Brothers and sisters, I implore you
to hear the truth of my words.
Do not believe this “doctrine of Christ”!
We have the law of Moses and need nothing more.
What you speak is not true!
I declare to you now, there shall be no Christ.
The doctrine of Christ is the right way to God!
This is blasphemy!
No man can tell of things to come!
Brother Jacob,
I have sought much opportunity
that I might speak unto you;
for I have heard and also know
that thou goest about much,
preaching that which ye call the gospel,
or the doctrine of Christ.
And ye have led away much of this people
that they pervert the right way of God,
and keep not the law of Moses
which is the right way;
and convert the law of Moses
into the worship of a being which ye say
shall come many hundred years hence.
I, Sherem, declare unto you
that this is blasphemy;
for no man knoweth of such things;
for he cannot tell of things to come.
Deniest thou the Christ who shall come?
If there should be a Christ,
I would not deny Him;
but I know that there is no Christ,
neither has been, nor ever will be.
Believest thou the scriptures?
Yea.
Then ye do not understand them;
for they truly testify of Christ.
None of the prophets have written, nor prophesied,
save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
And this is not all—
it has been made manifest unto me,
for I have heard and seen;
and it also has been made manifest unto me
by the power of the Holy Ghost;
wherefore, I know
if there should be no atonement made
all mankind must be lost.
Show me a sign.
Show me a sign
by this power of the Holy Ghost,
in the which ye know so much.
What am I
that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign
in the thing which thou knowest to be true?
Yet wilt thou deny it,
because thou art of the devil.
Nevertheless, not my will be done;
but if God shall smite thee,
let that be a sign unto thee that He has power,
both in heaven and in earth;
and also, that Christ shall come.
And Thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine.
Gather the people on the morrow,
for I shall die;
wherefore, I desire to speak to them
before I shall die.
Make way!
I have been deceived by the power of the devil.
I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin,
for I have lied unto God;
for I denied the Christ,
and said that I believed the scriptures;
and they truly testify of Him.
And because I have thus lied unto God
I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful;
but I confess unto God.
The power of God came down upon my people,
and peace and the love of God was restored again;
and they searched the scriptures,
and hearkened no more
to the words of this wicked man.