Izibhalo
IMbali—kaJoseph Smith 1

IMbali—kaJoseph Smith

Izicatshulwa Ezisuka kwiMbali kaJoseph Smith, uMprofeti

Isahluko 1

UJoseph Smith ubalisa ngomlibo wakhe, amalungu osapho, nangeendawo zabo zokuhlala ekuqaleni—Umdla ongaqhelekanga ngonqulo wabakho kakhulu jikelele entshona yeNew York—Uzimisela ukufuna ubulumko njengoko kolathwe nguYakobi—Uyise noNyana bayabonakala, kwaye uJoseph ubizelwa ebufundisini bakhe bobuprofeti. (Iivesi 1–20.)

1 Ngokwesiphumo seengxelo ezininzi ezazisasazeka ezazisasazekiswa ngabantu abazimisele ukwenza ububi nabanobutshinga, ngokuphathalele ekubumbekeni nokuqhubela phambili kweBandla likaYesu Krestu labaNgcwele beMihla yokuGqibela, konke okwazo kwakuyilwe ngabenzi bazo ekuchaseni udumo lwalo njengeBandla nenkqubela phambili yalo ehlabathini—Ndithundezeleke ekubhaleni le mbali, ndikhanyisele ingqondo yabantu jikele, ndize ndibeke bonke abafuni benyaniso baqonde okuyinene, njengoko kwakwenzekile, ngokuphathelele kunye esiqwini sam naseBandleni, njengoko ndandinolwazi lokwenene olunjalo.

2 Kule mbali ndiza kuzisa izehlo ezahluka-hlukeneyo ngokunxulumene neli Bandla, kwinyani nasebulungiseni, njengoko zenzeka, okanye njengoko ngexesha langoku zikho, nokuba ngoku [ngowe-1838] ingunyaka wesibhozo ukususela ekwakhiweni kweBandla elixeliweyo.

3 Ndazalwa ngonyaka weNkosi yethu wewaka elinamakhulu asibhozo anesihlanu, ngomhla wamashumi amabini anesithathu kaDisemba, kwidolophu iSharon, eWindsor khawunti, kwiSteyti saseVermont. … Utata wam, uJoseph Smith, Omkhulu, wemka kwiSteyti saseVermont, waza waya ePalmyra, eOntario (ngoku eyiWayne) khawunti, kwiSteyti saseNew York, xa ndandikunyaka wam weshumi, okanye mayela apho. Mayela neminyaka emine emva kokufika kukatata wam ePalmyra, wafuduka kunye nosapho lwakhe esiya eManchester kwa kwikhawunti yaseOntario—

4 Usapho lwakhe olwalunemiphefumlo elishumi elinanye, ebizwa ngokuba, nguJoseph Smith, utata wam; umama wam, uLucy Smith (ogama lakhe, ngaphambi komtshato wakhe, lalinguMack, intombi kaSolomon Mack); abantakwethu, uAlvin (owasweleka ngoNovemba ngowe-19, ngowe-1823, ekuma-26 eminyaka ubudala bakhe), uHyrum, isiqu sam, uSamuel Harrison, uWilliam, uDon Carlos; noodade wethu, uSophronia, uCatherine, noLucy.

5 Ngexesha elithile kunyaka wesibini emva kwemfuduko yethu eya eManchester, kwabakho kwindawo apho sasihlala khona umdla ongaqhelekanga kumcimbi wonqulo. Waqala ngamaWesile, kodwa ngokukhawuleza waba mkhulu phakathi kwawo onke amahlelo kuloo ngingqi yelizwe. Ngokwenene, ummandla wonke welizwe wabonakala uchukumisekile nguwo, nenyambalala enkulu yazimanyela kumaqela ohlukeneyo onqulo, awuzange udale nencinci intshukumo neyantlukwano phakathi kwabantu, abanye bedanduluka, “Yabona, apha!” nabanye, “Yabona, phaya!” Abanye babesunduzela inkolo yobuWesile, abanye eyobuPresbhiteri, nabanye eyobuBhaptizi.

6 Kuba, nangona uthando olukhulu abaguqukayo abalubonakalisayo kwezi nkolo zahlukeneyo ngexesha lokuguqulwa kwabo, nenzondelelo enkulu eyabonakaliswa ngabefundisi bazo, ababekhuthele ekuvuseleleni nasekuxhaseni lo mbono ungaqhelekanga ngokugqithisileyo weemvakalelo zonqulo, ukuze babe nokuguqula wonke umntu, njengoko babekholisekile kukuwubiza ngokuthi, mabavunyelwe bazimanye nehlelo abakholiseke lulo; nangona xa abaguqukayo baqalisa ukuzahlula bemke, abanye kwiqela elinye, nabanye kwelinye, kwabonakala ukuba ngokucacileyo iimvakalelo zabo kunye ababingeleli nabaguqukayo zazihanahanisa ngakumbi kunokuba zibe ziyinyani; kuba umbono wombhodamo omkhulu neemvakalelo ezimbi zalandela—umbingeleli esunduzana ngokuchasene nombingeleli, noguqulweyo ngokuchasene noguqulweyo; khona ukuze zonke iimvakelelo zabo ezimnandi omnye komnye, ukuba zakha zabakho, ziphele ngokupheleleyo kunyukelwano lwamazwi nokhuphiswano ngezimvo.

7 Ngeli xesha ndandikwiminyaka yam yeshumi elinesihlanu. Usapho lukatata wam lwaluguqukela kwinkolo yobuPresbhiteri, kwaye abane babo bazimanya neloo bandla, abangaba, umama wam, uLucy; abantakwethu uHyrum noSamuel Harrison; nodade wethu uSophronia.

8 Ngeli xesha lomdla omkhulu ingqondo yam yavuseleleka ngeengcinga ezimandla nexhala elikhulu; kodwa nangona iimvakalelo zam zazinzulu kwaye futhi zihlaba, nangona kunjalo ndazigcina ndikude kuwo onke la maqela, nangona ndandibakho kwiintlanganiso zawo eziliqela kangangokuba iimeko zazindivumela. Ekuhambeni kwexesha ingqondo yam yaba ngendlela ethile nokukhetha ihlelo lobuWesile, ndaya ndeva umnqweno othile ekubeni ndimanyane kunye nalo; kodwa suka waba mkhulu umbhodamo nembambano phakathi kwamahlelo ohlukahlukeneyo, kuba kwabanzima kumntu owayemtsha njengoba ndandinjalo, nowayengaqhelanga nabantu njalo nezinto, ukufika kuso nasiphina isigqibo esithile sokuba ngubani owayelungile nowayengalunganga.

9 Ingqondo yam ngamaxesha athile yayivuseleleka kakhulu, unkqangazo nesiphithiphithi njalo zazinkulu kwaye zingapheli. AmaPresbhiteri ayeqiniseke ngokugqithisileyo ngokuchasene namaBhaptizi namaWesile, kwaye esebenzisa onke amandla kunye awengqiqo naweengxoxo zobugwenxa ukudandalazisa iziphoso zawo, okanye, obona buncinci, ukwenza abantu bacinge ukuba bakwisiphoso. Kwelinye icala, amaBhaptizi namaWesile ngokunjalo ayenenzondelelo elinganayo ekuzameni ukumisa ezizezawo iimfundiso kwaye angazivumeli zonke ezinye.

10 Esazulwini sayo le mfazwe yamazwi nesiphithiphithi sezimvo, ndathi futhi esiqwini sam: Yintoni emayenziwe? Leliphi kuwo wonke la maqela elilungileyo; okanye, ingaba onke edibene akalunganga? Ukuba naliphi elinye lawo lilungile, leliphi, yaye ndiya kulazi njani?

11 Xa ndandibulaleka phantsi kweenzima ezigqithileyo ezazisenziwa lukhuphiswano lwala maqela abanquli, ngenye imini ndandifunda iNcwadi kaYakobi, isahluko sokuqala nevesi yesihlanu, efundeka nje: Ukuba ubani kuni uswele ubulumko, makacele kuThixo, onika bonke abantu engenakumbi, engangcikivi; kwaye ke wobunikwa.

12 Akunge khe nasiphina isicatshulwa sezibhalo size ngamandla angakumbi entliziyweni yomntu kunokuba eso senzayo ngeli xesha kweyam. Sakhangeleka ngathi singena ngamandla amakhulu kuyo yonke imvakalelo yentliziyo yam. Ndacinga ngaso ndiphinda phinda, ndisazi okokuba ukuba nawuphina umntu ufune ubulumko kuThixo, ndandibufuna; okokuba ndenze kanjani ndandingazi, nje ngaphandle kokuba ndandinokufumana ubulumko obungakumbi kunobo ndandinabo ngoko, ndandingenakuze ndazi; kuba ootitshala bonqulo bamahlelo ohlukahlukeneyo babeziqonda izicatshulwa zezibhalo ezifanayo ngokwahluke kakhulu khona ukuze batshabalalise konke ukuqiniseka ekulungiseni umbuzo ngokubhenela eBhayibhileni.

13 Ethubeni ndafikelela esigqibeni okokuba ndimele ukuhlala emnyameni okanye nokokuba kumbhodamo, okanye ndimele ukwenza njengoko uYakobi ebonisa, oko kukuthi, buza kuThixo. Mna ke ethubeni ndafikelela ekuzimiseleni “ukubuza kuThixo”, ndigqiba ekubeni ukuba wanika ubulumko kubo ababebuswele, yaye enokunika engenakumbi, engangcikivi, ndibe nokulinga.

14 Njalo, ngokuvumelana noku, ukuzimisela kwam ukubuza kuThixo, ndaya ngasese ehlathini ukuze ndenze ilinge. Kwakungentsasa yemini ezolileyo, entle, ekuqalekeni kwentwasahlobo yowamakhulu alishumi elinesibhozo anamashumi amabini. Kwakulixesha lokuqala ebomini bam okokuba ndenze ilinge elinjalo, kuba phakathi kwamaxhala am onke bendingazange khe njalo ndenze ilinge lokuthandaza ngelizwi.

15 Emva kokuba ndaya ngasese endaweni apho ngaphambili bendicebe ukuya kuyo, ndikhangele kumacala onke am, ndaza ndazifumana ndindedwa, ndaguqa phantsi kwaye ndaqalisa ukunikela phezulu iminqweno yentliziyo yam kuThixo. Ndandingekenzi kuyaphi, xa ngokukhawuleza ndathathwa ngamandla athile awandoyisa ngokupheleleyo, ndaye ndanempembelelo enjalo emangalisayo phezu kwam ngokungathi ibopha ulwimi lwam ukuze ndingabinako ukuthetha. Ubumnyama obukhulu bahlanganisana macala onke am, kwaye kwabonakala kum okwexesha njengokungathi ndandigwetyelwe kwintshabalalo yesiquphe.

16 Kodwa, ndisenza yonke imigudu yamandla am ukubiza kuThixo andikhuphe ngaphandle kwamandla olu tshaba olundithabathileyo, kwaye kanye ngethuba xa ndandilungele ukuzikela ekuncameni nasekushiyeleni isiqu sam kwintshabalalo—ingelulo uphanziso lwentelekelelo, kodwa emandleni esiqu esithile uqobo esivela kwilizwe elingabonakaliyo, esasinamandla anjalo ukumangalisa endingazange ndaweva ngaphambili kuso nasiphina isiqu—kanye ngeli thuba loloyiko olukhulu, ndabona intsika yomlilo ngqo phezu kwentloko yam, engentla kokuqaqamba kwelanga, eyehla ngokuthe chu yada yawela phezu kwam.

17 Njengoko yabonakala ndazifumana ndihlangulwa elutshabeni elalindibophelele. Xa ukukhanya kwaphumla phezu kwam ndabona iZiqu ezibini, ezikuqaqamba kwazo nobuqaqawuli kungenako konke ukuchazwa, zime ngentla kwam emoyeni. Esinye saso sathetha nam, sindibiza ngegama saye sathi, sisalatha kwesinye—Lo nguNyana Wam oyiNtanda. Mveni Yena!

18 Injongo yam ekuyeni kubuza iNkosi yayikukwazi ukuba leliphi kuwo amahlelo elalilungile, ukuze ndibe nokwazi emandizimanye nalo. Kungephi ke ngoko, ndafumana ukuzilawula, njengoko ke ndibe nako ukuthetha, ndithe ndabuza iZiqu ezazimi ngentla kwam ekukhanyeni, leliphi kuwo onke amahlelo elalilungile (ukuba ngeli xesha akuzange kungene entliziyweni yam ukuba onke ayengalunganga)—nokuba leliphi emandizimanye nalo.

19 Ndaphendulwa ukuba mandingazimanyi nalinye kuwo, kuba ayengalunganga onke; kwaye iZiqu ezathetha nam zathi okokuba onke amahlelo abo ayelisikizi emehlweni akhe; kuba loo mangqina onke ayonakale; kuba: “asondele kum ngemilebe yabo, kanti iintliziyo zabo zikude kum, afundisa iimfundiso eziyimithetho yabantu, enokumilisa kokuhlonela uthixo, ukanti ayawakhanyela amandla ako.”

20 Kwakhona wandalela ukuba ndizimanye kunye naliphi elawo; nezinye izinto ezininzi awathi wazithetha kum, endingenako ukuzibhala ngeli xesha. Xa ndabuyela ezingqondweni kwakhona, ndazifumana ndilele ngomqolo, ndijonge phezulu ezulwini. Xa ukukhanya kwemkayo, andizange ndibe namandla; kodwa kamsinya ndaba sesingqondweni kwiqondo elithile, ndaya ekhaya. Ndaza njengokuba ndabambelela ezikweni lomlilo, umama wabuza ukuba kwakusenzeka ntoni. Ndaphendula, “Ungazihluphi, konke kuhle—ndiphile kakuhle ngokwaneleyo.” Ndathi ngoko kumama wam, “Ndizifundele ngokwam ukuba ubuPresbhiteri abuyiyo inene.” Kubonakala ngokungathi utshaba lwaluthe qwa, ethubeni kanye lokuqala lobomi bam, ukuba bendithunyelwe ukubonakala ndingumphazamisi nomcaphukisi wobukumkani bakhe; okanye kutheni amandla obumnyama ayesiya kudibana ngokuchasene nam? Kutheni nje iyimpikiswano nentshutshiso ezavuka ngokuchasene nam, phantse ebuntwaneni bam?

Abanye abashumayeli namanye amangqina onqulo bayala ingxelo yoMbono woKuqala—Intshutshiso ifunjwe phezu koJoseph Smith—Ungqina ngobunyani bombono. (Iivesi 21–26.)

21 Kwiintsuku ezithile emva kokuba ndaba nalo mbono, kwakwenzeke ekubeni ndibekho kunye nomye wabashumayeli bamaWesile, owayesebenza kwimvuselelo yonqulo ekukhankanyo olungaphambili; saye, sincokola kunye naye ngomcimbi wonqulo, ndathabatha ithuba lokumnika ingxelo yombono endaba nawo. Ndothuka ngokumangalisa kakhulu kwindlela yakhe yokuziphatha; akazange nje akuthathe ukuthetha kwam ngokulula kuphela, kodwa ngendelelo enkulu, esithi konke kwakukokomtyholi, kuba kwakungekho zinto zinjalo ezinje ngemibono nezityhilelo ngale mihla; kuba ezo zinto zinjalo zathi zaphela kunye nabapostile, nokokuba akusayi kuphinde kubekho naziphina ezazo.

22 Ndafumana kamsinya, nangona kunjalo, ukuba ukuxela kwam ibali kuvuselele umyinge omkhulu wentiyo phakathi kwamangqina onqulo ngokuchasene nam, kwaye yaba sisizathu sentshutshiso enkulu, eyaqhubeka ukwanda; kwaye nangona ndandiyinkwenkwe engaziwayo, kuphela ephakathi kweminyaka elishumi elinesine neminyaka elishumi elinasihlanu ubudala, neemeko zam zobomi ezinjalo zenze inkwenkwe engabalulekanga ehlabathini, kodwa amadoda ezinga eliphezulu abe nokuthatha umgqaliselo ukuvuselela ingqondo kawonke-wonke ngokuchasene nam, baze badale intshutshiso ekrakra; kwaye oku kwakuqhelekile phakathi kwawo onke amahlelo—onke amanyana ekutshutshiseni mna.

23 Kwandenza ngoko iingcinga ezimandla, kwaye rhoqo ukususela oko, kwakungamangalisa kakhulu njani okokuba inkwenkwe engaziwayo, engaphezulu kancinane nje kweminyaka elishumi elinesine ubudala, nenye, kanjalo, eyayigwetyelwe kwimfuneko yokuzuza isondlo esincinane ngomsebenzi wayo wemihla ngemihla, ibe nokucingelwa njengomntu obalulekileyo ngokwaneleyo ekutsaleni umdla wabakhulu bamahlelo adume ngokugqithisileyo aloo mihla, nangendlela yokudala kuwo umoya wentshutshiso eyiyeyona ikrakra nenyelisayo. Kanti nangona kwakumangalisa okanye kungamangalisi, kwakunjalo ke, kwaye rhoqo yayisisizathu kum sosizi olukhulu.

24 Nangona kunjalo, kodwa ke yayiyinyani ukuba ndathi ndabona umbono. Ukususela ngoko ndathi ndacinga, okokuba ndaziva ngakumbi njengoPawulos, xa wenza ukhuselo lwakhe phambi koKumkani uAgripa, kwaye wabalisa ingxelo yombono awabanawo xa wabona ukukhanya, waza weva ilizwi; kodwa babesembalwa abamkholelwayo; abanye bathi wayenganyanisekanga, abanye bathi wayephambene; kwaye kwaphoxiswa ngaye waza wanyeliswa. Kodwa konke oku akuzange kutshabalalise ubunyani bombono wakhe. Wayebone umbono, wazi ukuba waba nawo, kwaye yonke intshutshiso phantsi kwezulu ayizange ikwenze oko kube yenye into; kwaye nangona babeya kumtshutshisa kuye ekufeni, kanti wazi, kwaye eya kwazi kuye kumphefumlo wakhe wokugqibela, okokuba wathi kunye wabona ukukhanya waza weva ilizwi lithetha kuye, kwaye lonke ihlabathi lalingenako ukumenza acinge okanye akholelwe ngenye indlela.

25 Kwakunjalo ke nakum. Ndandikubonile ngokwenene ukukhanya, kwaye phakathi koko kukhanya ndabona iZiqu ezibini, kwaye ngokwenene zathi zathetha nam; kwaye nangona ndandicatshukelwa kwaye nditshutshiswa ngokuthi ndandibone umbono, kanti kwakuyinyani; kwaye ngethuba ababenditshutshisa, bendinyelisa, kwaye bethetha zonke iintlobo zobubi ngokuchasene nam ngokuxoxa ngenxa yokutsho njalo, ndakhokelelwa ekuthini entliziyweni yam: Kutheni nditshutshiswa ngokuthetha inyaniso? Ndiwubonile ngokwenene umbono; kwaye ndingubani mna okokuba ndinganako ukumelana noThixo, okanye kutheni ihlabathi licinga ukuba lingandenza ndiphike oko ndikubone ngokwenene? Kuba ndiwubonile umbono; ndakwazi oko, kwaye ndazi okokuba uThixo wakwazi oko, kwaye ndandingenako ukukuphika, nabunganga bokwenza, noko ndazi okokuba ngokwenjenjalo ndandiya kukhubekisa uThixo, kwaye ndibe phantsi kwesigwebo.

26 Ngoku ndathi ndafumana ingqondo yam yonelisekile ngokwamahlelo ehlabathi ekuzixakekiseni kwawo—kuba yayingenguwo umsebenzi wam ukuzimanya naliphina elawo, kodwa ndiqhubeke njengoko ndandinjalo ndide ndiyalelwe ngakumbi. Ndathi ndafumana ubungqina bukaYakobi buyinyani—ukuba ubani uswele ubulumko unokucela kuThixo, aze abuzuze, aze angangcikivi.

UMoronayi ubonakala kuJoseph Smith—Igama likaJoseph liza kwaziwa ngokulungileyo nokubi phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe—UMoronayi umxelela ngeNcwadi kaMormoni nangemigwebo ezayo yeNkosi aze acaphule izibhalo ezininzi—Indawo efihle amacwecwe egolide iyatyhilwa—UMoronayi uqhubekeka eyalela uMprofeti. (Iivesi 27–54.)

27 Ndaqhubeka ukuqhuba imisebenzi yam eqhelekileyo ebomini kwade kwaba ngowamashumi amabini ananye kaSeptemba, ngowewaka elinamakhulu asibhozo anamashumi amabini anesithathu, lonke ixesha imbandezelo nentshutshiso emandla ezandleni zazo zonke iindidi zabantu, kunye abenkolo nabangengabo abenkolo, ngenxa yokuba ndaqhubeka ukuqinisa okokuba ndibone umbono.

28 Kwisithuba sexesha elibe phakathi kwexesha ebendibone umbono nonyaka wamakhulu alishumi elinesibhozo anamashumi amabini anesithathu—ndithe ndalelwa ukuzimanya naliphina elamahlelo enkolo emihla, nasekubeni ndandikwiminyaka eselula kakhulu, kwaye nditshutshiswe ngabo babemele ukuba babe babengabahlobo bam kwaye babendiphethe kakuhle, kwaye ukuba babendicingela ukuba ndilahlekisiwe bazame ngendlela eyiyo nenobubele bandisindise—ndayekelwa kuzo zonke iintlobo zezilingo; kwaye, ndixubana nazo zonke zoluntu, ndawela kaninzi kwiimpazamo zobuyatha ezininzi, kwaye ndabonisa ubuthathaka bobutsha, nemikhwa yendalo yomntu; endilusizi, ukuyithetha, eyandikhokelela kwizilingo ezahlukeneyo, ekhubekisayo emehlweni kaThixo. Ekwenzeni esi sivumo, akukho namnye ofuneka andithathe njengonetyala lazo naziphina izono ezikhulu okanye ezinobungozi. Isimilo sokwenza okunjalo sasingazange sibe sendalweni yam. Kodwa ndandinetyala lokuthatha lula izinto ezifanele ukuthatyathwa ngesidima, ndaye ngamanye amaxesha ndizidibanise neqela labantu abonwabileyo, nje, ndiguquguquka kweso simo esimele ukugcinwa ngulowo ubizwe nguThixo njengoko ndandinjalo. Kodwa oku akuyi kubonakala kumangalisa kakhulu kuye nawuphina okhumbula ubutsha bam, aze abe uqhelene nesimilo sam esonwabileyo sendalo.

29 Ngesizathu sezi zinto, ndaziva ndinetyala rhoqo ngenxa yobuthathaka neziphako; xa, ngorhatya lwamashumi amabini ananye kaSeptemba olukhankanywe ngasentla, emva kokuba ndaya emandlalweni wam ebusuku, ndenza umthandazo nesibongozo kuThixo uSomandla soxolelo lwazo zonke izono zam nobuyatha, kananjalo nokubonakaliswa kum, ukuze ndibe nokwazi imeko yam nobume phambi kwakhe; kuba ndandinokuqiniseka okuzeleyo ekuzuzeni ukuzibonakalisa okunyulu, njengoko bendinako ngaphambili.

30 Ndisathandaza njalo kuThixo, ndabona ukukhanya kuvela egumbini lam, okwathi kwaqhubeka ukukhula lada igumbi lakhanya ngaphezulu kunemini emaqanda, kwa oko kwavela isiqu somntu ecaleni komandlalo wam, simi emoyeni, kuba iinyawo zaso zazingafikanga emgangathweni.

31 Sasinxibe isambatho esiwaku-waku sinobumhlophe nobuhle obumangalasiyo. Yayibubumhlophe obungaphaya kwabo nabuphina emhlabeni endakha ndabubona; kwaye andikholwa ukuba ingakhona into emhlabeni enokwenziwa ikhangeleke inobumhlophe obugqithisileyo kangako nokubengezela. Izandla zaso zazi ze, kwa neengalo zaso, kancinane entla kwezihlahla; kananjalo, neenyawo zaso zazi ze, njengemilenze yaso, kancinane entla kwamaqatha. Intloko yaso kwa nentamo nazo zazi ze. Ndabanako ukufumanisa ukuba sasingenazo ezinye izinxibo kuso ngaphandle nje kwesi sambatho, njengoko sasivulekile, ukuze ndibenako ukubona esifubeni saso.

32 Yayingesosambatho saso kuphela esasimhlophe ngokugqithisileyo, kodwa nesiqu saso sonke sasinobuqaqawuli obugqithisileyo obungaphaya kokuchazwa, kwaye imbonakalo yobuso baso okwenene ifana nombane. Igumbi lalikhanya ngokugqithisileyo, kodwa lalingakhanyi kakhulu njengoko kwakhawuleza kwanjalo macala onke esiqu saso. Xa ndandiqala ukusijonga, ndandisoyika; kodwa uloyiko lwakhawuleza lwemka kum.

33 Sandibiza ngegama, saza sathi kum, sisisithunywa esithunyelwe kum sivela ebusweni bukaThixo, nokokuba igama laso sasinguMoronayi; kuba uThixo wayenomsebenzi afuna ukuba ndiwenze; nokokuba igama lam liya kwaziwa ngokulungileyo nangobubi phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe, izalamane, neelwimi, okanye ukuze libe liya kuthethwa kunye ngokulungileyo nokubi phakathi kwabo bonke abantu.

34 Sathi kukho incwadi eselugcinweni, ebhalwe phezu kwamacwecwe egolide, enika ingxelo yabemi bamandulo beli lizwekazi, nemvelaphi apho babephuma khona. Sathi kanjalo iVangeli yanaphakade epheleleyo yayiqulathwe kuyo, njengoko yaziswa nguMsindisi kubemi bamandulo;

35 Kanjalo, okokuba kwakukho namatye amabini kwizakhelo zesilivere—kwaye la matye, abotshelelwe kwintsimbi eyingcina-sifuba, enza into ebizwa ngokuba yiYurim neTumim—agcinwe kunye namacwecwe; kwaye ukuba nawo, nokusetyenziswa kwala matye kwakuthetha oko konyulelwe “iiMboni” kumaxesha amandulo, nokuba uThixo wayewalungiselele zona ngenxa yenjongo yokuguqula incwadi.

36 Emva kokundixelela ezi zinto, saqalisa ukucaphula iziprofetho zeTestamente eNdala. Saqala sacaphula inxenye yesahluko sesithathu sikaMalaki; kwaye sacaphula kanjalo isahluko sesine okanye esokugqibela sesiprofetho esifanayo, nangona kwakungumahluko omncinane nje kwindlela esifundeka ngayo kwiiBhayibhile zethu. Endaweni yokucaphula ivesi yokuqala njengoko ifundeka kwiincwadi zethu, sayicaphula nje:

37 Kuba yabona, iyeza imini eya kuvutha njengeziko, kwaye bonke abakhukhumali, ewe, nabo bonke abenzi bokungendawo baya kutsha njengeendiza; kuba abo bezayo baya kubatshisa, itsho iNkosi yeMikhosi, okokuba ayisayi kubashiyela ngcambu nasebe.

38 Kwaye kwakhona sacaphula ivesi yesihlanu nje: Yabonani, ndiya kutyhila kuni uBubingeleli ngesandla somprofeti uEliya, phambi kokuza kwemini enkulu neyoyikekayo yeNkosi.

39 Sacaphula kanjalo ivesi elandelayo ngokwahlukileyo: Kwaye uya kutyala ezintliziyweni zabantwana izithembiso ezenziwa kooyise, kwaye iintliziyo zabantwana ziya kubuyela kooyise. Ukuba bekungenjalo, umhlaba wonke ubuya kuphanziswa ngokupheleleyo ekuzeni kwayo.

40 Ekongezeni kwezi, sacaphula isahluko seshumi elinanye sikaIsaya, sisithi okokuba kwakuseza kuzaliseka. Sacaphula kanjalo isahluko sesithathu seZenzo, iivesi zamashumi amabini anesibini neyamashumi amabini anesithathu, ngokuchanekileyo njengoko zimi kwiTestimente eNtsha yethu. Sathi okokuba loo mprofeti yayinguKrestu; kodwa imini yayingekafiki xa “abo babengazange baliphulaphule ilizwi lakhe babeya kusikelwa ngaphandle phakathi kwabantu,” kodwa kamsinya iya kuza.

41 Sacaphula kanjalo isahluko sesibini sikaYoweli, ukususela kwivesi yamashumi amabini anesibhozo ukuya kweyokugqibela. Sathi kanjalo okokuba oku akukathi kuzaliseke, kodwa kamsinya kuya kubanjalo. Kwaye sachaza ngakumbi okokuba ukuzalisekiswa kweeNtlanga kamsinya kuza kungena. Sacaphula eminye imihlathi emininzi yezibhalo, kwaye sanika iinkcazelo ezininzi ezingenako ukukhankanywa apha.

42 Kwakhona, sandixelela, okokuba xa ndiwafumana loo macwecwe sithethe ngawo—kuba ilixa lokuba ndiwazuze alikazaliseki—andifanelanga kuwabonisa nawuphina umntu; nayo intsimbi eyingcina-sifuba eneYurim neTumim; kuphela nje kwabo endiya kuyalelwa ukuba ndibabonise; ukuba ndenze njalo ndiya kutshatyalaliswa. Ngeli lixa sasincokola nam malunga namacwecwe, kwavuleka umbono engqondweni yam ukuze ndiyibone indawo apho amacwecwe ayegcinwe kuyo, yaye icace ngokupheleleyo nangokwahlukileyo kangangokuba ndayazi indawo kwakhona xa ndayindwendwela.

43 Emva kolu qhagamishelwano, ndabona ukukhanya egumbini kusiya kuqokelelana ngokukhawuleza macala onke akhe umntu owayethetha nam, kwaye kwaqhubeka ukwenzeka njalo, lada igumbi lasala limnyama kwakhona, ngaphandle nje emacaleni onke akhe; xa, kwathi ngephanyazo ndabona, ngokungathi, kuvuleka umjelo ngqo ezulwini, waye wenyuka wade waya uphela, laza igumbi lasala linjengoko belinjalo ngaphambi kokuba oku kukhanya kwasezulwini kwenze imbonakalo yako.

44 Ndalala apho ndicinga ngesi sehlo sikhethekileyo, ndaye ndimangalisiwe kakhulu ngendikuxelelwe sesi sithunywa singaqhelekanga; xa, ndiphakathi ezingcingeni zam, ngesaqhuphe ndafumanisa okokuba igumbi lam kwakhona laliqalisa ukukhanyiswa, kwaza ngephanyazo, kwabangathi, kwasona eso sithunywa sasezulwini kwakhona sasisecaleni komandlalo wam.

45 Saqalisa, saza kwakhona sacengceleza kwa izinto njengoko besenzile kutyelelo lwaso lokuqala, kungekho nowona mncinane umahluko; sithe ekubeni senze njalo, sandazisa ngezigwebo ezikhulu ezazisiza phezu komhlaba, ngokuphanziswa okukhulu ngendlala, ikrele, nobhubhane; nokokuba ezi zigwebo zihlungisayo ziya kuza emhlabeni kwesi sizukulwana. Sakuba sizicengcelezile ezi zinto, saphinda sanyuka njengoko besenzile ngaphambili.

46 Ngesi sihlandlo, lwalunzulu kakhulu uluvo olwaba sengqondweni yam, bade babaleka ubuthongo emehlweni am, ndaza ndalala ndonganyelwe kukukhwankqiseka koko ndathi kunye ndakubona kwaye ndakuva. Kodwa oko kwaba ngummangaliso kum xa kwakhona ndabona kwa isithunywa ecaleni komandlalo wam, kwaye ndasiva sibalisa okanye sindiphinda-phindela kwa izinto njengaphambili; saza songeza isilumkiso kum, sindixelela okokuba uSathana uya kuzama ukundihenda (ngenxa yeemeko zobuhlwempu bosapho lukabawo), ukuba ndizuze amacwecwe ngenjongo yokuzuza ubutyebi. Sandalela ukukwenza oku, sisithi okokuba maze ndingabi nenye injongo elawulayo ekuzuzeni amacwecwe ngaphandle kokuzukisa uThixo, kwaye maze ndingaphenjelelwa nasesiphina isizathu ngaphandle kokwakha ubukumkani bakhe; kungenjalo andiyi kuwafumana.

47 Emva kolu tyelelo lwesithathu, saphinda kwakhona sanyukela ezulwini njengangaphambili, ndaza kwakhona ndasala ndizikisa ukucinga ngokungaqheleki koko bekusandula ukundehlela; xa phantse ngequbuliso emva kokuba isithunywa sasezulwini sathi senyuka ukusuka kum isihlandlo sesithathu, yakhala inkuku, ndaza ndafumanisa okokuba kuza ukusa, ngako oko ingxoxo yethu makube yathatha bonke obo busuku.

48 Kufutshane emva koko ndaphakama kumandlalo wam, ndaza, njengesiqhelo, ndaya kwenza imisebenzi yemini eyimfuneko; kodwa ekuzameni ukusebenza njengamanye amaxesha, ndazifumana ndiphelelwe ngamandla ngokokude ndingabinako ukwenza nantoni na. Ubawo, owayesebenza ecaleni kwam, waphawula okokuba kukho okungalunganga kum, waza wandiyalela ukuba ndigoduke. Ndaqalisa ndinenjongo yokuya endlwini; kodwa, ekuzameni ukunqumla umbiyelo ndiphuma entsimini apho sasikhona, amandla am aphela tu, ndaza ndawa emhlabeni ndingenakuzinceda, kwaye kangangethutyana ndandingekho zingqondweni zayo nayiphina into.

49 Into yokuqala endinokuyikhumbula yaba lilizwi lithetha nam, lindibiza ngegama. Ndakhangela phezulu, ndaza ndabona kwa isithunywa simi ngentla kwentloko yam, sijikelezwe kukukhanya njengangaphambili. Saphinda ke sacengceleza konke esibe sikucengceleze kum kubusuku obudlulileyo, kwaye sandiyalela ukuba ndiye kubawo kwaye ndimchazele ngombono nemiyalelo endithe ndayifumana.

50 Ndathobela; ndabuyela kubawo entsimini, ndaze ndambalisela wonke umxholo. Wandiphendula ngokuthi kokukaThixo, waza wandixelela ukuba mandihambe kwaye ndenze njengoko ndiyalelwe sisithunywa. Ndayishiya intsimi, kwaye ndaya kuyo indawo isithunywa ebesindixelele ukuba amacwecwe agcinwe kuyo; kwaye ngenxa yokucaca kombono endandinawo ngayo, ndayazi indawo kwangoko nje ukuba ndifike kuyo.

51 Kufuphi nedolophana yaseManchester, eOntario khawunti, eNew York, kumi induli enkulu ngokomlinganiselo, neyona iphakamileyo ngaphezu kwayo nayiphina engingqini. Kwicala lasentshonalanga lale nduli, kungekude nencopho, phantsi kwelitye elikhulu ngomlinganiselo, kwakulele amacwecwe, egcinwe kwityesi yelitye. Eli litye lalingqingqwa kwaye lingqukuva kumbindi okwicala elingaphezulu, kwaye linokuncipha ukuya emiphethweni, ukuze umbindi walo ubonakale ngaphezu komhlaba, kodwa umphetho macala onke wawugqunyelelwe ngumhlaba.

52 Ekubeni ndiwususile umhlaba, ndafumana isixhathiso sokunqika, endasifaka ngaphantsi komphetho welitye, ndaza ngokusebenzisa amandla nje kancinane ndaliphakamisa. Ndakhangela ngaphakathi, ndaza ndabona khona apho ngokwenene amacwecwe, iYurim neTumim, nentsimbi eyingcina-sifuba, njengoko kwakuchaziwe sisithunywa. Ityesi leyo zazilele kuyo yayakhiwe ngokulalisa amatye kunye ngokohlobo oluthile lwesamente. Kumphantsi wetyesi kwakulaliswe amatye amabini exwesisiwe etyesini, kwaye kula matye kwakulele amacwecwe nezinye izinto kunye nawo.

53 Ndenza inzame yokokuba ndiwakhuphe, kodwa sandalela isithunywa, ndaza kwakhona ndaziswa okokuba lalingekezi ilixa lokuwazisa ngaphambili, lingekazi kufika, kude kube yiminyaka emine ukusuka ngelo xesha; kodwa sandixelela okokuba kuya kufuneka ndize kuloo ndawo kanye ngqo emva konyaka ukusuka kwelo lixa, nokokuba siya kudibana nam apho, nokokuba kufuneka ndiqhubeke ndisenza njalo lide lifike ilixa lokuzuza amacwecwe.

54 Ngokunxulumene, njengoko ndandiyalelwe, ndaya ekupheleni konyaka ngamnye, kwaye ngexesha ngalinye ndasifumana kwa isithunywa esinye silapho, kwaye ndizuze umyalelo nengqiqo kuso kwindibano ngazinye zethu, ndihilonela oko iNkosi yayiza kukwenza, nakanjani na nangaluphina uhlobo ubukumkani bayo obabuza kuqhutywa ngalo kwimihla yokugqibela.

UJoseph Smith utshata uEmma Hale—Ufumana amacwecwe egolide kuMoronayi aze aguqulele abanye abantu—UMartin Harris ubonisa abantu noguqulelo kuNjinga-lwazi uAnthon, othi, “Andinako ukufunda incwadi etywiniweyo.” (Iivesi 55–65.)

55 Njengokuba iimeko zikabawo zazinqongophele kakhulu, sasiphantsi kokunyanzeleka kokusebenza ngezandla zethu, siqeshelwa umsebenzi wosuku nangezinye iindlela, njengoko sasinako ukuzuza ithuba. Ngamanye amaxesha sasisekhaya, kwaye ngamanye amaxesha sibe ngapha nangapha, kwaye ngokuqhubeka sisebenza sasincedakala ukufumana isondlo esonwabisayo.

56 Ngonyaka yowe-1823 usapho lukabawo lwafumana imbandazelo enkulu yokufa komntakwethu onguyena mdala, uAlvin. Ngenyanga kaOktobha, kowe-1825, ndaqeshwa linene elidala eligama linguJosiah Stoal, ehlala eChenango khawunti, kwiSteyti saseNew York. Wayeve into ethile yomgodi wesilivere owawuvulwe ngaBaphuthukezi eHarmony, eSusquehanna khawunti, kwiSteyti sasePennyslvania; kwaye wathi, ngaphambi koku ndiqesha kwakhe, wabe esomba, ukuze, ukuba kuyenzeka, abhaqe umgodi. Emva kokuba ndahamba ukuya kuhlala naye, wandithabatha, kunye nabanye babancedisi bakhe, ekubeni sombe umgodi wesilivere, apho ndaqhubeka ndisebenza phantse inyanga, ngaphandle kwempumelelo kumzamo wethu, kwaye ekugqibeleni ndaphumelela ekuphembeleleni inene elidala lipheze ukuyomba. Kungoko kwavela ibali kanye eliqhelekileyo lokuba ndandingumombi wemali.

57 Ngexesha njalo endandiqeshiwe, ndandibhodisiwe kwaMnu. Isaac Hale, waloo ndawo; kulapho endabona umfazi wam okokuqala (intombi yakhe), uEmma Hale. Ngowe-18 kuJanuwari, kowe-1827, sitshatile, ngethuba endandisaqeshiwe ekusebenzeleni uMnu. Stoal.

58 Ngenxa yokuqhubekeka kwam ndibanga ukuba ndathi ndabona umbono, intshutshiso yabe isandilandela, kwaye usapho loyise womfazi wam lwalukuchase kakhulu ngakumbi ukutshata kwethu. Ke ngoko, ndandiphantsi, kokunyanzeleka kokumsa kwenye indawo; ke sahamba saza satshatela endlwini yoMninimhlaba omkhulu uTarbill, eMzantsi Bainbridge, eChenango khawunti, eNew York. Ngokukhawuleza emva komtshato wam, ndemka kwaMnu. Stoal, ndaza ndaya kwelika bawo, ndaye ndalima kunye naye elo xesha lonyaka.

59 Ethubeni lafika ilixa lokuzuza amacwecwe, iYurim neTumim, nentsimbi eyingcina-sifuba. Ngomhla wamashumi amabini anesibini kaSeptemba, kowe waka elinamakhulu asibhozo anamashumi amabini anesixhenxe, ndakuba ndiyile njengesiqhelo ekupheleni komnye unyaka kwindawo leyo ayegcinwe kuyo, kwa isithunywa esinye sasezulwini sawanikela kum nalo myalelo: okokuba aya kuba ngumthwalo wam; okokuba ukuba ndithe ndaphulukana nawo ngokungakhathali, okanye nangaluphina uhlobo lwam lokungabi nankathalo, ndiya kusikelwa ngaphandle, kodwa ke ukuba ndithe ndasebenzisa zonke iinzame zam ukuwalondoloza, side sona, isithunywa, size kuwaphuthuma, aya kukhuselwa.

60 Kwakamsinyane ndawufumana unobangela wokuba ndizuze umyalelo ongqongqo kangako wokuba ndiwagcine ekhuselekile, nokokuba kungani isithunywa sathi, ekubeni ndikwenzile oko kwakufuneka esandleni sam, siya kuwaphuthuma. Kuba kwakamsinyane nje ukuba kwaziwe ukuba ndinawo, kwathi kwasetyenziswa awona mandla ngakumbi ukuwahlutha kum. Bonke ubuchule obabunokucingwa basetyenziswa ukuphumeza loo njongo. Intshutshiso yabakrakra ngakumbi kwaye yababuhlungu kunangaphambili, nezihlwele zazisoloko ziphaphile ukuze zibe nokuwahlutha kum ukuba kunokwenzeka. Kodwa ngobulumko bukaThixo, ahlala ekhuselekile ezandleni zam, ndada ngawo ndabe ndikuphumezile oko kwakufuneka esandleni sam. Xa, ngokwezicwangciso, isithunywa sasiwaphuthuma, ndawanikezela kuso; kwaye aselugcinweni lwaso kude kube yile mini, elusuku lwesibini kuMeyi, iwaka elinamakhulu asibhozo namashumi amathathu anesibhozo.

61 Umdla, nangona kunjalo, wawusaqhubeka, namarhe kunye namalwimi awo aliwaka lonke ixesha esetyenziswa ekusasazeni ubuxoki ngosapho lukabawo, nangesiqu sam. Ukuba bendikunobalisa isiqingatha sewaka lenxenye yawo, besinokugcwalisa imiqulu. Intshutshiso, kunjalo nje, yaya inganyamezeleki kakhulu ndide ndibe phantsi kokunyanzeleka kokuba ndimke eManchester, kwaye ndihambe nomfazi wam siye eSusquehanna khawunti, kwiSteyti sasePennsylvania. Ngethuba ndilungiselela ukuqala— ndihlwempuzeke kakhulu, nentshutshiso ingamandla kakhulu phezu kwethu ngokokude kungabikho themba lokuba kungenzeka ukuba singaze sibe yenye into—phakathi ezimbandezelweni zethu safumana umhlobo olinene ogama linguMartin Harris, oweza kuthi waza wasinika amashumi amahlanu eedola ukusincedisa eluhambeni lwethu. Umnu. Harris wayengumhlali kwidolophana yasePalmyra, eWayne khawunti, kwiSteyti sase New York, kwaye engumfama ohloniphekileyo.

62 Ngolu ncedo lwexesha elifanelekileyo ndaba nako ukufikelela kwindawo endandisiya kuyo ePennsylvania; kwaye ngokukhawuleza emva kokufika kwam apho ndaqalisa ukukopa abalinganiswa emacwecweni. Ndakopa inani labo elithe vetshe, ndaze ngoncedo lweYurim neTumim ndaguqulela abanye babo, endakwenza phakathi kwexesha endafika endlwini kayise womfazi wam, ngenyanga kaDisemba, noFebruwari olandelayo.

63 Kwixesha elithile kule nyanga kaFebruwari, uMnu. Martin Harris okhankanywe ngaphambili weza endaweni yethu, wafumana abalinganiswa endandibakope emacwecweni, waye wemka nabo ukuya kwisixeko saseNew York. Ngoko kwenzeka ngokuphathelele kuye nabalinganiswa, ndicaphula kwingxelo eyiyeyakhe yeemeko, njengoko wazibalisayo kum emva kokuya kwakhe, eyayinjengokulandelayo:

64 “Ndaya kwisixeko saseNew York, ndaze ndanikela iisimboli ezisetyenziswe elulwimini ebeziguqulelwe, noguqulelo lwazo, kuNjingalwazi Charles Anthon, inene elidume ngeziphakamileyo zoncwadi. UNjingalwazi Anthon waxela ukuba uguqulelo lwaluchanekile, luchaneke ngakumbi kunalo naluphina alibone ngaphambili luguqulelwe luvela kwisiYiputa. Ndambonisa ngoko ke ezo zazingekaguqulelwa, kwaye wathi zazisisiYiputa, isiKaledi, isiAsiriya, nesiArabhu; kwaye wathi yayiziisimboli zolwimi eziyinyani. Wandinika isatifiketi, esingqinayo ebantwini basePalmyra okokuba yayiziisimboli eziyinyani, nokokuba uguqulelo lwezinjalo zazo eziguqulelwe kanjalo lwaluchanekile. Ndasithatha isatifiketi ndaza ndasifaka epokothweni yam, kwaye kanye ndandishiya indlu, xa uMnu. Anthon wandibiza ndibuyele, waza wandibuza ukuba umfana wafumana njani okokuba apho kwakukho amacwecwe egolide kwindawo apho awafumana khona. Ndaphendula okokuba ingelosi kaThixo ityhile oko kuye.

65 “Wathi kum ngoko, ‘Mandibone esoo satifiketi.’ Ndasikhupha ngoko ke epokothweni yam ndaza ndamnika, xa wasithathayo waza wasikrazula saziziqwengana, esithi okokuba kwakungekho nto injalo ngoku njengolungiselelo lweengelosi, nokokuba xa bendiya kuzisa amacwecwe kuye ebeya kuwaguqulela. Ndamxelela ukuba inxenye yamacwecwe yayitywiniwe, nokokuba ndandalelwe ukuba ndize nawo. Waphendula, ‘Andinako ukufunda incwadi etywiniweyo.’ Ndamshiya ndaza ndaya kuGqirha Mitchell, owaqinisekisa oko uNjingalwazi Anthon akuthethileyo ehlonipha zombini iisimboli zolwimi noguqulelo.”

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UOliver Cowdery usebenza njengonobhala ekuguquleni iNcwadi kaMormoni—UJoseph no-Oliver bafumana uBubingeleli buka-Aron kuYohane uMbhaptizi—Bayabhaptizwa, bamiselwe baze bafumane umoya wesiprofetho. (Iivesi 66–75.)

66 Ngosuku lwesihlanu kuAprili, 1829, uOliver Cowdery weza endlwini yam, kude kube lelo xesha ndandingazange ndimbone. Wandicacisela ukuba ngenxa yokuba efundisa kwisikolo esikwingingqi apho ubawo wayehlala khona, nobawo engomnye wabo wabathumele esikolweni, weza kubhoda ixesha elithile endlwini yakhe, kwaye ngethuba usapho lwabalisa kuye iimeko zokufumana kwam amacwecwe, kwaye ngoko ke uze ukuzokwenza imibuzo kum.

67 Kwiintsuku ezimbini emva kokufika kukaMnu. Cowdery (kwakulolwe-7 likaAprili) ndaqalisa ukuguqulela iNcwadi kaMormoni, kwaye waqalisa ukubhalela mna.

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68 Saba siqhuba umsebenzi woguqulelo, xa, kwinyanga elandelayo (uMeyi, 1829), sahamba ngosuku oluthile ehlathini ukuya kuthandaza nokubuza eNkosini ngokunxulumene nobhaptizo noxolelo lwezono, esafumana zikhankanywe kuguqulelo lwamacwecwe. Xa njalo sasibambeke, ekuthandazeni nasekubizeni eNkosini, isithunywa esivela ezulwini sehla elifini lokukhanya, kwaye sibeke izandla zaso phezu kwethu, sasimisela, sisithi:

69 Phezu kwenu zicaka zam ezingabazalwana, egameni likaMesiya ndinikela uBubingeleli buka-Aron, obuphethe izitshixo zolungiselelo lweengelosi, nezevangeli yenguquko, nezobhaptizo ngontywiliselo ukuze kuxolelwe izono; kwaye oku akunakuze kuthatyathwe kwakhona emhlabeni, kude oonyana bakaLevi banikela kwakhona umnikelo eNkosini besebulungiseni.

70 Sathi obu Bubingeleli buka-Aron babungenamandla okubekela izandla isipho soMoya oyiNgcwele, kodwa oku kuya kunikelwa kuthi ngexesha elizayo; kwaye sasiyalela ukuba sihambe size sibhaptizwe, kwaye sasinika imiyalelo okokuba ndiya kubhaptiza uOliver Cowdery, nokokuba emva koko uya kubhaptiza mna.

71 Sahamba ngoko ke kwaye sabhaptizwa. Ndambhaptiza kuqala, kwaze emva koko wabhaptiza mna—emva kokuba ndabeka izandla zam phezu kwentloko yakhe kwaye ndammisela kuBubingeleli buka-Aron, waza emva koko wabeka izandla zakhe phezu kwam kwaye wandimisela kuBubingeleli obufanayo—kuba sasiyalelwe njalo.*

72 Isithunywa esatyelelayo kwesi sehlo saza sanikela obu Bubingeleli phezu kwethu, sathi okokuba igama laso lalinguYohane, kwa lowo ubizwa ngokuba nguYohane uMbhaptizi kwiTestamente eNtsha, nokokuba usebenze phantsi kolawulo lukaPetros, uYakobi noYohane, ababephethe izitshixo zoBubingeleli bukaMelkitsedeke, uBubingeleli obo, awathi, buya kunikelwa kuthi ngexesha elifanekileyo nokokuba ndiya kubizwa uMdala wokuqala weBandla, aze yena (uOliver Cowdery) owesibini. Kwakungomhla weshumi elinesihlanu kaMeyi, 1829, xa sasimiselwa phantsi kwesandla sesi sithunywa, kwaye sibhaptizwa.

73 Ngokukhawuleza nje ekuphumeni kwethu ngaphandle kwamanzi, emva kokuba sibhaptiziwe, saxhamla iintsikelelo ezinkulu nezizukileyo kuBawo wethu oseZulwini. Kwakamsinyane nje ndathi ndabhaptiza uOliver Cowdery, uMoya oyiNgcwele wehla phezu kwakhe, kwaye wema waza waprofetha izinto ezininzi eziya kwenzeka kufutshane nje. Kwaye kwakhona, kamsinyane nje ndathi ndabhaptizwa nguye, kanjalo ndaba nomoya wesiprofetho, xa, ndandisima, ndaprofetha ngokunxulumene nokuvuka kweBandla, nezinye izinto ezininzi ezaziqhagamishelene neBandla, nesi sizukulwana sabantwana babantu. Sasizaliswe ngoMoya oyiNgcwele, kwaye sagcoba kuThixo wosindiso lwethu.

74 Iingqondo zethu ngoku zazikhanyiselekile, saqalisa ukuba nezibhalo zibekwe zivulekile ekuqondeni kwethu, kwaye intsingiselo eyinyani nenjongo yezicatshulwa efihlakele ngakumbi zazo, zatyhilwa kuthi ngohlobo esasingazange sibe nokuba nako ukulufikelela ngaphambili, nobesinokulucinga ngaphambili. Kwesi sithuba sasinyanzeleke ekugcineni iimeko zokufumana uBubingeleli ziyimfihlelo, nokubhaptizwa kwethu, ngenxa yomoya wentshutshiso obusele uzibonakalisile engingqini.

75 Sathi soyiswa liqela lezaphuli mthetho, amaxesha ngamaxesha, kwaye kwakoku, nangabefundisi benkolo. Kwaye iinjongo zabo zokusihlasela beliqela zazichaswa kuphela yimpembelelo yosapho loyise wenkosikazi yam (phantsi kwisibonelelo esiNyulu), olwathi lwanobubele obukhulu kum, kwaye lwaluchasiwe iqela lezaphuli-mthetho, kwaye lwaluzinikele ekubeni mandivunyelwe ndiqhube umsebenzi woguqulelo ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa; lwaze ke ngoko lwazinikela kwaye lwasithembisa ukhuseleko kuzo zonke izenzo ezingekho mthethweni, kangangoko lwalunako.

  • UOliver Cowdery uchaza ezi zehlo nje: “Le yimihla engasayi kuze ilityalwe—ukuhlala phantsi kwesandi selizwi elaliyalelwa ngempembelelo yezulu, livuselela umbulelo wokugqibela wesi sifuba! Usuku emva kosuku ndaqhubeka, ndingaphazanyiswa, ndibhale okusuka emlonyeni wakhe, njengoko wayeguqulela ngeYurim neTumim, okanye, njengoko amaNifayithi ngewayethe, ‘Abatoliki,’ imbali okanye irekhodi ebizwa ‘iNcwadi kaMormoni.’

    “Ukuqaphela, nkqu emagameni ambalwa, ingxelo enomdla enikwe nguMormoni nonyana wakhe othembekileyo, uMoronayi, yabantu abakhe bathandeka kwaye bakhetheka ezulwini, oya kuthatha indawo egqithileyo kwinjongo yam; ke ngoko ndiya kwenza oku kwixesha elizayo, kwaye, njengoko ndathi kwintshayelelo, bhala ngqo ngakumbi ngezehlo ezithile ezimbalwa ngokukhawuleza eziqhagamishelene nokuvuka kweli Bandla, ezinokubavuyiswa abangamawaka abathile abathe banyathelela phambili, phakathi kofingo lweentshiyi lwabantu abaneenkani benkolo nezityholo zobuxoki zabahanahanisi, kwaye bamkela iVangeli kaKrestu.

    “Akukho bantu, abakwiimvakalelo zeengqiqo zabo ezizolileyo, ababenako ukuguqulela baze babhale imiyalelo eyayinikwe amaNifayithi kusuka emlonyeni woMsindisi, uhlobo oluchanekileyo abantu abamele ukwakha ngalo iBandla lakhe, nangokukhethekileyo xa ukonakala kwathi kwasasaza ukungaqiniseki phezu kwazo zonke iintlobo neendlela ezicwangcisiweyo ezenziwayo phakathi kwabantu, ngaphandle kokunqwenela ilinge elikhethekileyo lokubonisa ukuvuma kwentliziyo ngokugcwatyelwa kwingcwaba lamanzi, ukuphendula ‘isazela esilungileyo ngovuko lukaYesu Krestu.’

    “Emva kokubhala ingxelo enikwe ngobufundisi boMsindisi kwintsalela yembewu kaYakobi, phezu kweli lizwekazi, kwakulula ukubonwa, njengoko umprofeti wathi kuya kubanjalo, okokuba ubumnyana bagubungela umhlaba nesithokothoko iingqondo zabantu. Ekucingeni ngakumbi kwakulula ukubonakala kuba phakathi kokruthakruthano olukhulu nengxolo ngokwenkolo, nanye eyayinegunya elivela kuThixo ekulungiseleleni imimiselo yeVangeli. Kuba umbuzo ubunokubuzwa, abantu banalo na igunya lokulungiselela egameni likaKrestu, abaziphikayo izityhilelo, xa ubungqina bakhe bungekho nganeno kunomoya wesiprofetho, kwaye inkolo yakhe yasekelwa, yakhiwa, yaza yaxhaswa ngezityhilelo zokuqala, kuyo yonke iminyaka yehlabathi xa wathi waba nabantu emhlabeni? Ukuba ezi nyani zazingcwatyiwe, kwaye zifihlwe ngocoselelo ngabantu ababuqhinga babo ngebuyingozi ukuba bathi bavunyelwa ukhanye ebusweni babantu, babungasekho kuthi; kwaye salindela kuphela ukuba umyalelo unikwe ‘Sukume uze ubhaptizwe.’

    “Oku kwakungekudala sikunqwenele phambi kokuba kuphunyezwe. INkosi, esisityebi ngenceba, kwaye soloko ifuna ukuphendula umthandazo ozingizayo wabathobekileyo, emva kokuba sabiza kuye ngohlobo oluzondeleleyo, ecaleni kwizindlu zabantu, yehla ukusibonisa intando yayo. Kamsinya, njengokungathi ivela phakathi kwephakade, ilizwi loMkhululi lathetha uxolo kuthi, xa ikhuselo lahlukaniswa nengelosi kaThixo yeza ezantsi ivathiswe ngobuqaqawuli, yaza yahambisa umyalezo esasiwujonge ngokuxhalaba, nezitshixo zeVangeli yenguquko. Hayi uvuyo! Hayi ummangaliso! hayi ukhwankqiso! Xa ihlabathi lalingcungcuthekiswa kwaye liphazanyiswa—xa izigidi zaziphuthaphutha njengeemfama eludongeni, naxa bonke abantu babethembe ilize, njengabaninzi jikelele, amehlo ethu abona, iindlebe zethu zeva, ngokungathi kuse ‘ukhanyeni kwemini’; ewe, ngaphezulu—kokuqaqamba komtha welanga likaMeyi, othi ngoko unike ukuqaqamba kwawo phezu kobuso bendalo! Ngoko ke ilizwi layo, nangona lithambile, lagqobhoza embindini, namazwi ayo, ‘Ndisisicaka sakho esingumzalwana,’ ndagxotha lonke uloyiko. Samamela, saqwalasela, sabuka! Yayililizwi lengelosi livela ebuqaqawulini, yayingumyalezo ovela koseNyangweni! Kwaye njengoko salivayo sagcoba, xa uthando lwakhe lwavuselela imiphefumlo yethu, kwaye sasisongeleke kumbono kaSomandla! Laliphi igumbi lentandabuzo? Kwanti; ukungaqiniseki kwakusabile, intandabuzo yathi yazika ingasayi kuvuka kwakhona, ngethuba intsomi nenkohliso zisabe ngonaphakade!

    “Kodwa, mzalwana othandekayo, cinga, cinga ngakumbi umzuzwana, olunjani uvuyo olwazalisa iintliziyo zethu, nangokumangaliseka okunjani esanyanzeleka siqubude ngako, (kuba ngubani owayengenakuqubudela enjalo intsikelelo ngedolo?) xa sayifumana phantsi kwesandla sakhe uBubingeleli obuNgcwele njengoko watshoyo, ‘Phezu kwenu zicaka zam ezingabazalwana, egameni likaMesiya, ndinikela obu Bubingeleli neli gunya, eliya kuhlala phezu komhlaba, kuba ooNyana bakaLevi basenokunikela umnikelo eNkosini ebelungiseni!’

    “Andisayi kuzama ukuqaba kuwe iimvakalelo zale ntliziyo, nabuhle bunobungangamsha nobuqaqawuli obusingqongileyo ngesi sehlo; kodwa uya kundikholelwa xa ndithi, umhlaba, nabantu, onobuciko bexesha, unako ukuqalisa ukunxibisa ulwimi ngohlobo olunomdla nangokuhlambuluke ngokugqithisileyo ngathi sesi siqu singcwele. Hayi; nalo mhlaba awunawo amandla okunika uvuyo, okunika uxolo, okanye uqiqe ubulumko obabuqulathwe kwisivakalisi ngasinye njengoko zazinikwa ngamandla oMoya oyiNgcwele! Uluntu lunokukhohliswa ngabantu abangabazalwana balo, inkohliso inokulandelwa yinkohliso, nabantwana bokhohlakeleyo banokuba namandla okuthundeza iziyatha nabangafundileyo lide ilize, kodwa intsomi yondle abaninzi, yaye isiqhamo sobuxoki sithwala kumsinga waso incilikithi kude kuye engcwabeni; kodwa ngochukumiso olunye ngomnwe wothando lwakhe, ewe, umtha omnye wobuqaqawuli obuvela kwilizwe elingentla, okanye ilizwi elinye elivela emlonyeni woMsindisi, elivela esifubeni sanaphakade, libetha zonke zingabi nto, kwaye likucima ngonaphakade engqondweni. Isiqinisekiso sokuba sasisebusweni bengelosi, kukuqiniseka okokuba seva ilizwi likaYesu, nenyaniso engangcolisekanga njengoko laliqukuqela livela kwisiqu esinyulu, liyalelwa yintando kaThixo, kum lidlule ukuchazwa, kwaye ndiya kusoloko ndijonge imbonakalo yokulunga koMsindisi ngokumangaliseka nombulelo ngethuba endivunyelwe ukuhlala; nakwezoo ndawo zokuhlala apho ukugqibelela kuhlala khona saye isono singenakuze size, ndithemba ukunqula ngaloo mini ingasayi kuze iphele”—Messenger and Advocate, (Umthunywa noMthetheleli), umqulu 1(Oktobha 1834), amap. 14–16.