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THE BOOK OF MORMON
THE BOOK OF JACOB
THE BROTHER OF NEPHI
The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh
to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the
people of Nephi.
CHAPTER 1
(Nephites and Lamanites--Death of Nephi, son of Lehi--Hardness of heart and )
(wicked practices. )
1. For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away
away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me,
Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these
things are engraven.
2. And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these
plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious;
that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history
of this people which are called the people of Nephi.
3. For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon
his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand
them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.
4. And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which
was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them
upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible,
for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people.
5. For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest
unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.
6. And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy,
wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.
7. Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might
persuade them to come unto Christ and partake of the goodness of God
that they might enter into his rest lest by any means he should swear
in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the
days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.
8. Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to
rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would
believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear
the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to
fulfill the commandment of my brother Nephi.
9. Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore,
he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according
to the reigns of the kings.
10. The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector
for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having
labored in all his days for their welfare--
11. Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name.
And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second
Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings;
and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name
they would.
12. And it came to pass that Nephi died.
13. Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites, nevertheless,
they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites,
Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
14. But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names
but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of
Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites,
or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.
15. And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign
of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge
themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of
old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
16. Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began
to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
17. Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in
the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.
18. For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests
and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.
19. And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the
responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own
heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence;
wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come
upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments,
and we would not be found spotless at the last day.
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CHAPTER 2
(Jacob's denunciation of unchastity and other sins--Plurality of wives )
(forbidden because of iniquity. )
1. The words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake unto the people
of Nephi, after the death of Nephi:
2. Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility
which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness and
that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple
this day that I might declare unto you the word of God.
3. And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the
office of my calling; but I this day am weighed down with much more
desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto
been.
4. For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the word of the Lord
which I have given unto you.
5. But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all
powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your
thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin
appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God.
6. Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before
the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the
wickedness of your hearts.
7. And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech
concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose
feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God,
which thing is pleasing unto God.
8. And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the
pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.
9. Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained,
because of the strict commandment which I have received from God,
to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds
of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing
their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting
upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls
and wound their delicate minds.
10. But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according
to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness
and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken
heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.
11. Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of
the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came
the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the
morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.
12. And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto
you, that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver,
and for all manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is
a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully.
13. And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that
you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained
more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the
pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of
the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because
ye suppose that ye are better than they.
14. And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this
thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you and if
ye persist in these things his judgments must speedily come unto you.
15. O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance
of his eye he can smite you to the dust!
16. O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O
that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this
pride of your hearts destroy your souls!
17. Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with
all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
18. But before ye seek for riches seek ye for the kingdom of God.
19. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches,
if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good--
to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the
captive and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
20. And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and
those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him
because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath
given you, what say ye of it?
21. Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who
created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as
the other. And all flesh is of the dust and for the selfsame end hath
he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify
him forever.
22. And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride.
And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime,
my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.
23. But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes For
behold, thus saith the Lord. This people begin to wax in iniquity;
they understand not the scriptures for they seek to excuse themselves
in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written
concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines,
which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of
the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise
up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
26. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do
like unto them of old.
27. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord:
For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and
concubines he shall have none;
28. For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms
are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29. Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of
Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will
command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
31. For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning
of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea and in all
the lands of my people because of the wickedness and abominations of
their husbands.
32. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the
fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of
Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith
the Lord of Hosts.
33. For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because
of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse even unto
destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old,
saith the Lord of Hosts.
34. And now behold, my brethren ye know that these commandments were given
to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have
come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye
ought not to have done.
35. Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren.
Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence
of your children, because of your bad examples before them and; the
sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of
the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many
hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
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CHAPTER 3
(Jacob's denunciation continued--Lamanites more righteous than Nephites-- )
(The former commended for fidelity in marriage--The latter again warned. )
1. But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart.
Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding
faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead
your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
2. O all ye that are pure in heart lift up your heads and receive the
pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your
minds are firm, forever.
3. But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy
this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for
your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you,
nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing, shall scourge you
even unto destruction.
4. And the time speedily cometh that except ye repent they shall
possess the land of your inheritance and the Lord God will lead
away the righteous out from among you.
5. Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their
filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more
righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the
Lord, which was given unto our father that they should have save it
were one wife, and concubines they should have none and there should
not be whoredoms committed among them.
6. And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore because of
this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not
destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall
become a blessed people.
7. Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their
husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and
their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity
of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they in the
sight of your great Creator?
8. O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that
their skins will be whiter than yours when ye shall be brought with
them before the throne of God.
9. Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God,
that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their
skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness;
but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their
filthiness came because of their fathers .
10. Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved
their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and
also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness bring your
children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads
at the last day.
11. O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your
souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death;
and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become
angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone
which is the second death.
12. And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi,
warning them against fornication and lasciviousness, and every kind
of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them.
13. And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now
began to be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many
of their proceedings are written upon the larger plates, and their
wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings.
14. These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and they were made by
the hand of Nephi. And I make an end of speaking these words.
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CHAPTER 4
(Jacob's teachings continued--The law of Moses among the Nephites pointing )
(them to Christ--His rejection by the Jews forseen. )
1. Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much
unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words
because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we
know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;
2. But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates
must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates,
which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small
degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers.
3. Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven
these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our
children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them
that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with
contempt, concerning their first parents.
4 . For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may
know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many
hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a
hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
5. Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his
name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this
intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him;
and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness,
even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be
obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac,
which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
6. Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations
and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we
obtain a hope, and our faith becometh shaken, insomuch that we
truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey
us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
7. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may
know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto
the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
8. Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How
unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is
impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man
knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore,
brethren, despise not the revelations of God.
9. For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the
earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore,
if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was
created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship
of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
10. Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel
from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in
wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
11. Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the
atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a
resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is
in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God
having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he
manifesteth himself in the flesh
12. And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why
not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect
knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection
and the world to come?
13. Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the
understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth
not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of
things as they really will be; wherefore these things are manifested
unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are
not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets
14. But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised
the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for
things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their
blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they
must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them,
and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand,
because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done
it, that they may stumble.
15. And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I
perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the
stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they
might build and have safe foundation.
16. But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become
the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which
the Jews can build.
17. And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having
rejected the sure foundation, can lever build upon it, that it may
become the head of their corner?
18. Behold, my beloved brethren I will unfold this mystery unto you; if
I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit,
and stumble because of my over anxiety for you.
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CHAPTER 5.
(Jacob quotes the prophet Zenos--Allegory of the tame and wild olive-tree-- )
(Israel and the Gentiles. )
1. Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the
prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:
2. Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of
the Lord.
3. For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel,
like unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and nourished in his
vineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to decay.
4. And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and
he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune
it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth
young and tender branches, and it perish not.
5. And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and
nourished it according to his word.
6. And it came to pass that after many days it began to put forth
somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main
top thereof began to perish.
7. And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he
said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree;
wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild olive-tree, and bring
them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which
are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that
they may be burned.
8. And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these
young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will;
and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will
perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will
take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever
I will.
9. Take thou the branches of the wild olive-tree, and graft them in, in
the stead thereof; and these which I have plucked off I will cast into
the fire and burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my
vineyard.
10. And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the vineyard
did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard, and grafted
in the branches of the wild olive tree.
11. And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged
about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It
grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps
I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I
might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing.
12. Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according
to my words.
13. And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard,
whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it
that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree;
and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season, unto
myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and the
fruit thereof.
14. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and
hid the natural branches of the tame olive-tree in the nethermost
parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to
his will and pleasure.
15. And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of
the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into the
vineyard, that we may labor in the vineyard.
16. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the
servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it came to pass
that the servant said unto his master: Behold, look here; behold the
tree.
17. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard looked and beheld
the tree in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and
it had sprung forth and begun to bear fruit. And he beheld that it
was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit.
18. And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild
tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the
root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the
much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought
forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches,
the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall
lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and
the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
19. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the
servant: Come, let us go to the nethermost part of the vineyard,
and behold if the natural branches of the tree have not brought
forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit thereof
against the season, unto mine own self.
20. And it came to pass that they went forth whither the master had
hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the servant:
Behold these; and he beheld the first that it had brought forth much
fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And he said unto the
servant: Take of the fruit thereof and lay it up against the season,
that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for behold, said he, this
long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much fruit.
21. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How
comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree?
For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.
22. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew
that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I
have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath
brought forth much fruit.
23. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his
servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the
tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than
the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time,
and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it
up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self.
24. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto
his servant: Look hither, and behold another branch also, which
I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath
brought forth fruit.
25. And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last.
Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground and I have
nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath
brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath
brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree
like unto the others.
26. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the
servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good
fruit, and cast them into the fire.
27. But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig
about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring
forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the
season.
28. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant
of the Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the fruit of the vineyard.
29. And it came to pass that a long time had passed away, and the Lord
of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into
the vineyard, that we may labor again in the vineyard. For behold,
the time draweth near, and the end soon cometh; wherefore, I must
lay up fruit against the season, unto mine own self.
30. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant
went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural
branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted
in; and behold all sorts of fruit did cumber the tree.
31. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did taste of the
fruit, every sort according to its number. And the Lord of the
vineyard said: Behold, this long time have we nourished this tree,
and I have laid up unto myself against the season much fruit.
32. But behold, this time it hath brought forth much fruit, and there
is none of it which is good. And behold, there are all kinds of bad
fruit; and it profiteth me nothing, notwithstanding all our labor;
and now it grieveth me that I should lose this tree.
33. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: What shall we
do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit thereof unto
mine own self?
34. And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst
graft in the branches of the wild olive-tree they have nourished
the roots, that they are alive and they have not perished; wherefore
thou beholdest that they are yet good.
35. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his
servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof
profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit.
36. Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and for mine own
purpose I have preserved them; and because of their much strength
they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild branches, good fruit.
37. But behold, the wild branches have grown and have overrun the
roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome
the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit; and
because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou
beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become
ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do
something for it to preserve it.
38. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his
servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard,
and behold if the natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit.
39. And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts
of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit
of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and
the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt.
40. And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree
which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered
away and died.
41. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said
unto the servant: What could have done more for my vineyard?
42. Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were
these, had become corrupted. And now these which have once brought
forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now all the trees
of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be hewn down and
cast into the fire.
43. And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant
in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me
above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.
44. And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this
spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.
45. And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit,
and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked
not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they
have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away.
46. And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken
of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they
bring forth no good fruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to
have laid up fruit thereof against the season unto mine own self.
But, behold they have become like unto the wild olive-tree, and
they are of no worth but to be hewn down and cast into the fire;
and it grieveth me that I should lose them.
47. But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened
mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it,
and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged
it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long,
and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew
down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that
they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?
48. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it
not the loftiness of thy vineyard-- have not the branches thereof
overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have
overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength
of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not
this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?
49. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the
servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard
and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the
ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have
done more for my vineyard?
50. But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard:
Spare it a little longer.
51. And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it
grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.
52. Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these which I have
planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft
them into the tree from whence they came; and let us pluck from
the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in
the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof.
53. And this will I do that the tree may not perish, that, perhaps,
I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for mine own purpose.
54. And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I
planted whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may
preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches
of this tree, and I will graft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft
in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve
the roots also unto mine own self, that when they shall be sufficiently
strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet
have glory in the fruit of my vineyard.
55. And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had
become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees, which also had
become wild.
56. And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and
grafted into their mother tree.
57. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck not the
wild branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter;
and in them ye shall graft according to that which I have said.
58. And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will
trim up the branches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees
those branches which are ripened, that must perish, and cast them
into the fire.
59. And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength
because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches,
that the good may overcome the evil.
60. And because that I have preserved the natural branches and the
roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the natural branches
again into their mother tree, and have preserved the roots of
their mother tree, that, perhaps, the trees of my vineyard may
bring forth again good fruit; and that I may have joy again in
the fruit of my vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice
exceedingly that I have preserved the roots and the branches
of the first fruit
61. Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently
with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that
I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is
good and the most precious above all other fruit.
62. Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time,
for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time
that I shall prune my vineyard.
63. Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first,
and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old
and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that
all may be nourished once again for the last time.
64. Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once
more, for the last time for the end draweth nigh. And if it be
so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural
fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow.
65. And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which
bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good
and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof
all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the
graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees
of my vineyard.
66. For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard;
wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall
grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the
good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into
the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus
will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.
67. And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in again into
the natural tree;
68. And the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural
branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them together again,
that they shall bring forth the natural fruit, and they shall be one.
69. And the bad shall be cast away, yea, even out of all the land of
my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.
70. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant;
and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him and
brought other servants; and they were few.
71. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in
the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time
that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand,
and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might
with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto
myself against the time which will soon come.
72. And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their
mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and
they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
73. And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and
the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the
wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they
did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength
thereof.
74. And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments
of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out
of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees
had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body;
and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved
unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from
the beginning.
75. And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his
fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called
up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have
we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according
to my will; and I have is good, even like as it was in the beginning.
And blessed art thou for because ye have been diligent in laboring
with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought
unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted,
and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of
the fruit of my vineyard.
76. For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard
unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for
the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug
about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self
of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken.
77. And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my
vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered;
and the good will I preserve unto myself and the bad will I cast
away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end;
and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire.
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CHAPTER 7.
(Sherem, denying the Christ, demands a sign and is stricken--He confesses his )
(sins and dies--A reformation begins--Hatred of Lamanites for Nephites--Jacob )
(gives the plates to his son Enos. )
1. And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came
a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.
2. And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to
declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached
many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did
that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.
3. And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the
people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing
that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much
opportunity that he might come unto me.
4. And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language
of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power
of speech, according to the power of the devil.
5. And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many
revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these
things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me.
And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very
word, from time to time wherefore, I could not be shaken.
6. And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he
speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity
that I might speak unto you for I have heard and also know that thou
goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the
doctrine of Christ.
7. And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right
way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and
convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say
shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem
declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such
things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner
did Sherem contend against me.
8 . But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch
that I did confound him in all his words.
9. And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And
he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I
know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.
10. And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.
11. And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly
testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets
have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
12. And this is not all it has been made manifest unto me, for I have
heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the
power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no
atonement made all mankind must lost.
13. And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this
power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.
14. And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show
unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet
thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless,
not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a
sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth;
and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done,
and not mine.
15. And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the
power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth.
And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.
16. And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together
on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto
the people before I shall die.
17. And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered
together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which
he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the
Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.
18. And he spake plainly unto them that he had been deceived by the
power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of
eternal punishment.
19. And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin for
I have lied unto God; for denied the Christ, and said that I believed
the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have
thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful but I
confess unto God.
20. And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say
no more, and he gave up the ghost.
21. And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as
he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly;
insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were
overcome that they fell to the earth.
22. Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it
of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered
my prayer.
23. And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored
again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and
hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.
24. And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and
restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth, but it all
was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had
an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by
the power of their arms to destroy us continually.
25. Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their
arms, and with all their might trusting in the God and rock of their
salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.
26. And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record
of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore,
I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to
the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with
us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream,
we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from
Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our
brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn
out our days.
27. And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore,
I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the
things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised
obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing
upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the
reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read
my words. Brethren, adieu.
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