THE BOOK OF SHIONI AKEK

1Now, after that we had established ourselves and built up our city, even a new Elak Kowa in the mountains, and Nespelem was greatly enlarged by the addition of all the Nem of Meninta who had gathered further north, we began to have peace in the land. And we did also once again have peace in our hearts. For, we had not the conflict of the Tucantorites to cause conflict to arise in our hearts.

2But, because the Tucantorites had left the valley of Meninta and the place was left desolate, my brother did once again return there. And he did build up a settlement close by to the libraries, and behold, one of his companions did build a small settlement near unto the Temple Hill. And these were very small settlements and remained so, for there were few who wished to join them in the

3And my brother, as also the people who went down unto Meninta with him, did remain in the valley long enough to establish small settlements, which we called missions. And these missions were built with the intention, not of reestablishing the valley to its original character, but to protect and preserve the Temple and the libraries that remained there.

4For, although every settlement and every city now have their High Place, yet, the Temple at Mentina was the first to be built in the Land Northward after our father Hagoth made his journey. And the people continue in an especial attitude for the place. And the libraries also continue to hold an especial spirit for the people, and many make a journey now and then to sit in them and read the records. Wherefore, it seemed good that settlements to accommodate travelers ought to be established there.

5But my brother was not satisfied to remain long in the lonesome place and he did return after a season of service back up to Nespelem and Elak Kowa. For, he had also married into the family of Akekt and his wife and children had remained behind while he sojourned in Meninta.

6And he did tell us stories of Meninta, that in the night strange things did take place there and strange sounds were constantly to be heard. For, it was his superstition that the land yet held a memory of the things done in Mentina by the Tucantorites, and that it still mourned the loss of the Nem. Behold, it is his gift to see the spirits of men and women who have lived before and, although he declares that most are benign and only remain in their home because of the happiness they enjoyed there, nevertheless, there are some whose minds are filled with sorrow. These, he said, are not lovely to encounter, for they are filled with sorrow and with pain and they are harrowed up with a longing for things as they used to be.

7Yet, there are those whose desire it is to keep the Temple and the libraries there. They do a good work and are not bothered by the ghosts of the past. These do a good work and a good service for the people. For, though we have our records with us, yet, the libraries in Meninta are like none other we have ever found or built. They are fast up in the mountain and they are built deep and sound. Surely, there can be no greater place to keep things so precious and it is my belief that Meninta will figure in our history for a great long time. Wherefore, many do desire to go and spend time in service there.

8As for myself, I have remained in Elak Kowa, for it is close unto the city of Nespelem and the people have continued in their call for me to serve them as high priest.

9Now, in Elak Kowa and also in Nespelem, the people have asked for a council to govern the church, one such as the Lord did command Shi-Muel to form when He did visit the city of Corianton. Wherefore, I did place before the Mother’s Council the names of all those who had given thoughtful and diligent service in their callings as Peli unto their families and also unto the church. And they did take of the list and pray to discern which of them the Lord would call to the stewardship.

10And behold, they did choose out twelve from among the list which I did give unto them and they were nominated. Wherefore, I did take the nominations and I did publish them unto the people, and behold, the people did elect them according as the Mother’s Council did nominate. And these are the names of the Peli Council of Nespelem and of Elak Kowa:

11For the city of Elak Kowa, the Common Consent did elect Moronayim, Pa-Sanith, Hemaket, Pawna Tan, Heth, Samith, Eapowits, Tselthiem, Tsilet, Morin, Kayalith and Por-Wanith. And they did elect me to be Feather or Head of the Council.

12For the city of Nespelem, the Common Consent did elect Hemniet Anith, Panith-Het, Amnikt Ahlekt, Pac-Sineth, Tor-Moniet, Tornit Akekt, Hamit, Ayanit Kayanikiit, Hatgowit, Nemietnah, and Heniet-That-Pah. And they did elect Heniet-That-Pah to be Feather or Head of the Council.

13These are they which were called by the will of God, and also by the voice of the people to serve in their stewardships in the name of the Peacemaker. And they did counsel with the Community Councils and with the high priests and the priests, as also with the Peli of the families, in order that unity in the church might be firmly established and maintained. And behold, they did make a regulation of the Church and of its celebrations, ceremonies and ordinances.

14And they did also regulate that which the communities deemed important to teach all little children with regard to the gospel. And also they did publish and regulate the training of the youths in trades and in stewardships.

15Now, the Councils of the Nem of Nespelem were thus: The family held its own Council and elected its own Peli. The villages and settlements called up Mother’s Councils and they chose out Community Councils to help in the government of the community and the administration of the surplus offerings.

16The high priest was also called upon to appoint Peli to be priests and high priests to serve the people in the synagogues and in the High Places and they also formed a Council. And out of these did the people impose upon one to be high priest of the city. And out of these the General Council of Peli for Nespelem was called up in the manner already described.

17And these Councils did assist the people in governing themselves and in establishing peace and equity in the land. And behold, they did adopt the laws as set forth and recorded by Pa-Nat, deeming them to be pertinent and sufficient for their purposes.

18And it was the charge of these Councils to administer their callings in such a manner as not to become a burden upon the people and upon their freedoms. For, the governing of the people must always remain in service to the people. Yea, the governor is nothing but the servant of the people. And when the governor begins to declare that the people are the servants of the government, then do the people have the right and the responsibility to tear down the government and place a new one in the stead thereof. This is in accordance with the Laws of God, which do always and must supersede the laws of men.

19And behold, I prophesy it unto you who shall open this record and read it in the hearing of people in times far distant, that this shall be a sign that the times spoken of by the Lord concerning the restoration of His kingdom and the establishing of Zion once again in this land have surely arrived. Yea, all they who shall discern the need for liberty and a just government shall be swept up in the debate and none shall escape it. And this shall be the argument: Some shall declare that the people are the servant of the sovereign, and behold, still others shall declare that the sovereign is only the servant of the people. And behold, they who believe the former shall raise up Kings and Queens to rule and reign over their elected councils. And they who believe the latter shall elect their councils to govern and the people shall be the Sovereign.

20But behold, they neither shall have peace in this land until they shall yield up the scepter that they have delivered up to their riches and their possessions. Yea, it shall not matter what form of election they shall extol so long as they are governed by their greed and their avarice. But they shall rage in their debate over which bad way shall be better and they shall not know peace until Zion is established in the land once again.

21Yea, and this shall also cause division among their churches and among their Peli. For there shall be some who shall claim dominion over the people for the sake of their stewardships. And they shall claim authority transmitted in a sacred way to justify them in their interpretation. But they shall not sow peace, but division shall be the fruits of their labors.

22And there shall be those who shall raise themselves up before the people because of visions and because of gifts, and they shall take dominion over the people because of them. They shall not sow peace, but division shall be the fruits of their labors.

23And there shall be those who, because of their great riches, the people shall elevate until they too shall declare themselves rulers over them in their churches and in their synagogues, but they shall not sow peace, and division shall be the fruits of their labors.

24And behold, there shall be those even who read of these records and shall hold them up an ensign unto the world and who shall declare themselves that they might have dominion over the people because of these records. They shall not sow peace but division shall be the fruits of their labors.

25Only they who shall receive of the commission of the Peacemaker and who labor as the servant of all shall sow peace and the fruits of their labor shall bring again Zion in the land.

26And I know that there shall be many who are offended at my words. For they shall esteem themselves worthy because of their religion and all their good works. Yea, they shall call me a false prophet because they shall esteem themselves to be the very elect of God.

27But all their religion shall be as sounding brass. For in the day of which I speak, they who should have received the fullness of the gospel shall have sinned against it. And behold, they shall not even know that they have done it because of the teachings and traditions of their fathers. Yet, they shall have rejected the word of the Peacemaker almost upon the very eve of having received it and they shall lay for generations under His condemnation. All this shall they do in a pall of ignorance because they have rejected His admonition to come unto Him and have taken up the idols of their traditions.

28Yea, they shall think so highly of themselves and all their works that they shall think to be saved by them and not in them. Yea, they shall declare that ordinances and observances are mighty to save, but that the presence of the Peacemaker is not essential to that salvation. Wherefore, their governors shall dole out their ordinances and shall dictate their observances and all the people shall bow themselves to their taskmasters and shall enslave themselves unto them. Sore shall be their bondage and their ignorance shall be their only salvation from it when the Peacemaker

29And behold, they shall regulate their works such that only a blessed few may have the right and the authority to perform them. Yea, and all the people shall be made to flock to them and call them shepherds, for they shall have rejected all other revelation. And their shepherds shall declare their authority and none shall gainsay them. Yea, in that day, even they who would call themselves the elect of God shall declare by their works and by their traditions that it is by ordinances, and through them that have authority to perform them in the face of all the people, that salvation shall be brought and nothing else shall accomplish it.

30Behold, this shall be the state of things when the Lord shall bring again into the light such records as shall be preserved by Him in His wisdom. And behold, there shall be some who take of these things and shall use them for an ensample. These are they who shall bring Zion once again. These are they who shall receive the commission of the Lord and shall guide the people once again to come unto Him.