1 São estas as leis a respeito da oferta para tirar as culpas das pessoas. Essa oferta é muito sagrada. 2 Neste sacrifício o animal será morto no lado norte do altar, no lugar onde se matam os animais que são queimados; o sangue será borrifado nos quatro lados do altar. 3 Toda a gordura do animal será queimada em sacrifício a Deus; serão queimados também o rabo, a gordura que cobre os miúdos, 4 os dois rins, a gordura que os cobre e a melhor parte do fígado. 5 O sacerdote queimará tudo isso no altar como oferta de alimento a Deus, o Senhor. Esta é a oferta para tirar as culpas, 6 e todo homem que seja de uma família de sacerdotes poderá comer dela. Deverá ser comida num lugar sagrado, pois é uma oferta muito sagrada.

7 A lei da oferta para tirar pecados e da oferta para tirar culpas é a mesma: a carne do animal pertence ao sacerdote que oferece o sacrifício para conseguir o perdão de pecados. 8 Antes de oferecer um animal que vai ser completamente queimado, o sacerdote tirará o couro, que será seu. 9 Todas as ofertas de cereais assadas no forno, na frigideira ou na grelha são do sacerdote que as oferece a Deus. 10 Mas toda oferta de cereais que não é cozida, seja ela preparada com azeite ou sem azeite, pertence a todos os sacerdotes; cada um receberá a sua parte.

11 São estas as leis para as ofertas de paz que são apresentadas a Deus, o Senhor.

12 Se o sacrifício é de gratidão a Deus, então, além do animal que é sacrificado, a pessoa oferecerá também pães feitos de farinha misturada com azeite, mas sem fermento; ou pães achatados, feitos sem fermento, passando-se um pouco de azeite por cima; ou pães grandes, feitos de farinha bem misturada com azeite. 13 Além disso, com essa oferta de paz feita para agradecer a Deus, a pessoa oferecerá pão feito com fermento. 14 Desses pães ela apresentará um pão de cada tipo como oferta especial a Deus, o Senhor; e eles pertencerão ao sacerdote que borrifar o altar com o sangue do animal. 15 Toda a carne do animal deverá ser comida no mesmo dia em que for oferecida em sacrifício; não poderá sobrar nada para o dia seguinte.

16 Se alguém trouxer uma oferta de paz para pagar uma promessa ou se a trouxer por vontade própria, não será preciso que a carne seja toda comida no dia em que se faz a oferta; o que sobrar poderá ser comido no dia seguinte. 17 Mas, se no terceiro dia ainda sobrar carne, então ela deverá ser queimada. 18 Quem comer a carne dessa oferta no terceiro dia não será aceito por Deus, e a oferta que fez não vale. Essa carne é impura, e quem a comer merecerá castigo. 19 Se a carne tocar em qualquer coisa impura, então deverá ser queimada; não poderá ser comida.

Qualquer pessoa que estiver pura poderá comer a carne da oferta de paz; 20 mas, se alguém que estiver impuro comer, então será expulso do meio do povo. 21 E quem tocar em qualquer coisa impura, seja uma impureza humana ou um animal impuro, e depois comer a carne do sacrifício de paz, será expulso do meio do povo.

22 O Senhor Deus mandou que Moisés 23 dissesse ao povo o seguinte:

Não comam gordura de gado, de carneiros e de cabritos. 24 A gordura de um animal que tiver morte natural ou que for morto por animais selvagens não poderá ser comida, mas poderá ser usada para outros fins. 25 Será expulsa do meio do povo qualquer pessoa que comer a gordura de um animal que for sacrificado a Deus, o Senhor, como oferta de alimento. 26 Em todos os lugares onde morarem, os israelitas estarão proibidos de comer o sangue de animais ou de aves. 27 Quem comer sangue será expulso do meio do povo.

28 O Senhor Deus mandou que Moisés 29 desse ao povo as seguintes leis:

Quando alguém apresentar o seu sacrifício de paz, deverá oferecer ao Senhor parte do sacrifício como oferta especial. 30 Com as próprias mãos ele dará a Deus essa oferta de alimento; o peito do animal e a gordura que cobre o peito serão apresentados ao Senhor como oferta especial. 31 O sacerdote queimará a gordura no altar, mas o peito pertencerá aos sacerdotes. 32 A coxa direita do animal morto como oferta de paz será do sacerdote 33 que oferece a Deus o sangue e a gordura do animal. 34 O peito e a coxa do animal são uma oferta especial que o Senhor toma dos israelitas e dá aos sacerdotes, que são descendentes de Arão. Eles terão direito para sempre a essas partes das ofertas de paz.

35 São essas as partes dos animais oferecidos em sacrifício a Deus, o Senhor, que pertencem a Arão e aos seus descendentes, a partir do dia em que foram escolhidos para servirem como sacerdotes. 36 No dia em que o Senhor os ordenou como sacerdotes, ele mandou que os israelitas dessem a eles essas partes dos sacrifícios. É uma lei que deverá ser obedecida para sempre por vocês e pelos seus descendentes.

37 São essas, portanto, as leis a respeito das ofertas que são completamente queimadas, das ofertas de cereais, das ofertas para tirar pecados, das ofertas para tirar culpas, das ofertas da ordenação dos sacerdotes e das ofertas de paz. 38 O Senhor deu essas leis a Moisés no monte Sinai, no deserto, na ocasião em que Moisés mandou que o povo de Israel oferecesse os seus sacrifícios a Deus, o Senhor.

1 AND now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: 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.7 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. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.9 And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he said: 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.10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.12 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.13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt 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.15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.19 And he said: 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.20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually.25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.