THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

1Now, I did fill the seat of the Chief of the High Priests for many years, and behold, I did strive to do my duty to my people and to my God. And I did teach the gospel of peace to the best of my understanding, relying upon the Holy Ghost to guide me. And behold, the Nem of Corianton were diligent in keeping the commandments of God and we did strive to keep the Sabbaths and the festivals. And in all things, I did preserve the belief and the customs of my fathers alive in the hearts of the people.

2Notwithstanding, I did also strive to preserve the rights of all people to receive revelation and inspiration from God. For, for this cause has God striven always with men, so that they might come unto Him. Wherefore, I made no laws concerning the observance of rites, but did exhort all people to approach God honestly with all their hearts and minds. And behold, the Lord did bless and reward the people, and the gifts of the Spirit were had by us in great abundance.

3Now, I judge myself in this and hope that I do rightly. For, I perceive that my people were very happy, and they walked uprightly before the Lord. And they had for their needs in great abundance. Yea, there were never any poor among our people and in our cities and villages, so long as the want was known. For, as soon as any want was found among our people, the people themselves quickly provided for that want without need of commandment. And this was taken up as the great challenge of our whole people – that there should never be found any poor in any of our cities.

4And again I say that I judge myself in this thing and hope that I have always done rightly in my work in the seat of the Chief of the High Priests. And I measured myself in this. For, if the people, whom it was my responsibility to teach, did govern themselves in righteousness, then I could esteem that I had not taught them amiss.

5And I did take Hemina, the sister of my friend and fellow servant Oug, to wife, and she was a great and noble woman of high renown among her own people. Wherefore, when she consented to seal her fate with me, I did esteem myself blessed beyond all men. Yea, the Lord did greatly bless me in the day that Hemina consented to be my wife. And she also did measure herself against the love demonstrated by the people, for she did exert herself to be the mother of all and to care for all.

6And she brought to our hearth but one child and we did call his name Corianton after my own grandfather. And I did also teach him to likewise measure himself upon this rod as well. And behold, my own son did grow in this wisdom, even to the stature of a man. And he took to him Sabel, the daughter of Oug to wife. And such a man did he become that all the people of Corianton esteemed him equal to me in knowledge and wisdom, and in application. Yea, he did wax strong in body and wise in mind. Yet, he was also gentle in his disposition so that he did understand the worries and the hurts of all men. And he cared for his people and worked for them with all his might.

7Yea, if I may boast in anything, and I know the danger in such pride, I say unto you, I do boast in the goodness of my wife and of my son. And how I do bless the Lord for the gift He gave me to comfort me. For, I did not marry as a young man and I thought not to have any issue at all. But behold, the Lord did guide unto me the most elect of ladies, and she did bear a son of high renown, one who brought much honor to the name of the Lord. And what greater reward may a father receive of the Lord than that his child be found acceptable before his Creator?

8Nay, there is no other thing of worth in all the world than that a man may see his works reflected in the hearts of his children and of his people, and that the works that he sees are good. In this do I praise the name of the Lord and bless Him every day of my life. Yea, I shall always bless and praise the Lord.

9And when I became old, and my eyes did grow somewhat dim, the people of Corianton did call forth my son to occupy the seat of the Chief High Priest with me, to assist me in the work of the Lord. Behold, is this not blessing indeed? Look upon me, all you fathers who have children, and judge me as a father. Judge not in the pride of your hearts, but as one father does judge another. Did I well in life, think you? If we fathers may measure our lives in any way, let us do it through our families. For, if my children please the Lord, what more can I have done? Or what other success may I have obtained? Indeed, what other thing could be more precious? I say unto you, Let no other thing be used to judge the father, than that his children find favor with God.