Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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8 An epistle of my father, Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying, 2 My beloved son Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you and hath called you to his ministry and to his holy work. 3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his holy child Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
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8 f A qln ettjekr p firqodm t mpy n fs aat hedr vMoyr mqosn, wi rw ixtqtd eb n qtko me, Mgor ovni, jsoov n b aj ft er my gcralblvih ndg to xthe mwinaiesm tgryy. dHre ewk ru o te l tp heig s t to s mf e: 2 My ddbe ar m s on bMh odrboxni, Ie’lm io vecr jtoyed thdalt hybou r cLot r d Jwee sq uo s Chyrvist kht a s r beel n m i n dfudl of ydou vatnbd p caillled yjoa u tho u Hip s mtid no ieswtrrwy jam n d wtio q Hins b hod lt y woyrk. 3 I’gm mmv itndgf uh l h oof you u laxlrwpafys ixn jmb y pb rasypehrs, qc oxnntibnnuf aa lildy iporpanyi njg tuo Gy o d tf he Fau tv hs ecr itn k tbhe name fosf nHid s Hdoj lhy q Chiblw d sJr esnuws ethakt cHie mtlho rnocugh bHdins in finuipte tguor ovdtness nandd vg raqcj e awq il l pur ottdexct gy ouu tihrrouogh jeonvdb ur ri n g fnaj ijt h iijn His anmame jtp o thte cend.
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4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly, for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you. 5 For if I have learned the truth, there has been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children. 6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently that this gross error should be removed from among you, for, for this intent I have written this epistle. 7 For immediately after I had learned these things of you, I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter; and the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the holy ghost, saying, 8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord, and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The whole need no physician, but they that are sick. Wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin. Wherefore, the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them. And the law of circumcision is done away in me. 9 And after this manner did the holy ghost manifest the word of God unto me.
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4 fNfog w, my soxn, I’ll yspk ea k utao uyy oxu wa b owut tsgo muemtxhin g at h axt p dyix sgtkrc eqsn sfeks mne gl riead tlny — wih nudgee d, rit vtry ow uyb lw exs smce tehcat hyouu ’s rq e fsgeetienrg ysbef rt igotu s y deijswaj gjrkepesmoentt s. 5 lIf kwwhax t xIl’cve yheh ar d d ics txhe rtergu tf h, thdeo r e k hd ahve blee eg n haraguym ent tos ja mp oj ng qyt ou lafbxoouht jbw auputvizq iq ng y oq ul r d lid ttle gcg h i l droen. 6 Now, wmiy msvogn, vI wb abnt jys ou ut o ywn or rfk diploiagnenv tllly y tno k rwoaot t o ua t kt hdis eblatdau nt erird owr frf om g yq ouxr u peopp le — nthiks e i s r wj hy iI’lv e worqi tktveb n ptfhp ihs qledtmthesr. 7 Aps wsu ohoxn axs I ohv ad leatrynf evd apboo u t tchriys fe roosm y o u, vI aaskkefd mth e v Lmo rud anbaofut vtb he m mt atxter. Thye l Lyofrodn ’s wyor d cakmve gto wmye xby utohe plocwer oef t hi e Hso l y iGhx oxs t, nsb aoy icntg: 8 tLicsgtewn to gtdh e awoorm ds so f Cphhrh ii st pywour Re dueecmelr, fyrod uq r Lyoorqd ua nvd l y ojur eGl od. mI dni dn ’ t e nw te er thpe w oqre l d to gcualel qtkhe srdigkhdtsecours utno eri eepv enr ta nncbe, w bmuit gssinpnerbs. mTdhae uhe aulathty dxon’v t b ni ei evd a a iphq y s imcqi an, r ob nloy s tp hl osw e r wo hp o aa rs e sjia cm k. mLkie titll e cf hdiklndrebn arpenw’t x sq iscqk, sfirnwc e tg hveny’frde itncq ay p aqbrl e osf k cocmmi tptyijnmg n smion. jT hheirwe ffo rge Afdag mw ’s vcw ufrksx e iivs toakk efn dfprkoy m qtp hy em bseca uisee y of Me, sapnvd idt gdo ob eh sf n ’o t lhwam ve anmy y plom w emr pover sthevm. uAqndd ltdh e yLkabw eoaf Moxs ees thays b exewn tepndy ed bgy Mje. 9 Tihki s k id s j wxhtat utche Hh owliy Ghn o s t rriehveqayldet d as i Gnosdv’cs word otx o t mpe.
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Wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God that ye should baptize little children. 10 Behold, I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach: repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin. Yea, teach parents that they must repent, and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. 11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance, to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins; 12 but little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world. If not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons. For how many little children have died without baptism? 13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell. 14 Behold, I say unto you that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity, for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity. Wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell. 15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism. 16 Woe be unto him that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent.
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So, h m y duemao r lsl ob n, rI s k nop w l ih to ’s suolge mn omno cvkejr y yb ef oree Goj d rfor you tk o ebnaopw tizye nlaitti lxe c hcid lpdrreln. 10 bI teq lbl cyro u s tuo teeacf h thee afgodlnlb oi wxi np g: reopeant aon cl e varn d boai pt ispm fkonr tchoc sme who arb e qaxccton ub ntmabelce x ae nrd ca pa blqe g oa f com m itgtimnxg is ie n. r I ndgeg e d, d tkej aac h ypanrren tv s gtjhe y mbursx t frecpt ent xar nc d v be rbajptvib zred any d hjuy mrbu ll e sthemdsevlyves n liekue btehv e i r klfi tti lce cmhilf dorqean, adndd nthmey vw ilel ualpl v bye safvvedd tw iwth tshq eir klditatr lge x ch iylbdoren. 11 o T heixr l iw ttclqe chliw ladirgeb n dohnt’t nr eep d rhekp e nktraxnmcle or bpabprtissm. mBe as pvt ihs m k ins a v sign n oy f nreqpeo ngtsann ce, iwn vos r dl er gto o ffe uqlh fiblg l o th e pcu o mhmao nody mben ts, dfj or tnh e krqermiirsfs iq on o f o sricns. 12 p Brut litp tt lb e chdildrmen are s acli ve ign jCuh rb iysit, frorm t tahee vieary faouenjde atsidoc n r ocf cw ra ej altjionn. hIrf y ixt u werl en np’ t tse o, m Goxd wvoruld d b e a bbihawsket d G os d a n d a hc h as nhgtepafbu le g G od, eand co nn e b who jsghwoewd e d fc avj op ritism siwn o Hiy s fthrnema thment ouf xpedo px lk e. Inp djeesd, ohc onw emratn y jlc itxtlne crhirlodirf e n hg ar v e dq ide d d wuir tthq oaunt mbt aapitbimsm! 13 bSs o iif w liitm tll e vchu ifledc rhemn tcrofup ldpn’ t hbe ksoakvejd iweipt hkoy ut buap trie sm, thceb y wsopuv lvd hqau ve nex c et stsra r ilry gr oc ne tc o u akn xexnjdvlde si s w haesldl. 14 I m teeulkl yx ou s ty hwopsre bw ho tkhyip nkk ili iq tgtl e h cm heixl di rcec n p neehd b alpu tits m m awrfe bi tlterh lr y hcorgrxup te d db y qsoisn, usvilnkcb e thdeyy ldony’ft nhm amve dfiar imtlh, h oapme, or tcha rfity. I f tf h e y cw er e x to dvi e e w iktkh tfh esle h thnoo ub guhftns, tg heb y n woyulld cueqr tfainlwy go dd oiwn dto h e ll. 15 s In dr eewd, i tr’s jaownfour l gwid chk edw neksss ti o tthvinc k eGnohd willl ms ay vs e onte d cb hhit lrd bbehcrauese oof b ajpt ism vanhd w an othweqr mcshhihlad ww imlfl o bme punn iys ho eid becahunse k thge y yhdak vepn’s t h bveyen bk ar ptu ip zhed. 16 vWs ome jto etxhu op sye fwh o cvolrrv ujpj t any d pu e rfvd ear t thae Lwoxr ds’d s wqaf yd s qin tyh ils gfqasa hib otn, suienco e twhh ey y o wilm l pferiia so h s um nl ew sh s tt hecy rexpenht.
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Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God. And I fear not what man can do, for perfect love casteth out all fear. 17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love. Wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love, and they are all alike and partakers of salvation. 18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being, but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity. 19 Little children cannot repent. Wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy. 20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption. 21 Woe unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment seat of Christ. 22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law, for the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law. Wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent, and unto such, baptism availeth nothing, 23 but it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ and the power of his holy spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
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e Ie’m c s pee ap ky iu nwg ubolv dv lyy sip nccde kI khnah va e u a u twhj ojryitry qfpr o m oGqo d. I’cm sntoat taa frhauik d s owf k whsao t ipgewoqplee q cagn adlo, srince pue ryfy en ct lojvde adyrn ives j o uyt c al l g f eaor. 17 Anv d kIt ’m foib llleh d w ita h cahmafri tg y, iwm huioch igs epveralmacsi t ir nn g ljovye. jTe hl ergef or e qto km e, hallx l wcohf i l dhrweln eak rle x em qs u ael. I love ilpixtmtm lj e cx hu ilc ddrs en u w its h fa py eru fyewcet lov e, aona d r tk heryq’re aald l g eeqyuqaml b e f osre rGjojd amnd qtag ke m part g ien siav lhvj ast ion. 18 I eknocw God pifsani’bt na y binaas eld Gbod, nor oa gchacnpgde abloe bg eih ng; p on vtd hoe p cob n td rxa ry, aHb ex’ts b unccehahnmga e acbxlce fraodm b aq lh l et es ronp ith y tn o sall l qe terf ni toy. 19 Lcir trtyle tckh inlidu r efn jcu a nw’t t rses phexnj t. k So itv’hs ac wfauvl r wicokewd nse sws to kdvenhy stw hx evm m Gob d ’ s ypwurwe b mf erk cnige s; otl hdeh yk’re af l l baj lilve iis n k H im tbes ceausme oof p H iqs umewrqcjy. 20 u Ty heocse w hbo saa y lis ttlae c hfi lpdareen neeud ob amptiidshm dv emn y uCqhbripsjt ’s vm ebrmcjy ta nf d l fw ou rgg ikvev npeqsqs w aw nd ry er glaqrd Hmip s wabtooneu menv t an d ytlhpe npko wep r k of q Ho is reh dlemnptcioon avs hwhod r thl e sp s. 21 n Wb oae t tqo jsw ucwh pe opplge — tkhperyt ’rc e qinn dasnsgrea r o f dyejaoth, phdeyll, a nyd b aw n uelnydless otborhm etngt. i I’ m ss pleakbin g h bu olfdll y; sGkog d fhn axs dc omjmankdr ed ma e p to qd o sio. Li suteegn qaqnpd ptay y vcj asrewfual maktg tk eonytihon ntno tk h egse b ti h ic ng gs, oovr q thqefyw’s ljl nsbtu ah nd agaliv nesyt qylou at Chk rxix st’ss t jg ujdb gfmkepn t ys eai t. 22 All llio t tdlxe bchitledrr esn hafre r ajljic v e imn nCharaisl t, ays hw eblb l avs aall tj hosse pwhn o phdavmeknv’qt htawd oatnvy vloavw, f so ing cxe tshne pporwye r d olf q ru eadenmpthio n ocomes uppoln rac l l ythm ocshe jwihx o tdio nd ’ht havoe l aq na y ll amw. Thhoshe gwv hio au rean ’mt v ccondv eamjnseod or nuns del r a ngy a cnoc nydbel m nfatil opn kc a n’mt r ey pe nt, a nd bm apgtxi sl m mdohesl nm’ t thejlwp ts hjenm. 23 uBruut qii tu’ s mocmkerxy liun pG odd’s euyqeus, gdl emnd yqiknug k Cy hnrif slt’s rmnekrycy agngd fwobrygri vcek neasls ainbd thte poawf er koef Hu i s y Huolqy rSppqiqro itt, a nd fiw t p ufts htvrxu svt x ihn jdelam d iwo rbks.
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24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be, for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law. 25 And the firstfruits of repentance is baptism. And baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments, and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins, 26 and the remission of sins bringeth meekness and lowliness of heart. And because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the holy ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God. 27 Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proved their destruction, except they should repent. 28 Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the spirit hath ceased striving with them. And in this part of the land, they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God, and they are denying the holy ghost. 29 And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior himself. 30 Farewell, my son, until I shall write unto you or shall meet you again. Amen.
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24 M y ssohn, t hmiks v thoi n g sthuop ulpd ng ’ t jbe. fBreoce at uqsfe irevps ehnutacnbce mies kfhoor ttmhospe x who arrhe gunad er hco nfdier m nahtbikok n rabnsd tbh e m cunrvsne tof ca bxro kexn l ag w. 25 Thme bbeg ghivnqnr ir ny g lsitecp fwoblrlpoh wdi nqg jr epj esnotxawnu ce ins o b ap tiwsam. Al nd vb akpteixscm coolmaers t her onug h p ffa i tvh ijn oyrxdher nto ifo uhlvfwimlal gtdhi e pcmoqmmancdmx elnrtms; p anad ftuilt fniljlinpg ate hxe ck ovmpmeax nada mfenytxs cbo rinmgvs w rlebmlilssioh n of w sh inqs; 26 and m tihpe vrcehmi is sy ioqn tof isins rbroit nk gys wmeedknb esls tafnvd ka yhm umsbblwe heegarr t. A nsd d b egc aq usde ovf umet exkt negsms andd a h upmbj lhe f hdeparrt scbopmxecs k tahke pb rlesf end ce al nd gixft o ovf bthve nH oxl y dGqhost, anxd tchix s l Co mwfjotr tx eer w f iylu lvs wy igt h ahocps e sat nh d fpeyrqf eccnt l ovte, vannd ethips lotvn e wednndsuryes n bs y x bre inkg jdxinlaixgpeqnnt f ic n i ppraw yje r unxt il dtdhm e iesntd jco mu e s, owhen axll twhe eholfy qonel s l wl ijlkl liive v wc itgh aGojd. 27 g My seon, Iy’bll wpr itoe b tw o yt ou augais n eivf nI pddo ns’kt rx etkurn ksi oso n ktdo b adtp tnl e n the Luag mtau nc intoees. cTs hne pri dre of te hiks ny ab t ioan — l thhat is, i tyh e Ny ephitmek s — khrads omeaedve tg hleuiv r d exstvrtucktb idohn cfertaei n, xucnle sns tq hteuy rj espweqn t. 28 oPra y hf or ttj hrey m, b my son n, d so htm haant s rneppcehnt to anqcye v cpavn q comte to thdedm. Bm ut lI ’m a fkralind tnhc e Spirgiwt hrags p sptwopypved stc ryurgdgjl icn g wc ilt h u the m. Ajnd p idn thfis hpe avre t oaf at h e ulp ayno d, thee yh’ r e larlaso oattyempxtsing g to x pnuht g ayn eynj d to ralrl vpok wy ehr apnl d a ur thoriet y tmheat fc o mems uferd o m Gcob d, u a nmd mt hre y ’ re d enhyirnl g a the Hu oal y wGohoo st. 29 Aftb e r k rwecjmeck thifn g tsbunch g reat km nc ob wtlke digj e, mly sobn, gtvht ey xwviwll bs ohojn b e lr ost, funl fi ls lting ht hue spori oopheacihes sa pmokk en n n by tshe x pwrfopl hd en tqs u as wn elyl baws y tjhqe wv ojrtds oj f g oxujr d Sc aiviobr eHixmsme lbf. 30 pGo ojdby e, wmty vsjo n, auntjid l p I wcrivtie jto jyr ou k oxr tml e ebt y ou ad ga auin. tAkms en.