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The book Covenant of Christ is a modern English version of the Book of Mormon. Its purpose is to help a new generation understand the content to help with The Lord's return and is a tremendous blessing to us that we should consider seriously. It is the book Covenant Christian's have voted to use and therefore references listed will be from it as far as possible in a continual quest to gain more understanding.
The Nephite record is from approximately 600 BC to 420 AD. Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh, son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. He was warned about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and took his family and Ishmael's family, whose daughters married his sons, to the American continent after Nephi obtained the brass plates from Laban. Zoram, Laban's servant, also came with them. Lehi was a prophet in the days of Jeremiah and is the ancestor of the American Indians, which are called Lamanites, and the Nephites, who became wicked and were destroyed. Mormon searched the records he had access to and compiled for us this record. 1 Nephi 1:III, V-VIII, XXII-XXIII, 2:II-III, 5:II, Alma 8:I, Words of Mormon, Jeremiah 1:1-3
Jared requested that The Lord not confound the language of his family and their friends during the time of the tower of Babel about 2200 BC, which request was granted. These people built 8 ships following The Lord's direction and came to the American continent. Joseph Smith is said to have revealed the name of the brother of Jared as Mahonri Moriancumer. Their society destroyed itself around 600 BC. Ether was a prophet and a descendant of Jared, and Coriantor. After the people had cast him out, he necessarily recorded their eventual destruction living in a cave. Coriantumr survived and lived with the Mulochites nine months after they arrived. Mormon's son Moroni compiled the account of the Jaredites in the book of Ether. Omni 1:VIII, Alma 13:XIII, Mormon 4:III, Ether 1:I-III, VIII, IX, XI, 6:IV, XX
The Mulochite history is from a son of king Zedekiah named Muloch that escaped the destruction at Jerusalem, though the bible says that all of Zedekiah's sons died. Those that came with him to the American continent established the city of Zarahemla, which became the Nephites capital city after their societies merged. The Mulochites were from then on only identified as Nephites except in ancestry. Zarahemla is also the name of a man in this place that it is possibly named after. Omni 1:VII, Mosiah 11:XV, 2 Kings 24:17-20, 25:7, Jeremiah 52:10
There are twenty two referenced record keepers. The plates of the prophets passed through Nephi's brother Jacob's descendants - until kings Benjamin and Mosiah, and then through Alma's son Alma's descendants until Ammaron and Mormon, who were likely all direct descendants of Nephi. WOM, Mosiah 9:I, 11:VIII, Mormon 1:I
There are also the plates of the records the kings kept which king Benjamin had obtained that were then passed from his son Mosiah, the last king, to Alma's son Alma. They were handed down through his descendants until Ammaron with the records of the prophets through the reign of the judges and after the sign of Christ's coming when the Nephites changed the reckoning of years. Jarom 1:VI, 3 Nephi 1:IX
Nephi - 1 Nephi 2:XIV, 5:XXXIV Jacob - Jacob 1:I, 5:IX Enos - Jacob 5:X Jarom - Jarom 1:I, VI Omni - Omni 1:1-II Amaron - Omni 1:III Chemish - Omni 1:IV Abinadom - Omni 1:V Amaleki - Omni 1:VI, X Benjamin - WOM 1:IV Mosiah - Mosiah 1:I, III, 4:I Alma - Mosiah 13:I Helaman - Alma 17:VII Shiblon - Alma 30:I Helaman - Alma 30:V Nephi - 3 Nephi 1:I Nephi - " " Amos - 4 Nephi 1:IV Amos - " " Ammaron - 4 Nephi 1:IX Mormon - WOM 1:I, 3 Nephi 2:XVI-XVII, Mormon 1:I, VII Moroni - Mormon 3:II, 4:I, III
Nephi's experiences with his older brothers Laman and Lemual in the first two books of Nephi usually weren't pleasant, and they wanted to kill him numerous times as he was more righteous. They were also angry with their father Lehi for taking them away from Jerusalem which he knew would soon be destroyed. Nephi and those that went with him left where they had originally arrived in the promised land for safety reasons - 2 Nephi 4:II, IV. They relocated to a place they called the land of Nephi. It isn't clear who he anointed to be the king in his stead - Jacob 1:II. Nephi ordained his brothers Jacob and Joseph to be priests and teachers. A man came among the people named Sherem determined to overthrow Christ's doctrine with his words. He confronted Jacob, even asking for a sign, who proved him wrong in everything he said. Sherem collapsed helplessly and after many days called the people together and admitted he had been deceived by the accuser.and died there. Their peace was restored and the people focused on the scriptures. Jacob 5
When The Lord warned Mosiah, king Benjamin's father, to flee the land of Nephi with those that went with him, they had the brass plates - Omni 1:VI. After they united with Zarahemla's people (Mulochites), and Mosiah was made their king, a large stone was brought to him that he interpreted by God's gift and power which gave an account of Coriantumr's people (Jaredites) - Omni 1:VIII, a different Jaredite record than the 24 plates found by Limhi's people - Mosiah 5:VII, 9:XXXIII, 10:III, Alma 17:XII-XIV, Ether 1:I, that king Benjamin's son Mosiah translated. Mosiah 12:III-IV
King Benjamin's righteous address to his people in Zarahemla announcing that his son Mosiah would be their king is an excellent read. Here we have an account of how a righteous king behaves and would conduct his own kingdom. Mosiah 1-4
There is a history of Zeniff's people who left Zarahemla to return again to the land of Nephi to live which came under Lamanite rule some time after Mosiah's departure - Mosiah 5-11:XII, which is more than a 22 year history - Mosiah 7:VII. It contains the record of two groups of people, Limhi's and Alma's, who both escaped the Lamanite slavery they were experiencing and returned to Zarahemla by The Lord's assistance. After their return there is the account of King Mosiah's sons Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni, and Alma's son Alma - Mosiah 11:XXV-XXIX, who turned from being the vilest of sinners to righteousness. King Mosiah's sons then wanted to preach to the Lamanites - Mosiah 12:I-II, which was a valiant and successful effort - Alma 12-14. The 509 year reign of the kings ended, and the 91 year reign of the judges began.
While Zeniff's people were still living in the land of Nephi, king Mosiah's people in Zarahemla were wondering what had happened to those who had left to live there. Mosiah sent 16 men led by Ammon, a descendant of Zarahemla, to search for them. Ammon and his men located king Limhi and his people, who was a righteous son of king Noah, voted to be their king by the people after his father had been executed. Gideon provided the resolution, and Ammon and his men led the way in their evacuation to Zarahemla where they joined Mosiah's people. Mosiah 5, 10, Alma 3:I
Abinadi was a prophet that Zeniff's son king Noah and his wicked priests condemned to death in the land of Nephi for his claims that God Himself would come down among mankind. His words to them are an excellent read - Mosiah 7:VIII-9:V. Alma was one of the wicked priests who witnessed this, objected, was thrown out, and servants were sent to kill him. He secretly taught about 450 people. The Lord warned Alma to leave and they built the city of Helam. They came under Lamanite slavery with one of the wicked priests Alma had known named Amulon controlling them. The Lord freed them and they returned to Zarahemla, joining Mosiah's people some time after Limhi's people had arrived. Mosiah 11:I, XII-XVI
As the high priest and chief judge - Mosiah 13:X, Alma's son Alma condemned Nehor to death for killing Gideon, a righteous man that did much good for the people - Mosiah 9:XIV, XVII, XXV, Alma 1:I-II. Alma also fought and slew Amlici in battle, who was of the same beliefs as Nehor, for his efforts to reverse the establishment of the judges, and to destroy the congregation, by making himself their king - Alma 1:VIII, XV, even uniting his army with the Lamanites - Alma 1:XIII. Seeing the growing inequality among the people, in the 9th year of the judges, Alma gave up the judgement seat to preach, and Nephihah was voted chief judge - Alma 2:V. He preached in Zarahemla - Alma 3, Gideon - Alma 5, Melek, and then in Ammonihah where the people threw him out. An angel advised Alma to return and prophesy about their impending destruction as they were conspiring to destroy the government and held the same beliefs as Nehor. Alma entered the city another way and met Amulek, who was expecting him - Alma 6. They preached and agonized what befell, as did the righteous believers that the leaders burned or had cast out. The Lord freed them from prison, killing the reprehensible leaders in the process. They went to Sidon where The Lord healed Zeezrom, a converted lawyer, at Alma's request. When Amulek's family rejected him, Alma took him into his own house. Ammonihah's wicked people were annihilated by the Lamanites. Alma 7-11, 13:XIII
King Mosiah's sons spent 14 years preaching in the land of Nephi, separating themselves when they arrived. Ammon converted king Lamoni in the land of Ishmael, and prepared king Lamoni's father to be taught by Aaron, who was king over all of the Lamanites. They were descendants of Ishmael, and freed Aaron and his companions from prison at Middoni - Alma 12:I, V, XII, XXVII, XXXII. Mosiah's sons converted thousands who wanted a name to distinguish themselves from the Lamanites. Their new name was Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. They buried their weapons of war in their sincere repentance for their murders - Alma 14:III-IX. The Amlicites and Amulonites stirred up the Lamanites to battle those who had been converted and slew 1,005 of them without meeting any resistance in the land of Nephi, which caused over 1,000 Lamanites deep regret and to immediately join the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. The remainder of the army destroyed the city of Ammonihah - Alma 14:X, XIII. It became necessary for the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's to be protected, so Alma and Mosiah's sons advised Nephihah of their circumstances in Zarahemla. The Nephites voted to give them the land of Jershon and to protect it. They called them Ammon's people. The Lamanites followed them and a ferocious battle ensued. Alma 15:VII-VIII, X
When the adversary appeared to a man named Korihor disguised as an angel, telling him to preach to the people that there is no God or Messiah and that successes and failures were based upon the talents of a person, he didn't question or censure the spirit he encountered and taught these lies until he had success and then believed them. In Zarahemla, Jershon, and Gideon, he continued, even when he was brought before Alma and Nephihah in Zarahemla where The Lord made him unable to speak. He was exiled and trodden down by a group that had separated themselves from the Nephites called Zoramites. Alma 16:II-XV "We see the accuser won't support his children at the end but abandons them, and quickly drags them down to hell."
The Zoramites had separated themselves to a land they called Antionum. They were a wicked and perverse people who didn't keep the commandments or pray regularly and their hearts were set on expensive things. They built synagogues and would each pray on a tower, offering the same prayer stating they were a chosen people, their ancestors were childish, and there would be no Messiah, and they wouldn't allow their poor to worship. Alma took his sons Shiblon and Corianton, and Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek and Zeezrom to preach to them, and quoted from Zenos and Zenoch. Shiblon was chained and stoned but The Lord rescued him. When they returned to Jershon the Zoramite leaders secretly found out what the people were thinking and removed the believers, who evacuated to Jershon. Their chief ruler sent a message to Ammon's people telling them to banish those that came but they wouldn't and gave them lands to occupy. The Zoramites joined the Lamanites and convinced them to battle Ammon's people who relocated to Melek. Moroni gathered the Nephite army in Jershon. Zarahemna led the Lamanites to Antionum but they thought it better to go to the land of Manti. Alma advised Moroni of their plan and he prepared to meet them. Lehi's army surrounded them and Moroni's joined them in battle, causing the Lamanites to flee. Moroni told Zarahemna to give up their weapons and to never fight them again but he refused that oath and the battle continued until he relented with a covenant of peace. Alma blessed his sons, the earth and the congregation, and vanished. Alma 16:XVI-XLV, 18:I, 20:II-XIX, 21:III
Helaman and his brothers preached and those that disagreed were determined to kill them. They all wanted more power under a king from their leader Amalickiah. Moroni had a Declaration of Liberty hoisted on every tower and strengthened their fortifications. Amalickiah led his followers away which Moroni's forces stopped and returned to Zarahemla. Amalickiah escaped and became a Lamanite commander. Through his deceit he had Lehonti, a commander, and the Lamanite king killed, and married the queen, making himself their king. He took many cities inside Zarahemla. Teancum, a Nephite commander, killed him in his own tent, as well as his brother Ammoron who was appointed king in his stead, and sadly, lost his life in the end. Internal conflicts during this time hindered the Nephites, having to fight the people of Morionton over a land dispute and who Teancum had to kill, and the kingmen who wanted a king instead of a judge when Nephihah died and his son Parhoron took his place. Moroni rightfully had to put to death all who wouldn't defend their liberty. Ammon's people had 2,060 sons who hadn't taken an oath to bury their weapons of war. They joined Helaman's army to defend the Nephites and fought with such faith that none of them were killed. During this war the men of Pachus who were kingmen, exiled Parhoron from the judgement seat and made him king. He made an alliance with Ammoron until Parhoron and Moroni retook Zarahemla, again having to execute defectors. Teancum's efforts ended the war and peace was restored. Shiblon passed the records to Helaman's son Helaman, and Moroni's son Moronihah took control of their forces before these valiant men died. Alma 21-30
When Parhoron died, his sons Parhoron, Pacumeni and Paanchi, competed among the Nephites for the judgement seat. Parhoron won and Pacumeni accepted it, but Paanchi caused a rebellion and was tried and executed. His supporters belonged to a secret band of robbers started by Gaddianton and Kishcumen, who was sent to murder Parhoron. Pacumeni then became their chief judge. A Nephite defector named Coriantumr was sent by Ammoron's son Tubaloth to war the Nephites in Zarahemla wherein both Pacumeni and Coriantumr were killed. Moronihah retook Zarahemla and Helaman's son Helaman was elected chief judge. Kishcumen tried to kill him also but failed and was killed. Helaman had two sons, Nephi and Lehi, who were both exceptional missionaries. Nephi succeeded his father in the judgement seat and subsequently gave it up to Cezoram so he and Lehi could preach due to the wickedness of the people, whose laws had become corrupt. Nephi and Lehi taught in the land and then went to the land of Nephi where they were imprisoned. Miracles were seen there and many converted. Both Cezoram and his son who succeeded him were murdered by this secret band of robbers who usurped the government and plundered a lot - Helaman 4:IX. The Lamanites eliminated them from their society by preaching but the Nephites supported them. Nephi lamented on the tower in his garden and prophesied of their destruction, which many heard. He also prophesied that their chief judge Seezoram had been killed by his brother Seantum who wanted the judgement seat. The Lord told Nephi to do what he wanted among the people so he requested a famine rather than having the people killed by the sword. When they repented The Lord discontinued it. Samuel, a Lamanite, came among them in Zarahemla to preach but they threw him out, so he stood atop a wall and prophesied of their destruction, and also of what the signs would be at Christ's birth and death, whose birth would be in five years. They couldn't hit him with their stones or arrows so many went to Nephi to be baptized. Samuel escaped and continued to preach in his own land. Helaman 1-5
It was now 600 years since Lehi had left Jerusalem. Nephi gave his son Nephi the records and vanished. The wicked set a date to kill the believers if the sign that Samuel had given didn't occur. It did occur, many converted, and their reckoning of time changed. Lachoneus was the chief judge and Gidgiddoni was the commander, both of whom were righteous. The Gaddianton robbers had become numerous and were led by Giddianhi. Lachoneus received a letter from him demanding that they give up their lands and property but he ignored it, and had all the people gather in one place in Zarahemla and strengthened it. Giddianhi's army attacked, causing a great slaughter in which he was killed while fleeing. Zemnarihah became the robbers leader and surrounded the Nephites, causing themselves a disadvantage, so they abandoned that plan and planned to relocate. Gidgiddoni's army cut them off, surrounded them, and Zemnarihah was hung from a tree. This ended the war and the lives of those who wouldn't make a covenant of peace. They returned to their lands and Lachoneus's son Lachoneus replaced him. The congregation broke apart. Righteous men were sent to warn the people which angered judges, lawyers, and priests. They couldn't condemn them to death publicly but did this in secret, causing a complaint to come to Lachoneus who had them arrested. The accused friends and relatives entered into a secret society and killed Lachoneus, and the government was destroyed. The people gathered into tribes with their own laws, wouldn't fight against another tribe, and the secret society was the common enemy. Jacob led the secret society north where they hoped to establish a kingdom. The people sent away or stoned the prophets, including Nephi's brother who he raised from the dead, and Nephi kept preaching and baptizing with authority. 3 Nephi 1-3
In the first month of the 34th year a great destruction happened in the earth that lasted for three days. The people mourned because they hadn't repented and for the way the prophets had been treated. The Lord's voice was heard declaring what and why the destruction had happened, and that the Law of Moses was now fulfilled. A second time His voice was heard relaying to them things about the house of Israel. The people rejoiced when the devastation ended and many gathered at the temple in Bountiful to discuss what had happened. Twice they heard a quiet voice they didn't understand that melted their hearts. The third time they understood it to be The Father asking them to listen to His Son. Christ descended and provided to them His doctrine and commandments, and selected His disciples to teach and baptize. Their names are: Nephi, Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, Jonas, Zedekiah and Isaiah. The next day about 2,500 gathered to hear The Lord. He instituted the sacrament as a commandment, healed their sick, and blessed their children. The Lord advised them to be watchful and pray always, and to pray to The Father in His name. For three days He taught and prophesied. Those baptized by the twelve were called the congregation of Christ. 3 Nephi 4-14
Mormon was born about 310 AD. He was dependable and mindful. Ammaron came to him when he was ten years old and gave him instructions on the records he had hidden. His father Mormon, moved them to Zarahemla when he was eleven. They were named after the land of Mormon where Alma first baptized - 3 Nephi 2:XVII. Mormon was filled with sorrow all his days because of the peoples wickedness. The land was cursed so that if someone would hide something it couldn't be recovered. Mormon was large and strong so the Nephites appointed him to lead their armies at the age of sixteen, in the year 326. The king of the Lamanites was Aaron. The land was filled with Lamanites and robbers. In the year 345 the Nephites were chased to the city of Jashon, near where the records were hidden. Mormon retrieved the plates of Nephi to continue the history. In 350, the lands were divided between the Nephites, Lamanites and Gaddianton robbers. In 360, Aaron sent Mormon a letter advising they were going to attack. The Nephites defeated them twice and they boasted and swore vengeance oaths, so Mormon refused to lead them. In 375, the Nephites began to be swept down. Mormon took all the records from the hill Shim that he later hid in the hill Cumorah. In this year he united with the Nephites and they asked him to lead their armies, though he knew it was to their utter destruction. He wrote a letter to the Lamanite king asking him to permit them to gather their people in the land of Cumorah and the king accepted. In 384 they had gathered about 230,000. The Lamanites slew all but 24 and Mormon was wounded. Moroni picks up his fathers record stating that Mormon was killed and he was surviving alone. Moroni contributed Mormon's words about why little children don't need baptism. Abinadi also taught that little children have eternal life - Mosiah 8:X. He compiled the Jaredite record and added important things. Moroni truly saw our day, and saw that all the churches are corrupt, and spoke about gifts and miracles. No doubt, we will see him at the judgement seat of the great Jehovah. Mormon 1-4, Moroni 1-10
Moroni's commentary in the book of Ether is substantial. Jared's people were continually led by The Lord to the promised land. The people wanted a king which they knew would bring enslavement, but Orihah was made king before Jared and his brother passed. There were wars for power that continued through Shule's reign. Prophets came and the people abused them, and Shule made laws to protect them. Omer replaced Shule and his son Jared rebelled and gained half the kingdom. His brothers Esrom and Coriantumr were angry and attacked Jared by night but didn't kill him because of his promise to give back the kingdom. Jared mourned his loss and his daughter convinced him to take up the secret plans of old. Akish, who became her husband, established a secret society with his relatives and friends. The Lord warned Omer in a dream to leave, so he and those that went with him went to the place where the Nephites were later slaughtered. Jared became king and this society slew him on his throne, making Akish king. Akish was jealous of one of his sons and kept him in prison with no food until he died, which angered his brother Nimrah, who went to live with Omer. There was a war between Akish and his sons that resulted in only 30 people surviving, so Omer was restored to his own land. Emer succeeded Omer and he administered justice all his days. His son Coriantum did likewise. Com replaced Coriantum. His son Heth killed him and became king. Prophets prophesied of a famine but the people exiled them. The famine was fierce and claimed all Heth's household but Shez, who established a righteous kingdom after The Lord removed the famine. Riplakish replaced Shez, and imposed heavy burdens on the people, which they rebelled against and he died. His descendant Morianton fought for the kingdom and eased the people's burdens but he wasn't righteous, nor was his son Kim, whose brother enslaved him. Kim's son Levi obtained the kingdom and did right in The Lord's eyes, as did his descendants Corom, Kish and Lib, until Hearthom, who then lost the kingdom. His descendants lived in captivity until Com, who drew away half of the kingdom. Com fought against robbers who were in the land. Many prophets prophesied of their destruction and that their bones would be piled up on the land, but the people tried to kill them and they fled to Com for protection. Shiblon replaced Com. His brother Seth fought against him and killed the prophets. This war resulted in terrible disease, famine, and destruction, and Shiblon was killed. His son Ahah ruled wickedly, resulting in many deaths and his life was short. His descendant Ethem was also very wicked. Prophets came to warn them and then withdrew from the people. Moron succeeded Ethem. The people rebelled because of that secret society that sought power and wealth. Moron lost the kingdom and lived in captivity the rest of his life, as did his son Coriantor. Prophets came again warning the people, but they were rejected. Coriantor's son was Ether, who prophesied great and marvelous things, but they cast him out. King Coriantumr attacked the secret society that had tried to kill him. The land was cursed by iniquity. Everyone held their tools in their hands so they didn't lose them, and every man kept his sword in his hand to defend his property. The Lord told Ether to prophesy to Coriantumr that if he didn't repent, only he would survive, and that he would be buried by another people that would inherit the land. He did try to spare the people through a letter to Shiz, but didn't repent. He and Shiz battled until he was the only one left, and was buried by the Mulochites. Ether 1-6 . __________________________________________________
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