And now it came to pass that some years had passed away there came a man among the People of Nephi whose name was Sherem
1And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.
& it came topass that he began to preach among the people & to declare unto them thatthere should be no Christ & he preached many things which were flattering unto the people & this he done that he might overthrew overthreow the doctrine of Christ
2And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.
& he laboured diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people insomuch that he did lead away many hearst & he knowing that I Jacob had faith in Christ which should come wherefore he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me
3And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.
& he was learned that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the People wherefore he could use much flatterry & much power of speach according to the power of the Devil
4And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.
& he had hope to shake me from the faith notwithstanding the many revelations & the many things which I had seen concerning these things for I truly had seen Angels & they had ministered unto me & also I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in verry word from time to time wherefore I could not be shaken
5And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
& it came to pass that he came unto me & on this wise did he speak unto me saying Brother Jacob I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you
for I have heard
6And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ.
7And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.
8But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.
9And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.
10And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.
& none of the prophets have written nor prophesied save they have spoken concerning this Christ
11And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
& this is not all it hath been made manifest unto me for I have heard & seen & it also hath been made manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost wherefore I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost
12And this is not all— it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.
& it came to pass that he sayeth unto me shew me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghostin the which ye know so much
13And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.
& I said unto him what am I that I should tempt God to shew unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true yet thou wilt deny it because thou art of the Devil nevertheless not my will be done but if God shall smite thee let that be a sign unto thee that he hath power both in heaven & in earth & also that Christ shall come & thy will O Lord be done & not mine
14And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.
& it came to pass that when I Jacob had spoken these words the power of the Lord came upon him insomuch that he fell to the earth & it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days
15And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.
& it came to pass that he sayeth unto the people gather together on the morrow for I shall die wherefore I desire to speak unto the people before that I shall die
16And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.
& it came to pass that on the morrow that the multitude were gathered together & he spake plainly unto them & denyed the things which he had taught them & confessed the Christ & the power of the Holy Ghost & the ministering ofAngels
17And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.
& he spake plainly unto them that he had been deceived by thepower of the Devil & he spake of <Hell> & of eternity & of eternal
18And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.
19And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.
20And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.
21And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.
22Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.
23And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.
to the knowledge of the truth but it all were vain for they delighted in wars & bloodsheds & they had an eternal hatred against us their Brethren & they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually
24And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually.
wherefore the People of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms & with all their might trusting in the God & the Rock of their Salvation wherefore they became as yet conquerers of their enemies
25Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.
& it came to pass that I Jacob began to be old & the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi wherefore I conclude this record declareing that I havewritten according to the best of my knowledge by saying that the time passed away with us & also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream we being a lonesome & a solumn people wanderers cast out from Jerusalem born in tribulation in a wild wilderness & hated of our Brethren which caused wars & contentions wherefore we did mourn out our days
26And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
& I Jacob saw that I must soon go down to my grave wherefore I said unto my Son Enos take these plates & I told him the things which my Brother Nephi had commanded me & he promised obied iance unto the commands & I make an end of my writing upon these plates which writing hath been small & to the reader I bid farewell hopeing that many of my Brethren may read my words Brethren adieu
27And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.