AlmaChapter37

And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me;

Now, my son Helaman, I command you to take the records that have been entrusted to me,

And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.

and I also command you to keep a record of this people on the plates of Nephi, as I have done, and to keep all these things sacred that I have kept, just as I have kept them; for they are kept for a wise purpose.

And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning—

Now these brass plates contain these engravings: the records of the holy scriptures and the genealogy of our ancestors, all the way from the beginning.

Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.

Our fathers prophesied that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they go out to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, so that they will know the mysteries they contain.

And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.

And now, if they are kept, they must retain their brightness; and they will retain their brightness, and so will all the plates that contain holy scripture.

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

You may think this is foolishness in me. But listen: by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass; and in many instances small means confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

And the Lord God works by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord confounds the wise and brings about the salvation of many souls.

And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls.

Until now, it has been God's wisdom to preserve these things; for they have enlarged the memory of this people, convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God, to the salvation of their souls.

Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.

I tell you, if it were not for these records, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brothers could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites that the tradition of their fathers was wrong. These records and their words brought them to repentance — that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.

And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer?

And who knows whether they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them — and many thousands of our stiff-necked brothers the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin — to the knowledge of their Redeemer?

Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear.

Now these mysteries have not yet been fully made known to me, so I will say no more.

And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.

It is enough to say that they are preserved for a wise purpose, a purpose known to God; for he counsels in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.

O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence.

O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict the commandments of God are. He has said, "If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land" — but if you do not keep his commandments, you will be cut off from his presence.

And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.

And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, so that he may show his power to future generations.

And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind.

Now, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy that if you break the commandments of God, these sacred things will be taken from you by the power of God, and you will be handed over to Satan, so that he may sift you like chaff before the wind.

But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.

But if you keep the commandments of God, and handle these sacred things as the Lord commands you (for you must appeal to the Lord in everything you do with them), then no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful enough to fulfill all his words.

For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.

For he will fulfill all the promises he makes to you, just as he has fulfilled the promises he made to our fathers.

For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.

He promised them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, so that he might show his power to future generations.

And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved.

And now, one purpose he has already fulfilled: the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth. He has shown his power in them, and he will yet show his power in them to future generations; therefore these plates will be preserved.

Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written.

So I command you, my son Helaman, to be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and to be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written.

And now, I will speak unto you concerning those twenty-four plates, that ye keep them, that the mysteries and the works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, and that ye preserve these interpreters.

And now I will speak to you about those twenty-four plates. Keep them, so that the mysteries and the works of darkness, the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made known to this people: all their murders, robberies, and plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations. And preserve these interpreters.

For behold, the Lord saw that his people began to work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations; therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

For the Lord saw that his people had begun to work in darkness, to commit secret murders and abominations; so the Lord said that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed from the face of the earth.

And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations.

And the Lord said: "I will prepare for my servant Gazelem a stone that will shine out of darkness into light, so that I may reveal to my people who serve me, so that I may reveal to them, the works of their brothers: their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations."

And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake, saying:

And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared to fulfill the word of God, which he spoke, saying:

I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land.

"I will bring out of darkness into light all their secret works and their abominations; and unless they repent, I will destroy them from the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, to every nation that possesses the land after them."

And now, my son, we see that they did not repent; therefore they have been destroyed, and thus far the word of God has been fulfilled; yea, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known unto us.

And now, my son, we see that they did not repent, and so they have been destroyed. So far the word of God has been fulfilled: their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known to us.

And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed.

And now, my son, I command you to hold back all their oaths, their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; and keep all their signs and their wonders from this people, so that they never learn them, in case they too should fall into darkness and be destroyed.

For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed.

For there is a curse on all this land: destruction will come on all those workers of darkness, by the power of God, when they are fully ripe. And I do not want this people to be destroyed.

Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations and their murders.

Therefore keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people; make known to them only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations. Teach them to abhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and teach them that these people were destroyed because of their wickedness and their abominations and their murders.

For behold, they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these workers of darkness and secret combinations.

For they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare their sins to them; and the blood of those they murdered cried out to the Lord their God for vengeance on their murderers; and so the judgments of God came down on those workers of darkness and secret combinations.

Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe.

And may the land be cursed forever and ever to those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even to destruction, unless they repent before they are fully ripe.

And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.

And now, my son, remember the words I have spoken to you. Do not trust those secret plans to this people; instead, teach them an everlasting hatred of sin and wickedness.

Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Preach repentance to them, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to humble themselves, and to be meek and lowly in heart. Teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil with their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

Teach them never to grow weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such people will find rest for their souls.

O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

O remember, my son, and learn wisdom in your youth; learn in your youth to keep the commandments of God.

Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

Cry out to God for all your support. Let everything you do be for the Lord, and wherever you go, let it be in the Lord; let all your thoughts be directed to the Lord, and let the affections of your heart be placed on the Lord forever.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Counsel with the Lord in all your doings, and he will direct you for good. When you lie down at night, lie down to the Lord, so that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when you rise in the morning, let your heart be full of thanks to God. If you do these things, you will be lifted up at the last day.

And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

And now, my son, I have something to say about the thing our fathers called a ball, or director — our fathers called it Liahona, which means "compass" — and the Lord prepared it.

And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

No human hands could ever produce workmanship so remarkable. And it was prepared to show our fathers the course they should travel in the wilderness.

And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

And it worked for them according to their faith in God: if they had faith to believe that God could make those spindles point the way they should go, it was done. So they had this miracle, and many other miracles worked by the power of God, day by day.

Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

Still, because those miracles were worked by small means, it showed them marvelous works. But they were lazy, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence, and then those marvelous works stopped, and they did not progress in their journey.

Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

So they lingered in the wilderness, not traveling a direct course, and they suffered hunger and thirst because of their transgressions.

And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

And now, my son, I want you to understand that these things are not without a shadow. When our fathers were lazy about paying attention to this compass (these things were temporal), they did not prosper. And it is the same with things that are spiritual.

For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

For it is just as easy to pay attention to the word of Christ, which will point you on a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to pay attention to this compass, which would point them on a straight course to the promised land.

And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

And now I ask: isn't there a type in this? Just as surely as this director brought our fathers to the promised land by following its course, the words of Christ, if we follow their course, will carry us beyond this valley of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

O my son, let us not be lazy because the way is easy. It was the same for our fathers: the way was prepared for them so that if they would look, they might live. And so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look, we may live forever.

And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.

And now, my son, see that you take care of these sacred things; see that you look to God and live. Go to this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.