The Book of Mormon Part 59

Alma 10:15 15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.

Alma 10:16 16 And it came to pa.s.s that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

Alma 10:17 17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs.

But it came to pa.s.s as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundation of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of G.o.d.

Alma 10:18 18 Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of G.o.d upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.

Alma 10:19 19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices--yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.

Alma 10:20 20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Alma 10:21 21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.

Alma 10:22 22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.

Alma 10:23 23 But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.

Alma 10:24 24 And now it came to pa.s.s that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected.

Alma 10:25 25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?

Alma 10:26 26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.

Alma 10:27 27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.

Alma 10:28 28 And now it came to pa.s.s that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.

Alma 10:29 29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges.

Alma 10:30 30 And it came to pa.s.s that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.

Alma 10:31 31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.

Alma 10:32 32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ.

Alma 11 Chapter 11

Alma 11:1 1 Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged.

Alma 11:2 2 Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber.

Alma 11:3 3 And the judge received for his wages according to his time--a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given.

Alma 11:4 4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and their measure, according to the minds and the circ.u.mstances of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been established by king Mosiah.

Alma 11:5 5 Now the reckoning is thus--a senine of gold, a seon of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold.

Alma 11:6 6 A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver.

Alma 11:7 7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind of grain.

Alma 11:8 8 Now the amount of a seon of gold was twice the value of a senine.

Alma 11:9 9 And a shum of gold was twice the value of a seon.

Alma 11:10 10 And a limnah of gold was the value of them all.

Alma 11:11 11 And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums.

Alma 11:12 12 And an ezrom of silver was as great as four senums.

Alma 11:13 13 And an onti was as great as them all.

Alma 11:14 14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning--

Alma 11:15 15 A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for half a measure of barley.

Alma 11:16 16 And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon.

Alma 11:17 17 And a leah is the half of a shiblum.

Alma 11:18 18 Now this is their number, according to their reckoning.

Alma 11:19 19 Now an antion of gold is equal to three shiblons.

Alma 11:20 20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.

Alma 11:21 21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?

Alma 11:22 22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.

Alma 11:23 23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of h.e.l.l, why tempt ye me?

Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

Alma 11:24 24 Believest thou that there is no G.o.d? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a G.o.d, but thou lovest that lucre more than him.

Alma 11:25 25 And now thou hast lied before G.o.d unto me. Thou saidst unto me--Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee--when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living G.o.d, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward.

Alma 11:26 26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living G.o.d?

Alma 11:27 27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living G.o.d.

Alma 11:28 28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one G.o.d?

Alma 11:29 29 And he answered, No.

Alma 11:30 30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things?