AlmaChapter33

Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

After Alma had said these words, the people sent to ask him whether they should believe in one God so that they could receive the fruit he had spoken of, how they should plant the seed — the word he said must be planted in their hearts — and how they should begin to exercise their faith.

And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.

And Alma said to them: You have said that you cannot worship your God because you have been driven out of your synagogues. But I tell you, if you think you cannot worship God, you are greatly mistaken, and you ought to search the scriptures. If you think the scriptures have taught you that, you do not understand them.

Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?

Do you remember reading what the ancient prophet Zenos said about prayer and worship?

For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

For he said:You are merciful, O God,for you have heard my prayereven when I was in the wilderness;yes, you were merciful when I prayedabout those who were my enemies,and you turned them to me.

Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.

Yes, O God, you were merciful to mewhen I cried out to you in my field;when I cried out to you in my prayer,and you heard me.

And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.

And again, O God,when I turned to my house,you heard me in my prayer.

And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.

And when I turned to my private room, O Lord,and prayed to you,you heard me.

Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

Yes, you are merciful to your childrenwhen they cry out to you,to be heard by you and not by people,and you will hear them.

Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.

Yes, O God, you have been merciful to meand heard my cries in the midst of your congregations.

Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.

Yes, and you have also heard mewhen I was driven out and despised by my enemies;yes, you heard my cries,and you were angry with my enemies,and in your anger you punished them with swift destruction.

And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

And you heard me because of my afflictions and my sincerity;and it is because of your Sonthat you have been so merciful to me.Therefore I will cry out to you in all my afflictions,for in you is my joy,for you have turned your judgments away from mebecause of your Son.

And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

Now Alma said to them: Do you believe the scriptures that were written by the ancient prophets?

Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son.

If you do, then you must believe what Zenos said, for he said: You have turned away your judgments because of your Son.

Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

Now, my brothers, I ask: have you read the scriptures? If you have, how can you disbelieve in the Son of God?

For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things—

For it is not written that Zenos alone spoke of these things; Zenock also spoke of them.

For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.

For he said: You are angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand the mercies you have given them because of your Son.

And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death.

And now, my brothers, you see that a second ancient prophet testified of the Son of God. And because the people would not understand his words, they stoned him to death.

But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

But that is not all. These are not the only ones who have spoken about the Son of God.

Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

Moses spoke of him too. In fact, a type was raised up in the wilderness, so that whoever would look at it might live. And many looked and lived.

But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

But few understood the meaning of those things, because of the hardness of their hearts. And there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, so they died. Now the reason they would not look is that they did not believe it would heal them.

O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

O my brothers, if you could be healed simply by looking, wouldn't you look quickly? Or would you rather harden your hearts in unbelief and be so lazy that you will not turn your eyes, and so die?

If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

If so, woe to you. But if not, then turn your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God. Believe that he will come to redeem his people, and that he will suffer and die to atone for their sins. And believe that he will rise again from the dead, which will bring about the resurrection, so that all people will stand before him to be judged at the last day, the day of judgment, according to their works.

And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

And now, my brothers, I want you to plant this word in your hearts, and as it begins to swell, nourish it by your faith. And it will become a tree, springing up in you to everlasting life. Then may God grant that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And all of this you can do, if you are willing. Amen.