45:1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were
exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of
the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord
their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did
worship God with exceedingly great joy.
45:2 And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman
and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee
concerning those records which have been kept?
45:3 And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.
45:4 And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall
come?
45:5 And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.
45:6 And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?
45:7 And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.
45:8 Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall
prosper thee in this land.
45:9 But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I
prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto
thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled;
therefore write the words which I shall say.
45:10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very
people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in
me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall
manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.
45:11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines
and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—
45:12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall
into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of
iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so
great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day,
even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great
iniquity shall come.
45:13 And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh
that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among
the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of
Nephi.
45:14 But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and
dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become
like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples
of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall
become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be
fulfilled.
45:15 And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to
Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed
the earth for the righteous’ sake.
45:16 And he said: Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land,
yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto
destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have
said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God
upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree
of allowance.
45:17 And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed the church,
yea, all those who should stand fast in the faith from that time
henceforth.
45:18 And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of
Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that
he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.
45:19 Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying
went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried
by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures
saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also
received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we
know nothing concerning his death and burial.
45:20 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the nineteenth
year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Helaman
went forth among the people to declare the word unto them.
45:21 For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many
little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it
became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them,
yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church.
45:22 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the
church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the
land which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass
that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land,
over all the churches.
45:23 And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his brethren had
appointed priests and teachers over the churches that there arose a
dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of
Helaman and his brethren;
45:24 But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of
their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own
eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before
God.