THE BOOK OF M’RONI Chapter 9

    The second letter of M’raman to his son M’roni

  1. My beloved son, I write unto you again, that you may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat that which is grievous. For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites in the which we did not conquer. And Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram, and Emron; yes, and we have lost a great number of our choice men. And now behold, my son, I fear that the Lamanites shall destroy this people, for they do not repent. And HaSatan stirs them up continually to anger46 one with another. Behold, I am laboring with them continually. And when I speak the word of Elohim with sharpness, they tremble and anger against me. And when I use no sharpness, they harden their hearts against it. Wherefore, I fear that the spirit of yhwh has ceased striving with them. For so exceedingly do they anger, that it seems to me that they have no fear of death. And they have lost their love one towards another, and they thirst after blood and revenge continually. And now, my beloved son, despite their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation. For we have a labor47 to perform while in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer48 the enemy of all righteousness and rest our souls in the kingdom of Elohim.
  2. And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners which they took from the tower of Sherrizah, and there were men, women, and children. And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers. And no water, except a little, do they give unto them. And despite this great abomination of the Lamanites, it does not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue, and after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death. And after they have done this, they devour their flesh like wild beasts because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery. O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization — and only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightful people — but O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination, how can we expect that Elohim will stay his hand in judgment against us? Behold, my heart cries, Woe unto this people. Come out in judgment, O Elohim, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before your face.
  3. And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah. And that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenefi has carried away, and left them to wander wherever they can for food. And many old women do faint by the way and die. And the army which is with me is weak. And the armies of the Lamanites are between Sherrizah and me. And as many as have fled to the army of Aharon have fallen victims to their awful brutality. Oh the depravity of my people; they are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands. And they have become strong in their perversion, and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young. And they delight in everything except that which is good. And the sufferings of our women and our children upon all the face of this land do exceed everything. Yes, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
  4. And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, you know the wickedness of this people. You know that they are without principle and past feeling, and their wickedness does exceed that of the Lamanites. Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto Elohim for fear that he should smite me. But behold, my son, I recommend you unto Elohim. And I trust in Mashiach that you will be saved. And I pray unto Elohim that he would spare your life, to witness the return of his people unto him or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him. And if they perish, it will be like unto the Yeredites, because of the willfulness49 of their hearts seeking for blood and revenge. And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brothers have dissented over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also dissent over unto them. Wherefore, write somewhat a few things if you are spared and I should perish and not see you. But I trust that I may see you soon, for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto you.
  5. My son, be faithful50 in Mashiach. And may not the things which I have written grieve you, to weigh you down unto death; but may Mashiach lift you up. And may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of Eternal life rest in your mind for ever. And may the grace of Elohim the Father, whose throne is high in the Heavens, and our Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, who sits on the right hand51 of his power until all things shall become subject unto him, be and abide with you for ever. Amen.