Alma 4:11-20

¹¹ And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year [83 B.C.], Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people. ¹² Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.

¹³ Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy; ¹⁴ Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.

Alma 4:11-14 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) “saw the wickedness in the church.”  He was concerned because “the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people” (verse 11). This was a serious problem for the church.  We will see this problem arise during Alma(2)’s mission to the Zoramites.  This occurred when Corianton used the services of a local prostitute.  Alma(2) would tell him “[s]uffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots.   Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words” (Alma 39:11).  It is amazing deeply sinful acts by those who claim to be believers hurt the work of the Lord.  Much hard work and success can be undone by one thoughtless person committing sinful acts.

Then we see another sign of the Nephite iniquity.  They turned their back on the poor.  They refused to help them.  Jacob faced this problem very early in Nephite history.  He told his people that he desired that the Lord “would rid you from this iniquity and abomination.  And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!  Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you” (Jacob 2:16-17).

King Benjamin spent time reminding the people of their obligations to the poor.  He told that he told them these things “for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants” (Mosiah 4:26).  He also told the people that anyone who ignored the needs of the poor “hath no interest in the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 4:18). 

The humble members of the church were disturbed by the wickedness of the people.  They continued to support the poor, “imparting their substance … feeding the hungry and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake” (verse 13).  They accepted King Benjamin’s promise, “[l]ooking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins” (verse 14).

¹⁵ And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.  ¹⁶And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. ¹⁷ Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment–seat to judge and to govern the people.

Alma 4:15-17 (Emphasis mine)

The time had come for Alma(2) to do something.  He saw “the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them.”  He was also concerned about the inequality among the people.  In this dispensation, the Lord told Joseph Smith “it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin” (D&C 49:20).

As Alma(2) considered what to do, he was not alone.  Mormon wrote, “the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.”  Alma(2) would give up the position of chief judge.  Daniel Peterson wrote “[a]fter only about five years, Alma₂ gave up his position as chief judge (presumably the least effective of his two offices) in order to concentrate his attention upon the high priesthood as the solution for the urgent problems that faced the Nephites (Alma 4:15—20). Never again would a Nephite king serve as both religious and temporal leader of his people.” [1]

Alma(2) selected “a wise man who was among the elders of the church” as his replacement.  Nephihah was appointed chief judge by the voice of the people. The selection of a righteous replacement was very important.

“Whether it pertains to society, church, government, military, or home, the value of righteous leadership in the narrative cannot be overstated. King Benjamin stresses it in his valedictory sermon (Mosiah 2). Concerned about the wickedness of members in the newly founded church, Alma resigns his position as chief judge to concentrate on his duties as chief priest (Alma 4:15–20). Lamanite kings who are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ risk position, power, and their very lives to act in a manner consistent with their spiritual conversion (Alma 24).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁸ Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment–seat unto Nephihah.  ¹⁹ And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. ²⁰ And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment–seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.

Alma 4:18-20 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) kept the office of high priest “that he might preach the word of God unto them.”  The time came and he stepped down so that he might “[confine] himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy” (verse 20). 

Leslie Taylor and Marilyn Arnold explain to us the importance of what Alma(2) did.

“Understanding this quality of the word of God, Alma, at an earlier time, relinquished the judgment-seat and embarked on a ministry in which he hoped to ‘pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them’ (Alma 4:19).” [3]    (Emphasis mine)

“The second Alma knew that power. He said that ‘the preaching of the word … had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them’ (Alma 31:5). It was Alma's conviction of the word's capacity to change people that prompted him to leave the Nephite judgment seat and go forth to ‘preach the word of God … bearing down in pure testimony’ in an effort to ‘stir [his people] up in remembrance of their duty’ (Alma 4:19).” [4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 1, 2012.

[2] Prospering in the Land of Promise, Steven L. Olsen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.

[3] The Word of God, Leslie A. Taylor, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.

[4] The Book of Mormon: Passport to Discipleship, Marilyn Arnold, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.