VOCABULARY AND REVIEW
CHAPTERS 25 - 42

25

Traditionally, the Jews symbolically put the sins of the people onto a head of a goat, and then send him into the wilderness for the Biblical ceremony, Yon Kipper. This is called a scapegoat, because “scape” is intended as a translation of a Hebrew anazel (a probable name for demon) and means sins depart, as the (ez ozel) goat departs (Lev 16:8-10). However, the devil always tries to take something the Lord sets up and pervert it.  

Today, in general idiom, a scapegoat refers to, “someone who is unreasonably blamed for the actions of others.” It was in this sense that the Lamanites decided, in their intense and murderous anger for what they themselves had done, to blame the Nephites, using them as scapegoats.  

Type means, “an example or symbol of something greater or something more intense.”

Precedence means, “prior in time or order” or “a procedure to be built on or followed.”

Nefarious means, “evil.”

Expedient means, “to be necessary, or essential, often governed by self or societal interest,” “to be advantageous or suited with the end in mind,” and also, “to accelerate the process.”  Strictly following the Law of Moses was necessary to accelerate the Israelite society’s understanding of the mission of Jesus Christ.

26

Darkness means, “the evil which constantly emanates from Satan, as Light emanates from Christ.”

One meaning of abyss is, “a bottomless gulf in existence since (or before) the creation of the universe.”  Ammon used this metaphor to remind his brethren how deeply steeped in wickedness the Lamanites were before they were brought into God’s holy Light.

Instruments in the Hands of God is a metaphor meaning, God’s

           helpers in bringing others to His Salvation.” 

The field is a metaphor, symbolizing, “the world.”

A sickle is, “a curved metal blade used to cut grain.  

Thrusting means, “to push or drive with force.”

Thrusting in the sickle here is a metaphoric phrase meaning, “working

           in the Lord’s service with absolute commitment.”

To reap means, “to gather crops; to harvest.”  In this verse it is a metaphor, meaning, “to gather souls for the Kingdom of God.”

The term sheaves is plural for sheaf, meaning, “grass or grain bundled together and bound.”  Here sheaves is a metaphor, symbolizing many groups of people or churches bound together with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

A garner is, “a grain bin.”  Here it metaphorically represents, “the true Church and Kingdom of Jesus Christ.” 

Wasted means, “destroyed or lost.”  Here it refers to souls being lost to the Kingdom of God, belonging instead to Satan.”

Gulf of eternal death and misery is a metaphor comparing “eternal life with Satan, the ‘second death,’ or being separated forever from God, with a horrible gulf.”

Penitent means, “humble feelings—or those with humble feelings—of pain or sorrow because of regret for sin or offences.”

Privations means, “deprived or without essentials deemed necessary for human existence and survival.”

27

One meaning of suffered is, “allowed.”  The Anti-Nephi-Lehies used their agency and decided they would rather die than kill anyone.  Their repentance was so sincere and so complete that the idea of turning to bloodshed again was unthinkable. They also had such a complete faith in God that it amounted to knowledge; they knew that if they died, they would have a short amount of pain, and then be with Him forever. 

28

Unprecedented means, “has not happened before.”

29

Allotted means, “has chosen to give as a share or portion.”

Harrow up means, “to dig up and change the earth.”  It also means, “to torture or vex.”  Here it is a metaphor, meaning, “taking the decrees of God and ‘torture’ them, or change them.”  Alma immediately recognized that it was not for him to coerce people to accept the Gospel, contrary to God’s holy plan, which allows choice.

A decree is, “a foreordaining will.”  Here it is, “the will of a just God,” Who allows us all to choose for ourselves.   

Glory has many meanings.  Alma used 3 of these meanings in verse 9:  

1. When Alma said, “and I glory in it,” he meant, “to rejoice proudly.”

2. When he said, “I do not glory of myself,” he meant, “honor or esteem, or worship.”

3. When he said, “I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me,” he meant, “rejoiced proudly.”

4)

Alma used joy as a synonym for the glory that means, “a state of great gratification or exaltation.”

Alma used fruit as a metaphor, “comparing the tree bringing forth 

fruit to the missionaries bringing forth, as the result of their labor and through the blessing of God, many converts to Jesus Christ.”

30

One meaning of anti is, “opposing and hostile.”   Anti-Christ is “one who actively campaigns against Christ and everything He represents—a follower of Satan, whose major purpose is to destroy the credibility and work of Christ.”

A premise is, “a stated assumption on which one bases his or her arguments.”  If the premise is false, the arguments have no

logical basis!

An assertion is, “stating something as a fact.”  If a lie is stated as a fact, it is a false assertion.

Faith is not just an abstract idea. It has substance. The substance is spiritual and purified, but faith is a mighty force with substance. Of course in our day, we know there are several things we cannot see (such as sound waves) in which we believe. Faith is a Power that, even in our day when it is manifest (and therefore evident) in so many ways, is not recognized by most of the people in the world as a real and a substantial force. Yet Paul told us centuries ago: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Leading away the hearts is hypostatization meaning, “persuading people to a particular vantage point.”

Lift up their heads means, “being unrighteously proud and conceited.”

Whoredoms are, “sexual sins and immorality.”

Devices can mean, “strategies or tricks.”  Some of the devil’s tricks that Korihor used were false assertions and premises and the power of persuasion.

31

Preside comes from the Latin praesider, which means, “to guard and sit at the head or front of.”  Some synonyms for preside are, “guard, guide, usher, lead, shepherd, protect.”   Preside can mean, “guarding and watching over; being responsible for.”  What an awesome responsibility men are called to do—to guard [against Satan] in their homes and at Church and to be responsible for temporal and spiritual safety as they lovingly and respectfully watch over of all those within their jurisdiction.

Pervert means, “to cause corruption of what is good or true or

morally right.”

Correspondence here means, “agreement or relationship between parties.”

Dissenters means, “religious nonconformists.”  The Zoramites did not conform to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught to the Nephites, but they did conform to the church of the devil.

Hypocrisy is from hypocrite, which means, “one who pretends to be one way but is actually another, or those who act like they have virtues or qualities that they do not have, attempting to deceive others.”  The wealthy Zoramites claimed to believe in the holiness of God yet they lived contrary to everything the true God represents.

32

Dross means, “something base, inferior, or trivial; scum that forms on the surface of metal; waste or foreign matter; impurity.”

Penitent means, “humble feelings of pain or sorrow because of regret for sin or offences.”

Lowly in heart means, “to be humble and receptive to God’s instructions without being haughty or full of self-assertive pride.  It includes having a heart open to receive the Holy Ghost so one may listen and learn the truth.” 

Compelled means, “caused to do by overwhelming pressure.”

This compelling can come through circumstances or directly

           through other people.”

A metaphor is, “symbolic or figurative language where two unlike things are being compared for the purpose of giving added meaning to one of those things.”

An allegory is like an extended metaphor.  It is, “an expression using symbolic things or people to represent and give added meaning to something else, or to express a general truth.”

Dormant means, “in suspension of activity.”  Because one has a perfect knowledge of this one thing, it is not necessary to have the activity of faith in this thing—since, with perfect knowledge, it is perceived.

33

The term, cast about your eyes here is a metaphor meaning, “looking 

directly to Christ for guidance.”   Another scripture commands us to have our “eye single to the Glory of God,” (see D & C 4:5) also meaning to continually focus on Christ and His Glory (remember His work and His Glory is to bring to pass our immortality and Eternal Lives!), so that our whole lives on earth will be filled with His Light and we will fulfill our true purpose so we can return at last to live with God.

Behold quickly means, “immediately embrace the word of God.”

Slothful means, “to be lazy and negligent in doing what needs to be done.”

34

Bountifully means, “in abundance.”  So the Zoramites were not only taught of Christ when they lived among the other Nephites; they were taught a lot about Him!

One meaning of hardened is, “to be calloused or unbendable in disposition, feelings, or actions.”  Without repentance, we become hardened in the carnal nature of mortality rather than lifting to embrace our spiritual natures; without a Savior we would not be able to repent because we would still owe justice for all of our sins.

Expedient means, “to be necessary, or essential, often governed by self or societal interest,” “to be advantageous or suited with the end in mind,” and also, “to accelerate the process.”  Christ’s mission, especially His atoning sacrifice, is necessary—essential— or expedient—for Eternal Salvation and Exaltation, which is what our God offers to all of us.

Infinite means, “inconceivably great and extensive, subject to no limitations or external determination.”

Eternal means, “God.”

Jot is, “such a small punctuation type in Hebrew that it is now often used to mean ‘the least bit or iota.’ ”

Tittle is, “a point or small sign used as a diacritical mark in writing or printing.”

Every jot and tittle was an expression used by Amulek to mean, in this case, “every bit of the law would be fulfilled in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

None shall have passed away was an expression used by Amulek to mean, “no part of the law will have been ignored.  Every part will be fulfilled by the atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Mercy is a real but abstract quality meaning, in this instance, “Divine compassion.”  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ knew we would sin and would be lost from Them forever if a price was not paid for our sins.  And we would not be capable of paying the price.  They loved us and felt a great feeling of mercy toward us.  

Bowels represented, “‘the seat of feelings’ in a person, similar to how we use ‘heart’ today.”

The bowels of mercy is a figurative language expression of hypostatization. “It attributes bowels, or a ‘seat of feelings,’ to the abstract quality of mercy—as though mercy itself had deep feelings for us; it represents the feeling of mercy and compassion of Gods, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

Egoism means, “thinking only of oneself.”

Egotistic means, “a conceited or inflated opinion of oneself.”

Vain here means, “useless.”

Avail means, “to help or to have an opportunity.”

Hypocrite means, “one who pretends to be one way but is actually another, or those who act like they have virtues or qualities that they do not have, attempting to deceive others.”

To have fear before God is to, “reverence Him with great awe, recognizing His incomparable Power.”

35

2 Nephi (26:29) says priestcrafts “are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.”

Likely crafts that the wicked Zoramites saw being destroyed were, “dishonest ways of making their living as false preachers and greedy rulers; they saw that they soon could not exploit the poor to do their work.”

Privily means, “secretly or privately.”  The devil likes to work in an atmosphere of emotional and spiritual darkness.  In a sneaking spying way, the leaders found out which of the people favored the missionaries’ words.

36

Prosper means, “to succeed or thrive, becoming strong and flourishing.”

Prosper also means, “to cause someone or something to succeed or thrive.”

Beseech means, “implore earnestly or urgently.”

One meaning of Eternal is, “God.”  God, Jesus Christ, suffered

the same torment as Alma, only infinitely more—because He suffered for all the sins of the world.

Rack means, “acute suffering, anguish or pain.”

Gall comes from the Old English gealla which is similar to the Greek, chole, which means, wrath (anger).  Meanings of gall include, “bitterness of spirit,” “deep seated ill will, and “enmity.”  The expression, gall of bitterness conveys, “the horrible condition a spirit is in—when in the clutches of Satan, who is enemy of all righteousness and who has a deep seated ill will to all of us who choseChrist in the pre-mortal world.”

37

Hitherto means, “up to this time.”

One meaning of strict is, “rigorously conforming to principle or conditions.”  

God does not waver.  He is a Rock we can rely on, knowing that what He says is right is always right and what is wrong is always wrong.  There are circumstances that change, one of the biggest being when the Law of Moses was fulfilled by the Sacrifice of our Savior.  This and other circumstances may change behaviors.  But God’s basic laws of goodness are irrevocably decreed in Heaven.   

                                                                   Fully ripe [in iniquity] is a metaphor comparing, “wicked people so full evil they cannot hold onto any part of goodness to fruit that is so ripe it cannot hold any longer to a branch of a tree.”

38

Commence means, “begin.”  A good beginning is a good start, but it is important to follow through with what we begin, if it is good!

Born of God means, “committing oneself to Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost—and then by continuing to obey Christ’s commandments.” Alma had become a son of Jesus Christ—like we can all become sons and daughters of Christ by coming into His holy fold and staying there!—as well 

as being a spirit son or daughter of Heavenly Father.

Christ is the Life of the world because, “through His holy Light all life comes. And only He broke the bands of death for all of us through the resurrection.  And it is He alone who makes Eternal Life with Heavenly Father possible.”

Christ is the Light of the world because, “the Light which comes from Christ fills the immensity of space and gives life to all things. (D&C 88:13)”

Christ is the Word of Truth:  One of His names is Word—“And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelations 19:13); Christ is the Word of Truthbecause  everything He says and has His prophets say and write is true— ‘truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.’ (D&C 93:24).  Christ is the complete opposite of the devil, who ‘was a liar from the beginning’ (D&C 93:25).”

Christ is Righteousness because, “He obeys absolutely all of Heavenly Father’s commandments and Heavenly Father’s commandments are righteousness.  Righteousness is an innate aspect of Christ Himself.”

Temperate means, “mild or calm.”  This means to control tempers and bridle anger.  It does not mean to be casual in keeping and teaching the word of God.

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Omission is, “something not done or left out.”

A meaning of commission is, “something done or committed.”

Phylacteries are, “square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages and traditionally worn on the left arms and on heads by Jewish men during morning weekday prayers.”  The scribes and Pharisees wore theirs, not to study the scriptures in humility, but to show off.

Enlarging the borders of their garments meant, “They made their religious fringes that represented scriptures and were worn traditionally on their clothing, overly large—not out of piety, but to show off.”

Unchaste is, “the state of not being sexually pure or having unlawful sexual intercourse.”

Fornication is, “having sexual relations without being married.”

Adultery is, “voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or a married woman and someone other than her husband.”

Incest is, “sexual intercourse between people of too close kinship to be legally able to marry.”

Rape is, “sexual intercourse committed by deception or force to one of the parties.”

Pornography comes from the Greek ‘pornographos,’ which “means writing of harlots.”  It is, “depiction of explicit erotic behavior through books or photographs intended to cause artificial erotic excitement.” This is one of the devil’s most nefarious tools to get mortals to degrade their bodies.

Fidelity means, “the quality of being faithful and loyal with other synonym, such as:  devotion and exactness.”

Forsake means, “renounce, repudiate, or give up entirely, without intent to recover.”

Lusts of your eyes means, “looking with evil thoughts of immorality when seeing another person.”  Evil deeds usually begin with evil thoughts and desires.

Cross yourself means, “to deny yourself of ungodliness,

giving up the slavery you have developed to the appetites of your body.”

One meaning of suffer is, “allow.”

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Both mortal and corruption refer to, “our Earthly bodies that are subject to death.”

Both immortality and incorruption rer o, “our resurrected bodies.”

41

Wrested comes from the Old English word, “wrasten.”  One of its meanings is, “a wringing or twisting movement.”  Many people throughout history have taken the word of God and “twisted” it—changing the original meaning to suit their own, and the devil’s own, desires.

Requisite means, “essential, necessary, or required.”

Contrary means, “opposite.”

Alma explained that Restoration means “bringing people back” or “restoring them consistent to the way they lived.”  Whatever our nature has become—that is how we will be restored.

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Cherubim are, “figures representing Heavenly creatures, the exact form being unknown…In the account of the Fall, cherubim are represented as keeping ‘the way of the Tree of Life.’ ” (“Bible Dictionary,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979)

Fallen man or lost forever refers to, “the state of [mankind] (notice that by the pronoun ‘they,’ Eve was included) not being able to have restored bodies, since they corrupt and decay, and not being able to get back to the Presence of God, since they still carry their sins.”

Long-suffering means, “patience and endurance over a long time.”  Christ, although He will not tolerate evil, stands with His Hands out to us, patient and loving, desiring us to give up our sins and return to Him.

The dust in humility is a metaphor that means, “complete humility.”  It compares becoming completely humble and teachable to returning to the elements with which God made us and accepting His guidance in all things.