Chapter 34
Amulek testifies that the word is in Christ unto salvation—Unless an atonement is made, all mankind must perish—The whole law of Moses points toward the sacrifice of the Son of God—The eternal plan of redemption is based on faith and repentance—Pray for temporal and spiritual blessings—This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God—Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. About 74 B.C.
1 AND now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying:
2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.
3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—
4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.
Alma 34:1-4 (Emphasis mine)
Amulek began preaching after Alma(2). He begins by reminding them that it was not possible that they were ignorant of Christ. He reminds them he knows they were taught this before they separated from the Nephites.
Sherrie Mills Johnson examines the Zoramite separation.
“We do not know exactly when the Zoramites separated from Nephite culture, only that Alma began his efforts to reclaim them in about 74 BC. By this time the Zoramites had built homes and synagogues and established themselves in Antionum. We do know that not too much time had elapsed since their separation because the people that Alma encountered in Antionum were of the same generation that left Zarahemla. Amulek's words to the Zoramites substantiate this: ‘I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us’ (Emphasis in original) (Alma 34:2; see 31:8—9). Amulek says that those in his audience, not their fathers or grandfathers, had been taught and then had dissented.
“Amulek's claim that the word had been taught to the Zoramites ‘bountifully’ may indicate that they were still in Zarahemla or its environs during the time of the extensive missionary labors that took place there in the seventh year of the reign of the judges (ca. 85 BC).” [1] (Emphasis mine)
Amulek challenged them to plant the word in their hearts. He challenged to “try the experiment of its goodness.”
5 And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.
6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.
7 My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.
Alma 34:5-7 (Emphasis mine)
Even having been preached to about Christ, told about his mission in life, and the atonement, the great question in their mind was will there be a Christ.
He explains that Alma(2) has proven to them that “the word is in Christ unto salvation” and he used even more evidence of the prophets. He used the words of Zenos and Zenock. He also “appealed unto Moses” to prove that Christ would come.
They had evidence. They had the word preached to them before their separation. Then they had the testimony of Alma(2). Then he told them they had words of prophets of the Lord testifying to its truthfulness.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (Emphasis mine)
John Clark wrote about the Nephite rejection of the Messiah.
“A substantial number of Nephites, at times a majority, rejected the Messiah through embracing the counter-beliefs of the dissidents identified in this study and falling away from a covenant relationship with Christ through spiritual lethargy. Amulek, in his teaching to the Zoramites, identified the issue central to the theological history of dissidents when he said, ‘We have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ’ (Alma 34:5). In answering this ‘great question,’ he went to the very heart of redemptive theology and explained the necessity for a Messiah…” [2] (Emphasis mine)
Richard Williams adds:
“Chapter 34 reframes the question of faith. The question the Zoramites had was how to plant the seed and do the experiment. Amulek, no doubt moved upon by the Spirit, tells us what the real question of faith is: ‘And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ’ (Alma 34:5).
“Faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the knowledge of him is both sure and possible. The contrast between faith as sure knowledge and the knowledge reason can provide is evident when we compare Amulek's testimony of Christ as the anchor to sure knowledge with the conclusion of many Nephites just before His coming: ‘And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: that it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come (Helaman 16:17–18). Not ‘reasonable,’ but nonetheless true.” [3] (Emphasis mine)
[1] The Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.
[2] Painting Out the Messiah: The Theologies of Dissidents, John L. Clark, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.
[3] Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.
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