Mosia Chapter 11

And now it came to pass that Zeniffe conferred the queendom upon Noa, one of her daughters; therefore Noa began to reign in her stead; and she did not walk in the ways of her mother. For behold, she did not keep the commandments of Goddess, but she did walk after the desires of her own heart. And she had many husbands and lovers. And she did cause her people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lady. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. And she laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain. And all this did she take to support herself, and her husbands and her lovers; and also her priestesses, and their husbands and their lovers; thus she had changed the affairs of the queendom.

For she put down all the priestesses that had been consecrated by her mother, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts. Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which queen Noa had put upon her people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity. Yea, and they also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the queen and priestesses; for they did speak flattering things unto them.

And it came to pass that queen Noa built many elegant and spacious buildings; and she ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper; And she also built her a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things. And she also caused that her workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the temple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass. And the seats which were set apart for the high priestesses, which were above all the other seats, she did ornament with pure gold; and she caused a breastwork to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to her people.

And it came to pass that she built a tower near the temple; yea, a very high tower, even so high that she could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and she could even look over all the land round about. And it came to pass that she caused many buildings to be built in the land Shilom; and she caused a great tower to be built on the hill north of the land Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of Nephie at the time they fled out of the land; and thus she did do with the riches which she obtained by the taxation of her people.

And it came to pass that she placed her heart upon her riches, and she spent her time in riotous living with her husbands and her lovers; and so did also her priestesses spend their time with hustlers. And it came to pass that she planted vineyards round about in the land; and she built wine-presses, and made wine in abundance; and therefore she became a wine-bibber, and also her people.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come in upon her people, upon small numbers, and to slay them in their fields, and while they were tending their flocks. And queen Noa sent guards round about the land to keep them off; but she did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon them and killed them, and drove many of their flocks out of the land; thus the Lamanites began to destroy them, and to exercise their hatred upon them.

And it came to pass that queen Noa sent her armies against them, and they were driven back, or they drove them back for a time; therefore, they returned rejoicing in their spoil. And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their sisters, and this because of the wickedness of their queen and priestesses.

And it came to pass that there was a woman among them whose name was Abinada; and she went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lady, and thus hath she commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say unto this people, thus saith the Lady—Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except they repent I will visit them in mine anger. And except they repent and turn to the Lady their Goddess, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies.

And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lady their Goddess, and am a jealous Goddess, visiting the iniquities of my people. And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lady their Goddess, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lady the Almighty Goddess.

Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies. And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lady their Goddess, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lady, and thus hath she commanded me.

Now it came to pass that when Abinada had spoken these words unto them they were wroth with her, and sought to take away her life; but the Lady delivered her out of their hands. Now when queen Noa had heard of the words which Abinada had spoken unto the people, she was also wroth; and she said: Who is Abinada, that I and my people should be judged of her, or who is the Lady, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction? I command you to bring Abinada hither, that I may slay her, for she has said these things that she might stir up my people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay her.

Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinada, and they sought from that time forward to take her. And queen Noa hardened her heart against the word of the Lady, and she did not repent of her evil doings.