MosiahChapter18

And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—

Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and wickedness, and he went privately among the people and began to teach the words of Abinadi.

Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.

He taught about what was to come: the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people that would be brought about through the power, the suffering, and the death of Christ, and through his resurrection and ascension into heaven.

And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many did believe his words.

He taught all who would hear his word, and he taught them privately, so that it would not come to the king's knowledge. And many believed his words.

And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.

Those who believed him went out to a place called Mormon, which had received its name from the king. It was on the outskirts of the land, overrun at times by wild animals.

Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.

Now, in Mormon there was a spring of pure water, and Alma went there often. Near the water was a thicket of small trees, where he hid in the daytime from the king's searches.

And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.

And all who believed him went there to hear his words.

And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.

After many days, a good number of them had gathered at the place of Mormon to hear the words of Alma. All who believed in his word had gathered to hear him. And he taught them, and preached to them repentance, and redemption, and faith in the Lord.

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

He said to them, "Here are the waters of Mormon (for that is what they were called). Now, as you desire to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light,

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

yes, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that you may be in, even until death, that you may be redeemed by God and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, and have eternal life —

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

now I say to you, if this is the desire of your hearts, what do you have against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that you have entered into a covenant with him, that you will serve him and keep his commandments, so that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

When the people heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed, "This is the desire of our hearts!"

And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.

Then Alma took Helam, who was one of the first, and went and stood in the water, and cried out, "O Lord, pour out your Spirit upon your servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart."

And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.

When he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said, "Helam, I baptize you, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that you have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world."

And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.

After Alma said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water, and they rose and came up out of the water rejoicing, filled with the Spirit.

And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.

Then Alma took another, and went into the water a second time, and baptized him in the same way as the first, only this time he did not bury himself in the water.

And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.

In this way he baptized everyone who came out to the place of Mormon, about two hundred and four souls in all. They were baptized in the waters of Mormon and were filled with the grace of God.

And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

From that time forward they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ. And whoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

And Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests, one for every fifty of their number, to preach to the people and to teach them about the things of the kingdom of God.

And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

He commanded them to teach nothing except what he had taught and what had been spoken by the mouths of the holy prophets.

Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

He even commanded them to preach nothing but repentance and faith in the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

And he commanded them that there should be no contention among them, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love toward one another.

And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

That is what he commanded them to preach. And that is how they became the children of God.

And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.

He commanded them to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and also to give thanks every day to the Lord their God.

And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.

And he commanded that the priests he had ordained should work with their own hands for their support.

And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together.

One day in every week was set apart for them to gather together to teach the people and to worship the Lord their God, and they were also to meet together as often as they could.

And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.

The priests were not to depend on the people for their support. Instead, for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, so that they would grow strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, and could teach with power and authority from God.

And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.

And Alma commanded that the people of the church should give of what they had, each according to what he had. If a person had more, he should give more; from one who had only a little, only a little was required; and those who had nothing were to receive.

And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.

In this way they were to give of what they had, of their own free will and good desires toward God, to those priests who stood in need, and to every needy, naked soul.

And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

He said this to them because God had commanded it. And they walked uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

Now all this happened in Mormon, yes, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon. The place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon — how beautiful are they to the eyes of those who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; and how blessed are they, for they will sing to his praise forever.

And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king.

All these things were done on the outskirts of the land, so that they would not come to the knowledge of the king.

But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king.

But the king discovered a movement among the people and sent his servants to watch them. So on the day they gathered together to hear the word of the Lord, they were discovered, and the king was told.

And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.

Then the king said that Alma was stirring the people up to rebellion against him, so he sent his army to destroy them.

And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.

But Alma and the people of the Lord were warned that the king's army was coming, and they took their tents and their families and went into the wilderness.

And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls.

They numbered about four hundred and fifty souls.