Imibhalo Lengcwele
Joseph Smith—Umlandvo 1

Joseph Smith—Umlandvo

Tincenye letitsetfwe emlandvweni waJoseph Smith, Umphrofethi

Sehluko 1

Joseph Smith ukhuluma ngabokhokho bakhe, emalunga emndeni, nalapho bacala kuhlala khona—Umdlandla longakajwayeleki ngenkholo uyabusa enshonalanga yaseNew York—Uhlosa kufuna kuhlakanipha njengekuyalwa nguJakobe—Babe neNdvodzana bayavela, futsi Joseph ubitelwa ebufundisini bakhe bebuphrofethi. (Emavesi 1—20.)

1 Ngenca yemibiko leminingi lebeseyandziswe bantfu labahlose nalabahlela lokubi, ngalokuphatselene nekuvela nekukhula kweLiBandla laJesu Khristu lalabaNgcwele beTinsuku Tekugcina, yonkhe lebeyihlelwe babhali bayo kutsi baphikisane nekwatiwa kweliBandla nekukhula kwalo emhlabeni—Ngikhutsatekile kutsi ngibhale lomlandvo, kute ngilungise imicabango yebantfu, ngiphindze ngibanike emaciniso, njengoba entekile, ngalokuphatselene nami nangeliBandla, kangangoba nginawo lawo maciniso.

2 Kulomlandvo ngitawukwetfula tehlakalo letehlukene ngalokuphatselene naleliBandla, ngeliciniso nangekulunga, njengoba tentekile, noma njengoba tinjalo manje, [nga 1838] emnyakeni wesiphohlongo kusukela ekumisweni kwaleliBandla.

3 Ngatalwa emnyakeni weNkhosi yetfu wenkhulungwane nemakhulu layimfica nesihlanu, ngelilanga lemashumi lamabili nakutsatfu kuNgongoni, edolobheni laseSharon, esifundzeni saseWindsor, eveni laseVermont…. Babe, Joseph Smith, loMdzala, wasishiya Sifundza saseVermont, waya ePalmyra, endzaweni yase-Ontario (manje leseyibitwa ngekutsi yiWayne), esifundzeni saseNew York, ngesikhatsi ngineminyaka lelishumi, noma lengalinganiselwa kuleyo. Cishe eminyakeni lemine afikile babe ePalmyra, wahamba nemndeni wakhe waya eManchester kuyo leyo ndzawo yase-Ontario—

4 Umndeni wakhe bewufaka ekhatsi bantfu labalishumi nakunye, lokungulaba, babe, Joseph Smith; make, Lucy Smith (sibongo sakhe, ngaphambi kwekushada, abekawaka Mack, indvodzakati yaSolomon Mack); bomnaketfu, Alvin (lowashona ngeLweti 19, 1823, aneminyaka lengemashumi lamabili nesitfupha budzala), Hyrum, kube ngimi, Samuel Harrison, William, Don Carlos; nabodzadzewetfu, boSophronia, Catherine, naLucy.

5 Ngesikhatsi lesitsite ngemnyaka wesibili emvakwekufika kwetfu eManchester, lapho besihlala khona bekukhona umdlandla longakajwayeleki ngendzaba yenkholo. Kwacala ngemaWeseli, kodvwa masinyane kwaba ngulokujwayelekile emkhatsini wato tonkhe tinkholo kuleso sifundza selive. Ngempela, indzawo yonkhe yelive yabukeka itsintsekile ngako, neticumbi letinkhulu tebantfu tatihlanganisa nemabandla lehlukene etenkholo, lebekabanga kuphatamiseka lokukhulu nekuhlukana emkhatsini webantfu, labanye bamemeta batsi, “Nayi, lana inkholo leliciniso!” labanye, “Nayiya, lapha inkholo leliciniso!” Labanye bebakhulumela inkholo yemaWeseli, labanye bakhulumela yemaPhresbhitheri, futsi labanye bakhulumela yebaBhabhatisi.

6 Noma lwalulukhulu lutsandvo lobelutjengiswa ngemakholwa akuleti tinkholo letehlukene ngesikhatsi sekuphendvuka kwawo, nemdlandla lomkhulu lobewuvetwa bafundisi labehlukene, labebakhutsele baphindze bagcugcutela lesi simo lesingakajwayeleki semizwa yenkholo, kute wonkhe umuntfu aphendvuke, njengoba bebatsandza kukubita kanjalo, noma bebatihlanganisa nanoma nguyiphi inkholo lebebayitsandza; kodvwa ngesikhatsi emakholwa sekahlubuka, lamanye aya kulelinye libandla nalamanye aya kulelinye, bekubonakala kutsi imizwa yebaphristi neyemakholwa lebeyibonakala shangatsi beyimihle beyiyekutentisa kuneyangempela; ngoba kwalandzela incushuncushu lenkhulu nemizwa lemibi—umphristi abanga nemphristi, nalophendvukile amelene nalomunye lophendvukile; kangangoba yonkhe imizwa yabo lemihle yalomunye kulomunye, uma bebanayo, beyiphelela kuko kulwa ngemavi nembango ngemibono.

7 Ngalesi sikhatsi besengineminyaka lelishumi nesihlanu budzala. Umndeni wababe wagucukela enkholweni yemaPhresbhitheri, labane babo batihlanganisa nalelobandla, lokufaka ekhatsi make, Lucy; bomnaketfu Hyrum naSamuel Harrison; nadzadzewetfu Sophronia.

8 Ngalesi sikhatsi semdlandla lomkhulu ingcondvo yami yaba nekucabanga lokujulile nalokukhulu kungakhululeki; kodvwa noma imizwa yami beyijulile, ngachubeka nekutigcina ngehlukene nawo onkhe lamabandla, noma ngangihlanganyela nawo ngekuvunyelwa simo. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ingcondvo yami yaba nekutsandza kancane inkholo yemaWeseli, ngaphindze ngeva nginekutsandza kutsi ngitihlanganise nabo; kodvwa beyiyinkhulu incushuncushu nemibango emkhatsini wemabandla lahlukene, kangangoba bekungeke kwenteke kutsi umuntfu lobekasemncane njengami, futsi lobekangakabati bantfu netintfo, kutsi ngifinyelele esincumeni lesitsite sekutsi ngubani lobekacinisile nekutsi ngubani lobekaneliphutsa.

9 Ingcondvo yami ngalesinye sikhatsi beyivuseleleka kakhulu, umsindvo nesiphitsiphitsi bekukukhulu kuphindze kungancamuki. EmaPhresbhitheri bekagcilile kakhulu emibonweni yawo ngalokumelene nebaBhabhatisi nemaWeseli, futsi asebentisa onkhe emandla ekucabanga nekuphikisana kutjengisa emaphutsa abo, noma, lokungenani, kwenta bantfu bacabange kutsi bebaneliphutsa. Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, baBhabhatisi nemaWeseli nabo ngalokunjalo bebanenshisekelo ekwetameni kumisa timfundziso tabo nekutsi bakhombise kutsi talabanye betingemaphutsa.

10 Ekhatsi nemphi yemavi nekushayisana kwemibono, bengiye ngitibute kutsi: Kufanele kwentiwe njani? Ngumaphi kulamabandla lacinisile; noma, ngabe bonkhe basephutseni na? Uma lelinye lawo licinisile, nguliphi, futsi ngitawukwati kanjani na?

11 Ngesikhatsi ngisekhatsatekile ngaphansi kwalobu bulukhuni lobabudalwa yimibango yalamabandla etenkholo, ngalelinye lilanga bengifundza incwadzi yaJakobe, sehluko sekucala nelivesi lesihlanu, lelifundzeka kanje: Nangabe emkhatsini wenu kukhona loswele kuhlakanipha, akacele kuNkulunkulu, lonika bonkhe bantfu ngekwephana, lokungenakufehla; utawuphiwa.

12 Awutange umbhalo longcwele ute ngemandla enhlitiyweni yemuntfu njengoba lona wenta ngalesi sikhatsi kuyami. Kwaba shangatsi ungena ngalomkhulu umfutfo kuyo yonkhe imizwa yenhlitiyo yami. Ngacabanga ngawo ngiphindzelela, ngoba bengati kutsi umuntfu lobekafuna kuhlakanipha kuNkulunkulu, bekungimi; ngoba bengingati kutsi kufanele ngentenjani, futsi ngaphandle kwekutsi ngitfole kuhlakanipha lokungetulu kwaloku lebenginako, bengingeke ngati; ngoba bafundzisi benkholo bemabandla lehlukene bebaweva lamavesi embhalo logcwele ngalokwehlukile kakhulu kangangoba bakucedza konkhe kwetsembela kulo liBhayibheli kute kuphendvulwe lowombuto.

13 Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngenta sincumo sekutsi kufanele ngihlale ebumnyameni nasekudidekeni, noma ngente njengoba kusho Jakobe, kutsi, ngicele kuNkulunkulu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngenta sincumo “sekucela kuNkulunkulu,” ngicabanga kutsi uma bekabanika kuhlakanipha labo labebete kuhlakanipha, abapha ngekwephana, futsi angafehli, ngangingetama.

14 Ngako-ke, ngekuvumelana naloku, sincumo sami sekucela kuNkulunkulu, ngaya ehlatsini kuyowenta lometamo. Bekulilanga lelihle lasekuseni, libalele, isandza kucala intfwasahlobo ngemnyaka wemakhulu lalishumi nesiphohlongo nemashumi lamabili. Bekukwekucala emphilweni yami kutsi ngente umetamo lonjena, kuko konkhe loku kucakeka kwami ngangingakate ngetame kuthandaza ngekukhuluma kuvakale.

15 Emvakwekufika endzaweni lebengihlele kuya kuyo phambilini, sengibuke ndzawo tonkhe, ngatfola kutsi bengingedvwa, ngaguca phansi ngacala kunikela tifiso tenhlitiyo yami kuNkulunkulu. Ngangisandza kwenta njalo, ngesikhatsi ngibanjwa ngemandla latsite ngekuphatima kweliso angincoba, ngalokumangalisako abangela kutsi lulwimi lwami lubambeke kangangoba angikhonanga kukhuluma. Ngatungeletwa bumnyama lobukhulu, futsi masinyane kimi kwaba shangatsi bese ngitophelela ekubhujisweni ngekushesha.

16 Kodvwa, ngisasebentisa onkhe emandla ami kute ngicele Nkulunkulu kutsi angisindzise kulamandla alesi sitsa lebesingibambile, futsi ngesikhatsi sengitolahla litsemba ngiphindze ngitiyekelele ekufeni—kungasiko kufa lobekucatjangwa yinhlitiyo, kodvwa emandleni emuntfu wangempela lophuma eveni lelingabonakali, lobekanemandla lamangalisako lebengingakate ngiweve ngaphambilini kunoma ngumuphi umuntfu—ngaleso sikhatsi sekwesaba lokukhulu, ngabona insika yekukhanya macondzana ngco nenhloko yami, lebeyingetulu kwekukhanya kwelilanga, yehla kancane yate yawela etikwami.

17 Masinyane nje emvakwekuvela kwaloku kukhanya ngatitfola sengikhululekile esitseni lebesingibambile. Kwatsi kukhanya sekuhleli etikwami ngabona titfunti teBantfu lababili, kukhanya nenkhatimulo yabo lobekungachazeki, beme etikwami emoyeni. Lomunye wabo wakhuluma nami, angibita ngelibito watsi, akhomba kulolomunye—Lena yiNdvodzana Yami leTsandzekako. Yilalele!

18 Inhloso yami ngekuyobuta eNkhosini bekungukutsi ngati kutsi kulamabandla onkhe nguliphi lebeliliciniso, kute ngati kutsi nguliphi lengingatihlanganisa nalo. Ngako-ke, ngekushesha nje, ngakwati kutilawula, kute ngikwati kukhuluma, ngatibuta letitfunti teBantfu lebetime etikwami ekukhanyeni, kutsi nguliphi kuwo onkhe lamabandla lebeliliciniso (ngoba kulesi sikhatsi bekungakate kube khona enhlitiyweni yami kutsi onkhe bekangasilo liciniso)—nekutsi nguliphi lebengingatihlanganisa nalo.

19 Ngaphendvulwa ngekutsi angingatihlanganisi ngisho nalinye lawo, ngoba onkhe bekangasilo liciniso; leso sitfunti saloMuntfu lobekakhuluma nami watsi tinkholelo tawo betisinengiso emehlweni akhe; watsi lawo makholwa onkhe bekadukile; watsi “bangidvumisa ngetindzebe temilomo yabo, kodvwa tinhlitiyo tabo tikhashane nami, bafundzisa timfundziso letimiyaleto yebantfu, banesimo sebunkulunkulu, kodvwa emandla abo bayawaphika.”

20 Waphindze wangalela kutsi ngitihlanganise nanoma nguliphi lawo; futsi tiningi letinye tintfo latikhuluma kimi, lengingeke ngikhone kutibhala ngalesi sikhatsi. Kwatsi ngesikhatsi ngibuya emcondvweni, ngatitfola ngilele ngemhlane, ngibuke etulu ezulwini. Ngesikhatsi kukhanya sekuhambile, besengite emandla; kodvwa ngekushesha abuya kancane, ngabese ngiya ekhaya. Futsi ngesikhatsi ngeyame etiko, make wangibuta kutsi bekwentenjani. Ngaphendvula ngatsi, “Ungahlupheki, konkhe kuhamba kahle—ngiphile saka.” Ngabese ngitsi kumake, “Sengiyatatela ngekwami kutsi libandla lemaPhresbhitheri alisilo liciniso.” Kwaba shangatsi sitsa besati, ngisesebuntfwaneni bami, kutsi bengitalelwe kuba sitsa nemphatamisi wembuso waso; uma kungasiko njalo kuyangani kutsi emandla ebumnyama ahlangana ngalokumelene nami na? Kwayangani kwaba khona kungiphikisa nekungihlupha, cishe ngisesebumntfwaneni na?

Labanye bashumayeli nemakholwa bayayala indzaba yemlandvo wekuCala—Joseph Smith uyahlushwa—uyafakaza ngebuciniso bembono. (Emavesi 21–26.)

21 Tinsukwana emvakwekutsi ngibone lombono, kwenteka ngaba nalomunye webashumayeli bemaWeseli, lobekakhutsele kakhulu kulomdlandla wenkholo lesengikhulume ngawo; ngesikhatsi ngicoca naye ngenkholo, ngatsatsa litfuba lekumcocela ngemlandvo wembono lebengibe nawo. Ngetfuka kakhulu ngendlela lenta ngayo; akayitsatsanga kalula nje kuphela inkhulumo yami, kodvwa ngendzelelo lenkhulu, watsi konkhe loko bekungekwakadeveli, atsi betingasekho tintfo lebetinjengemibono noma tembulo kulawa malanga; watsi tonkhe leto tintfo tagcina ngebaphostoli, futsi nekutsi tatingeke tisabakhona.

22 Ngashesha ngatfola, noko, kutsi kucoca kwami lendzaba kwasusa lolukhulu lubandlululo ngalokumelene nami emkhatsini wemakholwa, kwaba yimbangela yekuhlushwa, lokwachubeka nekukhula; nekutsi bengingumfana lobekangatiwa, ngineminyaka nje lesemkhatsini welishumi nakune nelishumi nesihlanu ngebudzala, nekutsi timo tami temphilo betingenta umfana longasilutfo emhlabeni, kodvwa emadvodza lahlonishwako emphakatsini bekanginaka ngalokwenele kutsi achukuluta imicondvo yebantfu ngalokumelene nami, nekubangela kuhlushwa lokubi; futsi lobekujwayelekile kuwo onkhe emabandla—onkhe ahlangana angihlupha.

23 Kwangenta ngajula ekucabangeni ngaleso sikhatsi, futsi kaningi kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi bengitsi, bekungakajwayeleki kutsi umfana longatiwa, weminyaka lengetudlwana kweminyaka lelishumi nakune budzala, futsi loyo, lobekatophelela ekusebenteni emalanga onkhe kute atfole kutiphilisa lokuncane, kutsi abonwe abalulekile ngalokwenele kutsi anakwe ngulabakhulu bemandla ladvumile kakhulu angalawo malanga, futsi ngendlela yekubabangela umoya wekumhlupha kakhulu nekumtfuka. Noma bekungakajwayeleki, kodvwa kwaba njalo, futsi bekujwayelekile kuba yimbangela yelusizi lolukhulu kimi.

24 Noma kunjalo, bekuliciniso kutsi bengiwubonile umbono. Kusuka ngaleso sikhatsi, ngativa ngifana naPawula, lapho ativikela phambi kweNkhosi Agripha, futsi alandza umlandvo wakhe wembono laba nawo ngesikhatsi abona kukhanya, aphindze eva nelivi; kodvwa baba bancane labamkholwa; labanye batsi bekangakatsembeki, labanye batsi bekahlanya; wahlekwa waphindze wetfukwa. Kodvwa konkhe loku akutange kulicedze liciniso lembono wakhe. Bekawubonile umbono, bekati kutsi bekawubonile, konkhe kuhlushwa ngaphansi kwelizulu bekungeke kukushintje loko, noma bebangamhlupha ate afe, kodvwa bekati, futsi bekayawukwati kute kube sekugcineni kwemphefumulo wakhe, ngekutsi bekakubonile kukhanya waphindze waliva livi likhuluma kuye, futsi wonkhe umhlaba bewungeke umente acabange noma akhohlwe ngalokwehlukile.

25 Bekunjalo nakimi. Ngangikubonile ngempela kukhanya, ekhatsi kuloko kukhanya ngabona titfunti teBantfu lababili, bakhuluma kimi; noma ngangitondvwa phindze ngihlushwa ngekutsi bengiwubonile umbono, kodvwa bekuliciniso; ngesikhatsi bangihlupha, bangitfuka, bakhuluma yonkhe inhlobo yebubi ngemanga ngalokumelene nami ngekusho njalo, ngaholelwa ngekutsi ngitsi enhlitiyweni yami: Ningihluphelani ngekukhuluma liciniso na? Ngiwubonile ngempela umbono; ngingubani mine kutsi ngingamelana naNkulunkulu, noma kuya ngani kutsi umhlaba ucabange kutsi utongenta ngikuphike lengikubonile ngempela na? Ngoba bengiwubonile ngempela umbono; futsi bengikwati loko, ngangikwati kutsi Nkulunkulu bekakwati loko, bengingeke ngikuphike loko, futsi ngangingacabangi kukwenta loko; noma kunjani bengati kutsi ngekwenta njalo ngiyawumona Nkulunkulu, ngiphindze ngibekwe licala.

26 Bese ngenelisekile manje engcondvweni yami ngalokuphatselene nemabandla etenkholo—kutsi bekungasiso sibopho kimi kutihlanganisa nanoma nguliphi lawo, kodvwa ngichubeke nekungabi lilunga lelibandla ngite ngiphindze ngiyalwe. Bese ngibutfolile bufakazi baJakobe kutsi buliciniso—kutsi umuntfu loswela kuhlakanipha angacela kuNkulunkulu, akutfole, angasolwa.

Moroni uvela KuJoseph Smith—Libito laJoseph litawukwatiwa ngalokuhle nangalokubi emkhatsini wetive tonkhe—Moroni umtjela ngencwadzi yaMormon nangetehlulelo letitako teNkhosi uphindza emavi emibhalo leminingi lengcwele—Indzawo lekufihlwe kuyo bongcwengcwe beligolide iyembulwa—Moroni uyachubeka nekufundzisa umPhrofethi. (Emavesi 27–54.)

27 Ngachubeka nekwenta imisebenti yami lejwayelekile emphilweni kwate kwaba ngumhla tingemashumi lamabili nakunye enyangeni yeNyoni, umnyaka wenkhulungwane nemakhulu lasiphohlongo nemashumi lamabili nakutsatfu, sonkhe sikhatsi ngihlushwa kakhulu ngibo bonkhe labantfu, labakholwako nalabangakholwa, ngoba ngachubeka nekucinisekisa kutsi bengiwubonile umbono.

28 Ngaleso sikhatsi lesavela emkhatsini wesikhatsi ngibe nembono nangemnyaka wemakhulu lalishumi nesiphohlongo nemashumi lamabili nakutsatfu—ngalelwe kutihlanganisa nanoma nguliphi lemabandla etenkholo ngaleso sikhatsi, ngisemncane, futsi ngihlushwa ngulabo lebekufanele babe bangani bami baphindze bangiphatse kahle, uma bebacabanga kutsi bengidukile bekufanele kutsi betame ngendlela lelungile nalenelutsandvo kutsi bangibuyise—Ngaba ngephansi kwato tonkhe tinhlobo tetilingo; ngekuhlangana nato tonkhe tinhlobo tebantfu, kaningi bengiwela emaphutseni lamaningi ebuwula, ngakhombisa butsakatsaka bebusha; ngebhadi lokwangiholela, etilingweni letiningi, lebetingemukeleki emehlweni aNkulunkulu. Ngekuhlambuluka kanjena, akubebete lokufanele acabange kutsi nginelicala letono letinkhulu noma letinyanyekako. Sifiso sekwenta tono letinjalo besingekho esimilweni sami. Kodvwa benginelicala lekutsandza kutekula kakhulu, kulesinye sikhatsi bengitihlanganisa nalabanekujabula, njalo njalo, lobekungahambisani naleso similo lekufanele sibe kuloyo lobekabitwe nguNkulunkulu njengoba ngangibitiwe. Kodvwa loku ngeke kubukeke kungakajwayeleki kunoma ngubani lokhumbula busha bami, nalosatiko similo sami sekutsandza kuhlala ngijabulile.

29 Ngenca yaleti tintfo, bengijwayele kutiva nginelicala ngebutsakatsaka nekungalungi kwami; lokwatsi entsambama yalowo mhlaka 21 Inyoni loshiwo ngenhla, emvakwekutsi sengiphumulile embhedzeni wami kulobo busuku, ngathandaza ngancusa kuNkulunkulu Somandla kutsi angitsetselele tonkhe tono nebuwula bami bonkhe, ngetulu kwaloko nekutsi angivetele, kute ngati ngesimo sami ngaphambi kwakhe; ngoba besenginelitsemba leliphelele lekutfola sembulo lesivela kuNkulunkulu, njengoba bese ngike ngaba naso phambilini.

30 Ngesikhatsi ngisambita Nkulunkulu, ngabona kukhanya kuvela ekamelweni lami, lokwachubeka kwandza late likamelo lakhanya kwendlula imini, lokwatsi masinyane ngaleso sikhatsi kwavela umuntfu eceleni kwembhedze wami, eme emoyeni, ngoba tinyawo takhe betingatsintsi phansi.

31 Bekembetse ingubo lecekako lebeyimhlophe ngalokumangalisa kakhulu. Kwakubumhlophe lobendlula konkhe kwasemhlabeni lengake ngakubona; angikholwa futsi kutsi kukhona kwasemhlabeni lokungentiwa kube mhlophe ngalokwecile kuphindze kukhatimule kakhulu kanje. Tandla takhe tatibonakala, ngalokunjalo nemikhono yakhe, ngenhla nje kancane kwesihlakala sesandla; kanjalo netinyawo takhe betibonakala, njengemilente yakhe, ngenhla nje kancane kwetihlakala. Inhloko kanye nentsamo yakhe nako bekubonakala. Ngakhona kubona kutsi bekangakagcoki lutfo lokunye ngaphandle kwalengubo, njengoba yayivulekile, kute ngikhone kubona esifubeni sakhe.

32 Kwakungasiyo ingubo yakhe kuphela leyayimhlophe ngalokwecile, kodvwa sicu sakhe sonkhe besikhatimula ngalokungachazeki, buso bakhe ngempela bebunjengembane. Likamelo bese likhanya kakhulu, kodvwa lalingakhanyi kakhulu njengaloko kukhanya lebekumtungeletile. Ngesikhatsi ngicala kumbuka, ngaba nekwesaba; kodvwa kwesaba kwasheshe kwakhwesha kimi.

33 Wangibita ngelibito, waphindze watsi kimi usitfunywa lesitfunyelwe kimi lesivela kuNkulunkulu, nekutsi libito lakhe bekunguMoroni; nekutsi Nkulunkulu bekanemsebenti lebekafuna ngiwente; nekutsi libito lami bekufanele latiwe ngebuhle nangebubi emkhatsini wato tonkhe tive, tihlobo, netilimi, noma bekufanele kukhulunywe kahle nakabi ngalo emkhatsini webantfu bonkhe.

34 Watsi bekunencwadzi lebeyibekiwe, lebeyibhalwe kubongcwengcwe beligolide, iniketa umlandvo ngebantfu labebahlala kulelivekati ngaphambilini, nemsuka lapho badzabuka khona. Wabuye watsi kuphelela kweliVangeli laphakadze bekucuketfwe kuyo, njengoba lanikwa nguMsindzisi kubantfu basendvulo;

35 Kanjalo, nekutsi bekukhona ematje lamabili kubo butjoki besiliva—futsi lamatje, labekaboshelwe kuso sivikelo sesifuba, bekenta loku lokubitwa ngekutsi yi-Urimu neThumimu—bekabekwe nabongcwengcwe; kuba nalamatje nekusetjentiswa kwawo bekunguloko lobekwenta “baboni” emadvulo noma etikhatsini takadzeni; nekutsi Nkulunkulu bekawalungiselele kuhumusha leyoncwadzi.

36 Emvakwekungitjela leti tintfo, wacala wacaphuna emavi etiphrofetho teliThestamente leliDzala. Wacala wacaphuna emavi encenye yesehluko sesitsatfu saMalakhi; waphindze wacaphuna emavi esesine noma sekugcina sehluko sesiphrofetho lesifanako, noma bekunemehluko lomncane endleleni lesifundzeka ngayo emaBhayibhelini etfu. Kunekutsi acaphune emavi elivesi lekucala njengoba anjalo etincwadzini tetfu, wacaphuna emavi alo kanje:

37 Ngoba buka, lilanga liyeta leliyawushisa njengemlilo, bonkhe labatigcabhako, yebo, nabo bonkhe labenta lokubi bayawusha njengetinhlanga; ngoba labo labetako bayawubashisa, kusho iNkhosi yemaBandla, kangangoba aliyubashiyela ngisho imphandze noma ligala.

38 Ngetulu kwaloko, wacaphuna emavi elivesi lesihlanu kanje: Bukani ngitawukwembula kini buPhristi, ngesandla sa-Elija umphrofethi, ngaphambi kwekufika kwelilanga lelikhulu nalelesabekako leNkhosi.

39 Futsi wacaphuna emavi elivesi lelilandzelako ngalokwehlukile: Uyawubeka etinhlitiyweni tebantfwana tetsembiso letentiwa kuboyise, netinhlitiyo tebantfwana tiyawuphendvukela kuboyise. Uma bekungasiko njalo, umhlaba wonkhe bewuyawubhujiswa uphele nya ngesikhatsi sekubuya kwakhe.

40 Ngetulu kwaleti tintfo, wacaphuna emavi esehluko selishumi nakunye sa-Isaya, watsi sekusondzele kutsi sifezeke. Wabuye wacaphuna emavi esehluko sesitsatfu semiSebenti yebaPhostoli, livesi lemashumi lamabili nakubili nelivesi lemashumi lamabili nakutsatfu, njengoba anjalo eThestamenteni letfu leLisha. Watsi loyo mphrofethi bekunguKhristu; kodvwa lilanga belingakefiki kwamanje lapho “labo labebangafuni kulalela livi bekufanele basuswe emkhatsini webantfu,” kodvwa masinyane laliyawufika.

41 Waphindze wacaphuna emavi esehluko sesibili saJoweli, kusukela evesini lemashumi lamabili nesiphohlongo kuya kulekugcina. Wabuya watsi loku bekungakagcwaliseki kwamanje, kodvwa bese kutawugcwaliseka. Wachubeka watsi kugcwaliseka kwebeTive bese kutawufika. Wabuye wacaphuna emavi lamaningi akuleminye imibhalo lengcwele, waniketa tinchazelo letiningi lengingeke ngikhone kutibhala lapha.

42 Ngetulu kwaloko, wangitjela kutsi uma sengibatfolile labo bongcwengcwe lebekakhulume ngabo—ngoba sikhatsi lekufanele batfolwe ngaso besingakagcwaliseki—bekungakafaneli ngibakhombise umuntfu; ngisho nesivikelo sesifuba lesine-Urimu neThumimu; kuphela kulabo lengiyoyaletwa kutsi ngibakhombise; uma ngike ngakwenta loko ngiyobhujiswa. Ngesikhatsi asakhuluma nami ngabongcwengcwe, umbono wavuleka engcodvweni yami kangangoba ngayibona leyondzawo lapho labongcwengcwe bebabekwe khona, kwaba sebaleni kwaphindze kwacaca kangangoba ngayati leyondzawo ngesikhatsi sengiya kuyo.

43 Emvakwalenkhulumo, ngabona kukhanya ekamelweni sekucala kugcogcana ngekushesha edvute nalomuntfu lobekasolo akhuluma nami, kwachubeka nekwenta njalo late likamelo lasala limnyama futsi, ngaphandle nje kwasedvutane naye; lekwatsi, ngekuphatima kweliso ngabona, shangatsi kuvuleka umhume lofika ezulwini, wabese uyenyuka wate wanyamalala, nelikamelo lasala njengoba belikadze linjalo ngaphambi kwekutsi kuvele loku kukhanya kwasezulwini.

44 Ngalala ngicabanga ngalesi sehlakalo lesimangalisako, ngisamangele kakhulu ngalebengikutjelwe ngulesi sitfunywa lebesingakajwayeleki; lokwatsi, ekhatsi nekuzindla kwami, masinyane ngabona kutsi likamelo lami beselicala kukhanya futsi, ngekuphatima kweliso, leso sitfunywa sasezulwini bese sisedvute nembhedze wami futsi.

45 Sacala, sakhuluma tintfo letifanako naleto lesasitikhulume ekufikeni kwaso kwekucala, kwabate ngisho naloluncane lushintjo; lesatsi sesikwentile loko, sangatisa ngetehlulelo letinkhulu lebetitawuta emhlabeni, ngembubhiso lenkhulu ngendlala, ngenkemba, ngamashayabhuce wesifo; nekutsi leti tehlulelo letimatima titawuta emhlabeni kulesi situkulwane. Sesitikhulumile letintfo, saphindze senyuka njengoba sasentile ekucaleni.

46 Ngalesi sikhatsi, yaseyijule kakhulu imicabango engcondvweni yami, kangangoba ngaphelelwa butfongo, ngalala ngenganywe kumangala ngaloko bengikubonile ngiphindze ngikuvile. Kodvwa lokwangimangalisa kubona futsi leso sitfunywa eceleni kwembhedze wami, ngasiva sikhuluma noma siphindzaphindza kimi leto tintfo letifanako njengasekucaleni; sengeta secwayiso kimi, singitjela kutsi Sathane utawetama kungilinga (ngenca yesimo sebumphofu bemndeni wababe) kutsi ngitfole bongcwengcwe ngenhloso yekutfola umcebo. Kuloku sangivimba, satsi akukafaneli ngibe nalenye inhloso ngekutfola bongcwengcwe ngaphandle kwekudvumisa Nkulunkulu, futsi akukafaneli ngibe nanoma ngusiphi sizatfu ngaphandle kwaleso sekwakha umbuso wakhe; kungenjalo angeke ngibatfole.

47 Emvakwaloku kufika kwesitsatfu, saphindze senyukela ezulwini njengasekucaleni, ngaphindze ngasala ngizindla ngaloku lebengisandza kukubona lokungakajwayeleki; lokwatsi cishe masinyane emvakwekutsi sitfunywa sasezulwini senyukile sisuka kimi kwesitsatfu, licudze lakhala, ngatfola kutsi besekusa, kangangoba kukhuluma kwetfu kufanele kube kwakutsetse bonkhe lobo busuku.

48 Emvakwesikhashana ngavuka embhedzeni wami, njengalokwejwayelekile, ngahamba ngayawusebenta imisebenti ledzingekile yangalelo langa; kodvwa, ekwetameni kusebenta njengasemihleni, ngatitfola ngiphelelwa ngemandla kangangoba angikhonanga ngisho kwentani. Babe, lobekasebenta nami, wabona kutsi bekukhona lokungalungi ngami, wangitjela kutsi angiye ekhaya. Ngahamba ngitsi ngiya endlini; kodvwa, ngesikhatsi ngetama kweca lutsango ngiphuma ensimini lapho sasikhona, emandla ami aphela nya, ngawela phansi ngangakwati kwenta lutfo, futsi kwesikhashana angatanga lutfo lolwenteka.

49 Intfo yekucala lengingayikhumbula bekulivi lelalikhuluma kimi, lingibita ngelibito. Ngabuka etulu, ngabona sona leso sitfunywa sime ngetulu kwenhloko yami, situngeletwe kukhanya njengasekucaleni. Saphindze salandzisa kimi konkhe loko lesasikulandzise ebusuku lobendlulile, sangiyaleta kutsi ngiye kubabe ngimtjele ngembono nangemiyaleto lebengiyitfolile.

50 Ngalalela; ngabuyela kubabe ensimini, ngamlandzisa ngako konkhe lobekwentekile. Wangiphendvula ngekutsi kwakukwaNkulunkulu, wangitjela kutsi angihambe ngiyawukwenta njengoba ngiyaletwe sitfunywa. Ngashiya ensimini, ngaya kuleyondzawo lapho sitfunywa sasingitjele kutsi bongcwengcwe babekwe khona; futsi ngenca yekucaca kwembono lengangibe nawo ngayo, ngayati leyondzawo ngekushesha nje uma ngifika kuyo.

51 Madvutane nje nesigodzi saseManchester, endzaweni yase-Ontario, eNew York, kume ligcuma lelikhulu, leliphakeme kunawo onkhe kulendzawo. Ngasenshonalanga yaleligcuma, dvute nasetulu, ngaphansi kwelitje lelikhulu, bongcwengcwe bebalapho, babekwe ebhokisini lelitje. Lelitje lalingucinsi futsi liyindilinga emkhatsini ngetulu, linciphile ngasemingcengcemeni, kangangoba lingekhatsi lalo lalibonakala ngetulu kwemhlabatsi, kodvwa umngcengcema wonkhe wawumbonywe ngumhlabatsi.

52 Sengiwususile umhlabatsi, ngatfola ligwadlulo, lengalifaka ngaphansi kwemngcengcema welitje, ngemandla lamancane nje ngaliphakamisa. Ngabuka ngekhatsi, ngempela ngababona bongcwengcwe, i-Urimu neThumimu, nesivikelo sesifuba, njengoba sitfunywa sasishito. Lelibhokisi letatikulo belakhiwe ngematje lahlanganiswe ndzawonye ngeluhlobo lolutsite lwasemende. Ngaphansi kwelibhokisi bekubekwe ematje lamabili aphambene ebhokisini, ngetulu kwalamatje kubekwe bongcwengcwe kanye naletinye tintfo nabo.

53 Ngetama kubatsatsa, kodvwa sitfunywa sangalela, saphindze sangitjela kutsi sikhatsi sekubakhipha sasisengakefiki, noma sasingeke, kute kuphele iminyaka lemine kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi; kodvwa sangitjela kutsi bekufanele ngite kuleyondzawo nakanjani emvakwemnyaka kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi, nekutsi sasiyawuhlangana nami lapho, nekutsi bekufanele ngichubeke nekwenta njalo kute kufike sikhatsi sekutfola bongcwengcwe.

54 Ngako, njengoba ngangiyaletiwe, ngangiya ekupheleni kwemnyaka ngamunye, futsi njalo nje ngangisitfola sitfunywa sikhona lapho, ngangitfola kukhanyiseleka kanye nelwati kuso njalo nje ekukhulumeni kwetfu, ngalokuphatselene nalobekutawentiwa yiNkhosi, nekutsi umbuso wayo wawutawuphatfwa kanjani futsi ngayiphi indlela ngemalanga ekugcina.

Joseph Smith ushada Emma Hale—Utfola bongcwengcwe beligolide kuMoroni uphindze uhumusha tinhlavu temagama—Martin Harris ukhombisa letinhlavu temagama nekuhunyushwa kuSolwati Anthon, lotsi, “Angikhoni kufundza incwadzi levaliwe.” (Emavesi 55–65.)

55 Njengoba babe bekeswele, bekufanele sisebente ngetandla tetfu, sicashwe kute sitfole umsebenti welilanga nangalenye indlela, njalo uma sitfola litfuba. Kulesinye sikhatsi besiba sekhaya, ngalesinye sibe khashane nasekhaya, futsi ngekuchubeka nekusebenta besikhona kutfola kondliwa lokwanele.

56 Ngemnyaka wa1823 umndeni wababe watfola inhlupheko lenkhulu ngekushonelwa ngumnaketfu lomdzala, Alvin. Ngenyanga yeMphala, 1825, ngacashwa ngumnumzane lobesekamdzala libito lakhe kunguJosiah Stoal, lobekahlala endzaweni yaseChenango, esiFundzeni saseNew York. Bekeve ngemayini yesiliva leyayisandza kuvulwa baseSpain eHarmony, endzaweni yaseSusquehanna, esiFundzeni sasePennsylvania; ngaphambi kwekungicasha, bekagubhile, kute, uma kungenteka ayitfole lemayini. Emvakwekutsi sengihambe ngayohlala naye, wangitsatsa nato tonkhe tisebenti takhe, kuyawugubha emgodzini wemayini, lengachubeka nekusebenta kuyo cishe inyanga, ngaphandle kwekuphumelela emetameni yetfu, ekugcineni ngaphumelela kumenta akholwe umnumzane kutsi ayekele kugubha afune imayini. Ngaleso sizatfu kwavela indzaba ledvumile yekutsi ngangingumfuni-magugu.

57 Ngesikhatsi ngicashiwe lapho, ngacasha indzawo yekuhlala kuMnumzane Isaac Hale, waleyondzawo; kulapho ngacala kubona umkami (indvodzakati yakhe), Emma Hale. Mhlaka 18 kuBhimbidvwane, 1827, sashada, ngesikhatsi ngisecashiwe ngisebentela umnumzane Stoal.

58 Ngenca yekuchubeka ngisho kutsi ngibone umbono, kuhlushwa kwachubeka kwagilandzela, nemnndeni wababe wemkami wawuphikisana kakhulu nekushada kwetfu. Ngako-ke kwadzingeka ngimtsatse siye kulenye indzawo; ngako sahamba sayoshada emtini waSquire Tarbill, eNingizimu neBainbridge, endzaweni yaseChenango, eNew York. Masinyane nje emvakwekushada, ngashiya umuti weMnumzane Stoal, ngaya kuwababe, ngayolima naye kwesikhashana.

59 Emvakwesikhatsi lesidze sefika sikhatsi sekutfola bongcwengcwe, i-Urimu neThumimu, kanye nesivikelo sesifuba. Mhla tingemashumi lamabili nakubili enyangeni yeNyoni, ngemnyaka wenkhulungwane nemakhulu lasiphohlongo nemashumi lamabili nesikhombisa, ngiyile njengalokwejwayelekile ekupheleni kwalomunye umnyaka ngaya lapho bekubekwe khona, leso sitfunywa sasezulwini sanginika kona nalomyaleto: kutsi ngibophekile ngako; nekutsi uma ngangiyawukuyekela kusuke kimi ngenca yekungakunaki, noma ngenca yekukuyekelela, kufanele ngehlukaniswe naNkulunkulu; kodvwa uma ngangiyawukwenta yonkhe imetamo yami kukugcina, size sona, sitfunywa, sikulandze, kufanele kuvikeleke.

60 Ngasheshe ngasitfola sizatfu sekutsi kungani ngitfole imiyaleto leyayicine kangaka yekutsi ngikugcine kuvikelekile, nekutsi kungani sitfunywa sasitsite ekubeni ngikwentile lokwakudzingekile esandleni sami, sasiyawufuna ngikubuyise. Masinyane besekwatiwa kutsi nginako, kwaba nemzukuzuku lomkhulu wemetamo leyasentjetiswa kutsi kutsatfwe kimi. Onkhe emasu labengentiwa etanywa kufeza leyonhloso. Kuhlushwa kwaba kubi kakhulu futsi kwaba matima kunakucala, neliningi lebantfu belihlala ligadze njalo nje kukutsatsa kimi uma kungenteka. Kodvwa ngekuhlakanipha kwaNkulunkulu, kwahlala kuvikelekile etandleni tami, ngate ngakufeza loko lobekudzingekile ngako esandleni sami. Lokwatsi, ngalokuhleliwe, sitfunywa sakufuna, ngasinika; futsi kukuso kute kube ngulamuhla, kulilanga lesibili kuNkhwekhweti, umnyaka wenkhulungwane nemakhulu lasiphohlogo nemashumi lamatsatfu nesiphohlongo.

61 Inshisekelo, noko, yachubeka, nemahemehemu ngetinkhulumo letiningi kwasetjentiswa ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi kusabalalisa emanga ngemndeni wababe, nangami. Kube bengingalandzisa incenye yenkhulungwane yalamanga, beyingagcwala imiculu. Kuhlushwa, noko, besekungasabeketeleleki kwate kwadzingeka kutsi ngishiye eManchester, ngahamba nemkami saya endzaweni yaseSusquehanna, eSifundzeni sasePennsylvania. Sisalungiselela kuhamba—singulabamphofu, nekuhlushwa kumatima kukumela kangangoba kwakute ematfuba kutsi singenta ngalenye indlela—emkhatsini waleto tinhlupheko tetfu satfola umngani kumnumzane libito lakhe kunguMartin Harris, loweta kitsi wanginika ema-dola langemashumi lasihlanu kusisita eluhambeni lwetfu. Umnumzane Harris bekahlala edolobheni lasePalmyra, endzaweni yaseWayne, eSifundzeni saseNew York, futsi angumlimi lohloniphekile.

62 Ngalolusito lolwafika ngesikhatsi lesifanele ngakwati kufika endzaweni lengangiya kuyo ePennsylvania; futsi masinyane emvakwekufika kwami lapho ngacala ngafanekisa tinhlavu temagama lebetikubongcwengcwe. Ngafanekisa letiningana impela, futsi nge-Urimu neThumimu ngakhona kuhumusha letinye tato, lengakwenta emkhatsini wekufika kwami endlini yababe wemkami, ngenyanga yeNgongoni, neNdlovana emnyakeni lolandzelako.

63 Ngesikhatsi lesitsite kulenyanga yeNdlovana, uMnumzane Martin Harris losekukhulunywe ngaye ngaphambilini weta endzaweni yetfu, watsatsa tinhlavu temagama lengangiyifanekisile ngiyisuse kubongcwengcwe, wahamba nato waya edolobheni laseNew York. Ngalokuphatselene nalokwenteka mayelana naye naleto tinhlavu temagama, ngicaphuna kulandzisa kwakhe ngetehlakalo, njengoba atilandzisa kimi ekubuyeni kwakhe, lokunguloku lokulandzelako:

64 “Ngahamba ngaya edolobheni laseNew York, nganiketa letinhlavu temagama lebetihunyushiwe, nekuhunyushwa kwato kuSolwati Charles Anthon, umnumzane lobekatiwa ngebungcweti bakhe kutemibhlalo. Solwati Anthon watsi loko lokuhunyushiwe kwakungiko, ngetulu kwaloko lake wakubona ngaphambilini kuhunyushiwe kusuka elulwimini lwesiGibhithe. Ngabese ngimkhombisa leto betisengakahunyushwa watsi tisiGibhithe, siKhaledi, si-Asiriya, nesi-Arabhu; watsi tinhlavu temagama tiliciniso. Wanginika sitifiketi, lesasicinisekisa kubantfu basePalmyra kutsi letinhlavu temagama tiliciniso, nekutsi kuhunyushwa kwato ngalendlela nako futsi kwakuhunyushwe ngendlela lengiyo. Ngasitsatsa sitifiketi ngasifaka ekhikhini lami, futsi ngasengitawuphuma endlini, ngesikhatsi umnumzane Anthon angibita, wangibuta kutsi lelijaha latfola kanjani kutsi bekukhona bongcwengcwe beligolide kuleyondzawo lapho yabatfola khona. Ngaphendvula ngatsi yingilosi yaNkulunkulu leyembula kuye.

65 “Wabese utsi kimi, ‘Asengibone leso sitifiketi.’ Njengekusho kwakhe ngasikhipha ekhikhini lami ngamnika, nakasitsatsa wasidzabula saba ticucu, watsi kute intfo lokutsiwa kusitwa tingilosi, nekutsi uma ngingaletsa labongcwengcwe kuye bekangabahumusha. Ngamtjela kutsi incenye yabongcwengcwe ivaliwe, nekutsi bengalelwe kutsi ngiyiletse. Waphendvula watsi, ‘Angikhoni kufundza incwadzi levaliwe.’ Ngamshiya ngaya kuDokotela Mitchell lowakucinisekisa loko bekushiwo nguSolwati Anthon mayelana netinhlavu temagama nekuhunyushwa kwato.”

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Oliver Cowdery usebenta njengembhali ekuhumusheni iNcwadzi yaMormon—Joseph na-Oliver batfola buPhristi baka-Aroni kuJohane uMbhabhatisi—Bayabhajatiswa, bayabekwa, baphindze batfola moya wekuphrofetha. (Emavesi 66–75.)

66 Mhlaka 5 kuMabasa, 1829, Oliver Cowdery weta endlini yami, kute kube nguleso sikhatsi bengingakate ngimbone. Wangitjela kutsi njengoba bekafundzisa esikolweni lesingumakhelwane nalapho bekuhlala khona babe, nababe angulomunye walabo labatfumela bantfwana bakhe kulesikolwa, weta watewucasha kwesikhashana emtini wakhe, futsi ngesikhatsi alapho umndeni wamlandzisa ngemininingwane yekutfola kwami bongcwengcwe, ngako-ke bekete kutawubuta ngaloko kimi.

67 Emalanga lamabili efikile umnumzane Cowdery (tingu 7 kuMabasa) ngacala ngahumusha iNcwadzi yaMormon, futsi wacala kungibhalela.

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68 Sachubeka nemsebenti wekuhumusha, lokwatsi ngenyanga lelandzelako (iNkhwekhweti, 1829), sahamba langa limbe saya ehlatsini kuyawuthandaza sibute eNkhosini mayelana nembhabhatiso kute kutsetselelwe tono, lesakutfola kushiwo ekuhunyushweni kwabongcwengcwe. Ngesikhatsi sikwenta loko, sithandaza, sibita iNkhosi, kwehla sitfunywa sivela ezulwini ngelifu lekukhanya, sabeka tandla taso etikwetfu, sasibeka, satsi:

69 Etikwenu tinceku letikanye nami, egameni laMesiya, ngiyaninika buPhristi baka-Aroni, lobuphetse tikhiya tekusitwa tingilosi, netelivangeli lekuphendvuka, netekubhabhatisa ngekucwiliswa kute kutsetselelwe tono; futsi loku angeke kuphidze kutsatfwe emhlabeni ate emadvodzana aLevi aphindze aletse umnikelo eNkhosini ngekulunga.

70 Satsi lobuPhristi baka-Aroni, babute emandla ekubeka tandla kute kunikwe sipho saMoya loNgcwele, kodvwa lamandla kufanele aniketwe tsine emvakwaloko; sasiyaleta kutsi sihambe siyawubhajatiswa, sasiniketa umyaleto kutsi kufanele ngibhabhatise Oliver Cowdery, nekutsi emvakwaloko kufanele naye angibhabhatise.

71 Njengekusho kwaso sahamba sayawubhajatiswa. Ngambhabhatisa kucala, emvakwaloko naye wangibhabhatisa—emvakwaloko ngabeka tandla enhloko yakhe ngambeka ebuPhristini baka-Aroni, futsi emvakwaloko naye wabeka tandla takhe kimi wangibeka kulobo buPhristi lobufanako—ngoba sasiyaletwe kanjalo.*

72 Lesitfunywa lebesisivakashele kulesi sikhatsi sasiniketa lobuPhristi, satsi libito laso bekunguJohane, loyo kanye lobitwa ngaJohane uMbhabhatisi eThestamenteni leLisha, nekutsi bekasebenta ngephansi kwekuyaletwa nguPhetro, Jakobe naJohane, labebaphetse tikhiya tebuPhristi bakaMelkhisedeki, buPhristi lobo, latsi, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi butawuniketwa tsine, nekutsi kumele ngibitwe ngeMbonisi wekucala weliBandla, nekutsi naye (Oliver Cowdery) abe wesibili. Betilishumi nesihlanu iNkhwekhweti, ngemnyaka wa1829, ngesikhatsi sibekwa ngaphansi kwesandla salesi sitfunywa, siphindze sibhajatiswa.

73 Masinyane ekuphumeni kwetfu emantini emvakwekubhajatiswa, satfola tibusiso letinkhulu naletimangalisako letiphuma kuBabe wetfu loseZulwini. Masinyane nje sengimbhabhatisile Oliver Cowdery, Moya loNgcwele wehlela kuye, futsi wasukuma waphrofetha tintfo letiningi letatitakwenteka masinyane. Futsi, masinyane nje emvakwekubhajatiswa kwami nguye, nami ngaba namoya wekuphrofetha, ngesikhatsi ngisukuma, ngaphrofetha ngalokuphatselene nekukhula kwaleliBandla, naletinye tintfo letiningi letiphatselene neLibandla, nalesi situkulwane sebantfwana bebantfu. Sagcwaliswa ngaMoya loNgcwele, satfokota kuNkulunkulu wensindziso yetfu.

74 Tingcodvo tetfu setikhanyiselekile, sacala kuyicondza imibhalo lengcwele, kanye nenchazelo leliciniso nenhloso yetincenye tayo letifihlekile tembulwa kitsi ngendlela lesasingeke siyitfole ngaphambilini, noma lesasingayicabanga ngaphambilini. Kuleso sikhatsi saphocelelwa kutsi sifihle kutfola kwetfu buPhristi kanye nekubhajatiswa kwetfu, ngenca yemoya wekuhlushwa lebesewuvele ukhona endzaweni.

75 Sase sesatjiswe ngekuhlaselwa sicuku sebantfu, tikhatsi ngetikhatsi, loku futsi kwentiwa ngemakholwa. Tinhloso tabo tekusihlasela ngesicuku sebantfu tavinjelwa tento temndeni wababe wemkami (ngaphansi kwekunakekelwa nguNkulunkulu), lobesewunebungani lobukhulu nami, bangavumelani nekutsi sihlaselwe sicuku sebantfu, bafisa kutsi ngivunyelwe nekuchubeka nemsebenti wekuhumusha ngaphandle kwekuphazanyiswa; ngako-ke wasetsembisa kusivikela kuto tonkhe tento letatingekho emtsetfweni, kangangoba bebangakwati kukwenta loko.

  • Oliver Cowdery utichaza kanje leti tehlakalo: “Lawa ngemalanga langeke akhohlwakala—kuhlala edvute nemsindvo ulalele livi leliyalwe kuphefunyulelwa kwasezulwini, kwavusa lokukhulu kubonga enhlitiyweni yami! Lilanga ngelilanga ngachubeka, ngekungaphatamiseki, nekubhala lokuphuma emlonyeni wakhe, asahumusha nge-Urimu neThumimu, noma, njengoba emaNefi bekangasho, ‘Tihumushi’, umlandvo noma umbhalo lobitwa ngekutsi ‘yiNcwadzi yaMormon.’

    “Kusho, ngemavi lambalwa, kulandzisa lokuhehako lokucocwa nguMormon nendvodzana yakhe Moroni leyetsembekile, ngebantfu labake batsandvwa baphindze babusiswa lizulu, bekungendlula inhloso yami lengangiyifisa ngaleso sikhatsi; ngako-ke loku ngitawukuhlehlisela sikhatsi lesitako, futsi, njengoba ngishito esingenisweni, ngitawendlulela etehlakalweni letimbalwa letiphatselene nekukhula kweLibandla, lokungajabulisa tinkhulungwane talabo lesebete ngembili, kuko konkhe kuswaca kwalabaneluchuku kanye nekucalelwa emanga batentisi, futsi bemukela liVangeli laKhristu.

    “Kute umuntfu, locabanga kahle, longahumusha aphindze abhale imiyaleto leyaniketwa emaNefi kusuka emlonyeni weMsindzisi, mayelana nendlela lengiyo kanye bantfu labangakha ngayo Libandla Lakhe, ikakhulukati uma inkhohlakalo seyandzise kungabata kuto tonkhe tinhlelo letentiwako emkhatsini webantfu, ngaphandle kwekufisa lilungelo lekuveta sifiso senhlitiyo ngekucwiliswa emantini, kucela ‘nembeza lomuhle ngekuvuka kwalabafile kwaJesu Khristu.’

    “Emvakwekubhala umlandvo loniketiwe ngebufundisi beMsindzisi kunsali yentalelwane yaJakobe, kulelivekati, bekulula kukubona, njengoba umphrofethi abeshito kutsi kutawuba njalo, kutsi bumnyama bumbonye umhlaba nebumnyama lobukhulu bumbonye tingcodvo tebantfu. Uma ngichubeka nekuzindla kwaba lula kukubona kutsi kuyo yonkhe imibango lemikhulu nemsindvo mayelana nenkholo, kute bekaneligunya lelivela kuNkulunkulu lekuphatsa timiso teliVangeli. Ngoba umbuto wawungabutwa kutsi, ngabe emadvodza laphika tembulo, analo yini ligunya lekuphatsa egameni laKhristu, ngekubona kutsi bufakazi Bakhe bungetulu kwemoya wekuphrofetha, futsi nenkholo Yakhe, yakhelwe, yakhiwe futsi isekelwe tembulo leticondzile, kuto tonkhe tikhatsi temhlaba ngesikhatsi asake waba nebantfu emhlabeni na? Uma lawa maciniso abebhaciswa, futsi afihlwa ngekucophelela bantfu imisebenti yabo lebeyingaba sengotini uma bekangavunyelwa nakanye kutsi akhanye embikwebantfu, besekangasafihlwanga kitsi; futsi sagadza umyaleto kutsi uniketwe lotsi ‘Sukuma ubhajatiswe.’

    “Akutsatsanga sikhatsi lesingakanani ngaphambi kwekutsi kwenteke loku. INkhosi lecebile ngesihawu, futsi lehlala ifisa kuphendvula imithandazo lengagucuki yalotfobekile, emvakwekumbita ngenshisekelo, kudze nemiti yebantfu, yatehlisa kute ivete kitsi intsandvo Yayo. Masinyane nje, kungatsi kuphuma emkhatsini weliphakadze, livi leMhlengi lakhuluma kuthula kitsi, ngesikhatsi indvwangu yehlukaniswa yase ingilosi yaNkulunkulu yehlela phansi yembetse inkhatimulo, yetfula umlayeto lobewugadvwe ngenshisekelo, kanye netikhiya teliVangeli lekuphendvuka. Yeka injabulo lesayiva! Kumangala lesabanako! Simanga lesasibona! Ngesikhatsi umhlaba usenhluphekweni futsi udidekile—ngesikhatsi tinkhulungwane tiphutsata njengetimphumphutse tiphutsata lubondza, futsi ngesikhatsi bantfu bahleli ekungabateni, njengelucucaba, emehlo etfu abona, tindlebe tetfu teva njengaselangeni lelalibalele; yebo—ngetulu kwekukhatimula kwemisebe yangeNkhwekhweti, leyakhanya bha emhlabeni wonkhe! Emvakwaloko livi lakhe, nanoma lalipholile, lasihlaba ekhatsi nemavi akhe latsi, ‘Ngiyinceku lekanye nani,’ asusa konkhe kwesaba. Salalela, sabuka, sancoma! ‘Bekulivi lengilosi lesuka enkhatimulweni, bekungumlayeto lophuma kuLosetikwako Konkhe! Futsi ngesikhatsi siva sajabula, ngesikhatsi lutsandvo Lwakhe lokheleka emiphefumulweni yetfu, futsi satfunjwa embonweni waSomandla! Yayikuphi indzawo yekungabata? Bekute; kungabata besekusukile, kungatsita besekucwilile kungeke kusaphindze kuvele, ngesikhatsi emanga nenkhohliso kubalekile ingunaphakadze!

    “Kodvwa, mnaketfu lotsandzekako, cabanga, cabanga sikhashana, kutsi ingakanani injabulo leyagcwala etinhlitiyweni tetfu, nekutsi sakhotsama ngekumangala lokungakanani, (ngoba ngubani lobekangeke akhotsamise lidvolo kute atfole sibusiso lesinje?) ngesikhatsi sitfola ngaphansi kwesandla sakhe buPhristi lobuNgcwele ngesikhatsi atsi, ‘Etikwenu tinceku letikanye nami, egameni laMesiya, ngiyaninika lobu buPhristi naleligunya, leliyawuhlala emhlabeni, kute emadvodzana aLevi aphindze anikele umnikelo eNkhosini ngekulunga!’

    “Angeke ngetame kunidvwebela sitfombe semizwa yenhlitiyo yami, noma buhle nenkhatimulo yebukhosi leyayisitungeletile ngalesi sikhatsi, kodvwa nitawungikholwa uma ngitsi, umhlaba, noma bantfu, ngekukhuluma kahle ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, angeke kukwati kucala kumbatsisa lulwimi ngendlela lehehako, nalephakeme njengoba lomuntfu lonesitfunti longcwele enta. Cha; futsi nalomhlaba ute emandla ekunika injabulo, kunika kuthula, noma kucondza kuhlakanipha lobekucuketfwe kumusho ngamunye ngesikhatsi wetfulwa ngemandla aMoya loNgcwele! Umuntfu angabakhohlisa labanye bantfu labakanye naye, kukhohlisa kungalandzela kukhohlisa, futsi nebantfwana balomubi bangaba nemandla ekudukisa labatiwula nalabangakafundziswa, kute kubete lutfo ngaphandle kwemanga lanikwa labaningi, futsi nesitselo semanga sitfwale ngemfutfo waso labagucugucukako sibayise ethuneni; kodvwa kutsintsa lokukodvwa ngemunwe welutsandvo lwakhe, yebo, umsebe munye wenkhatimulo losuka eveni lelisetulu, noma ligama linye leliphuma emlonyeni weMsindzisi, kusuka esifubeni saphakadze, likwente konkhe kube lite, futsi likusule ingunaphakadze engcondvweni. Siciniseko sekutsi sasisembikwengilosi, nesiciniseko sekutsi saliva livi laJesu, neliciniso lelingakangcoliswa ngesikhatsi ligeleta liphuma kumuntfu lomsulwa, kushiwo ngentsandvo yaNkulunkulu, angeke ngikwati kukuchaza, futsi ngiyawuhlala ngikubuka loku kukhonjiswa kwelutsandvo lweMsindzisi ngekumangala nangekubonga ngisavunyelwe kuphila; futsi kuleto tindlu lapho kuhlala khona kuphelela nalapho sono singangeni khona, nginelitsemba lekudvumisa ngalelo langa lelingayuphela.”—Messenger and Advocate, umculu 1 (iMphala 1834), emakhasi 14–16.