AlmaChapter32

And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

Alma and those with him went out and began preaching the word of God to the people, going into their synagogues and houses; they even preached the word in their streets.

And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—

After much work among them, they began having success among the poor class of people because these had been driven out of the synagogues for the coarseness of their clothing.

Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.

So they weren't allowed into the synagogues to worship God, because they were regarded as filth. They were poor; their brothers regarded them as worthless. They were poor as to the things of the world, and they were poor in heart as well.

Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.

Now, while Alma was teaching and speaking to the people on the hill Onidah, a large crowd came to him. These were the ones we've been talking about, the ones who were poor in heart because of their poverty as to the things of the world.

And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?

They came to Alma, and the one who was their leader said to him, "What should these brothers of mine do? Everyone despises them because of their poverty, and our priests most of all. They've driven us out of the synagogues we worked so hard to build with our own hands. They've driven us out because we're so poor, and we have no place to worship our God. What should we do?"

And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

When Alma heard this, he turned around and faced him directly. He looked on them with great joy because he saw that their hard times had truly humbled them and that they were ready to hear the word.

Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:

So he said no more to the other crowd. He stretched out his hand, called to those he saw were truly repentant, and said to them:

I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.

I see that you are humble in heart; and if that is so, you are blessed.

Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.

Your brother has said, "What should we do? We have been driven out of our synagogues, so that we cannot worship our God."

Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

I say to you: do you think that you cannot worship God anywhere except in your synagogues?

Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?

And I would ask: do you think that you must worship God only once a week?

I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

I say to you, it is good that you are driven out of your synagogues, so that you may be humble and so that you may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that you learn wisdom. It is because you are driven out and despised by your brothers because of your extreme poverty, that you are brought to humility of heart; for you are necessarily brought to be humble.

And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

And now, because you are compelled to be humble, you are blessed; for a person who is compelled to be humble sometimes seeks repentance. And surely, whoever repents will find mercy; and whoever finds mercy and endures to the end will be saved.

And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

Now, as I said to you, you were blessed because you were compelled to be humble. Do you not think that those who truly humble themselves because of the word are even more blessed?

Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

Whoever truly humbles himself, repents of his sins, and endures to the end will be blessed, much more blessed than those who are compelled to be humble because of their extreme poverty.

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

So blessed are those who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble. Or in other words, blessed are those who believe in the word of God and are baptized without stubbornness of heart, without having to be brought to know the word, or even compelled to know it, before they will believe.

Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

There are many who say, "If you will show us a sign from heaven, then we will know for certain; then we will believe."

Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.

Now I ask, is this faith? I say to you, No; for if a person knows a thing, he has no reason to believe it, for he knows it.

And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?

And now, how much more cursed is the one who knows the will of God and does not do it, than the one who only believes, or only has reason to believe, and falls into sin?

Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.

Now you must judge this for yourselves. I say to you that it is on the one hand just as it is on the other, and each one will receive according to his own work.

And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

And now, as I said about faith: faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things. So if you have faith, you hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

And now I say to you, and I want you to remember, that God is merciful to all who believe on his name. So first of all he wants you to believe, indeed to believe on his word.

And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned.

And now, he gives his word by angels to people, and not only to men but to women also. And this is not all: many times little children are given words that confound the wise and the learned.

And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—

And now, my beloved brothers, you have wanted to know from me what you should do, because you are afflicted and driven out. But I do not want you to think that I mean to judge you only by what is true.

For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.

For I do not mean that all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; I truly believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, whatever their circumstances might be.

Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

Now, as I said about faith, that it was not a perfect knowledge, so it is with my words. You cannot know their certainty at first, not perfectly, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

But if you will awake and rouse your faculties, even to an experiment on my words, and exercise a particle of faith — indeed, even if you can do no more than desire to believe — let this desire work in you, until you believe in a way that you can give place for a portion of my words.

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Now, we will compare the word to a seed. If you give place, so that a seed may be planted in your heart, and if it is a true seed, or a good seed, and you do not cast it out by your unbelief, resisting the Spirit of the Lord, then it will begin to swell inside you. And when you feel these swelling motions, you will begin to say within yourselves: "This must be a good seed, or the word is good, because it begins to enlarge my soul. It begins to enlighten my understanding. It begins to be delicious to me."

Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

Now, would this not increase your faith? I say to you, Yes. Even so, it has not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

But as the seed swells, sprouts, and begins to grow, then you must say that the seed is good; for it swells, sprouts, and begins to grow. And will this not strengthen your faith? Yes, it will strengthen your faith, for you will say, "I know that this is a good seed, because it sprouts and begins to grow."

And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

And now, are you sure that this is a good seed? I say to you, Yes; for every seed brings forth after its own likeness.

Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

So if a seed grows, it is good; but if it does not grow, it is not good, and it is thrown away.

And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

And now, because you have tried the experiment and planted the seed, and it swells, sprouts, and begins to grow, you must know that the seed is good.

And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

And now, is your knowledge perfect? Yes, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant. And this is because you know: you know that the word has swelled your souls, and you also know that it has sprouted up, that your understanding begins to be enlightened, and your mind begins to expand.

O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

O then, is this not real? I say to you, Yes, because it is light; and whatever is light is good, because it is discernible. So you must know that it is good. And now, after you have tasted this light, is your knowledge perfect?

Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

I say to you, No; and you must not lay aside your faith, for you have only exercised your faith to plant the seed, so that you might try the experiment to know whether the seed was good.

And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

And as the tree begins to grow, you will say, "Let us nourish it with great care, so that it may take root, grow up, and bring forth fruit for us." And if you nourish it with much care, it will take root, grow up, and bring forth fruit.

But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

But if you neglect the tree and take no thought for its nourishment, it will not take root; and when the heat of the sun comes and scorches it, it withers away because it has no root, and you pull it up and cast it out.

Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

Now, this is not because the seed was not good, nor because its fruit would not be desirable; it is because your ground is barren, and you will not nourish the tree. So you cannot have its fruit.

And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

And so, if you will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to its fruit, you can never pluck the fruit of the tree of life.

But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

But if you will nourish the word — nourish the tree as it begins to grow, by your faith, with great diligence and patience, looking forward to its fruit — it will take root; and it will be a tree springing up to everlasting life.

And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

And because of your diligence, faith, and patience with the word in nourishing it, so that it may take root in you, in time you will pluck its fruit, which is most precious, which is sweeter than anything sweet, whiter than anything white, and purer than anything pure. And you will feast on this fruit until you are filled, so that you will neither hunger nor thirst.

Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Then, my brothers, you will reap the rewards of your faith, diligence, patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit for you.