wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you; 14. And also trusting 'no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments. 15. Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbour mas himself: that there should be no contention among them. 16. And now Alma was their "high priest, he being the founder of their church. 17. And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach, except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests, and all their teachers, and none were consecrated except they were just men. 18. Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness. 19. And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam. 20. And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam. 21. Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. 22. Nevertheless, whosoever putteth his trust in him, the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. 23. For behold, I will shew unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God; yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac, and of Jacob. 24. And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did shew forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings. 25. For behold, it came to pass that while they were in the land of Helam, yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the land round about, behold an army of the Lamanites were in the borders of the land. 26. Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled from their fields, and gathered themselves together in the city of Helam; and they were much frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites. 27. But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God, and he would deliver them; 28. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord, that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children. 29. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites. And Alma and his brethren went forth and delivered themselves up into their hands; and the Lamanites took possession of the land of Helam. 30. Now the armies of the Lamanites which had followed after the people of king Limhi, had been lost in the wilderness for many days. 31. And behold, they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which they called "Amulon; and they had began to possess the land of Amulon, and had began to till the ground. 32. Now the name of the leader of those priests was Amulon. 33. And it came to pass that Amulon did plead with the Lamanites; and he also sent forth their wives, who were the "daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with their brethren, that they should not destroy their husbands. 34. And the Lamanites had compassion on Amulon and his brethren, and did not destroy them, because of "their wives. 35. And Amulon and his brethren did join the Lamanites, and they were travelling in the wilderness in search of the land of Nephi, when they discovered the land of *Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren. 36. And it came to pass that the Lamanites promised unto Alma and his brethren, that if they would shew them the way which led to the land of Nephi, that they would grant unto them their lives and their liberty. 37. But after Alma had shewn them the way that led to the land of Nephi, the Lamanites would not keep their promise; but they set guards round about the land of Helam, over Alma and his brethren. 38. And the remainder of them went to the land of Nephi and a part of them returned to the land of Helam, and also brought with them the wives and the children of the guards who had been left in the land. 39. And the king of the Lamanites had granted unto 2" Amulon that he should be a king and a ruler over his people, who were in the land of Helam; nevertheless he should have no power to do anything contrary to the will of the king of the Lamanites. r, see o. CHAPTER 24. 1. AND it came to pass that Amulon did gain favour in the eyes of the king of the Lamanites; therefore, the king of Mos. 8, Mos. 22: 16. t, see f, Nos. 11. u, vers. 32, 35, 39. 24: 1, 4, 5, 8-11. 25:12. Alma 21: 2-4. 23: 14. 24: 1, 28-30. 25: 4-12. 43: 13, 14. v, Mos. 20:5, 6, 18. w, ver. 33. x, see o. y, see b, II. Nep. 5. z, ver. 38. 2a, see u. the Lamanites granted unto him and his brethren, that they should be appointed "teachers over his people; yea, even over the people who were in the land of "Shemlon, and in the land of "Shilom, and in the land of "Amulon; 2. For the Lamanites had taken possession of all these lands; therefore, the king of the Lamanites had appointed kings over all these lands. 3. And now the name of the king of the Lamanites was Laman, being called after the name of his father; and therefore he was called king Laman. And he was king over a numerous people; 4. And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon, in every land which was possessed by his people : and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the Lamanites. 5. And they were a people friendly one with another; nevertheless they knew not God; neither did the "brethren of Amulon teach them anything concerning the Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they teach them the words of Abinadi; 6. But they taught them that they should keep their record, and that they might write one to another. 7. And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one with another, and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of the world; yea, a very cunning people; delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder, except it were among their own brethren. 8. And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children: 9. For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been 'one of the king's priests, and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi, and was driven out before the king; and therefore he was wroth with him, for he was subject to king Laman; yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them. 10. And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions, that they began to cry mightily to God. 11. And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God, should be put to death. 12. And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to a, vers. 4-6. b, see d, Mos. 10. c, see ƒ, Mos. 7. d, see u, Mos. 23. Mos. 9:10, 11. 10: 6. f, ver. 1. g, About 470 since the Nephites and Lamanites were separated, during language, among the Lamanites, had become corrupted. the Lamanite History. j, in the Nephite characters. Mos. 17: 2-4. years had elapsed which the Nephite h, see f, Mos. 11. k, Mos. 23: 32. the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 13. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying, Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people, and deliver them out of bondage. 14. And I will also mease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do, that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 15. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren, were made "light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. 16. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience, that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying, Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 17. And he said unto Alma, Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee, and deliver this people out of 'bondage. 18. Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night time, gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night time were they gathering their flocks together. 19. And in the morning the Lord caused a "deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. 20. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had travelled all day, they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness; 21. Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God, because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them, except it were the Lord their God. 22. And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men, and all their women, and all their children, that could speak, lifted their voices in the praises of their God. 23. And now the Lord said unto Alma, Haste thee and get thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have "awoke and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this 'valley, that they come no further in pursuit of this people. m, vers. 9, 15. n, vers. 9, 14. o, vers. 13, 21. 5:5,6. 29:11, 12. 36:2, 29. P, ver. 23. 9, see o. Mos. 25:10. 27:16. Alma r, ver. 19. 8, vers. 20, 21. 24. And it came to pass that they departed out of the valley, and took their journey into the wilderness. 25. And after they had been in the wilderness 'twelve days, they arrived to the "land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did "also receive them with joy. CHAPTER 25. 1. AND now king Mosiah caused that all the people should be gathered together. 2. Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the people of Zarahemla, who was a "descendant of Mulek, and those who came with him into the wilderness: 3. And there were not so many of the people of Nephi and of the people of Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites: yea, they were not half so numerous. 4. And now all the people of Nephi were assembled together, and also all the people of Zarahemla, and they were gathered together in two bodies. 5. And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they "left the land of Zarahemla until they returned again. 6. And he also read the account of Alma and his brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla, until the time they returned again. 7. And now when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement, 8. For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been delivered "out of bondage, they were filled with exceeding great joy. 9. And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been slain by the Lamanites, they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow, 10. And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in 'delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites, and of bondage, they did raise their voices, and give thanks to God. 11. And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, t, Twelve days' journey from the valley of Alma. From Helam to the valley of Alma, was one day's journey. See c, Mos. 23. Hence, from the city of Nephi to Zarahemla was about 22 days' journey. u, see h, Omni 1. v, Mos. 22: 14. |