tered oaths after the manner of the ancients, and sought again to destroy the kingdom. 34. Now Com did fight against them much; nevertheless, he did not prevail against thero. CHAPTER 11 1. AND there came also in the days of Com "many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people, except they should repent and turn unto the Lord, and forsake their murders and wickedness. 2. And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the people sought to destroy them; 3. And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was blessed in all the remainder of his days. 4. And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom; and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him; and there began to be an exceeding great war in all the land. 5. And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of the people, should be put to death, 6. And there was great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a greater curse should come upon the land, and also upon the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the arth; and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon the face of the land, except they should repent of their wickedness. 7. And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. because of their wicked combinations; wherefore there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth, and all this came to pass in the days of Shit.om. And the people began to repent of their iniquity; and inasmuch as they did, the Lord did have mercy on them. 9. And it came to pass that Shiblom was slain, and Seth was brought into captivity, and did dwell in captivity all his days. 10. And it came to pass that Ahah, his son, did obtain the kingdom; and he did reign over the people all his days. And he did do all manner of iniquity in his days, by which he did cause the shedding of much blood: and few were his days. q, see i, n. Nep. 10. a, see p. Ether 9. b, ver. 1. America. d, sce i, n. Nep. 10. c,. The ancient mounds of North 11. And Ethem, being a descendant of Ahah, did obtain the kingdom; and he also did do that which was wicked in his days. 12. And it came to pass in the days of Ethem, there came many prophets, and prophesied again unto the people; yea, they did prophesy that the Lord would utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth, except they repented of their iniquities. 13. And it came to pass that the people hardened their hearts, and would not hearken unto their word; and the prophets mourned and withdrew from among the people. 14. And it came to pass that Ethem did execute judgment in wickedness all his days; and he begat Moron. And it came to pass that Moron did reign in his stead: and Moron did that which was wicked before the Lord. 15. And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion among the people, because of that 'secret combination which was built up to get power and gain; and there arose a mighty man among them in iniquity, and gave battle unto Moron, in which he did overthrow the half of the kingdom; and he did maintain the half of the kingdom for many years. 16. And it came to pass that Moron did overthrow him, and did obtain the kingdom again. 17. And it came to pass that there arose another mighty man; and he was a descendant of the brother of Jared. 18. And it came to pass that he did overthrow Moron and obtain the kingdom; wherefore Moron dwelt in captivity all the remainder of his days; and he begat Coriantor. 19. And it came to pass that Coriantor dwelt in captivity all his days. 20. And in the days of Coriantor there also came many prophets, and prophesied of great and marvellous things, and cried repentance unto the people, and except they should repent, the Lord God would execute judgment against them to their utter destruction; 21. And that the Lord God would send or bring forth another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner which he brought their fathers. 22. And they did reject all the words of the prophets, because of their secret society and wicked abominations. 23. And it came to pass that Coriantor begat Ether, and he died, having dwelt in captivity all his days. CHAPTER 12. 1. AND it came to pass that the days of Ether were in the days of Coriantumr; and Coriantumir was king over all the land. e, see p, Ether 9. f, see i, 11. Nep. 10. small colony from Jerusalem. Ether 13: 20, 21. 9, see p, Ether 9. h, A 2. And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Corian tumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him; 3. For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance, lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them, that by faith all things are fulfilled; 4. Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with 'surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God. 5. And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvellous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not. 6. And now, I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would shew unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith; 7. For it was by faith that Christ shewed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead and he shewed not himself unto them, until after they had faith in him; wherefore it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he shewed himself not unto the world. 8. But because of the faith of men, he has shewn hinself unto the world and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen; 9. Wherefore ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith. 10. Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God: 11. Wherefore, by faith, was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son, hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled; 12. For if there be no faith among the children of men, God can do dno miracle among them; wherefore he shewed not himself until after their faith. 13. Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the 'prison to tumble to the earth. 14. Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi, that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. 15. Behold, it was the 'faith of Ammon and his brethren, which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites; 16. Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles, wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ, and also them who were after. 17. And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should "not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith. 18. And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God. 19. And there were many whose faith was so exceeding strong even before Christ came who could not be kept from within the vail, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad. 20. And behold, we have seen in this record, that one of these was the brother of Jared for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger, he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith. 21. And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could 'not withhold any thing from his sight; wherefore he shewed him all things, for he could "no longer be kept without the vail. 22. And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the "promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ. 23. And I said unto him, Lord, the Gentiles will 'mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them; 24. And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the Pawkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote, were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them. 25. Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we i, see f, Ether 3. 1, Ether 3 25, 26. m, see f, Ether 3. j, see e, Ether 3. n, see c, h, see d, I. Nep. 28. k, Ether 3: 26. Enos. 1.. o, vers. 26-28. See w, Mor. 8. P, awkwardness in writing pr engraving upon plates, in Egyptian hieroglyphics or characters. 9, Ether 3:27. 4: 1. No doubt the language, in which the brother of Jared wrote, was more perfect than any of the languages confounded at Babel. See Ether 3: 22-24. r, A spoken language may be powerful, embracing every shade of idea; but its written representative may be very imperfect, especially if symbols and hieroglyphics are used. write, we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall 'mock at our words. 26. And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying, Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness; 27. And if men come unto me, I will shew unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness, that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 28. Behold, I will shew unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will shew unto them that faith, hope, and charity, bringeth unto me-the fountain of all righteousness. 29. And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was com forted, and said, O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith; 30. For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, remove, and it was removed. And if he had not had faith, it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith; 31. For thus didst thou manifest thyself unto thy disciples. For after they had faith, and did speak in thy name, thou didst shew thyself unto them in great power; 32. And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man; yea, even among the "mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent "hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared. 33. And again I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. 34. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men, is charity; wherefore, except men shall have "charity, they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father. 35. Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take away their talent, yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who shall have more abundantly. 36. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. 37. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me, If s, vers 23, 27. t. see c, Jacob 4. u, vers. . 34, 37. See m, Enos. 1. •, see b. 20, vers. 35-37. |