Chapter 12
Alma contends with
Zeezrom—The mysteries of God can be given only to the faithful—Men are judged
by their thoughts, beliefs, words, and works—The wicked shall suffer a
spiritual death—This mortal life is a probationary state—The plan of redemption
brings to pass the resurrection and, through faith, a remission of sins—The
repentant have a claim on mercy through the Only Begotten Son. About 82 B.C.
1 Now Alma, seeing
that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had
caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began
to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to
speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things
beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done.
2 Now the words that
Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by the people round about; for the multitude
was great, and he spake on this wise:
3 Now Zeezrom, seeing
that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied
unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy
thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his
Spirit;
4 And thou seest that
we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil,
for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us,
to revile us and to cast us out—
5 Now this was a plan
of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what
I say unto thee I say unto all.
6 And behold I say
unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch
this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might
encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting
destruction, according to the power of his captivity.
7 Now when Alma had
spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was
convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that
Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the
thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they
might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.
8 And Zeezrom began to
inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of
God. And he said unto Alma: What does
this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead,
that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are
brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?
9 And now Alma began
to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the
mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they
shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant
unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give
unto him.
Alma 12:1-9
Amulek has finished speaking to Zeezrom. Zeezrom is amazed he had been caught in his
lies. Amulek’s word hit him hard, and
his conscience is bothering him[1]. Alma now steps in and continues where Amulek
left off.
As Alma spoke to Zeezrom, the crowd was able to hear the
words of Alma.
Alma reminded Zeezrom he had been caught in his lies. Not only had he lied to man, he had lied to
God. The Lord knows all thoughts and the
Spirit made them known to Alma and Amulek.[2]
This should remind us the Lord knows all our thoughts.
“But
behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all–powerful
Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that
ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me,
yea, and abominable unto God” (Jacob 2:5).
“Yea,
I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that
knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (D&C 6:16).
Alma and Amulek knew his subtle plan as a subtle plan of the
devil. The devil constantly uses other
to subvert the work of the Lord. “For there are many yet on the earth among
all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness
of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the
truth because they know not where to find it—” (D&C 123:12).
The devil was using his power through Zeezrom. He turned to the crowd and told them what he
says to Zeezrom, he say to all.
The devil uses his snare to catch people and bring them
subject to him. “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. In
the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing
and rejoice” (Proverbs 29:5-6). He
intends to encircle us in his chains.
“[T]he Book of Mormon … uses the figure of being encircled to show the
consequences of following Satan—a reverse play on the embrace by the Savior.
Instead of an embrace of love, Satan waits to ‘encircle you about with his
chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction’ (Alma 12:6;
see also Alma 5:7, 9).”[3]
Zeezrom trembled at Alma’s words, as he did Amulek’s. He began to accept the Power of God; he knew
Alma and Amulek not only knew him, but knew his thoughts and the intents of his
heart.
Zeezrom, pricked by his conscience, stops his interrogation
and becomes a searched after truth. He asked Alma about the resurrection of the
dead, both righteous and wicked, and will stand before God? Daniel wrote, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel
12:2). They will also be judged by
God. “Our
God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and
it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from
above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people” (Psalms 50:3-4).
Occasionally at lectures or forums,
time is given at the end for questions and answers. Often during these sessions
and dialogues the most significant learning takes place. Here explanations are
given, elaborations are made, and terms are defined. The New Testament
constitutes some of the greatest literature known to our world, yet with the
myriad of misinterpretation and brevity on important subjects, a
question-and-answer period which elaborates concepts and defines terms would be
of significant worth. The Bible contains many doctrinal statements that are
pronounced, but not sustained with further discussion. The Book of Mormon comes
to support the Bible by providing the sustained discussion, as would a question
and-answer period.[4]
Alma began to teach Zeezrom, explaining it is possible to
know the mysteries of God.
“Yea,
he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and
prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries
of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been
revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to
repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to
repentance” (Alma 26:22).
“And
the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew
13:10-11).
“For
he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be
unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as
in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore,
the course of the Lord is one eternal round” (1 Nephi 10:19).
They will only be imparted “only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the
children of men.”
“I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John
16:12).
“For
behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue,
to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have;
therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which
is just and true” (Alma 29:8).
They will only be given to us “according to the heed and diligence with they give unto him.”
[1]
This implies that, unlike many in Ammonihah, Zeezrom was, deep down, a good man
who just needed that proper push to get him on the strait and narrow path.
[2] “Now they knew not that Amulek could know of
their designs. But it came to pass as
they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them:
O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying
the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the
holy ones of God” (Alma 10:17).
[3] The
Image of the Hand of God in the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament, David
Rolph Seely, Maxwell Institute, accessed April 8, 2015.
[4] The
Book of Mormon, an Interpretive Guide to the New Testament, Dennis Largey,
Maxwell Institute, accessed April 8, 2015.
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