Rachel Chapter 7

And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a woman among the people of Nephie, whose name was Sherema. And it came to pass that she began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And she preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this she did that she might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. And she labored diligently that she might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that she did lead away many hearts; and she knowing that I, Rachel, had faith in Christ who should come, she sought much opportunity that she might come unto me. And she was learned, that she had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, she could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil. And she had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lady speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

And it came to pass that she came unto me, and on this wise did she speak unto me, saying: sister Rachel, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ. And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of Goddess, and keep not the law of Zipporah which is the right way; and convert the law of Zipporah into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherema, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no woman knoweth of such things; for she cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherema contend against me.

But behold, the Lady Goddess poured in her Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound her in all her words. And I said unto her: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And she said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny her; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be. And I said unto her: Believest thou the scriptures? And she said, Yea. And I said unto her: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophetesses have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.

And it came to pass that she said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much. And I said unto her: What am I that I should tempt Goddess to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if Goddess shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that she has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lady, be done, and not mine.

And it came to pass that when I, Rachel, had spoken these words, the power of the Lady came upon her, insomuch that she fell to the earth. And it came to pass that she was nourished for the space of many days. And it came to pass that she said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.

And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered together; and she spake plainly unto them and denied the things which she had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. And she spake plainly unto them, that she had been deceived by the power of the devil. And she spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment. And she said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto Goddess; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of her. And because I have thus lied unto Goddess I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto Goddess.

And it came to pass that when she had said these words she could say no more, and she gave up the ghost. And when the multitude had witnessed that she spake these things as she was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of Goddess came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.

Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Rachel, for I had requested it of my Mother who was in heaven; for she had heard my cry and answered my prayer. And it came to pass that peace and the love of Goddess was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked woman.

And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their sisters. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually. Wherefore, the people of Nephie did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the Goddess and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.

And it came to pass that I, Rachel, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephie, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our sisters, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days. And I, Rachel, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my daughter Venus: Take these plates. And I told her the things which my sister Nephie had commanded me, and she promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my sisters may read my words. sisters, adieu.