5:1 And now behold, there was not a living soul
among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the
least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken;
for they knew that it must needs be that they must be
fulfilled. |
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5:2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had
been given, according to the words of the prophets; and
because of the things which had come to pass already they
knew that it must needs be that all things should come to
pass according to that which had been spoken. |
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5:3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and
their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve
God with all diligence day and night. |
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5:4 And now it came to pass that when they had
taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did
escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners
into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached
unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and
enter into a covenant that they would murder no more were
set at liberty. |
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5:5 But as many as there were who did not enter
into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those
secret murders in their hearts, yea, as many as were
found breathing out threatenings against their brethren
were condemned and punished according to the law. |
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5:6 And thus they did put an end to all those
wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations, in the
which there was so much wickedness, and so many murders
committed. |
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5:7 And thus had the twenty and second year passed
away, and the twenty and third year also, and the twenty
and fourth, and the twenty and fifth; and thus had twenty
and five years passed away. |
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5:8 And there had many things transpired which, in
the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous;
nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book;
yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of
what was done among so many people in the space of twenty
and five years; |
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5:9 But behold there are records which do contain
all the proceedings of this people; and a shorter but
true account was given by Nephi. |
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5:10 Therefore I have made my record of these things
according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on
the plates which were called the plates of Nephi. |
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5:11 And behold, I do make the record on plates
which I have made with mine own hands. |
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5:12 And behold, I am called Mormon, being called
after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did
establish the church among the
people, yea, the first church which was established among
them after their transgression. |
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5:13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to
declare his word among his people, that they might have
everlasting life. |
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5:14 And it hath become expedient that I, according
to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have
gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled
according to their faith, should make a record of these
things which have been done-- |
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5:15 Yea, a small record of that which hath taken
place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down
until the present time. |
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5:16 Therefore I do make my record from the accounts
which have been given by those who were before me, until
the commencement of my day; |
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5:17 And then I do make a record of the things which
I have seen with mine own eyes. |
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5:18 And I know the record which I make to be a just
and a true record; nevertheless there are many things
which, according to our language, we are not able to
write. |
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5:19 And now I make an end of my saying, which is of
myself, and proceed to give my account of the things
which have been before me. |
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5:20 I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I
have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of
Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save it were himself and
those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath
given me and my people so much knowledge unto the
salvation of our souls. |
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5:21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and
hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph. |
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5:22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept
his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them
according to his word. |
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5:23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant
of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their
God. |
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5:24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he
gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the
remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad
upon all the face of the earth. |
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5:25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of
Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath
covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his
own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob
unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath
covenanted with them. |
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5:26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is
Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be
gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto
their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed;
yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen. |
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