Mosiah 26:32-39

33 And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down that he might have them, and that he might judge the people of that church according to the commandments of God.

34 And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been taken in iniquity, according to the word of the Lord.

35 And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them he did number among the people of the church;

36 And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were blotted out.

37 And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walking circumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizing many.

38 And now all these things did Alma and his fellow laborers do who were over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of God in all things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of God.

39 And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.

After receiving the word of the Lord, Alma promptly wrote them down, “that he might judge the people of that church according to the commandments of God” (Mosiah 26:33). Those who had sinned were brought before Alma to be judged.

Nephi’s parting words included a warning to those who reject the gospel.

“And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

“And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

“For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen” (2 Nephi 33:13-15).

Those who confessed and repented of their sins were forgiven and remained a part of the church. Those who refused to confess and repent of the sins “were not numbered among the people of the church and their names were blotted out” (Mosiah 26:36).

The Lord has made the consequence of refusing to repent clear. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33).

“Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever” (Psalm 9:5).

“For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them” (Alma 1:24).

“This idea of excommunication was obviously wholly new to Alma, who had grown up under the old ideology where one’s birth ‘numbered’ one among the people of the Lord—the Nephites—in such a way that one could not be “blotted out,” and where one’s primary social identity was national or genealogical rather than, as we might express it, ‘intentional’ or ‘voluntary.’”[1]

Having dealt with the sinners in the church, Alma continued to take care of the needs of the church. Peace and prosperity followed. During that time, the church grew. Those in service of the Lord taught the gospel to the people. They admonished the people, identifying their sins, commanding them “to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks[2] in all things” (Mosiah 26:39). Mormon informs us they suffered “all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of God” (Mosiah 26:38).

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[1] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 177.

[2] For an excellent talk on giving thanks in all things, see Giving Thanks in All Things, President Dallin Oaks, April 2003 General Conference.