THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

1Now, after I had spent a season with the Nem in Mentina, and the time of cold having passed, I did return once again to my own country. Yea, I did travel across the plains and into the North Country. And I did come once again to the forests and the streams and lakes where I spent the years of my childhood. Yea, I did return again to the city of Corianton.

2And when I returned, as my father Alma did greet me, he did fall upon my neck and we wept together. For he did not ever think to see me again. And indeed, I did not ever think to see him. But, while passing the gates of the city, the heralds, discovering my name, began to advertise throughout the city that I had returned unto my own land and my own people, and my father did hear their cry and came running to meet me. And he did cry out my name and did immediately fall upon me and embraced me.

3And great was my joy at being received thus by all the people and more principally by my father. For great is the love that I feel for him and for all of my family.

4But the news that he gave me was not all good. For he told me of how my mother and sister had gone to visit the people of Mentina and how on the journey toward that city, they came upon an immense herd of cattle. And the cattle did begin to run before them and turned into them and they were killed.

5Now was my joy turned to sorrow, for I loved my mother and sister. And behold, they were of themselves great healers and teachers, and the people did also greatly mourn the loss of such elect ladies from among them. But I especially did suffer from their loss, for though I had returned unto my own people and unto my own city, yet did I feel alone because of the loss of my family.

6Yea, how low were my spirits in the days that followed. For, although the people did celebrate my return and many of my people did come to visit me to counsel with me, yet did I feel downcast because of my loneliness and because of my yearning for my mother and sister. Even did I consider doing as Alma had done when he discovered that his judgment of Corianton and Isabel was based not upon the Spirit but upon the rumors of men. Yea, I did consider taking myself off into the wilderness and ending my life there even as he did when Corianton and Isabel did abandon the Nephites and disappeared into the Land Northward never to return.

7For, Alma believed that he had sent them into the wilderness to their deaths and the knowledge that he had misjudged them did break his heart. Even so did I feel that my heart would break.

8But behold, the Lord would not that I should waste away in despair. Nay, He did lift up my head and lighten my heart. For He did speak to me upon the Way and I did see all that would befall my people. Then did I take courage, for, I knew that He would come to visit His people and I desired to be with them when He did.