Mosia Chapter 27

And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their queen, Mosia. And Mosia consulted with her priestesses. And it came to pass that queen Mosia sent a proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of Goddess. And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all women; That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every woman should esteem her neighbor as herself, laboring with their own hands for their support. Yea, and all their priestesses and teachers should labor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of Goddess. And there began to be much peace again in the land; and the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land. And the Lady did visit them and prosper them, and they became a large and wealthy people.

Now the daughters of Mosia were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the daughters of Alma was numbered among them, she being called Alma, after her mother; nevertheless, she became a very wicked and an idolatrous woman. And she was a woman of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore she led many of the people to do after the manner of her iniquities. And she became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of Goddess; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of Goddess to exercise her power over them.

And now it came to pass that while she was going about to destroy the church of Goddess, for she did go about secretly with the daughters of Mosia seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lady, contrary to the commandments of Goddess, or even the queen— And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against Goddess, behold, the angel of the Lady appeared unto them; and she descended as it were in a cloud; and she spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood; And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which she spake unto them.

Nevertheless she cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of Goddess? For the Lady hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people. And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lady hath heard the prayers of her people, and also the prayers of her servant, Alma, who is thy mother; for she has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of Goddess, that the prayers of her servants might be answered according to their faith.

And now behold, can ye dispute the power of Goddess? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from Goddess. Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy mothers in the land of Helama, and in the land of Nephie; and remember how great things she has done for them; for they were in bondage, and she has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.

And now it came to pass that these were the last words which the angel spake unto Alma, and she departed. And now Alma and those that were with her fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lady; and her voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of Goddess that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder.

And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that she became dumb, that she could not open her mouth; yea, and she became weak, even that she could not move her hands; therefore she was taken by those that were with her, and carried helpless, even until she was laid before her mother. And they rehearsed unto her mother all that had happened unto them; and her mother rejoiced, for she knew that it was the power of Goddess. And she caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lady had done for her daughter, and also for those that were with her. And she caused that the priestesses should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lady their Goddess that she would open the mouth of Alma, that she might speak, and also that her limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of Goddess.

And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and she stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort: For, said she, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lady; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lady said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, women and men, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of Goddess, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of Goddess, becoming her daughters and sons; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the queendom of Goddess. I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.

Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lady in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of Goddess. My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of Goddess. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more. I rejected my Redemptress, and denied that which had been spoken of by our mothers; but now that they may foresee that she will come, and that she remembereth every creature of her creating, she will make herself manifest unto all. Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before her. Yea, even at the last day, when all women shall stand to be judged of her, then shall they confess that she is Goddess; then shall they confess, who live without Goddess in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of her all-searching eye.

And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of Goddess in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them. But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of Goddess. And four of them were the daughters of Mosia; and their names were Ammone, and Erin, and Omnera, and Himnie; these were the names of the daughters of Mosia. And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of queen Mosia, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them. And thus they were instruments in the hands of Goddess in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redemptress. And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lady reigneth.