Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
Paragraph 1
1
10 And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken. 2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh. Wherefore, as it has been shewn unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer. 3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ (for, in the last night, the angel spake unto me that this should be his name), that he should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world. And they shall crucify him — for it behooveth our God — and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God. 4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations, they would repent and know that he be their God. 5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified. 6 Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodsheds shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations.
Paragraph 1
1
10 Now I Jacob speak to you again, my dear people, about the righteous branch I’ve mentioned. 2 The promises we’ve obtained are promises to us here on earth. Therefore I’ve been shown that many of our descendants will be lost here on earth because of unbelief. Nevertheless, God will be merciful to them, and our descendants will be recovered, so they can have revealed to them the truth about their Redeemer. 3 Therefore, as I told you, it must necessarily be that Christ — and last night the angel told me this was to be His name — should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world. And they will crucify Him — because it’s essential for God — and no other nation on earth would crucify their God. 4 Because if the mighty miracles were performed among other nations, they would repent and know He was God. 5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, those at Jerusalem will be stubborn and hardened against Him, resulting in His crucifixion. 6 As a result, destruction, famine, disease, and slaughter will befall them because of their iniquities. And those who aren’t destroyed will be scattered among all nations.
Paragraph 2
2
7 But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh upon the earth unto the lands of their inheritance. 8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth. And the nations of the gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance. 9 Yea, the kings of the gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers. Wherefore, the promises of the Lord are great unto the gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute? 10 But behold, this land, saith God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the gentiles shall be blessed upon the land. 11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land who shall raise up unto the gentiles, 12 and I will fortify this land against all other nations. 13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God, 14 for he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish. For I the Lord, the King of Heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them for ever that hear my words.
Paragraph 2
2
7 But this is what the Lord God said: When the day comes that they believe in Me, that I Am the Messiah — for I’ve covenanted with their fathers — then they will be restored here on earth to the lands of their inheritance. 8 And they will be gathered in from their long scattered state from islands and from the four corners of the earth. God has said: The Gentile nations will be great in My eyes in returning them to the lands of their inheritance. 9 Indeed, the Gentile kings will be like foster fathers to them, and their queens will be like nursing mothers. Therefore the Lord has made great promises to the Gentiles, because He has decreed it, and who can argue against it? 10 But God has said: This land will be a land for your inheritance and the Gentiles will also be blessed upon the land. 11 This land will be a land of liberty for the Gentiles, and there won’t be any kings on the land who will oppress the Gentiles. 12 I’ll fortify this land against all other nations. 13 God has said: Those who fight against Zion will be destroyed. 14 Those who try to establish a king in place of Me will perish, because I the Lord, the King of Heaven, will be their king; and I’ll be a light to those who hear My words forever.
Paragraph 3
3
15 Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations. 16 Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth. For they who are not for me are against me, saith our God. 17 For I will fulfill my promises which I have made unto the children of men that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh.
Paragraph 3
3
15 Therefore I must destroy secret works of darkness, murder, and abominations so that the covenants I’ve made with mankind can be fulfilled, which I’ll do for them while they’re living on earth. 16 So those who fight against Zion — Jews or Gentiles, enslaved or free, male or female — will be destroyed. God has said: They are the whore of all the earth — those who aren’t for Me are against Me. 17 I’ll fulfill the promises I’ve made to mankind, which I’ll do for them while they’re here on earth.
Paragraph 4
4
18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them. Wherefore, the gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel. 19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, for ever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands. Wherefore, I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God.
Paragraph 4
4
18 So, my dear people, this is what God has said: I’ll use the Gentiles to afflict your descendants. Nevertheless, I’ll soften the Gentiles’ hearts, so they’ll be like a father and a mother to them. As a result, the Gentiles will be blessed and included with the house of Israel. 19 I’ll dedicate this land to your descendants forever — and to those who are included with them — as their inherited land; because it’s a choice land to Me, more than all other lands. Therefore I’ll require all who live there to worship Me.
Paragraph 5
5
20 And now my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads; for we are not cast off. Nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance, but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea. 21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto those who are upon the isles of the sea. Wherefore, as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren. 22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all these who have been broken off; wherefore, he remembereth us also. 23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves, to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. 24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the Devil and the flesh. And remember after ye are reconciled unto God that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. 25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
Paragraph 5
5
20 Now, my dear people, since our merciful God has given us such great information about these things, let us remember Him and abandon our sins and not hang our heads down, because we aren’t rejected. Although we’ve been removed from our inherited land, we’ve been led to a better land; the Lord has made the sea our path and we’re on an island of the sea. 21 But the Lord’s great promises include those who live on the islands of the sea. Therefore since it says islands, there have to be more than this one, and our fellow Israelites also inhabit them. 22 The Lord God has led some of the house of Israel away from time to time according to His plan and faithfulness. And the Lord remembers all those who have been broken off; consequently, He remembers us also. 23 So be of good cheer and remember you’re free to act for yourselves, to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. 24 So, my dear people reconcile yourselves to God’s will, not to the will of the accuser and the flesh. And remember that after you’re reconciled to God, it’s only in and through God’s grace that you’re saved. 25 Therefore may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, so you can be received into God’s eternal kingdom, so you can thank Him for divine grace. Amen.