The Voice from Heaven
Then a voice came—one that every person across the land could hear.
'Disaster is coming for this people—for everyone on earth—unless you turn back to me. The Devil is laughing, and his angels are celebrating the deaths of my people, beautiful sons and daughters, all because of your wickedness and your corrupt ways.'
Cities Destroyed for Wickedness
'I burned Zarahemla—that great city—and everyone in it.'
'I sank the great city of Moroni into the ocean depths and drowned everyone who lived there.'
'I buried Moronihah—that great city—under earth, along with all its people, to hide their wickedness and corruption from my sight, so that the blood of the prophets and the faithful would no longer cry out to me against them.'
'I sank the city of Gilgal, burying its people deep in the earth.'
'And the cities of Onihah, Mocum, and Jerusalem—I brought water up over them all, to hide their evil and corruption from my sight, so that the blood of the prophets and the faithful would no longer cry out to me against them.'
'The cities of Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob, and Gimgimno—I sank them all. Where they once stood, I made hills and valleys. I buried their people in the depths of the earth to hide their wickedness and corruption from my sight, so that the blood of the prophets and the faithful would no longer cry out to me against them.'
'And Jacobugath—that great city where King Jacob’s people lived—I burned it with fire because of their sins and wickedness, which surpassed all the evil on earth. Their secret murders and conspiracies destroyed the peace of my people and tore down the government. So I burned them to ash, to wipe them from my sight, so that the blood of the prophets and the faithful would no longer cry out to me against them.'
'The cities of Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen—I burned them all with fire, along with their people, because of their wickedness in driving out the prophets I sent to warn them about their evil and corruption. They stoned the messengers I sent.'
'They drove out every last righteous person. Not one good person remained. So I sent fire down and destroyed them all, to hide their wickedness and corruption from my sight, so that the blood of the prophets and the faithful I sent to them would not cry out to me from the ground.'
'I have brought many great disasters upon this land and this people because of their wickedness and corruption.'
An Invitation to Come Back
'But you who survived—you who were more righteous than they were—won’t you come back to me now? Turn away from your sins and change your hearts so I can heal you.'
'Listen closely—if you come to me, you’ll have eternal life. My arms are wide open, ready to show you mercy. Whoever wants to come, I will welcome. Blessed are those who come to me.'
I Am Jesus Christ
'I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. In me, the Father has revealed his glory.'
'I came to my own people, but they didn’t accept me. The scriptures about my coming have been fulfilled.'
'To everyone who has received me, I’ve given the right to become children of God. And I’ll do the same for everyone who believes in me. Through me comes redemption. In me, the law of Moses is fulfilled.'
'I am the light and the life of the world. I am the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end.'
A New Kind of Sacrifice
'Don’t offer me blood sacrifices anymore. Your burnt offerings are finished. I won’t accept them.'
'What I want from you is a broken heart and a humble spirit. If you come to me with a broken heart and a humble spirit, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Spirit—just as I did for the Lamanites when they believed in me. They were baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit, though they didn’t realize it at the time.'
'I came into the world to bring redemption—to save the world from sin.'
'So if you turn from your sins and come to me with childlike trust, I will receive you. The kingdom of God belongs to people like that. For them, I gave my life and took it up again. Turn back to me, all you people everywhere, and be saved.'
Influences
- 9:1 — Matthew 2:18 (KJV)In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
- 9:5 — Matthew 23:30 (KJV)And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
- 9:9 — Luke 1:77 (KJV)To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- 9:13 — John 12:40 (KJV)He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
- 9:14 — Matthew 19:16 (KJV)And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
- 9:14 — Mark 8:34 (KJV)And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- 9:14 — Luke 12:38 (KJV)And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
- 9:15 — Acts 22:8 (KJV)And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
- 9:15 — John 14:11 (KJV)Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
- 9:15 — 1 John 1:2 (KJV)(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
- 9:15 — 1 John 2:23 (KJV)Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
- 9:17 — John 1:12 (KJV)But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- 9:17 — John 1:12 (KJV)But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- 9:18 — John 8:12 (KJV)Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- 9:18 — Revelation 22:13 (KJV)I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
- 9:19 — 1 Corinthians 13:10 (KJV)But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
- 9:20 — John 6:45 (KJV)It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
- 9:20 — John 1:26 (KJV)John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
- 9:20 — Matthew 3:11 (KJV)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- 9:21 — John 12:47 (KJV)And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
- 9:22 — Luke 18:17 (KJV)Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
- 9:22 — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- 9:22 — Luke 8:12 (KJV)Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.