Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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28 And now behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you according as the spirit hath constrained me; wherefore, I know that they must surely come to pass. 2 And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel. 3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other, Behold, I, I am the Lord’s — and the other shall say, I, I am the Lord’s — and thus shall everyone say that hath built up churches and not unto the Lord. 4 And they shall contend one with another, and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the holy ghost which giveth utterance. 5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel. And they say unto the people, Hearken unto us and hear ye our precept, for behold, there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men. 6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept. If they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work. 7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say, Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die and it shall be well with us. 8 And there shall also be many which shall say, Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God, he will justify in committing a little sin. Yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor, there is no harm in this. And do all these things, for tomorrow we die. And if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner false, and vain, and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord. And their works shall be in the dark, 10 and the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
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28 Now, my people, I’ve spoken to you as the Spirit has inspired me; so I know these things will certainly happen. 2 The things that will be written from the book will be very valuable for mankind and especially for our descendants, who are a remnant of the house of Israel. 3 Then at that time, among churches that aren’t established by the Lord, one church will say to the other: I, I’m the Lord’s! And the other will reply: I, I’m the Lord’s! — this is how everyone will talk who’s built up churches that aren’t established by the Lord. 4 They’ll argue with each other, and their priests will contradict each other. They’ll teach according to what they’ve learned and deny the Holy Ghost, which inspires people to speak truth. 5 And they’ll deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel. They’ll tell the people: Listen to us and follow our directions. God isn’t around today; the Lord and the Redeemer has done His work, and He’s given men His power. 6 Believe what we teach: If they say that there’s a miracle performed by the hand of the Lord, don’t believe it! He’s not a God of miracles today; He’s finished His work. 7 There will be many who will say: Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves; because we’ll soon die and it will turn out fine for us. 8 And there will also be many who will say: Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves, but praise God. He’ll justify committing a little sin. Lie a little, take advantage of someone because of their mistakes, set a trap for your neighbor; there’s no harm in any of this. And do all these things, because we’ll soon die. But if it turns out we’re guilty, God will spank us with a few strokes, and in the end, we’ll be saved in God’s kingdom. 9 Many will teach in this way false, powerless, and foolish doctrines, and will be filled with pride to their very center and go to great lengths to hide their secret plans from the Lord. They’ll try to hide the things they do from public view. 10 And the blood of the holy ones will cry out from the ground against them.
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11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way, they have become corrupted; 12 because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride, they are puffed up. 13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing, and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart because in their pride they are puffed up. 14 They wear stiff necks and high heads, yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray, save it be a few who are the humble followers of Christ. Nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
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11 Indeed, they’ve all departed from the pathway and become corrupted because of pride. 12 And because of false teachers and false doctrines, their churches will have become corrupted and prideful; because of pride they’re full of conceit. 13 They rob the poor because of their fine places of worship and they rob the poor because of their expensive clothing. They persecute the humble and poor in heart because they’re inflated with pride. 14 They’re unyielding and arrogant; and because of pride, wickedness, abominations, and whoredoms, they’ve all gone astray except for a few who are Christ’s humble followers. However, they’re led by false teachings, so that in many cases they go astray because they’re taught to obey man-made rules and principles.
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15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms and pervert the right way of the Lord, Woe, woe, woe be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell.
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15 The Lord God Almighty has said: Woe, woe, woe to the wise, the well-educated, and the rich who are prideful to their very center, and to all those who preach false doctrines, practice whoredoms, worship idols, and corrupt and pervert the Lord’s right way! They will be thrown down to hell.
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16 Woe unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught, and revile against that which is good and say that it is of no worth, for the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth. And in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity, they shall perish. 17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations, they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts. 18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of all the earth, must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof. 19 For the kingdom of the Devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the Devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains and they be stirred up to anger and perish. 20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men and stir them up to anger against that which is good. 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say, All is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospereth, all is well. And thus the Devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. 22 And behold, others he flattereth away and telleth them there is no hell. And he saith unto them, I am no devil, for there is none. And thus he whispereth in their ears until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. 23 Yea, they are grasped with death and hell; and death, and hell, and the Devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is Endless torment. 24 Therefore, woe be unto him that is at ease in Zion.
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16 Woe to those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless, because the time is soon coming when the Lord God will visit the inhabitants of the earth in judgment. And when they’re fully ripe in iniquity, they will be destroyed. 17 However, the Lord of Hosts has said, if the inhabitants of the earth repent of their wickedness and abominations, they won’t be destroyed. 18 But that powerful and utterly wicked church — the whore of all the earth — will fall to the ground in ruins; and its fall will be impressive. 19 Indeed, the accuser’s kingdom must shake. And those who belong to it must be motivated to repent, or the accuser will grab them with his everlasting chains and they’ll become angry and be lost, 20 since at that time he’ll rage in mankind’s hearts and cause them to be angry against all that is good. 21 And he’ll pacify others, lulling them into worldly security, so that they’ll say: Everything is fine in Zion; in fact, Zion is prospering. Everything is fine! And so the accuser swindles them and leads them away carefully down to hell. 22 And he beguiles others, telling them: There’s no hell. He says to them: I’m not the accuser — because there isn’t one. This is how he whispers in their ears until he imprisons them with his awful chains, from which there’s no rescue. 23 They’re imprisoned by death and hell and the accuser; and all those who have been captured by these will stand before God’s throne and be judged according to their works. From there they’ll go to the place prepared for them — a fiery lake that burns like lava, which is endless torment. 24 Therefore, woe to those who are at ease in Zion!
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25 Woe be unto him that crieth, All is well. 26 Yea, woe be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God and the gift of the holy ghost. 27 Yea, woe be unto him that saith, We have received and we need no more. 28 And in fine, woe unto all those who tremble and are angry because of the truth of God. For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness, and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth, lest he shall fall.
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25 Woe to those who cry out: Everything is fine! 26 Woe to those who follow the worthless teachings of men and deny God’s power and the gift of the Holy Ghost. 27 Woe to those who say: We’ve received enough of the truth and we don’t need any more. 28 In short, woe to all those who shake with anger because of God’s truth. Because those built on God’s rock are glad to receive truth. But those built on a sandy foundation are afraid of falling.
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29 Woe be unto him that shall say, We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough. 30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God, I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. And blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom. For unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough — shall be taken away even that which they have. 31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the holy ghost.
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29 Woe to those who say: We’ve received God’s word; we don’t need more of God’s word because we have enough. 30 This is what the Lord God has said: I’ll give mankind line upon line, a teaching here and a teaching there, a little here and a little there. Those who follow My teachings and listen to My counsel are blessed since they’ll learn wisdom. And I’ll give more to those who receive; but from those who say we have enough, even what they have will be taken away. 31 Those who put their trust in the scholarly arrogance of men or follow the false teachings of a man are cursed, because only those teachings given by the power of the Holy Ghost are true.
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32 Woe be unto the gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts, for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me. Nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me, for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
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32 The Lord God of Hosts has said: Woe to the Gentiles; because despite extending My welcoming arm to them from day to day, they will deny Me. Nevertheless, I’ll be merciful to them, says the Lord God, if they repent and come to Me. My arm beckons to them all day long, says the Lord God of Hosts.
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29 But behold, there shall be many at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people which are of the house of Israel, 2 and also that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed, and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed. And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth for a standard unto my people which are of the house of Israel. 3 And because my words shall hiss forth, many of the gentiles shall say, A bible, a bible, we have got a bible, and there cannot be any more bible. 4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a bible and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the gentiles mean? Do they remember the travels, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews? And their diligence unto me in bringing forth salvation unto the gentiles?
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29 But there will be many who are uninterested when I proceed to do an awe-inspiring work among them, in order to fulfill the covenants I’ve made with mankind. When I beckon them a second time to recover My people who belong to the house of Israel; 2 when I fulfill the promises I’ve made to you, Nephi, and to your father as well. I said I would remember your descendants, and the words of your record would be made available by My power to your descendants. My words will whistle to the ends of the earth as a standard to My people who belong to the house of Israel. 3 And because My words will ring out, many of the Gentiles will say: A Bible? A Bible? We have a Bible! There can’t be another Bible! 4 But this is what the Lord God has said: These fools will have a Bible, and it will come from the Jews, My ancient covenant people. But what thanks do they give the Jews for the Bible they received from them? What do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the Jews’ struggles, efforts, and pains, and their diligence toward Me in making news of salvation known to the Gentiles?
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5 O ye gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay, but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads, for I the Lord hath not forgotten my people. 6 Thou fool that shall say, A bible, we have got a bible and we need no more bible. Have ye obtained a bible, save it were by the Jews? 7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea? And that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath, and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? 8 Wherefore murmur ye because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God? That I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together, the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. 9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and for ever, and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure.
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5 You Gentiles, have you remembered the Jews, My ancient covenant people? No, on the contrary, you’ve cursed and hated them and haven’t tried to recover them. But I’ll turn all these things back on your own heads, because I, the Lord, have never forgotten My people. 6 You fool who says: A Bible? We’ve got a Bible! We don’t need another Bible! Have you obtained a Bible from anyone but the Jews? 7 Don’t you know there are more nations than one? Don’t you know that I the Lord your God have created all people and remember those on islands of the sea, and that I rule in the heavens above and on earth beneath, and I bring forth My word for mankind, for every nation of the world? 8 So why do you complain that you receive more of My word? Don’t you know that the testimony of two nations is a witness to you that I Am God, and I remember one nation like another? That being the case, I speak the same words to one nation as I do to another; and when the two nations unite, their testimonies will also unite. 9 I do this to prove to everyone that I Am the same yesterday, today, and forever, and I deliver My words according to My own pleasure.
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And because that I have spoken one word, ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another, for my work is not yet finished, neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and for ever. 10 Wherefore, because that ye have a bible, ye need not suppose that it contains all my words, neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. 11 For I command all men, both in the east, and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them. For out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. 12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it, and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it. And I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel which I have led away and they shall write it, and I shall also speak unto all the nations of the earth and they shall write it. 13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews, and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel, and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. 14 And it shall come to pass that my people which are of the house of Israel shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions, and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word, and against my people who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed for ever.
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And because I’ve spoken one word, there’s no need for you to conclude that I can’t speak another. Because My work isn’t finished yet, and it won’t be until the end of mankind, or even from then on and forever. 10 So, because you have a Bible, there’s no need to conclude it contains all My words or that I haven’t caused more to be written. 11 I command all people — in the east, the west, the north, the south, and on the islands of the sea — to write the words I speak to them, because I’ll judge the world from the books that will be written, each person according to what they do measured against what’s written. 12 I’ll speak to the Jews, and they’ll write it; I’ll also speak to the Nephites, and they’ll write it; I’ll also speak to the other tribes of the house of Israel I’ve led away, and they’ll write it; I’ll also speak to every nation on earth, and they’ll write it. 13 The Jews will have the Nephites’ records and the Nephites will have the Jews’ records; and the Nephites and Jews will have the records of the lost tribes of Israel, and the lost tribes of Israel will have the records of the Nephites and the Jews. 14 And My people who belong to the house of Israel will be gathered home to their own lands. And the testimonies of Me will also be united as one, and I’ll show those who fight against My word and against My people who belong to the house of Israel that I Am God, and I covenanted with Abraham to remember his descendants forever.
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30 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you, for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God, ye shall all likewise perish. And because of the words which have been spoken, ye need not suppose that the gentiles are utterly destroyed. 2 For behold, I say unto you, as many of the gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord, and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off. For the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.
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30 Now, my dear people, I wish to talk to you. I don’t want to let you think you are more righteous than the Gentiles will be. Unless you keep God’s commandments, you’ll all likewise be lost. And because of the words provided to you, don’t conclude the Gentiles will be completely destroyed. 2 I tell you: All the Gentiles who repent are the Lord’s covenant people, and all the Jews who refuse to repent will be rejected. The Lord only covenants with those who repent and believe in His Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.
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3 And now I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written, and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed. 4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. 5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ which was had among their fathers. 6 And then shall they rejoice, for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God. And their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes, and many generations shall not pass away among them save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people. 7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ, and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land. And as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.
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3 Now I wish to prophesy a little more about the Jews and Gentiles. After the book I’ve mentioned appears, and is set down in writing for the Gentiles, and is sealed up again to the Lord, there will be many who will believe the words that are written. And they’ll take the words to the remnant of our descendants, 4 who will then know about us, that we came from Jerusalem, and they descend from the Jews. 5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ will be taught to them; so they will be restored to the knowledge of their forefathers and also to knowledge of Jesus Christ, knowledge that their ancestors had among them. 6 Then they’ll rejoice since they’ll know it’s a blessing to them from the hand of God. Their blindness will begin to be removed from their eyes. And after only a few generations they’ll become a pure and delightful people. 7 The scattered Jews will also begin to believe in the Messiah, and they’ll begin to gather together on the land. And all who believe in Christ will become a delightful people.
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8 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth. 9 And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 10 For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy. And he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire. 11 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 12 And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 13 And the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 14 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den. 15 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 16 Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known, yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men. 17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed, there is no works of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light, and there is nothing which is sealed upon earth save it shall be loosed. 18 Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed, and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more for a long time. And now my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings.
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8 The Lord God will begin His work among people of all nations, tribes, and languages, to bring about His people’s restoration upon the earth. 9 And with righteousness He’ll judge the needy, and with justice decide matters for the poor. He’ll control the earth with words from His mouth, and with His breath He’ll slay the wicked. 10 For it will soon be time when the Lord God will cause a great division among the people, and He’ll destroy the wicked. And He’ll spare His people, even if He needs to use fire to destroy the wicked. 11 And righteousness will be His belt, and faithfulness the sash around His waist. 12 Wolves will live beside lambs, leopards will lay beside goats; and the calf, young lion, and yearling together, and a little child will lead them. 13 And the cow will eat beside the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 14 The infant will play at the cobra’s lair, and a young child will put his hand in the viper’s nest. 15 They’ll neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, because the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord like the waters cover the sea. 16 So the true history of all nations will be made known; indeed, everything will be made known to mankind. 17 There isn’t anything secret that won’t be revealed, and there isn’t any hidden event that won’t be shown in the light. And there isn’t anything sealed on earth that won’t be unsealed. 18 Therefore all things that have happened to mankind will, at that time, be revealed. And Satan won’t have power over people’s hearts anymore, for a long time. Now, my dear people, I finish my words.