ספר יהרם

    YAHRAM

    THE BOOK OF YAHRAM

  1. Now behold, I, Yahram, write a few words according to the commandment of my father Enosh, that our genealogy1 may be kept. And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit2 of our brothers, the Lamanites; wherefore, it must necessarily be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation?3 I say unto you, yes, and this suffices me.
  2. Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks. Nevertheless, Elohim is exceedingly merciful4 unto them, and has not, as yet, swept them off from the face of the land. And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked, and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which makes manifest unto the children of men according to their faith.
  3. And now behold, two hundred years had passed away and the people of Nefi had grown strong in the land. They observed to keep the Torah of Moshe,5 and the Shabbat holy unto yhwh, and they profaned not, neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict. And they were scattered upon much of the face of the land, and the Lamanites also. And they were exceedingly more numerous than were they of the Nefites, and they loved murder and would drink the blood of beasts.6
  4. And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nefites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of yhwh, and they taught the people the ways of yhwh. Wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance. And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron, and copper, and brass, and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war — yes, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war. And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of yhwh was verified which he spoke unto our fathers, saying that inasmuch as you will keep my mitzvot, you shall prosper in the land.7
  5. And it came to pass that the prophets of yhwh did threaten the people of Nefi, according to the word of Elohim, that if they did not keep the mitzvot, but should fall into transgression, they should be destroyed from off the face of the land. Therefore, the prophets, and the kohanim, and the teachers did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence, teaching the Torah of Moshe and the intent for which it was given, persuading them to look forward unto the Mashiach8 and believe in him to come, as though he already was.9 And after this manner did they teach them. And it came to pass that by so doing, they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring10 them up unto repentance.
  6. And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years11 had passed away, after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the time. And I, Yahram, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my brothers, you can go to the other plates of Nefi; for behold, upon them the record of our wars are engraved according to the writings of the kings, or that which they cause to be written. And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Ameni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.