Mosiah 25:18-24

18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma.

19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over every church.

20 Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly;

21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma.

22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God.

23 And now there were seven churches in the land of Zarahemla. And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God;

24 And they were called the people of God. And the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and prospered in the land. (Mosiah 25:18-24).

Alma and his people escaped from bondage under the Lamanites and arrived in Zarahemla.

He began preaching to the people, baptizing them after the accepted his Gospel message. “[Alma₁] did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma” (Mosiah 25:18).

“Covenantal baptisms were performed from the beginning of the record, notably by Alma1 at the waters of Mormon (Mosiah 18). His baptismal prayer sought sanctification of the heart as the covenantor promised to serve God “even until death” so that he or she might be granted eternal life through the redemption of Christ (Mosiah 18:12—13). Alma’s group remained intact even after they took up residence among other Nephites, and those Nephites who submitted to baptism ‘after the manner he [had baptized] his brethren in the waters of Mormon’ belonged to this church (Mosiah 25:18).”[1]

King Mosiah gave Alma₁ the authority to establish churches in the land of Zarahemla. So many people accepted the gospel, Alma₁ was given authority “to ordain priests and teachers over every church” (Mosiah 25:19). The people could now hear the word of God in their own church rather than in one large assembly.

“King Mosiah granted to Alma the right to ‘establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla’ and authorized him ‘to ordain priests and teachers over every church’ (Mosiah 25:19)62—a prerogative heretofore pertaining to the kingship.63 Indeed, Mosiah gave Alma authority over the church (Mosiah 26:8), thus effectively delegating to another man a major portion of the sacral authority that had traditionally been attached to the Nephite throne.”[2]

Eventually, seven churches were formed. These individual churches made up the church of God with “every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God” (Mosiah 25:21-22).

Anyone who desired to “take upon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God” (Mosiah 25:23). Church members “were called the people of God. And the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and prospered in the land. (Mosiah 25:24).

---

[1] Religious Teachings and Practices in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute website.