23 And they are made
known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and
this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus
highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of
our vineyard.
24 For behold, angels
are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the
purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at
the time of his coming in his glory.
25 And now we only
wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his
coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but
let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy
men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our
fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning
him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
27 And now, my
brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even
unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not
procrastinate the day of your repentance;
28 But that ye would
humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and
pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and
thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient,
full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the
Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God
always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into
his crest.
30 And may the Lord
grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that
ye may not be abound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not
suffer the second death.
31 And Alma spake many
more words unto the people, which are not written in this book.
Alma 13:23-31
Alma continues, reminding the Ammonihahites their knowledge
of God’s teachings has been made known in plain terms. Nephi, especially, made it clear he used
plain language.
But
behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the
which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies
of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they
shall come to pass. Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and
he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and
confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great
worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them;
wherefore, for their good have I written them (2 Nephi 25:7-8).
For
my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work
among the children of men. For the Lord
God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to
their language, unto their understanding (2 Nephi 31:3).
And
now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am
left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance,
and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor
understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as
plain as word can be (2 Nephi 32:7).
Nephi’s brother, Jacob, wrote, “Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the
understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they
really care, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these
things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in
these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old” (Jacob 4:13).
The plainness is because they have been “wanderers in a strange land.” “Keenly
aware of their isolation, they did all they could in the way of education and
record keeping to remind themselves of the Old Country, as cultural ‘wanderers
in a strange land” (Alma 13:23) are wont to do.”[1]
The Exodus motif is also a part of Nephite tradition.
The Nephites come to see the exodus
experience, so prevalent in their history, as a type for their spiritual
condition. To the Nephites, exodus becomes a metaphor for their journey through
mortality toward eternal life. Indeed, recurring exodus leaves an indelible
impression upon the Nephite self-concept, impressing upon the minds and hearts
of the Nephites that they are spiritual wanderers and strangers on the earth
and that their true inheritance lies beyond even the “promised land.” This
study will focus on the spiritual significance of the Nephites being “wanderers
in a strange land” (Alma 13:23).
The primitive Christian church had a similar motif.
Such being the case, the journey in
the wilderness is, in the primitive Christian view, God's special way of
training and educating his people. As they travel through the wilderness they
are led and sustained by revelations from on high, exactly as Alma describes it
(Alma 13:23); yet they are also given an earthly leader, who is properly
designated as the high priest.29 Like the early Hebrews and the later
Jews, the first Christians thought of themselves as walking in the ways of
their spiritual ancestors, “a band of homeless saints passing over the earth in
search of their heavenly home.”[2]
The message is being declared by angels throughout the land. Amulek had been visited by an angel.[3] The reason angels are declaring the message
is to prepare the Nephites for His coming in glory.
Alma tells us he doesn’t know when this will occur[4];
however, he hoped it would happen during his lifetime. But, the only thing that matters is that it
will occur and Alma rejoices in this knowledge. The time of His coming will be
made known to just and holy men. Angels
will speak to them and the prophecies of old will be fulfilled.
Alma desires, deep in his heart they would listen to his
words, cease to sin, and not put off repenting. He told them to humble
themselves, call unto the Lord, watch and pray constantly so they would not be
tempted beyond their power to resist.
Paul explained we are never tempted beyond our power to resist. “There hath no temptation taken [GR seized
upon] you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Modern rationalizations or excuses
of being tempted beyond endurance are swept away by this scriptural injunction.
The Book of Mormon gives a second witness of the validity of this formula (Alma
13:28), and the Doctrine and Covenants adds a third (D&C 64:20). However,
man has his agency and must choose to follow the Lord's "way of
escape" or the formula is void and he will succumb to the devil's way.[5]
To be led by the Holy Spirit to become humble, meek,
submissive, patient, full of love, and long-suffering.
If they have faith in the Lord, they will have a hope of
receiving eternal life. “And see that ye have faith, hope, and
charity, and then ye will always abound in good works” (Alma 7:24). They will
also have the love of God in their hearts at all time and will enter into His
rest.
Should they repent, Alma asks the Lord to forgive them of
their sins so they may not be bound by the chains of hell and suffer the second
death.
Alma continued speaking, but Mormon ends his account at this
point. Mormon does makes it clear that this
is not a complete record.[6]
Still, it does make one wonder what else Alma said.
[1] An
Approach to the Book of Mormon – The Nature of Book of Mormon Society, Hugh
Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2015.
[2] An
Approach to the Book of Mormon – The Pioneer Tradition and the True Church,
Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2015.
[3] “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” (Alma 10:10).
[4] “Yea, even six hundred years from the time
that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even
a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world” (1 Nephi 10:4). “[Matt]
Roper and [John Tvedtnes] both suggested that the 600 years of 1 Nephi 10:4;
19:8; 25:19 is an approximation—six centuries, not precisely six hundred years …
Alma may not have been aware of the prophecies of Nephi and Lehi.” (Answering
Mormon Scholars, reviewed by John A. Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute, accessed
April 27, 2015.)
[5] The
Stumbling Blocks of First Corinthians, Monte S. Nyman, Maxwell Institute,
accessed April 27, 2015.
[6] “Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish
my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates
of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people” (Words
of Mormon 1:5) & “And there had
many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, would be great and
marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this
book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people
in the space of twenty and five years; But
behold there are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people;
and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi” (3 Nephi 5:8-9).
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