BoM Translation Guide



Mosiah 13

Mosiah 13:1 [LDS 28:20]
[And now,] [as] [I said] [unto you,] [that after] King Mosiah [had done] these things, [he took] [the plates] [of brass,] [and all] [the things] which [he had kept,] [and conferred them] upon Alma, who [was the son] [of Alma;]

Mosiah 13:2 [LDS 28:20]
Yea, all [the records,] [and also] [the interpreters,] [and conferred them] [upon him,] [and commanded him] [that he should keep] [and preserve them,] [and also] keep [a record] [of the people,] [handing them down] [from <one> generation] [to another,] [even as they had been handed down] [from the time] [that Lehi] left Jerusalem.

Mosiah 13:3 [LDS 29:1]
[Now when Mosiah] [had done] this, [he sent out] [through all] [the land,] among all [the people,] desiring [to know] [their will] [concerning who] [should be] [their king.]

Mosiah 13:4 [LDS 29:2]
[And it came to pass] [that the voice] [of the people] came, saying, [We are desirous] [that Aaron,] [thy son,] [should be] [our king,] [and our ruler.]

Mosiah 13:5 [LDS 29:3]
[Now Aaron] [had gone up] to [the land] [of Nephi,] [therefore the king] could not confer [the kingdom] [upon him;] neither [would Aaron] take [upon him] [the kingdom;]

Mosiah 13:6 [LDS 29:4]
Neither [were any] [of the sons] [of Mosiah] willing [to take] [upon them] [the kingdom,] [therefore King] Mosiah sent again among [the people,] [yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] [a written] word [sent he] among [the people.]

Mosiah 13:7 [LDS 29:5]
[And these] [were the words] [that were written;] saying: Behold, [O ye my people,] [or my brethren,] for [I esteem you] [as such;] for [I desire] [that ye should consider] [the cause] which [ye are called] [to consider;] for [ye are desirous] [to have] [a king.]

Mosiah 13:8 [LDS 29:6]
[Now I declare] [unto you,] that he [to whom] [the kingdom] [doth rightly belong,] [has declined,] [and will <not> take] [upon him] [the kingdom.]

Mosiah 13:9 [LDS 29:7]
[And now] if [there should be] another appointed [in his stead,] behold [I fear] [there would rise] contentions [among you;]

Mosiah 13:10 [LDS 29:7]
[And who] knoweth [but what] [my son,] [to whom] [the kingdom doth belong,] [should turn] [to be angry,] [and draw away] [a part] [of <this> people] [after him,] which [would cause] wars [and contentions] [among you;] which [would be the cause of shedding] much blood, [and perverting] [the way] [of the Lord;] yea, [and destroy] [the souls] [of <many> people.]

Mosiah 13:11 [LDS 29:8]
[Now I say] [unto you,] [Let us be wise] [and consider] these things, for [we have <no> right] [to destroy] [my son,] neither [should we have any] right [to destroy] another, if [he should be appointed] [in his stead.]

Mosiah 13:12 [LDS 29:9]
[And if] [my son] [should turn again] [to his pride] [and vain] things, [he would recall] [the things] which [he had said,] [and claim] [his right] [to the kingdom,] which [would cause him] [and also] this people [to commit] much sin.

Mosiah 13:13 [LDS 29:10]
[And now] [let us be wise] [and look] forward [to <these> things,] [and do] [that which] [will make] [for the peace] [of <this> people.]

Mosiah 13:14 [LDS 29:11]
Therefore [I will be] [your king] [the remainder] [of my days;]

Mosiah 13:15 [LDS 29:11]
[Nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} let us appoint] judges, [to judge] this people [according to our law,] [and we will <newly> arrange] [the affairs] [of <this> people,] for [we will appoint] [wise men] [to be judges,] [that will judge] this people [according to the commandments] [of God.]

Mosiah 13:16 [LDS 29:12]
Now [it is better] that [a man] [should be judged] [of God] [than of man,] for [the judgments] [of God] [are always] just, [but the judgments] [of man] [are <not> <always> just;]

Mosiah 13:17 [LDS 29:13]
[Therefore,{incorrect punctuation} if] [it were possible] that [ye could have] just men [to be] [your kings,] who [would establish] [the laws] [of God,] [and judge] this people [according to his commandments;] yea, if [ye could have] men [for your kings,] who [would do] [even as my father] Benjamin did [for <this> people,] [I say] [unto you,] If this [could <always> be] [the case,] [then it would be expedient] [that ye should <always> <have> kings] [to rule] [over you.]

Mosiah 13:18 [LDS 29:14]
[And even] [I myself] [have labored] with all [the power] [and faculties] which [I have possessed,] [to teach you] [the commandments] [of God,] [and to establish] peace [throughout the land,]

Mosiah 13:19 [LDS 29:14]
[That there should be] no wars [nor contentions,] no stealing, nor plundering, nor murdering, nor [any manner] [of iniquity;]

Mosiah 13:20 [LDS 29:15]
[And whosoever] [has committed iniquity,] him [have I punished] [according to the crime] which [he has committed,] [according to the law] which [has been given] [to us] [by our fathers.]

Mosiah 13:21 [LDS 29:16]
[Now I say] [unto you,] [that because] all men [are <not> just,] [it is <not> expedient] [that ye should have] [a king] [or kings] [to rule] [over you.]

Mosiah 13:22 [LDS 29:17]
For behold, how much iniquity [[doth <one> <wicked> <king> cause to be committed! ]] yea, [and what <great> destruction!]

Mosiah 13:23 [LDS 29:18]
Yea, remember King Noah, [his wickedness] [and his abominations;] [and also] [the wickedness] [and abominations] [of his people.]

Mosiah 13:24 [LDS 29:18]
Behold [what <great> destruction] [did come] [upon them;] [and also] [because of their iniquities,] [they were brought] [into bondage.]

Mosiah 13:25 [LDS 29:19] [Note]
[And were it not] [for the interposition] [of their all-wise] Creator, [and this] because [of their <sincere> repentance,] [they must <unavoidably> have remained] [in bondage] until now.

Mosiah 13:26 [LDS 29:20]
[But behold,] [he did deliver them] because [they did humble themselves] [before him;] [and because] [they cried] mightily [unto him,] [he did deliver them] [out of bondage;]

Mosiah 13:27 [LDS 29:20]
[And thus] [doth the Lord] work [with his power] [in all] cases [among the children] [of men,] extending [the arm] [of mercy] [towards them] [that put their trust] [in him.]

Mosiah 13:28 [LDS 29:21]
[And behold,] now [I say] [unto you,] [Ye can <not> dethrone] [an <iniquitous> king,] save [it be through much] contention, [and the shedding] [of <much> blood.]

Mosiah 13:29 [LDS 29:22]
For behold, he has [his friends] [in iniquity,] [and he keepeth] [his guards] [about him;] [and he teareth up] [the laws] [of those who have reigned] [in righteousness] [before him:] [and he trampleth under his feet] [the commandments] [of God;]

Mosiah 13:30 [LDS 29:23]
[And he enacteth] laws, [and sendeth them forth] among [his people;] yea, laws [after the manner] [of his own wickedness;] [and whosoever] [doth <not> obey] [his laws;] [he causeth to be destroyed;]

Mosiah 13:31 [LDS 29:23]
[And whosoever] [doth rebel] [against him,] [he will send] [his armies] [against them] [to war,] [and if] [he can,] [he will destroy them;]

Mosiah 13:32 [LDS 29:23]
[And thus] [an <unrighteous> king] [doth pervert] [the ways] [of all] righteousness.

Mosiah 13:33 [LDS 29:24]
[And now] behold [I say] [unto you,] [It is <not> expedient] [that such abominations] [should come] [upon you;]

Mosiah 13:34 [LDS 29:25]
[Therefore choose you] [by the voice] [of <this> people,] judges, [that ye may be judged] [according to the laws] which [have been given] you [by our fathers,] which [are correct,] [and which] [were given them] [by the hand] [of the Lord.]

Mosiah 13:35 [LDS 29:26] [Note]
Now [it is <not> <common>] [that the voice] [of the people] desireth anything contrary [to that which] [is right;] [but it is common] [for the lesser part] [of the people] [to desire] [that which] [is <not> right;]

Mosiah 13:36 [LDS 29:26]
[Therefore this] [shall ye observe,] [and make it] [your law] [to do your business] [by the voice] [of the people.]

Mosiah 13:37 [LDS 29:27]
[And if] [the time] comes [that the voice] [of the people] [doth choose] iniquity, then [is the time] [that the judgments] [of God] [will come] [upon you;]

Mosiah 13:38 [LDS 29:27]
Yea, then [is the time] [he will visit] you [with <great> destruction,] [even as he has hitherto] visited this land.

Mosiah 13:39 [LDS 29:28]
[And now] if [ye have judges,] [and they do <not> judge] you [according to the law] which [has been given,] [ye can cause that they may be judged] [of a <higher> judge;]

Mosiah 13:40 [LDS 29:29]
If [your <higher> judges] [do <not> judge] righteous judgments, [ye shall cause that a <small> number] [of your <lower> judges] [should be gathered together,] [and they shall judge] [your <higher> judges,] [according to the voice] [of the people.]

Mosiah 13:41 [LDS 29:30]
[And I] command you [to do] these things [in the fear] [of the Lord;]

Mosiah 13:42 [LDS 29:30]
[And I] command you [to do] these things, [and that ye have] no king: that if these people commit sins [and iniquities,] [they shall be answered] upon [their own heads.]

Mosiah 13:43 [LDS 29:31]
For behold [I say] [unto you,] [The sins] [of <many> people] [have been caused by the iniquities] [of their kings;] [therefore their iniquities] [are answered] upon [the heads] [of their kings.]

Mosiah 13:44 [LDS 29:32] [Note]
[And now] [I desire] [that <this> inequality] [should be] no more [in <this> land,] especially among this [my people;]

Mosiah 13:45 [LDS 29:32]
[But I desire] that this land [be a land] [of liberty,] [and every] man [may enjoy] [his rights] [and privileges] alike, [so long as] [the Lord] [sees fit,] [that we may live] [and inherit] [the land;]

Mosiah 13:46 [LDS 29:32]
[Yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] [as long as] any [of our posterity] remains upon [the face] [of the land.]

Mosiah 13:47 [LDS 29:33]
[And many more] things [[did <King> <Mosiah> write ]] unto them, unfolding [unto them] all [the trials] [and troubles] [of a <righteous> king;]

Mosiah 13:48 [LDS 29:33]
Yea, all [the travails] [of soul] [for their people,] [and also] all [the murmurings] [of the people] [to their king;] [and he explained it] all [unto them.]

Mosiah 13:49 [LDS 29:34]
[And he told them] [that <these> things] [ought <not> to be;] [but that the burden] [should come] upon all [the people,] [that every man] [might bear] [his part.]

Mosiah 13:50 [LDS 29:35]
[And he <also> unfolded] [unto them] all [the disadvantages] [they labored] under, [by having an <unrighteous> king] [to rule] [over them;]

Mosiah 13:51 [LDS 29:36]
Yea, all [his iniquities] [and abominations,] [and all] [the wars,] [and contentions,] [and bloodshed,] [and the stealing,] [and the plundering,] [and the committing of whoredoms,] [and all manner] [of iniquities,] which can not [be enumerated,]

Mosiah 13:52 [LDS 29:36] [Note]
[Telling them] [that <these> things] [ought <not> to be;] that [they were <expressly> repugnant] [to the commandments] [of God.]

Mosiah 13:53 [LDS 29:37]
[And now] [it came to pass,] after King Mosiah [had sent] these [things forth] among [the people,] [they were convinced] [of the truth] [of his words;]

Mosiah 13:54 [LDS 29:38] [Note]
Therefore [they relinquished] [their desires] for [a king,] [and became <exceedingly> anxious] [that every] man [should have] [an equal] chance [throughout all] [the land;]

Mosiah 13:55 [LDS 29:38]
Yea, [and every] man expressed [a willingness] [to answer] for [his own sins.]

Mosiah 13:56 [LDS 29:39]
[Therefore it came to pass] [that they assembled themselves together] [in bodies] [throughout the land,] [to cast] [in their voices] [concerning who] [should be their judges,] [to judge them] [according to the law] which [had been given them;]

Mosiah 13:57 [LDS 29:39]
[And they were <exceedingly> rejoiced,] [because of the liberty] which [had been granted] [unto them.]

Mosiah 13:58 [LDS 29:40]
[And they did wax strong] [in love] [toward Mosiah;] yea, [they did esteem him] [more than] [any other] man:

Mosiah 13:59 [LDS 29:40]
For [they did <not> look upon him] [as a tyrant,] who [was seeking] [for gain,] yea, [for that lucre] which [doth corrupt] [the soul,]

Mosiah 13:60 [LDS 29:40]
For [he had <not> exacted] riches [of them,] neither [had he delighted] [in the shedding] [of blood;] [but he had established] peace [in the land,] [and he had granted] [unto his people] [that they should be delivered] [from all manner] [of bondage;]

Mosiah 13:61 [LDS 29:40]
Therefore [they did esteem him,] yea, exceedingly, beyond measure.

Mosiah 13:62 [LDS 29:41]
[And it came to pass] [that they did appoint] judges [to rule] [over them,] [or to judge them] [according to the law;] [and this] [they did] [throughout all] [the land.]

Mosiah 13:63 [LDS 29:42]
[And it came to pass] [that Alma] [was appointed] [to be] [the <chief> <judge;>{incorrect punctuation} he] being also [the <high> priest;] [his father] [having conferred] [the office] [upon him,] [and had given him the charge] concerning all [the affairs] [of the church.]

Mosiah 13:64 [LDS 29:43]
[And now] [it came to pass] [that Alma] [did walk] [in the ways] [of the Lord,] [and he did keep] [his commandments,] [and he did judge] righteous judgments; [and there was] continual peace [through the land;]

Mosiah 13:65 [LDS 29:44]
[And thus] commenced [the reign] [of the judges] [throughout all] [the land] [of Zarahemla,] among all [the people] who [were called] [the Nephites:] [And Alma] [was the first] [and <chief> judge.]

Mosiah 13:66 [LDS 29:45]
[And now] [it came to pass] [that his father] died, [being eighty] [and two] years old, [having lived] [to fulfill] [the commandments] [of God.]

Mosiah 13:67 [LDS 29:46]
[And it came to pass] [that Mosiah] died also, [in the thirty] [and third] year [of his reign,] [being sixty] [and three] years old, [making in the whole,] five hundred [and nine] years [from the time] Lehi left Jerusalem;

Mosiah 13:68 [LDS 29:47]
[And thus] ended [the reign] [of the kings] over [the people] [of Nephi;] [and thus] ended [the days] [of Alma,] who [was the founder] [of their church.]