23:1 Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a
proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands
on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren
who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they
should be, in any part of their land.
23:2 Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their
hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should
they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their
synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them,
but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their
temples, and their sanctuaries.
23:3 And thus they might go forth and preach the word according to
their desires, for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all
his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land
unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but
that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might
be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and
that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they
ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit
adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness.
23:4 And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this
proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city,
and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and
consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the
Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them; and thus
they began to have great success.
23:5 And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea,
thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites;
and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down
even to the present time.
23:6 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as
many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the
preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of
revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in
them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites
as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never
did fall away.
23:7 For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons
of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more,
neither against any of their brethren.
23:8 Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord:
23:9 The people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Ishmael;
23:10 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of
Middoni;
23:11 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the city of
Nephi;
23:12 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of
Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel,
and in the city of Shimnilom.
23:13 And these are the names of the cities of the Lamanites which were
converted unto the Lord; and these are they that laid down the weapons
of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war; and they were all
Lamanites.
23:14 And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither
were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also
the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they
dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities.
23:15 Therefore, we have named all the cities of the Lamanites in which
they did repent and come to the knowledge of the truth, and were
converted.
23:16 And now it came to pass that the king and those who were
converted were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they
might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore the king
consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning the name
that they should take upon them, that they might be distinguished.
23:17 And it came to pass that they called their names
Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more
called Lamanites.
23:18 And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they
were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a
correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them.