Alma 37:8-12

Continuing to discuss the importance of the records with Helaman, King Benjamin told his people, “I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him ^ball that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down to the time our father, Lehi, left Jerusalem” (Mosiah 2:34).

Preaching to the Zoramite poor, Alma told them, “Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues.  But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them” (Alma 33:2).

Alma tells him it has been through God’s wisdom the records have been preserved.  They have been used to convince many to live a righteous life and brought them the knowledge of God and salvation. Mormon used King Benjamin as an example of teaching the importance of the records. 

“And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:3-5).

The scriptures are essential to help us understand God’s word. 

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [GR beneficial or useful for instruction], for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The plates made the difference.  They helped keep their society together, sharing a common language and culture.  The Mulekites, coming from the same background, had lost their language and developed a whole new culture over the three centuries they had been in the promised land.^[1]

King Benjamin also explained how important the records were to the Nephite civilization. “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:5).

Without the record, Ammon and his brethren’s mission would not have been successful.  With their knowledge, they were able to bring the people to repentance and a knowledge of the Savior.

“Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem” (Alma 18:36).

“And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen” (Alma 22:12).

Alma looks to the future.  “[W]ho knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them” to the knowledge of Christ?^[2]

It will be sufficient to Alma if the records are preserved for a wise purpose known to God.  He counsels in wisdom over all his works and his paths are straight and do not vary.

“Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.  For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works” (Jacob 4:10).

“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).

“I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round” (Alma 7:20).

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[1] “And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla.  Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews. Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon. And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth. And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous.  Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them” (Omni 1:14-17).

[2] “And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled.  Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise; And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father.  And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.” (2 Nephi 3:14-16).

Alma 37:1-7

Alma turns the records, which he received from King Mosiah,[1] over to Helaman.  Helaman was not Alma’s first choice.  For whatever reason, he appears not to have had confidence in Helaman’s abilities as a record keeper.  “And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment–seat with perfect uprightness before God. Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman” (Alma 50:37-38).

“[R]ather than abridging Helaman’s record for the years 66-62 BC, Mormon instead has to piece together the sequence of events himself, based on primary sources, mainly letters, that he had at hand.  In other words, Helaman  may  have assembled notes and documents, but in the four years between the end of the war and his own death, when he was busy preaching and rebuilding the church (Alma 62:44-47), he apparently never got around to finishing his portion of the Large Plates of Nephi. (This would also explain why, contrary to convention in the Book of Mormon, Alma 45-62 was not made into a separate literary unit called ‘the First Book of Helaman’—it seems that the underlying source had been too meager and incomplete to stand on its own).”[2]

He commanded him to keep the record as he had done.  Record keeping was essential to the Lord.  Nephi begins his record, “I, NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days” (1 Nephi 1:1).

The brother of Jared was also commanded to keep a record. “AND the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the ^amount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people” (Ether 4:1).

These record are kept for a wise purpose.  “And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation” (Enos 1:13).

“And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me.  And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will” (Words of Mormon 1:7).

In addition to the plates, he gave Helaman the plates of brass.  This was the record that contained their genealogy.  “And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. (1 Nephi 5:14).

Scriptural records enable the hearts of the Lord’s children to turn to the hearts of the prophets, and they enable righteous forebears to speak directly to the hearts of their descendants. Doctrine and Covenants 128 discusses at length the importance of record keeping in performing temple ordinances for our ancestors. This connection between the Spirit of Elijah, redeeming the dead, and keeping holy records seems apparent in Alma 37:3: “these plates of brass . . . have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning.”^[3]

The records were to be handed from one generation to another. The Book of Mormon has other examples of the plates being handed down. 

“And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers.  And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records. And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time.  And he prophesied many things concerning his seed” (1 Nephi 5:16-19).

“Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman, who was called Helaman, being called after the name of his father. Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth. Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon” (Alma 63:11-13).

“And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are particular and very large, concerning them. But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work. But behold, there are many books and many records of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites. And they have been handed down from one generation to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites” (Helaman 3:13-16).

In addition to continuing the record, the command was also given to properly maintain the records.  Alma refers to maintaining their “brightness” (Alma 37:5).

Alma tells Helaman, this may appear as foolishness.^[4]  It is through small and simple things that great things come to pass.  Nephi wrote, “And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it.  And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29).

In the D&C we read, “Wherefore, be not weary in well–doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). “Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things. You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves” (D&C 123:15-16).

This is good advice for us to remember in our lives.  Many important things are completed by small things that may seem unimportant at the time. 

On one occasion I accompanied a stake president and bishop to visit a less-active member. We taught him, in a very simple way, about the blessings of the Sabbath. We expressed to him our sincere love. He responded, “All I needed was to have someone come and give me an abrazo,” or hug. I immediately stood up and embraced him. The next day was Sunday. This same brother came to sacrament meeting with his entire family.

During a visiting teaching visit, Martha, a member of our ward, told my wife and her companion never to come back again. She had decided to stop coming to church. One of the visiting teachers asked Martha if they could sing a hymn together this one last time, and she agreed. As they sang, something special happened. Little by little, the Spirit began to fill the room. Each of them felt it. Martha’s heart began to soften. With her eyes filled with tears, she expressed to her visiting teachers the feelings of her heart. At that moment, she realized that she knew that the gospel was true. She now thanked her visiting teachers and expressed a desire for them to return. From that day forward, she received them with joy.

Martha began to attend church with her young daughter. For years they attended regularly, with Martha never losing hope that her husband might eventually choose to join them. At last the day came when the Lord touched his heart, and he began to attend with them, as did their other daughter soon thereafter. This family began to feel the true joy that comes from having gospel blessings in their home. Martha has since served faithfully as our ward Relief Society president, and her husband has served well in several callings within the stake. All this began with the singing of a hymn, a small and simple thing that touched Martha’s heart.[5]

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound [GR shame, frustrate] the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

“To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord's errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight. And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall thrash the nations by the power of his Spirit” (D&C 133:58-59).

The Lord has His own means to bring about his purposes.  Isiah wrote, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis also demonstrates this.  Rather than violate their covenants and take up arms, they willingly sacrificed their lives.  Ultimately, Lamanites who saw they would rather die, they not only ceased the slaughter, but more became a part of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis than those who died (Alma 24:21-27).

The story of Naaman is a great example of the Lord using small means to perform great works.

“NOW Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper … And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.  And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel … [W]hen Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes?  let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  may I not wash in them, and be clean?  So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:1, 5-14).

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[1] “And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem” (Mosiah 28:20).”

[2] Understanding the Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy, Kindle Edition, Location 3169 to 3212.

[3] What’s in a Word? Etymology, Cynthia L. Hallen, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003):107.

[4]“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

[5] Small and Simple Things, Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, October 2013 General Conference.

Alma 36:19-30

Alma had cried to the Lord begging Him to have mercy upon him. No sooner did he think this, he could no longer remember his pains.  He was no longer desolate by the memory of his sins.  “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16).

He was filled with joy and beheld a light.  “Light symbolism masterfully presents the gospel as essential in the process of leading toward eternal life … While he expressed his conversion symbolically, Alma literally came out of a near-death darkness into light … [O]ne can see that to be filled with light is to be filled with life, joy, intelligence, truth, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and power.”^[1]

He told Helaman nothing was as exquisite and bitter as his pain.  On the other hand, nothing was as exquisite and sweet as his joy. “Alma was healed, not just physically, but spiritually as well. His exquisite and bitter pain was replaced by exquisite and sweet joy (Alma 36:21). He clearly linked his physical healing with his spiritual healing…”^[2]

Alma found his soul healed through the knowledge that Jesus would come and take away all his sins. As his soul became healed, he found peace within himself. Alma was so captured by the effects of this conversion experience that he repeated the sensations to Helaman: “Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy” (Alma 36:21; emphasis added). He was teaching a pattern to his son of lasting peace and joy, just as Enos’s father had done. There is a pattern here of fathers teaching children about the Atonement and eternal life. It is a pattern for all fathers in our day.[3]

He also thought he saw what father Lehi saw[4]; God was sitting on his throne.  Angels were singing the praises of God.[5]  He longed to be there.

“…Alma 36:22 ‘parallels almost verbatim the account of Lehi’s vision’ in I Nephi 1:8. Based on this and on the priority of Mosiah, [Metcalfe] believes that I Nephi 1:8 is quoting Alma 36:22 rather than vice versa. But there is a third possibility: Alma may have been quoting from the large plates of Nephi. To me, it is inconceivable that Lehi's vision would not have been recorded on the large plates, which were prepared by Nephi long before the small plates. It was, after all, the primal vision for Lehi. And since Nephi wrote both accounts, we should not wonder that the account reads the same-or nearly so--on both sets of plates.”[6]

Alma faced an awful and anguished moment when he felt that he might actually “become extinct both soul and body.” (Alma 36:15.) Then he remembered his father’s prophecies “concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.” (Alma 36:17.) In a moment of deep intellectual humility, his “mind caught hold upon this thought.” Out came Alma’s great soul cry: “O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me”! (Alma 36:18.) Purpose replaced pain. Joy swallowed up despair as Alma apparently viewed God upon His throne, and he longed to join God! (See Alma 36:22.)[7]

He received strength to his limbs and stood.  He testified he had been born of God. “Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things” (Alma 38:6).

From that time on, Alma strove to bring people to repent and they might taste of the same joy he had tasted.  The metaphor of tasting is used in other scriptures.  David wrote, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalms 34:8).  Nephi wrote, “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:5).

In his great sermon, King Benjamin taught, “And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel” (Mosiah 4:11).

After the quakes at the death of Christ, the Voice they heard told them, “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not” (3 Nephi 9:20).

He emphasized the great joy he receives from the fruits of his labors.  Many have been born again through the words he received from God.  “And it supposeth me that [your wives and children] have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul” (Jacob 2:8).

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5).

“Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” (D&C 108:7).

They have tasted the word of God.  “WHEREFORE laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere [GR pure, genuine] milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted [GR experienced] that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3). They know the words he teaches he knows through the word of God. 

Alma had been supported through his challenges and all manner of afflictions.  He had been released from prison, from bonds, and from death.[8]  He has placed his trust in the Lord the He will deliver him. “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalms 34:17).

Alma knows he will be resurrected at the last day and dwell with God in glory.  He will praise God forever.[9] “Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God” (2 Nephi 9:49).

The Lord brought his fathers out of Egypt and swallowed the Egyptians in the Red Sea.[10]  He delivered them from bondage and captivity on occasions and eventually led them to the Promised Land.

Who was led out of bondage from time-to-time?  There is no record of the Israelites being in bondage.  Could Alma be referring to Lehi and his party?

Alma recalled the kindnesses of God to Lehi and his family in the desert: “[God] has also brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem; and he has also . . . delivered them out of bondage and captivity, from time to time even down to the present day” (Alma 36:29). The last phrase, of course, tells us that Alma had in mind all of the generations from Lehi to his own. In my reading, Alma is saying that Lehi’s generation had also experienced “bondage and captivity.” A compelling point has to do with the parallelism set up by the prior verse, wherein Alma notes in almost identical language that the Lord had “delivered [our fathers] out of bondage and captivity from time to time,” pointing to “our fathers [in] Egypt” (Alma 36:28). Thus the phrase “from time to time” that appears in both verses 28 and 29 strengthens the observation that, as the Hebrew slaves, so the generation of Lehi had suffered “bondage and captivity.”[11]

Alma emphasized the importance to remember their bondage and captivity. Remembrance of their captivity was an important message for Alma.

“Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them.  And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off” (Mosiah 27:16).

“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?  Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them?  And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell” (Alma 5:6).

“Do ye not remember that our father, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem by the hand of God?  Do ye not remember that they were all led by him through the wilderness? And have ye forgotten so soon how many times he delivered our fathers out of the hands of their enemies, and preserved them from being destroyed, even by the hands of their own brethren? Yea, and if it had not been for his matchless power, and his mercy, and his long-suffering towards us, we should unavoidably have been cut off from the face of the earth long before this period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state of endless misery and woe” (Alma 9:9-11).

“Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage. Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage” (Alma 29:11-12).

“I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions” (Alma 36:2).

He reminded Helaman that “… Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence” (2 Nephi 1:20). He also reminded him “inasmuch as [you] will not keep my commandments [you] shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord” (Alma 50:20).

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[1] Light: A Masterful Symbol, Richard Dilworth Rust, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 20/1 (2011):59, 62-63.

[2] “According to Their Language, unto Their Understanding”: The Cultural Context of Hierophanies and Theophanies in Latter-day Saint Canon, Mark Alan Wright, Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 3 (2011): 61.

[3] Bringing Peace and Healing to Your Soul, Elder Dale E. Miller, October 2004 General Conference.

[4] “And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God” (1 Nephi 1:8).

[5] “IN the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train [IE the hem of his garment, or the skirts thereof] filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved [HEB foundations of the thresholds trembled] at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:1-4).

[6] Review of New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology (1993), edited by Brent Lee Metcalfe, John A. Tvedtnes, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994): 43.

[7] The Great Plan of the Eternal God, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, April 1984 General Conference.

[8] “And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord?  O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance.  And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them. And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof. And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ.  And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city. Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek” (Alma 14:26-29).

[9] “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel.  And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient [OR old] men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off” (Ezra 3:11-13).

[10] “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to ^ahis strength [IE its normal condition] when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it [HEB meeting it]; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:26-27).

[11] Refining the Spotlight on Lehi and Sariah, S. Kent Brown, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 15/2 (2006): 51-52.

Alma 36:12-18

After recounting his encounter with the angel, he tells Helaman he was experiencing “eternal torment” (Alma 36:12).  “Is ‘eternal torment’ (Alma 36:12) a torment that lasts forever? No, rather ‘eternal’ represents the nature of the torment. Not the duration, for it ‘comes from God who is Eternal’ (p. 264).^[1]

“Eternal punishment is God's punishment. Endless punishment is God's punishment. Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name; And it is by my almighty power that you have received them; Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not” (D&C 19:11-15).

He suffered torment for his sins.  “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about” (Psalms 32:10).

“Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none” (Psalms 69:20).

He was devastated by his knowledge of his sins.  “Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands” (D&C 56:17).

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin” (Psalms 38:18).

“Again, they are [di]minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow” (Psalms 107:39).

“Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity” (Ecclesiastes 11:10).

He experience the “pains of hell” (Alma 36:13).  He had rebelled against God and he did not keep His commandments. “And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell.  Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory” (Moses 1:20).

Alma had led many souls to destruction by destroying their souls.  The Savior warned, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The thought of facing God “did rack my soul with inexpressible horror” (Alma 36:14).

He feared he would be banished.  From his fears, he learned, “our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence” (Alma 12:14).

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand” (Revelation 6:15-17).

For three days he experience the pains a damned soul will experience.  “Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds” (Alma 42:27).

“According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence” (Isaiah 59:18).

“Yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure—Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (D&C 1:9-10).

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:2).

While he suffered for his sins, he remember the words of his father.  He had heard him prophesy about the coming of Christ to atone for our sins. He began to be remorseful for his sin.  He called out to the Lord for mercy.[2]  He knew he was encircled by the chains of death. 

When speaking of evil, sin and being subject to the devil is frequently referred to as being in chains. 

“O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the ^brock of your salvation” (2 Nephi 9:45).

“And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance” (2 Nephi 28:22).

“And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction.  Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell” (Alma 12:10-11).

“And [Enoch] beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced” (Moses 7:26).

He feared these chains would leave to death.  In Psalms, David wrote about being cutoff.  “For evildoers shall be cut off” (Psalms 37:9). “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalms 51:11). Solomon wrote, “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing” (Proverbs 10:2) and “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:36). And James taught, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).

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[1] Review of Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, Alma through Helaman (1991), by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Donald W. Parry, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 4/1 (1992): 144.

[2] “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil” (Matthew 15:22).

Alma 36:5-11

Alma assures Helaman he knows these things because he had been born of God.  This is an essential part of our salvation. 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: ^cold things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the ^bold man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the ^anew man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively [GR living] hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

He learned these things from an angel, not because he was worthy of knowing things himself.  “And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things?  I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. 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 26:21-22).

Alma reminds Helaman he went around with the sons of Mosiah, destroying the church.[1]  An angel appeared to them and stopped their efforts.  He spoke with a voice of thunder and the earth trembled[2] under their feet and they were overcome with fear of the Lord. 

“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5).

“And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder” (Mosiah 27:18).

“Many years later, Alma still remembered the power of that experience and the angel who ‘spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet’ (Alma 36:7; compare 3 Nephi 8:6). (Such power seems a divine prerogative; the Greek god Poseidon was also known as ‘Earth-Shaker.’) It turned Alma’s life around. Ever afterward, he remained acutely aware of his status as a convert who had been saved from destruction by divine grace (see, for example, his sermon in Alma 5 and his famous chiastic testimony at Alma 36), and he wished that all could have an analogous experience.”^[3]

Alma was in an unconscious state for three days and nights.^[4]  He had heard the angel’s voice as he spoke to him.  “If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God” (Alma 36:9). 

The angel spoke many words to Alma.  The sons of Mosiah also heard these words.  “If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God” (Alma 36:11).  He feared he would be destroyed, fell to the earth, and heard nothing more.

“And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves” (Daniel 10:7).

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord?  And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [hurt oneself by persisting in useless resistance or protest.]. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man”^[5] (Acts 9:3-7).

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[1] “Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man.  And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities. And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them” (Mosiah 27:8-9).

[2] “And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder” (Mosiah 27:18).

[3] Editor’s Introduction: An Unapologetic Apology for Apologetics, Daniel C. Peterson, FARMS Review 22/2 (2010):xlv.

[4] “And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father. And they rehearsed unto his father all that had happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God. And he caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him. And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God. And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort” (Mosiah 27:19-23).

[5] “And they who were journeying with him saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him who spake to him” (Joseph Smith Translation Acts 9:7).

Alma 36:1-4

We take a break in the Book of Mormon record to read Alma’s words to his three sons. We begin with Helaman.

Grant Hardy gives us some insight behind Alma’s words to Helaman.

The urgency of Alma’s chiastic retelling of his conversion story at Alma 36 may make us wonder about his relationship with his son, Helaman, the recipient of those remarks. Helaman was Alma’s oldest son and successor as high priest, yet this was the one son he did not take with him on his missionary journey to the Zoramites at Antionum (Alma 31:6-7).[1] Perhaps Helaman had other obligations that kept him at home, but there may have been spiritual concerns as well. It sounds as if Alma desperately wanted Helaman to take his words to heart, and Alma 36 is the most complete account of his conversion we, as well as the one that focuses most intently on both the pains and joys that he felt. By contrast, we see only an abbreviated version in his words to his second son, Shiblon, along with an acknowledgment of Shiblon’s faithfulness and diligence[2] (there is no similar praise for Helaman in chapters 36-37). The rest of Alma’s lecture to Helaman is a charge to receive, safeguard, and update the sacred records in his possession (Alma 37), so it comes as something of a surprise when we learn after some fourteen chapters later, after Alma’s death, that Helaman had not been his first choice to be the next keeper of the records.[3] See Alma 50:37-38.[4]

Alma begins with a promise.  If he keeps God’s commandments, he will prosper in the land.  We see another reminder of the importance of remembrance of previous captivities of their fathers. 

“For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob” (Mosiah 23:23).

“And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage. Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night–time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night–time were they gathering the flocks together. And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task–masters were in a profound sleep. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God” (Mosiah 24:17-21).

“And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders” (Deuteronomy 26:8).

Only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was able to deliver them to freedom.  “Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God” (Exodus 3:6). “Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage” (Alma 29:11).

Alma calls on him to listen to his words and learn from him.  Helaman should place his trust in Christ. 

“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psalms 56:4).

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalms 91:2).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

“And again, I will put my trust in him.  And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me” (Hebrews 2:13).

“And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted (2 Nephi 4:19).

“I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. And this is the means whereby salvation cometh.  And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you” (Mosiah 4:6-8).

The Lord will stand by him during his trials.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.  Yea, and thus it was with this people” (Mosiah 23:21-22).Joseph

Those that trust in the Lord through their trials and afflictions will be lifted up at the last day. 

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11).[5]

“And this is not all.  Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself?  Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true.  And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.  Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me” (Alma 5:45-46).

Don’t think, he tells Helaman, he knows this through temporal means.  He knows this through spiritual means, this is the mind of God.

“Antithetical parallelism is characterized by an opposition of words, expressions, or ideas, or an antithesis between two lines.

And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—

not of the temporal

but of the spiritual,

not of the carnal mind

but of God. (Alma 36:4)

“This double antithetical parallelism demonstrates that the opposite of “temporal” is “spiritual,” and the idea of carnality and godliness are contrasting elements.”[6]

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[1] “Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and he also took two of his sons. Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton; and these are the names of those who went with him among the Zoramites, to preach unto them the word” (Alma 31:6-7).

[2] “And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites” (Alma 38:2-3).

[3] “And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment–seat with perfect uprightness before God. Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman” (Alma 50:37-38).

[4] Understanding the Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy, Kindle Edition, Location 3169 to 3212.

[5] “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God” (Joseph Smith Translation, 1 Corinthians 2:11).

[6] Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon, Donald W. Parry, Maxwell Institute, pgs. xxxii-xxxiii.