RCE Verse Context

16 The forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges ended.

17 And it came to pass that there was still great contentions in the land, Yea, even in the forty and seventh year, And also in the forty and eighth year.

18 Nevertheless, Helaman did fill the judgment seat with justice and equity; Yea, he did observe to keep the statutes and the judgments and the commandments of God; And he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; And he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.

19 And it came to pass that he had two sons - He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest the name of Lehi; And they began to grow up unto the Lord.

20 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree, among the people of the Nephites, In the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

21 And it came to pass in the forty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace established in the land - All, save it were the secret combinations which Gaddianton the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land, Which at that time were not known unto those which were at the head of government; Therefore, they were not destroyed out of the land.

22 And it came to pass that in this same year, there was exceeding great prosperity in the church, Insomuch that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance;

23 And so great was the prosperity of the church, And so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, That even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

24 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper, unto the baptizing and the uniting to the church of God many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.

25 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon His holy name. Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, which is the Son of God.

26 Yea, we see that whosoever will lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, Which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, And lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked, And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, To sit down with Abraham and Isaac and with Jacob and with all our holy fathers to go no more out.