8 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.
9 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.
10 And now it came to
pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God, for he did go
about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to
lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or
even the king—
11 And as I said unto
you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake
as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which
they stood;
12 And so great was
their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words
which he spake unto them.
13 Nevertheless he
cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the
church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish
it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.
14 And again, the
angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the
prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much
faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the
truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power
and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered
according to their faith.
15 And now behold, can
ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And
can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God.
16 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 27:8-16).
It is at this point in the record we are introduced to Alma2
and the sons of Mosiah.
The sons of Mosiah and Alma1 were among the
wicked. Mormon described Alma as “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” (Mosiah 27:8).
Alma2 was successful. He “became a great
hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God” (Mosiah 27:9). People left
the church through his efforts. He sowed dissension among the people. He gave
the devil his chance “to exercise his power over them” (Mosiah 27:9).
We have been warned people like Alma2 will be
present in the Church today.
“Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among
you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power ...
“But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off,
either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off
from my church, for the same are overcome of the world” (D&C 50:7-8).
He didn’t do this openly. He, and the sons of Mosiah, did
this secretly. They desired to destroy the church. In many ways, Alma2
was similar to Saul before he received his vision of Christ. “As for Saul, he
made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women
committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3).
Things were about to change for Alma2 and the
sons of Mosiah. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. He spoke to them with a
voice of thunder. They were so astonished, they fell to the earth and could not
understand his words.
The angel again addressed Alma2.
He told him to stand. He asked him why he persecutes God’s church. This is the
Lord’s church and nothing will defeat it save it be apostasy of the members.
Alma2 was leading
people to the mists of darkness. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of
darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they
who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and
were lost” (1 Nephi 8:23).
“And the mists of darkness are
the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts
of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they
perish and are lost” (1 Nephi 12:17).
The angel continued, telling him the prayers of the people
had bene heard. Amulek would explain the importance of the prayers of the
righteous. “Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the
righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with
utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days
of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword” (Alma
10:22).
He told him his father had prayed that he would be brought
to the church. He came to convince him of the power of God. Alma2
would later refer to this. “And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly
penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy;
then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard
my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards
me” (Alma 29:10).
“What a joy and blessing to have the Spirit in our homes!
And what a blessing it is to invite it through prayer, studying the scriptures,
speaking kindly, and showing appreciation to one another! Let us prepare our
teaching moments by praying as Alma prayed for his son, “with much faith”15 and
all the energy of our souls; by fasting, searching the scriptures, repenting of
our sins, and allowing the Holy Ghost to fill our hearts with love,
forgiveness, and compassion. And then it will fill our homes. Then,
let us trust the Good Shepherd. (emphasis in original)”[1]
The angel told him, “can ye dispute the power of God? For
behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before
you? And I am sent from God” (Mosiah 27:15).
16 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
He told him to remember the captivity of his father and his
people in Helam and how they were eventually delivered. He was commanded to
cease his attempts to destroy the church. If he doesn’t, he will be cast off.
When Alma2 confronted Korihor, he told him words
similar to what the angel told him. “But behold, it is better that thy soul
should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down
to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou
shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb,
that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this
people any more” (Alma 30:47).
[1] With
All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to Families, Elder Robert
D. Hales, April 2004 General Conference.
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