The Book of Mormon Part 72

Alma 30:53 53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown G.o.d. And he said unto me: There is no G.o.d; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

Alma 30:54 54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto G.o.d, that the curse might be taken from him.

Alma 30:55 55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will.

Alma 30:56 56 And it came to pa.s.s that the curse was not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food.

Alma 30:57 57 Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor was immediately published throughout all the land; yea, the proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in the land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of Korihor that they must speedily repent, lest the same judgments would come unto them.

Alma 30:58 58 And it came to pa.s.s that they were all convinced of the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they were all converted again unto the Lord; and this put an end to the iniquity after the manner of Korihor. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging food for his support.

Alma 30:59 59 And it came to pa.s.s that as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a man whose name was Zoram--and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.

Alma 30:60 60 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to h.e.l.l.

Alma 31 Chapter 31

Alma 31:1 1 Now it came to pa.s.s that after the end of Korihor, Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols, his heart again began to sicken because of the iniquity of the people.

Alma 31:2 2 For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to know of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly sorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from the Nephites.

Alma 31:3 3 Now the Zoramites had gathered themselves together in a land which they called Antionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seash.o.r.e, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites.

Alma 31:4 4 Now the Nephites greatly feared that the Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites, and that it would be the means of great loss on the part of the Nephites.

Alma 31:5 5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of G.o.d.

Alma 31:6 6 Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and he also took two of his sons.

Alma 31:7 7 Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton; and these are the names of those who went with him among the Zoramites, to preach unto them the word.

Alma 31:8 8 Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of G.o.d preached unto them.

Alma 31:9 9 But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of G.o.d, and his statutes, according to the law of Moses.

Alma 31:10 10 Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to G.o.d daily, that they might not enter into temptation.

Alma 31:11 11 Yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord in very many instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them.

Alma 31:12 12 Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never beheld;

Alma 31:13 13 For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head, and the top thereof would only admit one person.

Alma 31:14 14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:

Alma 31:15 15 Holy, holy G.o.d; we believe that thou art G.o.d, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

Alma 31:16 16 Holy G.o.d, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.

Alma 31:17 17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to h.e.l.l; for the which holiness, O G.o.d, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our G.o.d.

Alma 31:18 18 And again we thank thee, O G.o.d, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.

Alma 31:19 19 Now it came to pa.s.s that after Alma and his brethren and his sons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond all measure.

Alma 31:20 20 For behold, every man did go forth and offer up these same prayers.

Alma 31:21 21 Now the place was called by them Rameumptom, which, being interpreted, is the holy stand.

Alma 31:22 22 Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto G.o.d, thanking their G.o.d that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about.

Alma 31:23 23 Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their G.o.d again until they had a.s.sembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.

Alma 31:24 24 Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.

Alma 31:25 25 Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.

Alma 31:26 26 And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men?

Alma 31:27 27 Behold, O G.o.d, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O G.o.d, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world.

Alma 31:28 28 Behold, O my G.o.d, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say--We thank thee, O G.o.d, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish.

Alma 31:29 29 Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto them that there shall be no Christ.

Alma 31:30 30 O Lord G.o.d, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.

Alma 31:31 31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.

Alma 31:32 32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me--yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom and also my two sons--yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ.

Alma 31:33 33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.

Alma 31:34 34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

Alma 31:35 35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

Alma 31:36 36 Now it came to pa.s.s that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Alma 31:37 37 And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.

Alma 31:38 38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

Alma 32 Chapter 32

Alma 32:1 1 And it came to pa.s.s that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of G.o.d unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

Alma 32:2 2 And it came to pa.s.s that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor cla.s.s of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coa.r.s.eness of their apparel--