18:1 And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants
of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about
privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—
18:2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the
resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was
to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of
Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
18:3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught
them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king.
And many did believe his words.
18:4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth
to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the
king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times
or at seasons, by wild beasts.
18:5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma
resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees,
where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
18:6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to
hear his words.
18:7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number
gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma.
Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him.
And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and
redemption, and faith on the Lord.
18:8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the
waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are
desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and
are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
18:9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and
comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses
of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be
in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered
with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
18:10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what
have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness
before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will
serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit
more abundantly upon you?
18:11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their
hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
18:12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the
first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O
Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work
with holiness of heart.
18:13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon
him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the
Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to
serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit
of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal
life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the
foundation of the world.
18:14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were
buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water
rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
18:15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into
the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not
bury himself again in the water.
18:16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to
the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four
souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were
filled with the grace of God.
18:17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ,
from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized
by the power and authority of God was added to his church.
18:18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God,
ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he
ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God.
18:19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were
the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth
of the holy prophets.
18:20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save
it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
18:21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with
another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one
faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and
in love one towards another.
18:22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the
children of God.
18:23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day,
and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the
Lord their God.
18:24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained
should labor with their own hands for their support.
18:25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they
should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship
the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to
assemble themselves together.
18:26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their
support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God,
that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God,
that they might teach with power and authority from God.
18:27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should
impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if
he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him
that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had
not should be given.
18:28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free
will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in
need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.
18:29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and
they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both
temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.
18:30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by
the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon;
yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon,
how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the
knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they
shall sing to his praise forever.
18:31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they
might not come to the knowledge of the king.
18:32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a
movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore
on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the
word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king.
18:33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to
rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.
18:34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were
apprised of the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their
tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.
18:35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls.