26:1 Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation
that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little
children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe
the tradition of their fathers.
26:2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the
resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the
coming of Christ.
26:3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the
word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
26:4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the
church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained
so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would
not call upon the Lord their God.
26:5 And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous as
the people of God; but because of the dissensions among the brethren
they became more numerous.
26:6 For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their
flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit
many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin,
that were in the church, should be admonished by the church.
26:7 And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and
delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought
them before Alma, who was the high priest.
26:8 Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church.
26:9 And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerning them; but
there were many witnesses against them; yea, the people stood and
testified of their iniquity in abundance.
26:10 Now there had not any such thing happened before in the church;
therefore Alma was troubled in his spirit, and he caused that they
should be brought before the king.
26:11 And he said unto the king: Behold, here are many whom we have
brought before thee, who are accused of their brethren; yea, and they
have been taken in divers iniquities. And they do not repent of their
iniquities; therefore we have brought them before thee, that thou
mayest judge them according to their crimes.
26:12 But king Mosiah said unto Alma: Behold, I judge them not;
therefore I deliver them into thy hands to be judged.
26:13 And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and
inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he
feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God.
26:14 And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul
to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:
26:15 Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in
the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith
in the words alone of my servant Abinadi.
26:16 And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the
words alone which thou hast spoken unto them.
26:17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among
this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my
people.
26:18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for
in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.
26:19 And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor,
thou art blessed.
26:20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt
have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and
shalt gather together my sheep.
26:21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall
ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive.
26:22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be
baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my
name; and him will I freely forgive.
26:23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is
I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that
believeth unto the end a place at my right hand.
26:24 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they
shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
26:25 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound
then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before
me.
26:26 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am
their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.
26:27 And then I will confess unto them that I never knew them; and
they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels.
26:28 Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not hear my voice,
the same shall ye not receive into my church, for him I will not
receive at the last day.
26:29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against
me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed;
and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the
sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him
also.
26:30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their
trespasses against me.
26:31 And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily
I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he
says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.
26:32 Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins
the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be
observed from this time forward.
26:33 And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words he wrote them
down that he might have them, and that he might judge the people of
that church according to the commandments of God.
26:34 And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been
taken in iniquity, according to the word of the Lord.
26:35 And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them
he did number among the people of the church;
26:36 And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their
iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church,
and their names were blotted out.
26:37 And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the
church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly
in the affairs of the church, walking circumspectly before God,
receiving many, and baptizing many.
26:38 And now all these things did Alma and his fellow laborers do who
were over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of
God in all things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being
persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of God.
26:39 And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also
admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to
the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without
ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.