THE BOOK OF ALMA Chapter 17

    The commandments of Alma to his son Cheleman.

  1. My son, give ear to my words, for I swear unto you that inasmuch as you shall keep the mitzvot of Elohim, you shall prosper in the land. I would that you should do as I have done in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage and none could deliver them, except it were the Elohim of Avraham, and the Elohim of Yitz’chak, and the Elohim of Ya’akov. And he surely did deliver them in their afflictions. And now, O my son Cheleman, behold, you are in your youth, and therefore I implore you that you will hear my words and learn of me. For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in Elohim shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. And I would not that you think that I know of myself — not of the temporal, but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind, but of Elohim.
  2. Now behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of Elohim, I should not have known these things. But Elohim has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me — not of any worthiness of myself, for I went about with the sons of Moshiyah seeking to destroy the assembly of Elohim; but behold, Elohim sent his holy angel to stop us by the way. And behold, he spoke unto us as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet, and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of yhwh came upon us. But behold, the voice said unto me, Arise. And I arose, and stood up and beheld the angel. And he said unto me, If you will of yourself, be destroyed; seek no more to destroy the assembly of Elohim.
  3. And it came to pass that I fell to the earth. And it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs. And the angel spoke more things unto me which were heard by my brothers, but I did not hear them, for when I heard the words — If you will, be destroyed of yourself; seek no more to destroy the assembly of Elohim — I was struck with such great fear and amazement, that perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more. But I was racked with Eternal torment, for my soul was torn up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. Yes, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of She’ol. Yes, I saw that I had rebelled against my Elohim and that I had not kept his holy mitzvot. Yes, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction. Yes, and in short, so great had been my iniquities that the very thought of coming into the presence of my Elohim did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct, both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my Elohim to be judged of my deeds. And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
  4. And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was tormented by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Yeshua HaMashiach, a Son of Elohim, to atone for the sins of the world. Now as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart, O Yeshua, you Son of Elohim, have mercy on me, who is in the gall of bitterness and is encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yes, I was tormented by the memory of my sins no more.172 And oh, what joy and what marvelous light I did behold! Yes, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as were my pains. Yes, I say unto you, my son, that there can be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains.
  5. Yes, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. Yes, and it seemed to me that I saw, even as our father Lechi saw, Elohim sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their Elohim; yes, and my soul did long to be there.173 But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of Elohim. Yes, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance, that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste, that they might also be born of Elohim and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.
  6. Yes, and now behold, O my son, yhwh does give me exceedingly great joy in the fruits of my labors. For because of the word which he has made known unto me, behold, many have been born of Elohim, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen.174 Therefore, they do know of these things of which I have spoken as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of Elohim. And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yes, and in all manner of afflictions. Yes, Elohim has delivered me from prisons, and from bonds, and from death. Yes, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me. And I know that he will raise me up at the last day to dwell with him in glory. Yes, and I will praise him for ever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea, and he led them by his power into the promised land. Yes, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time. Yes, and he has also brought our fathers out of the land of Yerushalayim. And he has also, by his everlasting power, delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time, even down to the present day. And I have always retained in remembrance their captivity; yes, and you also ought to retain in remembrance, as I have done, their captivity. But behold, my son, this is not all, for you ought to know as I do know that inasmuch as you shall keep the mitzvot of Elohim, you shall prosper in the land. And you ought to know also that inasmuch as you will not keep the mitzvot of Elohim, you shall be cut off from his presence.175 Now this is according to his word.
  7. And now, my son Cheleman, I command you that you take the records which have been entrusted with me. And I also command you that you keep a record of this people according as I have done, upon the plates of Nefi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them — for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept — and these plates of brass which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning. And behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of yhwh until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon. And now behold, if they are kept, they must retain their brightness, yes, and they will retain their brightness, yes, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.
  8. Now you may suppose that this is foolishness in me, but behold, I say unto you that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass, and small means in many instances do confound the wise. And Adonai yhwh does work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes, and by very small means yhwh does confound the wise and brings about the salvation of many souls. And now, it has previously been wisdom in Elohim that these things should be preserved. For behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yes, and convinced many of the error of their ways and brought them to the knowledge of their Elohim, unto the salvation of their souls. Yes, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brothers could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers. Yes, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of yhwh their Elohim, and to rejoice in Yeshua HaMashiach their Redeemer. And who knows but that they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yes, and also many thousands of our stiffnecked brothers the Nefites, who are now hardening their hearts in sins and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me, therefore I shall refrain. And it may suffice if I say only they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto Elohim; for he does counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
  9. Oh remember, remember, my son Cheleman, how strict are the mitzvot of Elohim. And he said, If you will keep my mitzvot, you shall prosper in the land, but if you keep not his mitzvot, you shall be cut off from his presence.176 And now remember, my son, that Elohim has entrusted you with these things which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.
  10. And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy that if you transgress the mitzvot of Elohim, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of Elohim, and you shall be delivered up unto HaSatan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind. But if you keep the mitzvot of Elohim, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which yhwh does command you — for you must appeal unto yhwh for all things whatsoever you must do with them — behold, no power of earth or She’ol can take them from you, for Elohim is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words. For he will fulfill all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promise which he has made unto our fathers. For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.177
  11. And now behold, one purpose has he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth. And he has shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore, they shall be preserved. Therefore, I command you, my son Cheleman, that you be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that you be diligent in keeping the mitzvot of Elohim as they are written.
  12. And now I will speak unto you concerning those twenty-four plates,178 that you keep them — that the mysteries, and the works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto this people; yes, all their murders and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations may be made manifest unto this people — yes, and that you preserve these directors. For behold, yhwh saw that his people began to work in darkness, yes, work secret murders and abominations. Therefore, yhwh said if they did not repent, they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth. And yhwh said, I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem179 a stone which shall shine forth in darkness unto light,180 that I may uncover unto my people who serve me, that I may uncover unto them the works of their brothers — yes, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations. And now, my son, these directors were prepared that the word of Elohim might be fulfilled which he spoke, saying, I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations, and except they repent, I will destroy them from off the face of the earth. And I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations unto every nation which shall hereafter possess the land. And now, my son, we see that they did not repent. Therefore, they have been destroyed, and thus far the word of Elohim has been fulfilled. Yes, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known unto us.
  13. And now, my son, I command you that you retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations, yes, and all their signs and their wonders you shall retain from this people, that they know them not, lest perhaps they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed. For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of Elohim, when they are fully ripe; therefore, I desire that this people might not be destroyed. Therefore, you shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness, and their murders, and their abominations shall you make known unto them. And you shall teach them to abhor such wickedness, and abominations, and murders, and you shall also teach them that those people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations, and their murders. For behold, they murdered all the prophets of yhwh who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto yhwh their Elohim for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of Elohim did come upon those workers of darkness and secret conspiracies. Yes, and cursed be the land for ever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret conspiracies, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe.
  14. And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you. Trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity. Preach unto them repentance and faith on Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. Teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and humble in heart. Teach them to withstand every temptation of HaSatan with their faith on Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and humble in heart, for such shall find rest to their souls. Oh remember, my son, and learn wisdom in your youth; yes, learn in your youth to keep the mitzvot of Elohim. Yes, and cry unto Elohim for all your support. Yes, let all your doings be unto yhwh, and wherever you go, let it be in yhwh. Yes, let all your thoughts be directed unto yhwh. Yes, let the affections of your heart be placed upon yhwh for ever. Counsel with yhwh in all your doings and he will direct you for good. Yes, when you lie down at night, lie down unto yhwh, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when you rise in the morning, let your heart be full of thanks unto Elohim. And if you always do these things, you shall be lifted up at the last day.
  15. And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball or director, or our fathers called it Liahona,181 which is (being interpreted) a compass;182 and yhwh prepared it.183 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of such elegant workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness; and it did work for them according to their faith in Elohim. Therefore, if they had faith to believe that Elohim could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done. Therefore, they had this miracle, and also many other miracles, worked by the power of Elohim, day by day. Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means, it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence, and then those marvelous works ceased and they did not progress in their journey. Therefore, they remained in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst because of their transgression.184
  16. And now, my son, I would that you should understand that these things are not without a shadow. For as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal), they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual. For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Mashiach, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, so shall the words of Mashiach, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
  17. O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way, for so was it with our fathers. For so was it prepared for them, that if they would look, they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look, we may live for ever. And now, my son, see that you take care of these sacred things, yes, see that you look to Elohim and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, shalom.