35  Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is ^brighteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.

  4  And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to ^dkeep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

  12  If you ^akeep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.