THE BOOK OF OUG

As a descendant of Hagoth, Oug was left to write the record of Mentina when his brothers went to the Land Southward to teach the Nephites. Because of the location, the faith and the type of government of the Nem, the Gadiantons are kept from coming among them. The Nem debated the signs concerning the death of Christ. Through the fulfillment of those signs, all the Nem were preserved while many of those in the Land Southward were not. At the beginning of the three days of darkness, the voice and the words of the Savior were heard by the Nem. When He appeared to the Nem, the Savior set apart Oug as the Prophet and twelve others as Apostles. Christ taught the Nem of prayer, of the priesthood, of His doctrine and gave them the ordinance of the sacrament. About A.D 30-106

1Behold, I am Oug, the son of Sanempet, and it has been many years since my brothers went into the Land Southward to preach the word unto the Nephites and the Lamanites. And I am the only one of my brethren who did not go, for the Nem decreed that one high priest descended from Hagoth should remain to keep the record of Mentina. Therefore, when my brethren left, I remained. And this was according to the common consent of the people. Notwithstanding, I desired to go with them, for we were alike filled with the Spirit of God. Yea, even we did burn with desire to preach repentance unto the people, and I not the least. But, I was chosen, yea, the lot least liked fell on me and I alone remain.

2Behold, from time to time at the commencement of their mission unto the Land Southward, we did receive epistles and messengers from my brethren describing their works. Yea, we did hear of their successes and of their difficulties. But, before three years had all passed, we ceased to hear news of them, and we knew not of their fate.

3For the wars between the Nephites and the Gadiantons waxed sore and during those wars we had very little discourse with them. Yea, our communication with them was exceedingly sporadic. In some years, when the Nephites listened to the prophets, we did maintain trade with them and we had great hope that the Nephites would rid the land of the robbers. Then, they did often become rich and were filled with pride, and the robbers did descend upon them and destroy all peace and all commerce. This was the constant state of things in the Land Southward. Wherefore, it became risky indeed to maintain any communication with them, lest the robbers esteem our land worthy of their attention.

4Now, the Gadiantons live by plunder not by the work of their hands. Yea, they do not plant but only steal the harvest of others. They do not build, but live in cities abandoned by others. They raise no cattle but steal that which they need for food, for raiment, for shelter, for transport, yea, for all their needs.

5The valleys of the Nem are rich in all these things, but to arrive here one must needs cross barren wastelands, or exceedingly high mountains, or, coming around from the north, one must prevail against the Nem of the Plains first. Wherefore, though the Nem possessed what the Gadiantons desired, the cost to obtain it was esteemed by them exceedingly high. Therefore, the robbers chose rather to ignore us and our doings, preferring instead to afflict the Nephites and Lamanites of the Land Southward.

6And only three times in the memory of the Nem, did the Gadiantons attempt to organize bands among us. As often as this occurred, the Nem rooted them out through the diligent teaching of the word of God. And our system of government was of a kind that made it exceedingly difficult for an unrighteous judge to take any seat of authority. Yea, we had no need for lawyers and lesser judges because of the nature of our system of government. Wherefore, this made it all the more difficult for the Gadiantons, for they were want to gain power through the judges.

7Now this is the manner of our government - each village is ruled by a council of men and women chosen by the mothers of our people. Therefore, every woman who had a child had a vote, and because not all women bear, every woman who had reached the age of agency, that being sixteen years of age, also had a vote. This council meets to resolve the concerns that have to do with the village. And each village council appoints one member to go up to the city to which it is assigned to take part in the city council to resolve the concerns of the region roundabout that city. And each city council appoints one member to go to Mentina to participate in the common council of the Nem, and decisions concerning all the people are made by them. Therefore, without the voice of the mothers in the villages no one may gain power among the Nem.

8If a man has a complaint against his neighbor, with regard to his person or his property stewardship, he brings it before his own village council and presents the case himself. He does not represent the matter through any other person but must face him whom he has accused himself. Then the accused is given equal opportunity to present his own defense. Yea, he represents himself. Then the council decides the case. If, after the council has heard and seen all the evidence and has made its decision, but there still remains much doubt as to the guilt, then the council shall publish the action to the mothers and seek the common consent of the people. The common consent is always final.

9The affairs of the Church are governed after the pattern given by Nephi. When Hagmeni was ordained a high priest he was placed over the priests and the teachers of our people to preside over them. And this is fitting, for the High Priest of God is a seer and a prophet. Wherefore, Hagmeni called for each village of 100 persons a High Priest and gave him authority to see to all the spiritual needs of that village and to ordain ministers as he saw fit. This council regulated the spiritual affairs of the village.

10Now, the villages Hagmeni ordered in groups of thirteen and the High Priest of each village was appointed to participate in the council of high priests for that region. And the High Priest of all the land, even the seer, nominated one from among the regional council to preside over it. This council regulated the spiritual affairs of the region.

11And the presiding High Priests from the regional councils comprised the great council of high priests which regulated the affairs of the Church among all the Nem. And the High Priest of all the Nem was the presiding high priest of the great council of high priests.

12Wherefore, for all things temporal, the people chose their own councils and for all things spiritual, the Lord chose their councils through the prophet and through the Spirit of Prophecy. All this was done after the pattern given by Nephi when he lived among the Nem.

13Now, this system was also adhered to by all the Nem of the Plains and also by many of the Lamanites in the Land Northward, and it presented a great stumbling block to the Gadiantons because that, whereas among the Nephites in the Land Southward, the men were easily corrupted because of their strength, the Nem were preserved from this evil because of the meekness of our women. Yea, men make combinations for gain, but women make covenants for the good of all the people.

14Thus the people did prosper exceedingly and we had continual quiet and peace in our land. And thus we lived happily, but my heart became heavy with concern for my brethren. For they had all gone into the Land Southward to cry repentance unto the Nephites and were not heard from again. And, though I am the presiding High Priest of the Nem, and though the Lord gives me visions and prophecy with respect to the needs of my people, yet I am no prophet for the comfort of my family, for the Lord sees fit to hide my brethren from me.

15Behold, it is now but three years to the second sign given by the prophets Samuel and Nephi. I am Oug and I saw the sign of the coming of the Lord. Yea, wonders and signs I did see with mine own eyes and I saw and bear record that a new star was seen in the heavens and there was a day, a night and a day as if it were one day.

16Now, the prophets also taught us, and so the angels verify, that the Lord must also die so that He may overcome death for us, and that there would be marvelous signs and wonders in this land at His death. In truth, this is the fear that has sprung up among the Nem. For the prophets did say that a great destruction shall come upon the land, and such a commotion shall occur that the wicked in the land shall be overcome and shall perish. Yet, the righteous shall be protected by the hand of the Lord and shall survive the day.

17Wherefore many of the Nem do debate and reason one with another, some saying that destruction shall come upon all the land but the Lord will spiritually spare the righteous, and others say that only the wicked shall perish and the Lord shall physically preserve His people. Now, this debate has caused trepidation and fear to come upon some people and they are driven to great preparations against the terrible day. Others are resolved that all will die in the Lord and are sunk in great melancholy.

18As for myself, I worry not. First, because I have heard my father's teaching and I have read the words of my grandfather who sat at the feet of Samuel. Wherefore, I teach all to examine their lives and their conscience, to seek the face of God and to have peace no matter what may come. This to me is wisdom. For if it so be that the commotion is so extreme as to wipe the Nem from off the face of the earth, then they who are found worthy shall rejoice with our Lord, for have not the prophets said that the earth shall give up her dead when her Master and Maker does break the bands of that captivity? Then shall we all die in our bodies and resurrect to be taken up to Him when He comes. And is this not cause for rejoicing?

19And if the commotion destroy us not, what then? Have the prophets not promised us that if we make strait the paths of the Lord, He shall not forsake us in the wilderness but we shall see His face? Wherefore, arise and make His paths strait!

20And by these words I did attempt to strengthen and comfort my people, all the while wondering what fate had befallen my brethren and in what state, either living or dead, they would be in when the sign comes.

21And behold, when the days were accomplished the whole people were exceedingly anxious for the sign to come. Yea, the Nem, all in one accord gathered in the synagogues and at the temple and prayed earnestly for the sign. And we came fasting and rejoicing, for, though opinions differed, we were a united and faithful people. And we gathered together to see the sign.

22Behold and harken you ends of the earth! The sign did come, for the day dawned but there was no light. And the earth shook exceedingly and the air was exceedingly heavy so that no light would pierce the darkness. Yea, and the gulls fled before the darkness and were not seen in Mentina, and all livestock brayed in terror and in anguish. Yea, there was a great commotion as of the rushing tide of the sea and many foundations of homes and buildings did break up. Nevertheless, the people were all preserved and cried out with a joyous shout unto the Lord.

23And in the midst of the thick darkness we heard a voice saying: Woe, woe, woe unto all the people of the earth. Woe unto the inhabitants of the whole earth lest they repent for the adversary makes sport with his angels over the slain of the fair sons and daughters of My people. And it is because of the iniquity of My people that they are fallen.

24Behold, the great city of Zarahemla and all her people I have burned with fire. And behold, that great city Moroni and all her people I have sunk in the sea. And behold, that great city Moronihah and all her people I have covered with earth, because of their abominations. Yea, the blood of the prophets and of the saints have I hidden with earth that it cry no longer unto Me.

25And thus the voice did rehearse the fate of all the cities, Yea the mighty cities of the Land Southward. Yea, the city of Gilgal was sunk, and the city of Onihah, and of Mocum, and of Jerusalem with it. And the cities of Gadiandi and of Gadiomnah and of Jacob, and of Gimgimno, which were cities built high upon hilltops, are no more for they are covered in earth and new hills and new valleys are found in the stead thereof.

26And that city of Jacobugath, of which we had heard rumor, where the people had made Jacob king, was burned with fire for their great wickedness. For it was that people of Jacob that had destroyed the peace of the land.

27And the city of Laman, and of Josh, and Gad, and of Kishkumen, which did cast out the prophets and stoned the messengers of God, are burned and all the people with them. Yea, because they did cast out the believing, there was none righteous in them, and they were consumed in fire which God did send down from heaven.

28And the voice did not cease the horrible tale of destruction until all the cities that were destroyed had been counted. Then the voice continued:

29Oh, all ye that have not perished in this great commotion because ye are the more righteous of the people, will ye not return unto me with full purpose of heart? Will ye not repent of your sins and be changed, that I may heal you? Yea, if ye come unto Me, verily, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, I extend the hand of mercy unto you and whomsoever will come, shall I receive. Blessed are they who come unto Me.

30I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created all things in the heavens and all things in the earth. I counseled with the Father in your behalf in the beginning. I am now in the Father, and the Father is in Me, for the Father hath given Me even all that He hath.

31I came unto My own and they received Me not. And the words of the prophets concerning My coming are all fulfilled in Me. And, unto as many as have received Me, behold I have given them the Way, that they may receive of the Father even as I. So shall I do forever, unto all those who shall believe on My name, for, from the beginning the redemption hath been by Me.

32I am the light and life of the World, I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. For My purposes did I give the law unto Moses, yea, and for My holy purpose is the Law of Moses fulfilled. Therefore, ye shall offer up unto Me no more sacrifices by the shedding of blood. Yea, ye shall no more offer your burnt offerings. For henceforth, the acceptable offering shall burn with fire, but of the Holy Ghost. But ye shall offer for a sacrifice before Me a broken heart and contrite spirit. Yea, for him who cometh before Me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit shall burn with that Fire of the Holy Ghost that changed the righteous Lamanites, because of their faithfulness in seeking me. And they knew it not, for the change was imperceptible to them at the time of their conversion. Yet I knew it, for I did baptize them with Fire and with the Holy Ghost and they were no more as other men. Come you likewise unto Me.

33Behold, I have come unto the World to bring redemption unto it. I have come to save the World from sin. Therefore, repent and come unto Me as a little child, for of such is the Kingdom of God. Yea, all things but man obeys the voice of their creator even as a little child obeys the voice of his father. Come ye likewise and I will receive you. It is for this cause I did lay down the life of My body, and also for this cause did I take it up again.

34Wherefore, I laid down the World; for I am in the World and of the World, and the very power by which the World was made. And I take it up again so that all that is subject unto Me may become the salvation of all those who repent and come unto Me. Therefore, repent and come unto Me ye ends of the earth.

35Now, behold, we heard these words in our synagogues and at the temple, and the same voice was heard by all the people, and all the Nem testify and witness of it. And the saying filled the people with joy, for they knew that all the words of the prophets had been fulfilled.

36But they were the more filled with joy because of the prophecy that had yet to be accomplished. For they all remembered that it was also prophesied that they would see the Lord's face. Wherefore, the people were not afraid and were not silent, but in a tumultuous and joyous sound, began all to speak and to prophesy, and even some were so overcome with joy that they did fall down to the earth.

37And it came to pass that the darkness did follow for three days and this was further witness to the Nem that they did not believe in vain. Wherefore, they did all the more rejoice and did not cease in calling upon the name of the Lord their God. And thus they continued for many days after. Yea, when they were in their homes, they did call upon His name. And when they were in their fields and among the flocks, they did incline the head. And in the synagogues, they raised the hand of fellowship one to another and joyfully cried unto the Lord.