ImiBhalo eNgcwele
JS—uMlando 1

Joseph Smith—uMlando

Izingxenye ezithathwe eMlandweni kaJoseph Smith, umPhrofethi

Isahluko 1

UJoseph Smith ukhuluma ngokhokho bakhe, amalungu omndeni, nalapho baqala ukuhlala khona—Ukwesasa okungajwayelekile ngenkolo kuyabusa entshonalanga neNew York—Uhlosa ukufuna ukuhlakanipha njengokuyalwa nguJakobe—UBaba neNdodana bayavela, futhi uJoseph ubizelwa ebufundisini bakhe bobuphrofethi. (Amavesi 1–20.)

1 Ngenxa yemibiko eminingi ebisiyandiswe ngabantu abahlose nabahlela okubi, ngokuphathelene noku vela nokukhula kwe Bandla likaJesu Kristu labaNgcwele beziNsuku zokuGcina, yonke ebihlelwe ngababhali bayo ukuba iphikisane nedumela leBandla nokukhula kwalo emhlabeni—Ngikhuthazeke ukuba ngibhale lomlando, ukuze ngilungise imicabango yabantu, futhi nokuba ngibanike amaqiniso bonke abafuna amaqiniso, njengoba enzekile, ngokuphathelene nami nangeBandla, kangangoba nginawo lawo maqiniso.

2 Kulomlando ngizokwethula izehlakalo ezahlukene ngokuphathelene naleliBandla, ngeqiniso nangokulunga, njengoba zenzekile, noma njengoba zinjalo manje, [ngo1838] kungunyaka wesishiyagalombili kusuka eku misweni kwaleliBandla.

3 Ngazalwa onyakeni weNkosi yethu wenkulungwane namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili nesihlanu, ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nantathu kuDisemba, edolobheni laseSharon, esifundeni saseWindsor, kwisiFundazwe saseVermont. … Ubaba, uJoseph Smith, oMdala, wasishiya isiFundazwe saseVermont, futhi waya ePalmyra, kwisifunda sase-Ontario (manje esesibizwa ngeWayne), esiFundazweni saseNew York, ngesikhathi ngineminyaka elishumi, noma malapho nje. Cishe eminyakeni emine efikile ubaba ePalmyra, wahamba nomndeni wakhe waya eManchester kuso leso sifunda sase-Ontario—

4 Umndeni wakhe kungabantu abayishumi nanye, okungubaba, uJoseph Smith; umama, uLucy Smith (isibongo sakhe ngaphambi kokugana, wayengowakwa Mack, indodakazi kaSolomon Mack); abafowethu, u-Alvin (owashona ngoNovemba 19, 1823, eneminyaka engamashumi amabili nesithupha ubudala), uHyrum, kube yimi, uSamuel Harrison, uWilliam, uDon Carlos; nodadewethu, uSophronia, uCatherine, noLucy.

5 Ngesikhathi esithize ngonyaka wesibili emuva kokufika kwethu eManchester, kwakukhona lapho esasihlala khona ukwesasa okwakungajwayelekile ngodaba lwenkolo. Kwaqala ngamaWeseli, kodwa masinyane kwaba okujwayelekile phakathi kwazo zonke izinkolo kuleso sifunda sezwe. Ngempela, isifundazwe sonke sezwe sabukeka sithintekile ngako, nezinkumbi ezinkulu zabantu zazihlanganisa namabandla ahlukene ezenkolo, ayebanga ukuphazamiseka okwakungekuncane nenhlukwano phakathi kwabantu, abanye bememeza bethi, “Nansi, lapha inkolo yeqiniso!” abanye bethi, “Nansi, laphaya inkolo yeqiniso!” Abanye babekhulumela inkolo yamaWeseli, abanye bekhulumela eyaseHabe, futhi abanye bekhulumela eyabaBhabhadisi.

6 Nakuba lwalulukhulu uthando olwalutshengiswa ngamakholwa akulezi zinkolo ezahlukene ngesikhathi sokuphenduka kwawo, nomdlandla omkhulu owawuvezwa ngabafundisi abahlukene, ababehlela futhi begqugquzela lesi simo esingajwayelekile semizwa yokholo, ukuze wonke umuntu aphenduke, njengoba babethanda ukukubiza kanjalo, noma babezihlanganisa nanoma iyiphi inkolo ababeyithanda; kodwa ngesikhathi amakholwa esehlubuka, amanye eya kwelinye ibandla namanye eya kwelinye, kwakubonakala ukuthi imizwa yabaphristi neyamakholwa eyayibonakala sengathi yayimihle yayi ngeyokuzenzisa kuneyangempela; ngokuba kwakulandela inxushunxushu enkulu nemizwa imibi—umphristi ebanga nomphristi, nekholwa limelene nelinye ikholwa; kangangoba yonke imizwa yabo emihle yomunye ngomunye, uma babenayo, yayiphelela kukho ukulwa ngamazwi nombango ngemibono.

7 Ngalesi sikhathi ngase ngineminyaka eyishumi nane ubudala. Umndeni kababa waguqukela enkolweni yaseHabe, futhi abane babo bazihlanganisa nalelobandla, okwakungu mama, uLucy; abafowethu uHyrum noSamuel Harrison; nodadewethu uSophronia.

8 Ngalesi sikhathi sokwesasa okukhulu umqondo wami waba nokucabanga okunzulu nokukhulu ukungakhululeki; kepha nakuba imizwa yami yayijulile, ngaqhubeka nokuzigcina ngehlukene nawo wonke lamabandla, nakuba ngangiyihamba imihlangano yawo ehlukahlukene ngokuvamile ngokuvunyelwa yisimo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ingqondo yami yaba nokuthanda kancane inkolo yamaWeseli, futhi ngezwa nginokuthanda ukuba ngizihlanganise nabo; kodwa yayinkulu inxushunxushu nemibango phakathi kwamabandla ehlukene, kangangoba kwakungeke kwenzeke ukuthi umuntu owayesemncane njengami, futhi owayengakabazi abantu nezinto, ukuba ngifinyelela esinqumweni esithile sokuthi ngubani owayeqinisile nokuthi ngubani owayesephutheni.

9 Ingqondo yami ngesinye isikhathi yayivuseleleka kakhulu, umsindo nokuxokozela kwakukukhulu futhi kunganqamuki. AbaseHabe abegxilile kakhulu embonweni yabo ngokumelene nabaBhabhadisi namaWeseli, futhi esebenzisa wonke amandla okucabanga nokuphikisana ukutshengisa amaphutha abo, noma, okungenani, ukwenza abantu bacabange ukuthi babesephutheni. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abaBhabhadisi namaWeseli nabo ngokunjalo babenogqozi ekuzameni ukumisa izimfundiso zabo futhi nokuthi bakhombise ukuthi ezabanye zazingamaphutha.

10 Phakathi nalempi yamazwi nokuxokozela kwemibono, ngayiye ngizibuze ukuthi: Kufanele kwenziwe njani? Yibaphi kulamabandla aba qinisile; noma, ngabe bonke basephutheni na? Uma elinye lawo liqinisile, yiliphi, futhi ngizokwazi kanjani na?

11 Ngesikhathi ngisagqilazekile ngaphansi kwalobu bulukhuni obabudalwa yimibango yalamabandla ezenkolo, ngelinye ilanga ngangifunda iNcwadi kaJakobe, isahluko sokuqala nevesi lesihlanu, elifundeka kanje: Uma-ke kukhona kini oswela ukuhlakanipha, makacele kuNkulunkulu, obapha bonke ngobuhle, futhi nogasoli; futhi uyophiwa.

12 Awukaze umbhalo ongcwele uze ngamandla enhliziyweni yomuntu njengoba lona wenza ngalesi sikhathi kweyami. Kwaba sengathi ungena ngomkhulu umfutho kuyo yonke imizwa yenhliziyo yami. Ngacabanga ngawo ngiphindelela, ngokuba ngangazi ukuthi umuntu owayefuna ukuhlakanipha kuNkulunkulu, kwakuyimina; ngokuba ngangingazi ukuthi kwakufanele ngenzenjani, futhi ngaphandle kokuba ngithole ukuhlakanipha okungaphezulu kwalokhu enganginakho, ngangingeke ngazi; ngokuba abafundisi benkolo bamabandla ehlukene babelizwa lelovezi lombhalo ongcwele ngokwehlukile kakhulu kangangoba bakuqeda konke ukwethembela kulo iBhayibheli ukuze kuphendulwe lowombuzo.

13 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngenza isinqumo sokuthi kufanele ngihlale ebumnyameni nasekudidekeni, noma ngenze njengoba kusho uJakobe, ukuthi, ngicele kuNkulunkulu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngenza isinqumo soku “cela kuNkulunkulu,” ngicabanga ukuthi uma ayebanika ukuhlakanipha labo abangenakho ukuhlakanipha, futhi epha ngobuhle, futhi engasoli, ngangingazama.

14 Ngakho-ke, ngokuvumelana nalokhu, isinqumo sami sokucela kuNkulunkulu, ngaya ehlathini ukuyokwenza lomzamo. Kwakuwusuku oluhle lwasekuseni libalele, isanda kuqala intwasahlobo ngonyaka wamakhulu ayishumi nesishiyagalombili namashumi amabili. Kwakungokokuqala empilweni yami ukuba ngenze umzamo onjena, ngokuba kukho konke ukuxakeka kwami ngangingakaze ngizame uku khuleka ngokukhuluma.

15 Emuva kokuya endaweni engangihlele ukuya kuyo phambilini, sengibhekile nxazonke, futhi ngathola ukuthi ngangingedwa, ngaguqa phansi futhi ngaqala ukunikela izifiso zenhliziyo yami kuNkulunkulu. Ngangisand’ ukwenze njalo, ngesikhathi ngokuphazima kweso ngibanjwa ngamandla athile anginqoba du, futhi ngokumangalisayo abangela ukuthi ulimi lwami lubambeke kangangoba angikwazanga ukukhuluma. Ngazungezwa wubumnyama obukhulu, futhi masinyane kimi kwaba sengathi ngase ngizophelela ekubhujisweni ngokushesha.

16 Kepha, ngesikhathi ngisebenzisa wonke amandla ami ukuba ngi cele kuNkulunkulu ukuba angisindise kulamandla alesi sitha esasingibambile, futhi ngesikathi sengizolahla ithemba futhi ngiziyekele ekufeni—kungekona ukufa okwakucatshangwa yinhliziyo, kepha emandleni omuntu wangempela ophuma ezweni elingabonakaliyo, owayenamandla amangalisayo engangingakaze ngiwezwe phambilini kunoma yimuphi umuntu—ngaleso sikhathi sokwesaba okukhulu, ngabona insika yo kukhanya imaqondana nekhanda lami, eyayingaphezu kokukhanya kwe langa, yehla kancane yaze yawela phezu kwami.

17 Masinyane nje emva kokuvela kwalokhu kukhanya ngazithola sengikhululekile esitheni esasingibambile. Kwathi ukukhanya sekuhleli phezu kwami nga bona aBantu ababili ababenesithunzi, ukukhanya ne nkazimulo yabo okwakungachazeki, bemi ngaphezu kwami emoyeni. Omunye wabo wakhuluma nami, engibiza ngegama futhi ethi, ekhomba komunye—Lena yi Ndodana Yami eThandekayo. Yilalele!

18 Inhloso yami ngokuyo buza eNkosini kwakuwukuba ngazi ukuthi kulamabandla wonke yiliphi okwakungeleqiniso, ukuze ngazi ukuthi yiliphi engingazihlanganisa nalo. Ngakho-ke, qeduba ngikwazi ukuzilawula, ukuze ngikwazi ukukhuluma, ngababuza laboBantu abanesithunzi ababeme ngaphezu kwami ekukhanyeni, ukuthi yiliphi kuwo wonke lamabandla elaliyiqiniso (ngoba kulesi sikhathi kwakungakaze kube khona enhliziyweni yami ukuthi wonke ayengelona iqiniso)—nokuthi yiliphi engingazihlanganisa nalo.

19 Ngaphendulwa ngokuthi mangingazihlanganisi nalinye lawo, ngoba wonke aye ngelona iqiniso; futhi lowoMuntu onesithunzi owayekhuluma nami wathi izinkolelo zawo zaziyisinengiso emehlweni akhe; ethi lawo makholwa onke ayedukile; ethi “bangi dumisa ngezindebe zemilomo yabo, kepha izinhliziyo zabo zikude nami, bafundisa izimfundiso eziyi miyalelo yabantu, bane simo sobunkulunkulu, kepha amandla abo bayawaphika.”

20 Waphinde wangenqabela futhi ukuba ngizihlanganise nanoma yiliphi lawo; futhi ziningi ezinye izinto azikhuluma kimi, engingeke ngikwazi ukuzibhala ngalesi sikhathi. Kwathi sengisombuluka futhi, ngazithola ngilele ngomhlane, ngibheke phezulu ezulwini. Ngenkathi ukukhanya sekuhambile, ngase ngingenamandla; kodwa ngokushesha abuya kancane, ngase ngiya ekhaya. Futhi ngesikhathi ngincike eziko, umama wangibuza ukuthi kwakwenzenjani. Ngaphendula ngathi, “Akukho lutho, konke kuhamba kahle—ngiyaphila.” Ngabe sengithi kumama, “Sengiyazazela ngokwami ukuthi ibandla laseHabe alilona iqiniso.” Kwaba sengathi isitha sasazi, ngisese bunganeni bami, ukuthi ngangizalelwe ukuba yisitha nomphazamisi wombuso wakhe; uma kungenjalo kungani amandla obumnyama ahlangana ngokumelene nami na? Kungani kwaba khona ukungi phikisa nokungihlupha, cishe ngisengumntwana na?

Abanye abashumayeli namakholwa baya yenqaba indaba yoMbono wokuQala—UJoseph Smith uyahlushwa—Uyafakaza ngobuqiniso bombono. (Amavesi 21–26.)

21 Izinsukwana emuva kokuba ngibone lo mbono, kwenzeka ngaba nomunye wabashumayeli bamaWeseli, owayekhuthele kakhulu kulokhu kwesasa kwenkolo esengikhulume ngakho; ngesikhathi ngixoxa naye ngenkolo, ngathatha ithuba lokumxoxela ngedaba yombono engangibe nawo. Ngethuka kakhulu ngendlela enza ngayo; akayithathanga kalula nje kuphela inkulumo yami, kodwa ngendelelo enkulu, wathi konke lokho kwakungokuka develi, ethi zazingasekho izinto ezazinjenge mibono noma izambulo kulezi zinsuku; ethi zonke lezo zinto zagcina ngabaphostoli, futhi nokuthi zazingeke futhi zisaba khona.

22 Ngashesha ngathola, nokho, ukuthi ukuxoxa kwami lendaba kwasusa olukhulu ubandlululo ngokumelene nami phakathi kwamakholwa, futhi kwaba yimbangela yo kuhlushwa, okwaqhubeka nokukhula; futhi nakuba ngangiwumfana owaye ngaziwa, ngineminyaka nje ephakathi kweshumi nane neshumi nanhlanu yobudala, futhi nakuba izimo zami zempilo zazingenza umfana ongelutho emhlabeni, kodwa amadoda ahlonishwayo emphakathini ayenginaka ngokwanele ukuba kwesase imiqondo yabantu ngokumelene nami, nokwabangela ukuhlushwa okubi; futhi lokhu kwakujwayelekile kuwo wonke amabandla—wonke ahlangana ukungihlupha.

23 Kwangenza ngajula ekucabangeni ngaleso sikhathi, futhi kaningi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi ngangithi, kwakungajwayelekile ukuthi umfana ongaziwa, weminyaka engaphezudlwana kweminyaka eyishumi nane yobudala, futhi lowo, owayezophelela ekusebenzeni nsuku zonke ukuze athole ukuziphilisa okuncane, ukuba abonwe ebalulekile ngokwanele ukuba anakwe ngabakhulu bamabandla adumile kakhulu angalezo zinsuku, futhi ngendlela yokubangela kubo umoya wokumhlupha kakhulu nomkuthuka. Nakuba kwakungajwayelekile, kodwa kwaba njalo, futhi kwakujwayeleke ukuba yimbangela yosizi olukhulu kimi.

24 Nakuba kunjalo, kwakuliqiniso ukuthi ngangiwubonile umbono. Kusuka ngaleso sikhathi, ngazizwa ngifana no Pawulu, lapho e zivikela phambi kweNkosi u-Agripha, futhi exoxa indaba yakhe yombono aba nawo ngesikhathi ebona ukukhanya, futhi ezwa nezwi; kodwa babe bancane abamkholwa; abanye bathi wayengathembekile, abanye bathi wayehlanya; futhi wahlekwa futhi wathukwa. Kodwa konke lokhu akuzange kubuqede ubuqiniso bombono wakhe. Wayewubonile umbono, wayazi ukuthi wayewubonile, futhi konke ukuhlushwa ngaphansi kwezulu kwakungeke kukushintshe lokho; futhi nakuba babengamhlupha kuze kube sekufeni, kodwa wayazi, futhi wayeyokwazi kuze kube kowokugcina umphefumulo wakhe, ukuthi wayekubonile ukukhanya futhi walizwa izwi likhuluma kuye, futhi wonke umhlaba wawungeke umenze acabange noma akholwe ngokwehlukile.

25 Kwakunjalo nakimi. Ngangikubonile ngempela ukukhanya, futhi phakathi kwalokho kukhanya ngabona aBantu ababili abanesithunzi, futhi bakhuluma ngempela kimi; futhi nakuba ngangizondwa futhi ngihlushwa ngokuthi ngangiwubonile umbono, kodwa kwakuliqiniso; futhi ngesikhathi bengihlupha, bengithuka, futhi bekhuluma yonke inhlobo yobubi ngamanga ngokumelene nami ngokusho njalo, ngaholelwa ekutheni enhliziyweni yami: Ningihluphelani ngokukhuluma iqiniso na? Ngiwubonile ngempela umbono; futhi ngingubani mina ukuba ngingamelana noNkulunkulu, noma kungani ukuba umhlaba ucabange ukuthi uzongenza ngikuphike engikubonile ngempela na? Ngokuba ngangiwubonile ngempela umbono; futhi ngangikwazi lokho, futhi ngangikwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayekwazi lokho, futhi ngangingeke ngiku phike lokho, futhi ngangingacabangi ukukwenza lokho; noma kunjani ngangazi ukuthi ngokwenzenjalo ngiyomona uNkulunkulu, futhi ngibekwe icala.

26 Ngase nginelisekile manje enqondweni yami ngokuphathelene namabandla ezenkolo—ukuthi kwakungesona isibopho kimi ukuzihlanganisa nanoma yiliphi lawo, kodwa ngiqhubeke nokungabi yilungu lebandla ngize ngiphinde ngiyalwe. Ngase ngibuthole buyiqiniso ubufakazi bukaJakobe—ukuthi umuntu oswela ukuhlakanipha angacela kuNkulunkulu, futhi akuthole, futhi angasolwa.

UMoroni uvela kuJoseph Smith—Igama likaJoseph lizokwaziwa ngokuhle nangokubi phakathi kwezizwe zonke—UMoroni umtshela ngeNcwadi kaMormoni nangezehluleo ezizayo zeNkosi futhi uphinda amazwi emibhalo eminingi engcwele—Indawo okufihlwe kuyo izingcwephe zegolide iyembulwa—UMoroni uyaqhubeka nokufundisa umPhrofethi. (Amavesi 27–54.)

27 Ngaqhubeka nokwenza imisebenzi yami ejwayelekile empilweni kwaze kwaba zingamashumi amabili nanye kuSeptemba, unyaka wenkulungwane namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili namashumi amabili nantathu, sonke isikhathi ngihlushwa kakhulu yibo bonke abantu, abakholwayo nabangakholwa, ngoba ngaqhubeka nokuqinisa ukuthi ngangiwubonile umbono.

28 Maphakathi nesikhathi ngibone umbono nonyaka wamakhulu ayishumi nesishiyagalombili namashumi amabili nantathu—ngenqatshelwe ukuzihlanganisa nanoma yiliphi lamabandla ezenkolo angaleso sikhathi, futhi ngisemncane, futhi ngihlushwa yilabo ababefanele babe ngabahlobo bami futhi bangiphathe kahle, futhi uma babecabanga ukuthi ngangidukile kwakufanele ukuba bazame ngendlela elungile nenothando ukuba bangibuyise—ngaba ngaphansi kwazo zonke izinhlobo ze zilingo; futhi, ngokuhlangana nazo zonke izinhlobo zabantu, kaningi ngangiwela emaphutheni amaningi obuwula, futhi ngatshengisa ubuthakathaka bobusha; ngebhadi okwangiholela, ezilingweni eziningi, ezazingemukeleki emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuhlambuluka kanjena, makungabi bikho okufanele acabange ukuthi nginecala lezono ezinkulu noma ezizondekayo. Isifiso sokwenza izono ezinjalo sasingekho esimilweni sami. Kodwa nganginecala lokuthanda ukuncokola kakhulu, futhi kwesinye isikhathi ngangizihlanganisa nabanokwenama, njalo njalo, okwakungahambisani naleso similo esifanelwe sibe kulowo owaye bizwe nguNkulunkulu njengoba ngangibiziwe. Kodwa lokhu ngeke kubukeke kungajwayelekile kulowo okhumbula ubusha bami, futhi nosaziyo isimilo sami sokuthanda ukuhlala ngijabule.

29 Ngenxa yalezi zinto, ngangijwayele ukuzizwa nginecala ngobuthakathaka nokungalungi kwami; okwathi ngobusuku osebushiwo ngenhla bangomhlaka 21 kuSeptemba, emuva kokuba sengiphumule embhedeni wami, ngenza umkhuleko nokunxusa kuNkulunkulu uMninimandla Onke ukuba angithethelele zonke izono nobuwula bami bonke, futhi phezu kwalokho nokuba angivezele ukuze ngazi ngesimo sami phambi kwakhe; ngokuba ngase nginethemba eliphelele lokuthola isambulo esivela kuNkulunkulu, njengoba ngase ngike ngaba naso phambilini.

30 Ngesikhathi ngisambiza uNkulunkulu, ngabona ukukhanya kuvela ekamelweni lami, okwaqhubeka kwanda laze ikamelo lakhanya ngaphezulu kwasemini, okwathi masinyane ngaleso sikhathi kwavela umuntu onesithunzi eduze nombhede wami, emi emoyeni, ngokuba izinyawo zakhe zazingathinti phansi.

31 Wayembethe ingubo exegayo eyayi mhlophe kakhulu. Kwakungubumhlophe obabedlula konke okwasemhlabeni engake ngakubona; futhi angikholwa ukuthi kukhona okwasemhlabeni okungenziwa kube mhlophe ngokwedlulele futhi kukhazimule kakhulu ngaleya ndlela. Izandla zakhe zazibonakala, futhi ngokunjalo nezingalo zakhe, ngenhla nje kancane kwesihlakala; futhi nezinyawo zakhe zazibonakala, ngokunjalo nemilenze yakhe, ngenhla nje kancane kwamaqakala. Ikhanda kanye nentamo yakhe nakho kwakubonakala. Ngakwazi ukubona ukuthi wayengembethe lutho olunye ngaphandle kwalengubo, njengoba yayivulekile, ukuze ngikwazi ukubona esifubeni sakhe.

32 Kwakungeyona kuphela ingubo yakhe eyayimhlophe ngokwedlulele, kodwa isiqu sakhe sonke sasi khazimula ngokungacazeki, futhi ubuso bakhe ngempela babu njengombani. Ikamelo lase likhanya kakhulu, kodwa lalingakhanyi kakhulu njengalokho kukhanya okwakumzungezile. Ngesikhathi ngiqala ukumbheka, ngaba no kwesaba; kodwa ukwesaba kwasheshe kwadeda kimi.

33 Wangibiza nge gama, futhi wathi kimi uyisithunywa esithunyelwe kimi esivela kuNkulunkulu, nokuthi igama lakhe kwakunguMoroni; nokuthi uNkulunkulu wayenomsebenzi ayefuna ngiwenze; nokuthi igama lami kakufanele laziwe ngobuhle nangobubi phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe, izihlobo, nezilimi, noma kwakufanele kukhulunywe kahle nakabi ngalo phakathi kwabantu bonke.

34 Wathi kwakune ncwadi eyayibekiwe, eyayibhalwe ezi ngcwepheni zegolide, enika indaba ngabantu ababehlala kulelizwekazi phambilini, nomsuka lapho badabuka khona. Wabuye wathi ukuphelela kweVangeli laphakade laliqukethwe kuyo, njengoba lanikwa ngumSindisi kubantu basendulo;

35 Futhi, nokuthi kwakukhona amatshe amabili ohlakeni lwesiliva—futhi lamatshe, ayeboshelwe kuso isivikelo sesifuba, ayenza lokhu okubizwa ngokuthi yi-Urimi neThumimi—ayebekwe nezingcwephe; futhi ukuba nalamatshe nokusetshenziswa kwawo kwakuyilokho okwakuthiwa nga “baboni” endulo noma ezikhathini zakudala; futhi nokuthi uNkulunkulu wayewalungisele ukuhumusha leyoncwadi.

36 Emuva kokungitshela lezi zinto, waqala ukuphinda amazwi eziphrofetho ze Testamente eliDala. Waqala ngokuphinda amazwi engxenye ye sahluko sesithathu sika Malaki; futhi waphinda amazwi esesine noma esokugcina isahluko sesiphrofetho esifanayo, nakuba kwakunomehluko omncane kwindlela esifundeka ngayo emaBhayibhelini ethu. Kunokuba aphinde amazwi evesi lokuqala njengoba enjalo ezincwadini zethu, waphinda amazwi alo kanje:

37 Ngokuba bheka, usuku luyeza oluyo vutha njengeziko; futhi bonke abaziqhenyayo, yebo, nabo bonke abenza okubi bayosha njenga mabibi; ngokuba labo abezayo bayobashisa, kusho iNkosi yamaBandla, kangangoba aliyukubashiyela mpande nagatsha.

38 Futhi phezu kwalokho, waphinda amazwi evesi lesihlanu kanje: Bheka, ngizokwambula kini ubuPhristi, ngesandlasika-Eliya umphrofethi, ngaphambi kokuza kosuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lweNkosi.

39 Futhi waphinda amazwi evesi elilandelayo ngokwehlukile: Futhi uyotshala ezinhliziyweni zabantwana izethembiso ezenziwa koyise, nezinhliziyo zabantwana ziyophendukela koyise. Uma kwakungenjalo, umhlaba wonke wawuyochithakala uphele nya ngesikhathi sokuza kwakhe.

40 Ngaphezu kwalezi zinto, waphinda amazwi esahluko seshumi nanye sika-Isaya, ethi sekusondele sifezeke. Wabuye waphinda amazwi esahluko sesithathu seZenzo, ivesi lamashumi amabili nambili nevesi lamashumi amabili nantathu, njengoba enjalo eTestamenteni lethu eliSha. Wathi lowo mphrofethi kwakunguKristu; kodwa usuku lwalungakafiki okwamanje lapho “labo abangafuni ukulalela izwi kufanele basuswe phakathi kwabantu,” kodwa masishane luyeza.

41 Futhi waphinda amazwi esahluko sesibili sika Joweli, kusuka evesini lamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili kuya kwelokugcina. Wabuye wathi lokhu kwakungaka gcwaliseki okwamanje, kodwa kwase kuzogcwaliseka. Futhi waqhubeka wathi ukugcwaliseka kwa beZizwe kwase kuzofika. Wabuye waphinda amazwi eminingi eminye imibhalo engcwele, futhi wanikeza izincazelo eziningi engingeke ngakwazi ukuzibhala lapha.

42 Phezu kwalokho, wangitshela ukuthi uma sengizitholile lezo zingcwephe ayekhulume ngazo—ngokuba isikhathi okwakufanele zitholwe ngaso sasingakagcwaliseki—kwakungafanele ngizitshengise muntu; ngisho nesivikelo sesifuba esine-Urimi neThumimi; kuphela kulabo engiyoyalwa ukubatshengisa; uma ngike ngakwenza lokho ngiyobhujiswa. Ngesikhathi esakhuluma nami ngezingcwephe, umbono wavuleka engqondweni yami kangangoba ngayibona leyondawo lapho izingcwephe zazibekwe khona, futhi kwaba sobala futhi kwacaca kangangoba ngayazi leyondawo ngesikhathi sengiya kuyo.

43 Emva kwalenkulumo, ngabona ukukhanya ekamelweni sekuqala ukuqoqana ngokushesha eduze nalomuntu obekhuluma nami, futhi kwaqhubeka nokwenze njalo laze ikamelo lasala limnyama futhi, ngaphandle nje kwaseduzane kwakhe; okwathi, ngokuphazima kweso ngabona, sengathi kuvuleka umhume ofika ezulwini, wabe esenyuka waze wanyamalala, nekamelo lasala njengoba kade linjalo ngaphambi kokuba kuvele lokhu kukhanya kwasezulwini.

44 Ngalala ngicabanga ngalesi sehlakalo esimangalisayo, futhi ngisamangele kakhulu ngengangikutshelwe yilesi sithunywa esasingajwayelekile; okwathi, maphakathi noku zindla kwami, masinyane ngabona ukuthi ikamelo lami lase liqala ukukhanya futhi, okwathi, ngokuphazima kweso, leso sithunywa sasezulwini sase siseduze nombhede wami futhi.

45 Saqala, futhi sakhuluma izinto ezifanayo nalezo esasizikhulumile ngesikhathi sifika okokuqala, kwangaba bikho noluncane ushintsho; okwathi uma sesikwenzile lokho, sangitshela ngezahlulelo ezinkulu ezaziza emhlabeni, nembumbiso enkulu ngendlala, nenkemba, nomashaya bhuqe; futhi nokuthi lezi zahlulelo ezinzima zazizoza emhlabeni kulesi sizukulwane. Kwathi uma sesizikhulumile lezi zinto, senyuka futhi njengoba sasenzile ekuqaleni.

46 Ngalesi sikhathi, yayisijulile kakhulu imicabango engqondweni yami, kangangoba ubuthongo babungasekho emehlweni ami, futhi ngalala ngiphele amandla ngenxa yokumangala ngengangikubonile nengangikuzwile. Kodwa okwangimangalisa wukubona futhi sona lesi sithunywa eceleni kombhede wami, futhi ngisizwa sikhuluma noma siphinda futhi kimi lezo zinto ezifanayo njengasekuqaleni; futhi sengeza nesexwayiso kimi, singitshela ukuthi uSathane wayezozama ukungi linga (ngenxa yesimo sobumpofu bomndeni kababa) ukuthi ngithole izingcwephe ngenhloso yokuthola ingcebo. Sangenqabela kulokhu, sithi akufanele ngibe nenye inhloso ngokuthola izingcwephe ngaphandle kokudumisa uNkulunkulu, futhi akufanele ngibe nanoma yisiphi esinye isizathu ngaphandle kwaleso sokwakha umbuso wakhe; kungenjalo ngeke ngizithole.

47 Emva kwalokhu kuza kwesithathu, saphinde senyukela phezulu ezulwini futhi njengasekuqaleni, futhi ngaphinde ngasala ngizindla ngalokhu engangisanda kukubona okungajwayelekile; okwathi cishe ngokuphazima kweso emuva kokuba isithunywa sasezulwini senyukile sisuka kimi okwesithathu, iqhude lakhala, futhi ngathola ukuthi kwase kusa, kangangoba ukukhuluma kwethu kufanele ukuthi kwakuthathe ubusuku bonke.

48 Isikhashana nje emva kwalokho ngavuka embhedeni wami, futhi, njengokujwayelekile, ngaya kosebenza imisebenzi edingekile yosuku; kodwa, ekuzameni ukusebenza njengemihla yonke, ngathola ukuthi amandla ami ayesephele kangangoba angikwazanga ngempela ukusebenza. Ubaba, owayesebenza nami, wabona ukuthi kwakukhona okwakungalungile ngami, futhi wangitshela ukuthi mangiye ekhaya. Ngahamba ngithi ngiya endlini; kodwa, ngesikhathi ngizama ukweqa uthango ngiphuma ensimini lapho sasikhona, amandla ami aphela nya, futhi ngawa phansi ngangakwazi ukwenza lutho, futhi okwesikhashana angazanga lutho olwenzekayo.

49 Into yokuqala engingayikhumbula kwakuyizwi elalikhuluma kimi, lingibiza ngegama. Ngabheka phezulu, futhi ngabona sona leso sithunywa sime ngaphezu kwekhanda lami, sizungezwe wukukhanya njengasekuqaleni. Sabe sesikhuluma kimi konke lokho esasikukhulume ngobusuku obedlule, futhi sangiyala ukuba ngiye ku baba ngimtshele ngombono nemiyalelo engangiyitholile.

50 Ngalalela; ngaphindela kubaba ensimini, ngamlandisa ngakho konke okwakwenzekile. Wangiphendula ngokuthi lokho kwakuvela kuNkulunkulu, futhi wangitshela ukuthi ngihambe ngiyokwenza njengoba ngiyalwe yisithunywa. Ngashiya ensimini, futhi ngaya endaweni lapho isithunywa sasingitshele ukuthi izingcwephe zazibekwe khona; futhi ngenxa yokucaca kombono engangibe nawo ngazo, ngayazi leyo ndawo ngokuphazima kweso ngesikhathi ngifika kuyo.

51 Maduzane nesigodi saseManchester, esifundeni sase-Ontario, eNew York, kume igquma elikhulu, futhi eliphakeme kunawo kulendawo. Ngasentshonalanga yaleligquma, maduze nasenhla, ngaphansi kwetshe elikhulu, zazilapho izingcwephe, zibekwe ebhokisini letshe. Lelitshe laliwugqinsi futhi liyindilinga maphakathi nendawo ngaphezulu, linciphile ngasonqenqemeni, kangangoba imaphakathi lalo lalibonakala ngaphezu komhlabathi, kodwa unqenqema lonke lwalumbhozwe ngumhlabathi.

52 Sengiwususile umhlabathi, ngathola ugodo, engalufaka ngaphansi konqenqema lwetshe, futhi ngamandla amancane nje ngaliphakamisa. Ngabheka phakathi, futhi ngempela ngazibona izingwephe, i-Urimi neThumimi, nesi vikelo sesifuba, njengoba sasishilo isithunywa. Ibhokisi ezazikulo lalakhiwe ngamatshe ahlanganiswe ndawonye ngokwakufana nosimende. Esinqeni sebhokisi kwakubekwe amatshe amabili ephambene ebhokisini, futhi phezu kwalamatshe kwakubekwe izingcwephe nezinye izinto kanye nazo.

53 Ngazama ukuzikhipha, kodwa ngenqatshelwa yisithunywa, futhi ngaphinda ngatshelwa ukuthi isikhathi sokuzikhipha sasingakafiki, nokuthi sasingeke, kuze kuphele iminyaka emine kusuka ngaleso sikhathi; kodwa sangitshela ukuthi kwakufanele ngize kuleyondawo nakanjani emva konyaka kusuka ngaleso sikhathi, nokuthi sasiyohlangana nami lapho, nokuthi kwakufanele ngiqhubeke nokwenza njalo kuze kufike isikhathi sokuthola izingcwephe.

54 Ngokuvumelana nalokho, njengoba ngangiyaliwe, ngaya ekupheleni konyaka ngamunye, futhi njalo ngangisithola isithunywa sikhona lapho, futhi ngangithola ukufundiswa nolwazi kuso njalo ngesikhathi sikhuluma, ngokuphathelene nokwakuzo kwenziwa yiNkosi, nokuthi umbuso wayo kwakuzofanele uphathwe kanjani futhi nangayiphi indlela ngezinsuku zokugcina.

UJoseph Smith uganwa ngu-Emma Hale—Uthola izingcwephe zegolide kuMoroni futhi uhumusha eminye yemifanekiso—UMartin Harris utshengisa imifanekiso nokuhunyushwa kuSolwazi u-Anthon, othi, “Angikwazi ukufunda incwadi evaliweyo.” (Amavesi 55–65.)

55 Njengoba ekhaya sasihlupheka ngenxa yesimo sikababa, kwakufanele sisebenze ngezandla zethu, siqashwa ukuze sithole umsebenzi wosuku kanye nokunye, njalo uma sasilithola ithuba. Ngesinye isikhathi sasisekhaya, ngesinye isikhathi sasikude nasekhaya, futhi ngokusebenza njalo sasikwazi ukuthola ukondliwa ngokwanele.

56 Ngonyaka ka 1823 umndeni kababa waba nobuhlungu obukhulu ngokushona komfowethu omdala, u-Alvin. Ngenyanga ka-Oktoba, ngonyaka ka 1825, ngaqashwa ngumnumzane owayesemdala igama lakhe okwakungu Josiah Stoal, owayehlala esifundeni iChinango, esiFundazweni saseNew York. Wayezwe ngemayini yesiliva eyayisanda kuvulwa ngabase Spain eHarmony, esifundeni iSusquehanna, esiFundazweni sasePennsylvania; futhi, ngaphambi kokuqasha mina, wayembile ukuze, uma kwakungenzeka, ayithole lemayini. Emuva kokuba sengihambe ngayohlala naye, wangithatha, nazo zonke izisebenzi zakhe, ukuyomba emgodini wemayini, engaqhubeka nokusebenza kuwo cishe inyanga, ngaphandle kokuphumelela emizamweni yethu, futhi ekugcineni ngaphumelela ukumvumisa umnumzane ukuba ayeke ukumba efunana nemayini. Ngaleso sizathu kwavela indaba edumile yokuthi ngangingofuna amagugu agqitshwe ngaphansi.

57 Ngalesi sikhathi ngiqashwe lapha, ngaqasha indawo yokuhlala kuMnumzane u-Isaac Hale, waleyo ndawo; kulapho-ke ngaqala ukubona khona umfazi wami (indodakazi yakhe), u-Emma Hale. Ngomhlaka 18 kuJanuwari, ngonyaka ka 1827, sashada, ngesikhathi ngisaqashiwe ngisebenzela uMnumzane Stoal.

58 Ngenxa yokuqhubeka nokusho ukuthi ngangibone umbono, ukuhlushwa kwangilandela, futhi umndeni womkhwe wami wawuphikisana kakhulu nokuba sishade. Ngakho-ke kwadingeka ngimthathe siye kwenye indawo; ngakho-ke sahamba sayoshadiswa emzini kaSquire Tarbill, eNingizimu neBainbridge, esifundeni iChenango, eNew York. Masinyane emuva kokushada, ngawushiya umuzi kaMnumzane uStoal, ngaya kokababa, ngayolima naye ngaleyonkathi.

59 Emva kwesikhathi eside safika isikhathi sokuthola izingcwephe, i-Urimi neThumimi, nesivikelo sesifuba. Ngomhla wamashumi amabili nambili kuSeptemba, ngonyaka wenkulungwane namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili namashumi amabili nesikhombisa, sengihambe njengokwejwayelekile ekupheleni komunye unyaka ngaya lapho ezazibekwe khona, leso sithunywa sasezulwini sanginika zona nalomyalo: ukuthi kwakufanele ngizibheke; nokuthi uma ngangiyozidedela zisuke kimi ngenxa yokungaqapheli, noma ngenxa yo budedengu bami, kufanele ngihlukaniswe noNkulunkulu; kodwa uma ngangiyokwenza yonke imizamo yami ukuzi gcina, size sona, isithunywa, sizilande, kufanele zivikeleke.

60 Ngasheshe ngasithola isizathu sokuthi yingani ngangithole imiyalelo eyayiqine kangaka yokuba ngizigcine zivikelekile, nokuthi kungani isithunywa sasithe uma ngase ngikwenzile okwakudingekile esandleni sami, sasiyofuna ngizibuyise. Ngazithola maqede kwaziwa ukuthi nginazo, kwase kuba nomzukuzuku omkhulu wemizamo eyasetshenziswa ukuba zithathwe kimi. Wonke amasu ayengenziwa azanywa ukufeza leyonhloso. Ukuhlushwa kwaba kubi kakhulu futhi kwaba nzima kunangaphambili, futhi iningi labantu lalihlale njalo lilindele ukuzithatha kimi uma kwakungenzeka. Kodwa ngokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu, zahlala zivikelekile ezandleni zami, kwaze kwaba sengikufezile okwakudingekile esandleni sami. Okwathi, ngokohlelo, isithunywa sazifuna, ngasinika zona; futhi zikuye uzigcinile kuze kube yilolusuku, kungolwesibili usuku ku Meyi, unyaka wenkulungwane namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili namashumi amathathu nesishiyagalombili.

61 Ugqozi, nokho, lwaqhubeka, nenzwabethi ngezinkulumo eziningi kwasetshenziswa ngaso sonke isikhathi kusatshalaliswa amanga ngomndeni kababa, nangami. Uma kungathiwa angiyilande lenzwabethi ngezinkulungwane zayo, ingagcwalisa imiqulu. Ukuhlushwa, nokho, kwakungasa bekezeleleki kwaze kwadingeka ukuba ngishiye eManchester, ngahamba nomkami saya esifundeni iSusquehanna, esiFundazweni sasePennsylvania. Ngesikhathi sisalungiselela ukuhamba—sihlupheka kakhulu, nokuhlushwa kunzima phezu kwethu kangangoba kwakungekho amalinge okuthi sasingenza ngenye indlela—phakathi nokuhlushwa kwethu sathola umhlobo kumnumzane okwakuthiwa ngu Martin Harris, oweza kithi futhi wanginika amadola angamashumi amahlanu ukusisiza endleleni yethu. UMnumzane uHarris wayehlala elokishini lasePalmyra, esifundeni iWayne, esiFundazweni saseNew York, futhi engumlimi ohloniphekile.

62 Ngalolusizo olwafika ngesikhathi esifanele ngakwazi ukufinyelela endaweni engangiya kuyo ePennsylvania; futhi masinyane ekufikeni kwami ngaqala ngakopisha imifanekiso ezingcwepheni. Ngakopisha eminingana impela, futhi nge-Urimi neThumimi ngakwazi ukuhumusha eminye yayo, engakwenza phakathi kokufika kwami endlini yomkhwe wami, ngenyanga kaDisemba, noFebruwari olandelayo.

63 Ngesikhathi esithile kulenyanga kaFebruwari, uMnumzane Martin Harris osebaluliwe phambilini weza endaweni yethu, wathatha imifanekiso engangiyikopishe ngiyisusela ezingcwepheni, wahamba nayo waya edolobheni laseNew York. Ngokuphathelene nokwenzeka mayelana naye naleyo mifanekiso, ngiphinda indaba yakhe ngezehlakalo, njengoba angixoxela emuva kokubuya kwakhe, okuyilena elandelayo:

64 “Ngahamba ngaya edolobheni laseNew York, futhi ngakhombisa uSolwazi uCharles Anthon imifanekiso eyayisihunyushiwe, nokuhunyushwa kwayo. UMnumzane u-Anthon wayaziwa ngobungcweti bakhe kulokho okwakulotshwe yizazi zokuloba. USolwazi u-Anthon wathi lokho kuhunyushwa kwakuyikho, ngaphezulu kwalokho ake akubona phambilini kuhunyushiwe kusuka olimini lwesiGibithe. Ngase ngimtshengisa leyo eyayingakahunyushwa, wase ethi iyisiGibithe, isiKaledi, isi-Asiriya, nesi-Arabiya; futhi wathi imifanekiso yayiliqiniso. Wabe esenginika isitifiketi, esasiqinisekisa kubantu basePalmyra ukuthi lemifanekiso yayiliqiniso, nokuthi ukuhunyushwa kwayo ngalendlela nakho futhi kwakuhunyushwe ngendlela eyiyo. Ngasithatha isitifiketi ngasifaka ekhukhwini lami, futhi ngase ngiphuma endlini, ngesikhathi uMnumzane u-Anthon engibiza, futhi wangibuza ukuthi umfana wathola kanjani ukuthi kwakukhona izingcwephe zegolide kuleyo ndawo lapho azithola khona. Ngamphendula ngathi yingelosi kaNkulunkulu eyakwembula kuye lokho.

65 “Wabe esethi kimi, ‘Ake ngibone leso sitifiketi.’ Ngokuvumelana nalokho ngasikhipha ekhukhwini lami ngamnika, wabe esesithatha wasidabula saba yizicucu, ethi ayisekho into okuthiwa wukusetshenzelwa yi zingelosi, nokuthi uma ngangingaziletha kuye izingcwephe wayezozihumusha. Ngamtshela ukuthi ingxenye yezingcwephe yayi valiwe, nokuthi ngangenqatshelwe ukuziletha. Waphendula wathi, ‘Angikwazi ukufunda incwadi evaliwe.’ Ngamshiya ngaya kuDokotela uMitchell, owakuqinisa okwakushiwo nguSolwazi u-Anthon ngokuphathelene nemifanekiso nokuhunyushwa kwayo.”

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U-Oliver Cowdery usebenza njengombhali ekuhunyushweni kweNcwadi kaMormoni—UJoseph no-Oliver bathola ubuPhristi buka-Aroni kuJohane umBhabhadisi—Bayabhabhadiswa, bayagcotshwa, futhi bathola umoya wokuphrofetha. (Amavesi 66–75.)

66 Ngomhlaka 5 ku-Epreli, ngonyaka ka 1829, u-Oliver Cowdery weza emzini wami, kuze kube yileso sikhathi ngangingakaze ngimbone. Wangitshela ukuthi njengoba ayekade efundisa esikoleni esingumakhelwane nalapho kwakuhlala khona ubaba, futhi ubaba engomunye walabo ababethumela izingane esikoleni, weza wazoqasha isikhathi emzini wakhe, ngesikhathi elapho umndeni wamxoxela ngeminingwane yokuthola kwami izingcwephe, ngakho-ke wayeze ukuzobuza ngalokho kimi.

67 Izinsuku ezimbili kufike uMnumzane uCowdery (zingu 7 ku-Epreli) ngaqala ukuhumusha iNcwadi kaMormoni, futhi waqala ukungibhalela.

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68 Saqhubeka nomsebenzi wokuhumusha, okwathi ngenyanga elandelayo (ngoMeyi, ngonyaka ka 1829), sahamba langa limbe saya ehlathini ukuyokhuleka futhi sibuze iNkosi ngo mbhabhadiso ukuze ku thethelelwe izono, esasikuthole kushiwo ekuhunyushweni kwezingcwephe. Ngesikhathi sisenza lokho, sikhulela futhi sibiza iNkosi, kwehla isithunywa sisuka ezulwini ngefu lokukhanya, futhi sesisibeke izandla zaso phezu kwethu, sasi gcoba, sithi:

69 Kini zinceku engisebenza nazo, egameni likaMesiya, nginika ubuPhristi buka Aaroni, obuphethe izikhiye zokusetshenzelwa yizingelosi, nezevangeli lokuphenduka, nezokubhabhadisa ngokucwiliswa ukuze kuthethelelwe izono; futhi lobu buPhristi ngeke busaphindwe buthathwe futhi emhlabeni kuze kube amadodana ka Levi aletha umnikelo futhi eNkosini ngokulunga.

70 Wathi lobu buPhristi buka-Aaroni babungenawo amandla okubeka izandla ukuze kunikwe isipho soMoya oNgcwele, kodwa lamandla kufanele anikwe kithi emva kwalokhu; futhi wasiyala ukuba sihambe siyobhabhadiswa, futhi wasinika imiyalelo yokuthi kufanele ngibhabhadise u-Oliver Cowdery, nokuthi emuva kwalokho kufanele naye angibhabhadise.

71 Ngokuvumelana nalokho sahamba sayobhabhadiswa. Ngabhabhadisa yena kuqala, kwathi emva kwalokho naye wabhabhadisa mina—emva kwalokho ngabeka izandla ekhanda lakhe ngamgcobela kubuPhristi buka-Aaroni, kwathi emva kwalokho wabeka izandla zakhe kimi naye wangigcobela kubuPhristi obufanayo—ngokuba sasiyalwe* kanjalo.

72 Isithunywa esasisi hambele kulesi sikhathi futhi sasinika lobu buPhristi, sathi igama laso kwakunguJohane, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uJohane umBhabhadisi eTestamenteni eliSha, nokuthi wayesebenza ngaphansi ngokuyalwa ngu Petru, uJakobe no Johane ababephethe izikhiye zobuPhristi buka Melkizedeki, lobo buPhristi, athi, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi buzonikwa kithi, nokuthi kufanele ngibizwe nge Gosa lokuqala eBandleni, nokuthi yena (u-Oliver Cowdery) abe elesibili. Kwakungumhla weshumi nanhlanu kuMeyi, ngonyaka ka 1829, ngesikhathi sigcotshwa ngaphansi kwesandla salesi sithunywa, futhi sibhabhadiswa.

73 Masinyane ekuphumeni kwethu emanzini emva kokubhabhadiswa, sathola izibusiso ezinkulu nezibabazekayo ziphuma kuBaba wethu oseZulwini. Masinyane emva kokubhabhadisa u-Oliver Cowdery, uMoya oNgcwele wawela phezu kwakhe, futhi wasukuma wa phrofetha izinto eziningi ezazizokwenzeka masinyane. Futhi phezu kwalokho, masinyane emva kokubhabhadiswa nguye, nami ngaba nomoya wokuphrofetha, ngesikhathi ngisukuma, ngaphrofetha ngokuphathelene nokukhula kwaleli Bandla, nezinto eziningi ezihlangene neBandla, futhi nangalesi sizukulwane sabantwana babantu. Sagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, futhi sathokoza kuNkulunkulu wensindiso yethu.

74 Izingqondo zethu manje sezikhanyiselekile, saqala ukuyi qonda imibhalo engcwele, futhi nencazelo eyi qiniso nenhloso yezingxenye zayo ezifihlakele kwambulwa kithi ngendlela esasingeke siyithole phambilini, noma esasingayicabangi phambilini. Kuze kufike kuleso sikhathi saphoqeleka ukukufihla ukuthola kwethu ubuPhristi nokubhabhadiswa kwethu, ngenxa yomoya wokuhlupha owawusuvele usuzivezile endaweni.

75 Sase sisongelwe ngokuhlaselwa yiqulu labantu, izikhathi ngezikhathi, lokhu futhi kwenziwa ngamakholwa. Futhi izinhloso zabo zokusihlasela ngequlu labantu zavinjelwa yizenzo zomndemi womkhwe wami (ngaphansi kosizo lukaNkulunkulu), owayesebe ngumhlobo wami omkhulu, nowayephikisana nokuthi sihlaselwe yiqulu labantu, futhi owayefisa ukuthi ngivunyelwe ukuba ngiqhubeke nomsebenzi wokuhumusha ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa; ngakho-ke wasethembisa ukuvikeleka kuzo zonke izenzo ezazingekho emthethweni, kangangoba babengakwazi ukukwenza lokho.

  • U-Oliver Cowdery uzichaza kanje lezi zehlakalo: “Lezi yizinsuku ezingeke zakhohlakala—ukuhlala eduze nomsindo ulalele izwi eliyalelwe ngentshisekelo yasezulwini, kwavusa okukhulu ukubonga enhliziyweni yami! Usuku nosuku ngaqhubeka ngingaphazanyisiwe, nokubhala okuphuma emlonyeni wakhe, ngesikhathi ehumusha nge-Urimi neThumimi, noma, njengoba amaNefi ayengathi, ‘Izihumushi,’ umlando noma umbhalo obizwa ngokuthi ‘INcwadi kaMormoni.’

    “Ukusho, ngisho ngamazwi ambalwa, indaba ehehayo exoxwa nguMormoni nendodana yakhe ethembekile, uMoroni, ngabantu abake bathandwa futhi babusiswa yizulu, kwakungadlula inhloso yami engangiyifisa ngaleso sikhathi; ngakho-ke lokhu ngizokuhlehlisela isikhathi esizayo, futhi, njengoba ngishilo kwisingeniso, ngizodlulela ezehlakalweni ezimbalwa ezixhumene ngqo nokukhula kwaleliBandla, okungajabulisa izinkulungwane zalabo asebeze phambili, phakathi kokuhwaqabala kwabanemiqondo emfishane, nokubhecwa ngabazenzisi, futhi nabemukela iVangeli likaKristu.

    “Akukho muntu, ocabanga kahle, ongahumusha futhi abhale imiyalelo eyanikwa amaNefi kusuka emlonyeni womSindisi, mayelana nendlela okuyiyo kanye umuntu angakha ngayo iBandla Lakhe, futhi ikakhulukazi uma ububi sekwandise ukungazi kuzo zonke izinhlelo ezenziwayo phakathi kwabantu, ngaphandle kokufisa ilungelo lokuveza isifiso senhliziyo ngokungcwatshwa engcwabeni lamanzi, ukucela ‘unembeza omuhle ngokuvuka kwabafileyo kukaJesu Kristu.’

    “Emuva kokubhala indaba enikiwe ngobufundisi bomSindisi kwinsali yenzalo kaJakobe, kulelizwekazi, kwakulula ukukubona, njengoba umphrofethi ayeshilo ukuthi kuyoba njalo, ukuthi ubumnyama buyomboza umhlaba nobumnyama obukhulu ezingqondweni zabantu. Ngokucabanga futhi kwaba lula ukubona ukuthi phakathi kwemibango emikhulu nomsindo ngokuphathelene nenkolo, akekho owayenegunya elisuka kuNkulunkulu lokuphatha izimiso zeVangeli. Ngokuba umbuzo wawungabuzwa ukuthi, ngabe amadoda aphika izambulo analo yini igunya lokuphatha egameni likaKristu, ngokubona ukuthi ubufakazi Bakhe bungaphezulu komoya wokuphrofetha, futhi nenkolo Yakhe yakhelwe, yakhiwe, futhi isekelwe yizambulo ezizwakele ngendlebe, kuzo zonke izikhathi zomhlaba ngesikhathi eseke Waba nabantu emhlabeni na? Uma lamaqiniso ayefihlwa, futhi embozwa kahle ngabantu imisebenzi yabo eyayingaba sengozini uma ayevunyelwa nakanye ukuba akhanye phambi kwabantu, ayengasafihliwe kithi; futhi salindela umyalelo ukuba unikwe othi ‘Sukuma ubhabhadiswe.’

    “Akuthathanga sikhathi esingakanani ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke lokhu. INkosi, ecebile ngesihawu, futhi ehlale ithanda ukuphendula umkhuleko ongaphezi wothobekile, emva kokuba sesimbizile Yena ngokushisekela, kude nemizi yabantu, wazehlisa ukuze aveze kithi intando Yakhe. Masinyane, kungathi kwakuphuma phakathi nephakade, izwi loMhlengi lakhuluma induduzo kithi, ngesikhathi isisitho sihlukaniswa futhi nengelosi kaNkulunkulu yehlela phansi yembethe inkazimulo, futhi yakhuluma umlayezo obubhekwe ngokushisekela, nezikhiye zeVangeli lokuphenduka. Yek’ injabulo esayizwa! Yek’ ukumangala esabanakho! Yek’ isimanga esasibona! Ngesikhathi umhlaba usenkathazweni futhi udidekile—ngesikhathi izinkulungwane ziphuphutheka njengezimpumputhe ziya odongeni, futhi ngesikhathi bonke abantu behleli ekungaqondini, njengoquqaba, amehlo ethu abona, izindlebe zethu zezwa, njengasosukwini olwalubalele saka; yebo—ngaphezulu kokukhazimula kwemisebe kaMeyi, eyabe isisakaza ukukhanya kwako phezu kobuso bomhlaba! Emva kwalokho izwi lakhe, nakuba lalipholile, lasihlaba phakathi, namazwi akhe athi, ‘Ngiyinceku kanye nani,’ asusa konke ukwesaba. Salalela, sabuka, sancoma! Kwakuyizwi lengelosi esuka enkazimulweni, kwakungumlayezo osuka koPhakeme kaKhulu! Futhi ngesikhathi sizwa sajabula, ngesikhathi uthando Lwakhe lokheleka emiphefumulweni yethu, sasisongwe embonweni kaMninimandla Onke! Yayisikuphi indawo yokungabaza? Ndawo; ukungazi kwase kubalekile, ukungabaza kwase kucwilile kungesenakuphinde kube khona, ngesikhathi amanga nenkohliso kwase kubalekile inguphakade!

    “Kodwa, mfowethu othandekayo, ake ucabange isikhashana, ukuthi ingakanani injabulo eyaba sezinhliziyweni zethu, futhi nokuthi sakhothama ngokumangala okungakanani, (ngokuba ubani owayengeke akhothamise idolo ukuze athole isibusiso esinjeya?) ngesikhathi sithola ngaphansi kwesandla sakhe ubuPhristi obuNgcwele ngesikhathi ethi, ‘Kini zinceku ezikanye nami, egameni likaMesiya, ngini nika lobu buPhristi naleligunya, eliyohlala emhlabeni, ukuze amadodana kaLevi aphinde anikele futhi umnikelo eNkosini ngokulunga!’

    “Ngeke ngizame ukunidwebela isithombe semizwa yenhliziyo yami, noma ubuhle nenkazimulo yobukhosi eyayisizungezile ngalesi sikhathi; kodwa nizongikholwa uma ngithi, umhlaba, noma abantu, nekhono lezikhathi, ngeke ngisho kukwazi ukuqala ukwembathisa ulimi ngendlela ehehayo nephakeme njengoba lomuntu onesithunzi ongcwele enza. Cha; futhi nalomhlaba awunawo amandla okunika injabulo, ukunika ukuthula, noma ukuqonda ukuhlakanipha okwakuqukethwe kumusho ngamunye ngesikhathi wawukhulunywa ngamandla kaMoya oNgcwele! Umuntu angabakhohlisa abanye abantu, ukukhohlisa kungalandela ukukhohlisa, futhi nabantwana bomubi bangaba namandla okuyenga abayiziwula nabangafundisiwe, kuze kube akukho lutho ngaphandle kwamanga anikwa abaningi, futhi nesithelo samanga sithwale ngomfutho waso abaguquguqukayo sibayise ethuneni; kodwa ukuthinta okukodwa ngomunwe wothando lwakhe, yebo, umsebe owodwa wenkazimulo osuka ezweni eliphezulu, noma izwi elilodwa eliphuma emlonyeni womSindisi, kusuka esifubeni sephakade, likwenza konke kube yize, futhi likucisha ingunaphakade enqondweni. Isiqiniseko sokuthi sasiphambi kwengelosi, ubuqiniso bokuthi sasizwa izwi likaJesu, neqiniso elingenachashazi ngesikhathi ligeleza liphuma kumuntu onesithunzi omsulwa, kushiwo ngentando kaNkulunkulu, ngeke ngakwazi ukukuchaza, futhi ngiyohlale ngikubuka lokhu kukhonjiswa kothando komSindisi ngokumangala nangokubonga ngesikhathi ngisavunyelwe ukuphila; futhi kulezo zindlu lapho kuhlala khona ukuphelela du futhi nalapho isono singangeni khona, nginethemba lokudumisa ngalolo suku olungaseyikuphela.”—Messenger and Advocate, umqulu 1 (Oktoba 1834), amakhasi 14–16.