| 18:1 And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had
fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins
and iniquities, and went about privately among the
people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi-- |
|
| 18:2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and
also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the
redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass
through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into
heaven. |
|
| 18:3 And as many as would hear his word he did
teach. And he taught them privately, that it might not
come to the knowledge of the king. And many did believe
his words. |
|
| 18:4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe
him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon,
having received its name from the king, being in the
borders of the land having been infested, by times or at
seasons, by wild beasts. |
|
| 18:5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure
water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the
water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself
in the daytime from the searches of the king. |
|
| 18:6 And it came to pass that as many as believed
him went thither to hear his words. |
|
| 18:7 And it came to pass after many days there were
a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon,
to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered
together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he
did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and
redemption, and faith on the Lord. |
|
| 18:8 And it came to pass that he said unto them:
Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they
called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold
of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to
bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; |
|
| 18:9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that
mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times
and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in,
even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be
numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye
may have eternal life-- |
|
| 18:10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of
your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before
him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that
ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may
pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? |
|
| 18:11 And now when the people had heard these words,
they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is
the desire of our hearts. |
|
| 18:12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam,
he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in
the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit
upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness
of heart. |
|
| 18:13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of
the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God,
as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to
serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and
may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and
may he grant unto you eternal life, through the
redemption of Christ, whom he has 1prepared
from the foundation of the world. |
[1] Matthew 25:34: ...prepared for you from the
foundation of the world... |
| 18:14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma
and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and
came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with
the Spirit. |
|
| 18:15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a
second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not
bury himself again in the water. |
|
| 18:16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of
Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and
four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of
Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God. |
|
| 18:17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass
that whosoever was baptized by the power
and authority of God was added to his church. |
|
| 18:18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority
from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every
fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them,
and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the
kingdom of God. |
|
| 18:19 And he commanded them that they should teach
nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and
which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets. |
|
| 18:20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should
preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the
Lord, who had redeemed his people. |
|
| 18:21 And he commanded them that there should be no
contention one with another, but that they should look
forward with one eye, having 1one faith and one baptism, having their 2hearts
knit together in unity and in love one towards another. |
[1] Ephesian 4:5: ...one faith, one baptism...
[2] Colossians 2:2:
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love... |
| 18:22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus
they became the children of God. |
|
| 18:23 And he commanded them that they should observe
the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day
they should give thanks to the Lord their God. |
|
| 18:24 And he also commanded them that the priests
whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands
for their support. |
|
| 18:25 And there was one day in every week that was
set apart that they should gather themselves together to
teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and
also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble
themselves together. |
|
| 18:26 And the priests were not to depend upon the
people for their support; but for their labor they were
to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong
in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they
might teach with power and authority from God. |
|
| 18:27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the
church should impart of their substance, every one
according to that which he had; if he have more
abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him
that had but little, but little should be required; and
to him that had not should be given. |
|
| 18:28 And thus they should impart of their substance
of their own free will and good desires towards God, and
to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every
needy, naked soul. |
|
| 18:29 And this he said unto them, having been
commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God,
imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually
according to their needs and their wants. |
|
| 18:30 And now it came to pass that all this was done
in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest
that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of
Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how
beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to
the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are
they, for they shall sing to his praise forever. |
|
| 18:31 And these things were done in the borders of
the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of
the king. |
|
| 18:32 But behold, it came to pass that the king,
having discovered a movement among the people, sent his
servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that they
were assembling themselves together to hear the word of
the Lord they were discovered unto the king. |
|
| 18:33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up
the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent
his army to destroy them. |
|
| 18:34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of
the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king's army;
therefore they took their tents and their families and
departed into the wilderness. |
|
| 18:35 And they were in number about four hundred and
fifty souls. |
|
