Sherem Attempts to Lead People Astray

Event 37

Reference: Jacob 7:1-27

AND now it came to pass after some years had passed away,there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose namewas Sherem.JacobLand of Nephi545 to 422 B.C.2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among thepeople, and to declare unto them that there should be noChrist. And he preached many things which were flatteringunto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow thedoctrine of Christ. 3 And he labored diligently that he mightlead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he didlead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, hadfaith in Christ who should come, he sought muchopportunity that he might come unto me. 4 And he waslearned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language ofthe people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, andmuch 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 thingswhich I had seen concerning these things; for I truly hadseen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, Ihad heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in veryword, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on thiswise did he speak unto me, saying:Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speakunto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest aboutmuch, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine ofChrist. 7 And ye have led away much of this people that theypervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses whichis the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship ofa being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. Andnow behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy;for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things tocome.SheremAnd after this manner did Sherem contend against me. 8 Butbehold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul,insomuch that I did confound him in all his words. 9 And Isaid unto him:JacobDeniest thou the Christ who shall come?And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know thatthere is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.SheremLand of Nephi545 to 422 B.C.10 And I said unto him:JacobBelievest thou the scriptures?And he said,Yea.Sherem11 And I said unto him:JacobThen ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ.Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, norprophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. 12 Andthis is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I haveheard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by thepower of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be noatonement made all mankind must be 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 yeknow so much.Sherem14 And I said unto him:JacobWhat am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in thething 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 haspower, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shallcome. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken thesewords, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuchthat he fell to the earth.And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space ofmany days.16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people:Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desireto speak unto the people before I shall die.Sherem17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitudewere gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them anddenied the things which he had taught them, and confessedthe Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and theministering of angels. 18 And he spake plainly unto them,Jacob that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And hespake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment. 19And he said:JacobLand of Nephi545 to 422 B.C.I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have liedunto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed thescriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thuslied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but Iconfess unto God.Sherem20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words hecould say no more, and he gave up the ghost. 21 And whenthe multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as hewas about to give up the ghost, they were astonishedexceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came downupon them, and they were overcome that they fell to theearth. 22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for Ihad requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for hehad heard my cry and answered my prayer.Jacob23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God wasrestored again among the people; and they searched thescriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of thiswicked man.24 And it came to pass that many means were devised toreclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of thetruth; but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars andbloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us, theirbrethren. And they sought by the power of their arms todestroy us continually. 25 Wherefore, the people of Nephidid fortify against them with their arms, and with all theirmight, 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 therecord of this people being kept on the other plates ofNephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that Ihave written according to the best of my knowledge, bysaying that the time passed away with us, and also our livespassed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being alonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out fromJerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated ofour brethren, which caused wars and contentions;wherefore, we did mourn out our days. 27 And I, Jacob, sawthat I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I saidunto my son Enos: Take these plates.JacobLand of Nephi545 to 422 B.C.And I told him the things which my brother Nephi hadcommanded me, and he promised obedience unto thecommands. And I make an end of my writing upon theseplates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bidfarewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read mywords. Brethren, adieu.