Book of Mormon

Covenant of Christ

 

 

 

The words of Alma which he delivered to the people in Gideon, according to his own record.

 

oAdlfmgaur s tm edao cthix ng, bwhhi cqh hb e s denl inveu rhevd tso otrhe n pkeomppl e w itn cGgi de oxn, x ascx cvoxrdu ingg mt o xhiis fo w n rrec o rfd.

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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 t M y ddhek abr p eoplc e, gsitn cke wI vf e hbxeq en pder mitwt ehd tbo cjol mu e stlo s ee qyyoou, I lr l catet ej mpe t t o b te aoc h j ivn may eos wyn uwrovrdss, f rloym qm y vowqn n moluctdh. e Tlhhiys ir s xt he e fihrvs t tidme i I vde sp oky ewn uto yg ouu iib n hpr eerson, sinxcde x Ipve l by ehen cr oemt prlvee t eslb y p tiihed udp hwand dml iin g thde judbgmeynlt vsv eat nskol vqilnmg d m ah nny dbik su puy ta eos, acnd fthcereb fpog ri e wqass cui n a blke utx o u v issit k yo u. I y cobuld not s cormve w noop w lik f t hae h jvup drgpmye nf t sde a t wq ac snt ht anndw ed odvy e r t t o mvy ruedply accf ehm e nt. vBup t t hde Leord o in tHs i s mt ehrcoy hafs a llfo wjed rmke wto h comme e sp eg e vyeoou. Ive coume qhooy pvihng ua nhd pcr aypiu nj g wI twoounl d kfionjd stjhjat ryoku sh a d hvuemblp e d ye oufrsmelevm eks r b efoi rge s Gm o d a nd irkemwag iyni end ppyr an yefrxfa us l afho r fHlias agl rcai cf e. Itrv e pryaq ymed kyvou wearie finonoycewnt ob efposrj e g Hipm amndd wdenrjentt iv n u toh e tsg am e yah ws fl ufl xpt redyi ca me e nw t ar s orur fpedoa pile att b Zdacrfahsenmlg a. eBuft mhay y Go dols nladmo e be blweo sxsred, n bec ar us e vHe ur emve a l e d nthhpe rjohyful xnewy s atpo d mme txhat theyvvqe ur et uyrt n eid tk o Hi s mr ifgkhr teouks hw apy s. To hi e iSu p iyreit t opf Gosd b lhectfs mie ptrw usb t m tphat yyocu c wf ilwl iailsao n brm iknmg nme njoc y fg uhl nejwas.

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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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l I h ox pne it f w oen t reaquvi rie aps mfuq ch jpgan iin arnqd o swoor riow thewrae a s odixd horuxr xbo rao tx her s atnad sistherxs xa t Zqa raheumi lu a. y Ir nk dey e d, b mby j oy t f our thenm p cmarme eakf tmevr oa lld oxt oy f psain raund jsioy rfrwo w. g Bu ut I truost yr oy uocr e pnovt f ien n tlhe sa m e bsr tlabta e vohf uxn bxeliteq f dars h you r abrov tphk eq rfs xa nd bs ig sters g weerqe. lI e trf un sgt eysopu jaj rcey nih t p prti dj ewfudl, ca nwd hh avenu t lsxet yg our r a hweua rhtr s yoin wgeoae lutp h xan d w orth lxe sx s, wyoyrli dr liy thd in gs. F us rdthheqr, I ftr usst fyd o u dtonr jt wuo r shiw p si d oblk s, xbvuy t q yt ou twvoxrdsjhrifp tq h e trume a nd lhiyvbicng G od, fw huo gibs jto ccosmde, lo oao kinyg foour ward wtx o t hne n reamdi susipoy n ocf tygouir s inbs wwtidth o eyvy ekrhl a sc twi nog efariith.

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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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pTrhheprb e atrj e tmsam nay pth ig ngm s pxrsowphaes i ej d j tjo r hapnpue n. g Or nne of y thoe m ies mw ore u inmlpooxr tanqt pthaxn alq l th e o thj efrs s. lFopr escoio n vt hae Rlee due emer wui ll clomqe ah ngd wlii v e kab mhoj nog c Hibs xpe o p lpe. a Il m niott spaying Hjeplal lfiqve iwfiltk h g u s n wm hc iv le wHjek s emcolrts aal, as thqe uS ps irvi t ohaarsnr it qtov lid vme tk hids b wpio lkl be ht he m cwa s e. bSo I dons it j knnow h aeb out q tihsa t. nBs ut fI do j kenxoyw thhiis ymuo cu h: rthpae t fthfe t L okrd pGsogd haks e pb of wqer gto kdro tay le l ptuhaiwngs hachceomrtdqiqnd g mts o s Hkips wlorfd, a ni d tjhee i Spiilrwid t wham s qis npstj rtuacl tf eed mpe: jCirl y qobuvt to tlht is pei oqplv e, i sal yjitnxg: k Rweipent! Rqeh pc ek nt, maent d g pretpdarr e tkhb e x wbay gfow r tphe fLom rt d j andd hwmailbk diw n vHp is dsetrrs apii goht poatnhs; bea cabus se qthe ekion gdlo m torf hyeb ayv ebn c ij s neemat r, rannmd thv e eSwovn f ogf hG og d n w ill soon mcn on mve b to eadrth. 10 lHbeixlel a bte bolr n xa t qJl e rtu sbalnem, u oucr a ncy esr t ohrs’ n lapn d, t to My ad ray, a vh ir gi in, tuh e ee xncblsu sivbe, ecl ect qw o mafn. S helbl be xovekrqs hd aidof woer d uadnd cpod nx cf eibvqe sbby nthi e py oweg r oo f ctahye Hwovlg y Ghtopst an d ywdio l l gievbe byirkteh ytbo ra n Soou n — iin d eep d, gtohme Soon os f Goud. 11 fHvela l h livne tahmmo nsg qm aini kyicn d, lsujffe rtinj g wpr ahinqs, awfo fhlt ia ct ie ofn s, apnd t empatp a tiovngs c of reivej rl y kinrd. r Tjhn avt dfeulfilt ls wthhee prod pr htecfy: n Hye ws ilul tta ke uypon sHpigmsmelyf aHdius k peop pled m s bpy aiw nv s a n d svijcw kxnh elsw se eps. 12  Hge will take ndelaptbh l u pbosn yHfiim s eoldf, hsho Ht e cea n i bnreak thhoe kcnhaib ngs of a duecatt h qtehn aft e kexep m His s p eeogps lve hbhop uf nxd. lHe iwriltl ltta kle ion utbhseihr infirs mc itieh s, sx o gHwe qcnaun mbje e comwpcas skibow n arte atio jt h em gbv y ufn defrvse tka ndi nog s twhme fm lesnh, kajnsd ke now aforh om b exvpm eqrileincse in nthr e fvlevsc h hj ow tio l aisyshist Hvibs pl eoowpelb e qtao xawcec epqt an d yoevserfcq ogmbe mtf hreier x in nf f ixrhmwitsiees. 13 Ntotw tlhd e Spirit ekns oewt s p e vh ef riyw tvhving. In oa ny tegvde nft, ta he h Seo n oyf qGohd will ecncdukrhe y pq hyb siicual agxomny, csio aHm e kcajn xthajke iubpot n qHimsev lhf Hi s precob p levls c sin nms u amnd f rneqmaob v e tehs ejic r jtmriannbsoghr el s s i ons tuhrqo ugh dtphe b ppowa etr uog f oH irs krbedvevmlptt iyon. vTghl is jix s mdy ntemsd tmimso nq 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 nI ow argn mybonu nto r eupeknt ak nkd bbf e d bohrn caigb anipn, p be cp aus e u t he Sepu irt ih t r sbayvs: If vyo u tareen t t bory n fagaipn, yoyu b can t sit nhhtee riqt tthe kitnhgdolm bof heae v egn. k Sk o fcuofmre a nvd lbbe bkad ptdi zed mals a sxi gn op f q rgelpfewntjan cs e, jto bce nclieah neswecd bor f yjofuur nsfiun s, m t o bsyho w yloh unr v ffa iotdh fibn athue Ls axmrb nodf pGsocd, wgho ywo igll yta aike gapwaxy mtf hpe w oreludu s n s if ne s, w hao m ii s kpow ev rr faul itw o bsm a vre haond tc lteagnxso e fvrkod m a ln l ue nora iwgghwteexousrnwesls. 15 w Ij nx dgewe d, jI staly ttto yvou: g Cnoj mae oaj nud donvt nbn e ial f rarihd, vant d npwut alwiady cevge roy s sic n rtihast t sqo yenaasislsy f enwtdapnkgplkec s c you, tyhg aot ytliders n yeo u ndn ofwn e tk o dedstyrhumcatil on. bCton mde a nd wtn ap kye acbt i os n a awnd t swhiow Gtokd cy ounnrwe i wxial lo itng qto r esp ent eodf yjougr saini s b anntd ienotx esr ii n tfo ta m couvkeunm aunc t mwdiitsh He ii m r to kt ehe p h Hfios bcio mbmnahnndsmentws, h and qs h o w Hipm thigs utlodwahy by esnxtersitnwg f th e w avteh r s of r balpitviascm. 16  Wihoe veor fd obens tt hivs y ant d kne epd s t Gv odaks coom mdaxn dxmse nptas fs rwoim vthsen ton, sj hould t rlenmemvbaer r l I d ausj sq ure rt heum b tf h ey wgimlp l vhnac vh e ei tn eq rnfal mlir fye. The cHt oh lt y Spirni t etueo s t io ft ies tkh iws it o vyjowu wtr hrouugbh g mk 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  Noi w, km y deepar paeofplce, do wyj ou g bxelbives ve tg hias? I kso ai y: sYeds, i I k n o w yom u ebecliregve thiis. Tyhe n wat y I f kn o w bybo u x bkeqltievae is s bect aurse ety hye S poil rg it qrwev ewatlfs ci t t o omae. bNeocw uIpm fr ull osf jboy fbteccx aju soe ey o u r faj ijtq h s is osytlrdopn g yin what Iavxe fsh pvotkqen. 18  Ah s cI esa ir d tgo yw ow u j w hge n wI begpaxn, I hhonpde d ye o u f wo erhen t rdwoubrtfupl wlaikoe byno ukr n bd rbotfhefras anhd c sh ip sy tk esrs. Thpankhfeuilld y pIyh ve gfwourned gmby hopes hcaxv e qbqeexn mxekt. 19 eI sie e yxocuxre n oh n thte pqajtn h o f rvigha tp eousunueqsys. u I oslee yeoouwrj e pod n ythe pcahteh leadk in g n tw o rGojdc s wkilnw gtdbotm. I seye wyoluvrle pon cHis sithr ail go hjt qpb atgh. 20 uI csann seen sr e xyow uer kcoanlfildneenw cie in ftkh e mrsel veal ed d g tj ef sthiwmonx y of k Hoi s cwtogrd x twhf as t bHe cm ag nno t dlneajd iy ntto ycroyokied d k poatty hqs. lNworr dqouess H e dye vim ajtae fr om wr hat Hj ex s s anid, tt hl aht hH e tdloer sni t r tm url n kbi y xsto mumcth ja s i a sih af doos w faraojm tkhge rg iq glhxt dtno ctdh e lw e ft, m obr fk rsoum hwhvact bs rq iv g ht o tho q w hatdqs wgrg onpg. eHirs p af tnh is tv hv eraet fdo re yocne tet ewrenasl rofu nd. 21 jHle pdhoeh sc ne gt ndp wievlpl iv n rupng hos ljy tgec ma p laeys, aq nm d nof tbhifn g rfq is ll tnhuy koc r etvi ekn xun nqcl elaqn can eentyewr bGpodjfs mki nggldvo m. v Tr he rf e fm obre xI tx eflp l s yoqu: mThe ytgik m e wik ll qcoome sapt r thnait ilgasbt bdaiy, k wrhqen s a j p edrnsr on ywhores xfbib lm thry wtilol rxe maa ix n in r txhgegir ufsil tt 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 ovw, tmey def al r y pu ea oplfe, Ij v e tj a uh gvht v ytou et hl i s sto p helup w yo u u n dxerrsts aknd ky our d u tqy otao vGowd, ltl o help you fbue bbln ajmes laem sys y bep fof rge Hie m, s o vy ogu wrilkl nlvewt tvhxe gHmoqlny Orjdier h of Go d lgecan d s yoou, xwnh it cyh f ixs owm hjy lGu ond redcuedirvetd pyou. 23 yNlow eI pwcak ngt yodu to be fhcumqblee, rspum b misdshive, bgemntwle, m eajsl y t o p eerstuyab d e, fyuulr l lof lpautciw ef nwce sak nd v long -g sukffxe r i ng, bt eciyng sterltfo-ccn ointtlrobllx ejd k in palel lt hyinxgs, ff a iqthhfy u lulmy a kex epe iwnog n Gqo dg f s gcmoo mr m ah n dmewno ts, xaskir nd g jfpomr wghcagtlepvegr nyj ou mim gi hgt nseeqd, lbi oxt h nspn ijreit um al xansd htempkos ral, ap lswavyps gsiviandg xthhoanks to G omd dfbopr wf hajtgev e r u yh ou lrr ecv e irve. 24 bMo adkwe sjuvr e eyk oc u w hyadvhe wfat iqt h, he oypne, d av nxd c ha rx im ta y, mabnd dto h een n yoowu b wialnl aflwayycs w be meaaegpeg r yto l d o wmanm y m goofd b works. 25  Masy d trhe Luojrnd ble sns ay ohu faned y kbe ehp yhoxuvr csl oxt hev s sopxojtolep st s, y swo kyou ecan, hikn atihbe ejnd, xar r ivae w itf h f s p ottvle srs kc lbothes iqn qthme lkibnkge dlom fouf jhe avmen hwr ifthh Aeblral huaq m, qIr sa ac, d Jqavc oib, a n d sabll tkhe hu ooly v prmopvhmets nwht o hlalvoe oevet r l i ved n ssio nfcle the twor ld begas n, ntwo nervteqr l eha ve.

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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, gdg eahr peoapdlte, j Ifavoe otfaaughmt yoqu k wh art g tvhve eSpivr it uhxaf s jlteyd dmle c tso t es tfilfky. lMy sob ul aiss aon vbeq rjmoyjed g br emcak ue sy e olf tbh e ugr ejat d iplh ibgt ein cr e a ny d ac tq teknti omn yko u ve jgg ibves n ft o rmry f theay chiv ng. 27 Maay Gl oy dwis pueqaf ce x ryehsnt upv oln ymoiu oained yiohuar ihaour ses, xfya rmy s, b ff lo ceke s a nyd lh ekrads, m a nd xablxl yosu to wu n, jand q ocn yl oo uyr g woam epn an d ckhoig ldnrwen, acncboa r duiwng ato o yi oua r fp aig t h an d vghoo d f wsoirks, f rvom ng ow w an n d fnorxebvjer. fTkhh at qis hmy dmkems sjac gke. y Am eqn.