AlmaChapter32

And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

They went out and began to preach the word of God among the people, entering their synagogues and their houses; they even preached the word in the streets.

And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—

After much hard work among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for these were driven out of the synagogues because of their rough clothing.

Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.

They were not allowed to enter their synagogues to worship God, because they were regarded as filth; so they were poor. Their brothers looked on them as worthless; they were poor in the things of the world, and they were also poor in heart.

Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.

Now, while Alma was teaching and speaking to the people on the hill Onidah, a large crowd came to him: the very people we have been speaking of, those who were poor in heart because of their poverty in the things of the world.

And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?

They came to Alma, and the foremost among them said to him, "What should my brothers here do? They are despised by everyone because of their poverty, and especially by our priests. They have driven us out of the synagogues that we worked so hard to build with our own hands; they have driven us out because of our deep poverty, and we have no place to worship our God. What should we do?"

And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

When Alma heard this, he turned around and faced him, and he looked at him with great joy; for he saw that their hard times had truly humbled them, and that they were prepared to hear the word.

Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:

So he said no more to the rest of the crowd; he stretched out his hand and called to those he saw were truly penitent, and said to them:

I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.

"I see that you are lowly in heart; and if you are, blessed are you.

Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.

Your brother has said, 'What should we do? For we are driven out of our synagogues, and we cannot worship our God.'

Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

I say to you: do you think that you cannot worship God except in your synagogues?

Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?

And more than that, I ask: do you think that you should worship God only once a week?

I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

"I tell you, it is good that you have been driven out of your synagogues, so that you may be humble, and so that you may learn wisdom; for it is necessary for you to learn wisdom. It is because you have been driven out, and are despised by your brothers on account of your deep poverty, that you have been brought to a lowliness of heart; for you have been brought to be humble out of necessity.

And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

And now, because you are compelled to be humble, you are blessed; for sometimes, if a person is compelled to be humble, they seek repentance; and surely, whoever repents will find mercy; and whoever finds mercy and endures to the end will be saved.

And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

"And now, as I said, because you were compelled to be humble you were blessed; but don't you think that those who truly humble themselves because of the word are even more blessed?

Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

Those who truly humble themselves, and repent of their sins, and endure to the end, will be blessed — much more blessed than those who are compelled to be humble by their deep poverty.

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

Therefore, blessed are those who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or in other words, blessed is the one who believes in the word of God and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know it, before they will believe.

Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

"There are many who say, 'If you will show us a sign from heaven, then we will know for certain; then we will believe.'

Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.

Now I ask: is this faith? I tell you, No; for if a person knows a thing, they have no cause to believe, for they know it.

And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?

And how much more cursed is the one who knows the will of God and does not do it, than the one who only believes, or only has cause to believe, and falls into transgression?

Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.

Now, you must judge this for yourselves. I tell you that it is the same on the one hand as it is on the other; and every person will receive according to their work.

And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

"And now, as I said concerning faith — faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore, if you have faith, you hope for things that are not seen, which are true.

And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

And now I tell you, and I want you to remember, that God is merciful to all who believe in his name; therefore the first thing he wants is for you to believe, even in his word.

And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned.

And now, he gives his word through angels to men; and not only to men, but to women also. And that is not all: many times little children are given words that confound the wise and the learned.

And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—

"And now, my beloved brothers, you have wanted to know from me what you should do because you are suffering and have been driven out. Now, I do not want you to think that I mean to judge you except according to what is true;

For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.

for I do not mean that all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; I truly believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, whatever circumstances they were in.

Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

"Now, as I said concerning faith, that it is not a perfect knowledge, so it is also with my words. You cannot know that they are certain at first, to perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

But if you will awake and stir up your faculties, even to experiment on my words, and exercise a particle of faith, even if you can do no more than want to believe, then let that desire work in you until you believe enough that you can give place for a portion of my words.

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

"Now, we will compare the word to a seed. If you give place for a seed to be planted in your heart, then, if it is a true seed, or a good seed, and you do not throw it out by your unbelief and resist the Spirit of the Lord, it will begin to swell within you; and when you feel these swelling motions, you will begin to say within yourselves, 'This must be a good seed, or the word must be good, for it begins to enlarge my soul; it begins to enlighten my understanding; it begins to be delicious to me.'

Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

"Now, would this not increase your faith? I tell you, Yes; yet it has not grown into a perfect knowledge.

But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

But as the seed swells, and sprouts, and begins to grow, then you must say that the seed is good; for it swells, and sprouts, and begins to grow. And now, will this not strengthen your faith? Yes, it will strengthen your faith; for you will say, 'I know that this is a good seed, for it sprouts and begins to grow.'

And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

"And now, are you sure that this is a good seed? I tell you, Yes; for every seed brings forth after its own likeness.

Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

Therefore, if a seed grows, it is good; but if it does not grow, it is not good, and so it is thrown away.

And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

And now, because you have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swells and sprouts and begins to grow, you must know that the seed is good.

And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

"And now, is your knowledge perfect? Yes, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this is because you know. For you know that the word has swelled your souls, and you also know that it has sprouted up, that your understanding begins to be enlightened, and your mind begins to expand.

O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

O then, is this not real? I tell you, Yes, because it is light; and whatever is light is good, because it is discernible; therefore you must know that it is good. And now, after you have tasted this light, is your knowledge perfect?

Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

I tell you, No. Nor must you lay aside your faith, for you have only exercised your faith to plant the seed, so that you could try the experiment to know whether the seed was good.

And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

"And as the tree begins to grow, you will say, 'Let us nourish it with great care, so that it may take root, and grow up, and bring us fruit.' And if you nourish it with much care, it will take root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

But if you neglect the tree, and give no thought to nourishing it, it will not take root; and when the heat of the sun comes and scorches it, it withers away, because it has no root, and you pull it up and throw it out.

Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

Now, this is not because the seed was not good, nor because the fruit would not be desirable; it is because your ground is barren and you will not nourish the tree. That is why you cannot have its fruit.

And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

"And so, if you will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to its fruit, you can never pick the fruit of the tree of life.

But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

But if you will nourish the word — nourish the tree as it begins to grow, by your faith, with great diligence and with patience, looking forward to its fruit — it will take root; and it will be a tree springing up to everlasting life.

And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

And because of your diligence, and your faith, and your patience with the word in nourishing it, so that it may take root in you, before long you will pick its fruit, which is most precious, which is sweeter than all that is sweet, and whiter than all that is white, and purer than all that is pure; and you will feast on this fruit until you are filled, so that you do not hunger and you do not thirst.

Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Then, my brothers, you will reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, as you wait for the tree to bring you fruit."