34:1 And now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words
unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to
teach them, saying:
34:2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be
ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of
Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that
these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension
from among us.
34:3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make
known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he
hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath
exhorted you unto faith and to patience—
34:4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the
word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.
34:5 And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds
is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no
Christ.
34:6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many
instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.
34:7 My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption
cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and
also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.
34:8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these
things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ
shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the
transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of
the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
34:9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for
according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an
atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all
are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except
it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
34:10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last
sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of
any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must
be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
34:11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which
will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold
will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto
you, Nay.
34:12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered;
therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement
which will suffice for the sins of the world.
34:13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last
sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be,
a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be
fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and
none shall have passed away.
34:14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit
pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last
sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
34:15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe
on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring
about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth
about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
34:16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles
them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto
repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice;
therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about
the great and eternal plan of redemption.
34:17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin
to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his
holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
34:18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
34:19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
34:20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your
flocks.
34:21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both
morning, mid-day, and evening.
34:22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
34:23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all
righteousness.
34:24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper
in them.
34:25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
34:26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets,
and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
34:27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be
full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and
also for the welfare of those who are around you.
34:28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not
suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if
ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and
afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand
in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your
prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who
do deny the faith.
34:29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as
dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is
trodden under foot of men.
34:30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so
many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these
things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.
34:31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts
any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation;
and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts,
immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto
you.
34:32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;
yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their
labors.
34:33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many
witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the
day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which
is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our
time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein
there can be no labor performed.
34:34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I
will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for
that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go
out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body
in that eternal world.
34:35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance
even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the
devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath
withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all
power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
34:36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in
unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea,
and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom,
to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the
blood of the Lamb.
34:37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember
these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear
before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
34:38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye
receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble
yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye
may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving
daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon
you.
34:39 Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto
prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of
the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his
subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.
34:40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience,
and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile
against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty,
lest ye become sinners like unto them;
34:41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with
a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.