THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

1Now, the words of the Savior made a great impact upon me. For behold, I have lived according to His words all the days of my life. And He did call me from time to time by His spirit which is in me to go unto the people and teach His word unto them. And even I did go by His command unto my brethren in the Land Southward to prophecy against them and also to give the signs of His coming into the world. Wherefore, I have not been ignorant of His teachings.

2Nevertheless, oft times all men become somewhat prideful in the things they think they know. And I did on occasion believe that I did know more about the things of the Lord than did my fellow man. And I was carried away in my pride insomuch that I believe that I did omit to secure the confirmation of the Holy Ghost in connection with many things. Yea, I have been remiss a very many times throughout my life because of the pride of my heart.

3And the words the Lord spoke unto my people were all the more sharp for me because I was able to see myself in the light of everything He said unto us. And my whole frame shudders at the thought that I might have been the means whereby some poor soul has rejected the words of peace because of my pride and high mindedness.

4Wherefore, the Spirit does move upon me to add somewhat upon this subject ere I give up this life. Howbeit, there may be some of my posterity who are like unto me in this respect. And it seems wise and expedient to me that I do it in the form of a song unto my own forefathers. Yea, I shall sing a song of Corianton and Isabel because their history bespeaks of pride and of the suffering that can come of it in the lives of men and women.

5Now, Corianton was my grandfather and he did leave the land of his birth and of his inheritance because of pride and of error. For, he was the son of a prophet of God, and he might have been the High Priest of Zarahemla had he remained in the land of his birth. But, because of a great wrong done unto him, born of pride and of error, he did take his sojourn into the wilderness of the north, never to return or to be seen again in the Land Southward.

6This same Corianton, when he was a young man, was sent by the prophet, his father, even that Alma of which much is written, to preach the gospel unto the Lamanites in the Land of Nephi and also unto the Zoramites, whose city lay between the Land of Zarahemla and the Land of Nephi. And he was obedient to the will of the Lord given him through his father, the prophet.

7Wherefore, he went with his brethren into the land of the Lamanites to preach unto them, and the mission was exceedingly hard for the youth. But he and his brethren, though they had many trials along the way, yea, for many of the Lamanites beat them and cast stones at them, yea, and many times the Lamanites sought to take away their lives; they did also enjoy the fruits of their labors, for some there were that believed on their words and embraced the truth, repenting of all their wickedness.

8Now, one of those who heard the sons of Alma and repented was a harlot whose name was Isabel. And she lived close unto the Lamanites and also unto the Nephites, for she lived in the borders between the two people. And she was known both unto the Lamanites and also the Nephites as the harlot Isabel.

9But behold, she did repent and was an harlot no more. Yea, from the day that the sons of Alma came unto her door to preach the gospel unto her, she gave up her profession and vowed to serve the Lord all the days of her life. And from that day also, she cast out the harlots from her house and cleaned it every whit. And the doors of the house she kept open for the aid of travelers and for the comfort of the needy, and she began to do a great work.

10But she was still known throughout all the land as the harlot Isabel, and the greater portion of the people knew not of her good works, but only remembered her for her wickedness in the days prior to her repentance.

11But behold, Corianton and the other sons of Alma came often to her home and she did minister to them. For they were often downtrodden and heavy with the work. And on other occasions they were wounded or sick, and she cared for them. And Corianton saw her kindness and her charity to the needy and he secretly loved her for her good works. And he was often seen in the vicinity of her house preaching to her neighbors in the cities round about the borders of the land.

12Now, it came to pass that a certain merchant, whose name was Saneth, and he was a wicked Nephite, came to the house of Isabel to demand of her by way of her former occupation. And when he discovered that she had repented and was no longer an harlot, he was wroth with her and he beat her with a rod. But she would not consent to minister unto him the wickedness that was in his heart because of the vow she had made unto the Lord. And she suffered herself to be beaten with a sore violence.

13And this same Saneth went his way, even unto the city of Zarahemla, and finding Alma, he did recount to him that he had seen his son Corianton consorting with the Harlot Isabel. And this thing troubled Alma greatly. And he did make inquiries as to the state of this Isabel and whether she was in truth an harlot. And behold, all the people of the land round about the border between the lands of the Nephites and the lands of the Lamanites did report that she was indeed an harlot. And Alma did believe the report of the people.

14And when he was satisfied that the report was true, he summoned his son Corianton to return from his mission. And when he had returned from his mission and did present himself before his father, his father did chasten him greatly for his folly with the harlot Isabel and did straitly accuse him of approaching nigh even unto that sin which the Lord hates, even the sin of fornication. And this he did because of the rumor that had reached him from the people round about where Corianton had preached.

15Now, Corianton did esteem his father to be the prophet of God. Wherefore, he did not correct his father, nor give any account of his doings. Rather, he humbly received the rebuke and chastening of his father with sorrow in his heart.

16And Alma believed that Corianton held his tongue out of a knowledge of his guilt. Wherefore, he felt justified in harshly chastening his son.

17And it came to pass that Corianton made preparations for Isabel, that she might come into the Land of Zarahemla where he thought she might find safety. And he made preparations that an agent of his own property might be empowered to make employment of his own substance to provide for her. And he did return again to preach the gospel unto the Zoramites. And again the mission was difficult but Alma and his brethren made good their mission and returned unto their own land. And the record of their efforts is given in another place.

18But behold, when Corianton returned unto his own property, he found that his agent had failed to provide for the woman Isabel and that she was not found in the place he had provided for her. And when he made inquiries as to where she had gone, he was told that she had departed from his house and had taken up her own residence.

19And when he came to the place where she had made her own residence, Corianton found her making her living by weaving mats and baskets. And behold, her workmanship was exceedingly fine. But, notwithstanding the workmanship of her hands was of the finest in the land, her circumstances were exceedingly poor because the Nephites did persecute her because she had been a harlot.

20And this was because the rumor had gone out from Zarahemla of the sharp words of Alma, the prophet, spoken unto Corianton when he first returned from the mission whereunto he had been sent. Yea, Alma’s words were spoken out of the pride of his heart. For, he was wroth that a son of his might commit the great sin while in the service of the Lord.

21Yet, Corianton sinned not at all and there is proof of it in his returning to preach unto the Zoramites over against the land of Nephi. Nevertheless, lest his descendents judge Alma too much, it was also pride in the heart of Corianton that prevented him from speaking out the truth unto his father. For, he knew that Alma was the prophet of God, and it was his belief that his father should have known of the Spirit what was true and what was not.

22For, how could he not know that his son was innocent of the sin with which the wicked did accuse him? Did he not take the matter to the Lord? And did the Spirit not whisper words of peace unto his soul? We know that he did, for he sent Corianton back into the service of the Lord. Yet, he could not take back the words he had spoken publicly, words which the people took to be spoken by the spirit of truth in him. Then did a people magnify the severity of the matter and they did not seek confirmation of it through the Holy Ghost.

23And in this thing did the Lord teach us all a great lesson. It is true that the Lord does call out prophets from among the people. But, let not any people begin in the belief that the calling out makes a man not a man. The prophet of God is given great gifts of the Spirit. Yea, he may speak with the tongues of angels and with them, and, if he has the gift of the seer, he may translate strange languages. And behold, the prophet leads and guides the people in the will and work of the Lord also. But, know this all you who read these things and ponder them in your hearts, the prophet is fallible. He is not perfect, and his counsels are not perfect. And, though we count ourselves blessed because the Lord does see fit to call and raise up unto us His prophets, it is because He does this that we feel constrained to subject all things unto the confirmation of the Holy Ghost, howbeit even the words of a prophet.

24Behold, the Lord has spoken it: Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Wherefore, make not gods of your prophets! For they will be false gods and idols. For, even if they be called of God and appointed, yea, even if they be anointed by the very finger of God, they are yet simple men and you will have made unto yourselves gods that shall fall. For there are but few men unto whom the Lord has given power over death, and they are John his beloved apostle, and Nephi, Lehi, and Timothy, who were brothers and among the twelve He chose when He came to the people gathered about the temple in the Land Bountiful. But all others shall fall by the shaft of death, just as you and I must likewise fall. And when we fall, our bodies shall go back into the earth, as with all living things. And, notwithstanding our spirits live on, in accordance with that great covenant and plan by which this world was created, yet are we corruptible, and yet does the idol rust and the rot take us. Wherefore, when you make gods of the servants of God, you cast their ashes in His face. Will he hold you sinless in this?

25I say unto you, He will hold you accountable. For, has He not commanded each of us to pray always? And does this not also apply to every word that has proceeded out of the mouths of the prophets? For, I ask you, how know you that I ever lived? Now, I write this unto my own descendents. Wherefore, I desire that you have a remembrance of me and of my doing. But, how know you that these writings truly come to you from me, my children? No man may confirm it. It is only by the confirmation of the Holy Ghost that you may know that I truly wrote these things unto you. And behold, it is by that power which the Holy Ghost possesses that you may have all knowledge, for, it is by that power that the Christ did take upon Himself all things. And it is by that same power that He may give the same to us. Yea, it is by that power that all things may be brought to our remembrance, both those things which we sometime knew of our own conscience and experience, as well as all things known because of the experiences of others. Yea, even all that the Father has may be given to us by this same power.

26Wherefore, why seek we to make all things sure by the voice and word of men? There is but one way to know of a surety that a thing is true, whether spoken by a man or men, or by a prophet, or by an angel, or even by the very voice of Christ Himself! Yea, I make so bold as to say that I would gladly speak face to face with God, and hold myself blessed in every way. But behold, having thus communed in a most holy way, I would retire to my chamber, and bend my knee and my will, and ask most humbly that the Holy Ghost might confirm the thing unto my soul.

27Does this sound ill? To some it may speak of doubt. But, I shall importune the Lord in this thing, for He has commanded it. And I would rather He be importuned than that His anger be kindled against me.

28Yea, for behold, even the elect shall be deceived. Even the prophets of God may act and speak betimes as men and fathers sometimes do out of the earthy and carnal concerns of their hearts. Yea, what man does not feel strongly the needs and responsibilities of his stewardship? Do not expect them to be any different than yourselves, and, if the Lord does allow men to be fallible and to err, but to repent, so much more ought you to allow the same. Wherefore, the Lord has counseled us: Judge not. For with that same judgment wherewith thou judgest, thou shalt also be judged.

29Behold, I say unto you who shall receive these things and ponder them, You shall live in a time when men do seek to elevate the prophets unto that status wherein they may speak no error nor act in any mean thing. This is a great pitfall to the righteous. For, such men shall make regulations that begin to deny the right of every son or daughter of God to seek the confirmation of the Holy Ghost. Yea, in your day, if a man hears the words of some prophet and, seeking the confirmation of the Holy Ghost, fails to receive it, but receives instead a witness that the utterance is false or misguided, behold, he shall be brought up before the counsels and he shall be persecuted for having received such a witness. And they shall scourge him bitterly with their words and shall even cast him out from among them.

30Look you to your own day! For speedy destruction of all that you hold dear shall surely come to pass. For, of such pride generally were the Nephites in the Land Southward, and they did persecute and even put to death they who believed the signs of the coming of the Lord. And I ask you, how did they know that the Lord would indeed come? Yea, how did Nephi know? Behold, he heard the voice of God, by the power of that same Holy Ghost! Yea, and the voice said unto him: On the morrow come I into the world. Did he not seek confirmation of that voice? I say unto you, Yea! And when the people brought the believers together to be killed, Nephi did look up to the heavens with full confidence of heart that the Lord would surely come.

31And behold, we know that He did come to the people in the Land Southward. For we also have seen Him and can testify of Him. And even He did tell us of His visit unto our brethren in the Land Southward. And of that same Nephi whose faith and confidence was so abundantly rewarded, we know much, for he has been among us and we have heard of his own voice of the great revelations he has received. Yea, of this all our people do testify. But I would not have you believe our words. Nay, believe not the words written in this book if the Holy Ghost does not confirm them unto you. Yea, though my people do call me prophet, and they do revere me and follow my counsels, I would not have them do so but that they be moved upon by the Holy Ghost to do so.

32Wherefore, you also may call me prophet, and my words may touch your souls. Nevertheless, make not of me a lesser god, but seek the confirmation of the Holy Ghost in all things.