25:1 And now king Mosiah caused that all the people should be gathered
together.
25:2 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.
25:3 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.
25:4 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.
25:5 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.
25:6 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.
25:7 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.
25:8 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.
25:9 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.
25:10 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.
25:11 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.
25:12 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.
25:13 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.
25:14 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.
25:15 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.
25:16 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.
25:17 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.
25:18 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.
25:19 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.
25:20 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;
25:21 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.
25:22 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.
25:23 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;
25:24 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.