Unit 71

the

130 occurrences in 43 verses

Alma 59:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13,

Alma 60:1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

Alma 59:1

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year

of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi,

after Moroni had received and had read Helaman's epistle,

he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare,

yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had,

in obtaining those lands which were lost.

Alma 59:2

Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people,

in all the land round about in that part where he was,

that they might rejoice also.

Alma 59:3

And it came to pass that he immediately sent an epistle to Pahoran,

desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together

to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman,

insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land

which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining.

Alma 59:4

And it came to pass

when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land of Zarahemla,

he began again to lay a plan

that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities

which the Lamanites had taken from them.

Alma 59:5

And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations

to go against the Lamanites to battle,

behold, the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together

from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton,

were attacked by the Lamanites.

Alma 59:6

Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee

from the land of Manti, and from the land round about,

had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land.

Alma 59:7

And thus being exceedingly numerous,

yea, and receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron

they came forth against the people of Nephihah,

and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter.

Alma 59:8

And their armies were so numerous

that the remainder of the people of Nephihah were obliged to flee before them;

and they came even and joined the army of Moroni.

Alma 59:9

And now as Moroni had supposed

that there should be men sent to the city of Nephihah,

to the assistance of the people to maintain that city,

and knowing that it was easier to keep the city

from falling into the hands of the Lamanites

than to retake it from them,

he supposed that they would easily maintain that city.

Alma 59:11

And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost

he was exceedingly sorrowful,

and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people,

whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren.

Alma 59:12

Now this was the case with all his chief captains.

They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people,

and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them.

Alma 59:13

And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government,

because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.

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 60:5

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.

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 60:19

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.

Now I would that ye should remember that God has said

that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first,

and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.

Alma 60:24

And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done,

and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men

unto us, and also unto Helaman,

that he may support those parts of our country which he has regained,

and that we may also recover the remainder of our possessions in these parts,

behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites

until we have first cleansed our inward vessel,

yea, even the great head of our government.

Alma 60:25

And except ye grant mine epistle,

and come out and show unto me a true spirit of freedom,

and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies,

and grant unto them food for their support,

behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land,

and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them,

that none other power can operate against them —

Alma 60:28

Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority,

but it is my God whom I fear;

and it is according to his commandments

that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country,

and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.

Alma 60:29

Behold it is time, yea, the time is now at hand,

that except ye do bestir yourselves

in the defence of your country and your little ones,

the sword of justice doth hang over you;

yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you

even to your utter destruction.

Alma 60:30

Behold, I wait for assistance from you;

and, except ye do administer unto our relief,

behold, I come unto you, even in the land of Zarahemla,

and smite you with the sword,

insomuch that ye can have no more power

to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom.

Alma 60:31

For behold, the Lord will not suffer

that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people.

Alma 60:32

Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you

and come out in judgment against the Lamanites,

when it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred,

yea, and it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us,

while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory

and the vain things of the world?

Alma 60:33

Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God,

and ye do know that ye do trample them under your feet.

Behold, the Lord saith unto me:

If those whom ye have appointed your governors

do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them.

Alma 60:34

And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained,

according to the covenant which I have made

to keep the commandments of my God;

therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God,

and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men,

and also to Helaman.

Alma 60:35

And behold, if ye will not do this

I come unto you speedily;

for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger;

therefore he will give unto us of your food,

even if it must be by the sword.

Now see that ye fulfil the word of God.

Alma 60:36

Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain.

I seek not for power, but to pull it down.

I seek not for honor of the world,

but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.

And thus I close mine epistle.