Of the five, Alma(2) apparently was the most wicked. We learn little of the sons of Mosiah at this time. Mormon tells us about Alma(2)’s skill with words and how influential they were. He must have been the leader of this effective band. The sons of Mosiah heard and saw everything he did, but they did not suffer the same effects. They kept their strength and faculties. They were able to carry Alma(2) to his father. They were able to recount the events that occurred.
Alma(2) had to suffer and experience more. He spent three days in something like a coma, experiencing the power of the Lord. After two days of fasting and prayer, Alma(2) awakes and begins to proclaim the word of God.
24 For, said he,
I have repented of my sins,
and have been redeemed of the Lord;
behold I am born of the Spirit.
25 And the Lord said unto me:
Marvel not that all mankind,
yea, men and women,
all nations, kindreds, tongues and people,
must be born again;
yea, born of God,
changed from their carnal and fallen state,
to a state of righteousness,
being redeemed of God,
becoming his sons and daughters;
26 And thus they become new creatures;
and unless they do this,
they can in nowise
inherit the kingdom of God.
27 I say unto you,
unless this be the case,
they must be cast off;
and this I know, because
I was like to be cast off.
Mosiah 27:24-27 (Emphasis mine)
I have repented and been redeemed of the Lord. I have been born again. His joy is reminiscence of David’s words, “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me” (Psalms 49:15). Peter proclaimed to those who gathered after he healed the lame that they should “[r]epent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
We all must be born again, be changed from a “carnal and fallen state to a state of righteousness.” Being born again brings a powerful change in a person. Christ taught this when Nicodemus came to him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(John 3:3-7)
Alma(2) would later refer to this experience when he was preaching to the people of Zarahemla. He asked them “have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” The Lord made it clear to Alma(2) and he to us that this cannot be just a “change.” We must experience a “mighty change.”
Corbin Volluz looks at verses 24-26 explaining the importance of this passage.
“From this key passage, we learn a number of things relevant to our discussion of the plan of redemption:
- ‘All mankind’ must be ‘changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness" in order to "inherit the kingdom of God.
- Several synonyms for this change from the carnal and fallen state to a state of righteousness are introduced:
- ‘Redeemed of God’;
- ‘Born of the Spirit’;
- ‘Born of God’;
- ‘Born again’;
- ‘Becoming [God's] sons and daughters’; and,
- ‘Becom(ing) new creatures.’
“The first phrase, ‘redeemed of God, is clearly used as an equivalent expression for the change from the carnal state to the spiritual state. The last five phrases, too, are synonymous with this redemptive change, and suggest the taking place of a divine regeneration, or renascence. These synonyms for redemption are helpful in identifying other instances in the Book of Mormon where persons experienced this profound change in their natures and were redeemed of God.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
After proclaiming what one must do to be saved, he warns us of the consequences of failing to be born again. Reject this, and you “must be cast off.” How does he know this? He tells us that he was about “to be cast off.”
John Tvedtnes writes:
“In later years, he told his son Helaman how he had been ‘racked with eternal torment, for [his] soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all [his] sins. Yea, [he] did remember all [his] sins and iniquities, for which [he] was tormented with the pains of hell’ (Alma 36:12–13). Alma dwelt on the ‘inexpressible horror’ that ‘did rack [his] soul’ (Alma 36:14; see also Alma 36:16). As he was ‘racked with torment’ and ‘harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins,’ he remembered his father's teachings of Christ, who would come ‘to atone for the sins of the world’ (Alma 36:17).” [2] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Cry Redemption: The Plan of Redemption as Taught in the Book of Mormon, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 5, 2012.
[2] The Voice of an Angel, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 5, 2012.
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