[Please note that this segment ends in the midst of Alma 60:23]

Alma 60:14

And now behold, I say unto you,

I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people,

because of their exceeding slothfulness,

yea, even the slothfulness of our government,

and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brethren,

yea, towards those who have been slain.

Alma 60:15

For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head,

we could have withstood our enemies

that they could have gained no power over us.

Alma 60:16

Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves;

yea, were it not for these king-men,

who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves;

yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves,

if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done;

yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority

which those king-men had over us;

had they been true to the cause of our freedom,

and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies,

instead of taking up their swords against us,

which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves;

yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord,

we should have dispersed our enemies,

for it would have been done, according to the fulfilling of his word.

Alma 60:17

But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us,

taking possession of our lands,

and they are murdering our people with the sword,

yea, our women and our children,

and also carrying them away captive,

causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions,

and this because of the great wickedness of those

who are seeking for power and authority,

yea, even those king-men.

Alma 60:18

But why should I say much concerning this matter?

For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority.

We know not but what ye are also traitors to your country.

Alma 60:19

Or is it that ye have neglected us

because ye are in the heart of our country

and ye are surrounded by security,

that ye do not cause food to be sent unto us,

and also men to strengthen our armies?

Alma 60:20

Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God?

Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers?

Have ye forgotten the many times

we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies?

Alma 60:21

Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us,

while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means

which the Lord has provided for us?

Alma 60:22

Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those,

yea, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness,

while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land

who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and bleeding?

Alma 60:23

Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless

while ye sit still and behold these things?

Behold I say unto you, Nay.

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