Thousands Baptized Unto Repentance

Event 132

Reference: Hel. 3:19-36

And it came to pass that there was still great contention inthe land, yea, even in the forty and seventh year, and also inthe forty and eighth year. 20 Nevertheless Helaman did fillthe judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he didobserve to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and thecommandments of God; and he did do that which was rightin the sight of God continually; and he did walk after theways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.MormonLand ofZarahemla45 to 44 B.C.21 And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave untothe eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, thename of Lehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord.22 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions beganto cease, in a small degree, among the people of theNephites, in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of thereign of the judges over the people of Nephi.23 And it came to pass in the forty and ninth year of thereign of the judges, there was continual peace established inthe land, all save it were the secret combinations whichGadianton the robber had established in the more settledparts of the land, which at that time were not known untothose who were at the head of government; therefore theywere not destroyed out of the land.43 to 42 B.C.24 And it came to pass that in this same year there wasexceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch thatthere were thousands who did join themselves unto thechurch and were baptized unto repentance. 25 And so greatwas the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessingswhich were poured out upon the people, that even the highpriests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyondmeasure.26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosperunto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, manysouls, yea, even tens of thousands. 27 Thus we may see thatthe Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity oftheir hearts, call upon his holy name. 28 Yea, thus we seethat the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those whowill believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son ofGod. 29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shalldivide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wilesof the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait andnarrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery whichis prepared to engulf the wicked— 30 And land their souls,yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in thekingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no moreout. 31 And in this year there was continual rejoicing in theland of Zarahemla, and in all the regions round about, evenin all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.MormonLand ofZarahemla43 to 42 B.C.32 And it came to pass that there was peace and exceedinglygreat joy in the remainder of the forty and ninth year; yea,and also there was continual peace and great joy in thefiftieth year of the reign of the judges.33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judgesthere was peace also, save it were the pride which began toenter into the church—not into the church of God, but intothe hearts of the people who professed to belong to thechurch of God— 34 And they were lifted up in pride, evento the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was agreat evil, which did cause the more humble part of thepeople to suffer great persecutions, and to wade throughmuch affliction. 35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft,and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, andfirmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling theirsouls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifyingand the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctificationcometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.41 to 40 B.C.36 And it came to pass that the fifty and second year endedin peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pridewhich had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it wasbecause of their exceedingly great riches and theirprosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from dayto day.