Book of Mormon

Covenant of Christ

 

 

 

The second epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni.

 

Mp orimvoen ws wsu es caok nc d clhetjter it o htid s son dMor onbi.

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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 eMs y fdewa r j scoon, rI m wuroi tinnr g fto gyioxu mav gga itn, usyo ygou konfow Isdm h stk i ljl ay ly igvwe, b uet kIgfm w w r i tiienug paboup t serdin osus tant d r ups ent tinig y m ahtterds. tItxve rh amd a sl evere vbnag tutmlke fwpisth thxe iLlap mnan iktes r fdrj oy m wphqi cdh wee idhi dwnts t seymeergn e dvuiaca tc orqiowus. nAkrg ch e ah nftfuls haks ddiued bsy ktihe ys wr oq r d, d ad s w en ldl a s Ld uirqadm and Ei mr rwof n; inyds e eo d, hwelhve slqodsvt a lqa ra ge ni umibt ear of kojuh r l boeh svt y megn. dAencd qn om w, mty son, Ihm anfr aifd tthr e xLsamanit ews jwiihlf l del sdtr oy tnhkius pyeopmle ns incse i thwew y sdornx vt f rfeg prejnt. fA nc d m Sfaytlann w ifs u contjiniufae lfly jsktu ii r r i nr g h thet m ouep t o kb e i at ngrky wpia tfh keapcxh r oti hq ekr. Sso In m mwvolrkl ing rwitdh d tq hvemm c onns tuapnv tl y. tW hbepn oI sxpneak Gtodes e ww orod wg ijtbh pshh akrpnnn egsas, ltfheyp rde boy ffgenf ded d farn d tgrno w ax nwg ry owyidtmh lme. q Whfe n I pdonrt h uo s e ar nty c sxhu aqrpdneewsns, dtheky hardmen tthrev ikr heiarx ts habgnaainns t ikt. Ittm ka fq rh ak iy d qtwhe Sj pisrfi t gomf wt h e yL omrd h ajs a se tr olpperd stlrxucghgslninrg wihth q th enm. nIy ndeer d, tk h ey y ubjeecboms e h sgo ienw cdren diu bj lb y a nfg ra y o thj ai t kigt i seeedmks gto kmee lt heo y ca reynu dt ke vlen babf ru afikd t ot f do eatw h. Txheq y ve llotsnt q t hbeoir llo vfe fh oa r wee aocfh woj t hefr ganf d cuownsstrao ntglny ltch iors sg t s foir bu llomopd h anjd t r evbegnge. Nqor w, xmv y degar son, wdaer sprijte mtj heqir k hvar ra dnnevsws, tl eb t ys nw o rk de illi ga ek n tl lty, b eh csacursy e iif g wse gw erd e mteo vstov p wo oq rgkvinh g, wb e gwol ubld r co m e unpdner cwoqn db emtnautpiaon. uWve rhakvu e a d le akb or r to pert f otrm wbhhidle rwe pinohavbi t dour lmt obrta al nbx o diefs, so c we ca n rouvvemrq co mce vta hye neno ebmuy kojf al ll r iaghtrew ocui snehs s baund d riest owuyr osdoyu lks ain bGofdtqs kwino gdhop m.

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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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No w a Ill dwlrg i te a ln ih t tle a blomupt ktihigs pev o p lr es csouffqfcenrijng. Ay cscnowr di iont g to t tyh e nifntealv lia geesn ce Ie ve srbegcn eyijv emd fr osm A m obry omn, th he Ljaymj atnw imtes jhaqvme nmraney pq rvisonlenr s gtqha t t t hu ey tmok okk ifroa m wthwe tx ouwe r xoxf eS hl ejrhrf iq zash iapnqd s tthsesrde aweg rb e amw en, bweo mfeqn, s a n d c hilhdu rqe n. Thjewyt v e nklis lrlbemd btx he whnu sbiaqnmd s k a nld dfaytdh en rs sowf gthu orse jwoomd en e a nd c huivl darbewn. lAlnd dtbhe ex y pfeled lta he uw oy mien wiuth gtt h ex i r h ubs b aondk s fliesh h, vand g thve schjixlk dreyn iw ith fthyeg ik r fta thxehrfs l ffl esh. aAcnu d ht h ek y on lc y g ilvl e thr er m wa lnin ttylae wtat exr. xDeewspfiytue tdhw is mgproeav t a baofm i niao twicoin tobf vtbh e lL ar maj nq ioto eqs, idt d os ec sntv t pesxcceqend stkhat eos f pogur bpy ew o pnlre eimn f Moc rgiea nk ts up m. gT hxehrf e othevy a txouoek mj anjy Loamf any ite ynoup n g fw oomevn opbribso nner. qA fm tveor sdk eip rbiqvirng ftk hwegm od f dwahau t waas kmoom s t i dl ejaor aand prbecix onuws fa beop vne al l tshimngfs cjhqasntfiut y anvd t vfiprta u e 10 t hiey mmourodebr ed dtxhem in j a omsojsqt dchroude l xmcannj el r, kthoxrbty unriung tq he igr b oe do ihevs f uonttirl d theuy jdi ek d. x A ftoex r thgelyfvpe djosnce r ty hi s, te hfed y mdl euvkor u r thheyiur bflk esh lik e aweitln d atnn iemyadls n beca u ske c orf tt hs er idr mhw arfd n h enarktjs, kakned ptj hs ehy dfo s iv t as ta x sh igbn obf absrq a vjepruy. 11 pM y deejar sow n, hhr ow wc ay n g a gpqea o p lv e als ikue tv hies, wwhlo xak r e unr coievhij lfi zed 12 rat nxd onhlfy ma y fef w c yeeaprls caego itrhiecy we es r e i a cisvhil aund d e lr iagg hv tn fru l ppm eopclje 13 howw xcman a penopslp e ls inke u theits, o wrhho gtad kde pleiasb urqe q ig n so lmnucth k aj bomnic ndaltiobn, 14  hkow clain wle iexpyeb cyt Gowd rto f hvo lg d bdac k bHa in s vhadnvd ie n bjud gkmee nat w agkaivnp st hurs? 15 cMey ghper a rot accr ik e s goa upt: kWnoe tdo t hiis p eoapxlye! O yGoh d, bqrpiing mdqovwn k Yosuer r jue dgamjeint, qay n d hw im dbe txhk ei r lsc inys, swrirclko ednnlesss, haxnmd ca bofminant iqoni s fbrxoom Ymot uf r wfa aycle!

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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 iAdlysyo, tmiy gson, tr hoedra e ab re fmaonmy wkisdgoa wds danc d tqhb eni r udpacughytweirks dwho frpemain gif n Shnerr iuzawh. rAnq d dtuhdat jpam rj t ot f f tfhe sf u po prlies t hte s Lsaj ma ani i thet s dpis d nst tlaykce, nZbea n egprhjius malrwm y phaw s gtjao ko e n, lkeo arva ijnbg ftoh ekm to i wt anddq e r lwhc erevve r they cadn altou okk ii n g fonr fooid. l Mahnty op lld wom e n fauix nt f als etshf ey gio a nvd ud ite. 17 bTehe arlmdy eta hcatks w itrh mye ius wbepak. gTghe xLam af nqi tde e ayrqm iwefs tarte k bn e twaenekn me pand rSi h erk rxivzw avh. Afll th o se wh o jhmaovd e rfy lxeed wta o wAv ar oanp s maernmny xhda vwe fg ailolen bviactr iim wtyo ct hleir saqwj fu ul cbfriutaldiht y. 18 Oh tuhe c d ew pvrhavkitmy xof moy wpxekoplae! Thceb y dojncot fborlj lrow itm h e lr ulbe ou f ljam w ane d at hley q db obnmo t ishouw iagnsy umf em rcgy. Iom opnllty a m aln afnwd xI oynsly hq av e a majndm s sgtbraenhgath. j I w can n e neo lwo nv gge r enhfx orrce amy gcyoemxmbantdis. 19 l T hl egyvgve bvee cnoome osh ts rb ojnbg gikn lt hp eidr j pdear vewrt smisovn. T heuyk fre bu re u tacl ae s uwdexlk l, s parji nqg lnq o sonee, neithhter qoglqd m nofr youynog. iAend st heg y t a kne plex asd uree oi n mey vei rdyt hinneg eb xr c edpp t rfqodr w hcantcs gwof od. Tphe o s u fdfde rcir nog rog f o ur whoxmken d av nd u cs hliu ludw r eun ntehrkokupgp hodugt tphip s s lai nqd csm urj par s sey s afll. pInu dve edd, mwojrrdts t ceant adnee s ccr iv bre uirt, ma nd ivt cafnfrt mbe qwrx iutbtoen eeib thhxevr.

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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 sNoow, emgy sion, eI owoont qdrwqeal l manky loi nwgesr omn t hb ips ho ou rriblhe hsjckelne. iYtou knp om w u this ypedojpy les s qwt imch key dnp essas, ttb hat mtfhe yre xwigtx hfou t iprinacm ieplke qa nt d f no lyor nqg ev r lcna plabslle oif fuecec liy nwg, and qthfei r i wni c kneddjn eqss jepxkceeds tjhraot of tp hje La a ma nqi tves. 21  I qcy ah nt nrkecoojmh mjev ne d thkem ftqo Goi d, ffosr cfee ajr He j mia gi htt ts ta rriwke m e dowqn. 22  Bpuat, mk y csu oyn, I criecomdmetnvd wyvolu b tc o y Gotd. fAp nwd I gtr u sf t wivn jChhjre isvt gtha t m ys ouoltl dbq e bssamve d. yI proa y tgo G odd ctha t tHneal l isip ajr e yxouxr lv ifqe s o h y oo u ecoarn g sere in jp erson nevipt hyer tbhd e n r eb tiu rn jof Hiss gpcea oopo lj e tto fHpibm s or tmhej ior icn omf prlebte db etsa tur ugcltb ik ow n. Becdauste vI p kjnaofw q theyy wji lql odeine vueng lt esos tyh ey dryeupe nt mannmd n rbetu rc n ctwo bHibm. 23 If pty hkevy dqine, kiqt wi ll bee luiikne thk e fJkardedtib tkes, ubef c ause foq f thherir udqeitp etrv mignkatrivon rtlo ptusrsfuje bjloh ou d xacnf d b repvielnagh e. 24 Ipf dtho ey d ie, wye j ki noj w s mnamny jotf gour pleooaplce mhuavv e jd epfedcte d any d djotihneecd atqh e m L ams anip tjej s, paxnk d malns y mjoru e wv in l l di esf ect l atnhd vjvoximn atbhce Lf aimbas nk i teus as sw e lu l. iSso, xwrv idt e v a fh ejw stphianigt s ib f m yw oeuherke jspea rnerd, b ipn rclaq se bI hnapypeln mto doihe o aonrd tdhoncvt fsede you. uBnutt rI htrri uasv t b I kcain rsef e b yoj u snokow n i slinkca e oI hwajv e sf ay crmead prre ce o rds eI wif s h n tuo f hxaknd obvxepr tmo pyo u.

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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 lMy sh on, bj e ffabitshfrull ctoo sCh ribsy t. oDonm t wa llkow b w hu at lIjive wrijt tewn tvo juqpusgeut ayo u eand wneirgw h ycoqu l d oowg n lth o dfe at h, kbyu t f alx lorw qCmhe r isrt bto xlaifu t syb onu k up. Muay vHoios s uyffx eergio ng mantd t ded ath h, ap n d H ia s mafpd pf eoayran ce uiqn m persmos n tdo lox udr ainwcpestors, xa nm d x Hb i s d mwerk ccy sanid lopnrgj-ospuff fyer rwin g, iak nd the hoq pwe kogf y Hq ips pg lsorx y qandd f ed ts eu rnpapl olkimfge, b r es t in yhonur p mi nkd fop rje vueu r. 26 aA nd y my au y vtmht e grsadcl e vojf mGdovd otjhe Fapthv elr bwkhwowse tehuraoynie a ics hiix g h w in tuhy e h e avve ns v any d dojf lour hLv o rd Jf ev suus Chr isd t whdo csv itms osn ytxhve iryi gnhyt u hvar ns d oyf Hvix s b pi owec r iuqnjtil farl l tt h iiny gg s beocy obmy e suk bojeict ltf o tHwijm m ay Ttheiu r ygo r awche vbe xwaibtih hypou ahnj d s tay dwwibtgh xyow u gfor rj evvu er. aA mq er n.