61:1 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his
epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from Pahoran,
the chief governor. And these are the words which he received:
61:2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these
words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto
you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it
grieves my soul.
61:3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea,
insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me, and also
those of my people who are freemen, yea, and those who have risen up
are exceedingly numerous.
61:4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat
from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have
used great flattery, and they have led away the hearts of many people,
which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld
our provisions, and have daunted our freemen that they have not come
unto you.
61:5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled
to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I
could get.
61:6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the
land; and behold, they are flocking to us daily, to their arms, in the
defence of their country and their freedom, and to avenge our wrongs.
61:7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up
in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do
fear us and durst not come out against us to battle.
61:8 They have got possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla;
they have appointed a king over them, and he hath written unto the king
of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in
the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla,
which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the
remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people
when they shall be conquered under the Lamanites.
61:9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth
not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I,
Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat
that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul
standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.
61:10 And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed.
We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in
their own land.
61:11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not
rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us.
61:12 We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if it were
requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do.
61:13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves
to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will
deliver us.
61:14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and
whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as
rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we
may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of
our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.
61:15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and
leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them
power to conduct the war in that part of the land, according to the
Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of freedom which is in them.
61:16 Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not
perish until ye can come unto me.
61:17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither,
and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of
our God according to the faith which is in us.
61:18 And we will take possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may
obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go
forth against them in the strength of the Lord, and we will put an end
to this great iniquity.
61:19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was
somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be
just in us to go against our brethren.
61:20 But ye have said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you
that ye should go against them.
61:21 See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to
fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand
fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close
mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni.