Alma 10:12-16

10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.

11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.

12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.

14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.

15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.

16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him ^across his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

Alma 10:10-16

Amulek, speaking to the people after Alma, testifies to the truthfulness of his words.  He knows they are true because the Lord sent an angel who testified to the truthfulness of Alma’s words.

Amulek explains Alma had blessed his house and all occupants therein.  “When Amulek describes Alma's blessing, he paints a picture of how Amulek perceives his kin connections. These descriptions fit the general picture of Mesoamerican households.”^[1]

Earlier, the Ammonihahites had rejected Alma’s message.  “And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things?” (Alma 9:6). “The people in Ammonihah rejected and ridiculed Alma and his message, but became astonished at the words of Amulek, “seeing that there was more than one witness that testified of the things whereof they were accused” (Alma 10:12; italics added). It was the second witness that astonished the people.”^[2]

While some were astonished, there was a group who began to plot to take Alma and Amulek.  They would either use their words against them, or they would find witnesses against them.  In this, they acted like the chief priests who conspired to kill the Savior. “And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.” (Mark 14:55-59).

Their desire was to have them eventually imprisoned.  “It was the same old type, only clothed with public office and authority. The essence of their activity and success was still the clever manipulation of words, especially in questioning the prophets of the church, “that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them” (Alma 10:13). They would lay their legal traps, and if they failed to work, became righteously indignant.”^[3]

Who were these lawyers in Nephite society?   How did the serve the community?

The lawyers in Ammonihah were not likely private advocates or independent professional counsel … No evidence indicates that the lawyers in Ammonihah represented clients or served as advocates for clients.  Rather, they were unique officers or officials of the state skilled in the study of the law. What little we know simply says that they were skilled and clever, and their role is described very briefly. They were “hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges” (Alma 10:14) … [I]t is evident that three groups of judicial functionaries operated in the legal system in the land of Zarahemla: judges, lawyers (Alma 10:14–15), and officers … [O]ne might conclude that the officers did not receive the statutory wages paid to judges.³² Likewise, the “lawyers” were not judges, for at this time they only administered the law at trials before the judges (Alma 10:14).^[4]

Mormon describes them as “cunning” and “skillful in their profession.”  They were most like the priests who constantly attempted to catch the Savior saying something they could use against Him.

“And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute [GR taxes] unto Cæsar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny.  Whose image and superscription hath it?  They answered and said, Cæsar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God the things which be God's. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace” (Luke 20:18-26).

These lawyers began to question Amulek for the purpose of making him “cross his words.”  “[T]he verb to cross is used as a synonym for to contradict, a point made explicit in Alma 10:16. All [uses of the verb to cross] are in the context of legal interrogation.”^[5]  Again we see how the devil is consistent in his efforts to destroy the works of God.  The priests had the same ultimate purpose when questioning the Savior.  “And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.”  (Luke 20:20).

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[1] Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion, reviewed by Brant Gardner, accessed March 27, 2015.

[2] The Book of Mormon, an Interpretive Guide to the New Testament, Dennis Largey, Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2015.

[3] An Approach to the Book of Mormon – The Way of the “Intellectuals,” Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2015.

[4] The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon – The Trial of Alma and Amulek, Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2015.

[5] Scripture Insight: Book of Mormon Word Usage: To Cross Oneself, Maxwell Institute, accessed March 27, 2015.