Helaman 15
1 And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye
shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate.
2 Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in the
day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there shall be no
place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for they shall
be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be
left to perish.
3 Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they
shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be
showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord;
yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea,
in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them.
4 But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated because their deeds
have been evil continually, and this because of the iniquity of the tradition of
their fathers. But behold, salvation hath come unto them through the
preaching of the Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged their
days.
5 And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the
path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do
observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments
according to the law of Moses.
6 Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and they
are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of
their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who
do add to their numbers daily.
7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as
many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of
the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe
the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are
written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which
faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them —
8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm
and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made
free.
9 And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they
fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that
they fear to sin — for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden
down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them,
and this because of their faith in Christ.
10 And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that
thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once
enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days,
notwithstanding their iniquity —
11 Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their
days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our fathers, and
also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning the
restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the
truth —
12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have
been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many
afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to
and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and
scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto
them.
13 And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to
the true knowledge, which is knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great
and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.
14 Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you except
ye repent.
15 For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have
been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because
of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never
would again have dwindled in unbelief.
16 Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy them, but I will cause
that in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me, saith the Lord.
17 And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the Nephites:
If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly destroy them,
saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty
works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall
these things be, saith the Lord.