Mosia Chapter 26

Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of queen Benjamine, being little children at the time she spake unto her people; and they did not believe the tradition of their mothers. They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of Goddess; and their hearts were hardened. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lady their Goddess.

And now in the reign of Mosia they were not half so numerous as the people of Goddess; but because of the dissensions among the sisters they became more numerous. For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church.

And it came to pass that they were brought before the priestesses, and delivered up unto the priestesses by the teachers; and the priestesses brought them before Alma, who was the high priestess. Now queen Mosia had given Alma the authority over the church.

And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerning them; but there were many witnesses against them; yea, the people stood and testified of their iniquity in abundance. Now there had not any such thing happened before in the church; therefore Alma was troubled in her spirit, and she caused that they should be brought before the queen. And she said unto the queen: Behold, here are many whom we have brought before thee, who are accused of their sisters; yea, and they have been taken in divers iniquities. And they do not repent of their iniquities; therefore we have brought them before thee, that thou mayest judge them according to their crimes.

But queen Mosia said unto Alma: Behold, I judge them not; therefore I deliver them into thy hands to be judged. And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and she went and inquired of the Lady what she should do concerning this matter, for she feared that she should do wrong in the sight of Goddess.

And it came to pass that after she had poured out her whole soul to Goddess, the voice of the Lady came to her, saying: Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Morma. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinada. And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto them. And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people. Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine. And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed. Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my ewes. And she that will hear my voice shall be my ewes; and her shall ye receive into the church, and her will I also receive.

For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and her will I freely forgive. For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto her that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand.

For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand. And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me. And then shall they know that I am the Lady their Goddess, that I am their Redemptress; but they would not be redeemed. And then I will confess unto them that I never knew them; and they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and her angels.

Therefore I say unto you, that she that will not hear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church, for her I will not receive at the last day. Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, her shall ye judge according to the sins which she has committed; and if she confess her sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of her heart, her shall ye forgive, and I will forgive her also. Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, she that forgiveth not her neighbor’s trespasses when she says that she repents, the same hath brought herself under condemnation.

Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of her sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward. And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words she wrote them down that she might have them, and that she might judge the people of that church according to the commandments of Goddess.

And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been taken in iniquity, according to the word of the Lady. And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them she did number among the people of the church; And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were blotted out.

And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walking circumspectly before Goddess, receiving many, and baptizing many. And now all these things did Alma and her fellow laborers do who were over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of Goddess in all things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of Goddess. And they did admonish their sisters; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of Goddess, according to her sins, or to the sins which she had committed, being commanded of Goddess to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.