A Study Guide Companion for The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
ALMA CHAPTERS
1 - 12
Alma, Chapter 1
Mormon reviewed that Mosiah was a good king. Since none of his sons would reign after him, he established laws—acknowledged and ratified by the people. And then Mormon began summarizing the “reign of the judges.”
Alma had two major responsibilities:
He was High Priest over the Church (the highest office in the Church).
He was ordained to his Church position by his father.
He was Chief Judge (the highest office in the country).
He was elected to the position of Chief Judge by voice—or vote—of the people.
As we have seen over and over in Book of Mormon history and elsewhere, when the devil sees the cause of God moving forward, he works on people’s carnal instincts to try to thwart the progress of righteousness. Soon after Alma became Chief Judge, an example of Satan’s appeal to a man’s greed (to the point of violence), was brought before the court.
A case of murder was tried before Alma
in the first year of the reign of the judges.
The people took Nehor, who had killed Gideon, before the Chief Judge, Alma.
In spite of many witnesses, Nehor pleaded boldly for himself.
Alma displayed authority of both of his major responsibilities (High Priest and Chief Judge) during the trial of Nehor.
As High Priest, Alma pronounced Nehor’s guilt of priestcraft as well as murder and warned the people, stating the religious danger of priestcraft.
As Chief Judge, Alma ordered the death sentence of a convicted murderer, carried out according to civil law.
Before Nehor was put to death, he acknowledged that he had taught false doctrine to the people. He died an ignominious death.
Because of the people who listened to Nehor, Satan again
got his foot in the door among the Nephites.
There were civil and Church proclamations forbidding people to persecute anyone for religious beliefs, but both non-members and Church members began to ignore these and some came to blows over the disagreements.
Although faithful Church members were still persecuted verbally, they followed God’s commandments and the advice of their leaders. Faithful members would meet together to hear the word of God from priests and teachers, and then the priests and teachers, as well as the listeners, would go back to their labor to support themselves. They gave to the poor, the needy, and the sick.
They wore nice, but not elaborate, clothes.
God blessed them with peace and prosperity until they became much wealthier than non-members. And although Church members became rich, they did not “set their hearts on riches.” They were generous, using their resources to serve others, both in and out of the Church.
CHAPTER 2
In this chapter we will learn about a man named Amlici who was “a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world, he being after the order of Nehor. Gaining power in the fifth year of the reign of the judges, Amlici drew away people who were gullible enough to believe him. They wanted to take the broad easy path through life, sinning—–while convincing themselves it did not matter.
Like Nehor before him, and Satan before Nehor, Amlici preached what his followers wanted to hear. Truth was not relevant. His ambitions were riches and power over all the Nephites.
Using priestcraft, Amlici gained riches and power. Naïve, lazy and some blatantly wicked people bought into false doctrine as he drew them into his web. Finally, he and his supporters became so powerful that they tried to make Amlici king over all the Nephites.
There have been many important elections in the history of the world. In presidential and prime ministerial and other political races, groups of supporters stay up throughout the night in anxiety, waiting for results.
In Alma’s day, election results counted. The voice of the people deciding whether or not to accept Amlici as king would have profound implications. Alarmed and uncertain of the outcome, Church members knew that their religious freedom was at stake. Amlici fully planned to “deprive them of their rights and privileges of the Church; for it was his intent to destroy the Church of God”. This in turn would spread so much evil across the land that the nation would be destroyed.
Amlici’s followers thought it would be great if he won—not being thoughtful enough to consider that they, as well as other Nephites, would lose their freedom; they foolishly considered only his flattering and lying words.
Amlici was voted down as king, but he stirred up his supporters to anger. He had them gather together and consecrate him king—in spite of the election loss.
Then the supporters, who called themselves Amlicites, prepared to battle the Nephites, the people of God. In the pre-mortal life, Satan sought to subject all of God’s children to himself. Following this devil’s evil example, Amlici set out to subject all of the Nephites to himself.
The rest of the Nephites, with heavy hearts, prepared for civil war. They realized the Amlicites’ intent, and so prepared to meet them; they armed themselves with swords, bows, arrows, stones, slings, and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind. They also appointed captains and higher captains, and chief captains. Alma, as Chief Judge and Governor would lead the army.
The Amlicites organized their army. Somehow Amlici obtained weapons and armed his people.
The Amlicites positioned themselves on a hill east of the river Sidon, which ran by the land of Zarahemla and began to kill Nephites.
The advantage was first with the Nephites. They began to kill Amlicites. Then the Amlicites, who were very strong, began to kill many Nephites. Then the Lord strengthened the hand of the Nephites and they began to slaughter Amlicites so aggressively that the Amlicites turned and ran (verse 19). The Nephites continued to pursue the Amlicites in dreadful battle. At the end of the day 12,005 Amlicites were killed and 6,562 Nephites were dead.
That night Alma had his army pitched their tents in the valley of Gideon (named after the brave man Nehor murdered). And then he sent spies (Zeram, Amnor, Manti, Limher) to watch the Amlicites’ camp.
The four Nephite spies followed the Amlicites into the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla and saw the Amlicites had joined a large army of Lamanites.
As the spies watched, the Lamanite army together with the Amlicites, attacked outlying Nephite settlements. The Nephites, with their flocks, their wives, and their children, were rushing to Zarahemla for safety, pursued by the huge army of the Lamanites who were out to capture the city of Zarahemla.
When the spies made their desperate report to Alma, Alma’s army struck camp and rushed out of the valley of Gideon to get back to defend Zarahemla (verse 27).
Just as they reached the river Sidon, the gigantic army of Lamanites
and Amlicites marched to destroy the Nephites. The Nephites cried out to the Lord, and He strengthened them in their great battle.
Alma found himself suddenly face to face with Amlici, the man who started the tragic war; grasping his sword Alma cried out to God. God blessed Alma, and Alma killed Amlici. And then Alma fought the king of the Lamanites, but that king turned and ran and sent his guards. Alma killed them and drove their army back, clearing the bank on the west of the river Sidon.
The Nephites gathered up the Lamanite bodies and threw them into the river to clear the area to get back to the west side to fight the Lamanites and Amlicites there. There were still tremendous numbers of Lamanite warriors, but when they saw the ferocious Nephites crossing the river they fled north and west, beyond the borders of the land.
The Nephites chased the Lamanites and killed many; the rest of them sought refuge in the wilderness—although many of these died there.
CHAPTER 3
After the terrible battle against the Amlicites, the Nephites buried their dead—but so many were killed, they could not even number them. The Lamanites’ and Amlicites’ bodies were thrown into the river and washed out to sea. Those Nephite warriors who survived returned to their homes and families.
Some Nephites no longer had homes and families. Not only had many Nephite men been killed, leaving thousands of widows and orphans, but many women and children were killed. Much property was ruined as flocks and herds were slaughtered and fields trampled and crops destroyed during the battles.
As the survivors returned to their families or homes—those that still had homes—and tried to pick up the pieces of their lives, another Lamanite army attacked them.
Although Alma was wounded and unable to lead them, he sent a large army against these attacking Lamanites. Alma’s army killed many Lamanites, and then they drove the rest of the enemy out of the land.
Alma certainly had cause to think that it was ironic—after all the years of peace with the three Nephite kings—that when he had only been Chief Judge of the land for five years, the Nephites had so much loss of life from war.
From Mormon’s perspective of about 500 years in the future, and knowing his own life would soon be over, whether a person lived or died was not the question—the important thing was how he or she had lived, and what Eternal rewards were earned.
CHAPTER 4
A tragic cycle was often perpetuated among the Nephites. This cycle,
which had gone on for hundreds of years, began again:
Righteous Living;
Peace and Prosperity;
Unrighteousness;
Trouble;
Repentance
The Nephites, with the righteous Alma as leader, had routed the
Amlicites and the Lamanites, and in the sixth year of the reign of the judges
there were no specific contentions, but the aftermath of the war was
devastating.
As the Nephites mourned their losses, they reflected on their own actions,
believing the tragedies were the consequences of their own wickedness.
Reflecting on their conduct prior to their troubles, they determined to change
their actions.
More people were baptized; devotion to strengthening the Church increased
The Lord blessed them with peace and prosperity.
The Nephite nation seldom enjoyed prosperity without becoming wicked.
Although they were industrious, the Lord had blessed their efforts so that they
prospered. But instead of showing gratitude toward God, they became proud,
conceited, and self-satisfied.
Alma and other Church leaders felt terrible as they saw many members
forget the Lord and become wicked. The transient delights of the world blinded
their eyes to the rewards of Eternity. Many
members as they steadily withdrew from spiritual things and were caught up in
worldly and carnal attitudes.
After the war, people had recognized that they had brought on their own
trouble, so they rushed to repent and to be baptized. And then only three years
later—many Church members were instrumental in keeping non-members from joining the army of God—slowing the progress of God’s Church.
Alma saw great inequality among the people.
While the wicked members caused sorrow, there were others who
followed the commandments of Christ.
These righteous and humble followers of God now were being persecuted
for their very righteousness by the proud and the wicked.
Alma, listening to the Spirit of the Lord took a desperate measure. He quit his job as Chief Judge.
Alma chose a wise man among the elders, named Nephihah, to be Chief
Judge in his stead. The voice (vote) of the people sustained Nephihah.
Alma remained High Priest over the Church, but Nephihah “sat in the
judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people.
CHAPTER 5
Once Alma resigned as Chief Judge, he began a life-long full-time mission. He began this mission in the land of Zarahemla, and then he went out into the bordering lands of the Nephite people.
When he preached to the people, Alma asked them to look back into the past, examine how they were living their lives, and consider their “forever future.”
making righteous choices by accepting Heavenly Father and Christ’s love, They could do this as they realized the blessing and the witnessing Power of the Holy Spirit, and believed in and followed Jesus Christ, whose life, infinite Atonement, including His limitless agony He would experience in Garden of Gethsemane continuing with His vast Sacrifice on the cross, and would make it possible for everyone to be resurrected and to gain Eternal Life.
Alma contrasted the situation and feeling of people meeting our Lord after living righteous life, to meeting Him coming from an evil life. Alma said to imagine themselves—at that Last Day—if they had lived righteous lives. He scoffed at anyone lying at the Judgment Bar, saying they had been righteous when they actually had been wicked. He asked them to imagine how they would feel at the tribunal of God as they remembered all their defiance and wickedness.
Alma reminded the Nephites that they were fooling themselves if they thought they could enter God’s Presence wrapped in their sins. Instead they would go to the kingdom of the devil. After all, they were choosing to live in Satan’s evil kingdom on Earth.
Since the beginning of the world, God has taught His children the necessary actions to enter into His Presence. We can choose to obey Him or not. But if our choice is not to live His holy commandments, we are choosing to be children of the devil.
Alma again questioned the members of the Church, telling them to carefully examine their own actions and attitudes. Did they have humility? Did they have unrighteous pride, envy, or disposition to mock or persecute others. If they could not answer “yes” to the questions he asked them, they were not prepared to enter God’s Kingdom. Answering “no” to any of the questions strongly indicated that they needed to repent. Notice what Alma said regarding timeliness in repenting!
The Holy Spirit inspired Mormon to include these words of Alma in his abridgment, that we may apply them to our lives.
Alma did not mince any words when he preached to the Church members. Neither did he try to spare feelings to make himself popular. For their own sakes—so they would have no excuse to misunderstand him, he told them what God wanted them to hear.
Alma gave up the highest office in government to devote his life to bringing souls to Jesus Christ. He made that commitment because he was called by the Holy Ghost through the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Prophecy to testify of Jesus Christ and to organize Christ’s Church throughout the land according to the Holy Priesthood that he held.
Alma’s testimony was so strong it was part of his whole being.
Alma was High Priest over all the Church; he held a position that would be similar to the President of the Church in the latter days. His authority to teach—the “Order after which I was called,” was the Holy Priesthood after the Son of God—called commonly today, to avoid too frequent repetition of the Holy Name of God, the Melchizedek Priesthood. Using this holy authority, he gave a message of repentance to everyone living in the land of the Nephites—for their Redemption.
The central mission of the Holy Ghost is to bear testimony of the Son of God, our Savior Jesus Christ. To truly accept and partake of the Atonement and grasp the lifeline that Christ extends to us, which takes us into Eternal Life with God, we have the responsibility to repent of our sins and strive to live His holy commandments.
The Holy Ghost told Alma to cry out with all the energy of his soul to his people, that they repent and accept Christ’s Atonement. The Spirit told Alma that Christ would soon be born.
Note:
Alma, like Isaiah, used the word, “soon,” to describe when the Lord would come to Earth with his “might, majesty, Power, and dominion,” and reign as King of all the Earth. He was also told to “behold” [likely in vision] this wonderful time. Yet at Alma’s time, the Lord had not yet been born on Earth—had not yet come to Earth to live. The Lord’s time is not our time. When great prophets such as Isaiah, Nephi, and Alma, beheld visions of the whole existence of Earth, the Second Coming was, in this Heavenly view, “soon” at hand.
The Spirit told Alma [with a mighty Voice] to be sure the people knew that to take part in the Eternal inheritance God offers, they must repent of their sins and live righteously.
The Spirit of God reasoned that trees which bring forth bad fruit are cut down and cast into the fire; so will people, who produce evil by living wicked lives, be cast, symbolically, into a fire. They would have chosen to be under the influence of the devil instead of Christ.
Alma recognized many Church members trying to live the commandments of God. He said that the wicked people should not be mingled with the good in the Church. Apparently, some members were inclined to protest this action of excommunication, but Alma stood firm to God’s word.
Using a metaphor comparing wolves to the wicked and sheep to the righteous, Alma reasoned with the people through a process of questioning.
No one is compelled to be a “wolf.” The Good Shepherd calls everyone to hear His Voice and join His holy flock. Those who choose to be wolves will be driven out so they will not destroy the righteous “sheep”.
Since Alma’s own incredible conversion, he unfailingly obeyed God’s commandments. Alma reminded his listeners that he was not speaking his own words; he was speaking words he was commanded to speak.
Alma, under the direction of the Savior Himself, reached out his hand to members and non-members, inviting them to join the Church of God and partake of His love—to partake from the Tree of Life.
CHAPTER 6
As we improve our lives “line upon line,” “step by step,” so Alma began strengthening the Church step by step. He started in Zarahemla.
Many people not in the church were touched by Alma’s testimony and were filled with the Holy Ghost and repented and joined the Church.
Many Church members repented and
humbled themselves. But some chose not to repent—so Alma had to clean up the Church rolls. As in the pre-Earth life, God’s children made choices…and some chose good while others chose evil.
When Mormon, with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, abridged
the Plates, he selected precious truths to remain. He reminded us that before Alma left Zarahemla, he
impressed on the Church members that God wanted everyone to have the opportunity to come back into His Kingdom.
Finally, the Church in Zarahemla was restored to order. Alma left the ordained leaders in Zarahemla in charge of the Church, and headed over the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon.
CHAPTER 7
Because Alma had been so busy being Chief Judge over all the land as well as High Priest over all the Church, this was the first time he had personally visited the saints in Gideon.
Alma had gone through much tribulation restoring order in the Church in Zarahemla and now felt joy that they were doing well, but he hoped that the situation was not so dire in Gideon.
Through the Power of the Holy Ghost, Alma knew the members of the Church in Gideon were already striving to live righteously. It gave him relief and joy to know that he would not have to deal with what he went through in Zarahemla as he further enlightened them in the Gospel.
The people of Gideon were living by the Spirit of God, and they were ready to feast on the Gospel; they were already trying sincerely to live God’s commandments.
Alma did not prophesy that the Savior would come to the western Promised
Land during His mortal life, but that He would come to Earth to fulfill His promised mission. Alma was to preach repentance and readiness for the Lord.
Jesus suffered every pain of body and soul that every person has or will suffer—in addition to the terrible torture of having upon His pure spirit the pain of all wickedness ever done or yet to be done. He suffered the infinite Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.
The Holy Ghost testified to Alma, giving Alma a true testimony of Jesus Christ. Alma was given the reasons Christ became the ultimate Sacrifice; the testimony of Jesus Christ was now incorporated into Alma’s whole soul.
Earth is, symbolically, the Lord’s footstool. He created it. Later, His holy spirit body was “veiled” in flesh as He became partly mortal—like man—almost. Had He not atoned for us, suffering our pains, as well as suffering the punishment for our sins—had He not died and taken His body up in the Resurrection, all would have been lost.
Alma told them the price of not keeping the Lord’s commandments would be spiritual destruction. He encouraged them to show Christ their willingness to repent and be baptized.
Because many had previously joined the Church, and then had fallen away, Alma reminded them that to obtain Eternal rewards, they must continue to keep the commandments.
Alma expressed his own joy in the faith of the people of Gideon. The Spirit told Alma that their belief in his words was sincere—quite a contrast between the Church members in Zarahemla and those in Gideon. He was so thankful for the goodness of this faithful group of people living in Gideon.
When Alma first came to the land of Gideon, he told the people of his hopes of their righteousness. Now he was gratified that they were on righteous path leading to the Kingdom of God. He reminded them that God was always consistent on this path.
As Alma concluded establishing the order of the Church in Gideon, he reminded the Church members of Christ-like qualities. He asked them to attain these qualities:
Awaken to a sense of your duty to God.
Walk blameless before Him.
Walk after the Holy Order of God (the Priesthood).
Be humble, submissive, and gentle (to God).
Be easily entreated (by God).
Be full of patience and long-suffering.
Be temperate.
Be diligent in keeping the commandments.
Ask for both needed spiritual and temporal things.
Give thanks to God for what is received.
Have faith, hope, and charity.
Alma again said that the Spirit of God gave him his testimony, and again he expressed his joy in the faithfulness of the people of Gideon and left his blessing upon them.
CHAPTER 8
After his rewarding experience in Gideon, Alma went home for a brief rest (His family in Zarahemla included three sons. We do not know who else.), then he headed west of the river Sidon toward the land of Melek, which was located near the borders of the wilderness. Because we later read that Alma headed north, we can infer that the wilderness near Melek was in the south western area.
Next Alma traveled three days north to Ammonihah, which was originally named after its founder. The people of that city were wicked and would not listen to Alma.
Alma engaged in deep thought with God. At the time of his conversion, Alma experienced what would happen to people if they did not repent. It was agony to him to imagine anyone caught in the devil’s clutches, separated from God. Alma fervently prayed that the people of Ammonihah would open their hearts to the Spirit of God so they would repent and be baptized.
First, the people of Ammonihah scoffed at Alma for giving up the Chief Judgement seat, saying that because he had given up the judgment seat, he had no hold on them politically and said that they did not believe in Alma’s religion so he had no hold over them spiritually.
Next, the people verbally and physically abused Alma and spit on him and then cast him out of the city.
Christ’s Church was not only “Alma’s tradition;” it was the heritage of all Nephites, including those in Ammonihah. But Satan encouraged the wicked of that city to disassociate themselves from the blessings of their forefathers.
One of Satan’s tools has always been to make it seem “foolish” to believe in God. God did not let Satan take away our agency, so Satan uses his power of persuasion to try to convince God’s children that God does not exist.
Alma did not see an alternate choice—so feeling disheartened—he left the wicked city of Ammonnihah, beginning his journey toward Aaron.
Alma knew first hand what would happen to those who did not repent. He was “snatched” from the influence of the devil earlier in his life. Although the people were abusive toward him, he did not want anyone to stay under the influence of Satan. He was “weighed down with sorrow.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord—the very same messenger who came to him years ago—appeared to Alma again! How Alma’s emotional state must have changed as the angel commended him for how he had kept the Lord’s commandments since his first visitation and told him to lift up his head in joy.
The angel told Alma to go back to Ammonihah and tell the people that if they did not repent they would be destroyed. The angel told Alma that not only were the Ammonihahites personally wicked, but they were about to try to take over the country! The Lord would not let that happen.
In the meantime, Amulek, who lived in Ammonihah, had been getting messages from the Lord. Amulek tried to ignore the messages.
Finally Amulek, actually a good person, got a message he could not refuse as he was traveling to visit a kinsman - from an angel of the Lord. The angel told Amulek to return home and to prepare to feed a prophet. Alma met Amulek as he re-entered the city.
Amulek took Alma back to his home, fed him and cared for him. Alma blessed Amulek and his family, giving thanks to God.
Alma stayed many days at Amulek’s home. Amulek was wealthy and he had a lot of relatives. Likely he also took care of the relatives. Alma blessed them according to their needs.
Telling Amulek that he was High Priest over the Church of God throughout the land, Alma then recounted his previous experiences in Ammonihah—how he had preached the Gospel to the people and was rejected and cast out, and then how the Lord sent an angel to tell him to turn back and again call the people to repentance.
Alma taught Amulek the Gospel while staying at his home. An angel came during this time and showed Amulek that all of what Alma taught was true.
Amulek was called to a mission for Christ’s Church before he was born. He had not been brought up in the Church, but he had a natural feeling for the truth.
By the time Alma recovered physically, Amulek had received a strong testimony. Meanwhile, the people of the city grew more and more wicked. As Satan gets a “handhold” on people, their actions and their lives often go from bad to worse. But they have their agency and do not have to choose his evil.
But the people were deceived by choice—they listened to Satan, hoping for an advantage over their fellow Nephites. Yet, to give them the best opportunity to repent, the Lord told Alma to call Amulek to go into the city with him to preach.
Both missionaries were filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, endowed with great Power of righteousness. He infuses His holy Power into those who have their hearts open to Him. His main mission on Earth is to testify to the hearts of people that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and our Savior and Redeemer. This witness is the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.
As Alma and Amulek ventured forth to preach, the Holy Ghost filled the two missionaries with so much Power that they could not be confined in dungeons.
Further, it was not possible for the people to kill them.
At first Alma and Amulek did not exercise all the Power the Lord gave them, but they knew they had a mission to fulfill and that it was impossible for the crowd to kill them. They could be released from confinement in dungeons. This foreshadowed the future use of this power.
CHAPTER 9
God never wants to destroy a people. We all are His children, although some may be wicked. But if the wickedness persists, those who choose to rebel against righteousness not only hurt their own chances for eternal salvation, but chances of their children and others.
Although the people of Ammonihah had messed up one chance to listen to the warnings of Alma and had rejected him, hurt him, and cast him out of their city, they were about to have a second chance. This time Alma was not alone. Amulek, a most prominent citizen of Ammonihah, had been converted and he joined Alma.
While Alma preached, hecklers in the crowd became sarcastic. In their sarcasm, they unwittingly touched on points that would later haunt them. When
The people of Ammonihah allowed Satan to gain such a hold on them that their hearts were blocked; they would not allow the thought that God could do such marvelous works enter their minds.
Alma was frustrated that they forgot so quickly. He understood that they could mess up—he did himself. But he also knew the need for repentance; he certainly had repented and, by his own righteous choice, was using his life making up for his earlier sins. These people were just alternating between laughing at him and torturing him. They tried to immediately attack Alma, but the Spirit of the Lord would not let them.
The past, as was the Jewish tradition, was usually important to the Nephites. Alma reminded them of past blessings to their ancestors. And then he reminded them that their own blessings would be contingent on righteousness. He said the Lamanites who were not close to God because they had been misled by a skewed idea of history would be better off than unrepentant Nephites who had been given the Light.
Alma expanded his discourse to say that, because all the Light and knowledge the Lord had given the Nephites, God would not tolerate them turning the Promised Land into a wicked land. Rather, He would allow the Lamanites to finally destroy them. He listed examples of Light and knowledge given to the Nephites.
The Nephites as a nation—had been given so many wonderful things, if they chose to turn their backs on God, deliberately choosing Satan and his evil rather than the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Lamanites would be in a better position than they, both in this life and in the world to come. Further, Alma warned the Ammonihahites that if they continued to rebel against God, they would “be destroyed from off the face of the Earth."
Alma made it clear that the Lord did not want the people to be destroyed. He sent His messengers, an angel and prophets, to try to save them.
Alma told the people of our Redeemer.
Alma told of the Son of God coming in His glory in not many days hence (in the not too far distant future). Christ had not even been born on Earth at that time. Time, as we know it, is measured by mortals, not by God.
When we read what Alma and the other prophets write of the Savior, the love that they had for Him comes to us through the ages.
Alma reminded his listeners that they had two choices:
If they chose to stay with Satan, they were choosing “damnation,” which is separation from God.
If they chose to have faith in Jesus Christ, to repent, to be baptized, and then to work “righteousness,” they would have the Salvation of Jesus Christ.
Then Alma told them the angel told him to say that they were hard-hearted and stiff-necked and a lost and fallen people who needed to repent, which made the people furious at him.
The people tried to attack and grab him to take him to prison. But the Lord did not let them. The Holy Ghost’s Power kept the people from laying hands on him at that time.
Amulek then got up and joined Alma. Purposely going against popular opinion, he solidified the choice he made to join the Lord’s side, and he began to preach.
CHAPTER 10
Previously, with the Lord’s direction, king Mosiah instituted a system of judges. The people of Ammonihah perverted this system.
In this wicked city, lawyers were paid to win in court by devious means without regard for justice. The more cases they took into court, the more money they made, rewarded for skill in twisting other people’s word.
Not only was the court system corrupt, crooked Ammonihahites were involved in the devil’s treasonous plan, a conspiracy to overthrow the whole government of the Nephites.
Although knowing the hostility of his fellow Ammonihah citizens, Amulek bravely stood by Alma and began to talk.
First, he told his lineage, citing prominent ancestors. Lineage was very important to the Nephites; Amulek’s was impressive. He introduced himself as a prominent citizen of Ammonihah, having obtained his wealth through hard work.
Next, Amulek testified that although he had not been taught the ways of the Lord, he did know that the Lord preserved the people and said that he himself had witnessed the Lord’s Power.
One of the first ways the people of Ammonihah had mocked Alma was to say he was the only one witnessing. Now they had the witness of a respected, wealthy, prominent citizen. It is not surprising, thinking now that they had lost the one-witness argument that they “began to be astonished.”
And they continued to be amazed at the things that Amulek and Alma told them—things that were said by the Spirit of prophecy (the testimony of Jesus Christ witnessed by the Holy Ghost).
Finally, Amulek began bearing witness. He admitted he had not listened to the Lord at first, but that he had now repented. He began testifying to the truth of everything Alma had taught.
Amulek was filled with the Holy Ghost. He could see clearly the spiritual (as well as physical) danger his fellow citizens were in and he wanted them to be converted as he had been—so they could gain spiritualSalvation and physical safety.
The lawyers were beginning to see a source of income disappearing. If people became converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the lawyers might be out of business! Some lawyers began to question Alma and Amulek, trying to trip them up on their words; then they could have witnesses testify against them on fabricated charges.
These deceitful lawyers were completely unaware of Amulek’s “secret weapon.” Amulek had the Power of the Holy Ghost. He knew what they were thinking and confronted them with their own plan.
Amulek warned his listeners that if they cast out the righteous, although they would not be destroyed by flood as in Noah’s day, they would be “smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword.”
Discounting Amulek’s points, the lawyers grabbed onto the idea that Amulek was criticizing their government. Notice they did not deny their wickedness; they simply ignored the points and attacked Amulek.
Amulek returned the conversation to his original points, particularly noting that they let Satan and bad people be their models and were blindly following them in wickedness rather than listening to the truth.
Amulek pointed out that he did not talk against their law but for it. He also told them that the lawyers and judges were perverting a good form of government and intimated that the plans wicked lawyers and judges were making to overthrow the Nephite nation would cause the destruction of Ammonihah.
Ignoring what Amulek said in his call for repentance, the people repeated their accusations against him, deliberately paying no attention to what he said, and stubbornly sticking to the false points the lawyers had “put into their hearts.”
The lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him, and Zeezrom was one of the most financially successful lawyers in the city.
Zeezrom was the strongest and most expert lawyer to accuse Alma and Amulek. He understood and used the “art” of deception better than his fellow lawyers.
CHAPTER 11
Mormon reviewed the premise of paying judges and lawyers for their work, according to the plan King Mosiah set forth. He explained the judges’ authority and their wages.
The judges and lawyers of Ammonihah caused as much trouble among the people as possible—because they were paid for each time they were employed or were in court arguing cases—and they cared more about money than about justice.
Zeezrom’s goal was to “destroy that which was good,” according to the policy and device of the devil. He asked if Amulek would agree to answer any question put to him. Amulek said he would, according to the Spirit of the Lord, “for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord."
Because money was the Ammonihah lawyers’ major goal, it was not surprising that Zeezrom, the most successful lawyer in Ammonihah, immediately tried to bribe Amulek to deny his testimony.
Already a wealthy man, Amulek demonstrated that he was willing to give up everything he had to serve the Lord. Zeezrom’s offer was no consideration to him. More than rejecting the offer, Amulek stated that he recognized that the offer came from the devil and he knew why the devil used Zeezrom to make it.
Because Zeezrom was a man who was “expert in the devices of the devil," it also was not surprising that he was planning to cheat Amulek even if Amulek had accepted his nefarious offer. Amulek called him on this. When Zeezrom saw that it was not doing him any good to try to bribe Amulek, he went back to his “twisted questioning techniques.”
Amulek recounted very powerful truths. An angel taught him, and as he spoke, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost could—and did—bring all things to his remembrance.
Even though God the Father is the Father of our spirits, He gave His Son, the Lord Jehovah, the mission and the authority to be Creator, or the “Eternal Father,” of the Heaven and Earth. Also remember that “Eternal” is one name-title for God. This same Lord Jehovah is Jesus Christ. With the direction of Heavenly Father, He created our Earthly bodies!
Jesus Christ was our Heavenly Father’s first spirit Son and His only mortally begotten Son. Although we are younger spirit siblings of Jesus Christ, we also become His “sons and daughters” as we follow Him and obey His commandments and gain an inheritance with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Amulek made clear that it is necessary for us to do our part, by believing in Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments (We are told many places in the scriptures, including the fourth Article of Faith, that to show our sincere belief in Jesus Christ by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and living by the gift of the Holy Ghost), and then Jesus Christ, through His Atonement will pay for our transgressions—and we will have Eternal Life.
Amulek made clear that those who choose to remain wicked will not be redeemed in their sins, although everyone will be resurrected, or be loosed from the bands of temporal death.
CHAPTER 12
Alma must have been very gratified when Amulek stood up in the strength of the Lord to testify of the Gospel, confounding even Zeezrom, who was supposed to be one of the best lawyers in the land.
As Amulek turned the time back over to Alma to further explain the scriptures, Zeezrom was trembling and humbled, entirely different from the arrogant lawyer who first confronted Amulek.
Because of his background and conversion, Alma knew Satan had Zeezrom in his camp as he had once had Alma. Alma wanted to help rescue Zeezrom and as many of God’s children as would listen—for their own Salvation.
Alma let Zeezrom clearly know that he had not only lied to men but to God, and that both Alma and Amulek, by the Power of the Holy Ghost, knew Zeezrom’s thoughts. Although Alma spoke to Zeezrom, a great multitude of people heard the speech; Alma spoke to the crowd as well as to Zeezrom personally.
Alma told Zeezrom that he was a pawn of the devil, who was no friend to Zeezrom or to anyone. Alma wanted Zeezrom saved from the awful devil who was using Zeezrom to further his wicked designs.
Zeezrom was frightened. He was now convinced of the Power of God and that Alma and Amulek knew his thoughts and intents. And they did!—by the Spirit of prophecy (They were filled with the Holy Ghost, assuring them of firm testimonies of the Savior, Jesus Christ). Unknown to Satan, Zeezrom had a chink in his hardened heart—and he began believing the missionaries in earnest and he began to ask sincere questions.
Alma went straight to the point, leaving no doubt of what would happen if people made the choice not to hear the mysteries of God and chose to live, disobeying His holy commandments. .
Alma recapped Amulek’s words: Everyone would eventually be resurrected and brought before the bar of God to be judged for “our works." Those who come before God, having allowed their hearts to be hardened against the Holy Spirit will be condemned. They will actually condemn themselves by their words, deeds, and thoughts.
Alma explained the difference between temporal and spiritual death and how awful we will feel at the Judgment of God if we choose separation from God by our wicked thoughts, words, and works.
Alma reminded listeners that rocks would not cover wickedness. The unrepentant must stand, in their shame, before the great and good glory of God and acknowledge that they could have repented and that God’s judgments are just.
Notice that in Alma’s explanation, rests the truth that if we come before the Lord at the Judgment Day, having been true to our belief in Him, “He has all Power to save every man that believeth on His name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance."
Alma explained the final “spiritual death” or “second death” is when one willfully separates himself or herself from God.
The people of Ammonihah had the Holy Scriptures among them. A person named Antionah, a chief ruler among the people, asked Alma a searching and complex question. Alma explained the scriptures to him and to the others.
Alma told the people of Ammonihah that this life was a time to prepare to meet God, to prepare for that endless state that comes after the Resurrection of the dead. “… if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable,
having no preparatory state…and thus the Plan of Redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect.
Alma told the people of Ammonihah that God sent angels to tell His children on Earth of the great Plan of Salvation. As Alma had occasion to know personally, angels were still conversing with humankind (and still are!), speaking through the Power of the Holy Ghost, bringing God’s messages and encouraging people to come back to Him.
The people of Ammonihah were given every chance to “soften their hearts,” repent, and then to start living righteously. Wickedness is obviously not allowed in the Kingdom of God, but Christ’s suffering Atonement allows for all of us to gain Eternal Life if we so choose. No wonder God was angry with their evil behavior. He told them frankly that if they chose to live wickedly, they could not come back to live with Him.
Alma summarized his own words and the words of Amulek—which were words given to them from God. He called on the people to repent, soften their hearts, and to return to the Lord—that they might save themselves both temporally and spiritually.
