THE BOOK OF ALMA Chapter 3

    The words which Alma, the Kohen HaGadol according to the Holy Order of Elohim, delivered to the people in their cities and villages throughout the land.

  1. Now it came to pass that Alma began to declare the word of Elohim unto the people, first in the land of Zerach’mla, and from there throughout all the land. And these are the words which he spoke to the people in the assembly which were established in the city of Zerach’mla, according to his own record, saying, I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father Alma to be a Kohen HaGadol over the assembly of Elohim17 — he having power and s’mikhah from Elohim18 to do these things — behold, I say unto you that he began to establish an assembly19 in the land which was in the borders of Nefi — yes, the land was called the land of M’raman — yes, and he did immerse his brothers in the waters of M’raman. And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah by the mercy and power of Elohim. And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness. Yes, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again yhwh did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word.20 And we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the assembly of Elohim throughout this land also.
  2. And now behold, I say unto you, my brothers, you that belong to this assembly, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yes, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from She’ol?21 Behold, he changed their hearts; yes, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto Elohim.22 Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word. Yes, they were encircled about by the bands of death and the chains of She’ol, and an everlasting destruction did await them. And now I ask of you, my brothers, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, no, they were not. And again I ask, were the bands of death broken? And the chains of She’ol which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, yes, they were loosed. And their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved. And now I ask of you, on what conditions are they saved? Yes, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yes, and also the chains of She’ol? Behold, I can tell you. Did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Avinodi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of Elohim? And my father Alma believed them. And according to his faith, there was a mighty change worked in his heart. Behold, I say unto you that this is all true. And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also worked in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living Elohim. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore, they were saved.
  3. And now behold, I ask of you, my brothers of the assembly, have you spiritually been born of Elohim? Have you received his image in your own countenances? Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do you exercise faith in the redemption of he who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption? To stand before Elohim to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that you hear the voice of yhwh saying unto you in that day, Come unto me, you blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth — or do you imagine to yourselves that you can lie unto yhwh at that day and say, Adonai, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth — and that he will save you? Or otherwise, can you imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of Elohim with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yes, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yes, a remembrance that you have set at defiance the mitzvot of Elohim? I say unto you, can you look up to Elohim at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?23 I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of Elohim engraved upon your countenances? I say unto you, can you think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to HaSatan? I say unto you, you will know at that day that you cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white. Yes, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain through the blood of he of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
  4. And now I ask of you, my brothers, how will any of you feel if you shall stand before the bar of Elohim, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of uncleanness? Behold, what will these things testify against you? Behold, will they not testify that you are murderers? Yes, and also that you are guilty of all manner of wickedness? Behold, my brothers, do you suppose that such a person can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of Elohim with Avraham, with Yitz’chak, and with Ya’akov, and also all the holy prophets whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure, and white?24 I say unto you, no, except you make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning. You cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of Heaven, but he shall be cast out, for they are the children of the kingdom of HaSatan.
  5. And now behold, I say unto you, my brothers, if you have experienced a change of heart, and if you have felt to sing the song25 of redeeming love, I would ask, can you feel so now? Have you walked keeping yourselves blameless before Elohim? Could you say — if you were called to die at this time — within yourselves that you have been sufficiently humble, that your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Mashiach, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are you stripped of pride? I say unto you, if you are not, you are not prepared to meet Elohim.26 Behold, you must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand, and such a person does not have Eternal life. Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such a person is not prepared. And I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand; and he does not know when the time shall come, for such a person is not found guiltless.
  6. And again I say unto you, is there one among you that mocks his brother or that heaps upon him persecutions? Woe unto such a person, for he is not prepared; and the time is at hand that he must repent, or he cannot be saved. Yes, even woe unto all you workers of iniquity.27 Repent, repent, for Adonai yhwh has spoken it. Behold, he sends an invitation unto all men; for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he says, Repent and I will receive you. Yes, he says, Come unto me and you shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life;28 yes, you shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely. Yes, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and you shall not be cut down and cast into the fire.29 For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever does not bring forth good fruit, or whosoever does not the works of righteousness, the same shall have cause to wail and mourn.
  7. O you workers of iniquity, you that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, you that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness — nevertheless, you have gone astray as sheep having no shepherd, even though a shepherd has called after you, and is still calling after you, but you will not hearken unto his voice. Behold, I say unto you that the Good Shepherd does call you; yes, and in his own name30 he does call you, which is the name of Mashiach. And if you will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which you are called, behold, you are not the sheep of the good shepherd. And now if you are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are you? Behold, I say unto you that HaSatan is your shepherd, and you are of his fold. And now who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denies this is a liar and a child of HaSatan.
  8. For I say unto you that whatsoever is good comes from Elohim, and whatsoever is evil comes from HaSatan. Therefore, if a man bring forth good works, he hearkens unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he does follow him. But whosoever brings forth evil works, the same becomes a child of HaSatan, for he hearkens unto his voice and does follow him. And whosoever does this must receive his wages of him. Therefore, for his wages he receives death as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works. And now, my brothers, I would that you should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul. For behold, I have spoken unto you plainly, that you cannot err, or have spoken according to the mitzvot of Elohim. For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the Holy Order of Elohim, which is in the Mashiach, Yeshua. Yes, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people of the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. And this is not all; do you not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do you suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you, they are made known unto me by the holy Ruach Elohim. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things for myself. And now I do know for myself that they are true, for Adonai yhwh has made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.31 And moreover, I say unto you that as it has thus been revealed unto me that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Ruach Elohim, I say unto you that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you concerning that which is to come is true. And I say unto you that I know that Yeshua HaMashiach shall come, yes, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that comes to take away the sins of the world, yes, the sins of every man who steadfastly believes on his name.
  9. And now I say unto you that this is the Order after which I am called, yes, to preach unto my beloved brothers, yes, and everyone that dwells in the land — yes, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free, yes, I say unto you, the aged, and also the middle-aged, and the rising generation — yes, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.32 Yes, thus says the spirit: Repent, all you ends of the earth, for the kingdom of Heaven is soon at hand. Yes, the Son of Elohim comes in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yes, my beloved brothers, I say unto you that the spirit says, Behold, the glory of the King of all the earth33 and also the King of Heaven34 shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. And also the spirit says unto me, yes, cries unto me with a mighty voice, saying, Go forth and say unto this people, Repent, for except you repent, you can in no way inherit the kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, the spirit says, Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore, every tree that brings not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire,35 yes, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, HaKodesh has spoken it.
  10. And now, my beloved brothers, I say unto you, can you withstand these sayings? Yes, can you lay aside these things and trample HaKodesh under your feet? Yes, can you be puffed up in the pride of your hearts? Yes, will you still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world? Upon your riches?36 Yes, will you persist in supposing that you are better one than another? Yes, will you persist in the persecutions of your brothers who humble themselves and do walk after the Holy Order of Elohim37 with which they have been brought into this assembly, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit? And they do bring forth works showing repentance. Yes, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor and the needy? And in withholding your substance from them? And finally, all you that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be cut down and cast into the fire, except they speedily repent.
  11. And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come out from among the wicked and be separate, and touch not their unclean things. And behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of Elohim may be fulfilled which says, The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people, for the names of the righteous shall be written in the Book of Life,38 and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brothers, what have you to say against this? I say unto you, if you speak against it, it matters not, for the word of Elohim must be fulfilled. For what shepherd is there among you, having many sheep, does not watch over them that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock, does he not drive him out? Yes, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. And now I say unto you that the good shepherd does call after you. And if you will hearken unto his voice, he will bring you into his fold and you are his sheep. And he commands you that you allow no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that you may not be destroyed.
  12. And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of he who has commanded me that you observe to do the words which I have spoken unto you. I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the assembly. And unto those who do not belong to the assembly, I speak by way of invitation, saying, Come and be immersed unto repentance, that you also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.