Alma 60:1

And it came to pass that he wrote again

to the governor of the land, who was Pahoran,

and these are the words which he wrote, saying:

Behold, I direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla,

who is the chief judge and the governor over the land,

and also to all those who have been chosen by this people

to govern and manage the affairs of this war.

Alma 60:2

For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation;

for behold, ye yourselves know

that ye have been appointed to gather together men,

and arm them with swords, and with cimeters,

and all manner of weapons of war of every kind,

and send forth against the Lamanites,

in whatsoever parts they should come into our land.

Alma 60:3

And now behold, I say unto you

that myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men,

have suffered exceedingly great sufferings;

yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.

Alma 60:4

But behold, were this all we had suffered

we would not murmur nor complain.

Alma 60:5

But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people;

yea, thousands have fallen by the sword,

while it might have otherwise been

if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and succor for them.

Yea, great has been your neglect towards us.

Alma 60:6

And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect;

yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.

Alma 60:7

Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor,

while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you?

Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren —

Alma 60:8

Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection,

yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them,

yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them,

and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.

Alma 60:9

But behold, this is not all —

ye have withheld your provisions from them,

insomuch that many have fought and bled out their lives

because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people;

yea, and this they have done when they were about to perish with hunger,

because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them.

Alma 60:10

And now, my beloved brethren —

for ye ought to be beloved;

yea, and ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently

for the welfare and the freedom of this people;

but behold, ye have neglected them

insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance;

yea, for known unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings —

Alma 60:11

Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones,

and because of the exceeding goodness of God

ye could do nothing and he would deliver you?

Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain.

Alma 60:12

Do ye suppose that, because so many of your brethren have been killed

it is because of their wickedness?

I say unto you,

if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain;

for I say unto you,

there are many who have fallen by the sword;

and behold it is to your condemnation;

Alma 60:13

For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain

that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked;

therefore ye need not suppose

that the righteous are lost because they are slain;

but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.