Chapter 35
The preaching of the word destroys the craft of the Zoramites—They expel the converts, who then join the people of Ammon in Jershon—Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the people. About 74 B.C.
1 NOW it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon.
2 Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon.
3 And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words.
4 And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken.
Alma 35:1-4 (Emphasis mine)
After Amulek finished, the missionary effort ended and all returned to Jershon.
Meanwhile, the Zoramites got together and talked over what had happened. For them, one of the worst possible things had just happened. The missionary effort destroyed their priestcraft. They no longer were able to use their religion and preaching to make a living. They realized they could no longer live off the people.
This, of course, upset them. They had to decide how to deal with this serious problem and the preaching of Alma(2), Amulek, and their brethren.
Sherrie Mills Johnson explains the concerns of the leaders.
“After preaching, Alma and Amulek and the other missionaries traveled to Jershon, where the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi lived. Their departure should have made the ruling Zoramites happy: the offensive missionaries were gone. However, the ‘more popular part of the Zoramites’ were angry because the missionaries' message "’id destroy their craft’ (Alma 35:3). This may indicate that the Zoramite belief system was somehow holding the poor in check, that the teachings of Jesus Christ convinced the oppressed Zoramites of the error of the belief system, and that they were no longer willing to buy into the system and continue to serve the elite as they had done.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
5 Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.
6 And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of Jershon.
7 And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.
Alma 35:5-7 (Emphasis mine)
So what do you do when many of your people have accepted a belief and faith that is destroying your lifestyle? Simple. You spy on them and identify who these people are. Once we’ve found identified these dissidents, we drive them out of our city. We rid ourselves of the problem.
Hugh Nibley comments:
“The authorities, ‘their rulers and their priests and their teachers,’ without letting the public know what they were doing, secretly started checking up on everybody, ‘therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people’ (Alma 35:5). Anyone known to have been sympathetic to the teachings of the missionaries, ‘those who were in favor of the words . . . spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many’ (Alma 35:6). It will be recalled that the Nephites considered it ‘strictly contrary to the commands of God’ that there should be any ‘law against a man's belief’ (Alma 30:7—11). But these people had dissented away from the Nephites in preference for a way of life that combined a great display of religious piety with an even more impressive display of clothes and jewelry … Such people were in no mood to listen to ‘the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words’ (Alma 35:3). All this is relevant to show that behind the great war that follows there is an "ideological" conflict.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
[1] The Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 10, 2011.
[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 10, 2011.
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