More Repentance in the Book of Mormon

Continuing what I wrote about yesterday, the theme of repentance in the Book of Mormon is just as prevalent after 1 and 2 Nephi.  Amulek taught that the purpose of our life essentially is repentance as we prepare to return to God: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.  And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end.”  Repentance is what this life is for, and the prophets of the Book of Mormon sought over and over again to get the people of their day to repent. 

               It’s hard to think of a prophet who did not teach repentance in the Book of Mormon.  Jacob fought against the pride and immorality of his people, telling them that they were “filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes” (Jacob 3:3).  King Benjamin taught his people of what is really important in life and the need for repentance: “And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10).  Abinadi’s message was all about repentance as he told them these words of the Lord: “And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth” (Mosiah 12:8).  Alma who listened to Abinadi and then repented himself, taught his subsequent followers “repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord” (Mosiah 18:7).  His son Alma learned about repentance when he was visited by the angel, and he did wade “though much tribulation, repenting night unto death” after the experience (Mosiah 27:28).  He then taught repentance over and over again, teaching the people of Zarahemla (Alma 5), Gideon (Alma 6), Ammonihah (8-14), and Antionum (32-24) all that repentance was necessary.  His life was so enveloped in teaching repentance that it was the only thing he wanted when he died: “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (Alma 29:1)  Nephi and Lehi taught the Lamanites of their day to repent, and their message was so powerful that a voice was heaven accompanied them saying, “Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings” (Helaman 5:29).  Samuel the Lamanite came among the Nephites with a message of repentance to them: “Heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Helaman 13:6).  When the Savior came among the people His message was no different: “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13)  Mormon too tried to call his people to repentance.  He wrote, “And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared” (Mormon 3:2).

               That’s just a small sampling—over and over the prophets invited the people to repent, taught the people to repent, and even pleaded with the people to repent.  Indeed as Brother Nibley said, “repentance is the main message of the Book of Mormon.”  And if one of those Nephite prophets came to our day and observed our actions, surely they would have only one real message for us: Repent.