Selections from the Book of Arakim

1And Madek the son of Delek did call all the people of Suran together. For behold he did see much wickedness arise because of the divisions of the people. And he would that all the people of Suran should hear his words, but many of the divisions of people would not hear his words. And, Yea, they were those who had the most need of his words. Now, Madek did instruct the Elders to write his words and deliver them in all the land of the children of Suran even unto all those people who did believe. And Madek spoke unto the people saying, Oh mighty people of Suran, God hath selected you to be a chosen people upon these lands. And I have seen much righteousness in my days and my heart does rejoice in the righteousness of the people. And God doth also rejoice in those who shall follow his commandments. But behold, people of Suran, there hath also been much wickedness that has arisen amongst our people. For many people have taken the commandments of God and perverted them to indulge their own desires. I speak unto you concerning the commandment that a man may take more than one wife. For behold many of you have destroyed your families and brought ruin upon your children because of your perversion of this holy commandment. Yea, many of you are guilty of adultery for you have taken women who are not given unto you. And in doing so you have gone in unto women who have not been your wives and you have broken the covenants you made with God and your wives. And you are guilty of a great sin. And many of you have only taken thought of the outward appearance of women and you take unto yourselves only women who are delightful in appearance and you put off those faithful women who are not as delightful to the eyes as those women whom you have chosen. And you have destroyed the pureness of your wives for they do compete for you affections for you to deal unjustly with them, because you do give favor unto those who are most delightful unto the eyes and you do shrug away those who are not so delightful. And many of your first wives are women who are not so delightful to the eyes but are delightful to the heart,. But because of your wickedness you do put them off and would not give any affection unto them. And behold are these women not your love? Did you not make a covenant unto them that you should love them eternally and that they should be your chief wife? You have been condemned for your wickedness. And if you are to have any hope of being guiltless at the last days you must repent. And I have many more words of harshness for you, but while my words may be harsh, the righteous will receive them and repent but the wicked will close their ears unto them and they will continue to walk in the pride of their hearts. And I speak these things unto you with great love, for you still have time to repent of your wickedness. And I have much more to speak unto you concerning your sins. For many of you have begun to take women who are beyond your age. And your old men do marry the daughters of your daughters. And in this there is great wickedness. For the young men of our people have no young women to take unto them for they have been joined to those who are old and who must surely die soon. And the women of our people do seek out the elderly men of our people that they might be joined unto them. And I speak unto you women saying, wo, wo, wo. You have not sought young men who are appropriate for you. For you do say that they seek not things of eternity and they do only wish to make games of your hearts and pureness. But have you not destroyed your hearts and pureness in seeking out elderly men? Have you not given up your pureness and delightfulness by joining those who are neigh unto death? And they are as your fathers and as your grandfathers. And I say unto you women repent of your wickedness. For it is true many young men do delight in the games of the heart and mind. And they do deceive many and in doing so they are guilty of great sin. But are there not also many young men of your ages who do seek out the will of God and they do consult the scriptures and the Spirit. And they do respect the women of this people and they do delight in your pureness and loveliness. And is it not also given unto them that they may take more than one wife? Why do you then say that there are no men? For are you so hardened in your pride that you will not be joined unto a man who already hath a wife? I say unto you, Nay, for you do join to those old men who do already have many wives. And I give a warning unto you that you must repent for you do deny the blessings of marriage to those young men who desire to be righteous men. Now I do speak again unto you men. For you do give unto your wives potions and brews that do render their wombs barren. And they cannot bear any children. And you do this so that their bodies may not change in child birth. For you do delight in the beauty of their bodies and not in their wholesomeness. And such a thing is a great sin for a man and a women must leave their father and mother and join together as one. And they should, in proper time, work unto the bearing children that the earth may be filled with righteousness. And know you not why God hath given it unto you that you should take more than one wife? For surely it is that the earth may be filled with righteousness. But you have perverted the ways of God and you do marry women for the pleasures of the flesh. And you care not for the delightful spirits of children who may bless your lives. And in this you have been selfish. I speak unto you saying repent! For if you do not repent a great ruin shall come upon this people. Wherefore God doth love all of you and His arms are open to all who will repent. And for those who repent it shall be as if they had not sinned. For their sins shall be wiped clean in the sanctifying blood of Christ who must surely come. And now O mighty people of Suran you do ask what a man and woman must do to live righteously under this principle. And I say unto you a man must not take unto himself a woman who is not given unto him. And a man must treat all of his wives equally and not place one above another, nor shall he give more of his attention and affection to one over another. Nor shall you speak unto them in public or in secret that you doth love one more than another. And if one of your wives confide a secret in you, you shall not reveal it unto your other wives, unless that secret shall do harm. And you shall not speak evil of your other wives. And you must take your each of your wives for a time in turn and give them affections, and gifts. For each must have a time to grow stronger in love with you. And serve and love your wives. And render unto them service and do not force your other wives fulfill your duties. And also love your children and be with them in time of work and in times of leisure. And give unto them time to know and love their father, For they must know you and have a time unto themselves with you. And unto you women, you shall not seek to steal the attentions of your husband from his other wives. And you shall seek to suppress jealousy, for do you not know the hardship of your husbands? And do not speak evilly of each other to taint the affections of your husband to his other wives. And render unto him all due patience. And give unto him time to love and go in unto his other wives. And take comfort during this time in reading the words of God. And praying and singing. For surely this must be a hardship for you that your beloved husband has gone in to another woman. But behold he doth love both of you equally. For is there a limit to the number of people a person may love? I say unto you Nay. But seek to overcome your hardships by relying upon God, and His word, and His love. And if you shall work to overcome then your burdens shall become easier. But if you do not and you are tossed about by the storms of your hardships then you shall not overcome and it shall be a great pain unto you. And I say also, love your children. And love the children of the other wives of your husband. And care for them. And also aid the other wives of your husband in caring for children. And if you shall do so, your children shall be raised righteously and it shall be made easier for you. And now, Oh mighty people of Suran, I do make a close of my speaking unto you. For I have delivered many strong words but they have been given in love. And if you shall hearken unto them you shall prosper. But if you reject them you shall perish in wickedness. Now I give these words unto you for they are not my own but they are God's. And you shall hearken unto them. And Madek did send his words forth amongst all the people of Ahkman. But it came to pass that his words fell upon deaf ears for some did hearken unto his words but many more did not for their hearts rejoiced in evil and the evil one did posses their loyalties. And Madek did grow to an old age and did rebuke and teach the people all of his days.