Jacob Chapter 5
1 | And now it came to pass that after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem. | 2 | And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. | 3 | And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. | 4 | And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; | 5 | And he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ which should come, wherefore he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me. | 6 | And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil. | 7 | And he 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. | 8 | And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken. | 9 | And it came to pass that he came unto me; and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, 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; | 10 | And ye have led away much of this people, that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses, which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being, which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. | 11 | And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you, that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things: for he can not tell of things to come. | 12 | And after this manner did Sherem contend against me. | 13 | But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words. | 14 | And I saith unto him, Deniest thou the Christ which shall come? | 15 | And he saith, If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither hath been, nor ever will be. | 16 | And I saith unto him, Believest thou the scriptures? | 17 | And he saith, Yea. | 18 | And I saith unto him, Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. | 19 | Behold, I say unto you, that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. | 20 | And this is not all: it hath been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also hath been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; | 21 | Wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost. | 22 | And it came to pass that he saith unto me, Shew me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much. | 23 | And I said unto him, What am I, that I should tempt God to shew unto thee a sign, in the thing which thou knowest to be true? | 24 | Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. | 25 | Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he hath power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. | 26 | And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine. | 27 | And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. | 28 | And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. | 29 | And it came to pass that he saith unto the people, Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people, before that I shall die. | 30 | And it came to pass that on the morrow, that the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them, and denied the things which he had taught them; and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. | 31 | And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. | 32 | And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment. | 33 | And he saith, I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God: for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. | 34 | And because that I have thus lied unto God, I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God. | 35 | And it came to pass that when he had said these words, he could say no more; and he gave up the ghost. | 36 | And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch, that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome, that they fell to the earth. | 37 | Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob; for I had requested it of my Father which was in heaven: for he had heard my cry, and answered my prayer. | 38 | And it came to pass that peace and the love of God were restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man. | 39 | 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 bloodsheds; and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. | 40 | And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually; | 41 | Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and the rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies. | 42 | And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying, | 43 | 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; | 44 | Born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days. | 45 | And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos, Take these plates. | 46 | And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me; and he promised obedience unto the commands. | 47 | And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing hath been small; | 48 | And to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu. |