Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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 one faith and one baptism,

having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

Mosiah 18:22

And thus he commanded them to preach.

And thus they became the children of God.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 18:24

And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained

should labor with their own hands for their support.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.

Mosiah 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.