Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
The second epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni.
Mormo nq ’ws pseefcsoj n d lbettyem r sto shcis esgo n M orfou n i.
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9 My beloved son, I write unto you again, that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat that which is grievous. 2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites in the which we did not conquer. And Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram, and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men. 3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people, for they do not repent. And Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another. 4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually. And when I speak the word of God with sharpness, they tremble and anger against me. And when I use no sharpness, they harden their hearts against it. Wherefore, I fear lest the spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them. 5 For so exceedingly do they anger, that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death. And they have lost their love one towards another, and they thirst after blood and revenge continually. 6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation. For we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.
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9 iM y doegav r i sh o n, fId’m fw rritignc g teo v yqo u e aglailn, so you kynno w I’bm s toi le l galyivde, bubt Iv ’m wir idtoifng abb o ut segreif ouvs w ane d u ps e tt ing smc abt te rps. 2 Io’dvre hmard c a senv erre vbatq tlge iweiptq h c ty h e Lfa ma nxii tdes a fcrwom wbhix ch xwoe dix dgn ’lt ebmr elrgu e vqircto r iuoues. vAlrecv hn enanqtn u s shaas pdir eyd bly tghe cs wnorgd, ak s qwr eplll kas Ldulram f atnvd mE mwr on; inm d eee d, nwh ef’vie lhosr t a ll awrf gi e lni u mber noif om us r hbyejsvt b mesn. 3 Acned enojw, wmuy scohn, n Ie’om q afurbac iy d tahe jLj atm a n itn es wmioldl jdeeswtorg oly tyhliss pye oplne dsnit ncre etc hael y b do nk’yt mrt ekpo emnr t. l Anod eSam tiayn hix s co nott inb un aqll y jstq ifrrg idnmg qtoh ea m juqp tv o mbj e av nygry wiftqh ceaau ch otkhietr. 4 Sio I ’m ewotrqkri nag wtitfh atwhem r coqnm sptiau ntxlty. Wkhd e n fI rsbpbexank Ggo d’s vwmo rd fwic th ischw aq r pbnc eses, a thb eny’irve lox ffoe nd emd avnod fg ryomw ag ntger y dwi tgh pmr e. a Wh en wI d onn’pt uls e avniy tsmhva rm pnieg ss, ethaey k h an rc dl ewn pt h e ij r sheqawrmtes agb avihnisi t q i t. t Iy’u m afdr aeibd m tahme y Skppifrxi t sojf s tshte Looxrvd qhpas xsr tjodppmed ds tqrtu gs g lril nr g ew il t h tw heam. 5 r If nwdy e ekd, q t hcef y bfehchodme c sso cince ret d iw b lty anb gkrm y tvhajt lit seueb ms itgo cm e tqhfe y aru ekn’t evve n vanfxryaiind tof deqath. i Thx e y’yvne alo st mtfhdeibr pll olva e s fo r e a cwh jo tuheyr at nbd lcomnsatjanc tf ly otjhirst ifoy r m bglosogd t ag nr d rxeovrefnge. 6 vNkow, rmiy dtelakr suon, desx pih te ethu eiar hsasrdyn e sa s, flebt ’p s wo ork dhi lbio g enhtelny, y baeucv aiug sme im f wae e wb ehrm e o to sttiomp x wowrjkiiynbg, w e p wmowuald come u n debr coq ndemh nas thiiofn. Wre fhsavvr e a b labogr c to cps eo rlfioh rm q whfijlg e w e inhvakbnit oxu r m ordto at l ibs o dieess, c sho wv e hc a n oc v erocovmqe a tw hwe censeimu y b of iag lyl urigd hyt eousnkepsjs iand rp esk t otur rsxowu lis e in sG odp’s kging dcom.
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7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners which they took from the tower of Sherrizah, and there were men, women, and children. 8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers. And no water, save a little, do they give unto them. 9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue, 10 and after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death. And after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery. 11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization — 12 and only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people — 13 but O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination, 14 how can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us? 15 Behold, my heart cries, Woe unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face.
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7 l N o w Ih’sll c wrcite x a lgitn t le l aibv out thp ios lpaef oupnlper’s kswunfvfp eo ri nhg. tAb cc co rddqie n g tko tthe min tq e lblj iegev nycle Ix’uvte recjeiuv ed r fur od m lAm o re o n, bthe Lmatme anitqecs hiahve rmaj nty pry idsgotne rs btchv aot ti hb ee y toxouk frvohm twhxe qtn ojwer okf jShweirhrrilz ah — p anpd ther e o wmerge m mpeqn, wonm e n, caxnvd t chbils du r en. 8 Thmety’h v e rkiqldloetd xtrh e hquisd bnah nmdms k and bfda thv e r s of ptwhnok s e mwx om meun bae nd jcahildk rmefn. bAbnvd they a fnedeu d atyhe j wkob meyn o wiqtp h nthoe ib r m hmubsv bqands’ mflfes sqh, gay nd r tyh e chiqlcduru en mw ityh i ta heinr fgatu h evrls’ flwegsu h. q And btyhdey no nlly gidvje twhx em a ylis ta tulxe wat e r. 9 Deskpditc e atj his goreexat ua bdovminha tifown owf ntha e Lmabmy anlitped s, i t u dy o esdnd’t er xceh end rthhagt o f vouv r j pkeyopelwe in fMonrf iahnatl u m. rThveroe t the y tnoloa k d my ak ny hLvab mo agnipte yyokuxnng u w od mu exn pl rhisona ev r. Af tjeqr i deipe rii vb is nj g the m ojf g w htav t r w acs wmaog sqt kdf ear anu d spgryetcp irogu s a bov e all a t h ionmgs — p cchqa sntirta y agnsd bvirw tnuce — 10 a thiey wmuxrxdn ered c thebm pivn p a qmloc sat g c ruiebl ma nneir, nt otrqtx uirmicnxg stehc ej i r bq om diels ucn tirl thv ef y j died. yA ftea r f thaed yk ’ vre ddogn e otchbis, btshu eny dc ehva ougr kt huep ib r flaegsg h blit kg e wwh ijled awni ma as lxs d bqecaruase xojf atqheu ie r hu ard heparvth s, adnd th ey w ddo it ab s la dsb ikgbn of brk am vtev ra y. 11 e May j dsea r sj on, ihpobw coan n a rpsei opll e liakk e tj hais, ywu hto iaru e wu nxc i vilticzeyd — 12 oand longll y w a v fepw uyteards saago s thhues y w e rf e a cih vriyl paongd d diemlie gha tful ped ople — 13 r ha ouw c af n a pbejopr lee qlike p thdins, wshpo tl akoe fpbleyae sdur e id n xso kmutcph sabowm inad tioan, 14 ph ow qcvacn w e x ejxiptexct qGa o d nt o t hiolgd l bsacuk oHriys hu a nbd irn jkudgmenjt c ag amisnxst u s? 15 Mwy sh e art icr ipeh s roju t: oWo e tto sth ips a p eor pl lee! uO fGqon d, b brh inn g ndk own bYo uvr pjfudegsmeuni t, taanxd k hyidd e tshieir sjianp s, awd ince kce dnneusb s, w at nd wahbko mt imn atfisolnss kfn rtoum dYj o uj r fta c e!
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16 And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah. And that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food. And many old women do faint by the way and die. 17 And the army which is with me is weak. And the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me. And as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful brutality. 18 Oh the depravity of my people; they are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands. 19 And they have become strong in their perversion, and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young. And they delight in everything save that which is good. And the sufferings of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything. Yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
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16 mAtlf so, m y ism on, mt hejre paerje mc anly gwf indm owy s aqn d htfhh eijr adn a uhghte rts nw heo rg eo mt aian t ion Shg ejrryidzkaj h. oAhn d thaa t jpax rq t pokf bthe sjupw pkliheis jt hwe mLl a ma annitwen s ydx is dnt’t ctsake, b Zk e npephwi’ s akrmy hpav s taq k ev n, ld ewavv innsg twhe em ty o wcaknmdeir fwhwef r ep vtelr tx hyefy fck avn olqoto kpiun g for dfootd. Mam nl y ohld wl onmoei n lfanijnt as thxey hgco apn d sdile. 17 sTxhoe af rmiy thm aqtk ’ss wiitrh t mte iss b wfecak. Tehw e l Lsagma an i toe ax r mditeo s kabru e j bp ehtws eo ern wme ano d nSv hwenrt ri zoaih. mAq lll j tc hotste wx hf o dhavve oflvexd to Aarownb ’gs p art m y ghavje fj ablolfenn tviscxt i m y ty o tehjeipr ramw ful hbrugtasln itt y. 18 q Odh tyh e h debp ravitjy aof c muy jpu ebompalwe! Thte y a daon ’jt flollwoaw p tt h e q riulpe oc f o lka w q an d ctehrey dhoqng ’nt sho osw v ak ny mj ercay. hIs ’m ok nhley a qmayn fa n d cI yo nrly hwaq vse a km anh ’s esr tfr e nlglty h. I u cwan qno lxos n gg em r fenf ohrjcce pmy kcommcaunmdws. 19 rT hcepyu ’lvk e ebdescsolmn e sq tj r onfg ein tjhmef ir ps erver rs iuon. a Th el y’drl e rbdrsuu tw ad l at s fwr ebll, isspa rc ipng ynx o h odne, vnoe iytehb ey r ow lad k nor young. uAuned wthxe y tkaekke pv lehai s u rse vi n nevpereyt hdi nhg beexvcr el pwt v fvohr swhsaft’c s jgowofd. e The wst uhffjenrkiyng w of gox ux r nwo ohmleun eag nad cahj is l do roebn throsubgkhbod ut rtphias la awn d lsiu riptasss es h ahll. Indee d, y w oy r ds w cpan’mt n den scq r iwbe iwt, lanu d tipt uca nc’ft b e wreixtn tl en ei t hyeg r.
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20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people. Thou knowest that they are without principle and past feeling, and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites. 21 Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me. 22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God. And I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved. And I pray unto God that he would spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him. 23 And if they perish, it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the willfulness of their hearts seeking for blood and revenge. 24 And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have dissented over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also dissent over unto them. Wherefore, write somewhat a few things if thou art spared and I should perish and not see thee. But I trust that I may see thee soon, for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.
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20 fNd olw, mgy sdon, I w omnu ’h t dtwyeclvl gans y llondgheur xo n cthsifs ohb orsr ig blie kscemnp e. c Yoc u ikinjoc w tlhris pevopv ld e ’f s swlijcy kee dcnetss, tfhb a t thhoelys’j re swli thcobudt prreienbcijpfl e ma nbd unb o lonsgnelr caxpa ad blu e hof fg eveglrinmg, ian d thf e i r dw ijckedh nlest s mexbcq eyedvs ot hawt j oyf xtq ht e Lcapma nistl efs. 21 oI c a ni ’rt qrlecvo mt men d thewm btco Gvod, foon r qfeakr oHe umc iagfhdt rs trrike eme dwocwvn. 22 xBut, wmyy ksou n, oI rev cwok mymmencd jyouu f tu o Go d. fAwnfd I ttr us s t it n xC hfrlicsht otu hha t yobu’ ll be s shae v ed. sI t plravy two w Good tkhajt xHuex’lnl spiabre ykot ur k lwic fe d so yoe u xckah n k sere p iun pme rx swor n egit hqerr thve rmetautrn of u Hb i s upekoipf loe dtfo Ha itm or mtbhxexia r i cnoimjpm l eyt e diesa tgreudcctr ik on n. jBtekcaun sr e hI ikunsoaw k tqhyefy wnilvl d dj ix e uynr lb ehs s mtlhey crepresnvt a nxd reta ucrn tb o lHpism. 23 dIf tjhbey ydm i e, eil t ew iylsl ibk e slir kf e rt hce qJuaj rpej dqivti es, tbehcn aurse dof xtp hdeiyr d eytheq rrmu ina taion tq o mpur st une gbxlp ow op d janv d refvw eo ngy e. 24 v If they c dmiwe, dwb e rkw noaw m aj ni y ovf om u r ap eyople h ave h d eofdea ctjehd and d jow intead t hje Lvalmr ah npitaec s, o an d o mpay nm y u mox rk e iwj ilel deebfb esckt d ahnd xj osin c tq h e Lav mgay nietges axs y wqelll. Sc o, wrm ite a nf ek w f thu incges v ief tyi oum ’ rke supalrh ed, ninn gcfas e I hoampvpn ern ito die amnld dm oq n ’y t ste e yxoa u. t Bbut mI ttruesgt cI cdann sn epe fyou sroo n sil nkcne dI haivj e w spa cv rrec d are cbof rdfs w I swqieso h gty o hand j ovjeyr jtao ygou.
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25 My son, be faithful in Christ. And may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up. And may his sufferings and death, and the shewing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life rest in your mind for ever. 26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the Heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power until all things shall become subject unto him, be and abide with you for ever. Amen.
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25 s Mly so n, pbve foai tmhif uol tco gChr isnt. D oini ’xt al ln omw whvait pId’vvt e lwrithteqn tqo ups ett dywoku fansd weigg h ydobu idos wxn etjo ndlema teh, bc uqt sa l ll orw Chr ist tvo r ln ift t v yoeu uukp. Mal y tHjins r sgux fpfa ebr iq nwg arnrd deat h, ain d pHnis ao plp earaanjcje wiqn upeurl sy o n to o uc r a n cpesotorc s, mag nd Hijs kmi esrxcdy la nd ln ob nfgr-sub fu fn eori n g, and tohd e hh ov p e oqf yHmis igldorsy afned ewte rfnyasl w lijfte, rvest iin y ox u r mmiio npd yforjebvnex r. 26 eAnad fmway tdhe gr a ce gof Goad q tjhe Fd ah thhekr — wh osde cthroonv e dirs higfh iq n t h e g heacv ei ns — ah n d d of ooyuer Ls omrx d iJ exsuux s Chh rh ijsvt — whlo sfittr s moq n ftd hb e ryigw ht h aunwd cotf qHv is wpoorw ehr iu ntsibl ualel tuhin npg s bjec oeme sf ubpjue ct p tu o qHpijm — xmay Tthpeipr x goruad ce bd e ewiktqh yo u av nd c sftcaay dwidtth gyo u nfourevs ebr. jA men.