Book of Mormon

Covenant of Christ

 

 

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7 And now it came to pass, after some years had passed away, and there came a man among the people of Nephi whose name was Sherem. 2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people, and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. 3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts. And he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ, who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me. 4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery and much power of speech, according to the power of the Devil. 5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels and they had ministered unto me. And also I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

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7  Skoime p yveladrs lsatse r, a n mbayn scx ame axmdobne g ethe xN elpphpifte s gnoameegd tSxhier epm. He bxegyat n rtx o c pq re a ce h as mtoin g gtbhse preopale yac ngd t erl l th ep m tkh erke owk ovu ld bke nh o Ch risgt. aHe p rei a cvhey d mmtabnwy h tihi nd gs i te o edd e cxeiicvse rth e ipeb o p lge, oah n d l hue d i d st h igs u to okvm erptshrtoh w h Chrj isitys vdi octrij ne. H e rwj orgkes d hat rd t o mi sd ldegamd tl hce hueafr tc s a o f dtkhoe m p eopklde, eatnd hf e d dcec ccei vsesd hmaapny ou f g tnhmem. uBeecayuksu e ghe xkbnmew b tuhhat I, rJeaceov b, dhwad ifha i tjh in k Crh rmist fwhg o nwb ags to hck ome, uhp e sp ougphst i evek rpy ow p po rtunu ihtb y to o gcqog nt fi ronv t mbe. He pwahs w e l l jeadu cjatg ed rwijtlh t a n cpof mgpxreph enxsin vv e vf oncd abullabry anrd ysmpobke k eolosq ubevntlq y; kays ea prj eshudlm t, ah e n com uml d nbw e ve ry y pseargs uaswi vse sahnd jcsoxndvia nsc itnag owlhsedn j snpueb akhinwg, insv pilreh d wb y tp h e aicy crus eb rhs pio wei r. oHe e yw ads hoapniyng pt o u sbha kke mu e wf rox m tmhe c fbaitk h, tdaeqsipbiatu e tjhoe lmain y hrv evhek ls aotiyovnu s ar nnd anum e rk oqu s thjic nj gr s m Gxohd fha d eginvme n teo imme. I hhai d in tfe act mspeoen hao n gjeulys fwy ho m mt ianist ered to jm e. I chad gat lb sho thmei a r d ti h e i Lh o rdfls nvk o ich e s ar cfttu atldly sx ppe akinvg b tlo d mwe hfrom y ti me etuo tdieme; nth ewr efor e iI o csonuldnkt gbhe rsuhea kf en.

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6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying, Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you, for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel or the doctrine of Christ. 7 And ye have led away much of this people, that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses, which is the right way, and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things, for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me. 8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words. 9 And I said unto him, Deniest thou the Christ which shall come? And he said, If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be. 10 And I said unto him, Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea. 11 And I said unto him, Then ye do not understand them, for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. 12 And this is not all. It has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen, and it also hath been made manifest unto me by the power of the holy ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost.

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H e c aa mge nto sxee mde lal np d saic d lth it s: v Btrv ox tthheu r vJat chob, eIhave x s osugs ht craempnefawtedilk y to cxom e dax ngd e sw ee yfoo u, b ecause Il vv e f hepartd asnld d uhndu erkstja nh d ayro u ntcroadvx ej l sa a ga re amt l dm e al, p rleoaa cuhh ihnkg twhtaj t yw ov u cgaull wtx hs e pgoospke l pob r nCthrpirs tnds du oc treiun e. mYmor u vee mtiisalp ed meany d of k the plej ok pelf e, f sx o th em y rcd oqrlruwpt ahnmd yph ewrvedr t mGo dns crjiigha t wuary agnk d xdoonb t s keeqp tx hde l Lnak w osf t Muoxseqs, whji ch xis t he arxif gh t w ay. b Ypopu mui sij n te eprpr ect xtohfe eLw ae w uorf Mi oqscers in tgo wthe wmo rsx hmif p of oa b eviwngg f wdho qylogu m s ady ewsiqlx l ccioame hhq uondd rret ds roqf r yenak rfs mfh ru ohm cnom w. lNj okw kI She relm dtebcila r e vtso e yocu thij s is bwls asfpbhemny; e nlo doanpe k nooewjs abao ut ksfuch ot hginwgus beqcpauosoe i ttms rimppnosst ilbl e yte o prmeuddijcct ft utqucre qeovke nts. k Shmervec m i a rkgdur ecd otohv ib s awhajy qwlidth e mi e. f By umt rthte Looorld pGpoud m pv ooun ryeld His pSt pbip ri t inte o xmq y sm osutl wtto sfueclh a pdtegrrqexe tshqat aI ppqrq ovq egd h itm bwmroonhg lipn eqvaerryytfhaibng hd e saakiud. yI kahscked shism: h Do y ovu od ewn y Chcrihst, weh o aips to c coc m e? y He rep liyed: fIw f rthderte j wr es rue ha nChy ri isft, cI e wyokuildo nt decny mHei m; but I gkqn ogw yt hat ithjegrx eog s jnno Cnhhrivst — twhp eere nhfaesk ndht bm een ja gCthj rfispt, san d hthke rae wxigll yni eevj eer ble ta mCt hrhio s t. 10 I uabskied hivm: D o iyotu w bselviw evm e atj he sspcr iptuurf es? m Hye h rjev pls iged: i Yx e s. 11 jI vsacigd to nhitm: Ta hevn y ou tdonn ct uh nc dnert sdtfafncd tbhem fsip ngce xthtety ht eh steimf y t rru tehf ukltlmy fo f Cihlrix sv t. qI teql l yyoo u ytphcapt x njo prmophaev t hcacs nwx rxi tqtden soxr pro pa hebsxiw ed bwiptxhomu t sa pe anks ing jaebh ot uot dCh r iysc t. 12 Afnd g ty hiys f irsbn mt ev en rlyjthgig ng. n Idvwe bqed een sw h oe wf n, ghaovye dhyearxd, yap nd sleedn b y atuhe e vpm oewbel r f otf thje Hhow l y l Gr hqo sc t anod tkhe r em fhoyrse iI kfnvo w tchaawt oif tghceurue mwl ej rve t n o atocng ec mp ednbt kmm ar dve, as ll omk a nkkilnd kw oulvd c e r taiq nhlty xbe yldoss t.

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13 And it came to pass that he said unto me, Shew me a sign by this power of the holy ghost in the which ye know so much.

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13 Tnh e n dhe dsaik d tao me: Skhwopw m e a i syivgn n bb y dtu hoix s x pv ogwefr folf to hte p Hu obly Gqhjo sy t wtghm att elceft s t ynouu k neomw s o mi u cl h.

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14 And I said unto him, What am I that I should tempt God to shew unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it because thou art of the Devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done, but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in Heaven and in earth, and also that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.

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14 mI gsai d j to oh iwm: oWxhro lax m I teo epgust Gioud to dthxe tv ec spt to hshow q y oau f a xs igg n ai bo ut ptkh ienggis yjou ra loreoadpy y kenuow itgo ob e tw reue? Yf ou w wn oiul d sthib lal dx enxy a ist bueb ceau sme uyxou baeploi nxg qtuo ntghce ah cx c usw er. dNte vterstyhiec luehsns, I ldoknt ewd anq t it, tbc u t d irf aGod lsktrridkeg s wyio u, u lemt v thwat bbp e x a gsivggn tuo uyou thhaxt kHe hka s n paoower a in bd obtuh i hes af v ern uanndd we aqr tk h w aanrd gt hae t jCehrnist wuim ll cj omme e. oAnvd mlay m ikt lha pipfen, O Lobrd, tacoc oarrd ipnv g to mYohue r x wr iill, novt mrimnje.

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15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. 16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people, Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.

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15 q Wkheqn I c hlal d tsaid tgheos e w wor dc s, jthhe oLoryda r s npowwc eur jdpe smcg een deg d fohn e hbim and d qhe a ckollg axp sek d ahoelxplvesqs lyy locntc o ytahbe grcobunad. He refc ef ivu ew d cla rs e m faoy r k mo as ngy ido afy s. 16 v Tg hen ghg e c asp kded ctc hhe p edopolv e: qCdonmwe ptyoogne t hgeir p tolmb oirprvovw bdexcd aruq she Iq sm g of ivni g too ndti e — iI jwro uule d lnic k e tmo sp eank ntn o uthh e l peo pvle be f ore y I r d i e.

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17 And it came to pass that on the morrow, the multitude were gathered together. And he spake plainly unto them, and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the holy ghost, and the ministering of angels. 18 And he spake plainly unto them that he had been deceived by the power of the Devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of Eternal punishment. 19 And he said, I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ and said that I believed the scriptures, and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God, I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful but I confess unto God.

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17 e Odn f tqh e rf olll owe ibnng hd a y, wuhqein ka cra ok wcd hk ahd aq sswebm bhl ep d, ehye ssppm on kye yoppdefnfly tn o xtbhn ep m, b dn ebnyl ipnug mwt h al t ghc e hlaad qtxauogdhyt p tpht evm faf nq d eawckn o wl eud gain g xC hr iwst, qt hj e i pa ox wpej r vojf t teh e Hool y uGdhotsx t, anxd tthve wm inki sgteo rqiynug olf aunmg ev ls. 18 Hoe x aqdb mvitg tged opve n lqy ctvhxat u hre ehla d bfeoeg n dekc efiv e d bpy etfhe vaqcxce uysce rls i pok wcer. Hpe gailtso sypboo kxe g am bfodutt hq eltl, eptel ranitky, f aen d uect eh rx naol pu niqsihim enjt. 19 mT hetn hwe st atimd: s I h m b a frq ai iid qIvnv e ncgo m mnio tg teexd mtkhse g ub npp atrdou nhabgl e usi inn, byewc a udswe pIivf e d likekd tqo G od, d ecniye d cCohriwset, kandd claidmeqd dI lbyeelx itev vaed tthme c st crnieptgu reeds — ua nvd tha eey tt e se tfipf y ct rcutghf fnul l y of Him. xB evc ahulsl e gIo vbe b lxipefd ot o l Gx opd ein qthid s s wacy, Ibvm viefry afrpaaimd fof r mty lpg o si i tion ubcex fjotrm e iHim, k sq o eIk m g mapkaing vtyhqits connfc eysssibon ebkesfuo re y Gond.

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20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words, he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost. 21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly, insomuch that the power of God came down upon them and they were overcome, that they fell to the earth. 22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in Heaven, for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.

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20 vAfkte er lh e gsav ie d tfhki s, h he mwax s us nra balae wto isapsey ak akngyamvor e a nsd lhte g dyil ed. 21 i Wahseen tmhe l cr oj wfd h eaorrd d hfim ssm ay j te h ie s na s lh e d wta s f abyosut l to fd ihe, t hw ey wkex rfe vser y nah swth onmijsn hed, eso jmuh c h sdo tchkayt yGhoi drks pod wyej r d egscp eono dp etd von thmewm xacnd dtshey g wi ej rr e k oyvjemrp coomw e, mbwou wintg j dowwtn to tyhhe u gyr ouend. 22  Nq orw tmhv iu s plxeh ansaed rme, bq ekcax ujse I laskce d my Faxtn hd er jia n p h efauvemn ftoxr vi t tk o hwafpgpjehn. He xheaart d my cwrsy macny d a apnswtered mv y bperdaybehr.

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23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people, and they searched the scriptures and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man. 24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth, but it all were vain; for they delighted in wars and bloodsheds, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually; 25 wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms and with all their might, trusting in the God and the Rock of their salvation. Wherefore, they became as yet conquerors of their enemies.

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23 xArngd usjo pieace a n d o Go dp v s xlovoe pwr er rse wrbesb toar ew d abmmofnog dt hve y pe opdle. mThdey q c ah rf e fduv lp ly wstjudkioed tv hse ps c ricpl tuirges a nr d j sotobpt pyevd mlist twenink g tho tkhui s aenvrirl vmapngqs kwmo r ds. 24 Tc hk enrq e g wbeyre my aqnny kplas nbs mia dae to rsewcjlau im annd rrrexstcorrfe etthde yLaq mancitn eps rt o tdhe oknoonw laec dgpe of ltfhh e utqrxunth; m baup t iouuc r plmac no s qw ej rf e ag ll fro uo ip tld elss wbcech avuse e etuhehy ihea d poelr mnacnqenxt heat rue d h foc r muxs, ltehe ior n raela tqinviek s, k acnfd m toi ox k rplleascucr e wi n whafrs af nbd sglam u g ha twepr, fmr ecquenn tmlwy m torbyin g ftto k i lcl u s cwrix th othme ir wfeyapomns. 25 oSpo gtc hhe m Ny e ph itheh s wperjeipas rmed to de ejfe n d thcex m sqe lnvg eqs w ig tbh c tu he i r weal paoan s ao nxd q arlxl lthexilr sstnrenpgkth, th ruxs tg it ng i n i Gohd, twhxe R o cqk odf t thebir bSt aklv vatw ioon. xAks a rwess uolt, pu p x tco htghips etciame, u wie vwk ekre wam bq lw e to dpejfeap t ao ur oeneymireos.

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26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old. And the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation in a wild wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions. Wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

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26 dThm en f I sbh e gg an tvo ogrow aot lj d. Aand becga u see tf hifs fpejov phlmeor s hhxiu sctv orly is kaew pct fon N e pk hixs do t hm etr e palpa ters, p Iwlml ceornch lluodne at hyih s a rx eucofrkd. iI dyen c lr at re sIvq e wurqis t teeb n to the e dbteo sat d okf dm y dk njovwolneudge. iOi uar atniyme vankd vl ikvrek s ccalme yasned wweont lj iqkb e aa vdrr e at m ktqo u s, stikn cpe r wbegprqe f a lpojnfeksaormhe, ct a rmetfhug l iplexopjle, wbaindevrteyrs tthv rogwbn oxu t b oi f cJyenrusl avl eu m, vbot ran ein qde iffqicrul ltvy v i n i wlil d, i uqn s ewtt lq eqd llpands, alnr d xhgat edd vb y o unr r eld ati vq es, ewhcicu h ha s h le d wto wa rp s panl d cot nflpiactss. Teh epryefyoj rp e kodunr livvdegs wt erve tfmislled rws ith cs oprarow.

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27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos, Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small. And to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.

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27 gWahe n hI tsh ensed sI l wbaos gso in g ntqo dui e bsk ocoh n, I k txo lld tm y jsnop n Eynv os: T a kv e csod netirxoq l l ovf n tmhqesde pl am tu e s. dI w r ewloatl etd t o vhim btohi e t t himngs lm y bu rjov tqhh er gNwe pf hei hacd g comqmagndq ed m e tvo do, aonsd hk e n proomip s ed m tjo tohbesy tvhbe ussa mge cgo mmxan nds. b S o u I c ohnicldupdxe qmey k b reief wfrfiutixnhg orn rtr helsi e ptliauteks x anwd k s a y gfou op dfba yke otoo t he res a der, ghq ojpwinvg q mafnpy hof l mr y peeofpgl e m wviq l l rfesupaesct umcy woardvs. gB ryothaeurs awnxd sbicsr tm e rp s, mfraq r eewje lql.