Alma

Capítulo 1

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Resumen

Nehor introduce la sacerdocia falsa y mata a Gedeón, lo que lleva a su ejecución; a pesar de las enseñanzas falsas y la persecución, la iglesia permanece humilde, igualitaria y caritativa, lo que resulta en paz y prosperidad.

En el primer año del gobierno de los jueces sobre el pueblo de Nefi, después de la muerte del rey Mosíah—quien había peleado la buena batalla, vivido rectamente ante Dios y no dejó a nadie para gobernar en su lugar—él había establecido leyes que el pueblo aceptó, así que estaban obligados a seguir las leyes que él había hecho.

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Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and they were acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws which he had made.

En el primer año del reinado de Alma como juez principal, llevaron ante él a un hombre para ser juzgado—un hombre de gran tamaño y conocido por su gran fuerza.

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And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength.

Él iba entre la gente, predicando lo que llamaba la palabra de Dios, oponiéndose a la iglesia. Les decía a las personas que todo sacerdote y maestro debía hacerse popular y no debía trabajar con sus manos, sino ser sostenido por el pueblo.

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And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.

También les dijo al pueblo que todos serán salvos en el día final, y que no necesitan tener miedo ni preocuparse, sino que pueden tener confianza y regocijarse, porque el Señor creó a todos y también ha redimido a todos, y al final, todos tendrán vida eterna.

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And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.

Él enseñó estas cosas tanto que muchas personas creyeron en sus palabras—tantas que empezaron a apoyarlo y a darle dinero.

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And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money.

Se llenó de orgullo en su corazón y empezó a vestir ropas muy costosas, e incluso comenzó a establecer una iglesia basada en sus propias enseñanzas.

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And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching.

Mientras iba a predicar a los que creían en su mensaje, se encontró con un hombre que pertenecía a la iglesia de Dios, uno de sus maestros. Este hombre comenzó a discutir con él fuertemente, tratando de desviar al pueblo de la iglesia, pero el maestro se mantuvo firme y lo advirtió con las palabras de Dios.

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And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God.

El nombre del hombre era Gideon, y fue a quien Dios usó para ayudar a liberar al pueblo de Limhi de la esclavitud.

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Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage.

Como Gedeón se le opuso con las palabras de Dios, se enojó con Gedeón, sacó su espada y empezó a atacarlo. Como Gedeón era muy anciano, no pudo defenderse, así que fue muerto a espada.

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Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword.

El hombre que lo mató fue llevado por la gente de la iglesia y presentado ante Alma para ser juzgado por los crímenes que había cometido.

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And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to be judged according to the crimes which he had committed.

Se puso de pie ante Alma y valientemente abogó por sí mismo.

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And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for himself with much boldness.

Pero Alma le dijo: Esta es la primera vez que se ha introducido la sacerdocio falsa entre este pueblo. No solo eres culpable de sacerdocio falsa, sino que has tratado de imponerla por la espada; y si la sacerdocio falsa se impusiera entre este pueblo, los llevaría a su completa destrucción.

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But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction.

Has derramado la sangre de un hombre justo, un hombre que ha hecho mucho bien entre este pueblo; y si te perdonáramos, su sangre caería sobre nosotros para venganza.

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And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance.

Has sido condenado a muerte según la ley que nos dio Mosiah, nuestro último rey, y que fue aceptada por el pueblo. Así que el pueblo debe obedecer la ley.

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Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law.

Lo llevaron—a él, que se llamaba Nehor—y lo condujeron a la cima del cerro Manti. Allí se le hizo, o más bien eligió, confesar ante Dios y ante todos que lo que había enseñado al pueblo iba en contra de la palabra de Dios. Allí sufrió una muerte vergonzosa.

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And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens and the earth, that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious death.

Sin embargo, esto no detuvo que la sacerdocio falsa se extendiera por toda la tierra, porque muchas personas amaban las cosas vanas del mundo. Salían predicando doctrinas falsas, y lo hacían para obtener riquezas y honores.

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Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.

Sin embargo, no se atrevían a mentir si podían ser descubiertos, porque temían a la ley, ya que los mentirosos eran castigados. Así que fingían predicar según sus creencias, y ahora la ley no podía tener poder sobre nadie por sus creencias.

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Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they pretended to preach according to their belief; and now the law could have no power on any man for his belief.

No se atrevían a robar porque temían la ley, ya que quienes lo hacían eran castigados. Tampoco se atrevían a asaltar ni a matar, porque cualquiera que cometía asesinato era castigado con la muerte.

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And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that murdered was punished unto death.

Cualquiera que no pertenecía a la iglesia de Dios comenzó a perseguir a aquellos que sí pertenecían a la iglesia de Dios y que habían tomado sobre sí el nombre de Cristo.

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But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.

Los persiguieron y los atacaron con toda clase de palabras por su humildad, porque no eran orgullosos ante sus propios ojos y porque compartían la palabra de Dios entre ellos libremente, sin cobrar nada.

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Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.

Había una ley estricta entre el pueblo de la iglesia que nadie que perteneciera a la iglesia debía perseguir a los que no pertenecían a la iglesia, y que no debía haber persecución entre ellos mismos.

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Now there was a strict law among the people of the church that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves.

Sin embargo, muchos de ellos empezaron a llenarse de orgullo y discutían acaloradamente con sus oponentes, llegando incluso a pelear; se golpeaban unos a otros con los puños.

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Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists.

Esto sucedió en el segundo año del reinado de Alma, y causó mucho sufrimiento y dificultad para la iglesia.

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Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church.

Muchos endurecieron sus corazones, y sus nombres fueron borrados para que ya no fueran recordados entre el pueblo de Dios. Muchos otros también eligieron apartarse de ellos.

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For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them.

Esto fue una gran prueba para aquellos que permanecieron firmes en la fe; aun así, fueron constantes e inquebrantables en guardar los mandamientos de Dios, y soportaron con paciencia la persecución que se dirigía contra ellos.

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Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.

Cuando los sacerdotes dejaban su trabajo para compartir la palabra de Dios con el pueblo, el pueblo también dejaba su trabajo para escuchar. Después de que el sacerdote les compartía la palabra de Dios, todos regresaban diligentemente a su propio trabajo. El sacerdote no pensaba que era mejor que los que escuchaban, porque el predicador no era mejor que el oyente, y el maestro no era mejor que el aprendiz. Todos eran iguales, y cada uno trabajaba según su propia capacidad.

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And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.

Compartían lo que tenían con los pobres, los necesitados, los enfermos y los afligidos, cada uno dando según lo que poseía. No vestían ropa costosa, pero eran limpios y presentables.

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And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.

De esta manera organizaron los asuntos de la iglesia, y empezaron a tener paz continua otra vez, a pesar de todas sus persecuciones.

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And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions.

Porque la iglesia era tan firme, llegaron a ser sumamente ricos, teniendo más que suficiente de todo lo que necesitaban: abundancia de rebaños y ganados, animales gordos de toda clase, gran cantidad de grano, oro, plata, cosas preciosas, seda, lino fino y bien tejido, y toda clase de telas buenas y útiles.

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And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.

En su prosperidad, no rechazaban a nadie que estuviera desnudo, hambriento, sediento, enfermo o que necesitara cuidado; y no ponían su corazón en las riquezas. Eran generosos con todos—ancianos y jóvenes, esclavos y libres, hombres y mujeres, tanto los que estaban fuera de la iglesia como los que estaban dentro—tratando por igual a todos los que tenían necesidad.

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And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Así prosperaron y llegaron a ser mucho más ricos que aquellos que no eran parte de su iglesia.

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And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.

Los que no pertenecían a su iglesia se entregaban a la hechicería, la idolatría o la ociosidad, la palabrería, la envidia y las contiendas; vestían ropa costosa, eran orgullosos, perseguían a otros, mentían, robaban, asaltaban, cometían pecados sexuales, asesinaban y hacían toda clase de maldades. Sin embargo, la ley se aplicaba a todos los que la quebrantaban, en la medida de lo posible.

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For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.

Al hacer cumplir la ley de esta manera, castigando a cada persona según lo que había hecho, el pueblo se volvió más contenido y no se atrevía a cometer ninguna maldad si podía ser descubierta. Como resultado, hubo mucha paz entre el pueblo de Nefi hasta el quinto año del gobierno de los jueces.

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And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness if it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of the judges.

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