Alma 32:8-14

Alma(2) begins preaching to the poor Zoramites.

8  I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.

9  Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.

10  Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

11  And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?

Alma 32:8-11 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) began by stating he felt that they were lowly in heart; if he’s correct, they are blessed. 

Then, he begins to address the question – “What shall we do?”

He asks two important questions.  First, do they believe that they must be in a synagogue to worship God?  Second, do they believe they should only worship God on day a week? 

3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:3-5 (Emphasis mine)

Richard Rust looks at Alma(2)’s approach.

“Alma's text is the people themselves: ‘I behold that ye are lowly in heart. . . . It is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom’ (Alma 32:8, 12). The logical structure of his argument is cause and effect: (1) Their coarse apparel caused the poor Zoramites to be cast out of the synagogues they had helped build. (2) That expulsion leads to their being outside at the hill Onidah, feeling that they have no place to worship. (3) Because the poor Zoramites are thus humbled, they are prepared to hear the word. (4) Hearing the word can lead them to salvation. Alma puts it this way: ‘And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved’ (Alma 32:13).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

12  I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

13  And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

14  And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

Alma 32:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

I would imagine the people were somewhat surprise when Alma(2) says that it’s a good thing that you were cast out of the synagogues and despised of your brethren.  He explains that, because of these experiences, they are humble and ready to learn wisdom, which is necessary for them.  Now that they are humble, they will seek repentance and find mercy.  If they endure to the end, they shall be saved.

13  ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 (Emphasis mine)

8  Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 16:8 (Emphasis mine)

11  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

Proverbs 28:11 (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley observes:

“Of course, they couldn't go in because they didn't observe dress standards. Remember, they were cast out because of the coarseness of their apparel. The dress standards were very strict … These Zoramites were people with their own traditions, and they were remarkable people—you must give them that … Well, what's wrong with these people? … It was all on this vulgar display and how much they could pile up, this invidious comparison. This was what was wrong, and this is what sickened Alma … He said, you should be glad you are cast out of the synagogues; I have a surprise for you. You don't have to go to the sacred centers in order to worship. You are compelled to be humble, and that's good. If you're compelled to be humble you seek repentance.“ [2] (Emphasis mine)

Daniel Peterson writes:

“Accordingly, no price is too high to pay, if it will bring us to attain wisdom. ‘I say unto you,’ Alma the Younger remarked to the poor among the Zoramites in the context of a discussion centering on a seed and on the tree of life that could be nourished out of it, ‘it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom’ (Alma 32:12). Confident in the quality of what she has to offer, Wisdom … invites others to partake…” [3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" – Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 28, 2011.

[2] Lecture 55: Alma 32-35, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 28, 2011.

[3] Nephi and His Asherah, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 28, 2011.