2. For behold, their wars are 'exceeding fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred, they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ. 3. And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can, for the safety of mine own life. 4. Wherefore I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord. CHAPTER 2. 1. THE words of Christ, which he spake unto his "disciples, the Twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them. 2. And he called them by name, saying, Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this, ye shall have power that on him whom ye shall lay your hands, 'ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles. 3. Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost. CHAPTER 3. 1. THE manner which the "disciples, who were called the Elders of the church, ordained Priests and Teachers. 2. After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said, 3. In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a Priest; (or, if he be a Teacher,) I ordain you to be a Teacher, to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen. 4. And after this manner did they ordain Priests and Teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto b, I. Nep. 12: 20-23. Mor. 5: 15. See c, II. Nep. 27. a, see c, III. Nep. 12: 1. 18: 37. d, see b. a, see c, III. Nep. 12: 1. ò, ver. 3. III. Nep. 18: 37. c, ш. Nep. b, vers. 2-4. See c, Mos. 6. men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them. CHAPTER 4. 1. THE manner of their "Elders and Priests administering the 'flesh and blood of Christ unto the church. And they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the Elder or Priest did minister it. 2. And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ saying, 3. O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. CHAPTER 5. 1. THE manner of administering the wine. Behold, they took the cup, and said, 2. O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the "blood of thy Son, which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. CHAPTER 6. 1. AND now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, "Elders, 'Priests, and Teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized, save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it; c, I. Nep. 13: 37. Moro. 6: 9. a, ver. 1. Moro. 3: 1. b, see t, III. Nep. 18. d, see t, III. Nep. 18. e, see e, Mos. 5. c, Doc. and Cov. 20:176. a, see t, I. Nep. 18. Doc. and Cov. 20: 79. 27: 2-4. a, Moro. 3: 1. b, see c, Mos. 6. c, see u, II. Nep. 9. 2. Neither did they receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the Church that they truly repented of all their sins. 3. And none were received unto baptism, save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. 4. And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the Church of Christ, and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith. 5. And the Church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls; 6. And they did meet together oft to "partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus; 7. And they were strict to observe that there should be no iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and three witnesses of the Church did condemn them before the elders; and if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ; 8. But as oft as they repented, and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven. 9. And their meetings were conducted by the Church, after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done. CHAPTER 7. 1. AND now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake "concerning Faith, Hope, and Charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as lie taught them in the 'synagogue which they had built for the place of worship. 2. And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of d, see e, Mos. 5. e, see y, III. Nep. 9. f, see e, II. Nep. 32. t, Mos. 27. h, see b, III. Nep. 18. 26: 31. k, see c, Moro. 3. a, ver. 21-39, 40--44, 45-48. 20-23. b, see u, Alma 16. IV. Nep. 1. i, Doc. and Cov. 42: 80, 81. g, see j, Mos. 10: Ether 12: 3-37. Moro. 8 14, 26. c, III. Nep. 5: 13. See j, III. Nep. 5. See q, his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time. 3. Wherefore I would speak unto you that are of the Church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope, by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth, until ye shall rest with him in heaven. 4. And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men; 5. For I remember the word of God, which saith aby their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also. 6. For behold, God hath said, A man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent, it profiteth him nothing. 7. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteous ness. 8. For behold, if a man being evil, giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. 9. And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray, and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing; for God receiveth none such; 10. Wherefore, a man being evil, cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. 11. For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore a man being a servant of the devil, cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ, he cannot be a servant of the devil. 12. Wherefore, all things which are good, cometh of God; and that which is evil, cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. 13. But behold, that which is of God, inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. 14. Wherefore take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God, to be of the devil. 15. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the day-light is from the dark night. 16. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, d, I. Nep. 14: 15-20. e, see o, Ether 4. Mor. 8: 19. f, ver. 18. III. Nep. 14: 2. that they may know good from evil; wherefore I shew unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God, 17. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil, for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no not one; neither doth his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. 18. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not "judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge, ye shall also be judged. 19. Wherefore I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ, that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. 20. And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing? 21. And now come to that Faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing. 22. For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. 23. And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come. 24. And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good, cometh of Christ, otherwise men were fallen, and there could 'no good thing come unto them. 25. Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by "faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ. 26. And after that he came, men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as sure as Christ liveth, he spake these words unto our fathers, saying, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you. 27. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, hath miracles 9, see o, Ether 4. h, see f. a, Mos. 3. 7, see b and c, II. Nep. 2. i, see a. j, see r, II. Nep. 9. |