7:1 And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there
came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.
7:2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and
to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached
many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that
he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.
7:3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the
people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that
I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much
opportunity that he might come unto me.
7:4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language
of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of
speech, according to the power of the devil.
7:5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the
many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these
things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me.
And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very
word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
7:6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he
speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity
that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou
goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the
doctrine of Christ.
7:7 And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the
right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way;
and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say
shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare
unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for
he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem
contend against me.
7:8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul,
insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.
7:9 And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he
said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know
that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.
7:10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said,
Yea.
7:11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they
truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the
prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning
this Christ.
7:12 And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have
heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power
of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement
made all mankind must be lost.
7:13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this
power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.
7:14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show
unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou
wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will
be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that
he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall
come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.
7:15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words,
the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the
earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many
days.
7:16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together
on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the
people before I shall die.
7:17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered
together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he
had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy
Ghost, and the ministering of angels.
7:18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the
power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of
eternal punishment.
7:19 And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin,
for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I
believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I
have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but
I confess unto God.
7:20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say
no more, and he gave up the ghost.
7:21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as
he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly;
insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were
overcome that they fell to the earth.
7:22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested
it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered
my prayer.
7:23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored
again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened
no more to the words of this wicked man.
7:24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and
restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was
vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal
hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of
their arms to destroy us continually.
7:25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their
arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their
salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.
7:26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record
of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I
conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the
best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and
also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a
lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born
in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which
caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
7:27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore,
I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things
which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto
the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which
writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that
many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.