Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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61 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from Parhoron, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received: 2 I, Parhoron, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. 3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me, and also those of my people who are Freemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceeding numerous. 4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great flattery and they have led away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us. They have withheld our provisions and have daunted our Freemen, that they have not come unto you. 5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon with as many men as it were possible that I could get. 6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are flocking to us daily, to their arms, in the defense of their country and their freedom, and to avenge our wrongs. 7 And they have come unto us insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle. 8 They have got possession of the land or the city of Zarahemla. They have appointed a king over them and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him, in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, in the which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land. And he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered under the Lamanites.
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61 Soon after Moroni had sent his letter to the chief governor, he received a letter from Parhoron the chief governor. This is what it said: 2 I Parhoron, the chief governor of this land, send this to Moroni, the chief captain over the army. I tell you, Moroni, I have no pleasure in your great difficulties; they distress me. 3 But there are some who are pleased by your troubles. There is a rebellion underway against me and against all the freemen. Our opponents are very numerous. 4 They have attempted to remove me from the judgment seat, and have caused all of the resulting difficulties by their iniquity. Their rhetoric and deceit have confused and misled many people to sympathize with them, resulting in our many difficulties. They have interfered with resupplying you, and have intimidated our freemen so that they haven’t joined you. 5 I’ve been exiled and have fled to Gideon with as many men as I could. 6 From here I’ve sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land. People are flocking to us daily, with their weapons, in defense of their country and their freedom and to pay back our wrongs. 7 Indeed, so many have joined us that those insurrectionists now face stiff resistance; they’re now afraid of us and don’t dare start the battle against us. 8 But they control the city of Zarahemla, and they have appointed a king to now rule. He has written to the Lamanite king and made an alliance with him. As part of their alliance, he has agreed to hold and defend the city of Zarahemla, expecting that will enable the Lamanites to conquer the rest of the land. He anticipates he will be appointed king over this people after they’re conquered by the Lamanites.
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9 And now, in your epistle ye hath censured me, but it mattereth not. I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Parhoron, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment seat, that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.
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9 Now in your letter you have criticized and judged me, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not angry, but am pleased by your patriotic heart. I don’t seek power, only to retain my judgment seat to protect my people’s rights and liberty. I stand firmly in the liberty that God has given us.
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10 And now behold, we will resist wickedness, even unto bloodshed. We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land. 11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us. 12 We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God or if he should command us so to do. 13 But behold, he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us. 14 Therefore, my beloved brother Moroni, let us resist evil. And whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. 15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum. Give unto them power to conduct the war in that part of the land according to the spirit of God — which is also the spirit of freedom — which is in them. 16 Behold, I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me. 17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither and we will go speedily against those dissenters in the strength of our God, according to the faith which is in us. 18 And we will take possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum, yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
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10 Now we will oppose wickedness, even to the death. We wouldn’t kill the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land. 11 We wouldn’t kill our fellow Nephites if they didn’t rise up in rebellion and lift their sword against us. 12 We would submit to the burden of slavery if God’s justice demanded it, or if He commanded us to do so. 13 But He doesn’t command us to put ourselves under the control of our enemies, but to put our trust in Him and He’ll rescue us. 14 Therefore my dear brother Moroni, let us resist evil. And any evil we can’t resist with our words, including rebellions and defections, let us resist with our swords, to preserve our freedom, so we can have joy worshiping in our congregation and obeying our Redeemer and our God. 15 Therefore come quickly to join me with a few of your men, and leave the rest in Lehi and Teancum’s charge. Give them orders to follow God’s Spirit in conducting the war in that part of the land, for that’s the very spirit of freedom within them. 16 I’ve sent a few provisions to them, to feed them while you come to aid me. 17 Recruit any force you can while on your march here; and we’ll immediately go against those defectors in God’s strength, directed by the faith we share. 18 We’ll take Zarahemla, get control of provisions, and then relieve Lehi and Teancum. We’ll strike them with the Lord’s strength, and put an end to this sinful rebellion.
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19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren. 20 But ye have said except they repent, the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against them. 21 See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord. Tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother Moroni.
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19 Your letter made me rejoice, Moroni. Because I was a little worried about what to do, whether it was right for us to attack fellow Nephites. 20 However, as you said: Unless they repent, the Lord has commanded you to go against them. 21 See that you bless Lehi and Teancum in the Lord. Tell them not to be afraid, since God will protect them, and all those who stand firmly in the liberty God has given us. Now I end my letter to my dear brother Moroni.