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Mosiah 25


Chapter 25

The descendants of Mulek at Zarahemla become Nephites—They learn of the people of Alma and of Zeniff—Alma baptizes Limhi and all his people—Mosiah authorizes Alma to organize the Church of God. About 120 B.C.

And now king Mosiah caused that all the people should be gathered together.

Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the people of Zarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek, and those who came with him into the wilderness.

And there were not so many of the people of Nephi and of the people of Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea, they were not half so numerous.

And now all the people of Nephi were assembled together, and also all the people of Zarahemla, and they were gathered together in two bodies.

And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until they returned again.

And he also read the account of Alma and his brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time they returned again.

And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement.

For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been delivered out of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy.

And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been slain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow.

10 And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.

11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls.

12 And it came to pass that those who were the children of Amulon and his brethren, who had taken to wife the daughters of the Lamanites, were displeased with the conduct of their fathers, and they would no longer be called by the names of their fathers, therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi, that they might be called the children of Nephi and be numbered among those who were called Nephites.

13 And now all the people of Zarahemla were numbered with the Nephites, and this because the kingdom had been conferred upon none but those who were descendants of Nephi.

14 And now it came to pass that when Mosiah had made an end of speaking and reading to the people, he desired that Alma should also speak to the people.

15 And Alma did speak unto them, when they were assembled together in large bodies, and he went from one body to another, preaching unto the people repentance and faith on the Lord.

16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren, all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them.

17 And it came to pass that after Alma had taught the people many things, and had made an end of speaking to them, that king Limhi was desirous that he might be baptized; and all his people were desirous that they might be baptized also.

18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma.

19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over every church.

20 Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly;

21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma.

22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God.

23 And now there were seven churches in the land of Zarahemla. And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God;

24 And they were called the people of God. And the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and prospered in the land.

      • according as (adverb)

        Just as; in a way that corresponds to how.

      • account (noun)

        A story; a description or record, written or verbal.

      • affliction (noun)

        Pain; problems.

      • after the manner of (adverb phrase)

        Following the pattern or customs of; according to the principles of.

      • as many as (adjective phrase)

        All; each of.

      • B.C. (noun)

        Before the birth of Christ.

      • baptize (verb)

        To perform the ordinance of baptism. In baptism a person is immersed in water to symbolize being cleansed from sin.

      • because of (conjunction)

        By reason of; through.

      • behold (verb)

        To look; to see; to notice.

      • brother, brethren (noun)

        Peer; neighbor; relative; kinsman.

      • by the mouth of (adverb phrase)

        Through; by someone with authority or acting as spokesman.

      • caused that someone should be (phrase)

        Had someone.

      • church (noun)

        Organization; gathering. (In Nephi’s vision this is not limited to religious organizations.)

      • it came to pass (verb phrase)

        It happened; it took place.

      • deliver (verb)

        To help someone escape; to save someone; to set someone free.

      • descendant (noun)

        One’s children, their children, theirs, and so on.

      • desire (verb)

        To ask.

      • be desirous (verb)

        To desire; to want.

      • did, didst (verb, archaic)

        A term used before verbs to make them past tense.

      • even (adverb)

        Specifically.

      • even unto (adverb)

        To the point of; up until.

      • exceedingly (adverb)

        Very; extremely.

      • except (conjunction)

        Unless.

      • exhort (verb)

        To urge; to try to persuade.

      • faith (noun)

        Belief in God, willingness to follow His gospel, and trust in the impressions of the Holy Ghost.

      • fathers (noun)

        Ancestors (one’s parents, their parents, theirs, and so on).

      • for (conjunction)

        Because.

      • from (preposition)

        Starting from or with.

      • gather (verb)

        To assemble; to meet together.

      • go forth (verb phrase)

        To move forward from a starting point.

      • God (proper noun)

        God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. God the Father rules all things with perfect justice, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected. The Father and Son are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • king (noun)

        Ruler or leader of a country. Kings are usually the son of the previous king.

      • Lamanites (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon, often enemies of the Nephites, who descended from Nephi’s brother Laman and of those who followed him.

      • Lord (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • make an end (verb phrase)

        Finish; stop.

      • might (verb)

        Can; could.

      • Nephites, people of Nephi (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon descended from Nephi and from those who followed him.

      • none (pronoun)

        No one.

      • notwithstanding (conjunction)

        Although; even though.

      • one (adjective)

        United in purpose.

      • ordain (verb)

        Appoint; give authority; perform a ceremony in which a priesthood holder lays his hands on a person’s head and gives that person authority.

      • out of someone’s hands (adverb)

        From someone.

      • over (preposition)

        Above in authority or power; having responsibility for.

      • pour out (verb)

        To express one’s deepest feelings in prayer.

      • preach (verb)

        To teach or proclaim the gospel.

      • priest (noun)

        A man authorized by God to teach, lead, and perform ordinances like baptism; a leader in one of the apostate churches in the Book of Mormon.

      • prosper (verb)

        To do well; to thrive; to succeed.

      • raise my voice (verb phrase)

        Speak; pray out loud.

      • record (noun)

        A written description or account.

      • repentance (noun)

        Feeling sorrow for one’s sins, making amends, changing one’s life, and seeking forgiveness.

      • should (verb)

        May; must; ought to.

      • slay (verb)

        To kill.

      • sorrow (noun)

        Sadness; suffering.

      • soul (noun)

        Spirit; the part of us that exists before birth, that continues after death, and that has awareness and the ability to choose.

      • Spirit (noun)

        The Holy Ghost, also known as the Spirit of the Lord. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • state (noun)

        Condition; circumstance.

      • take to wife (verb phrase)

        To marry.

      • that (conjunction)

        In order that; so that.

      • that (conjunction)

        Who.

      • therefore (adverb)

        For this reason.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • welfare (noun)

        Well-being; benefit; good; advantage.

      • whosoever (pronoun)

        Whoever.

      • wilderness (noun)

        Land where few or no people live.

      • would (verb)

        Desire to; want to; would like to.

      • word (noun)

        Message; teachings.

      • word (noun)

        Teachings of the gospel.

      • yea (interjection, archaic)

        Indeed; yes. This is pronounced “yay.”