Alma 3:13-27

13 Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads.

14 Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them.

15 And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also.

16 And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed.

17 And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed.

18 Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.

19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation.

20 Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first army met the Amlicites.

21 And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their land.

22 Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites;

23 But he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of them out of the borders of their land.

24 And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies.

25 Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended in the ^*fifth year of the reign of the judges.

26 And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.

27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth.  And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 3:13-27

Mormon returns to the Amlicites and the way they marked themselves.  That was a red mark on their foreheads.  He emphasizes the mark on the Lamanites would separate them from the Nephites.  The curse will be lifted (which is not the dark skin) if they repent and turn back to the Lord. 

Anyone who mingles with the Lamanites will have the mark come upon them as well as the curse.  The Nephites who affiliated with the Lamanites will no longer be considered a Nephite and lose all the blessing promised to the Nephites.

Mormon explains the Amlicites, unknown to them, fulfilled God’s words.  When they marked their foreheads, it was sign of their rebellion against God.  The Lamanite curse also fell on them.  “Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance” (Alma 17:15).

“Here God places his mark on people as a curse, yet it is an artificial mark which they actually place upon themselves. The mark was not a racial thing but was acquired by ‘whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites’ (Alma 3:10)”^[1]

Richard Bushman gives us more insight into the Amlicite curse. 

By accepting the false tradition, the curse fell on them as surely as upon the Lamanites. Mormon says the Amlicites fulfilled the wish of Providence in painting their foreheads, for in rebelling against God "it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them" (Alma 3:18). They were cursed, without receiving a dark skin, because they rebelled against God and embraced a false tradition. Presumably a dark skin on a person who embraced the true tradition would have no significance. Skin color was only skin deep; what mattered was the history one believed, and the hatred or love that went with each version.[2]

A few days after the battle with the Amlicite and Lamanite army ended with the Lamanites in retreat, another Lamanite army arrived and a battle began. Alma was not able to participate in this battle.  He was still suffering from wounds received in his personal battle with Amlici (see Alma 2:20-23).

Alma sent a large army to contend with the Lamanites.  They successful drove the Lamanites out of the land.  The Nephites were not able to reestablish peach through their land not having to contend with the Lamanites or Amlicites.

During the one year war, tens of thousands died.  They were sent to stand before God and “reap their rewards according to their works.”  Those that were righteous inherited eternal happiness.  Those who were wicked inherited eternal misery.  “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate” (Psalms 7:16).

Mormon reminds us the wages we receive is based on what we earn; it is based on who we obey.

---

[1] Lehi in the Desert; The World of the Jaredites; There Were Jaredites – Desert Ways and Places, Hugh Nibley, accessed January 27, 2015.

[2] The Lamanite View of Book of Mormon History, Richard L. Bushman, Maxwell Institute, accessed January 27, 2015.