And now it came to pass, after some years had passed away, and there came a man among the people of Nefi whose name was Sherem. And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people and to declare unto them that there should be no Mashiach. And he preached many things which were flattering68 unto the people, and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Mashiach. And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts. And he knowing that I, Ya’akov, had faith in Mashiach, who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me. And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery and much power of speech, according to the power of HaSatan. And he had hope to shake me from the faith, despite the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels69 and they had ministered unto me. And also I had heard the voice of yhwh speaking unto me in very word from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
And it came to pass that he came unto me, and in this manner did he speak unto me, saying, Brother Ya’akov, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you, for I have heard and also know that you go about much, preaching that which you call the besorah or the doctrine of Mashiach. And you have led away much of this people, that they pervert the right way of Elohim, and keep not the Torah of Moshe, which is the right way, and convert the Torah of Moshe into the worship of a being who you say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knows of such things, for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me. But behold, Adonai yhwh poured his spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words. And I said unto him, Do you deny the Mashiach who shall come? And he said, If there should be a Mashiach, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Mashiach, neither has been, nor ever will be. And I said unto him, Do you believe the scriptures? And he said, Yes. And I said unto him, Then you do not understand them, for they truly testify of Mashiach.70 Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written nor prophesied, except they have spoken concerning this Mashiach. And this is not all. It has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen, and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost.
And it came to pass that he said unto me, Show me a sign by this power of the Ruach HaKodesh in the which you know so much.
And I said unto him, What am I that I should tempt Elohim to show unto you a sign in the thing which you know to be true? Yet you will deny it because you are of HaSatan. Nevertheless, not my will be done, but if Elohim shall smite you, let that be a sign unto you that he has power, both in Heaven and in earth, and also that Mashiach shall come. And your will, O yhwh, be done, and not mine.
And it came to pass that when I, Ya’akov, had spoken these words, the power of yhwh came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. And it came to pass that he said unto the people, Gather together tomorrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.
And it came to pass that the next day the multitude were gathered together. And he spoke plainly unto them, and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Mashiach, and the power of the Ruach HaKodesh, and the ministering of angels. And he spoke plainly unto them that he had been deceived by the power of HaSatan. And he spoke of Gehinnom, and of eternity, and of Eternal punishment. And he said, I fear that I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto Elohim; for I denied the Mashiach and said that I believed the scriptures, and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto Elohim, I greatly fear that my case shall be awful but I confess unto Elohim.
And it came to pass that when he had said these words, he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost. And when the multitude had witnessed that he spoke these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly, insomuch that the power of Elohim came down upon them and they were overcome, that they fell to the earth. Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Ya’akov, for I had requested it of my Father who was in Heaven, for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.
And it came to pass that shalom and the love of Elohim was restored again among the people, and they searched the scriptures71 and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man. And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth, but it all was vain; for they delighted in wars and bloodsheds, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brothers. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually; wherefore, the people of Nefi did fortify themselves against them with their arms and with all their might, trusting in the Elohim and the Rock of their salvation.72 Wherefore, they became as yet conquerors of their enemies.
And it came to pass that I, Ya’akov, began to be old. And the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nefi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away as if it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers cast out from Yerushalayim, born in tribulation in a wild wilderness, and hated of our brothers, which caused wars and contentions. Wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
And I, Ya’akov, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enosh, Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nefi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small. And to the reader I bid shalom, hoping that many of my brothers may read my words. Brothers, Shalom.