The Book of Melchisedec I

The Youth of Melchisedec

1And in that day the child Melchisedec grew in the city of Salem in the house of his father, who was king over the people of that land.

2And his father was a just man in many things, yet he ruled over a people whose hearts were divided.

3For some among the people desired righteousness and remembered the covenant of the fathers.

4And others loved power and wealth, and they listened unto the priests who taught the traditions of men.

5And the palace of the king stood upon a hill overlooking the city, and from its towers one could see the markets and the gates and the fields beyond the walls.

6And Melchisedec often walked among the people of the city.

7And he observed the merchants who traded in the markets, and the judges who sat in the courts, and the laborers who worked in the streets.

8And he saw that some prospered exceedingly while others labored continually and had little.

9And these things troubled his heart.

10And he went often unto the keepers of the ancient records who dwelt near the sanctuary of the Most High.

11And these elders taught him the histories of the fathers.

12And they spoke unto him of Adam who walked with God.

13And of Abel whose righteousness pleased the Lord.

14And of Enoch who established a city of holiness.

15And of Noah who preserved the covenant through the flood.

16And of the patriarchs whose priesthood authority remained upon the earth.

17And Melchisedec listened diligently unto these teachings.

18And his heart burned within him as he heard the words of the covenant.

19And he began to understand that the city of Salem had once been founded upon those same principles.

20But that the people had departed from them.

21And as he grew in wisdom the people began to take notice of him.

22For he spoke with clarity and wisdom beyond his years.

23And he judged matters among the youth with fairness.

24And the poor who came unto the palace seeking justice often found that the young prince would hear their pe::ons.

25And his father marveled at the compassion of his son.

26Nevertheless the divisions within the city continued to increase.

27And certain priests who desired power feared the influence of the young prince.

28For they perceived that his teachings might weaken their authority among the people.

29Yet Melchisedec sought not power but understanding.

30And he often withdrew from the noise of the city and went into the hills and mountains that surrounded the valley.

31And there he pondered the covenant of the Most High.

32And he prayed continually that the Lord would show him how the people might return unto righteousness.