Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Mormon/Chapter 5

by Timothy B. Wilson

Covenants remembered through this book...
(compare Mormon, chapter 5)

Then I went among the Nephites, breaking the oath I had made to no longer help them. They again gave me command of their armies and looked to me as if I could deliver them from their afflictions. But I had no hope for them, knowing that the Lord's judgments were upon them. They would not repent, but struggled for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them.

The Lamanites attacked us in the city of Jordan, but we drove them back. They came again, and we again held them off. Other cities were also maintained by the Nephites. These strongholds cut the Lamanites off from the northern lands, preventing them from destroying our people in the north.

By the end of 379 AD the Lamanites had killed all the Nephites who had not gathered into the strongholds and had burned their towns, villages and cities.

In 380 AD the Lamanites attacked us again, and we stood against them boldly. But it was all in vain, for they were so numerous they tread down the Nephites. We ran again before the Lamanites. Those who could run faster than the Lamanites escaped, and those who could not were caught and killed.

And now, I, Mormon, do not want to horrify you by describing this awful scene of blood and carnage before me, but I know this history must be made known. I also know that all things hidden must be made known to all people.

I know that the descendants of this people (Native North, Central and South Americans, and Polynesians), and the Gentiles, who will scatter them and consider them to be worthless, will have this history. Knowing this, I write this limited account of what I have seen.

I will not make a full account because I have been commanded not to, and also because I don't want you to sorrow too much over this people's wickedness.

I write to their descendants, and also to the Gentiles who care for the house of Israel, who realize and know from where their blessings come. They will sorrow over the destruction of this people, wishing they had repented and had been held in the arms of Jesus.

These records are written to Israel's descendants, for God knows my people, who are wicked, cannot preserve these records. This is why I have been commanded to hide them unto the Lord. And I know they will all come forth in His own due time.

This record will go to the unbelieving Jews to persuade them that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God -- that through His most Beloved Son, the Father may bring about His great, eternal purposes, and fulfill His covenant to restore the Jews, and all of the house of Israel, to the lands He has given them as an inheritance.

This record will also help my people's descendants to more fully believe His gospel, which will come to them from the Gentiles (Joseph Smith, Jr. and others of European descent, were "Gentiles").

Before this, my people's descendants will be scattered by the Gentiles. They will have become a dark, filthy and loathsome people, more than any who have lived among us, or among the Lamanites. This condition will be the result of their unbelief and idolatry.

The Lord’s Spirit has already left this people. They are without Christ and God in this world, and they are driven about like chaff in the wind.

Once they were a delightful people with Christ as their shepherd, and they were led by God the Father. But now they are led by Satan, like a ship being tossed on the waves without sail, anchor or rudder.

The Lord will give their blessings to the Gentiles, who will possess this land. After the Gentiles have scattered my people's descendants, the Lord will remember the covenant He made with Abraham, and with all the house of Israel. He will also remember the prayers of the righteous, who have prayed for their descendants.

And then, oh you Gentiles (including LDS Gentiles, from where the gospel will come), how can you stand before God's power without repenting of your evil ways? Don't you know that you are in God's hands--that He has all power, and at His great command the earth will be rolled together like a scroll?

Therefore, repent and humble yourselves before Him. Otherwise, He will come out in justice against you, and a remnant of Jacob's descendants will go in among you, like a lion, and tear you to pieces, and no one will deliver you.

Note: This analogy of being "torn into pieces by a lion, with none to deliver" originates with David referring to his soul in (Psalms 7:2), The analogy appears again 300 years later, used by Micah, who prophesied of the last days...

“And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people...as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who... teareth in pieces, and none can deliver (Micah 5:8).

Over 700 years after Micah's day, the resurrected Savior told the Nephites His warnings to the Gentiles of the last days...

“And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them....as a young lion among the flocks of sheep who...teareth in pieces, and none can deliver (3 Nephi 20:15-18).

This was actually the Savior's second warning to the Gentiles. His first was about Gentiles being "trodden down" if they did not repent after sinning against the gospel, after rejecting its fullness because of pride (3 Nephi 16:10-15). The Savior warned the Gentiles a third time, again using the "lion" analogy (3 Nephi 21:12).

Having read these warnings given by the Savior, engraved 350 years prior to the destruction of his own people, and experiencing first hand the Lamanites going in and tearing his people to pieces like a lion, with none to deliver, it's no wonder that Mormon again warned latter-day Gentiles to repent, using this powerful, graphic analogy (Mormon 5:22-24).