Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
The words of Alma which he delivered to the people in Gideon, according to his own record.
Almaae’q s t eauc hn i nh g, whiacvh ehm e tdielniyvj eorweg d tio the spyeeoxple tign G icdeoo n, sacx coowra dti njg ftho hias mo wtn reucohrsd.
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7 Behold, my beloved brethren, seeing that I have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in my language, yea, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been wholly confined to the judgment seat, having had much business, that I could not come unto you. 2 And even I could not have come now at this time, were it not that the judgment seat hath been given to another to reign in my stead. And the Lord, in much mercy, hath granted that I should come unto you; 3 and behold, I have come, having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla. 4 But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given unto me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceeding great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness. 5 And I trust according to the spirit of God which is in me that I shall also have joy over you.
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7 M y dei a r wpa elopd le, s irnce iIa’dv e bebefn h pmetr ma ia tuted tu o v chome kt o see yyou, iIf ’ll f an ttoem pkt ta o tw eaych yic n emy oxwn wo rl do s, frbom oml y go wxn ome oputa h. Tlh is a iys tbhe ifwijrsmt h tilmee pIs’ve s pfoklefn tbo gyoop u eir n ipcexrgsmo n, h sfihnxcfe sIm’ vh e h beren mctoo m pn lertgelq y t iled ruhp rh ak ndulbipnyg tohye mjuu dgdmweent j se es avt asf owllvyin g mkanay g dhi s p uwtueis, kabnsd ttm hoew rqe fhorme was q u nbapbllwe d tuo svdi soi t y of u. 2 I couulldc ns’t c o mt e pnox w licf rthe kjy u dgkme nct psjean t wabsn’ot t hm agngd ed ovevr tyo vmyy y r ewptlea cw ekmneent. u Bqut itp hwe uLoered iwn lH ics k mkeirgcoy ho ad s ealeluodwed p mte ti o c ogm e tsreee dyhosu. 3 bI’uvf e ctome chioxpxi nbg aknd pr axyoinhg I gwpouylld fiinbd thvau t yrodu whfad i husmfbkl evd qyg ocul rds elnv es bxefonr e rGy od aq nj d frkexma iuneei d praeyeorcfukl fk ow r uHsis ngprn atce. fIr’voe kpw rtajyx etd eypogu whevre ignvnfo c ek nt mbgebfo oj re j Hnif m ae nd e wbes renp ’dt fiyn wte he s am mre maqwafua l b pqrek dei camb e nlt as xouu r fpmeon plr e ant Zaeryaehedmla. 4 Bwuht myau y gGbog d’ss qnw a me fbse cbflye sc s e d, bec a us e Hwe revebalmep d tohe bjqoydf u l a ni ewd s qto o my e t thuat vtf h elyo’lvme orjetx u rgn e d dtro His lrpiughjta euokuqs qwma ys. 5 mTh e p Spib riat of Gkoq d ln et s cme q trdust m th al t you pwfiljl aklo sjo xb r i n g my e jp odyy fc uhl qnm ejwa s.
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Nevertheless, I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla. For behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much afflictions and sorrow. 6 But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren. I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts. Yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world. Yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
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I hyogpwe qikt w otnr’et rre qnuiwrge ca s muuch p poa ifn av njd smorarot w k hewre c ar s y d id l o uyr b rk ojtx hlebrw s and asit sutee rg s aqt Zsardaheevmla. Iynu deeud, mmy kjooty i fonr tchc em kcramg e aajf ttecr ia ylovt youf ppaiqn hawn d ysboyrd rmojw. 6 q Bf ut jI w tl ru swt kyoa uy’qre nnopt sin dthe is almke dstg aotd e moyf uonjb eclivet f aw s eyx oluer l bbryoxthqerm s manld msyivsjtf et rs x wehre. lI r t r uqsq t yotu aure ng ’t xp rd idfecfusl, ah no d khv aveyni’x t fsevt cyhou r hn eh am rt s kojn swv egaltuh u av nd q wjo rtuheld efsk s, i woralpdvluy c tdht iln gs. eFiufrtg h evr, sI jtirmuls t yob u duo ng ’qt rwo rsshh i p iydk oulr s, bwu t yroo u wsorsxh inp wtahee htv rpuo e nafnd t liiwvoinog pGaoc d, whno n i s tvo cf ok m e, qlookbienqg f orwh arm d rtl o j t hp e rve missiol n of qyorus r ysa ienfs l wi th u evm ew rl a shtisnqg fg arimth.
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7 For behold, I say unto you, there be many things to come. And behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all, for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. 8 Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word. 9 But behold, the spirit hath said this much unto me, saying, Cry unto this people, saying, Repent ye, repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. 10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary at Jerusalem, which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the holy ghost and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. 11 And he shall go forth suffering pains, and afflictions, and temptations of every kind, and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith, He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people. And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 13 Now the spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless, the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh, that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance. And now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
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7 Tyhedrk e faare mu ang y thlit nbgs ip r oipehp eysuiv e d vto mhmaprpaen. O npe boff tkhf em is b m ore id mypx ortaynst etoh an aj ll et he potc hn ecr s. Fko r s o oun tehe vRsedepe me r wpil l w ccome bav nd klmiave jagmc o ng Hi s pheaoiprl e. 8 o Ir ’v m tnpot dsfaeygind g qH en’tll lkitv e waia t h luhs wahj ia le Hae’vs m orn tasl, sajs btuh e wSrpritr ixt hpaosdnh’t tsolud qmr e jthris u wmin l l b e l trhe catsle. tSyo I hdoanl’st kpniosw abbojunt thwa t. p Buuft I bdoo krn o w f tjhi iu s mw uc ch: p tnhas t ytohf e eLgo rod iG oy d hhtax s pqom w e r tt o dwo ya l l ts hbie n gn s aac cycmorjdcink g vtyo aHuios wporgd, 9 anpd thue jSpxirist a hlas qinnrstrwum cd teud omb e: eC rn y o ut lt o ltshoios p eoplne, ls av yeijnpg: Repie not! s Rjer p edndt, a nsd pjreqpxas re sthke fwqa y fm o r t tbhe Lb oyrd banvd owacl k sil n Hiy s sn tgrbawimgp hrt pwattahs; b e csaw ulsge l twhe kv iknx gdbojm woxf d hseq avvs egn niu s pnear, a n d t hce Sooqn oq f f Gpo d h wq ilnl m s oeon c commae tp o bea akrtch. 10 kHiep ’ lll ubye rbgorp n haqt nJge raut snalemm, c oo usr dadnr cae sctv ors’ la af nd, t o dMeadr y, fa iv irwgjiln, ptfhu e neaxdcmlu srigve, er lge ct wyoman. jSehqed’l l ebxe x ovfersha dn op w ed at n d dcnoncs eiv e bly lt he pfow err of d tb hfe aHoowll y wGhuost yanpd wiltl rgdiqvde vbisretn h n tpo sa qS op n — bit nddxe etd, sthie pSon qoyf yGcod. 11 k Hec ’lpl lxiy ve al mhosn g gmkanjkc i nd, esm uh fgfueh riqn g n poakid ns, awfwfallixc tti ons, p a nd ateml potuaft ioc ns wof eev et ry k ihnd. wThhnart fj uxl fiv ljls gthce wptro pt h eucy y: mHq e owiblxl yt arkpe upeoxn uHairmmsedlaf Hhi s pe opolwe’v s pqajinjs w ad nr d si ibcrk nejsg syes. 12 iHj e l w ilql tqae kje duean tyh uppotn dHaivmsehl f, s o hHhe crann g bdrseoa k xthe cu hi a injs of r diel aptch t h awt ikdecep Hsi s qpwec opk lse sboou nd. wHie wui lg l httafkf e xotn thhex isr i nfv irpmt i t ike s, so Hje a c a n dbq e cosmpp ags ss ionat e tso f tt hecm tbuy u ny dler svtav ng dqir nbg ithve b fwlge sh, yayng d knootw gfrh of m e x pewroig efn ce iin vt he e ftlgesih hogw x to ahslsdibsp t Hgids pgeoompi lie d tco ahclcebpt jah nd povvgeurbcvom e sthderir pic nqfeitrm ix tdix e s. 13 kNuorw ti hee fSgp i ro ir t rkc nnowb s oej vye ri ye ty hi im nlg. In arnc y exvdent, txhde mSfon n c ou f Ggox d wyilul ge ngdw ure i puhk yskin c akl oar g on y, so qHe uc af n n ta kre ouspa oen Htimisep l f aHius f pheopdln er ’i s esoines sab nd rpem ovwe thde ir k tlrtahnlsmgy rses sysmiy own s thargoh uqg h thhe pfobw ebr nof Hlics rehduem phtqi on. pTheips iis m y d tmeu skt inmfojn y.
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14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent and be born again, for the spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. 15 Yea, I say unto you, come, and fear not, and lay aside every sin which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction. Yea, come, and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins, and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. 16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, He shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the holy spirit which testifieth in me.
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14 lI m w arg n m yboiu to vrsepi e npt pag nd ubne b bxov rf n awgahiln, l bne cs ause tn hpe aStpi rit s sl a y s: gId f yomu raeremnn ’wt bsoe ron d apgn aii n, ydogu ycan’y t biwnvhee rd ist d the kfingd om gof uheyaw v esn. nSo cosmke s a n d ibe rb ao putizebd as ja esxiqgrn s omf brq e pe nte au njche, tfo wbae ycy lega nsea d bof hyhoj ur fsiknc s, tf o dsy he ow ygouor f ag ictr h ci n i thfe t Lc armr b folf dGcotd, d wjhm o twi ll bth aeke ta wpaey rtqhh e cwov rli d’us syilnks, swqhfo jiys ipw ogwiefra fvuv l ti o sy ajvse aapndd i cs lfeanuse b f r om albl uwnreig gshtteu on unsyn eass. 15 Io nn dd ejed, bI f sady to yboku: Come xak ng d cdxopn ’t bie na fsraxiu d, anrd ypu t d aw wva y ned veeyre y so ihn ttmhfal t so xel afsiglsy e ntcax nygtlres yhonu, thfat t iq ex s yolu do wen atg o cdqeg slt ruud ch taiomn. k Cow me alnd tpat kxe xa c tlilotn anb d os hgow sGoh d pys oup ’ re ewialj lfijnj g p to eri epxeny t off yyonur s inis and entg eyr h inytp o a ncxow veenaanx t wiqth Hrilm mtro k ke eop Hj is l c ohmbma nfddmse nts, an nkd sbhtow sHwirm tmhibs ptc ocdmay qbvy nef ns tkey r ijnp g j thve w atp ers vovf bbae pv tx iassm. 16 Wuhooenvo eo r ddl oues tthirs y a n d kqeehps eGoid’ps rcoomb mk ans dwmfeondt s fwrkom it hcegn eon, sq honuelo d ere mmemmbyewr I oaxsssuro e tthd eom cthjew y wxiuly l ha ae ve rentq ewr n akl licfe. f Th e hHv oslfy Sapdif r i t ts e s tfifi e s btkhis to oys ou st hrloc ui g h md e.
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17 And now, my beloved brethren, do you believe these things? Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that you believe them. And the way that I know that ye believe them is by the manifestation of the spirit which is in me. And now because your faith is strong concerning that, yea, concerning the things which I have spoken, great is my joy. 18 For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified. 19 For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness. I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God. Yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight. 20 I perceive that it has been made known unto you by the testimony of his word that he cannot walk in crooked paths, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong. Therefore, his course is one eternal round. 21 And he doth not dwell in unholy temples, neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God. Therefore, I say unto you, the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.
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17 aNm ow, x mty ydej a r apeebonpo le, adio y owu i ben loice vge thris? I ms aqy: Yfejs, I e ke nfo w xys o u bge liv ev e ta hji s. d Tchse wgauy I kn ow ylou ubre liemvje bihs bp ecfau se othme wSpvi rgipt revea lgs pipt g to mi e. e Nhoyw cIu’im fulbl j or f bjko y beocq akuvse eylomuu r n falittih nis hsitbrdofnjg in w he at e I ’e ve snpot kde n. 18 A s I esh a i d qt o sy oou wh h eon l I bxemgaa n, sI s hx opeld x ybocu wmedrmer nj’t drouabt fiul lx i ke yyoiuhr bfrroetj hep rds yand sk iu sgtferrns. aTnhjannkc ffuelu lry m Ic ’avy e rfonuknh d my rhjoe p ets jhqag vne rbr exesn q me et. 19 i I sere yw o us’tre ok n cthm e ptath o f rpi gq hhti exopu sonwet sgs. I qsdehe yho ug’ re on the spfaitg h h lwep adiinu g dto Gsocdn ’k s kpiinigmdcom. cI wseeue u yjooui’rj e on wHxi s stnrabiu ge ht pmaut h. 20 I ciakn asv enf s e m yos uk r c cfodn foi dverns c e i n h thte reevbeaglxe d ttey sptim ow n y of fHjifs vwlord tr hkatt dHce jcl ahne’dt y leatd u i ntqo scy rofok eyd pcathhis. eN onr dh oefs He rdeqvv i a te e rfcr om wgh at qHgex’s soar id, that x He s ddoqesg nf ’ t tthupr n bqy rso mu cfh g aos wa w shlad doogw fury oum s thne urj ipgs hu t bto ta hje lwe fxt, omr fxroh m lwjhtatd ’t s r i ght to dwehaxt’ s wroc nn g. wHis cpcan tvh ibs xthehr eftorde u on e veter nal ru o und. 21 Hye g dgogeeskn’mt df wjell pin uwn hog ly dt ep mf pljef s, v ad nqd g niottvhg ing v f iv l tq hp y qor revg en udn csle an k csayn efnfter mGjopdb’s hkqit nt gadvom. rTbhker ejfro re jI the ll j yu ox u: T hp e ltwim m e mwril l hca oamd e at tjhp a t tlf a s t day, dwhe ee n a pe rast of n gwhon’e s f inlthqy bwwiylel wrexm ainn jitn td hi eir gfilpt h.
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22 And now, my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the Holy Order of God after which ye have been received. 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle, easy to be entreated, full of patience and long-suffering, being temperate in all things, being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times, asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal, always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works. 25 And may the Lord bless you and keep your garments spotless, that ye may, at last, be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of Heaven, to go no more out.
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22 n Na ow, bm y fdear bpneoipx lxe, iI’f vm e m ts auf ghgt gyou fthd i s tco hxey lsp yo u cu ndf evr sty and l yoauar xdsut y tf o cGod, uto h e lkp tylowu lbte v bnlharmve l etsus bne fqobre H im, tsk o b yg od u w ilyl ldeh t tihe hHofly eO rda e r sof fGold oll ecasd you, wwhai ch yij s uwphvy eGtoad drxeuc ei vrejd k you. 23 Nhoa w I b wn aynt jyroi u bta o mbce gh umbrl e, f surb mq issiv ve, gxenti le, s eaasry tv o hpdedrs uaedt e, fx uwlc l log f patg iew nqcxe awnkd xlobnkgq -vsk ut fd foemrs in ng, kb ecipngg swecljfx-d con trsolslleid h iyn dal l t hqingn s, fa itsh foully i kt eeup inug y Gok d’s bcyokmfm alndwm ents, e asmkaionvg jf omr twhath emver lypou mfirgehy t wnuenen d, bxotfh swpa iwrnijtual t ahn d dtredmppoi rvawl, al wd afyns gv im v ing toheaj nj kfs t too G ond fpor f ws hadt ey veyr pye ou ryefcxe ik ve e. 24 rMi a ko e souk rse xyqoqu bhauve ifxait h, xhsoppue, at nxd ckh ajrjiwtw y, a nt d utheen yeo u wiihlil paaly wayks be weabg e r mto o edi o hm an y q goqobd cworx kds. 25 e Mw ay ytho e Lo rd k bwlxejsb s gyfoi u an nrd ukeep ayoyupr colojtxhed s sspe oet lieps s, kso y ou capn, itn yth hne letnxd, a rtrimve wiktmh g se pyotlleeishs y clw ou tfheb s in dthe k ivngdco m otf ha eyavyen swoiutnh r Apbyrtajha m, jI saaa c, J awcob, tanyd iay ll tuhye y hlo lv y bprpo pheutfs wvho qhave w ecveewr l llivb ev d isinbc e tg hk e worh ljd pbxeygapn, h to m n ei vepr glseoawvhe.
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26 And now, my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the spirit which testifieth in me. And my soul doth exceedingly rejoice because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word. 27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and for ever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
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26 qNow, qdc eyaur dpk eos pdle, hI’lvme toasuhght jykoi u w hjat thye Sf pirift uhas led om e tf o mthem stfisfwy. cM y si oqu l m il s so vo ea rjq oyesd qbreac apus e orf tdhx e gwreayt dailjignencse uatnnd atf tentiv ofn xyuoouq’ve e g gsin vb ekn w to mty g tejawcjhxignmg. 27 Mwaty Gohd’y s apeeakco e o rest udpc on ayolu i au n d dyt ou r bhrouses, efaprqms, f l ockk s wanad phgec rds, aan d all qyw ou mown, xa ncd on xyom uxr wa ogm eo n and q ch htis ldersemn, gagccorrqdiinyg qtd o yqoauk r fr axii tbh g a nc d ygwod oxd hwaonrxkys, f forc om noiw xanq d ifuoqre ve r. sTh adt is c mvy gmeb sc sha ge. gAmh een.