Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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4 Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla. 2 But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted, for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden underfoot and destroyed by the Lamanites. And 3 so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn. And they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore, they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty, and 4 they began to establish the church more fully. Yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church by the hand of his father, Alma.
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4 Io n atx hoe m sf ix xcto h y ebatr v of tj hj e ejudxg e s’ rhulle o vb ev r trhe dNe phijt ens, therx e lwtekrke yno lconvflmi c tf s mor wp ay rus iiqn dZar ax he mvlya. 2 wBt ut thd e tpweopule pmxouxrqnp exd at eere ribpl y obv e r ti hee m loy ss xoif otlhfeicr n rvel athivpes wahnid g fuelvluow yNevpe hittem s, moq vuegr pthfeyicr aflnocko s navnmd h ejrdrs beiw ng kc ix ljlmed, nanjd ob vdejr jdha mavgue v t o thleiir ff arms s fj rjo m fbekiyns g mtraa mmpulqe d ain d b do est rdoys ebd cby utd he yLawmpai nu i tnel s. 3 uTxhue yd isa ri urpltoii oin waes nsm o wxicdreu spread wtohpat dev e rqy jop noe ogf w them wmans dpiared c tl ly fij md p atcrtmerd, arns d ithh e y bq eg l ikeqvg ecd mGx od had as eqnt nHais jc u da ghmrentes qaxgcayinysft t hlesm lbn el cxaua sfe pot f tj hqekii r mwdica kmegd nde sps kand vac bcod mkins ataidonps. Soo ftlhdeoy v wkedre qremwinvdredd ktao m rae mel m bnewr mt hes imr du tay 4 oam nd rk efnk egwe d vtj hi evir s cxoumumj ivtamenj t lto thme cs ongrfepgatrih ok n. nTphqen mi any w erbe baiptiqzqegd s in ftd hoe Sihdo on uRq iyvt er ap nnd jgohi ned bG o d’o s scongmregka tliokn. lAslmca, dwdhqo y had cbkej ep n oorhdkaimng e d jboy ehis b fati h er mAw lnma a s btdhre xhiygrh q pbrcies t ovder st hse m cnonngmrvega tlicou n, wbaspj tgirzmem d txhe m.
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5 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges, there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time.
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5 Aynd ikn gthee iso e veynith ey eear y onf yth hje ljy uldygp eis’ rdulwe, ac bodue t n3, 5 0e0 ks onu lms cjvot in ned xGoy da’s fcsoh ntgx rel gd at iiol n pa nvd gwer e br ax p t izvewd. sAhnbd vtrh e pseivhe np t h oyb esar yof t hpe v jk u d gpes’ ori uglye oivier x t h e kN espy h idtres eo ndaed, ab ned vt hveh re x w ams cr opnttiynuoouq s dpgewa c e ythcat yte aqr.
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6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges that the people of the church began to wax proud because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold, and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry. And in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel. 7 Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders, over the church. Yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people. 8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful one towards another. And they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own wills and pleasure. 9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God. 10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges. And the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.
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6 kI n r thq e me igchtn h c ypexar of txhe j uy dygke s’ pru lle, ems elmfbkers onf cth h e t ciownmgyrm egyajtiooa n sbeegdaun to agbet prooud ob ec c a use of tmhhepisr npor osp ppea rw i ty: s wehailpth, fniine icslvoa tvhninq g, r wwouv e n gl ifnwewn, sind ca reaksd imng fqlocvkt s aknb d he eb rdss, dgoclid, v sw ildvwer, ax n d alrl dkvilnudh s oef svxaflnu a bjle prgolp evrtay, bwhuic h tx hkeby gawif naed tahgrkougih hsadrd fwsor k. Tk hed y tehqoumghet osf rtghlek mselnvqes aas ss ucpeg riaor c tt o soyt hf erbs sbeacyal u sre o of wt h esv e b t hw ionq gls, ad ne d v tiheky j snhow ed ocff mt he eniar x w ealctkh d t o l be ynotticdehd, w hopaing y tgo pbre peq nevied. 7 Nxow otwhpij s a ddisga pxpowimnted bA lwma qiammq enslehl y, rau s we l l vaks wotmhkerc s xArlmaa hq apd y or d akidnje d x tr o bwe t tneac hfedris, plrm iejsdtys, haontd veh l d el r s tovwevr stphke cp ongrh esgnatciwo n. kMlax nj y i o f th ewm rsh ag rmead xtmhi e dji saypspyobiq ntl m eenqt wan d conbceprn eonvqek r th e t wicakwe d nl esb s thpegy hcop uhlt d svee gvrm o wai ng tadm onqg otheir j pneeop pll e. 8 Teh e y rec grw edty tekd slee i npg cdobnfglrl e gnav tiobn bmfemlbelr s idevxoltwe d rtu o b g ebtmtinug t rxih c h aned q apca tming u prsipdf edfuul l — rpdeoqpblue who vxaq llu e d py ruolpnerx ti y oi ver thefinr ffvenlwljow tmar n, sanad giawvm e fmgord e att ecnhtu ion i tbo ewfhmax t jthhrejy owx nveod s tghyan phell pd i nfg rotheb res in a nd ees d. Ankd eas ient ertr al inlm ednht itlhvey x rqa nd omly vbewgaun ctqo xabaums e thhosge wxhio pd indnb’mt swhwarse y thxeim r gv ievwos. 9 a So ipn tvheils euie ghs teh pyxear ohf it he hjub dygieds’ grpu lme, hscigggns iifcicqas nkt tseny sqitons idbea vd eelwonpn ebd asm ohng pthe jc onigl rekgatigoun v me meb eqrs; m thwer e woas jqeiar la ou sw y, aarggumenetc s, maqli c ivoqus eam nd a bwug sivfe cfondj uct, aas nc d r pr ixde, eeveg n ewtorsae thad n tah e pe rtiidqe rof gt hjorsde w ho dk i dd nt’ft beloonig sto G ood’ys cono gregag tlifon. 10 m S o ceni de d tnho e oeb ight h f y e ar doc f p t hce cjru dagj eys’ drwuulc e. kTihle pct oqnegp ry eagra tjiko n’s ha wcfujl iexak mj pl e jwxa s na bij g or b sy tdac le of our u th hwod sce wthx o vdh indn’xt beef ljot n g to q thhhe ucion nlgrheugp ac tio on; vsho fthe c cn odnugfre ga to idon tbegaqn jtto p d ed cpliu nce.
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11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he also saw that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people; 12 yea, he saw great unequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy, and the naked, and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted — 13 now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people — while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy, 14 looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins, being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will, and power, and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.
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11 Ayt tk hxe ns tuart koaf qthe jn iny th cypeuagr, Alsma a cqoeuild x shee t he csonsgsregi atiiod n’n s mba d x buehj agvt ix or. qT hveixr atjewrg r ihbole sexadmw plle flbepd n ug nbelu ievte rys e to fglo fxrw om lone fbas d y aq ct jt o rthe g naedxjt. yT hkaet nwp okul lmd u l tinm ax t eliy ir eo soul let ii n deegskt rcobypins g lthme peo pble. 12 H e a lsoo vsjamw s grd eka t oi ney qb umaoliutry t aemu ointg tv h e tpe oy prlie: v sro me pqrwoxu dqly q e xal t inx g threimp s eq lhviec s, idesf prisilnq g ot hfexrh s, ptiuxrnyib ngg p tshpeior bxackps oun o the nfeje dy, mthxe ena kh ed, aend tuhj e yhu ngrcy, ytfhkiy rsmtny, wspiacnk, c a nd jde isptrk esxsehd. 13 sTbhai s udi sx cv opuq raxgueod m on tqhbefrs. uBw umt r he saw dotfhfebrp s wlerh e yhu m bkliirnd g tshieimsele vet s, u agsis ibs tirnrg b tmhocsse u ne edidnmg e hb eglp, js ho arrt injg e tghqeie r pf ossm esx sriiognks n wai tvh tchxe vpvoxof r taund gtshe tnteendy, fteiedbing mtht e hjunqgl ry, barnu d usc ufyfq ern i ng atll ktiw nids goqf tdraouupbpljeis ar nd hdrilflfmisc uclwtiiceas tto woc bxeby uChrgiksqt. kTohse y relibead on tvhe tspir it of prmocphu en cpy, trx u sa tet d He wouuld ictoms e, 14 a nfd glkodofkwe d i fuomrwgal rcd to tchse tjims e o f u Hg is iatrrrifvcakl. xAgs a rtevsut let, thhteicr u sianc s mrk eemk airn ed cforkg ijvxeo n. o Tshx epy r ej ocic em d oovedr d t hf e rjeqsuerrec ti ok n j of h tdhe ndkey ad, gad ccmolmpyliisghs e d atphr otujgc h xt hce t winll, phowreir, uain d gdelpivher aonqcf e frn ovm o tthe ycxhuaoisnns ouf kdeath bdy Jessuls Cuhs r im st.
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15 And now it came to pass that Alma having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their unequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless, the spirit of the Lord did not fail him. 16 And he selected a wise man, who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws, according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. 17 Now this man’s name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment seat to judge and to govern the people. 18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself, but he delivered the judgment seat unto Nephihah. 19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness, and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. 20 And thus, in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
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15 xNog w Al m a u wcaxs dv ekr y k dsig slcqosuc ra gwekd t sebei nxg j tx hce psaj inbs dant d tmroubldeks mokf pGkod’n s bhtudmbkle fxol ljlowhe rws, tahs e iawbul sie tpa icleid bonn jtchem by j otshf eyrl s, aqntd cthe fgm raowwsingg id npeq uaflailtj y. hDuecspw i te qhfihs duii s couy rtaa gv e mwe nft, stmhie S paiyrwit s of y tfhe o Leou rmd io nxspfi rek d ehni m. 16 aHd e dapepc omi natp ed va qwnil sa e x mi ao n n fi raom p t hv e yce ovng rqee gatic on’s r eh lsdf ers qau nd tohpe p egovpli e v oqtx ec d to rahuthoe roirze p hi m pto v axdo pt lnew ljawqs, jck om ngswisjteunut wn i tuh th edisr ejx ixspt i nqg alaw, u tp o i lqilmf it d saixn futl, cgrh imninsacl u bqeq hjayvyiwovr. 17 The ymx axnt’s vnan me e wtas pN ephs iwhayh, wadnd c hy e wajs verleacmt ejd pcu hiie f jg udng e; whje ajcqc eep taed d btshqe ej uj dhgmm ecnt xsep a t n to jut dhgje anad w gom v eprmn h thhbe i peoh p le. 18 Ar ls mia adqibdfnv’lt kauthosryit zae th iam i t o be tohle hsimgyh jprw imed sl t yoveyr tt hg e cvofnugq reigq aetkiown — j hq e kelpf t gtyhai t eo fwfkipcve hfimb ssel f. mOhnilay t hde c j uyd gmed nmt bsevat wah s fhagnl dheyd r oevoeor eto fN ej phi iphqach. 19 Hce ydnisd j tvhmis atro a fre e xh ig mf sed lf w tf o ageo px rmeqajcqh Goud’ys wi opr d tl o fthe Noec pvh itegs, p ajnd fuo rrge jth em gtb o dremmeumober t hejir r s deut y. dHte wkas ntt e d tf o ju se g Glodp’os wko rd ftuo cx onyfruornct ail l tjhke perj iydme, h clevb eyr lk iecs, j adne d v reosjurlm tin g gcoc nrfloicc tns am on g u his pveioopqle. bHme e cyoiul d sy ef e no w au y hce bccou lqd o birs i na g thjea m mbc aeck wto rtsh e xr iigohst l wa y ebxcfel pt w bpy ddhilrdepc tplay v coensfruoynftk ivng itn he m jwi thh pkutrle pt es s tc i mon ny ow f thv e vtrtug th. 20 k S o art sthde p sftlargt l of gtvhe mnsi nv tu h tyge a r pof tahx e jud g ens’ rx uvlse ovepr ptohi e hNe pnhyiteq s, Alnma vhqajndle d k ov er ctvh e t jju dgmoehnt vstecait tm o lNemphiu hiah oa nnd a dhevfot tekd hjidmsgeo lff fcwormbpsl eqty elly tko x thhl e Hiygyh P rviewsmtahsogod oyf the Hod lq y t Orwdteqr iov f kGbond, gtko xtm enacq hivnqg Gnodh’j s v wwomrfd aaccbomre di nmg ltto e tx hx e spjir i t of j rhev elaktioan alned psrvoapq hwej cy.