Alma 46:38-41, 47:1-4

³⁸ And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.

³⁹ And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing. ⁴⁰ And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—⁴¹ But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.

Alma 46:38-41 (Emphasis mine)

Peace reigns in the land.  Helaman and his high priests “maintain[ed] order in the church.”  This lasted for four years.

Mormon then tells us that many died during this time.  They died firm in their faith, “believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.”

Moroni would quote his father, emphasizing the importance of faith in Christ.  Speaking to the church, he told them “that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven … And what is it that ye shall hope for?  Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise” (Moroni 7:3, 41).

Jennifer Clark Lane writes about souls being redeemed by Christ.

“The person who carries this responsibility [redemption made out of family obligation or responsibility] is known as the go'el, the present participle of ga'al. The go'el was a person's closest relative who was ‘responsible for standing up for him and maintaining his rights.’ a responsibility based on feelings of tribal unity. Basic duties of the go'el were: (1) to buy back sold property; (2) to buy back a man who had sold himself to a foreigner as a slave; (3) to avenge blood and kill a relative's murderer; (4) to receive atonement money; and, figuratively, (5) to be a helper in a lawsuit…

“The texts that we have examined show this pattern of adoptive redemption. Abraham, Jacob, Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and the peoples of King Benjamin and Alma all believed that Christ was their go'el or redeemer. They entered into adoptive covenants, received new names, and believed that this adoptive relationship would allow the Lord to act as their go'el and redeem them. These people experienced this redemption; they either saw Jesus in the flesh or ‘died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing’ (Alma 46:39).”[1] (Emphasis mine)

Mormon gives us some insight to health care among the Nephites.  Some died of “fevers.”  This apparently was a seasonal occurrence, as Mormon wrote that these fevers were “at some seasons of the year … very frequent in the land.”  This is not unknown to us today.  For example, flu tends to be a seasonal disease, tied to winter.  We get our flu shots in the fall to protect us from current strain of flu virus that is expected to strike in the winter.

The Nephite doctors were able to save many patients “because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of the diseases.”  There is a hint in the statement that God had helped move forward Nephite medical knowledge.

Many died of old age.  Those “who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.”  The Lord would reveal His word to John in Revelation:  “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

Chapter 47

Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites—The Nephite dissenters are more wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites. About 72 B.C.

¹ NOW we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.  ² And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives.  And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.

³ And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.  ⁴ Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.

Alma 47:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

The record now returns to Amalickiah.  During this time of peace, he was actively plotting while among the Lamanites.  He was “stir[ring] up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi.”

The king “sent a proclamation throughout all his land … that [his people] should gather themselves together again to battle against the Nephites.”  Unfortunately, they remembered that results of the last war, that they had suffered a massive defeat.  Mormon records that “when [Moroni(1)] saw their terror, [he] commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood” (Alma 43:54).  That fear was still there.

“The more part of them” refused to king’s order.  They would not arm for war. 

Amalickiah was nothing if not consistent in all that he did.  He was given command over the part of the army who obeyed the king’s command.  He took this army and forced those who disobeyed to take up arms.  His plan to dethrone the king of the Lamanites was working.  “When he was among the Nephites, he flattered many ‘that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people’ (Alma 46:5). In Lamanite society, Amalickiah ‘did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites’ issued a call for war against the Nephites (Alma 47:1). He then resorted to tactics of deception and murder to gain initial control of the Lamanite troops and the favor of the Lamanite queen (see Alma 47). “[2]

---

[1] The Lord Will Redeem His People: Adoptive Covenant and Redemption in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon, Jennifer Clark Lane, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 31, 2012.

[2] The Impact of Shifting Cultural Assumptions on the Military Policies Directing Armed Conflict Reported in the Book of Alma, Matthew M. F. Hilton, and Neil J. Flinders
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 31, 2012.

Alma 46:28-37

²⁸  And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.  ²⁹ And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites—and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken—therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.

Alma 46:28-29 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) recruited from all parts of the land “where there were dissensions.”  He was able to get an army of people “who were desirous to maintain their liberty.”  He put together an army who were ready to fight for their freedom.

Amalickiah realized that Moroni(1)’s army was more numerous and stronger than his.  He realized his own people had doubts.  Mormon tells us “his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken.”  “This effort by Moroni succeeded in thwarting Amalickiah's attempt to usurp control of the Nephite government. Amalickiah then decided to lead his dissenters to join the Lamanites,”[1]

Hugh Nibley sums up where things stand.

“Amalickiah wasn't able to pull it off among his own people. In Alma 46:29 it tells us that his own people were doubtful concerning the justice of his cause. He was a very, very smooth man, a skillful talker, it says. But still they knew he wasn't honest. Boy, you are going to see some tricks now. Some fled with him to the land of Nephi among the Lamanites and they started stirring up the Lamanites to anger by spreading dirty stories and rumors.”[2] (Emphasis mine)

³⁰ Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.  ³¹ Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace—and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness. ³² And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.

Alma 46:30-32 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) was concerned about an alliance between Amalickiah and the Lamanites.  Moroni had faced the Lamanites once before.  He knew “the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites;” (Alma 43:51).  He wanted to cut them off and prevent them from making this alliance.  His desire was to bring the fleeing people back and “put Amalickiah to death.” 

He organized his armies, gathered them together, and armed them.  They “entered into a covenant to keep the peace.”  He did not want war.  Lynn Wardle explains “the righteous only resort to slaying dissenters when the dissenters had undertaken to do something that immediately and seriously threatened the lives and liberties of the righteous innocent who would not agree with the dissenters. Thus, Moroni did not use military force against Amalickiah until Amalickiah had departed with his followers for the land of Nephi, where he intended to (and later did) strengthen the armies of the Lamanites and stir them up to attack the Nephites (Alma 46:30–31).”[3]

³³ And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla.  ³⁴ Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.  ³⁵ And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom. 

³⁶ And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.  ³⁷ And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges [72 B.C.].

Alma 46:33-37 (Emphasis mine)

When the armies met, a few men, including Amalickiah were able to escape.  The rest were taken back to Zarahemla to answer for their actions.  Moroni(1) was given the authority to deal with the dissenters.  This came from the chief judges and the voice of the people.

John Welch explains the legal matters the Nephites were facing.

“Captain Moroni exercised legal authority over the dissenters who had taken up arms and left with Amalickiah to join the Lamanites but who were soon captured (see Alma 46:29-35). Though no trials were held for these king-men dissenters, Moroni was not usurping legal authority in acting as he did. The record is careful to state that the chief judges and the voice of the people had expressly given Moroni plenary power ‘to exercise authority over [the armies of the Nephites]’ (Alma 46:34). The dissenting soldiers were clearly guilty of disloyalty or treason against the state. The chief captain's handling of the matter was expedient, simple, fair, and within his jurisdiction. He gave the rebel soldiers the choice of either entering ‘into a covenant to support the cause of freedom’ or of being put to death (Alma 46:35).”[4] (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) had the Title of Liberty on “every tower which was in all the land.”  The year ended with “peace again in the land.”

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[1] Dissent: Perspectives from the Book of Mormon, Lynn D. Wardle, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 30, 2012.

[2] Lecture 64: Alma 47, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 30, 2012.

[3] Dissent: Perspectives from the Book of Mormon, Lynn D. Wardle, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 30, 2012.

[4] Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 30, 2012.

Alma 45:19-24

¹⁹ And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

²⁰ Behold, whosoever will maintain

   this title upon the land,

   let them come forth

      in the strength of the Lord,

   and enter into a covenant

   that they will

      maintain their rights,

      and their religion,

   that the Lord God may bless them.

²¹ And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.

Alma 46:19-21 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) went “forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air.”  He was calling on the people to fulfill their duty, to protect their society.  

He proclaimed to the people “whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord.”  He was making it clear that they would be fighting for a holy purpose.

Donald W. Parry discusses symbolic actions like this.

“Book of Mormon prophets carried on the Old World tradition of performing symbolic actions that revealed a prophetic curse. The incident of the title of liberty was much more than a rally behind a standard. Moroni rent his coat, wrote upon it the title of liberty, placed it upon a pole, and ‘went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see’ (Alma 46:19). After this dramatic act, Moroni likened his rent coat to the garment of Joseph that had been rent by Joseph's brothers and proclaimed, ‘Let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain’ (Alma 46:23). A curse is clearly implied. Those who fail to keep the commandments of God would be imprisoned, sold, or slain.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

The people “came running together,” dressed for war.  They also rent their garments as a covenant “they would not forsake the Lord their God.”  They covenanted that if they broke their covenant they had made, “the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.”

“The covenant of the Nephite people, then, was not allegiance to a man, such as Moroni, nor to a government position, such as the office of chief judge, held by Nephihah and Pahoran. Instead, the covenants and commitments were made directly to God, to whom the people believed they were personally accountable. Again, this allegiance reflected a deep-seated commitment to the vertical rather than a horizontal tradition based on individual or institutional allegiance.”[2] (Emphasis mine)

²² Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.  ²³ Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.

²⁴ Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed.  And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.

Alma 46:22-24 (Emphasis mine)

When the people arrived, they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni(1).  This was a traditional sign of approval.  When Stephen was martyred, those stoning him cast their garments at the feet of Saul.  “And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him” (Acts 22:20).

They made a covenant that “we shall be destroyed … if we shall fall into transgression.”  William Hamblin tells us:

“Nephite armies consulted prophets before going to battle (Alma 16:5; 43:23—24; 3 Ne. 3:19) and entered into covenants with God before battle. On one occasion, the Nephite soldiers swore a solemn oath, covenanting to obey God's commandments and to fight valiantly for the cause of righteousness, casting their garments on the ground at the feet of their leader and inviting God to cast themselves likewise at the feet of their enemies if they should violate their oath (Alma 46:22; cf. 53:17).”[3] (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) reminded them “we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces.”  He was tying what he was doing to Joseph. 

“While many of Joseph's posterity were among the ten tribes of Israel taken into captivity about 722 B.C. (2 Kgs. 17:5—6), a few descendants had settled in Jerusalem some 200 years earlier (cf. 2 Chr. 15:9—10). From those came the Book of Mormon leaders Lehi and Ishmael, who, about 600 B.C., led their families to the Western Hemisphere. Their descendants were later called ‘a remnant of the seed of [Joseph]’ (Alma 46:23—24).”[4] (Emphasis mine)

“Using a remnant of his coat as a title of liberty, Moroni reminds the people that they are a remnant of Joseph and perhaps fulfill a prophecy of the biblical patriarch Jacob concerning a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph that was preserved and had not decayed. ‘Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved,’ Moroni quotes Jacob as saying, ‘so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment’ (Alma 46:24).”[5] (Emphasis mine)

As a part of the covenant, the people said, “we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward,” Who are these brethren?  “Unquestionably, the reference is to the Jaredites. The only reason apparent to me why the term ‘brethren’ would be applied by Nephites to Jaredites is because the former recognized that some of the people living with them were descended from the Jaredites.”[6]

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[1] Symbolic Action as Prophetic Curse, Donald W. Parry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

[2] The Impact of Shifting Cultural Assumptions on the Military Policies Directing Armed Conflict Reported in the Book of Alma, Matthew M. F. Hilton, and Neil J. Flinders, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

[3] Warfare in the Book of Mormon, William J. Hamblin, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

[4] Joseph of Egypt, Joseph F. McConkie, James R. Clark, and Liesel C. McBride, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

[5] "Not Cast Off Forever" – Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

[6] When Lehi's Party Arrived in the Land, Did They Find Others There? John L. Sorenson,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 28, 2012.

Alma 46:11-18

A hero was need and one stepped up to fight for freedom.

¹¹ And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah. ¹² And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

¹³ And he fastened on his head–plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—¹⁴ For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.

¹⁵ And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.  ¹⁶ And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.

Alma 46:11-16 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) heard about the dissensions, and he became angry over the situation.  Hugh Nibley tells us his response “was that of a man caught off guard by acts of such vicious and deceitful nature that his own guileless spirit was slow to anticipate what it was loathe to attribute to any fellow creature…”[1]  He tore off a piece of his coat and wrote on it “[i]n memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.”  “This vividly recalls the inscriptions that the ancient Jews would put on their banners and trumpets before going out to war,”[2]

Moroni(1) had used this language before.  When commanding Zerahemnah to surrender, he told him “I command you, in the name of that all–powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us—“ (Alma 44:5) (Emphasis mine).

“Portions of clothes also figure interestingly in the Book of Mormon. Captain Moroni rallies the people to the cause of liberty by tearing a piece from his coat and writing upon it, ‘In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children’ (Alma 46:12). He fastens it upon the end of a pole and then goes forth among the people,”[3]

He put on his uniform of war, took the pole and the Title of Liberty, and “prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren for so long as there should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land.” 

“No one saw more clearly than Moroni where this was leading—all that he had achieved with great toil and danger was going to be thrown away if he did not act quickly. ‘Angry with Amalickiah,’ (Alma 46:11), he reacted with that speed and decision which is the mark of the great leader in the field. Raising his ‘Title of Liberty’ according to the ancient custom and as the type of the torn garment of the outcast Joseph, and the symbol of the poor and outcast of Israel, he announced to the people, ‘Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down … until we bring it upon [ourselves]’ (Alma 46:18).”[4] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁷ And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.  ¹⁸ And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.

Alma 46:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) named the land south of Desolation, “all the land, both on the north and on the south-A chosen land, and the land of liberty.”  Desolation is a land “being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing (Alma 22:30).

He had faith that God “shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions” (verse 18).  He had faith that they only way the Nephites would be destroyed only because “we bring it on us by our own transgression.”

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[1] Freemen and King-men in the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2012.

[2] Ibid.

[3] "Not Cast Off Forever" – Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2012.

[4] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2012.

Alma 46:4-10

⁴ And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.  ⁵ And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.  ⁶ Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.

⁷ And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.

Alma 46:4-7 (Emphasis mine)

We learn that the leader of the opposition, Amalickiah, wanted to be king.  His followers wanted to make him king.  We also see the lower judges of the land wanted more power, so they supported.  “Inasmuch as the lower judges of the land favored these objectives (see Alma 46:4), those associated with the order of Nehor may have at least influenced, if not corrupted, the legal society of the Nephites at large.”[1]

Amalickiah used flattery to get his support.  He promised the judges powers.  The church was not immune.  In spite of the efforts of Helaman(2) and the elders and priests, there were people who “dissented even from the church.”

We see the wisdom in warnings we received about flattery. 

For there is no faithfulness

   in their mouth;

their inward part

   is very wickedness;

their throat

   is an open sepulchre;

   they flatter

      with their tongue.

(Psalms 5:9)

Nevertheless they did flatter

him with their mouth,

   and they lied

   unto him

      with their tongues.

For their heart

   was not right with him,

neither were they

   stedfast in his covenant.

(Psalms 78:36-37)

Solomon warned “[a] lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin” (Proverbs 26:28).  Nephi warned us that the devil “flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance” (2 Nephi 28:22). 

Hugh Nibley tells us:

“Helaman's unyielding position became a great annoyance to those people whose hearts were set on the things of the new prosperity, and they formed an opposition party under Amalickiah (Alma 46:1—3). His object was to become king, and he had started out as head of the most violent of the factions, organized in high anger and out to kill, ‘gathered together against their brethren . . . exceedingly wroth . . . determined to slay them’ (Alma 46:1—3). To these, by promises of high office and power, he added a host of ambitious local officials, … These were those lawmen who had plotted against Helaman's father, Alma, when he had been the head of the state, and of whom he had said, ‘The foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges’ (Alma 10:27). To the royalists and ambitious lawyers Amalickiah added a third force, ‘those people who professed the blood of nobility’ (Alma 51:21). Such would have been the great families, the ‘kindreds’ of 3 Nephi 6:27. Finally, there were ‘many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah,’ who obviously told them what they wanted to hear (Alma 46:7).

“It was a dangerous coalition to be threatening a government which had barely succeeded in making a precarious peace with a foreign enemy of vastly superior forces, ‘and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous’ (Alma 46:7).”[2] (Emphasis mine)

Mormon interrupts the record with his observation:

⁸ Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.  ⁹ Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.

¹⁰ Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake.

Alma 46:8-10 (Emphasis mine)

The people had won a major victory over the Lamanites with the help of the Lord.  They were a righteous people.  Now, along comes one wicked man.  He is able to tear apart the whole fabric of society.  We now have a divided society.  We have righteous people who quick to “forget the Lord their God” and “quick to do iniquity,” all because of one evil man.

Mosiah(2)’s words to the people when he was abolishing the monarchy rings true here.  “For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!  Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people.  Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage” (Mosiah 29:17-18).

Not only did Mosiah(2) have the example of Noah, he was very mindful of the Jaredite experience, having translated that record.  We read about a people who have kings who are overthrown by others, who live and act as king while in captivity.  This division eventually led to the collapse of the Jaredite civilization. 

Nephite society is facing a major threat.  A righteous hero is needed.  And, a hero steps forward to lead the people.

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[1] The Impact of Shifting Cultural Assumptions on the Military Policies Directing Armed Conflict Reported in the Book of Alma, Matthew M. F. Hilton, and Neil J. Flinders, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 26, 2012.

[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 26, 2012.

Alma 45:20-24; 46:1-3

²⁰ And now it came to pass in the commencement of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges [73 B.C.] over the people of Nephi, that Helaman went forth among the people to declare the word unto them.  ²¹ For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church.  ²² Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi.  And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches.  ²³ And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his brethren had appointed priests and teachers over the churches that there arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman and his brethren;  ²⁴ But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God.

Alma 45:20-24 (Emphasis mine)

After being made high priest, Helaman(1) began preaching to the people, declaring the word of the Lord to them.  This was done because “the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5).

Helaman made “a regulation” for the church and appointed teachers and priests through the land.

Lynn Wardle wrote about dissension in the Book of Mormon.

“In Moroni's day it was not merely the secular authorities (generals and chief judges) who established the peace. The high priest of the church, Helaman, worked closely with Moroni to quell dissent. Before the lengthy Nephite-Lamanite wars began, he tried to set the church in order because the dissensions that soon were to plague the nation were evident in the church (Alma 45:20–22) … The establishment of peace did not merely mean that the Lamanites were defeated, but also that the gospel was widely preached and that the people repented (Alma 62:45–51)…

“It is noteworthy that dissension in the Nephite church was associated with contention in the nation (Alma 45:21–46:7; Helaman 4:1). In other words, there may be a spill-over effect. The spillage may move in both directions. For instance, dissension within the church preceded (and perhaps spiritually caused) the great civil dissensions that soon plagued the entire Nephite nation as it plunged into a terribly destructive series of wars with the Lamanites, who were led and strengthened by Nephite dissenters (Alma 45:20–24; Alma 46–62).

“Dissension in the church may develop when one prophetic administration ends and another begins. Thus, after Alma₂ turned over the management of the affairs of the church to his son, Helaman, and ‘after Helaman and his brethren had appointed priests and teachers over the churches . . . there arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman and his brethren’ (Alma 45:23). A new ‘regulation’ also was implemented by the new high priest that may have provoked dissatisfaction among some persons in the church (Alma 45:21).”[1] (Emphasis mine)

Chapter 46

Amalickiah conspires to be king—Moroni raises the title of liberty—He rallies the people to defend their religion—True believers are called Christians—A remnant of Joseph shall be preserved—Amalickiah and the dissenters flee to the land of Nephi—Those who will not support the cause of freedom are put to death. About 73–72 B.C.

¹ AND it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren.  ² And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.  ³ Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.

Alma 46:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

The opposition has organized “against their brethren.”  Their leader is Amalickiah.  Hugh Nibley explains:

“They didn't just form another party. They wanted to run the government, which is exactly what Amalickiah wanted to do. He wanted to be everything. They were ‘gathered together against their brethren … And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.’ (Alma 46:1–2.) It was going to be all out; it wasn't just going to be an election. Here [in Alma 51:7] an election was forced on them but went against them. ‘… the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen . . . Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth [here we are again], and they sought to be kings [everybody thought he was in the royal line because they were all related to the king]; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people.’ A coup is what they were after.”[2] (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley sums up our situation.

“After the postwar boom, Helaman, as the head of the church, is alarmed. He sees how the prosperity leads people to set their hearts on riches: ‘Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches’ (Alma 45:22).

”He tries to do something about it, and immediately the resentment of those whom he rebukes flares up against him. They propose an action program—quite a dangerous one. Being closely knit, interested families, they begin to organize an opposition party, and it is taken over by a man of considerable genius who is capable and unscrupulous: Amalickiah, who organized the coalition.”[3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Dissent: Perspectives from the Book of Mormon, Lynn D. Wardle, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 25, 2012.

[2] Lecture 69: Alma 49-52, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 25, 2012.

[3] Gifts, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 25, 2012.

Alma 45:12-19

¹² Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come.  ¹³ And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi.  ¹⁴ But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct.  And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled.

Alma 45:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

The Nephites have been an exceptionally blessed people.  They had great prophets.  They had light and knowledge revealed to them by these prophets.  They had righteous leaders.  They were promised prosperity if they were righteous.  They had much going for them throughout their history.  Yet, they day came that “they [sinned] against so great light and knowledge.”  All this will occur four hundred years after Christ’s appearance to the Nephites.

The Lord revealed to Nephi(1) “the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.  And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.

For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man.  And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul” (2 Nephi 26:9-11).

The Lord warned the Nephites “it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal.  And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads” (3 Nephi 27:32).

When that day comes, “those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi.  But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites,”

Mormon would write to Moroni(2), telling him “many of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee” (Moroni 9:24).

There would be some who would survive.  “[A] few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue.”  Moroni(2) was one of those disciples. After he had finished his father’s record and abridging the Jaredites records, he did not expect to survive much longer.  The first words he records in his own book tell us “after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.  For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.  And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life” (Moroni 1:1-3). 

Alma(2)’s choice of words describing the fate of the Nephites is enlightening.  He doesn’t tell us they will be destroyed or utterly destroyed.  In verses 11 and 14, he tells Helaman(2) the Nephites “shall become extinct.” 

There is finality to extinction.  When something becomes extinct, it is gone forever.  The dinosaurs are extinct.  They will never be seen on Earth again.  The dodo, passenger pigeons, and many other animals that were, at one time, numerous, are gone forever.  They will never return.  Alma(2) wants Helaman(1) (and future readers of the Book of Mormon) to understand the full and devastating consequences of Nephite sin.

¹⁵ And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed the earth for the righteous' sake.

¹⁶ And he said: Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.  ¹⁷ And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed the church, yea, all those who should stand fast in the faith from that time henceforth.

¹⁸ And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek.  And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.  ¹⁹ Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses.  But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial.

Alma 45:15-19 (Emphasis mine)

This land is a blessed land.  Lehi tells us he has “obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations” (2 Nephi 1:9).  Only those whom the Lord shall bring will come to this land. 

The Lord has expectations of those who inherit this land.  “[T]his land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Nephi 1:7).  We see an interesting choice of words on Lehi’s part.  The land will be cursed “because of iniquity.”  There will be consequences, but these cursing of the land shall be for their sakes.  These cursings can cause the people to return to the Lord and righteousness. 

Alma(2) told Helaman(1) “cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe” (Alma 37:31).

Richard Draper writes:

“Obedience brings blessings: ‘Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ’ (Ether 2:12). But disobedience brings cursings: ‘Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe’ (Alma 37:31).

“When iniquity ripens fully the cursings come. But what constitutes being ripe in iniquity? The Book of Mormon gives specific conditions: (1) when ‘the voice of this people should choose iniquity’ (Alma 10:19); (2) when the people ‘turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth’ (2 Nephi 28:16); (3) when they reject ‘every word of God’ (1 Nephi 17:35); and (4) ‘when [they] shall cast out the righteous from among [them], then shall [they] be ripe for destruction’ (Helaman 13:14).”[1] (Emphasis mine)

We are living in perilous spiritual times.  As a nation, we are going in the wrong direction.  In daily life, more and more people are choosing iniquity.  Values we have prized as a society are vanishing.  For example, marriage is becoming less valued within our society.  More and more people are foregoing marriage.  The family is becoming less important.  Morality no longer matters.  We are seeing our society become and “entitlement” society.  The government owes me something for free. 

Recently, a member of Congress held a town meeting.  At that meeting, a constituent asked, “What will the government do for me?”  We recently saw a 30-year-old adult, still in college, testified before Congress claiming the government owed her free birth control pills.

The unimaginable is becoming imaginable.  Two so-called medical ethicists from Great Britain argued newborns are not human beings and should not have the rights of a human being.  For example, they argued, if a child is born with disabilities, the parents should have the right to have the child put to death.  They were actually shocked at the outrage their proposal received.

We need to return to the Lord and become a righteous people again.

Alma(2) then vanishes from the Book of Mormon records.  He departs, heading towards Melek, and is never heard from again.  There was much speculation.  “He was taken up by the Spirit.”  He was “buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses.”  Alma(2) was received in the Spirit unto the Lord.

The truth is “we know nothing concerning his death and burial.”  One of the greatest servants of the Lord in the entire Book of Mormon is gone.

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[1] Hubris and Ate: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 24, 2012.

Alma 45:1-11

In the Weekend section of today’s Desert Morning News you find Chris Hick’s weekly column.  The headline caught my attention – Don’t Become Complacent With the Sleaze.   He told about an inappropriate video having been shown in a classroom at Roosevelt High.  He explained “the teacher is in trouble not because he chose the video or encouraged the video but because he passively allowed the video to be shown and did nothing to stop it … Let’s face it – standards in general have dropped … dramatically.” 

This caught my attention because of Alma(2)’s words and teachings, especially in chapters 5 & 7.  Mr. Hicks rightly wrote, “the world is being desensitized on YouTube video at a time.”  The wicked in Alma(2)’s day become “desensitized” to the wickedness around them.  The change from righteous to wicked was a gradual but steady change. 

He praises the young women who spoke up.  “But the good news is that in this case, at least one person in the class was offended.  And she was brave enough to speak up.”  Alma(2) would have recognized this kind of courage.  This is what he expected of followers of Christ.  They were to live the gospel in spite of the challenges around them.

Mr. Hicks closes with “if this incident serves as a reminder to the rest of us that we should not become complacent about all the sleazy garbage we are exposed to day in and day out in the name of ‘entertainment,’ then at least some good will have come of it.”

I can’t help but think Alma(2)’s looking down from heaven, delighting in the fact that there are still those who are more concerned about their values and principles than in the praise of the world.

Thanks to Chris Hicks for sharing this story.

I have been reviewing a portion of the Book of Mormon I skipped the first time I went through the end of Mosiah and the first part of Alma.  Having studied those chapters, I would like to move forward and pick up where I left off earlier.

The account of the people of Nephi, and their wars and dissensions, in the days of Helaman, according to the record of Helaman, which he kept in his days.

Comprising chapters 45 to 62 inclusive.

Chapter 45

Helaman believes the words of Alma—Alma prophesies the destruction of the Nephites—He blesses and curses the land—Alma is taken up by the Spirit, even as Moses—Dissension grows in the Church. About 73 B.C.

¹ BEHOLD, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.  ² And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?  ³ And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.

⁴ And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?  ⁵ And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.

⁶ And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?   ⁷ And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.

⁸ Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land.

Alma 45:1-8 (Emphasis mine)

The people rejoice in their deliverance from their enemies.  “They celebrated their victories not by getting drunk but with fasting and prayer (Alma 45:1).”[1] 

Alma(2)’s record had ended.  A change is occurring.  Alma(2) is turning the records over to his son Helaman(1).  He questions him, asking him about his faith.  Does he believe in Christ?  Will he keep the commandments?  He assures his father he has faith in Christ and will keep all the commandments.  His declaration of faith resembles Nephi(1)’s words to the angel when asked if he believed in his father’s words.  “And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father” (1 Nephi 11:5).

⁹ But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.  ¹⁰ And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.  ¹¹ Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—

Alma 45:9-11 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) shares a prophecy with Helaman(1); these words “shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled.”  Four hundred years after the coming of Christ, they Nephi people will be destroyed and “become extinct.”  “Alma's entire nation, if not repentant, would become extinct (see Alma 45:11, 14). This was a prophecy so horrific that he commanded Helaman not to repeat it at the time (see Alma 45:9).”[2]

The destruction of the Nephites was known by Nephi(1). Nephi(1) “saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness.  And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together.  And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren.  And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle … I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.  And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land” ” (1 Nephi 12:12-15, 19-20). 

Samuel the Lamanite would warn the Nephites that, after the coming of Christ, “four hundred years shall not pass away before I will cause that they shall be smitten; yea, I will visit them with the sword and with famine and with pestilence” (Helaman 13:9).

The time periods that are used in the Book of Mormon are complimentary to the Mayan numeration system.

“An intriguing possibility arises in connection with the prophecy of Samuel. He prophesied that ‘four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people,’ the Nephites (Helaman 13:5, 9). (He here echoes Alma(2) in Alma 45:10: The Nephites, ’in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.’) Now, in certain areas of Mesoamerica, we know of prophecies being made for several calendrical periods—one year, the 20-year (7200-day) katun, the 52-year cycle, and the 256-year period. Another major cycle in the Maya numeration system was 400 years. The 400-year prophecies by Alma(2) and Samuel would be on a potentially correct calendrical target even though so far we lack documentation from secular sources for occurrence of prophecies for a like period.”[3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Last Call: An Apocalyptic Warning from the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 23, 2012.

[2] Alma's Enemies: The Case of the Lamanites, Amlicites, and Mysterious Amalekites, J. Christopher Conkling, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 23, 2012.

[3] The Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican Record, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 23, 2012.