When Alma(2) and Amulek warned the people of Ammonihah that their city would be destroyed unless they repent of their wickedness, they rejected their words. They refused to change their ways. They even went so far to reinforce their evil by murdering innocent women and children by burning them.
Their day of judgment finally came.
9 And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could not destroy, because of its greatness.
10 But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the carcases were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness.
11 Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate.
12 And the Lamanites did not come again to war against the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi [About 78 B.C.]. And thus for three years did the people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land.
Alma 16:9-12 (Emphasis mine)
The city that could not be destroyed was destroyed in one day. Bodies were left strewn across the land. They were eaten by dogs and wild animals.
A while later, the dead bodies were buried in a shallow grave. The scent of decay spread through the land. It was so offensive, people avoided the land of Ammonihah for years. It became known as the Desolation of Nehors.
John Welch explains that the destruction of Ammonihah falls with the bounds of divine laws. He points out:
“When the justice of God destroyed that city, Alma effectively showed in the record that this fate befell them in accordance with divine law … The law demanded that the city should be destroyed completely by fire, ‘and it shall be a heap for ever.’ Alma records, ‘Every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, . . . [and] their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth’ (Alma 16:9-11). Alma does not say how Ammonihah was destroyed, but that fire was involved would have been normal.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
Hugh Nibley adds:
“In verse 9 we have the cursed town of the Ammonihah, where all the people were destroyed. ‘But behold, in one day it was left desolate.’ Here's an interesting thing. They are going to give it a name; they are going to call it desolation. Verse 11: ‘Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth. . . . And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate.’ … This is a Book of Mormon custom—‘the land desolation.’ There is lots of desolation and lots of land Bountiful here. ‘And their lands remained desolate.’ “[2] (Emphasis mine)
13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.
14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons, continually.
15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.
16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—
17 That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
Alma 16:13-17 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) and Amulek continued preaching to the people. They preached to all who would hear. They had success and the church was established throughout the land.
One of the hallmarks of the church was that all we equal. The Spirit poured out upon the people and they were prepared to hear the word.
Hugh Nibley observes:
“Alma and Amulek went forth, and also many more went forth to preach. So they started a motion going. In verse 15 many went forth to preach after their example. So they established the church throughout all the land, and it ‘became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites [this is wonderful; this movement spread] And there was no inequality among [all the people].’ Whoever thought it would end up that way? But there was still preparation, and we are still being prepared. ‘The Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming.’ That was to be seventy-eight years later. (We are still being prepared; we haven't gone all the way.)…” [3] (Emphasis mine)
[1] The Destruction of Ammonihah and the Law of Apostate Cities, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 10, 2011.
[2] Lecture 50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 10, 2011.
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