Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
Paragraph 1
1
2 The words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake unto the people of Nephi, after the death of Nephi: 2 Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I am under to God to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God. 3 And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the office of my calling, but I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been. 4 For behold, as yet ye have been obedient unto the word of the Lord which I have given unto you. 5 But behold, hearken ye unto me and know that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of Heaven and earth, I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God. 6 Yea, and it grieveth my soul, and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts. 7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceeding tender, and chaste, and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God. 8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.
Paragraph 1
1
2 The words Jacob, Nephi’s brother, spoke to the Nephites following Nephi’s death. 2 Now, my dear people, I come to the temple today to declare God’s word to you according to the responsibility I owe to God to honor my calling in all seriousness, and to avoid being accountable for your sins. 3 You know I’ve been diligent up to now in performing my calling, but today I’m far more concerned and uneasy about your souls’ welfare than I’ve been before. 4 You’ve obeyed the Lord’s word I’ve given you until now. 5 But listen and with the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth, I will tell you about your thoughts, how you’re beginning to commit sin — one I find very abhorrent, and is also offensive to God. 6 It weighs heavily on my soul and I am ashamed before God to need to confront you about the wickedness of your hearts. 7 It also pains me to use such blunt language about you in front of your wives and children. Many of their feelings are very tender, chaste, and delicate before God, which pleases Him. 8 I suppose they came here to listen to an encouraging and healing message from God.
Paragraph 2
2
9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds. And those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God, have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds. 10 But notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.
Paragraph 2
2
9 Therefore it weighs down my soul to be compelled by the strict commandment I’ve received from God to admonish you for your sins. This will reinjure those who are already wounded, instead of comforting and healing their injuries. The rest who are innocent, instead of being fed on good tidings from God, will hear condemnation that will break their hearts and trouble their minds. 10 But despite the challenge of this, I must obey God’s strict commands and tell you about your wickedness and abominations in front of those pure in heart and broken-hearted, and under the piercing glance of Almighty God’s eye.
Paragraph 3
3
11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying, Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.
Paragraph 3
3
11 I must tell you the truth and deliver God’s blunt message. I asked the Lord, and He answered me, saying: Jacob, go up to the temple tomorrow and deliver the message I’ll give you.
Paragraph 4
4
12 And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you: that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and all manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully. 13 And the hand of Providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that ye have obtained many riches. And because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren, ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.
Paragraph 4
4
12 Now, my people, this is the message to you: Many of you have begun to search for gold, silver, and all kinds of precious metals this promised land, which is for you and your descendants, has in generous amounts. 13 God, in His foreknowledge and generosity, has blessed you and allowed you to become wealthy. Because some of you have acquired more than your brothers and sisters, you’re filled with pride to your core, are stubborn and arrogant, because of your expensive clothing, and you look down on those around you because you think you’re better than them.
Paragraph 5
5
14 And now my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifies you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, nay, but he condemneth you; and if ye persist in these things, his judgments must speedily come unto you. 15 Oh that he would shew you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust. 16 Oh that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, oh that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls. 17 Think of your brethren like to yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. 18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. 19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ, ye shall obtain riches if ye seek them. And ye will seek them for the intent to do good: to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Paragraph 5
5
14 My friends, do you think God justifies you thinking and acting this way? I tell you: No; He condemns you. If you continue doing this, His judgments will crash down on you. 15 I wish He would show you He can pierce you and with one glance of His eye strike you down to the dust! 16 If only He would rescue you from this foolish sin and abomination! If only you would pay attention to His commandments and not let pride destroy your souls! 17 Care for those around you like you care for yourselves and treat everyone like family and be generous with your money and possessions, so they can prosper like you. 18 Before you ever try to be wealthy, seek God’s kingdom. 19 And after you’ve obtained a hope in Christ, you’ll have wealth, if that’s your goal; and you will want it as the means to do good to others: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, free the enslaved, and to help cure the sick and injured.
Paragraph 6
6
20 And now my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride. And those of you which have afflicted your neighbor and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it? 21 Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust. And for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him for ever. 22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you. 23 But the word of God burthens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begins to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms because of the things which are written concerning David, and Solomon his son. 24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
Paragraph 6
6
20 My people, I’ve spoken to you about pride. Those of you who have reviled your neighbors, looking down on them because you were proud in your hearts for what God has given you, how can you explain this? 21 Don’t you think such things are offensive to the One who created all mankind? Each person is as precious to Him as another. Mankind was made from the dust; and He has created everyone for the very same purpose: to keep His commandments to glorify Him forever. 22 Now I’m done speaking to you about this pride. And if I didn’t have to speak to you about a worse sin, my heart would be very glad because of you. 23 But God’s word weighs me down because of your more obscene sins. The Lord says: This people are beginning to increase in iniquity; they don’t understand the scriptures, trying instead to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms because of what’s written about David and his son Solomon. 24 Indeed, David and Solomon had many wives and concubines — something offensive to Me, says the Lord.
Paragraph 7
7
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord: I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. 26 Wherefore, I, the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. 27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife, and concubines he shall have none; 28 for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. 29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
Paragraph 7
7
25 Therefore the Lord says: I led this people from the land of Jerusalem by My power so I could make from Joseph’s offspring a righteous branch that will follow Me. 26 Therefore I won’t let this people do like others did in the past. 27 So, my people, listen to me and hearken to the Lord’s word: No man among you is to have more than one wife — and he is not to have any concubines. 28 I the Lord God delight in women’s chastity and prostitution is an abomination to Me — says the Lord of Hosts. 29 Therefore this people must keep My commandments, says the Lord of Hosts, or the land will be cursed on their account.
Paragraph 8
8
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me I will command my people otherwise they shall hearken unto these things. 31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of 32 Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the 33 land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction. For they shall not commit whoredoms like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Paragraph 8
8
30 For in My Wisdom I will have covenant people, says the Lord of Hosts, whom I’ll command and lead, and they will hearken to this commandment to have only one wife. 31 I the Lord have seen the sorrow and heard the sobbing of the daughters of My people in the land of Jerusalem, and elsewhere in My people’s lands, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. 32 The Lord of Hosts says: I won’t let the cries of the beautiful daughters of this people, whom I’ve led out of the land of Jerusalem, come up to Me against the men of My people, says the Lord of Hosts. 33 They’re not to mislead the daughters of My people — because of their kind, gentle nature — and use their vulnerabilities to subjugate them. If they do this, I will chastise them, even destroy them if needed, because I’ve commanded them not to commit whoredoms like others did in the past, says the Lord of Hosts.
Paragraph 9
9
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi. Wherefore, ye have known them before, and ye have come unto great condemnation, for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done. 35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquity than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives and lost the confidence of your children because of your bad examples before them, and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
Paragraph 9
9
34 Now, my brothers and sisters, you know these commandments were given to our father Lehi; so you are familiar with them. And you’ve come under great condemnation, since you’ve violated what you were taught. 35 You’ve committed greater iniquity than the Lamanites, our brothers and sisters. You’ve broken the hearts of your tender wives and lost your children’s confidence because of your bad examples to them. The sobbing of their hearts goes up to God against you and many hearts are broken, cut with deep wounds. Because God’s word is clear, it condemns you, because of your disobedience.
Paragraph 10
10
3 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
Paragraph 10
10
3 But I also want to speak to those who are pure in heart. Look to God with a firm mind and pray to Him with great faith. He’ll comfort you in your distress and plead your cause and send down justice upon those who seek to destroy you.
Paragraph 11
11
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads, and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love, for ye may, if your minds are firm for ever. 3 But woe, woe unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day before God; for except ye shall repent, the land is cursed for your sakes. And the Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you — nevertheless, they are cursed with a sore cursing — shall scourge you even unto destruction. 4 And the time speedily cometh that except ye repent, they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you. 5 Behold, the Lamanites, your brethren whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursings which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord which was given unto our fathers, that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them. 6 And now this commandment they observe to keep. Wherefore, because of this observance in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them, and one day they shall become a blessed people. 7 Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands, and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers. Wherefore, how much better are you than they in the sight of your great Creator?
Paragraph 11
11
2 All of you pure in heart: Look up, receive the pleasing word of God, and feast on His love, because if your minds are firm, it’s always available. 3 But woe, woe to those of you that aren’t pure in heart, who are filthy before God today. Unless you repent, the land has been cursed because of you. And the Lamanites, who aren’t filthy like you are — even though afflicted with a bitter curse — will punish you and be allowed to destroy you. 4 Unless you repent, the time will quickly come when they’ll take possession of your inherited land, and the Lord God will guide the righteous to leave you. 5 You hate your brothers and sisters, the Lamanites, because of their filthiness and darkened countenances, but they’re more righteous than you. They haven’t forgotten the Lord’s commandment, given to our fathers, to have only one wife and no concubines, and forbidding whoredoms. 6 They make a point of keeping this commandment. And so, because they stay obedient to this commandment, the Lord God won’t destroy them but will be merciful to them, and one day they’ll become a blessed people. 7 Their husbands love their wives, their wives love their husbands, and their husbands and wives love their children. And their unbelief and hatred for you is due to the iniquity of their forefathers; so why do you think you’re better than them in the sight of your great Creator?
Paragraph 12
12
8 O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins, that their skins will be whiter than yours when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God. 9 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skin, neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness, but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers. 10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them, and also remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.
Paragraph 12
12
8 My brothers, I’m afraid that unless you repent of your sins, their countenance will be more pure than yours when you and they are brought before God’s throne. 9 Therefore I give you a commandment, which is God’s word, not to insult them anymore because their countenance is darkened. You must not speak disparagingly of them because of their filthiness, but remember your own filthiness and that theirs is due to their forefathers. 10 Therefore you must remember your children, how you’ve injured their hearts because of your example. Remember that because of your filthiness you would be responsible for their sins and may cause your children’s destruction. When God judges you, you’ll be condemned for both your sins and theirs.
Paragraph 13
13
11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls. Shake yourselves, that ye may awake from the slumber of death, and loose yourselves from the pains of hell, that ye may not become angels to the Devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. 12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi, warning them against fornication, and lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them. 13 And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings. 14 These plates are called The Plates of Jacob, and they were made by the hand of Nephi. And I make an end of speaking these words.
Paragraph 13
13
11 My people, listen carefully to me. Awaken the power of your souls, shake yourselves so you can wake up from the slumber of death, and free yourselves from the pains of hell, so you don’t become angels to the accuser, to be thrown into that fiery lake that burns like lava, which is the second death. 14 This concludes what I said following Nephi’s death. 12 Now I Jacob spoke many more things to the Nephites, warning them against fornication and adultery, the inciting of lust, and every kind of sin, explaining to them their awful consequences. 13 And not even one percent of the doings of this people, who are now becoming numerous, can be written on these plates; but many of their doings are written on the larger plates, including their wars, conflicts, and the rule of their kings. 14 These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and they were made by Nephi himself.