- Behold, my beloved brothers, seeing that I have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in my language, yes, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been wholly confined to the judgment seat, having had much business, that I could not come unto you. And even I could not have come now at this time, were it not that the judgment seat has been given to another to reign in my place. And yhwh, in much mercy, has granted that I should come unto you; and behold, I have come, having great hopes and much desire that I should find that you had humbled yourselves before Elohim, and that you had continued in supplicating for his grace, that I should find that you were blameless before him, that I should find that you were not in the awful dilemma that our brothers were in at Zerach’mla. But blessed be the name of Elohim, that he has given unto me to know, yes, has given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness. And I trust according to the Ruach Elohim which is in me that I shall also have joy over you.
- Nevertheless, I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much affliction and sorrow as I have had for the brothers at Zerach’mla. For behold, my joy over them comes after wading through much affliction and sorrow. But behold, I trust that you are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brothers. I trust that you are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts. Yes, I trust that you have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world. Yes, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that you do worship the true and the living Elohim, and that you look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
- For behold, I say unto you, there are many things to come. And behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all, for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer lives and comes among his people. Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the spirit has not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that Adonai yhwh has power to do all things which are according to his word. But behold, the spirit has said this much unto me, saying, Cry unto this people, saying, Repent, repent, and prepare the way of yhwh, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and the Son of Elohim comes upon the face of the earth. And behold, he shall be born of Miryam at Yerushalayim,39 which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh and bring forth a son, yes, even the Son of Elohim. And he shall go forth suffering pains, and afflictions, and temptations of every kind, and this that the word might be fulfilled which says, He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses40 of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people. And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to deliver his people according to their infirmities. Now the spirit knows all things; nevertheless, the Son of Elohim suffers according to the flesh, that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions41 according to the power of his deliverance. And now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
- Now I say unto you that you must repent and be born again, for the spirit says, If you are not born again, you cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, come and be immersed unto repentance, that you may be washed from your sins, that you may have faith on the Lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save42 and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Yes, I say unto you, come, and fear not, and lay aside every sin which easily does entangle you, which does bind you down to destruction. Yes, come, and go forth, and show unto your Elohim that you are willing to repent of your sins, and enter into a covenant43 with him to keep his mitzvot,44 and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of immersion.45 And whosoever does this, and keeps the mitzvot of Elohim from that time forward, the same will remember that I say unto him, yes, he will remember that I have said unto him, He shall have Eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit which testifies in me.
- And now, my beloved brothers, do you believe these things? Behold, I say unto you, yes, I know that you believe them. And the way that I know that you believe them is by the manifestation of the spirit which is in me. And now because your faith is strong concerning that, yes, concerning the things which I have spoken, great is my joy. For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that you were not in the state of dilemma like your brothers, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified. For I perceive that you are in the paths of righteousness.46 I perceive that you are in the path which leads to the kingdom of Elohim. Yes, I perceive that you are making his paths straight. I perceive that it has been made known unto you by the testimony of his word that he cannot walk in crooked paths, neither does he vary from that which he has said, neither has he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong. Therefore, his course is one eternal round.47 And he does not dwell in unholy temples, neither can impurity or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of Elohim. Therefore, I say unto you, the time shall come, yes, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is unclean shall remain in his impurity.
- And now, my beloved brothers, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to Elohim, that you may walk blameless before him, that you may walk after the Holy Order of Elohim after which you have been received. And now I would that you should be humble, and be submissive and gentle, easy to be entreated, full of patience and long-suffering, being temperate in all things, being diligent in keeping the mitzvot of Elohim at all times, asking for whatsoever things you stand in need, both spiritual and temporal, always returning thanks unto Elohim for whatsoever things you do receive. And see that you have faith, hope, and charity,48 and then you will always abound in good works. And may yhwh bless you and keep your garments spotless, that you may, at last, be brought to sit down with Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov, and the holy prophets49 who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of Heaven, to go no more out.
- And now, my beloved brothers, I have spoken these words unto you according to the spirit which testifies in me. And my soul does exceedingly rejoice because of the great diligence and heed which you have given unto my word. And now, may the shalom of Elohim rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and for ever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
THE BOOK OF ALMA Chapter 5
The words of Alma which he delivered to the people in Gideon, according to his own record.