Lesson 26 - Converted unto the
Lord
Purpose
To encourage class members to strengthen their conversion
and increase their
desire to help others become converted.
Scriptures
Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
·
Alma 23-24. Thousands of Lamanites
are converted after being taught by the sons of Mosiah. The converted Lamanites
call themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. As a testimony to God that they will
never again sin through the shedding of blood, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their
swords and refuse to take them up when an army of Lamanites attacks.
·
Alma 27-28. Ammon leads the
Anti-Nephi-Lehies to seek safety among the Nephites. The Nephites give the
Anti-Nephi-Lehies the land of Jershon and pledge to defend them against their
enemies. The Lamanites come again to battle against the Nephites and are defeated.
·
Alma 26, Alma 29. Ammon glories in
the Lord as he reviews the success he and his brethren have had in preaching to
the Lamanites. Alma wishes that joy might come to all through repentance and
the plan of redemption.
Suggestions for Lesson
As I’ve prepared these notes, I would like to offer some
suggestions about what is important. I
love the suggestion from the manual to ”read, ponder, and pray” as you are
preparing your lesson.
·
The story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies is a must use
story. Their faith and trust in the Lord
is an example of us today (Chapters 23-24).
·
The Nephites willingness to give the Ammonites
the land of Jershon and protect them (Chapters 27 & 28).
·
The story of the reunion of the sons of Mosiah2
and Alma2 is great story of celebration. We also see a great example of poetry in the
Book of Mormon (Chapter 26).
·
Alma2’s lamentation and rejoicing in
Chapter 29 is full of the Spirit and faith.
Chapter
23
·
What a change!
King Lamoni’s father was ready to kill Ammon earlier. Now he sends a proclamation that Ammon,
Aaron, Omner, Himni, and their brethren were free to preach in any part of the
land.
o
Keep your hands off them! He proclaimed. Don’t put them in prison.
o
Allow them to enter your homes, temples, and sanctuaries.
§
Remember, the account of this missionary effort
occurs over 13 years, not overnight!
·
Thousands were converted.
o
“[Y]ea,
I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in
their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. For
they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their
rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of
their brethren. (v. 6-7)
§
What powerful faith! Not one fell away.
§
Why?
·
Commitment is the key.
·
Scriptural references:
·
Commit
thy way unto the LORD; trust
also in him; and he shall bring it to
pass. And he
shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment
as the noonday. (Psalms 37:5-6)
·
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
·
But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)
·
Many people in the lands ruled by King Lamoni’s
father “were converted unto the Lord.” (v. 8)
o
Not only were the converted, but they “laid down
the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war; and they were
all Lamanites.” (v. 13)
·
The Amalekites were not converted (except one)
and no Amulonites were converted.
·
Having been converted, they wanted to
distinguish themselves from the other Lamanites and Nephite dissenters.
·
There was consultation among the leaders (the
king, Aaron, the priests, etc.).
·
The name they chose was Anti-Nephi-Lehies.
o
See Quote #1.
·
They
became an industrious people.
o
“[T]he curse of God did no more follow them.”
(v. 18)
§
See Quote #2
Chapter
24
Hugh Nibley writes that Chapter 24 is a very important
chapter in the Book of Mormon. (See Quote #3)
·
The wicked cannot tolerate the righteous. The Amalekites and Amulonites were now
different.
o
They began to rebel against the king, attempting
to depose him.
·
Before King Lamoni’s father died, he conferred
the kingdom on his son, named Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
·
Preparations were being made by the Lamanites to
go to war “against the people of God.” (v. 4)
o
See Quote #4.
·
Ammon and his brethren met to decide how to deal
with this rebellion.
·
“[T]here was not one soul among all the people who had been
converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay,
they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king
commanded them that they should not.” (v. 6)
·
The King spoke to his people.
o
He expresses gratitude to God that He sent
Nephites to preach to them.
o
He expresses gratitude to God that “he has given
us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts.”
o
He has helped them recognize their sins.
o
“[H]e hath granted unto us that we might repent of these
things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders
which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the
merits of his Son.” (v. 10)
§ To
the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled
against him; (Daniel 9:9)
·
The king
expresses gratitude that “God hath
taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright” and tells the people
to “let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.” (v. 11)
·
He
warns that “if we should stain our
swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of
our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.” (v. 12)
·
He
tells the people that if they are attacked, “we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the
earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used
them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to
our God and shall be saved.’ (v. 16)
·
The
Anti-Nephi-Lehies buried their weapons, “that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up
their own lives.” (v. 18)
o See Quote #5.
·
See
Quote #6.
·
Mormon
inserts a comment.
·
“And thus
we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth,
they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and
thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons
of war, for peace.” (v. 19)
·
The war begins.
o
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies went out to meet the army,
laying on the ground and praying to the Lord.
·
The
armies went forward and slaughtered the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, killing 1,005.
o See Quote #7.
o As they were dying, they continued to praise
God.
·
Seeing
this, the Lamanites finally stopped the slaughter.
o Many
threw down their arms, never to take them up again.
o They joined with the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.
·
Even
though a thousand innocent people died, Mormon makes sure we understand the
eternal consequences of this event.
o And there was not a wicked man slain among them;
but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus
we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people. (v.
27)
·
Most of
the Lamanites involved in the slaughter were Amalekites and Amulonites who were
of the order of the Nehors.
o None of these repented and joined the
Anti-Nephi-Lehies.
o Those who did join “were actual descendants
of Laman and Lemuel.” (v. 29)
·
The
Nephite dissenters refused to repent of the sins.
o Mormon observes:
§ And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people
have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge
of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and
transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse
than though they had never known these things. (v. 30)
Chapter
27
·
Once again, war breaks out.
o
The Amalekites were behind the wars because they
“could not seek revenge from the Nephites.” (v. 2)
o
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies refused to take up arms
and were slaughtered once again.
·
Ammon and his brethren decided this must not
continue.
o
It was decided that they would go to the land of
Zarahemla and request protection from the Nephites.
·
The king was concerned that “the Nephites will
destroy us, because of the many murders and sins we have committed
against them.” (v. 6)
o
See Quote #8.
·
Ammon told the king that he would inquire of the
Lord.
·
Ammon asked the king if He says to go to
Zarahemla, will you go?
o
The king replied, “if the Lord saith unto us go, we will go down
unto our brethren, and we will be their slaves until we repair unto
them the many murders and sins which we have committed against them.” (v. 8)
§
Nephite law prevented slavery, so that would not
happen. Ammon told them to “rely upon
the mercies of our brethren.” (v. 9)
·
Ammon inquired of the Lord.
o
He was told to “[g]et this people out of this land, that they perish
not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who
do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them.” (v. 12)
·
Ammon reported to the king that the Lord wanted
them to leave to preserve their people.
·
They gathered their families and their possessions
and traveled to the border of the land of Zarahemla.
·
Ammon had the people wait for him while he and
his brethren went to Zarahemla and prepared the way for the Anti-Nephi-Lehies
to settle in the land of Zarahemla.
·
As they traveled to Zarahemla, they meet Alma2.
Chapter
26
·
This was a joyful reunion.
o
Remember, fourteen years have passed and much
has happened since they last met.
·
Ammon spoke about what had happened.
o
“[C]ould we have supposed when we started from the land of
Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?” (v. 1)
o
“[O]ur brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness,
yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to
behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which
hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in
the hands of God to bring about this great work.” (v. 3)
§
See Quote #9.
·
When we reach verses 8-9, Ammon’s words almost
become a song of praise. To understand
it better, let’s read the verses in a poetic form.
Blessed be the name of our God;
let us sing
to his praise,
yea, let us
give thanks to his holy name,
for
he doth work righteousness forever.
For if we had not come up
out of the
land of Zarahemla,
these our dearly beloved brethren,
who had so
dearly beloved us
would still have been racked
with hatred
against us,
yea, and they
would also
have
been strangers to God.
·
Compare this with examples from Psalms.
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart
is fixed: I
will sing and give praise.
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery
and harp: I myself will
awake early.
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people:
I will sing unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy
truth unto the clouds.
Psalms
57:7-10
O GOD, my heart is fixed; I will sing and
give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people:
and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is great
above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and
thy glory above all the earth;
Psalms
108:1-5
·
Ammon’s rejoicing is another way to praise God.
·
Aaron chastised Ammon, saying, “I fear that thy
joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.” (v. 10)
- Ammon responds. Once again, this is better read in poetic form.
|
11 But Ammon said
unto him:
I do not boast
in my own strength,
nor in my own wisdom;
but behold,
my joy is full,
yea, my heart is brim with joy,
and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I
am nothing;
as
to my strength
I am weak;
therefore I will not boast
of myself,
but I will boast of my God,
for in his strength
I can do all things;
yea,
behold, many mighty miracles
we have wrought in this land,
for
which we will praise his name forever.
13 Behold, how many
thousands of our brethren
has he loosed from the pains of hell;
and they are brought to sing redeeming love,
and this because
of the power of his word
which is in us,
therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
14 Yea, we have
reason to
praise him forever,
for he
is the Most High God,
and has loosed our
brethren
from the chains of hell.
15 Yea, they were
encircled about
with everlasting darkness and destruction;
but behold,
he has brought them
into his everlasting light,
yea, into
everlasting salvation;
and they are encircled about
with the matchless bounty of his love;
yea, and we have been instruments
in his hands
of doing this great and marvelous work.
|
16 Therefore, let us glory,
yea, we will glory
in the Lord;
yea,
we will rejoice,
for our joy is full;
yea,
we will praise our God forever.
Behold, who can glory
too much in the Lord?
Yea, who can say too much
of his great power,
and of his mercy,
and of his long-suffering
towards the children of men?
Behold, I say unto you,
I cannot say the
smallest part which I feel
17 Who could
have supposed
that
our God
would have been so merciful
as
to have snatched us
from
our awful, sinful, and polluted state?
18 Behold, we
went forth even in wrath,
with
mighty threatenings
to
destroy his church.
19 Oh
then, why
did he not consign us
to
an awful destruction,
yea, why did
he not let
the
sword of his justice
fall
upon us,
and
doom us
to
eternal despair?
20 Oh, my soul,
almost
as it were,
fleeth
at the thought.
Behold, he did not
exercise
his
justice upon us,
but
in his great mercy
hath
brought us over
that
everlasting gulf
of
death and misery,
even to
the salvation
of
our souls.
|
·
See
Quote #10.
·
See
Quote #11.
Chapter
27 (con’t)
·
After their joyful meeting, they all went back
to Zarahemla and arrived at the home of Alma2.
·
They went to the chief judge and related
everything that had happened over the last fourteen years.
o
The chief judge sent a proclamation, asking for
the voice of the people as to allowing the Anti-Nephi-Lehites to have a land of
their own.
·
A number of things were decided.
o
They were given the land of Jershon.
o
The Nephite would provide military protection
for the people.
o
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies would be exempt from
military service.
§
This was unusual as all able-bodied men were
expected to serve if called
·
See Quote #12.
o
They would never have to take-up arms in defense
of their freedom and liberty.
o
They would have to “give us a portion of their substance to assist
us that we may maintain our armies.” (v. 24)
·
They returned and told the Anti-Nephi-Lehies the
decision that had been made by the
people.
o
“[This decision] cause[ed] great joy among them. And
they went down into the land of Jershon, and took possession of the land of
Jershon; and
they were called by the Nephites the people of Ammon [Ammonites]; therefore
they were distinguished by that name ever after.” (v. 26)
·
They settled in the land of their
inheritance.
o
“[T]hey were perfectly honest and upright in all
things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.” (v. 27)
o
They never again were required to, or
voluntarily, take up arms.
o
“[T]hus they were a zealous and beloved people, a
highly favored people of the Lord.” (v. 30)
Chapter
28
·
The Anti Nephi-Lehies settle in the land of Jershon.
o
A church is also established in the land.
·
An army is placed to protect the land of
Jershon.
o
Lamanite armies follow them and attack.
§
It is the worst and bloodiest battle “known
among all
the people in the land from the time Lehi left Jerusalem.” (v. 2)
§
Tens of thousands of Lamanites die in battle.
o
“[T]here was a tremendous slaughter among the people
of Nephi.” (v. 3)
·
“[T]his was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of
solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.” (v. 6)
·
See Quote #13.
·
Alma2 gives a quick summary of the
account we are reading.
o
We have an account of Ammon and his brethren.
o
We have an account of the wars and contentions
among the Nephites and between the Nephites and Lamanites.
·
Mormon ends with his observations.
o
Sin, transgression, and inequality is because of
the cunning plans of the devil.
o
We see the diligence of the righteous to serve
in the vineyards of the Lord.
o
We see great sorrow because of death and
destruction and rejoicing because of the light of Christ.
·
See Quote #14.
Chapter
29
·
We read the lamentations and rejoicings of Alma2.
o
His mission experienced mixed success, unlike
the success of the sons of Mosiah2.
·
He cries “O THAT I were an angel, and could have the
wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with
a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (v. 1)
o
He sins in his wish because he should be content
what he has done with the help of the Lord.
o
See Quote #15.
·
The Lord grants to all nations to have the
gospel taught in their nation and tongue.
·
He glories in doing what the Lord has commanded.
·
He glories in being an instrument in the hands
of the Lord.
·
He rejoices when he sees his brethren repent and
come to the Lord.
o
“I remember the merciful arm which he extended
towards me.” (v. 10)
·
He remembers the captivity of his fathers and
how the Lord led them out of bondage.
·
He has been called by a holy calling “to preach
the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy
is full.” (v. 13)
·
We see an example of chiasmus in verse 14-16.
14 But I do not joy in my own success
alone, but
my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to
the land of Nephi.
15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have
brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!
16 Now, when I think of the success of these my
brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from
the body, as it were, so great is my joy.
A but my joy
is more full
B because of the success of my brethren
who have been up to the land of Nephi.
C Behold, they have labored exceedingly
C and have brought forth much fruit; and how
great shall be their reward.
B Now, when I think of the success of these my
brethren my soul is carried away.
A even to the
separation of it from the body, as it were, so great if my joy.[1]
·
He ends by praying that his brethren will sit in
the kingdom of God, as well as “all those who are the fruit of their labors that
they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever.” (v. 17)
Quote #1
Hugh Nibley explains the meaning of the name
Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
They were named Anti-Nephi-Lehies. You know that Nephi-Lehi
means a combination of Nephi and Lehi, and anti means “combination, face-to-face, meeting”’ …
his anti means so
many things. We get it in the Book of Mormon a good deal—Antiomno and things
like that … It means “a face-to-face meeting, a joining together with somebody.” We
are going to find later on about an Anti-Christ, who is a person who pretends
to be Christ, who matches Christ, who pretends to take the place of Christ.
It's not somebody who opposes Christ, but somebody who pretends to be Christ …
So they were set apart, but they began to be an industrious people—getting to
work at last.[2]
Quote #2
Sherwin Howard explains what “the curse of God did no more
follow them” means.
“Some cursings are given first as warnings rather than a more severe
immediate chastisement (2 Ne. 1:21, 22); and, like blessings, they
sometimes require a long time for their full consequences to be realized. After being
invoked, cursings may often be lessened or lifted entirely by subsequent
righteousness. Mormon describes an experience of the Lamanites: “and
they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with
the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the
curse of God did no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).[3]
Quote #3
Hugh Nibley writes that Chapter 24 is a very important
chapter in the Book of Mormon.
In chapter 24 there's going to be real trouble. This chapter 24 is
one of the most significant in the Book of Mormon. We never quote
it, of course. We like to talk about Captain Moroni and the two thousand. We
don't like to talk about these pacifist “wimps” here, but these are the best
people in the Book of Mormon. They are doing what the Lord wants them to do. But
they [the unconverted] didn't like it at all. They were stirred up, and when
[the converts] formed this Anti-Nephi-Lehi group, that was just too much for
them. They
were stirred up by the Amalekites and the Amulonites to get anybody who wasn't
in the combination, and they began to rebel against their king. It was open
revolution now; they took up arms against him.[4]
Quote #4
In the Book of Mormon, “Lamanite” is used as a social
term. It represents a certain lifestyle, cultural beliefs, and
tradition. It’s more a political and social distinction. Gordon Thomasson writes:
Early in the sixth century of Lamanite history (c. 94—80 B.C.),
large-scale Lamanite conversions further divided the Lamanite peoples as many
embraced the messianic faith in Jesus Christ taught by Nephite missionaries
(Alma 17—26). The Lamanite king Lamoni, a vassal; his father, [a “feudal overlord”];
and many of their subjects accepted the prophesied Christ and rejected their
former lifestyles. They took upon themselves a covenant of
pacifism, burying their weapons and renouncing warfare, and moved into Nephite
territory for their safety ... This major division of Lamanite society had
significant political impact: the identity of some of these converts remained
Lamanite, but distinct from those who rejected the religion; others chose to be
numbered among the Nephites ... and the unconverted Lamanites were strengthened by
numerous dissenters from Nephite subgroups (Alma 43:13), some of
whom chose explicitly to retain their former identities (3 Ne. 6:3).[5]
Quote #5
Victor Ludlow wrote that…
…the converted Lamanite people of Ammon covenant with God
that they will never again use weapons for the shedding of human blood. These passages
demonstrate that both peaceful and warlike people can humble themselves and
enter into covenants with God.[6]
Quote #6
What would happen to them if they became what they were like
before? John Welch writes:
This oath of the Ammonites (as they would later come to be
known) reflected the resolve of converts with a unique background. Because of their
many murders, the Ammonites deeply feared that any further shedding of blood
might take them beyond the scope of forgiveness (Alma 24:11-13). After
these people arrived in the land of Zarahemla, their oath, which had been
tested in blood, was honored by the Nephites, who continued to grant them
exemption from active (but not economic) military duty (see Alma 27:24).[7]
Quote #7
What manner of men were these Lamanites. They
willingly attacked and killed defenseless people. Hugh Nibley offers
an explanation.
They offer no opposition. It begins to hurt the consciences of the
leaders on the other side and make them sick. As a result they get mad at these
people, “Won't you resist … why don't you fight?” They get mad
enough to slaughter them. It's a paradox here because they didn't want to
slaughter them; they forced them to do it. “Why do you force us to
do this dirty thing?” This happens at the beginning of the next chapter. ‘Those
Lamanites were more angry because they had slain their brethren.”[8]
Quote #8
Duane Boyce explains that their fear was real.
[T]he king emphasizes the “murders” and even “the many
murders” they had committed against the Nephites. This does not seem to be a metaphorical usage
of the term. Again, the record tells us more than once that the Lamanites
delighted in shedding Nephite blood ... So reference to the term murder in Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s
speech is not surprising. … the Ammonites’ killings—far from being
reluctant—apparently had been wanton, and they had delighted in them. In
their repentance, then, the Ammonites were not repenting of acts of killing
that had occurred in conventional war … the Ammonites’ repentance was for acts that
had been motivated by hatred and by a desire for Nephite blood, and that they
explicitly describe as “murder.”
Note too that the Ammonite king is speaking of the murders that
they themselves had committed … the new king here is speaking specifically of
the murders that they, the repentant Lamanites, had committed against the
Nephites.[9]
Quote #9
Hugh Nibley writes about Ammon’s words and the importance of
Ammon.
Now we come to this wonderful speech, Ammon's mission
report. It's a very good one here. It's a most singular document. The Book of Mormon
is so full of things like this one here. … Remember, this was the
same Ammon who was more than a match for the people at the waters of Sebus. He
was a one-man platoon; he could wipe out anything you wanted. He was the most
ferocious and effective fighter in the Book of Mormon. Yet see what kind of a
mission he went on here … This is what happened, a miraculous turn. There's one key
figure in all this change, all this going on. The whole movement comes back to
this one man, Ammon, so it is very important that he gives a report on his
behavior, his motivation, and how he was able to do it.[10]
Quote #10
Richard Rust comments on Ammon’s praise and reminds us who
is central in the Book of Mormon.
The truly central hero of the Book of Mormon is Jesus Christ. It is he
who gives direction to the other heroes and whose redeeming power is affirmed
throughout the book, climaxing at his personal visit. He is the hero whom the
others represent. As Ammon declares, “I know that I am nothing; as
to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will
boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things” (Alma 26:12). Throughout the
book, it is Jesus Christ who lifts, heals, and redeems.[11]
Quote #11
Hugh Nibley writes about Ammon’s joy.
This is pure joy. This is what you call charity. Our
word cheer is the
same as charity, the
Greek charis, Latin gratia, etc. It's no mental reservations,
no gnawing discontent, no vaulting ambition. These are the seeds of tragedy, you see. If
you have to have your success here in the world and this is the only place you
can get it, then you have the making of a tragedy …. He [Ammon]
says, “Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel”
because he
is liberated from all the things that make us afraid and make us do the things
that always lead to tragedy.[12]
Quote #12
John Welch explained that allowing them not to serve in the
army was quite unusual.
The only Book of Mormon group given an exemption from military service
was the famous people of Ammon. In repenting of their previous shedding of
blood, they had sworn an oath that they would never again take up arms (see
Alma 24:11-13). After they arrived in Zarahemla, they were granted an extraordinary exemption
from active military duty if they would help to sustain the Nephite armies with
provisions (see Alma 27:23-24). Surprisingly, the grant of this
exceptional privilege was consistent with ancient Israelite law.[13]
Quote #13
What does Mormon mean by discussing the deaths and “tens of
thousands of Lamanites … slain and scattered…?” (verse 3) A.
Brent Merrill explains:
The text does not specify how many soldiers took part in these battles
and what the actual number of casualties were for each side. This is because
the reference to “thousands” and “tens of thousands” being cut off is an
imprecise indicator (compare to Alma 28:2; note the reference to “slain and scattered”). For example, it is unclear
whether this refers to actual casualties, or whether it just indicates that
units of “thousands” and “tens of thousands” were defeated. What is
clear is that Nephite wars were gradually becoming larger and more destructive than those
of the preceding six centuries.[14]
Quote #14
An observation about the light of Christ.
Thus, if we have the light of Christ then we know the
power of God. We experience it even if we do not have [an
intellectual] understanding of it. Implicit in our experience of life in the
world is the knowledge that God has the power to do good and to persuade us to
do good … To know he is the omnipotent ruler is to know we need not fear
that Satan will win the confrontation between good and evil, for our Father has the
eternal power to bring about good.[15]
Quote #15
Robert Millet wrote about Alma2’s experience.
A relatively young man at the time of his conversion, Alma lived fewer
than twenty years thereafter. Yet in those two decades he almost
single-handedly invigorated and established the cause of truth and liberty in
the Nephite church and society. Never forgetting the thunderous voice of
the angel at the time of his conversion, Alma always carried with him this
unchanging desire: “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine
heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to
shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! . . . that there might
not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth” (Alma 29:1—2).[16]
[1] Forms
of Parallelism, Hugh W. Pinnock, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 13, 2011.
[2] Lecture
53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 22,
2011,
[4] Lecture
53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 24,
2011.
[6] Covenant
Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Victor L. Ludlow, Maxwell Institute,
accessed September 26, 2011.
[7] Law
and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 26, 2011.
[8] Lecture
53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 27,
2011.
[9] Were
the Ammonites Pacifists? Duane Boyce, Maxwell Institute, accessed
October 5, 2011.
[10] Lecture
53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 30,
2011.
[11] Annual
FARMS Lecture – February 1990, Richard Dilworth Rust, Maxwell Institute,
accessed October 1, 2011.
[12] Lecture
53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 1,
2011.
[13] Exemption
from Military Duty, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 6,
2011.
[14] Nephite
Captains and Armies, A. Brent Merrill, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 12, 2011.
[15] Romans
1: Notes and Reflections, Verses 18-23, Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 12, 2011.
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