Mosiah 18
1 And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of
king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately
among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi —
2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the
resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be
brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and
his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them
privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many
did believe his words.
4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place
which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in
the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild
beasts.
5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted
thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide
himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his
words.
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered
together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were
gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach
them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the
Lord.
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of
Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into
the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one
another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort
those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all
times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death,
that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first
resurrection, that ye may have eternal life —
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you
against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that
ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his
commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their
hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first,
and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out
thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him,
and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God,
as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are
dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out
upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of
Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried
in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being
filled with the Spirit.
15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the
water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself
again in the water.
16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the
place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four
souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled
with the grace of God.
17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from
that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the
power and authority of God was added to his church.
18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained
priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach
unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the
kingdom of God.
19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the
things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the
holy prophets.
20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it
were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with
another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and
one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one
towards another.
22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the
children of God.
23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and
keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their
God.
24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained
should labor with their own hands for their support.
25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should
gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their
God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves
together.
26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but
for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax
strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with
power and authority from God.
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart
of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more
abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little,
but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.
28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and
good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and
to every needy, naked soul.
29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they
did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and
spiritually according to their needs and their wants.
30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the
waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea,
the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how
beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of
their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his
praise forever.
31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might
not come to the knowledge of the king.
32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement
among the people, sent his servants to watch them. $ Therefore on the day
that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord
they were discovered unto the king.
33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion
against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.
34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised
of the coming of the king's army; therefore they took their tents and their
families and departed into the wilderness.
35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls.