THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

1Now, when Jesus had spoken these words, He retired from the multitude and took with Him those whom He commanded that I should call out from among the people to be His servants. And He did instruct us more fully in doctrine and in practice. And these things are written more plainly in the Book of the High Place. Wherefore, I shall not repeat them here. For behold, our method of writing, though it be not so cumbersome as that employed by our brethren in the Land Southward, it does, nevertheless take much metal, and metal is scarce here in the Land Northward. Wherefore, I shall not take up my stylus and write all the words which He did teach unto us privily.

2But behold, I would exhort you of my posterity that might be guided by the spirit unto the finding of these records – give heed to the words of the Savior. For He did surely prophecy of your day and your doing. Be diligent in seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost. For through you shall the Lord do a great and mighty work.

3And now I proceed with my own account of the visit of the Christ unto the Nem of Corianton.

4For behold, Jesus did spend many days with us in our city, and He did praise in those things wherein we had followed His spirit, and He did chasten us in those things wherein we did follow our own counsel.

5And after He had taught us in every needful thing, He once again caused that I should call all the people together to hear Him. And behold, a greater multitude did gather in the city. And He did rise before the multitude and did

6Blessed are you, Nem. For, you do follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost in all your doings. And blessed shall you ever be, so long as you do this. For, how can you err, seeing that you are led continually by the Spirit. Wherefore, continue in this and you shall always have peace.

7Be merciful, be benevolent, seek not riches, but heap to yourselves treasures in heaven. Seek not to have dominion over others, but be filled with love and charity toward all people. Do not look upon yourselves as more fair, or more blessed than your neighbor, but seek always for your neighbor’s good. Lift up the hands that hang down, and comfort the widow and the fatherless, for this is true religion. Yea, love your neighbor as your own self. In other words, see your neighbor as he really is in relation to yourselves. For which of your neighbors is made of different stuff than I did make of you? Are you not all relations? Wherefore, love your neighbor as yourself in all things and it will be well both for you and your neighbor alike.

8Do not judge one another but in righteousness. And when you judge one another, let it be in love and in a sacred manner, looking only for the benefit and profit of him whom you must judge. And when you judge, see to it that he whom you have judged is edified. In this shall you edify yourselves also.

9But seek not judgment unto yourselves for worthiness. Go not unto your leaders to seek judgment of them. Come unto me and you shall be justified, for, there is not one among you, nor even among they unto whom I have given authority in any measure, who is mighty to save. Wherefore, how may they judge your worthiness? Declare unto me your intentions and seek me in all humility. This is judgment enough. For, if you seek my face, I shall not forsake you. And if, finding me upon the Way, how may any judge your intentions? For behold, I am the Way. Any who go into that holy place is justified in me.

10Behold, you whom I call to be my servants and unto whom I do give a portion of my authority, do not contrive to think to ascribe unto yourselves that measure of perfection necessary to make judgment of the worthiness of another. You may, by my authority judge actions or works, but never the man or the woman. I am He unto whom the Father has given all judgment. Wherefore, I give unto some the power to judge the works of men, but never the power to judge the man. Keep this saying in your hearts and you will do well.

11For, anything more than this comes of evil. Yea, anything more than this is compulsion. Behold, I will at times compel my saints to be humble, but you have not this right, nor this power. In the moment you take it up, you do sell your people into slavery.

12Now listen to my voice all you who would call yourselves mine, Zion cannot be established in any form of slavery. Yea, and when men do seek to compel, or in other words enslave, their fellowman, I am grieved in the Spirit. Yea, and the Holy Ghost withdraws. And when the Holy Ghost withdraws, the heavens are sealed. In this darkened state, you cannot seek my face nor be instructed of me. Wherefore, you must turn unto your leaders to determine your worthiness. But howbeit if your leaders are also in this state of darkness? How may you be justified?

13Wherefore, seek not to place yourselves higher than your neighbor. And if your calling seem to give you power over your neighbor, then behold, you have not understood your calling. And if your occupation seems to enlarge your station over that of your neighbor, behold, let this be a sign unto you that you have fallen into pride, not understanding the abundance wherewith I do bless the saints, nor the purpose for which I have so blessed you. Take of your abundance and enlarge the station and condition of your neighbor. Then shall you establish Zion in your own heart, and I shall surely reward you abundantly in my kingdom.

14And behold, if any people come up into your land and try to overcome the peace by evil means, take the matter up in your councils. And if the Holy Ghost constrains you to defend yourselves so as to preserve the peace of the land, then you shall take up your sword and defend yourselves. But you shall only do this after you have sued unto them for peace. For how know you that they do act as they do only out of ignorance of the gospel of peace.

15Wherefore, you shall do as my servants in Mentina have done. First preach my word unto your enemies. And if they embrace not my gospel, then pray for them and sue for peace. If they give peace, then you shall live peaceably with them. But if they reject my gospel and also to live in peace, and the Holy Ghost constrain you, you shall take up your sword and drive them from your land.

16But behold, you shall never take up your sword to destroy your enemy. For, howbeit he may some day repent. Or it may be that his children may repent. And how can you know the hearts of men? Wherefore, if you take up your sword to destroy your enemy, you may take away from me many who might some day be my own. Do not become my enemy!

17I see into the hearts of men. Yea, all things lay open before me. And behold, if I deem it necessary to destroy a people, I shall do it! But you can never have this power, for you know not the end from the beginning. Wherefore, I say again unto you, even should the Holy Ghost move you to war, seek not the destruction of your enemy. And when you have prevailed, and it becomes obvious that you shall prevail, cease the work of death and sue for peace. Yea, and take unto yourselves all those who would make peace with you, even if they have come unto you to make war in the first place.

18And behold, if your neighbor makes war upon you and you are constrained by the Spirit to defend yourselves, and you do not prevail, sue speedily for peace. Even if you become enslaved, you shall be more able to move the hearts of your enemies to the love of God if you are living. But if you are destroyed, how may God use you as an instrument for the conversion of your enemy? In all things seek the guidance of the Spirit and seek not to move the nations of men. For you know not the ways of God, nor His great plan for the nations of men. Wherefore, be a good neighbor to all men and be led by the Spirit in all things.

19Now, I go unto all the people left in the land to preach unto them also my gospel and to establish Zion among them. And behold, the face of this fair land shall be covered with the righteous for many generations. Wherefore, make friends of all those who would come unto you in this good time and rejoice in the righteousness of the Lord. For they also shall have all things in common and shall work righteousness. Wherefore, be not too isolated from the nations that I shall raise up among the people of this land.

20Walk righteously and follow me. Seek always the good of others and serve them. Love one another. Sustain and support each other. See to my work and hold to that truth which I have given you through the scriptures, the words of my anointed and through the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Most of all, my little flock, come unto me. Seek my face. Seek and you shall find me. Ask and you shall receive abundantly all that I see that you are in need of. Knock and I shall open the Way unto you. Amen.

21Now, when Jesus had said these words, behold, He was surrounded with a pillar of light and of smoke, and He was taken up from among us. And the heavens resounded with great songs of praise as it were from a great multitude of angels singing together. And many who heard them raised their voices also and joined the throng. And others clapped their hands together for joy. And so great was the sound that our hearts continued filled with it for many days.

22And so filled were our hearts with the things the Lord had taught us that we did have to screw ourselves up even to do the necessary things to make our livings. For, we were filled to brimming with the great and marvelous thing that had taken place. For, even though Jesus was taken up into heaven and we saw not His Person among us, we were filled with the Holy Ghost and we did seek the Lord upon that Way which He had provided for us. And behold, it was unto us as if He had not left us.