Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
Paragraph 1
1
10 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good, and I write unto my brethren the Lamanites. And I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. 2 And I seal up these records after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.
Paragraph 1
1
10 Now I Moroni will write something that seems worthwhile to me. I’m writing to my Lamanite brothers and sisters. I want them to know that more than 420 years have come to an end since the sign of Christ’s coming was given. 2 After I give a few words of counsel to you, I’ll seal up these records.
Paragraph 2
2
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true. And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, and he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the holy ghost. 5 And by the power of the holy ghost, ye may know the truth of all things. 6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true. Wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is; 7 and ye may know that he is by the power of the holy ghost. Wherefore, I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God, for he worketh by power according to the faith of the children of men, the same today, and tomorrow, and for ever.
Paragraph 2
2
3 I would urge you that when you read these things, if it’s wisdom in God for you to read them, to remember how merciful the Lord has been to mankind, from the creation of Adam all the way down until you consider these things and ponder them in your hearts. 4 When you consider these things, I would urge you to ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ: Aren’t these things true? And if you ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He’ll reveal the truth of it to you by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you can know the truth of all things. 6 Anything that’s good is righteous and true. Therefore nothing good denies Christ; on the contrary, it acknowledges that He exists. 7 And you can know He exists by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore I would urge you not to deny God’s power — indeed, He works by power according to mankind’s faith, the same today, tomorrow, and forever.
Paragraph 3
3
8 And again I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many, and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered, but it is the same God who worketh all in all. And they are given by the manifestations of the spirit of God unto men to profit them. 9 For behold, to one is given by the spirit of God that he may teach the word of wisdom, 10 and to another that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same spirit, 11 and to another exceeding great faith, and to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit; 12 and again, to another that he may work mighty miracles; 13 and again, to another that he may prophesy concerning all things; 14 and again, to another the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; 15 and again, to another all kinds of tongues; 16 and again, to another the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. 17 And all these gifts come by the spirit of Christ, and they come unto every man severally, according as he will. 18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
Paragraph 3
3
8 Furthermore, my brothers and sisters, I urge you not to deny God’s gifts — there are many of them and they come from the same God. There are different ways these gifts are administered, but it’s the same God who brings about all things in all respects. And they’re given to people by the manifestations of God’s Spirit in order to benefit them. 9 To one a gift is given by God’s Spirit so they can teach words of wisdom, 10 and to another so they can teach words of knowledge by the same Spirit, 11 and to another great faith, and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 12 in addition, to another a gift is given so they can perform powerful miracles, 13 and to another so they can prophesy about all things, 14 and to another the gift of seeing angels and ministering spirits, 15 and to another the gift of speaking in tongues, 16 and to another the interpretation of languages and a variety of tongues. 17 All these gifts come through Christ’s Spirit, and they come to every person individually, according to their desires. 18 I would urge you, my dear people, to remember every good gift comes from Christ.
Paragraph 4
4
19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and for ever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand — only according to the unbelief of the children of men. 20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith, there must also be hope; and if there must be hope, there must also be charity. 21 And except ye have charity, ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope. 22 And if ye have no hope, ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. 23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers, If ye have faith, ye can do all things which is expedient unto me.
Paragraph 4
4
19 I would urge you, my dear people, to remember He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and all these gifts I’ve mentioned, which are spiritual, will never come to an end as long as the world lasts, except in accordance with mankind’s unbelief. 20 So there must be faith; and if there must be faith, there must also be hope; and if there must be hope, there must also be charity. 21 And unless you have charity, there’s no way for you to be saved in God’s kingdom. Nor can you be saved in God’s kingdom if you don’t have faith. Nor can you, if you don’t have hope. 22 And if you have no hope, you must necessarily be in despair; and despair comes because of iniquity. 23 Christ truthfully told our fathers: If you have faith, you can do everything that I consider suitable and proper.
Paragraph 5
5
24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth, that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. 25 And woe be unto the children of men if this be the case, for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one; for if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God. 26 And woe unto them which shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And I speak it according to the words of Christ, and I lie not. 27 And I exhort you to remember these things, for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God. And the Lord God will say unto you, Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man like as one crying from the dead? Yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? 28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God, and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation. 29 And God shall shew unto you that that which I have written is true.
Paragraph 5
5
24 Now I’m speaking to the farthest reaches of the earth, that if the time comes when God’s power and gifts are put to an end among you, it will be because of unbelief. 25 Woe to mankind if this is so, since there won’t be anyone who does good among you — no, not one — because if there’s someone among you who does good, they’ll do it by God’s power and gifts. 26 Woe to those who dismiss these things and die, because they will die in their sins and can’t be saved in God’s kingdom. I say this according to Christ’s words, and I don’t lie. 27 I urge you to remember these things, because the time will quickly come when you’ll know I don’t lie, since you’ll see me at God’s place of judgment. And the Lord God will tell you: Didn’t I declare My words to you, which were written by this man, like someone crying out from the dead, indeed, like someone speaking from the dust? 28 I declare these things to fulfill the prophecies. They will go out from the mouth of the everlasting God, and His word will call out sharply from generation to generation. 29 God will show you that what I’ve written is true.
Paragraph 6
6
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing. 31 And awake and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion, and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders for ever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled. 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness. And if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ. And if, by the grace of God, ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. 33 And again if ye, by the grace of God, are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Paragraph 6
6
30 Again, I would urge you to come to Christ and hold firmly to every good gift, and avoid every evil or unclean thought. 31 Wake up and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem! Put on your beautiful clothes, daughter of Zion, and strengthen your tent stakes and extend your borders out forever, so you won’t be lost anymore, so the covenants the Eternal Father has made with you, O house of Israel, can be fulfilled. 32 Come to Christ and be made complete in Him, and reject all ungodliness. And if you reject all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then His grace is sufficient for you, so that by His grace you can be complete in Christ. If by God’s grace you’re complete in Christ, there’s no way you can deny God’s power. 33 Moreover, if you’re complete in Christ by God’s grace and don’t deny His power, then you’re sanctified in Christ by God’s grace through the shedding of Christ’s blood, which is part of the Father’s covenant, to accomplish the remission of your sins, so that you become holy, without stain.
Paragraph 7
7
34 And now I bid unto all farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God until my spirit and body shall again reunite and I am brought forth triumphant through the air to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.
Paragraph 7
7
34 Now I’ll say goodbye to all. I soon go to rest in God’s paradise, until my spirit and body reunite and I’m brought forth triumphant through the air to come face to face with you at the judgment seat of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both living and dead. Amen.
