# Mormon 5

*Paraphrase*

### Mormon Returns to Lead

I went back to the Nephites and broke the oath I’d made never to help them again. They gave me command of their armies once more—they looked to me as if I could somehow save them from what was coming. But I had no hope. I knew the judgments of the Lord were coming for them. They wouldn’t turn from their sins. They fought desperately for their lives, but they never called on the God who made them.

The Lamanites came after us as we fled to the city of Jordan. We managed to hold them off—they couldn’t take the city that time. They came at us again, and we held the city. There were other cities the Nephites held too—strongholds that blocked the Lamanites from pushing deeper into our territory and wiping out our people. But every piece of land we’d passed through, where people hadn’t gathered to safety, was destroyed by the Lamanites. They burned the towns, the villages, the cities. And so the year 379 ended.

In the year 380, the Lamanites attacked us again. We stood our ground, but it was useless. Their numbers were so overwhelming they trampled the Nephites underfoot. So we ran again. The ones who could run faster than the Lamanites escaped. The ones who couldn’t were overtaken and killed.

### Writing for the Future

I don’t want to burden you with the horror I saw—the terrible scenes of blood and slaughter. But I know these things have to be told. Everything hidden will one day be shouted from the rooftops. The survivors of this people need to know what happened here. So do the Gentiles, who the Lord said would scatter this people and treat them as nothing. That’s why I’m writing this short account. I won’t give you everything I’ve seen—partly because I’ve been commanded not to, and partly to spare you the full weight of grief over how wicked these people became.

I’m speaking now to their descendants, and to the Gentiles who care about the house of Israel—those who understand where their blessings come from. I know people like that will grieve over the tragedy that fell on Israel. They’ll mourn the destruction of this people. They’ll ache knowing these people refused to turn back—that they could have been held in the arms of Jesus.

This record is written for the remnant of the house of Jacob. It’s written this way because God knows that wickedness won’t bring these things to light. They’ll stay hidden until the Lord is ready to reveal them in his own time. That’s the command I’ve been given. These words will come forth when the Lord decides, in his wisdom.

### A Message to Jews and Gentiles

They’ll go to the Jews who don’t yet believe. That’s the whole point—to persuade them that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Through his beloved Son, the Father will fulfill his great and eternal purpose: bringing the Jews—all the house of Israel—back to the land he promised them, keeping his covenant. And this record will help the descendants of my people believe the gospel more fully, when it comes to them through the Gentiles. Because this people will be scattered. They’ll become dark, degraded, despised—worse than anything we’ve ever seen, even worse than the Lamanites. All because of their unbelief and idolatry.

The Spirit of the Lord has already stopped striving with their fathers. Now they’re without Christ and without God, drifting through the world like dust in the wind. They were once a joyful people. Christ was their shepherd. God the Father himself led them. But now Satan leads them, the way wind drives dust or waves toss a ship with no sail, no anchor, no way to steer. That’s exactly what they’ve become.

The Lord has given the blessings they could have had to the Gentiles who will possess this land. They’ll be driven out and scattered by the Gentiles. But after that happens, the Lord will remember the covenant he made with Abraham and all the house of Israel. And the Lord will remember the prayers that righteous people have offered up for them.

### A Warning to the Gentiles

So listen, you Gentiles—how will you stand before the power of God unless you turn from your evil ways? Don’t you know you’re in God’s hands? Don’t you know he has all power, and at his command the earth will roll up like a scroll? Turn back. Humble yourselves before him, or he’ll come against you in justice. A remnant of Jacob’s descendants will move among you like a lion tearing its prey to pieces, and no one will be able to save you.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/mormon/5)*
