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Show I32 BOOK OF have been commanded of my MORMON. father. BOOK And southward, ¢ were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed; and my father also was killed by them; and |, even I remaineth alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, andI fulfil the commandment of my father: And whether they will slay me, { know not; therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth: and ther hath made thereof. And behold, I would write if’also, if T had room up- on the plates; alone: ; folks, my and whither I go it mattereth this record, but | have not; father hath been not I have friends not. Behold, my fa- and_ he hath written the intent and ore I have none, for Lam slain in battle, and all my kinsTr fo nor whi £0 5 and how long that the Lord will suffer that I may live, I know not. Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of out Lord and Saviour. And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city, a a place to place, even until they are no more; and great on been their fall; yea, great and marvellous is the destruction And behold, it is the hand ot of my people, the Nephites. the Lord which hath done it. ites are at war one And with another; behold and also, the Lamat- the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no And now behold, I say n¢ one knoweth the end of the war. more concerning them, for there are none, save it be Lamate g», ites and robbers, that do exist upon the face of the land of are none that do know the true God, save it be the os @. there , : . i ia a 131 the wickec_ ciples of Jesus, which did tarry in the land until the wick’ would es Lord the “ ness of the people syere so great, that ve whether. ’ suffer them to remain with the people; and ene Bay knoweth. man no = upon the face of the land, : * father and I have seen them, and they have popistete us. “And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not age it because of the imperfections which are in it, the re in mow of greater things”than these. Behold, I am - aah ‘and were it possible, I would make all things known . ic Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this pe ta e am the son of Mormon, and my father was a es Salk Nephi; and I am the same which hideth up this oe af the the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, gr no one For he truly saith, That commandment of the Lord. MORMON. O30 shall have them to get gain; b -record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to Tight, him will the Cord now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Camorah, behold, the Nephites which had escaped into the country OF bless. For none can have power to bring it to Tight, save it be given him of God: for God will that it shall be done with an eye singled to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord. And blessed be hum that shall bring this thing to light: for it shall be brought: out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God: yea, itshall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people ; and it shall be done by the power of God :/and if there be faults, S . <they be the faults of a man... But behold, we know no fault. Nevertheless, God knoweth all things; therefore he that con~ Ke demneth, let him be aware lest he shall be in danger of hell“Z fire. And be that sayeth, Shew unto me, or ye shall be smit,4 ten, let him beware lest he commanthat det h which is forbid. den of the Lord. For behold, the same that judgeth rashly, shall be judged rashly again: for according to his works shall his wages be ; therefore, he that smiteth, shall be smitten again of the Lord. Behold what the Scripture saith: Man shall lot smite, neither shall he judge : for judgement is mine, saith the Lord; and vengeance is mine also, and [I will repay. And ~In that shall breathe out wrath and strifes against the work of he Lord, and against the covenant people of the Lord, which Ss the house of Israel, and shall {] Work of the Lord, > and theL d say, We will destroy ee : ord will will n not rememberot hin his cove~ cove ee € hath made unto the house of Israel, the same nger to be hewn down and cast into the fire: for the ‘eral3 purposes of the Lord tay be fulfilled. ~shall roll on, unt unti i l all his Search the prophecies of aaah = He ‘Cannot write them. Yea, behold I say unto you, That gone before me, which have possessed ind y were in the behalf of he weth their faith: for in mn as Mokno his name could they untains ; and inin hishi ren cause the earth a ake; and | by the power o aid the "S10 tumble to the ear th: yea, even th e*fier y cause prislotsinhar y furnace could i, Mm them ‘; neither wil: d bea sts, nor poisonous Vere al f the power of his word. And behold, their omitt g ®in behalf of him that the Lord Should suffer to ~ |