Alma Chapter 13

And again, my sisters, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lady Goddess gave these commandments unto her children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lady Goddess ordained priestesses, after her holy order, which was after the order of her Daughter, to teach these things unto the people. And those priestesses were ordained after the order of her Daughter, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to her Daughter for redemption. And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of Goddess, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of Goddess on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their sisters. Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their sisters; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Borne Daughter, who was prepared— And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of Goddess, to teach her commandments unto the children of women, that they also might enter into her rest— This high priesthood being after the order of her Daughter, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to her foreknowledge of all things—

Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end— Thus they become high priestesses forever, after the order of the Daughter, the Only Borne of the Mother, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.

Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priestesses of Goddess; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before Goddess, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish; Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before Goddess, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lady their Goddess. And now, my sisters, I would that ye should humble yourselves before Goddess, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest. Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedeshe, who was also a high priestess after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon her the high priesthood forever. And it was this same Melchizedeshe to whom Sarah paid tithes; yea, even our mother Sarah paid tithes of one-tenth part of all she possessed.

Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Daughter of Goddess, it being a type of her order, or it being her order, and this that they might look forward to her for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lady. Now this Melchizedeshe was a queen over the land of Salem; and her people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;

But Melchizedeshe having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of Goddess, did preach repentance unto her people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedeshe did establish peace in the land in her days; therefore she was called the prince of peace, for she was the queen of Salem; and she did reign under her mother. Now, there were many before her, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of her they have more particularly made mention.

Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, she stretched forth her hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh; Yea, and the voice of the Lady, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and she doth sound these glad tidings among all her people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us. And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of women to receive her word at the time of her coming in her glory. And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of her coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to Goddess that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice. And it shall be made known unto just and holy women, by the mouth of angels, at the time of her coming, that the words of our mothers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning her, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

And now, my sisters, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance; But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lady, and call on her holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Having faith on the Lady; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of Goddess always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into her rest. And may the Lady grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down her wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death. And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book.