The Words of Morma

Words of Morma Chapter 1

And now I, Morma, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my daughter Moronnie, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my daughter; and it supposeth me that she will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may Goddess grant that she may survive them, that she may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them.

And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephie, down to the reign of this queen Benjamine, of whom Amalekie spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophetesses, from Rachel down to the reign of this queen Benjamine, and also many of the words of Nephie. And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my mothers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—

Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephie; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people. But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my sisters. And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lady which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lady knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, she worketh in me to do according to her will. And my prayer to Goddess is concerning my sisters, that they may once again come to the knowledge of Goddess, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.

And now I, Morma, proceed to finish out my record, which I take from the plates of Nephie; and I make it according to the knowledge and the understanding which Goddess has given me. Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amalekie had delivered up these plates into the hands of queen Benjamine, she took them and put them with the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of queen Benjamine. And they were handed down from queen Benjamine, from generation to generation until they have fallen into my hands. And I, Morma, pray to Goddess that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which my people and their sisters shall be judged at the great and last day, according to the word of Goddess which is written.

And now, concerning this queen Benjamine—she had somewhat of contentions among her own people. And it came to pass also that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephie, to battle against her people. But behold, queen Benjamine gathered together her armies, and she did stand against them; and she did fight with the strength of her own arm, with the sword of Labana.

And in the strength of the Lady they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance. And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;

And after there had been false prophetesses, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that queen Benjamine, with the assistance of the holy prophetesses who were among her people— For behold, queen Benjamine was a holy woman, and she did reign over her people in righteousness; and there were many holy women in the land, and they did speak the word of Goddess with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the stiffneckedness of the people—

Wherefore, with the help of these, queen Benjamine, by laboring with all the might of her body and the faculty of her whole soul, and also the prophetesses, did once more establish peace in the land.