Alma 6:1-8

Chapter 6

The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order—Alma goes to Gideon to preach. About 83 B.C.

¹ AND now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church.  ² And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church.  ³ And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous.  ⁴ And thus they began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla.

Alma 6:1- 4 (Emphasis mine)

The sermon has ended.  Alma(2) is preparing to leave Zarahemla.  Before he leaves, he ordains priests and elders to “watch over the church” in his absence.  The Lord has said “[l]et the residue of the elders watch over the churches, and declare the word in the regions round about them; and let them labor with their own hands that there be no idolatry nor wickedness practiced” (D&C 52:39).

He had success in preaching to the people.  There were those who were not a part of the church who accepted Alma(2)’s words.  They repented, were baptized, and became a part of the church. 

There were members of the church who rejected his words.  Alma(1) had to deal with unfaithful members after he had became head of the church.  There were those who “did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church” (Mosiah 26:6).  Alma(2) did the same thing.  Those that refused to repent and change their ways had “their names blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous” (verse 3).

These people were afflicted by the destructive sin of pride.  We are are warned to beware of pride.  Proverbs tells us there are “six things doth the LORD hate:” the first being “[a] proud look” (Proverbs 6:16-17).  James warned us, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

Lehi’s tree of life vision explains how the proud act towards the righteous.  He saw “a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.  And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit … And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building.  And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not” (1 Nephi 26-27, 33).

During Nephi(1)’s vision, he was told, “the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men.  And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them…” (1 Nephi 12:18)

 Pride is one of the most, if not the most, destructive sin.  It causes us to turn away from God.  We feel we are better than everyone else.  The proud can’t celebrate in silence.  They must persecute those who are not as cool as they believe they are.  Pride is incapable of being silent.  It must attempt to destroy us as well by “mocking and pointing their fingers towards those” who are righteous. 

⁵ Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God.   ⁶ Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.

⁷ And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword.  ⁸ And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called.  And thus it is written.  Amen.

Alma 6:5-8 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon pauses his abridgement here.  He tells us that the word of God was preached to all people.  They had opportunities to meet and hear the word preached.

Alma(2) also commanded the people to meet together regularly, to fast and pray “in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.”

Fasting is an essential component of our worship.  David tells as he “humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer returned into mine own bosom” (Psalms 35:13).  Fasting is an essential part of humbling oneself and receiving the will and word of God.

The Savior set the example for us.  Before he was tempted by devil, He fasted and humbled Himself before God. “THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, [and had communed with God, he was afterwards an hungered, and was left to be tempted of the devil]” (Matthew 4:1-2, bold italics is from JST Matt. 4:2).  Only after having fasted was He prepared to face the devil.

Alma(2) made his final preparations and left the city of Zarahemla to go to the city of Gideon to preach to the church there.