood in the way of his ambition; it was but a little thing
to remove him: he died by slow poison administered by
Amalickiah’s command.

Amalickiah now assumed supreme command, and at the
head of his forces he marched towards the Lamanite capital.
The king, supposing that the approaching hosts had been
raised to carry the war into Zarahemla, came out of the
royal city to greet and congratulate him. As the monarch
drew near he was traitorously slain by some of the creatures
of the subtle general, who at the same time raised the hue
and cry that, the king’s own servants were the authors of the
vile deed. Amalickiah assumed all the airs of grief, affection
and righteous indignation that he thought would best suit his
purpose. He next made apparently desperate, but purposely
ineffectual, efforts to capture those who were charged with
the crime, and so adroitly did he carry out his schemes, that
before long he wheedled himself into the affections of the
queen, whom he married, and he was recognised by the
Lamanites as their king. Thus far his ambition was realized,
but it was far from satisfied; ambition seldom is.

Amalickiah now cherished the stupendous design of subjugating
the Nephites and ruling singly and alone from ocean
to ocean (B. C. 73). To accomplish this iniquitous purpose,
he dispatched emissaries in all directions whose mission was
to stir up the angry passions of the populace against the
Nephites. When this vile object was sufficiently accomplished,
and the deluded people had become clamorous for
war, he raised an immense army, armed and equipped with
an excellence never before known among the Lamanites.
This force he placed under the command of Zoramite officers,
and ordered its advance into the western possessions of the
[Pg 155]
Nephites, where, amongst others, stood the cities of Ammonihah,
now rebuilt, and Noah.

The Nephites, during this time, had been watching
Amalickiah’s movements and energetically preparing for war.
When the Lamanites reached Ammonihah they found it
too strongly fortified to be taken by assault; they therefore
retired to Noah, originally a very weak place, but now,
through Moroni’s foresight and energy, made stronger than
Ammonihah. The Zoramite officers well knew that to return
home without having attempted something would be
most disastrous, and therefore, though with little hope, made
an assault upon Noah. This step resulted in throwing away
a thousand lives outside its walls, while its well-protected
defenders had but fifty men wounded. After this disastrous
attempt the Lamanites marched home. Great was the anger
of Amalickiah at the miscarriage of his scheme; he cursed
God and swore he would yet drink the blood of Moroni.

During the next year the Lamanites were driven out of
the great eastern wilderness, which was occupied by numerous
Nephite colonies, who laid the foundations of several new
cities along the Atlantic coast. Moroni also established a line
of fortifications along the Nephites’ southern border, which
stretched from one side of the continent to the other.

[Pg 156]

A FEW YEARS OF PEACE—TEANCUM-THE CONTENTION BETWEEN
LEHI AND MORIANTON—AMALICKIAH’S TERRIBLE
INVASION—HIS SUCCESS—HE IS STOPPED AT BOUNTIFUL
BY TEANCUM—TEANCUM SLAYS AMALICKIAH—AMMORON MADE KING OF THE LAMANITES.

(ALMA CHAP. 50 AND 52.)

A FEW YEARS of peace and prosperity now followed.
The Nephites multiplied exceedingly and grew very
rich. They were also greatly blessed of the Lord; and the
sacred historian informs us there never was a happier time
among the people of Nephi than at this time. Sad to say,
this blessed era lasted but a few years. A local quarrel
between two cities on the Atlantic sea-board regarding their
respective boundaries was the cause of the first fresh outbreak.
At this point we are introduced to another great
general of the Nephites, named Teancum.

Teancum appears to have had command of the Nephite
army of the north (under the direction of Moroni, the commander-in-chief
of all the forces of the republic), and to have
had committed to him the defense of the land Bountiful and
the Isthmus of Panama. His first exploit to which our attention
is drawn is the defeat of the dissatisfied people of Morianton,
who, having unjustly quarreled with their neighbors, the
people of the city of Lehi, and being apparently aware of the
unrighteousness of their cause, determined to migrate to the
land northward, and there establish an independent government.

Such a movement being evidently dangerous to the peace
and stability of the republic, Moroni determined to prevent
[Pg 157]
the accomplishment of their schemes. He dispatched Teancum
with a body of troops to head them off. This the gallant
officer succeeded in doing, but not until they had reached
the Isthmus, when a stubbornly fought battle ensued, in
which Teancum slew Morianton with his own hand, and
compelled the surrender of his followers. (B. C. 68.) The
prisoners were brought back, the grievances of the two
people were investigated, a union between them brought
about, and both were restored to their own lands.
[6]

In the following year (B. C. 67), Amalickiah commenced
his devastating invasion of the Atlantic provinces of
the Nephites. Commencing at Moroni, on the extreme south-east,
he gradually advanced northward, capturing and garrisoning
all the Nephite cities along the coast, until toward the
close of the year he reached the borders of the land Bountiful,
driving the forces of the republic before him. At this point
he was met by Teancum and a corps of veterans renowned
for their courage, skill and discipline. The Lamanite leader
endeavored to force his way to the Isthmus, with the intention
of occupying the northern continent. In this he was foiled,
for the trained valor of Teancum’s warriors was too much for
that of Amalickiah’s half-savage hordes. All day the fight
lasted, and at night the worn out soldiers of the two armies
camped close together, the Lamanites on the sea-beach, and
the Nephites on the borders of the land Bountiful.

It was the last night of the old year, according to
Nephite reckoning. The great heat and the terrible efforts
of the day had overcome both officers and men. The murmur
of the Atlantic’s waves sounded a soft lullaby in the ears
of Amalickiah and his hosts, who, for the first time during
the campaign, had suffered a check in their triumphal march.
Even Amalickiah slept; but not so with Teancum. He was
[Pg 158]
brooding over the wrongs and perils of his beloved country,
as well as his own sufferings, both the deadly fruit of one
man’s unholy ambition. As he pondered he grew more angry,
and at last he determined by one desperate stroke to put an
end to the war; or, if not that, at least to slay the cause of it.
Taking one servant with him, he secretly stole out of his own
camp into that of the enemy. A death-like silence reigned in
both. Cautiously and unobserved he searched out the royal
tent. There lay the foe, there lay his guards, all overcome
with resistless fatigue. To draw his javelin, thrust it into the
king’s heart and then flee, was but the work of a moment,
and so adroitly did he fulfill his purpose that Amalickiah died
without a struggle or a cry, and it was not until the morning
that his guards discovered that the hosts of Laman were without
a head.

When Teancum returned to his own warriors he awoke
them from their slumbers and rehearsed to them all that he
had done. It is not difficult to imagine their enthusiasm,
which, for fear they should arouse the enemy, they were compelled
to restrain. They, however, kept a strong guard on
the alert, lest when the Lamanites awoke and discovered that
their king was dead, they should, in their anger make a sudden
onslaught on the Nephite lines. This thought, however,
was not realized. When the Lamanites found that Amalickiah
was slain, they hastily retreated to the fortified city of
Mulek.

Amalickiah was succeeded on the Lamanitish throne by
his brother Ammoron, who continued the war with unrelenting
vindictiveness.

[Pg 159]

JACOB THE ZORAMITE—HIS CHARACTERISTICS—THE STRATEGY
BY WHICH MULEK WAS TAKEN—THE FIERCE
BATTLE BETWEEN JACOB AND THE NEPHITE FORCES—JACOB’S DEATH.

(ALMA CHAP. 52.)

THE general who commanded the Lamanite forces at
Mulek was named Jacob. He was a Nephite apostate,
who had accepted the errors of the Zoramites. His appointment
was one characteristic of the prevailing policy of
Amalickiah and of his successor, Ammoron. It was to give
the command of the Lamanite armies to men who, like themselves,
were traitors to their own government; for, in such
cases, to military knowledge was almost invariably added
intense religious hate, which neither asked nor gave quarter
on the battlefield, but fought to the last extremity with
unconquerable fury.

Such a one was Jacob. He had entrenched himself in
the strongly fortified city of Mulek, the most northern of the
Nephite cities that had fallen into the enemy’s hands. It was
a key to the surrounding country. While it remained in
Lamanite possession it was very little use for Moroni to
attempt to recover the cities that lay yet farther south along
the shores of the east sea. The Nephite generals did not
consider themselves justified in making an attempt to carry
the place by assault. Such an effort would have cost too
many noble lives, and probably have proven unsuccessful.
Moroni had with him at this time two of his most trusted
lieutenants, Lehi and Teancum, both of whom were little
inferior to the chief captain in wisdom and valor. At a council
[Pg 160]
of war it was determined to attempt the capture of Mulek by
strategy. They had already sent embassies to Jacob desiring
him to bring his armies into the open plain to meet the
Nephites in battle, but the Lamanite commanders were too
well acquainted with the discipline and courage of the Nephite
forces to take such a risk. There was, therefore, but one
plan left, other than to patiently sit down before the city
and reduce it by a regular siege, and that was to decoy a
portion of its defenders beyond the protection of its walls,
and when it was thus weakened to carry it by storm. Moroni
determined on this course.

By command of Moroni, the gallant Teancum, with a
small force, marched along the sea shore to the neighborhood
of Mulek, while Moroni, with the main body of the army,
unperceived by the enemy, made a forced march by night
into the wilderness which lay on the west of the city. There
he rested. Lehi, with a third corps, remained in the city of
Bountiful.

On the morrow Teancum’s detachment was discovered
by the Lamanite outposts, and from the smallness of its numbers
they judged it would fall an easy prey. Jacob at once
sallied forth at the head of his warriors to attack the presumptuous
Nephites. On their approach Teancum cautiously
retreated along the sea shore towards the city of Bountiful.
Jacob followed in vigorous pursuit. Moroni, in the meanwhile,
divided his army into two corps, one of which he dispatched
to capture the city, and with the other he closed in
between Jacob’s army and Mulek. The first corps accomplished
its work without difficulty, for Jacob had left but a
small force behind him, and all who would not surrender were
slain.

The Lamanites crowded after Teancum in hot pursuit until
they came nigh unto Bountiful, when they were met by Lehi
and the small force under his command. At his appearance
the Lamanite captains fled in confusion, lest they should be
[Pg 161]
out-generaled and cut off from their fortifications. Jacob’s
warriors were weary by reason of their long and hasty advance,
while Lehi’s soldiers were fresh and unfatigued. But
Lehi refrained from pressing too vigorously on his retreating
foes, as his object was not to exhaust his men before the hour
of battle came, and he was anxious to avoid a conflict till he
and Moroni could at the same moment attack the Lamanites
in front and rear.

When Jacob drew near the city he found himself confronted
by the soldiers of Moroni, who closed in around his
warriors and barred their further progress southward; while
Lehi, putting forth his pent-up energies, fell with fury on
their rear. Weary and worn though his troops were, Jacob
would not surrender. Whatever his faults may have been, and
they were doubtless numerous, he had a resolute, unconquerable
spirit that would fight to the last. He determined, if
possible, to cut his way through to Mulek. With this intent
he made a desperate, though ineffectual, charge on Moroni’s
lines. The Nephites being fresh and unwearied, never
wavered, but received the shock firm as a rock upon which
the waves of the ocean break in vain. The battle here raged
with indescribable fierceness, and with heavy losses to both
sides. The wild Lamanites, in the frenzy of desperation,
dashed with all their strength and prowess against the well-ordered
ranks of the Nephites, in the one absorbing endeavor
to force their way through; while the Nephites, in the
heroic courage which religion and patriotism inspire, stood
cool and undismayed, breaking the force of the shock of each
charge, then

to receive the next onslaught. In this desperate encounter
Moroni was wounded and Jacob slain.

While Jacob was thus impetuously charging on Moroni’s
corps, Lehi with his “strong men” was as furiously driving in
[Pg 162]
the Lamanite rear. At last the soldiers of Jacob in that part
of the field surrendered. Their leader being slain, the remainder
of the troops hesitated between throwing down their
arms and continuing the hopeless strife. Moroni, with his intense
hatred of unnecessary bloodshed, when he noticed that
they wavered, cried out that if they would lay down their
weapons and deliver themselves up he would spare their
lives. His offer was accepted. The chief captains, who
remained, came forward and placed their weapons at his feet
and commanded their men to do the same. Most of the
warriors obeyed, yet numbers would not. They preferred
death to surrender, and force had to be used to wrest their
weapons from them. The Lamanite prisoners were then
sent under an escort to the city of Bountiful, and when
counted were found to exceed in numbers the slain on both
sides in the late battle. Thus fell Mulek, and thus died its
defender, Jacob the Zoramite.

THE WAR IN THE SOUTH-WEST—ANTIPUS—HELAMAN AND HIS
TWO THOUSAND SONS—THEIR VALOR AND FAITH—THE
REPULSE OF THE LAMANITES.

(ALMA CHAP. 56 AND 57.)

THE war had been raging about a couple of years, and
was working disastrously to the Nephites, when the
people of Ammon, feeling that they were a burden rather
than a help to their benefactors, though indeed they were
not, desired to be released from their oath and covenant
[Pg 163]
never again to take up deadly weapons against their fellows.
They desired in this hour of extreme peril to take up arms in
defense of the liberties of their adopted country. From this
rash step Helaman and his brethren dissuaded them, lest by
so doing they should imperil their eternal salvation. But
they had sons who had grown far towards manhood who had
not entered into this covenant, and consequently were not
shut off from participating in the dangers and glories of the
war. So with their fathers’ and mothers’ consent, faith,
prayers and words of encouragement, two thousand of these
youths were mustered into the Nephite army (B. C. 66).
These striplings were all men of truth, faith, soberness and
integrity, and were conspicuous for their courage, strength
and activity. Being organized they desired that Helaman,
for whom they had great love and respect, should be their
leader. He consented, and at their head marched to the relief
of the forces of the republic that were struggling against
considerable odds on the southern borders of the Nephite
dominions, from the shores of the Pacific Ocean eastward.

Helaman found the Nephite forces, numbering about six
thousand warriors, in a somewhat deplorable condition. The
Lamanites, in the strength of greatly superior numbers, had
captured the cities of Manti, Cumeni, Zeezrom and Antiparah,
and held possession of the country round about.
These cities had not been taken without much bloodshed on
both sides. The Nephites especially had lost large numbers in
prisoners, who were generally put to death by their captors,
except the superior officers, who were sent to the land of
Nephi. Antipus, the Nephite commander, was locked up in
the city of Judea, where, dispirited and weakened by excessive
toil and fighting, his troops were making a desperate and painful
effort to fortify the city. The arrival of Helaman and
his corps brought hope and joy again to their hearts, and
renewed vigor to their endeavors.

King Ammoron, learning that reinforcements had
[Pg 164]
reached the defenders of Judea, ordered all active operations
to be suspended for a season. This suspension was most
providential for the soldiers of Antipus, as it gave them time
to finish the work of fortifying the beleaguered city, and also
to recruit their health and energies. By the commencement of
the following year the works of defense were completed, and
the Nephites became anxious for the onslaught they had so
greatly dreaded a few months previous. But they were disappointed.
The Lamanites did not feel sufficiently strong to
renew aggressive movements. They contented themselves
with occupying the Nephite cities they had already captured.
In the second month of this year (B. C. 65) a convoy of provisions
and two thousand additional warriors arrived from
the land of Zarahemla. The Nephites in the city of Judea
were now ten thousand strong, with abundant provisions, and
they were anxious for a forward movement in order, if possible,
to retake some of their cities in the hands of the enemy.

Antipus and Helaman resolved on a ruse to entice the
Lamanites from behind their fortifications. It was decided
that Helaman and his command should march out of Judea
with the apparent intention of carrying supplies to one of the
cities in the hands of the Nephites, that was built near the
seashore. In executing this manœuvre, they purposely passed
at no great distance from the city of Antiparah, in which was
stationed the most numerous of the Lamanite armies, in the
hope that the Lamanites would notice that their numbers
were few, and thus be led to attack them. The stratagem
proved successful. The garrison of Antiparah issued forth
in pursuit of Helaman, who, with all haste, retreated into the
wilderness northward, his intent being to draw his pursuers
as far as possible from Antiparah. When the Lamanites had
started in pursuit of Helaman, Antipus, with a considerable
portion of his army, marched out of the city of Judea and fell
in the Lamanites’ rear. The retreat soon became a race. The
Lamanites crowded forward with all possible expedition in
[Pg 165]
the endeavor to reach Helaman before Antipus caught them.
Helaman, on the other hand, used his utmost energy to keep
out of their clutches. Neither of the three bodies turned to
the right or to the left, but kept straight on in the effort to
out-march their foes. Night came and went, and on the
morrow the double pursuit was still kept up. Another night
fell, but neither dare turn from its course.

On the third morning the race for life and victory was
again renewed, but before long the Lamanites, concluding
they could not overtake Helaman, suddenly stopped, and
awaited the coming of Antipus and his weary soldiers, whom
they unexpectedly attacked with great fury, slew Antipus and
several of his captains, threw the Nephite troops into great
confusion and forced them to commence a retreat.

In the meantime, Helaman discovered that he was no
longer pursued, and not knowing the reason, was in doubt
what course to take. He called a hasty council of war, at
which it was determined to return at once, and risk the
chances of being caught in a trap by the crafty Lamanites.

The statement which Helaman makes regarding the conduct
of his young soldiers at this council is very interesting.
After he had explained the situation to them, he inquired,
What say ye, my sons, will ye go against them in battle?
Without hesitancy they answered in the affirmative, saying:
Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that
we shall fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our
brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go lest
they should overpower the army of Antipus. Here Helaman
remarks: Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear
death; and they did think more of the liberty of their fathers
than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by
their mothers that if they did not doubt that God would deliver
them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their
mothers, saying, We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

[Pg 166]

Helaman and his sons arrived none too soon on the field
of battle. The soldiers of Antipus were already fleeing before
their more numerous foes, but the valor and impetuosity
of the youthful Ammonites was irresistible. They fell on
the Lamanite rear with a daring and miraculous strength
possessed only by men who put their whole trust in God.
Thus attacked in the rear, the Lamanites immediately halted,
changed front, and threw their whole force against the
Ammonites. The surviving officers of Antipus’ army, finding
that Helaman had come to their rescue, stopped the retreat,
re-organized their scattered bands, and renewed the
attack. The Lamanites were compelled to succumb; they
could not resist the desperate courage of the Nephites that
was driving them in at both front and rear. Their legions
all surrendered, and, by Helaman’s orders, were sent as prisoners
of war to Zarahemla.

And what about the young warriors of Ammon? So
great was their faith, so potent its workings, that when, after
the battle, Helaman called the roll of his youthful heroes, not
one was missing. The faith sown by their mothers’ words
had borne fruit—they were all preserved. To their undaunted
prowess, for they fought as if with the strength of
God, the Nephites unhesitatingly accorded the glory of the
day.

Still the hardly contested war continued. Six thousand
men, with provisions, reached Helaman from Zarahemla and
the regions round about (B. C. 63), besides sixty more
young Ammonites who had grown sufficiently vigorous to
assume the hardships of military life. The city of Cumeni
shortly afterwards surrendered through the want of provisions,
their supplies having been continuously cut off by Helaman’s
troops. This surrender threw so many prisoners on
the hands of the Nephites that they were unable to guard or
feed them. An officer named Gid, with a sufficient force,
was detailed to convey them to Zarahemla, but on their way,
[Pg 167]
passing near to an invading body of Lamanites, the prisoners
made a desperate attempt to escape. A few succeeded in
getting away, but the greater number were slain by their
guard. Gid and his command returned to headquarters, as it
proved, just in time, for the Lamanites had made a sudden
and unexpected attack at Cumeni, and but for Gid’s timely
arrival the Nephite forces would probably have received a
severe defeat. As it was, defeat was turned to victory by
their coming.

In this desperate battle every one of the young Ammonites
was wounded, but not one was slain. According to the
promise made to them they were preserved by the marvelous
power of God.

THE RELIEF OF MANTI—THE OVERTHROW OF THE KING MEN—PACHUS
SLAIN—THE STRUGGLE AT MORONI—TEANCUM
SLAYS AMMORON, BUT AT THE COST OF HIS OWN LIFE—TEANCUM’S
NOBLE CHARACTER.

(ALMA CHAP. 58 TO 62.)

AFTER the battle at Cumeni, the Lamanites retreated
eastward to Manti, which was situated on the upper
waters of the Sidon. Nor was it for several months that
this city could be taken, as owing to internal dissensions at
the Nephite capital, and the attempts on the part of some of
the people to overthrow the republic and establish a monarchy,
Pahoran, the chief judge, was unable to supply the
necessary provisions and reinforcements.

[Pg 168]

In this strait Helaman and his fellow officers called on
the Lord in fervent prayer, which was not unanswered.
They received assurances of deliverance and victory. These
blessed assurances inspired fresh faith and infused renewed
courage in the war-weary hearts of those not given to the
love of carnage. Fired with the determination, by God’s
grace, to conquer, they entered on a campaign against the
city of Manti, which, by strategy, they captured before the
end of the year (B. C. 63). The moral effect of this victory
was so great that the Lamanites retreated into the wilderness,
evacuating the whole of the territory on the west, but
unfortunately taking with them, as prisoners, many women
and children.

For more than a year Moroni could not send the needed
help to Helaman. The rebels in Zarahemla had driven the
chief judge out of the city, and he had taken refuge in
Gideon. From there he wrote to Moroni to come to his
assistance, which that officer did at the earliest possible
moment, leaving the armies in the north-east under the command
of Lehi and Teancum. As he advanced he rallied the
people on his line of march to the defense of the liberties of
the republic, and was so successful that, after having joined
the chief judge, Pahoran, he succeeded in overthrowing the
“king men,” killing their leader, Pachus, and completely
crushing the rebellion. This being accomplished, he sent
6,000 men with the necessary provisions to reinforce Helaman
(B. C. 61).

The campaign during this year, along the Atlantic coast,
was a decisive one. At last the soldiers of Ammoron were
driven out of Omner, Morianton, Gid, Lehi, Nephihah, and
every other Nephite city on that sea-board, except the outlying
one, called Moroni, where the whole of the invading host
was massed for a final desperate stand, and around which
Moroni, by hurried and lengthened marches, had concentrated
his warriors.

[Pg 169]

It was the night before an expected decisive battle, and
the Nephite officers and soldiers were too fatigued to either
devise stratagems or execute them. Teancum alone was in
a condition of unrest. He remembered with intense bitterness
all the bloodshed, woes, hardships, famine, etc., that had
been brought about in this great and lasting war between the
two races, which he rightly attributed to the infamous ambition
of Amalickiah and Ammoron. He reflected how he had
slain the former, and determined that as he had slain Amalickiah,
so should Ammoron fall. In his anger he stole forth
into the enemy’s camp, let himself over the walls of the city,
sought out the king’s tent, and when he had found the object
of his search, he cast a javelin at him, which pierced him
near the heart. But, unlike Amalickiah, Ammoron’s death
was not instantaneous. He had time to awaken his servant
before he passed away. The alarm was given, the guards
started in pursuit; Teancum was overtaken, caught and slain.
On the morrow Moroni attacked the Lamanites, defeated
them with great slaughter, captured the city, and drove them
entirely out of Nephite territory. (B. C. 61).

The writer of the Book of Alma records: When Lehi
and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead, they were exceedingly
sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man who had
fought valiantly for his country; yea, a true friend to liberty,
and he had suffered very many exceeding sore afflictions.
But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the
earth.

In that glorious galaxy of patriot-priests, or warrior-prophets,
call them which we may, to whose stern integrity,
inspired valor, and unflinching virtue the Nephite republic, in
the days of which we write, owed so much of its stability
and was so greatly indebted for its perpetuity, Teancum
shines among the brightest. View him from whatever point
we please, there is no mistaking the man. His ardent disposition,
his fiery impetuosity, his zealous patriotism, his undaunted
[Pg 170]
courage, his love of liberty, his entire disinterestedness,
shine forth in every action. Indeed, we might almost
call him rash, so little did he consider his personal safety when
he thought the good of his country required the sacrifice.

In picturing the heroes of those days, Teancum looms up
before us almost as a Hotspur or Murat. In our mind’s eye
we can see him charging the solid phalanxes of the Lamanites,
rushing at full speed towards the enemy several lengths
ahead of his line of battle; his commanding presence inspiring
confidence, his unwavering voice ringing out the word of
command, his bright armor shining in the sun, and his hair
streaming from beneath his helmet, as, regardless of all save
the liberties of his country, he falls upon the thickest of the
foe, seeking out their chief captains, that by their death an
end may possibly be put to the horrors of war. Thus we
find him slaying with his own hand, at different times,
Morianton, Amalickiah and Ammoron. In fact, it is quite
noticeable that in nearly all the great battles of this age, the
Nephites appear to have made it a conspicuous part of their
policy to slay the commander of the opposing hosts. So fell
Amlici, Morianton, Jacob, Coriantumr and others.

[Pg 171]

PEACE ONCE MORE—THE RESULTS OF THE WAR—THE LABORS
OF HELAMAN—SHIBLON RECEIVES THE RECORDS—HAGOTH,
THE SHIP-BUILDER—ANOTHER WAR—MORONIHAH—PAHORAN’S
DEATH—CONTENTION REGARDING THE
CHIEF JUDGESHIP—PAANCHI’s REBELLION—THE GADIANTON
BANDS—ASSASSINATION OF PAHORAN II.—ANOTHER
LAMANITE INVASION.

(ALMA CHAP. 62 TO HELAMAN CHAP. 1.)

IN THE next year after the capture of the city of Moroni
peace was established in all the land; not a Lamanite warrior
remained on Nephite soil. Then Pahoran returned to his
judgment seat, and Helaman recommenced his labors in the
ministry.

The long-continued and savage war just closed had
brought various evils to the church. In many parts of the
land it may be said to have been disorganized. The occupancy
of so many of the Nephite cities by the unbelieving
Lamanites had produced numerous demoralizing effects.
Murders, contentions, dissensions and all manner of iniquity
had become rife, and the hearts of the people had grown
hardened. Yet not altogether so, for there were some who
acknowledged the hand of the Lord in all their afflictions.
These humbled themselves in the depths of humility; and
because of the prayers of the righteous the people were
spared.

Such was the state of affairs when Helaman went forth
to call the people to repentance and set the church in order.
In this blessed work he had much success, and with the help
of his brethren he again established the Church of God
[Pg 172]
throughout all the land. These labors he continued until the
time of his death, and his joy therein was greatly increased
by the continued faithfulness of the people. They, notwithstanding
their abundant prosperity, which, as ever, followed
their repentance, remained humble, fervent in prayer and
diligent in well-doing. Such was the happy condition of the
people of Nephi when Helaman died (B. C. 57), he having
survived his illustrious father sixteen years. Shiblon, at the
death of his brother, took possession of the sacred things that
had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma, and held them
for four years.

The next year (B. C. 56) the valiant Moroni, one of the
greatest and most virtuous of God’s sons, passed away from
this state of mortality to the glories of eternity, at the early
age of forty-three years. Some time before his death he had
given the chief command of the armies of the Nephites to his
son, Moronihah, who, from the history of later years, we
judge to have been a worthy son of so illustrious a sire.

The four years that Shiblon held the plates are principally
noteworthy for the commencement of Nephite emigration
to the northern continent. It was during this period that
Hagoth established his ship-building yards on the Pacific,
near the land Bountiful. It is probable that ships were built
by the Nephites before Hagoth’s time, but he being an exceedingly
expert mechanic, constructed much larger ones than
had hitherto been built, and thus inaugurated a new feature
in Nephite colonization.
[7]

[Pg 173]

When Shiblon died he committed the records to the care
of Helaman, the son of his brother Helaman. The history of
the Nephites and Lamanites still continued a history of wars.
In the same year that Shiblon died, the Lamanites again
raised a numerous army and went down against their traditional
foes. The campaign was a short one. Moronihah,
the son of Moroni, inflicted a signal blow upon their advancing
legions, and drove them back to their own lands. Their
loss in this deservedly ill-fated expedition was great.

Still this blood-thirsty race never seemed to gain experience
by the things it suffered. This, no doubt, arose to a
great extent from the continued irritation kept up by the wily
apostates, who had much private spleen to gratify in the
sufferings of the Nephites, and who held no particular love
or respect for their credulous dupes and cat’s-paws, the
Lamanites.

It was in the year B. C. 53 that Helaman took charge of
the sacred plates, etc. In the next year Pahoran, the chief
judge, died, which event gave rise to serious contention
amongst the Nephite people. Three of his sons, named Pahoran,
Pacumeni and Paanchi, were ambitious to fill the exalted
position left vacant by their father’s death. Each had
his adherents and following, but, according to the national
law, the matter was decided by the voice of the people, and
Pahoran was chosen.

Pacumeni assented to the decision of the citizens, but
Paanchi attempted to raise a rebellion, for which crime he
was arrested, tried by the law, and condemned to death. Still
the more wicked part of the community supported his unlawful
claims. These determined to slay Pahoran, which resolve
they carried into effect, and the chief judge was slain by an
assassin named Kishkumen.
[8] This foul murder was committed
while the chief magistrate was sitting in the judgment
[Pg 174]
seat administering the law, but through the connivance of the
murderer’s associates in iniquity he escaped.

These lawless men bound themselves together by a secret
oath and covenant, that they would never divulge who
was the murderer of Pahoran, and they swore, by the most
horrible oaths, one to another, to conceal each other’s crimes,
to aid and sustain each other in their villainies, and to carry
out the designs and directions of their leaders. Over this
band of conspirators, assassins and robbers, Gadianton stood
as the head.

The next year after Pahoran’s assassination, the Lamanites
invaded the lands of the Nephites. The Lamanite armies
were commanded by a Nephite dissenter named Coriantumr.
He was a descendant of Zarahemla, therefore, presumedly, of
the tribe of Judah. He determined on new and venturesome
tactics, and caused his forces to make an unexpected dash
through the Nephite territory. The Nephites everywhere
gave way before them. They marched through the center
of the country, ravaging its most populous and richest districts.
Before the astonished Nephites could collect their armies the
enemy had assaulted and captured their beautiful and strongly
fortified capital, and for the first time the savage soldiery of
Laman held possession of the towers, temples and palaces of
Zarahemla. On this occasion the chief judge, Pacumeni,
was slain. Intoxicated with his uninterrupted successes, the
Lamanite general crowded yet further north, neglecting to
keep up his line of communication in the rear.

Coriantumr’s hope was to obtain possession of the narrow
isthmus which was the key to both continents. In this
he failed. The Nephite commander first checked his progress
northward, and then cut off his retreat. In a fierce battle that
followed he was killed, his armies surrendered, and the remnants
hastened ingloriously home, Moronihah, the Nephite
commander, magnanimously permitting them to return unmolested.
(B. C. 51.)

[Pg 175]

PACUMENI SLAIN—HELAMAN CHOSEN CHIEF JUDGE—THE
CONSPIRACY TO SLAY HIM—KISHKUMEN KILLED—THE
PROSPERITY OF THE NEPHITES UNDER HELAMAN.

(HELAMAN CHAP. 1 TO 3.)

AS PACUMENI, the chief judge, had been slain at the
capture of Zarahemla, no sooner was the war over than
an election took place to fill his vacant seat. The choice fell
upon Helaman, the more righteous of the people providentially
being still in the majority.

Helaman being a God-fearing, just man, his election was
very distasteful to the Gadianton band and its sympathizers.
They resolved to slay him as they had before slain the younger
Pahoran, and place Gadianton on the judgment seat in his
stead. To accomplish this the same vile instrument was
chosen—Kishkumen. But the protecting hand of the great
Jehovah was over and around about Helaman, and he preserved
him from the assassin’s knife. A servant of Helaman,
possibly a detective commissioned in such time of peril to
watch the movements of the dangerous classes, by disguise became
acquainted with the doings of the robber band, and of
their intentions toward his master.

As Kishkumen was on his way to fulfil his bloody work,
this servant, whose name is not recorded, met him, and gave
him one of their secret signs. This admitted him into the confidence
of the assassin, who explained his errand, and asked
to be conducted privately into the judgment hall, where Helaman
was then sitting in the performance of his duties. This
was agreed upon; the two proceeded to where the murderer
expected to find his victim. The strategy of the servant disarmed
[Pg 176]
his suspicions, he was off his guard. At the opportune
moment the servant stabbed Kishkumen, and so adroitly
did he perform his work, that the robber fell dead without a
groan. The servant immediately ran to the judgment hall,
and informed Helaman of all that he had heard, seen and done.
Without delay, orders were issued for the arrest of the band,
but its members, finding that Kishkumen did not return, and
fearing he had miscarried in his unholy work, under the guidance
of their leader fled precipitately into the wilderness by a
secret way, and, in the depths of its luxuriant vegetation, hid
in a place where they could not be found. (B. C. 50.)

The succeeding years were of peculiar prosperity, though
not of great righteousness, amongst the Nephite people. They
spread out and colonized in every direction. Many thousands
emigrated to the northern continent, among them great numbers
of Ammonites. Numerous new cities were built, and old
ones repaired; ship building was largely carried on, and the
arts and manufactures encouraged. Temples, tabernacles and
sanctuaries were erected in great numbers; in fact, the people
spread out and covered both continents north and south, east
and west. The sacred historian states that he has not recorded
one hundredth part of the doings of the people—their wickedness
and righteousness, their wars and contentions, their peace
and prosperity; but many records were kept, upon which the
history of these things were engraved, and all that is necessary
for the world’s good will be brought to light in heaven’s own
time.

The annals of the remainder of Helaman’s rule are very
short. In the years B. C. 45 and 44 there were many contentions
in the land, but in the latter portion of the succeeding
year they measurably ceased, and tens of thousands were
baptized unto repentance. So great was the prosperity of
the church at this time that even the priesthood were surprised
thereat, and at the multiplicity of blessings that were
poured out upon the people. This happy state of affairs continued
[Pg 177]
until the death of Helaman, though somewhat marred
by the increasing pride and vanity that long-continued prosperity
had begotten in the hearts of many of the Christians.

Helaman himself was a righteous man: He did observe
to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments
of God; and he did do that which was right in the
sight of God continually, and he did walk after ways of
his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land. So
writes the historian of Helaman; what more can be said of
any man?

Helaman had two sons to whom he gave the names of
Nephi and Lehi, to remind them, when they heard their own
names called, of the faith and goodness of their great ancestors,
who, by God’s direction, led their fathers to the promised
land. When Helaman died he was succeeded by his son
Nephi.

THE SONS OF HELAMAN—NEPHI’s RIGHTEOUS RULE—THE
LAMANITES AGAIN INVADE ZARAHEMLA—THEY DRIVE
THE NEPHITES INTO THE NORTHERN CONTINENT—THE
MINISTRATIONS OF NEPHI AND LEHI—THE MANIFESTATIONS
OF GOD’S POWER IN THE CITY OF NEPHI—AMINADAB—THE
CONVERSION OF THE LAMANITES—UNIVERSAL PEACE.

(HELAMAN CHAP. 4 AND 5.)

IN NEPHI we have one of the greatest prophets that ever
trod the earth, or to whom the God of our salvation
revealed his glorious will. He lived during the greater portion
of the first century before Christ, and disappeared from
[Pg 178]
the knowledge of mankind but a short time before the advent
of the Messiah as a babe in Bethlehem. He is first referred
to in the Book of Mormon (B. C. 44) as the elder of Helaman’s
two sons, Lehi being the younger. These two brothers
appear to have been inseparable during their lives. They are
nearly always mentioned as associated in the great and oft-times
perilous labors of the ministry undertaken for the salvation
of either Nephites or Lamanites. We have no information
with regard to the time of Nephi’s birth, but when his
father died, in the year B. C. 39, he succeeded him as chief
judge, the duties of which office he filled with wisdom and
justice for about nine years, when owing to the wickedness
of the people, he resigned that office, and Cezoram was chosen
by the people in his stead (B. C. 30).

The years that Nephi judged his people are some of the
darkest in Nephite history. Owing to their great pride and
iniquity, the Lord left them to themselves, and they became
weak like unto the Lamanites, man for man. When war was
declared, the latter, being much the more numerous, carried
everything before them. In vain the Nephites struggled for
their homes and their liberties. They were forced back by
the hordes of the Lamanites from city to city, from land to
land. Manti, Gideon, Cumeni, Moroni, and even Zarahemla
fell. Nor did the war end when the blood-thirsty Lamanites
held high carnival in the midst of its towers and palaces.
Onward swept the invading host; backward fled the defenders
of the commonwealth, and backward they continued until
every town and city, every tower and fort, from Melek to
Moroni, from Manti to Bountiful, were filled with the savage,
half-disciplined, dark-skinned warriors of Laman. Not a
place could be found in the whole southern continent where
the soldiers of the Nephites successfully held their ground.
Zarahemla, with its hallowed associations, its glorious temples,
where the daily sacrifice was unceasingly offered, its proud
palaces, its luxurious homes, its courts of justice, where the
[Pg 179]
chief judge sat in the magnificence of almost kingly authority
to administer the law—this their queen city, the seat of their
government, the centre of their civilization, the home of their
highest priesthood, was in the hands of their merciless, vandal-like
foes. Nor had the danger stopped; with hurried
hands the Nephites built a line of defense across the Isthmus
of Panama from sea to sea, for the unnumbered hosts of their
conquerors were still pushing forward. This line of fortifications
was effectual; it stopped the roll of the barbaric tide
northward, and the Lamanite commanders rested with the
possession of a continent.

In this war the Nephite dissenters took active part
against their white brethren, and to this fact, in part, may be
attributed the sudden success that shone on the Lamanite
arms. But little by little in succeeding years the half repentant
Nephites regained their lost ground, until (B. C. 31) the
most northerly half of their possessions had again fallen into
their hands; but because of their only partial repentance,
their leaders had not strength to lead them further, and Zarahemla
still remained in the hands of the warriors of Laman.

When Nephi retired from the judgment seat it was with
the intention of devoting his entire time to the preaching of
the gospel. He associated his brother Lehi with him, and
commencing at Bountiful, he journeyed and preached
throughout all the land southward in the possession of the
Nephites. From thence the two brothers passed onwards to
Zarahemla, where they found many Nephite dissenters, to
whom they proclaimed the word of God in great power.
Numbers of these confessed their sins, were baptized unto
repentance, and immediately returned to their brethren to repair,
if possible, the wrongs they had done, and make such
restitution as lay in their power.

Numbers of the Lamanites also received the truth gladly,
insomuch that eight thousand of that race were baptized in
Zarahemla and the regions round about.

[Pg 180]

From Zarahemla the prophets proceeded to the Lamanite
capital in the land of Nephi, where yet mightier power
attended them. The voice of God from heaven sustained
their testimony; angels ministered to the people who assembled
to see them; neither prisons, nor chains, nor bonds
could restrain or hold them, and they accomplished an ever
blessed and marvelous work amongst the benighted children
of Laman (B. C. 30). God’s power was manifested at these
times in mercy to the darkened condition of the minds of the
Lamanites, when only extraordinary manifestations of his
divine goodness could reach their hearts. They had no records
to which they could appeal, and all their traditions were
opposed to the Holy Being whose message of eternal joy
the Nephite prophets bore. Thus in their weakness they
were strengthened by signs and wonders which a people
better educated in the things of God could with but ill grace
claim.

The story of the ministration of Nephi and Lehi in the
land of Nephi is of the deepest interest. When they reached
its chief city they were thrust into that same prison into which
Ammon and his companions were cast by the guards of king
Limhi. Here they were kept with little or no food for a
number of days. At the end of this time the officers of the
Lamanites went to the prison with the intention of slaying
the two brothers. But to their intense surprise the Lamanites
found them encircled about as if by fire. At this strange
spectacle fear fell upon the officers. They dared not touch
the two prisoners lest they should be burned. Yet when they
saw that Nephi and Lehi were not consumed their hearts took
courage, though they still stood as if struck dumb with amazement.

At this point the two brethren stood forward and began
to explain that what was seen was manifested that the spectators
might learn that no one could harm them, and that they
were the servants of the Most High, and his all-powerful
[Pg 181]
arm shielded them. Nor was this all: a sudden earthquake
shook the ground, the prison walls tottered to their foundations,
a pall of thick darkness covered all whom curiosity or
other motives had gathered to the prison. The unburning
flame, the tottering walls, the quivering earth, the impenetrable
cloud of blackness, all conspired to fill the hearts of the
Lamanites with solemn fear and awful dread. They realized
the almighty power of God; they were filled with the sense
of their own abject insignificance. A voice, the voice of
One whom they knew not, sounded in their affrighted ears.
Once and again, yea, a third time, and each time that the
voice came it was followed by the trembling of the earth and
the shaking of the prison walls. All nature quivered at the
presence of the Majesty on High, whilst the heavy, palpable,
impenetrable darkness still enshrouded them.

From above the voice descended; it was outside the
cloud; its tones came not to their quaking hearts with the
roar of the pealing thunder; nor was it like the tumultuous
flow of angry waters; but a still voice of perfect mildness,
almost a whisper, that pierced to their inmost souls. That
voice was the voice of the mighty God of Jacob, and he
called upon all those who heard him to repent, and to do his
servants no hurt. With the third repetition of this command
were added marvelous words of salvation that cannot be
uttered by men. And because of the darkness that enveloped
them, and the fearful dread that filled their hearts, none dared
to move. Fear, astonishment, apprehension of what was to
come, had riveted each to the spot on which he stood.

Among the crowd was a Nephite dissenter, an apostate
from the true church, named Aminadab. This man, happening
to turn his face in the direction in which the two disciples
stood, beheld that their faces shone with a glorious light, and
that they were conversing with some one who appeared to be
above them, for their eyes were turned heavenward. Aminadab
drew the attention of those who surrounded him to this
[Pg 182]
glorious appearance, and the spell that bound them was sufficiently
removed to enable them to turn towards the prisoners
and to become witnesses of the fact also. What do all these
things mean? they anxiously inquired. They do converse
with the angels of God, answered Aminadab. What shall
we do that this cloud of darkness may be removed? was their
next question. You must repent and cry unto the Voice, even
until ye shall have faith in Christ, he replied. They did cry
unto God with all the energy that their terrifying surroundings
inspired, and so continued to supplicate until the cloud
was dispersed. Then, to their great surprise, they discovered
that they also were entombed in a pillar of living fire. Yet
this fire did not hurt them, it did not singe their garments, it
did not consume the prison walls, but their terror was swept
away, and they were filled with a joy that was unspeakable, for
the Holy Spirit of God filled their souls, and they broke forth
in marvelous words of praise and rejoicing. Again a pleasant,
searching whisper reached their gladdened ears. It said
unto them, Peace, peace be unto you because of your faith
in my Well-beloved, who was from the foundation of the
world. Now there were about 300 souls who heard and saw
these things, and they cast up their eyes unto heaven, which
was opened to their vision, and holy angels came down and
ministered unto them.

The tidings of this glorious appearing were quickly
spread near and far in the lands where the Lamanites dwelt.
So powerful was the testimony, and so great were the evidences,
that the major portion of the people believed, repented
and obeyed the gospel. Then, like all true saints, they manifested
the sincerity of their repentance by works of restitution;
they laid down their weapons of war, they cast aside
their false traditions, their hatred gave place to love, and
they restored to the Nephites Zarahemla and the other lands
which they had taken from them (B. C. 30).

So great was the reformation in their character that the
[Pg 183]
Lamanites soon exceeded the Nephites in their faith and good
works. Extraordinary as it may appear, instead of Nephite
missionaries visiting the Lamanites, Lamanite missionaries
were soon ministering the precious truths of the gospel among
the Nephites. Then a universal peace, such as had never before
been known since the division of the two races, extended
over the whole land. Indeed, from this time the history of
the two nations, to a great extent, becomes one. Together
they worshiped the Lord, together they rose and sank, together
they battled with the assassin hosts of Gadianton, together
they triumphed over those desperadoes, and together
they sought refuge in one vast body when there was no safety
but in massing the people in one land, together the more unrighteous
portions of both races were destroyed at the crucifixion
of the Savior, and together the more righteous ones
witnessed his appearing, listened to his words, received his
law, and became members of his holy church. Henceforth,
for generations, they were no more of Nephi, no more of
Laman, no more of Jacob, no more of Ishmael—all were of
Christ.

[Pg 184]

GROWTH OF EVIL AMONGST THE NEPHITES—THE INCREASE OF
THE GADIANTON ROBBERS—NEPHI’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE MURDER OF THE CHIEF JUDGE—THE DISCOVERY—NEPHI
ARRESTED—HE IS PROVEN INNOCENT—GOD’S COVENANT
WITH HIM—INCREASE OF INIQUITY—A TERRIBLE
FAMINE—THE WELCOME RAIN—THE TREND TO DEATH.

(HELAMAN CHAP. 6 to 11.)

THE GOODLY reign of universal peace, to which we referred
in our last chapter, brought stability, stability developed
wealth, wealth engendered pride, pride gave birth to
numerous sins, to be followed by contentions, dissensions, and
then wars. These evils begat sorrow, sorrow softened the
hearts of the people to repentance, repentance was followed by
the blessing of God, which again brought peace, prosperity
and, by-and-by, riches. At this era of Nephite national life,
this is the one eternal round which their inspired historians are
compelled to chronicle. Within four short years of the happy
time of universal peace we have just referred to, the riches
of the world had induced stubbornness and rebellion towards
God, combined with the insane desire to rob, plunder and
murder their fellow-men. If there ever were a people swift
to do evil, it was the Nephites of this generation. In the
year B. C. 26, Cezoram, the chief judge, was murdered by an
unknown hand, as he sat on the judgment seat, and his son,
who succeeded him, suffered in like manner within the year.
The Gadianton robbers grew in strength, both in numbers
and influence, and were actually fostered amongst the
Nephites, while the more righteous Lamanites utterly destroyed
all they found within their borders. The one people
[Pg 185]
dwindled in unbelief, the other grew in grace and in the power
of God’s divine Spirit.

Nephi, who had gone to the northern continent, tarried
there until the year B. C. 23, when, his teachings and prophecies
having been rejected by its inhabitants, he returned in
sorrow to Zarahemla; but he found no comfort there. The
Gadianton robbers filled the judgment seats, and perverted the
law to their own avarice and lust. The life, the property, the
liberty, the virtue of righteous men and women were counted
but things of naught, their playthings or their spoil.

Nephi’s house in Zarahemla was situated on one of the
principal thoroughfares. It led to the chief market-place.
In his garden, near the highway, he built a tower whither it
was his wont to repair for prayer. On one occasion, shortly
after his return from the north, he became so deeply concerned
because of the iniquities of the people, that in earnest
supplication to the Lord he raised his voice so high that he
was heard by the passers by in the street below. A listening
crowd soon gathered, and when the prophet had ended his
devotions and became aware of their presence, he commenced
to teach them. His words were not sugar-coated, to adapt
them to the tastes of his congregation. To the contrary, he
boldly rebuked their sins, their murders, and their secret wickedness;
at the same time, in the love of the gospel, he entreated
and plead with them to amend their lives and do better.
He also warned them of the terrible judgments that
would fall upon them if they did not turn from their sinful
ways.

Towards the conclusion of his address, Nephi surprised
his hearers by stating that the chief judge, Seezoram, had been
murdered by his brother, Seantum, who was anxious to obtain
the chief judgeship himself. Both these men were members
of the vile band who owned Gadianton as their chief.

The people did not believe Nephi’s statement, so five
incredulous men ran to the judgment hall to find out the truth
[Pg 186]
of the matter. When they reached there they discovered
Seezoram lying dead in a pool of blood near the judgment
seat. The five messengers were so overcome with fear at
this awful sight that they fell to the earth.

Soon after, other citizens who had not heard Nephi came
in. Finding the dead judge and the five men all there they
concluded that the latter must be the murderers, who, by
some manifestation of the power of heaven, had been prevented
from leaving the scene of their shameful deed. The
officers therefore took the five and cast them into prison.

When the wicked learned that Nephi’s words had proven
true, they charged him with being an accomplice. They did
not believe in revelation from God, so argued that Nephi
must have had a hand in the murder or he could not have
known anything about it. He was therefore taken and bound
and brought before the multitude. Then they cross-examined
him, abused him, and finally offered him money to confess
that he had employed some one to commit the dreadful crime.
They were anxious to bring reproach and trouble upon him
that they might have an excuse for not believing his words
nor heeding his teachings.

Nephi to establish his innocence sent his accusers to the
house of Seantum, and instructed them what to say. He
further told them how the fratricide would act; how he would
acquit him (Nephi) of all complicity in the murder, assert his
own innocence, until shown stains of blood on his cloak, and
then, overwhelmed with terror, he would confess.

The people went and followed Nephi’s instructions, and
all that he had told them came to pass; for according to his
words Seantum did at first deny, and according to the words
he did afterwards confess; acknowledging also that Nephi
knew nothing of the matter, without it had been revealed to
him of God.

Some of the citizens now acknowledged that Nephi was
a prophet, others declared that he was a god, whilst many
[Pg 187]
remained hardened in their sins. So violent became the contention
that the people gathered in excited crowds upon the
streets, wrangling and disputing about the events of the past
two days, and in their excitement they entirely forgot Nephi,
and left him standing alone in the street.

With a sorrowful heart he wended his way homeward;
but before he reached there, the voice of the Lord came to
him with many words of comfort and commendation. As
with others of his servants, the Lord made a covenant with
him, that he would bless him forever; that whatsoever he
bound on earth should be bound in heaven, and whatsoever
he loosed on earth should be loosed in heaven; that he should
have power over the elements to bless and to curse; to smite
the earth with famine, and pestilence, and destruction.

Notwithstanding the many proofs the ungodly Nephites
had that Nephi was a true prophet, they continued to reject
his teachings. They persecuted him, and even went so far
as to seek his life. But he was conveyed out of their midst
by the power of God, and ministered among other peoples.

The general character of the Nephites continued to grow
worse and worse. The Gadianton robbers grew stronger
and stronger. For a few years there was increasing commotion,
disunion and bloodshed. At last, wearied at beholding
so much misery and contention, Nephi prayed that the Lord
would not suffer the people to be destroyed by the sword,
but rather let a famine desolate the land, and, peradventure,
bring the people to an understanding of their awful condition,
and cause them to humble themselves and repent. The Holy
One heard and answered his petition, the heavens became as
brass over the land, the rains ceased, the earth dried up, the
crops failed, the people perished for want of food.

Two years passed (B. C. 19 and 18) and the third came,
and still the refreshing rain was withheld (B. C. 17). During
this year the people, humbled by their sufferings, turned
towards the Lord. They endeavored to root out iniquity
[Pg 188]
from their midst. They destroyed the Gadianton robber
bands, and established the government on a more righteous
foundation. Nephi, observing the change in their conduct
and feelings, interceded with the Lord in their behalf. His
prayers were answered, the welcome rain descended on the
parched-up soil, and a bounteous harvest once more crowned
the labors of the husbandman (B. C. 16).

The repentant people now regarded Nephi in his true
light; they revered him as a great prophet, and for a few
short years they listened to his teachings. While they did so
they prospered. But the leaven of unrighteousness had too
thoroughly permeated the national life for their faithfulness to
God to be of long duration. Two, three, or perhaps half a
dozen years they would maintain their integrity, and then
corruption would seethe, the vile would snatch the reins of
government, the good would be oppressed, and contention
and war, with all their horrors, would again reign supreme.
Thus it was after the three years of famine. For two years
there was peace, in the third there began to be much strife
(B. C. 13), in the next, the Gadianton bands reappeared, and
carried havoc amongst their more peaceable fellow-countrymen.
Going on, year by year they grew in iniquity and
ripened for destruction. For many years Nephi strove to
stem the tide of vice. At times partial success rewarded his
unceasing efforts, and he had joy in the baptism of some
honest souls. But the great bulk of the people had rejected
the gospel, they had no love for its holy principles, and were
unfit for its blessings.

[Pg 189]

SAMUEL THE LAMANITE—HIS MISSION AND PROPHECIES—THE
VAIN ATTEMPT TO DESTROY HIM—HE RETURNS
TO HIS OWN COUNTRY.

(HELAMAN CHAP. 13 TO 16.)

WE COME now to the days of Samuel the Lamanite
(B. C. 6). Without any previous reference to him, he
appears suddenly in the foreground of ancient American history,
bearing a weighty and solemn message; a messenger of
God’s displeasure, he stands a Jonah to the Nephites. That
message is faithfully delivered; then he disappears forever
from our sight.

The condition of society in the days of Samuel was
somewhat peculiar. The Nephites and Lamanites had, so far
as righteousness is concerned, to a great extent changed
places. The former were puffed up with worldly pride, were
full of vain boastings, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions,
murders and all manner of iniquities. They cast out, they
stoned, they slew the servants of God, while they encouraged,
exalted and rewarded the false teachers who flattered them
in their vileness and sung in their ears the siren’s song of
“all is well.” They reveled in all the luxury that the fatness
of the land brought forth; they were ostentatious in the use
of gold and silver and precious things; but their hearts never
turned in thankfulness to the great Giver of all these bounties.
The majority of the Lamanites, on the contrary, walked circumspectly
before God; they were full of faith and integrity,
were zealous in the work of converting their fellows, and
kept the commandments, statutes and judgments of the Lord
according to the law of Moses.

[Pg 190]

Such was the condition of affairs when the Lamanite
prophet Samuel appeared among the sin-stained citizens of
Zarahemla, and for many days preached repentance in their
midst. Their eyes were blind and their ears were deaf, sin
filled their souls, and in their anger they cast him out.
But the work of his mission was not yet accomplished. As
he was preparing to return to his own country, a holy angel
visited him and proclaimed the voice of the Lord. That
voice commanded that he should turn back and prophesy to
the people of Zarahemla the things that should come into
his heart.

He returned to the city, but was refused admission at its
gates. The iniquitous dwellers therein had no desire to have
their peace disturbed by the voice of divine threatenings.
But the prophet had the word of the Lord burning within
him, and could not be restrained. He mounted the walls of
the city, and from this conspicuous vantage ground, with out-stretched
hands and loud voice, he proclaimed to the wicked
the unwelcome tidings of their coming destruction. Many
listened to his proclamation, some few were pricked in their
hearts, repented of their evil deeds, and sought the prophet
Nephi, that they might be baptized. Others were angry,
they gathered up the stones in the roadway and hurled them
at Samuel; they drew forth their bows and shot arrows at
him. But to no effect; the protecting power of the Holy
Spirit was around him, and he could not be harmed.

When some beheld how wonderfully the prophet was
preserved, it was a testimony to them that God was with him,
and they also sought Nephi, confessing their sins. But the
great body of the populace grew more enraged at the want of
success that attended their murderous efforts. They called
upon their captains to seize and bind him. They cried out,
He hath a devil, and it is by this power he is preserved; take
the fellow, bind him, and away with him! Following the
wild satanic cry of the multitude, the officers of the law
[Pg 191]
endeavored to arrest Samuel. But he cast himself down from
the wall of the city and fled out of the lands of the Nephites
into his own country. There he preached and prophesied
among his own people; but among the people of Nephi he
was never heard of more.

The prophecies of Samuel are among the most wonderful
recorded in holy writ. He especially foretold many
things regarding the life and death of our Savior, and concerning
the future destiny of his people, and of the Nephites.

With regard to the birth of the Redeemer he said:

Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more
cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God, to redeem
all those who shall believe on his name.

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the
time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in
heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there
shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man
as if it was day.

Therefore there shall be one day and a night, and a day,
as if it were one day, and there were no night; and this shall
be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the
sun, and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a
surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless
the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night
before he is born.

And behold there shall a new star arise, such an one as
ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs
and wonders in heaven.

And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed
and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.

Regarding the death of the Lord Jesus he declared:

But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a
sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer
death, the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light
[Pg 192]
unto you; and also the moon, and the stars; and there shall
be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that
he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time
that he shall rise again from the dead.

Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost, there
shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many
hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble, and the rocks
which are upon the face of this earth; which are both above
the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid,
or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;

Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be
found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon
the face of the whole earth; yea, both above the earth and
beneath.

And behold there shall be great tempests, and there
shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and
there shall be many places, which are now called valleys,
which shall become mountains, whose height thereof is great.

And many highways shall be broken up, and many
cities shall become desolate.

And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up
many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.

And behold thus hath the angel spoken unto me for he
said unto me, that there should be thunderings and lightnings
for the space of many hours:

And he said unto me that while the thunder and the
lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be,
and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth
for the space of three days.

And the angel said unto me, that many shall see greater
things than these, to the intent that they might believe that
these signs and these wonders should come to pass, upon all
the face of this land; to the intent that there should be no
cause of unbelief among the children of men.

We shall see as we proceed how wonderfully all these
[Pg 193]
sayings of Samuel the Lamanite were fulfilled.

He closed his prophecy with these emphatic words.
First regarding the Lamanites:

Therefore, saith the Lord, I will not utterly destroy
them; but I will cause that in the day of my wisdom they
shall return again unto me, saith the Lord.

And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people
of the Nephites, if they will not repent and observe to do my
will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of
their unbelief, notwithstanding the many mighty works which
I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth
shall these things be, saith the Lord.

NEPHI TRANSLATED—HIS SON NEPHI—TIME OF THE SAVIOR’S
COMING—THE CONSPIRACY TO SLAY THE BELIEVERS—THE
REVELATION TO NEPHI—THE PROMISED SIGNS APPEAR—INCREASE
OF THE GADIANTON ROBBERS—WAR—LACHONEOUS
GATHERS ALL THE PEOPLE TO ONE LAND—THE
END OF THE STRUGGLE.

(III NEPHI CHAP. 1 TO 6.)

SHORTLY before the birth of Christ, Nephi transferred
the plates of brass and other records to his son Nephi,
gave him charge concerning them, and departed from the land
of Zarahemla. Whither he went, or what became of him, is
hidden from the knowledge of mankind. That he did not return
to the dwelling-places of humanity is testified to by his
son some ten years afterwards.

[Pg 194]

Six hundred years had now passed since Lehi and his
companions left Jerusalem. The time had arrived, of which
Samuel the Lamanite and other prophets had borne testimony
when the phenomena should appear to bear witness of the
birth of the Son of God. As the day drew near, signs and
miracles increased among the people. But the hardened in
heart, who were ever on the watch to entrap those who believed
in the words of the prophets, began to circulate the
idea that the time had passed and the prophecies had
failed. Not content with mocking and reviling those who
were anxiously looking for the promised two days and a night
when there should be no darkness, they went as far as to appoint
a day when all who believed in the coming of the Savior
should be slain, except the sign be first given.

This gross wickedness caused Nephi great sorrow; his
only recourse was to heaven. Before God, in mighty prayer,
he bowed in behalf of his imperiled people. All the day long
he continued his earnest supplications. At last the word of the
Anointed One came unto him, saying, Lift up your head and
be of good cheer, for behold the time is at hand, and on this
night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into
the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that
which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy
prophets. As was thus declared, so was it fulfilled, for at the
going down of the sun it was light as day, and so continued
until the morning, when the sun again rose in its usual course.
A new star had also appeared in the heavens. Then the
faithful rejoiced, their hearts were full to overflowing, they
knew that their Redeemer was born, and that the great plan
of salvation had entered its most glorious phase; God, the
great Jehovah, was tabernacled in the flesh. But the wicked
quaked with awful dread, they realized the extent of their iniquity,
they sensed that they were murderers at heart, for
they had plotted to take the lives of the righteous, and in the
terror that this overwhelming sense of their piteous condition
[Pg 195]
wrought, they sank to the earth as though they were dead.

Many now believed who previously had scorned the divine
messages that the prophets bore; but others, inspired of
Satan, as soon as they recovered from the fright which the
appearance of the promised signs had produced, began to
explain them away, and, by various lying rumors, endeavored
to nullify the good that had been done in the hearts of many.
Others again commenced to teach that it was no longer expedient
to observe the law of Moses, drawing their conclusions
from a false interpretation of the scriptures. Notwithstanding
these efforts of the evil one, Nephi and others went forth
among the people preaching, baptizing many, and bringing a
short period of peace to the land.

But those who were righteous were not strong enough
to overcome the vast hosts of Gadianton robbers, who, time
and time again, swarmed from their mountain retreats, and
carried carnage, rapine and desolation to the homes of both
Nephites and Lamanites.

Year by year these marauding bands repeated their incursions.
Sometimes one party conquered, sometimes the other.
This condition of affairs kept the people in such a state of terror
and anxiety that life grew a burden to them. Still they repented
not in sincerity of heart, and their many afflictions were
permitted by the Lord because of their iniquity.

So great was the misery entailed by these invasions, that
the chief judge, Lachoneus, at last determined to gather all the
people into one place, and by a policy of masterly inactivity
wear out or starve out the invaders. We can scarcely understand
how terrible must have been the misery endured by the
nation at this time, to have caused the conception and execution
of such a measure. Can we picture to ourselves the scenes
that must have occurred as the people of two continents converged
to one gathering place? From the shores of the
great lakes in the north, from the stormy Atlantic sea-board,
from the coast where the mild Pacific ebbs and flows, from
[Pg 196]
the regions of the southern Andes, the migrating hosts flowed
together to Zarahemla and Bountiful, the lands selected as the
temporary gathering place. They came with their flocks and
herds, their grain and provisions, leaving nothing that would
help to sustain the robber bands while they continued to wage
their unhallowed war. (A. C. 17.)

When the people reached the gathering place they fortified
it so strongly that it became impregnable to their enemies.
Under Gidgiddoni’s instructions they also made themselves
strong armor and shields as well as all kinds of weapons, so
that they might be fully prepared for the day of battle. Lachoneous,
in the meantime, preached to them in great power, so
much so that they feared his denunciations, forsook all their
sins, and turned to the Lord in great humility and devotion.

Game soon became so scarce in the wilderness that the
Gadiantons began to suffer for food while besieging the Nephite
stronghold. In addition to this, the Nephites made frequent
attacks upon them. Seeing his armies wasting away
from famine and the sword, Zemnarihah, their commander,
gave up all hope of success and withdrew from the siege, and
formed the design of marching his followers to the most distant
parts of the land northward.

To have permitted the robbers to escape would have increased
the difficulties under which the Nephites had so long
suffered. Gidgiddoni, the Nephite general, having learned of
their purpose, and knowing their weakness for want of food
and because of the great slaughter made among them through
the successful attacks of his own troops, sent his armies to cut
off their retreat. During the night they got beyond the robbers,
who, when they began their march on the morrow, found
themselves between two armies of the Nephites. Many thousands
surrendered, and the remainder were slain. Zemnarihah
was taken and hanged to the top of a tree; which when he was
dead, the Nephites cut down. They then greatly rejoiced and
[Pg 197]
praised God for his mercies and blessings in delivering them
from their enemies.

The soldiers of Gidgiddoni succeeded in taking as prisoners
all the robbers that were not killed. The word of God
was preached to them, and those who repented of their sins
and covenanted to cease their evil practices, were set at liberty.
The remainder were condemned for their crimes and punished
according to law. This entirely broke up these bands of murderers
and robbers, and peace and righteousness again prevailed
(A. C. 21), but it was not until five years later (A. C.
26) that the Nephites returned to and possessed their old
homes.

THE LAST CHIEF JUDGE MURDERED AND THE REPUBLIC OVERTHROWN—THE
SIGNS OF THE SAVIOR’S DEATH APPEAR—A TERRIBLE STORM—THE UNIVERSAL DARKNESS—THE
UNPARALLELED DESTRUCTION—THE TERROR OF THOSE HOURS.

(III. NEPHI CHAP. 6 TO 9.)

THE NEXT year the laws were revised according to
justice and equity. They had, doubtless, been violently
tampered with during the times that the Gadianton robbers
held control of the administration and elected the officers.
Good order now prevailed throughout the whole land. Soon
new cities were founded and built, and many improvements
made. Yet for all this, the peace was short lived. Iniquity
and dissension soon began to again raise their hideous heads,
and the prophets and servants of God were persecuted and
illegally condemned to death.

No officer, according to Nephite law, had power to condemn
[Pg 198]
a person to death without the authority of the governor,
but many of the prophets were put to death secretly by the
judges. A complaint was entered against these judges to the
governor and they were tried for their crimes, according to
the law made by the people.

The kindred and friends of the offenders, with certain
lawyers and high priests, entered into a secret covenant to
destroy the people who were in favor of law and justice, and
to save the guilty judges from the just penalty of their misdeeds.
This was, in fact, the re-establishment of the order
of Gadianton. They proposed to assassinate the governor,
set up a king to rule the country, and destroy its liberties.
That same year they murdered the chief judge Lachoneus,
the younger, as he sat in the judgment seat. The result was
not what the plotters anticipated; for the people, being dissatisfied
with the condition of affairs, divided into tribes, every
man with his family uniting with his kindred and friends.
This completely disorganized the government and deranged
the plans of the conspirators. Some men had large families
and many kindred and friends, and their tribes were correspondingly
large. Each tribe appointed its chief, or leader,
and it was his special duty to see that the laws they had
adopted were properly carried out (B. C. 30).

While these terrible social overturnings were taking
place on this continent, how different were the events that
were occurring in the midst of the house of Israel on the
eastern continent! for it was in this year that Jesus, the
Redeemer of the world, was baptized by John in Jordan, as
Lehi, Nephi, and others of the ancient prophets had long
before foretold; and it was in this year that he commenced
his public ministry, and began to teach men the law of his
gospel.

There was but little to unite the Nephite tribes except
their fear of the Gadianton robbers. This appears to have
led to a confederacy for the purpose of defense. They agreed
[Pg 199]
to keep peace with one another, and establish laws to prevent
one tribe trespassing upon the rights of the others.

The secret association that had slain the chief judge
elected one Jacob to be their leader. Seeing that their
enemies, the tribes of the people, were too numerous to contend
with, he commanded his followers to flee into the
northernmost parts of the land, where they could build up a
kingdom to themselves. They carried out his plan, and their
flight was too speedy to be intercepted. In the north they
built a large city which they called Jacobugath.

In this calamitous condition of affairs Nephi was called,
by the voice of the Lord and the administration of angels, to
labor diligently in the ministry among this wicked people.
At first, but few accepted the truth; but in the following year
(A. C. 32) many were baptized into the church. As the succeeding
year (A. C. 33) passed away the people began to
look anxiously for the fulfillment of the predictions of Samuel,
the Lamanite, concerning the important events which would
take place at the death of our Savior. Notwithstanding the
many predictions of the prophets already fulfilled, there was
much doubt and uneasiness among the people concerning that
which was yet in the future. They had not long to wait,
however, for the fulfillment of his words.

On the fourth day of the thirty-fourth Nephite year the
promised signs of the Savior’s crucifixion began. A horrible
and devastating tempest burst upon the land. All that was
ever told of the loudest thunder, and all that was ever seen
of the most vivid lightning, would fail to picture the terrific
visitation. The earth quivered and groaned and opened in
wide, unfathomable chasms. Forests of gigantic trees were
uprooted and carried high above the earth to meet in fearful
shocks in the air and then to be driven down again and
shattered upon the unyielding rocks. Mountains were riven
and swallowed up in yawning gulfs, or were scattered into
fragments and dispersed like hail before the tearing wind.
[Pg 200]
Cattle were lifted from their feet and dashed over precipices,
or were hurried before the blast to perish in the far off sea.
Towers, temples, homes, were torn up, scattered in fragments
or crushed by falling rocks, and together with their inmates
were ground to dust in the convulsion. Human beings were
hurled high into the air and driven from point to point, until,
they found graves fathoms deep below the earth’s surface.
Blue and yellow flames burst from the edges of sinking rocks,
blazed for a moment and then all was the deepest darkness
again. Boiling springs gushed upwards from sulphurous
caverns. Shrieks and howls from suffering animals, awful in
themselves, were drowned in the overwhelming uproar.
Rain poured down in torrents, cloud-bursts, like floods,
washed away all with which they came in contact, and pillars
of steaming vapor seemed to unite the earth and sky.

This unparalleled storm raged throughout the land for
three hours only—but to those who suffered it seemed an age.

During its short continuance the whole face of nature
was changed. Mountains sank, valleys rose, the sea swept
over the plains, large stagnant lakes usurped the place of
flourishing cities, great chasms, rents and precipices disfigured
the face of the earth. Many cities were destroyed by earthquakes,
fire, and the tumultuous overflow of the waters of the
great seas.

Three days of unnatural and impenetrable darkness followed
the horrors of the tempest, and from the heavens the
voice of the Lord was heard by the affrighted people, proclaiming
in their terrified ears the destruction that had taken
place.

Terrible was the catalogue of woes that that heavenly
voice rehearsed. The great city of Zarahemla and the inhabitants
thereof God had burned with fire. Moroni had
been sunken in the depths of the sea and her iniquitous
children had been drowned. Gilgal had been swallowed up
in an earthquake and her people were entombed in the bowels
[Pg 202]
of the earth. Onihah, Mocum and Jerusalem had disappeared
and waters overflowed the places where they so lately stood.
Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob and Gimgimno were all overthrown,
and desolate hills and valleys occupied their places,
while their inhabitants were buried deep in the earth.
Jacobugath, Laman, Josh, Gad and Kishkumen had all been
burned, most probably by lightnings from heaven. The
desolation was complete, the face of the land was changed,
tens of thousands, probably millions of souls had been
suddenly called to meet the reward of their sinful lives; for
this destruction came upon them that their wickedness and
their abominations might be hid from the face of heaven, and
that the blood of the prophets and the saints might not come
up any more in appeal unto God against them.

DESTRUCTION OF ZARAHEMLA.

THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN—THE SAVIOR TESTIFIES OF HIMSELF—SILENCE
THROUGHOUT THE LAND—HOW OFT WOULD CHRIST HAVE GATHERED HIS PEOPLE—THE
DARKNESS DEPARTS.

(III. NEPHI CHAP. 9 AND 10.)

WHEN the heavenly voice had finished the recital of the
calamities that had befallen the land and its inhabitants,
the speaker commenced an appeal to those who yet lived,
and revealed to them who he was. He declared unto them:

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous
than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your
sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

[Pg 203]

Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye
shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended
towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I
receive: and blessed are those who come unto me.

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created
the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I
was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the
Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father
glorified his name.

I came unto my own, and my own received me not.
And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.

And as many as have received me, to them have I
given to become the sons of God, and even so will I to as
many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption
cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end.

And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of
blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be
done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your
burnt offerings;

And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart
and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a
broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire
and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of
their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized
with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption
unto the world, to save the world from sin;

Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a
little child, him will I receive: for of such is the kingdom of
God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have
taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye
ends of the earth, and be saved.

After the people had heard this glad message of forgiveness
[Pg 204]
and redemption, they ceased their mourning for their
dead relatives, and there was silence in the land for the space
of many hours. Then again was the voice heard, even the
voice of Jesus, recounting how oft he had sought to gather
his Israel but they would not, and promising in the future
that he would again gather them, if they would listen unto
him. But if they would not heed him, the places of their
dwellings should become desolate until the time of the fulfilling
of God’s covenant with their fathers. When the people
heard this awful prophecy they began to weep and howl
again because of the loss of their kindred and friends.

Three days had passed in darkness, in terror and in woe,
when the thick mist rolled off the face of the land, revealing
to the astonished eyes of the survivors how great had been
the convulsions that had shaken the earth. When the darkness
passed away the earth ceased to tremble, the rocks were
no longer rent, the dreadful groanings ceased, and the tumultuous
noises ended. Then nature was again at peace, and
peace filled the hearts of the living; their mourning was
turned to praise, and their joy was in Christ their Deliverer.

As on the eastern continent, so on this; at the time of
Christ’s resurrection, numbers of the saints who were dead
arose from their graves and were seen and known by many
of the living. Christ had suffered for the sin of the world, he
had broken the bands of death, he had opened the portals of
the tomb, and as soon as he came forth conqueror over death
and hell, the faithful ones of many generations, who were
prepared for the glories of eternity, came forth also. This
was the first resurrection.

[Pg 205]

CHRIST APPEARS IN THE LAND BOUNTIFUL—THE TESTIMONY
OF THE FATHER—JESUS CALLS TWELVE DISCIPLES—HIS
TEACHINGS TO THEM AND TO THE MULTITUDE.

(III. NEPHI CHAP. 11 TO 14.)

SOME time after the tribulations that marked the sacrifice
of the Lord of life and glory, exactly how long we know
not, a multitude assembled near the temple which was in the
land Bountiful. The sacred building, it seems, was not
destroyed in the late overwhelming convulsions. Possibly
many of the high priesthood had assembled there to call upon
the Lord, and to officiate in the duties of their calling. At
any rate, those whom Jesus deemed worthy to be his twelve
disciples, by some inspiration, gathered there. With the rest
of the multitude they conversed on the marvelous changes
that had been wrought by the desolating earthquakes and
their attendant horrors. They also spake one to another with
regard to the Savior, of whose death the three days of unexampled,
impenetrable darkness had been a sign.

While thus engaged a strange, sweet voice fell upon
their ears, yet it pierced them to the centre, that their whole
frames trembled. At first they wist not what it said or
whence it came nor even when the words were again repeated
did they understand. But when they came a third
time they understood their glorious import, and knew that
it was the voice of God. He said unto them, Behold my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have
glorified my name: hear ye him. Obedient to this heavenly
voice they cast their eyes upward, and to their joyous astonishment
beheld the Messiah, clothed in a white robe, descending
out of heaven.

[Pg 206]

Even yet they did not comprehend who it was, but thought
him an angel. As he descended to the earth and stood in
their midst, their wondering eyes were all turned toward
him, but for awe not a mouth was opened nor was a limb
moved. Then the Redeemer stretched forth his hand and said
unto the multitude: Behold I am Jesus Christ, whom the
prophets testified should come into the world; and behold, I
am the life and light of the world; and I have drunk out of
the bitter cup which the Father hath given to 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.

Then the whole multitude fell to the earth, they remembered
the sayings of the prophets, they realized that their
God stood in the midst of them.

Again the risen Redeemer spake: Arise, said he, and
come forth unto me that you 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.

Now they who heard him from the first to the last went
forth and assured themselves that it was he of whom the
prophets had spoken. Then with shouts of praise they cried:
Hosanna! blessed be the name of the Most High God. And
they fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

Jesus next called Nephi to him, then eleven others, and
gave them authority to baptize the people, at the same time
strictly charging them as to the manner in which they performed
this ordinance, that all disputes on this point might
cease among the believers. The names of the Twelve whom
he chose were: Nephi, his brother Timothy, whom he had
beforetime raised from the dead, also his son Jonas, and
Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon,
Jonas, Zedekiah and Isaiah. These Twelve are to sit in
[Pg 207]
the great day of judgment as the judges of the seed of Lehi,
and be themselves judged by the Twelve Apostles whom
Jesus had called from among the Jews.

After Jesus had chosen the Twelve, he commenced to
teach the people the principles of the fullness of the gospel.
Step by step he led them over the same precious ground
of universal truth as he had his followers in the temple at Jerusalem,
by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and on the hillsides
of Judea and Samaria. Sometimes, through the difference of
the inspired translation of the Book of Mormon from the
worldly-wise one of the Bible, a slight difference is noticeable
in the wording of the instructions, but as a rule these differences
are trivial, the advantage being with the Nephites, whose
greater faith drew from the Savior deeper truths than Judah
had received, or caused him to display greater manifestations
of his omnipotence and boundless love. From the believers
he would turn to the Twelve, and give them special instructions
as his ministers, then again he would shed forth his
words of mercy, truth and divine wisdom upon the multitude;
and by and by again address the disciples. So he continued
day by day until all was revealed, either to the multitude
or to the Twelve, that was necessary for the eternal
salvation of the obedient.

Some have wondered why Jesus should have given so
many of the same teachings to the Nephites as he did to the
Jews. The reason is that those teachings were perfect and
could not be improved. They were universal, that is, they
were adapted to the wants of all peoples, whether of Israel or
of the Gentiles, whether of Judah or Joseph. They were a
portion of the everlasting gospel and had to be preached to
all the world as a witness, to those who dwelt in America as
well as those of Asia, Africa and Europe. Thus we find in
the teachings given to the Nephites what we term the first
principles of the gospel—faith, repentance and baptism; we
also find those divine lessons of love, truth, humility and duty
[Pg 208]
that glorified the Savior’s “Sermon on the Mount.” These
we shall not reproduce but will draw attention to other teachings
of the Savior not recorded by the Four Evangelists; that
is they are not to be found in their writings as at present contained
in the New Testament.

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE MOSAIC LAW—”OTHER SHEEP
HAVE I”—THE TEN TRIBES—THE EVENTS OF THE LATTER
DAYS.

(III. NEPHI CHAP. 15 AND 16.)

WHEN JESUS had reached a certain point in his teachings
wherein he told the people that old things had
passed away and that all things had become new he perceived
that some of his hearers were wondering what were his intentions
regarding the law of Moses. Therefore he next instructed
them on this point. He said:

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.

[Pg 209]

And because I said unto you, that old things hath 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.

How simple yet how grand, how plain yet how comprehensive
are these teachings, both with regard to himself and
to the law which he had given to the forefathers of the Jews
and the Nephites! If men would but receive these instructions
in the plainness in which they are given, how much controversy
would have an end, how much dissension would
never have had an existence!

After giving these explanations to the multitude, Jesus
again turned to the twelve chosen disciples and told them the
meaning of his words when he said unto the Jews: 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.

These other sheep of which he spake, Jesus said, were
the Nephites themselves, who had been separated from the
Jews because of the latter’s iniquity; and because of their continued
evil doing and lack of faith the knowledge of the existence
of Lehi’s family on the American continent had been
withheld from them. But still more. Jesus had yet other
sheep, which were neither of the Jews nor of the Nephites,
nor of the lands in which they dwelt. They were a people
whom he had not yet visited and who had not yet heard his
voice; but he had received a commandment from his Father to
[Pg 210]
visit them, to show himself unto them, and teach them, and
then they all would be of the one fold and he would be the one
shepherd to them all.

These other sheep, neither Jew nor Nephite, we understand
to be the ten tribes of Israel who were carried into
captivity, but who, unlike the house of Judah, never returned
to their homes in the Promised Land. We are told that they
were led away by the power of the Lord to a land of which
no one knows anything, only that which God has revealed.

Jesus then told his disciples many things relating to the
age in which we live. He explained to them how the Gentiles
living on this continent would have the truth presented to
them, how they would grow haughty, proud and exceedingly
wicked, and how they would oppress the remnants of the
house of Israel who dwelt on this broad land. Then how
these remnants would have the fullness of the gospel brought
to them, and how eventually the house of Israel would be
used to punish the disobedient of the Gentiles, who should
become as salt that had lost its savor, good for nothing but to
be cast out and trodden under foot of men.

THE SAVIOR HEALS THE SICK—HE BLESSES THE CHILDREN OF
THE NEPHITES—ANGELS MINISTER UNTO THEM.

(III. NEHI CHAP. 17.)

WHEN the Redeemer had finished these teachings he
looked around among the multitude and perceived that
their minds were not prepared, at that time, to receive any
more of the word of the Lord, so he told them to go to their
[Pg 211]
homes, and prepare their minds for the morrow, when he
would come unto them again. But as he gazed upon them
he noticed that they were in tears, and that they looked beseechingly
upon him, as if they would ask him to tarry a little
longer with them.

These mute entreaties prevailed with him, his bowels
were filled with compassion towards them; and, we are told,
he said:

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 they 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 who had been healed and
they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship
him; and as many as could come from the multitude did kiss
his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

Jesus next commanded that the little children should be
brought.

So the people brought their little children and set them
down upon the ground round about him, and the multitude
gave way till they had all been brought to him. And when
they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he
commanded the multitude to kneel down upon the ground.
And when they had done so, Jesus groaned within himself,
[Pg 212]
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 knelt and he prayed unto the Father and
the things which he prayed could not be written, but the
multitude who heard him bore record: that eye had never seen,
neither had ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things
as they saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father. When
Jesus had made an end of praying, he arose, but so great was
the joy of the multitude that they were overcome. But Jesus
bade them arise. Then they arose, 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 he
took the 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 said unto the multitude, Behold your
little ones.

And as they cast their eyes upward they saw the heavens
open, and angels descending out of the heaven, as it were in
the midst of fire, and they came down and encircled these
little ones about, and they were encircled with fire; and the
angels did minister unto the children. And the multitude,
who numbered about 2,500 men, women and children, bore
record of the glorious things which they had seen, heard and
partaken of.

Can we imagine anything more lovely, more touching,
and more glorious than this scene must have been? Can we
conceive the joy that must have filled the hearts of these
Nephites as they beheld the angels of heaven descending from
the courts of glory and ministering to their little ones? How
deep must have been their love for the Savior who had brought
these blessings to them? How strong must have grown their
faith in him? We cannot recall a circumstance in recorded
history that draws earth nearer to heaven than this, or that
seems to bind the ties so strongly that unite the powers of
eternity with the children of mortality.

[Pg 213]

THE SACRAMENT ADMINISTERED—THE SAVIOR’S TEACHINGS
REGARDING IT—HE CONFERS ON HIS DISCIPLES THE
POWER TO GIVE THE HOLY GHOST—HE ASCENDS INTO
HEAVEN.

(III. NEPHI CHAP. 18.)

JESUS next commanded his disciples to bring him some
bread and wine. While they were gone to obtain them,
he caused the multitude to sit down upon the earth. When
the disciples returned with the bread and wine, he took the
bread, and brake and blessed it. This he gave to the disciples
and they did eat and were filled. He then commanded them
to give unto the multitudes.

When the multitudes had eaten and were filled, Jesus began
to instruct the people with regard to the meaning of the
bread they had just partaken of. He said:

And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have
done, even as I have broken the 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.

After this he gave of the wine to his disciples, and they
drank thereof, and then, by his direction, they gave it to the
people.

After they had done this Jesus continued his teachings;
Blessed are ye, said he, 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.

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And this shall ye always do to 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 now behold, this is the commandment which I give
unto you, that ye shall not suffer anyone, 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.

The Lord also gave the people much instruction regarding
prayer. Among other things he told 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
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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;