The Book of
Alma
The Son of Alma
The account of Alma,
who was the son of Alma, the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi,
and also the high priest over the Church. An account of the reign of the
judges, and the wars and contentions among the people. And also an account of a
war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma,
the first and chief judge.
Chapter 1
Nehor teaches false
doctrines, establishes a church, introduces priestcraft, and slays Gideon—Nehor
is executed for his crimes—Priestcrafts and persecutions spread among the
people—The priests support themselves, the people care for the poor, and the
Church prospers. About 91–88 B.C.
1 Now it came to pass
that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi,
from this time forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth,
having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to
reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and they were
acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws
which he had made.
2 And it came to pass
that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a
man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his
much strength.
3 And he had gone
about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word
of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every
priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with
their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.
4 And he also
testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and
that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads
and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men;
and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.
5 And it came to pass
that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even
so many that they began to support him and give him money.
6 And he began to be
lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and
even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching.
In the first year of the judges, a man, Nehor, was brought
before Alma to be judged. Mormon describes him as a large man noted for his
strength.
“The trial of Nehor is a classic case of an angry member of
a minority religious and political party who lost his temper, feeling
oppressed, frustrated, or insulted by the controlling government. Probably
assuming that his popular power base was strong enough, Nehor figured he could
use force with impunity. In his way stood only the novice judge Alma, who had
to make a politically difficult decision in order to reinforce and stand up for
important legal values and against the use of violence and physical force.”[1]
He taught what he claimed to be the word of God, speaking
against the church. He believed the priests and teacher should be chosen
because they were popular. “Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish
prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (Ezekiel 13:3).
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so
did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
“For the time speedily shall come that all churches which
are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the
flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world,
and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to
do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of
the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must
be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and
this is according to the words of the prophet” (1 Nephi 22:23).
He opposed the law requiring the priests and teachers to
work for their support. He taught the people should support them.
“And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had
ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.
“And there was one day in every week that was set apart that
they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the
Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble
themselves together.
“And the priests were not to depend upon the people for
their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that
they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they
might teach with power and authority from God” (Mosiah 18:24-26).
“Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with
their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in
much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God” (Mosiah
27:5).
4 And he also testified unto the people that all mankind
should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but
that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all
men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have
eternal life.
Nehor taught all would be saved at the last day. Alma would
deal with this in Ammonihah. “But as to the people that were in the land of
Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they
repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the
devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the
repentance of their sins” (Alma 15:15).
Moroni warned this would once again occur. “Yea, it shall
come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth;
there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms,
and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this,
or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last
day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds
of iniquity” (Mormon 8:31).
“Nehor taught a universalist doctrine that all mankind would
be saved at the last day (see Alma 1:3–4). This teaching became much more
popular and had a deeper impact on Nephite religious beliefs than did
priestcraft. Nehor’s universalism was an apparent reaction to Alma’s efforts to
maintain discipline among the rebellious younger generation in Zarehemla. God
revealed to Alma’s father the disciplinary policy of the church (see Mosiah
26:15–32), which included the expression that those who knew not God at the
second trump would ‘depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels’ (Mosiah 26:27). Beginning with Nephi, and especially in the teachings
of both Almas, there is a well-defined doctrine of everlasting postmortal
punishment for sin. Nehor may not have been familiar with the teachings of the
prophets who taught earlier in Nephite history, but he could hardly have
avoided knowing the contents of the revelation to Alma since it outlined the
disciplinary policy of the church and was recorded and undoubtedly publicized
among church members (see Mosiah 26:33).”[2]
Many accepted his words. They began to give him money and
support him.
Nehor became a proud man and wore costly apparel. As we will
see throughout Nephite history, pride and costly apparel will be a sign the
Nephites have rejected gospel truths and have become an unrighteous people.
Jacob faced this problem. “And the hand of providence hath
smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and
because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye
are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads
because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because
ye suppose that ye are better than they” (Jacob 2:13).
Costly apparel will be seen as a sign of the Zoramite
apostasy. “And it came to pass that after much labor among [the Zoramites],
they[3]
began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were
cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel” (Alma
32:2).
[1] A
Book of Mormon Casebook, Kevin L. Barney, FARMS Review 21/1 (2009): 60.
[2] Painting
Out the Messiah: The Theologies of Dissidents, John L. Clark, Maxwell
Institute website.
[3] “Therefore
[Alma] 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” (Alma 31:6).
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