Alma Establishes Churches Inzarahemla

Event 67

Reference: Mosiah 25:1-24; 26:1-39

AND now king Mosiah caused that all the people should begathered together. 2 Now there were not so many of thechildren of Nephi, or so many of those who weredescendants of Nephi, as there were of the people ofZarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek, and those whocame with him into the wilderness. 3 And there were not somany of the people of Nephi and of the people ofZarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea, they werenot half so numerous. 4 And now all the people of Nephiwere assembled together, and also all the people ofZarahemla, and they were gathered together in two bodies.MormonLand ofZarahemla121 to 92 B.C.5 And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused to beread, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read therecords of the people of Zeniff, from the time they left theland of Zarahemla until they returned again. 6 And he alsoread the account of Alma and his brethren, and all theirafflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemlauntil the time they returned again. 7 And now, when Mosiahhad made an end of reading the records, his people whotarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement.8 For they knew not what to think; for when they beheldthose that had been delivered out of bondage they werefilled with exceedingly great joy. 9 And again, when theythought of their brethren who had been slain by theLamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shedmany tears of sorrow. 10 And again, when they thought ofthe immediate goodness of God, and his power indelivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of theLamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices andgive thanks to God. 11 And again, when they thought uponthe Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful andpolluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for thewelfare of their souls.12 And it came to pass that those who were the children ofAmulon and his brethren, who had taken to wife thedaughters of the Lamanites, were displeased with theconduct of their fathers, and they would no longer be calledby the names of their fathers, therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi, that they might be called thechildren of Nephi and be numbered among those who werecalled Nephites. 13 And now all the people of Zarahemlawere numbered with the Nephites, and this because thekingdom had been conferred upon none but those who weredescendants of Nephi.MormonLand ofZarahemla121 to 92 B.C.14 And now it came to pass that when Mosiah had made anend of speaking and reading to the people, he desired thatAlma should also speak to the people. 15 And Alma didspeak unto them, when they were assembled together inlarge bodies, and he went from one body to another,preaching unto the people repentance and faith on the Lord.16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren,all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that theyshould remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them.17 And it came to pass that after Alma had taught the peoplemany things, and had made an end of speaking to them, thatking Limhi was desirous that he might be baptized; and allhis people were desirous that they might be baptized also.18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and didbaptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner hedid his brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as manyas he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and thisbecause of their belief on the words of Alma.19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Almathat he might establish churches throughout all the land ofZarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests andteachers over every church. 20 Now this was done becausethere were so many people that they could not all begoverned by one teacher; neither could they all hear theword of God in one assembly; 21 Therefore they didassemble themselves together in different bodies, beingcalled churches; every church having their priests and theirteachers, and every priest preaching the word according asit was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. 22 And thus,notwithstanding there being many churches they were allone church, yea, even the church of God; for there wasnothing preached in all the churches except it wererepentance and faith in God. 23 And now there were sevenchurches in the land of Zarahemla.And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to takeupon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God; 24 And they were called the people ofGod. And the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them, andthey were blessed, and prospered in the land.MormonLand ofZarahemla121 to 92 B.C.1 NOW it came to pass that there were many of the risinggeneration that could not understand the words of kingBenjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto hispeople; and they did not believe the tradition of theirfathers. 2 They did not believe what had been saidconcerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did theybelieve concerning the coming of Christ. 3 And nowbecause of their unbelief they could not understand theword of God; and their hearts were hardened. 4 And theywould not be baptized; neither would they join the church.And they were a separate people as to their faith, andremained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state;for they would not call upon the Lord their God. 5 And nowin the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous asthe people of God; but because of the dissensions amongthe brethren they became more numerous.6 For it came to pass that they did deceive many with theirflattering words, who were in the church, and did causethem to commit many sins; therefore it became expedientthat those who committed sin, that were in the church,should be admonished by the church.7 And it came to pass that they were brought before thepriests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers;and the priests brought them before Alma, who was thehigh priest. 8 Now king Mosiah had given Alma theauthority over the church.9 And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerningthem; but there were many witnesses against them; yea, thepeople stood and testified of their iniquity in abundance. 10Now there had not any such thing happened before in thechurch; therefore Alma was troubled in his spirit, and hecaused that they should be brought before the king. 11 Andhe said unto the king:Behold, here are many whom we have brought before thee, whoare accused of their brethren; yea, and they have been taken indivers iniquities. And they do not repent of their iniquities;therefore we have brought them before thee, that thou mayestjudge them according to their crimes.Alma12 But king Mosiah said unto Alma:Mormon Behold, I judge them not; therefore I deliver them into thy handsto be judged.King MosiahLand ofZarahemla121 to 92 B.C.13 And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and hewent and inquired of the Lord what he should doconcerning this matter, for he feared that he should dowrong in the sight of God.Mormon14 And it came to pass that after he had poured out hiswhole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him,saying:15 Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptizedin the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thyexceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi. 16 Andblessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the wordsalone which thou hast spoken unto them. 17 And blessed art thoubecause thou hast established a church among this people; andthey shall be established, and they shall be my people. 18 Yea,blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in myname shall they be called; and they are mine. 19 And because thouhast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed.20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalthave eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name,and shalt gather together my sheep. 21 And he that will hear myvoice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church,and him will I also receive.The Lord22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall bebaptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shallbelieve in my name; and him will I freely forgive. 23 For it is I thattaketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath createdthem; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the enda place at my right hand. 24 For behold, in my name are theycalled; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have aplace eternally at my right hand.25 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shallsound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shallstand before me. 26 And then shall they know that I am the Lordtheir God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not beredeemed. 27 And then I will confess unto them that I never knewthem; and they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for thedevil and his angels. 28 Therefore I say unto you, that he that willnot hear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church,for him I will not receive at the last day.29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgressethagainst me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he hascommitted; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, andrepenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and Iwill forgive him also. 30 Yea, and as often as my people repentwill I forgive them their trespasses against me. 31 And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you,he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that herepents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation. 32Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sinsthe same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shallbe observed from this time forward.The LordLand ofZarahemla121 to 92 B.C.33 And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words hewrote them down that he might have them, and that hemight judge the people of that church according to thecommandments of God.Mormon34 And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those thathad been taken in iniquity, according to the word of theLord. 35 And whosoever repented of their sins and didconfess them, them he did number among the people of thechurch; 36 And those that would not confess their sins andrepent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered amongthe people of the church, and their names were blotted out.37 And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairsof the church; and they began again to have peace and toprosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walkingcircumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizingmany. 38 And now all these things did Alma and his fellowlaborers do who were over the church, walking in alldiligence, teaching the word of God in all things, sufferingall manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those whodid not belong to the church of God. 39 And they didadmonish their brethren; and they were also admonished,every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or tothe sins which he had committed, being commanded of Godto pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.