Alma 11:38-41

38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?

39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;

40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works. (Alma 11:38-41)

Zeezrom continued questioning Alma. He asked, “Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father” (Alma 11:38).

Amulek responds He is the very Eternal Father of heaven and Earth.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

“For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing” (Moroni 7:22).

“For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity” (Moroni 8:18).

He is the beginning, the end, the first, the last.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

He will come into the world to redeem us.

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

“For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:26-27).

He will take upon himself the sins of all who believe in His name. They will have eternal life and salvation.

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that [OR but who] will by no means clear the guilty [JST Ex. 34:7 rebellious]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7).

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…

“He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken” (Mosiah 14:5, 8).

“For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed” (Mosiah 15:12).

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” (D&C 19:16-18).

“Of all the necessary steps to repentance, I testify that the most critically important is for you to have a conviction that forgiveness comes because of the Redeemer. It is essential to know that only on His terms can you be forgiven. … That means you trust Him and you trust His teachings. Satan would have you believe that serious transgression cannot be entirely overcome. The Savior gave His life so that the effects of all transgression can be put behind us, save the shedding of innocent blood and the denial of the Holy Ghost.”[1]

If the wicked refuse to repent, it will be as though no redemption had been made.

“For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).

“Then, I say unto you, [the wicked] shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God’s justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption” (Alma 12:18).

All will be resurrected, both wicked and righteous.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:12-13).

“[M]ercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice” (Alma 42:23).

They will stand before God and be judged by their works.

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

“Now, my brothers and sisters, let not Jesus’ redemption for us stop at the immortalizing dimension of the Atonement, ‘the loosing of the bands of death’ (Alma 11:41). Let us grasp the proffered gift of eternal life! We will end up either choosing Christ’s manner of living or His manner of suffering! It is either ‘suffer even as I’ (D&C 19:16–17), or overcome ‘even as [He] … overcame’ (Rev. 3:21). His beckoning command is to become ‘even as I am’ (3 Ne. 27:27). The spiritually settled accept that invitation, and ‘through the atonement of Christ,’ they become and overcome! (see Mosiah 3:18, 19).”[2]

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[1] Finding Forgiveness, Elder Richard G. Scott, April 1995 General Conference.

[2] “Overcome … Even As I Also Overcame,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell, April 1987 General Conference.

Alma 11:22-37

22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.

23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

24 Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him.

25 And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me—Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee—when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward.

26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?

27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.

28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?

29 And he answered, No.

30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things?

31 And he said: An angel hath made them known unto me.

32 And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God?

33 And he said unto him, Yea.

34 And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.

35 Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people—as though he had authority to command God.

36 Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins.

37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins. (Alma 11:22-37)

Amulek has agreed to answer Zeezrom’s questions – “ if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord” (Alma 11:22).

Zeezrom offers to give Amulek six onties of silver (an onti having the greatest value) if he will deny the existence of God. Amulek answered, “O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations” (Alma 11:23).

“Amulek, who himself was a wealthy man, had no trouble turning down the offer. He saw it for what it was-an appeal to the greed that Zeezrom apparently assumed influenced all individuals. It was one version of the age-old question, ‘What price your integrity?’ The legal officials in Ammonihah, however, lacked integrity.”[1]

Amulek confronts Zeezrom directly. He asks, do you believe there is no God? He answers his question telling him he knows there is a God but money means more to him than does God.

He also told him he lied when he said he would give him the onties. He never intended to give them to him. He only wanted him to deny the existence of God as a way to destroy him.  

Zeezrom asked Amulek if he said there is a true and living God. Amulek responded there is a true and living God.

He next asked if there is more than one God? Amulek answered no. Zeezrom wanted to know how he knew this. An angel made it known unto him. “And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house” (Alma 10:10).

Zeezrom next asked if He would save people in their sins. Amulek made it clear He would not. It is impossible for Him to deny His word.

“While God is empathetic, we should not mistakenly believe that He is accepting and open-minded about sin. He is not. The Savior came to earth to save us from our sins and, importantly, will not save us in our sins.”[2] (emphasis in original)

Zeezrom twisted Amulek’s words. Amulek claimed there is one God, and the Son of God will come, but He will not save His people. Amulek acted as though he had authority to command God. This twisted claim will be brought up again.

“And the people went forth and witnessed against [Alma and Amulek], testifying that they had reviled against the law, and their lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should not save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land” (Alma 14:5).

Amulek told him he had lied. “Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done” (Alma 12:1).

Amulek again tells them God cannot save them in their sins.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners [GR robbers], shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Amulek cannot deny His word. He said no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven.

“Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also” (1 Nephi 15:33).

“But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup” (Alma 40:26).

“And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end” (3 Nephi 27:19).

How, Amulek asks, can you be saved unless you inherit the kingdom of heaven? No! We cannot be saved in our sins.

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[1] Weighing and Measuring in the Worlds of the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Our Good Shepherd, Elder Dale G. Renlund, April 2017 General Conference.

Alma 11:1-21

Chapter 11

The Nephite monetary system is set forth—Amulek contends with Zeezrom—Christ will not save people in their sins—Only those who inherit the kingdom of heaven are saved—All men will rise in immortality—There is no death after the Resurrection. About 82 B.C.

1 Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged.

2 Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber.

3 And the judge received for his wages according to his time—a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given.

4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and their measure, according to the minds and the circumstances of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been established by king Mosiah.

5 Now the reckoning is thus—a senine of gold, a seon of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold.

6 A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver.

7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind of grain.

8 Now the amount of a seon of gold was twice the value of a senine.

9 And a shum of gold was twice the value of a seon.

10 And a limnah of gold was the value of them all.

11 And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums.

12 And an ezrom of silver was as great as four senums.

13 And an onti was as great as them all.

14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning—

15 A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for half a measure of barley.

16 And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon.

17 And a leah is the half of a shiblum.

18 Now this is their number, according to their reckoning.

19 Now an antion of gold is equal to three shiblons.

20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.

21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you? (Alma 11:1-21)

Under Nephite law, as established by King Mosiah, judges were to paid for the time they spent as a judge.

Mormon gives us an example of the Nephite judicial process. If one person owes another a certain amount of money, he was expected to pay the debt. Should the debtor refuse to pay the debt, he could be brought before a judge. A complaint was filed and the debtor was brought before the judge. Evidence would be presented, and the judge would make a ruling. If the judge ruled against the debtor, he pronounced punishment. The debtor could be forced to pay the debt, be stripped, “or be cast out among the people as a thief and a robber” (Alma 11:2).

The judge was paid according to the amount of time he spent acting as a judge.

Having touched upon the Nephite monetary system (“And the judge received for his wages according to his time—a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given” (Alma 11:3)), Mormon breaks into his record and explains the Nephite monetary system.

“Why would one bring up these incidental economic nuts and bolts at such a point in the record?

“Several reasons might explain why this information was included at this point in the Book of Mormon. For one thing, these short metrological details are not only intertwined with the debate between Amulek and Zeezrom (see Alma 11:21–25), but they also provide an important building block in Mormon’s grand narrative. By abusing the justice system and misusing the lawful weights and measures, the wicked people of Ammonihah effectively opened the floodgates of God’s judgment upon themselves, a pattern that would apply later to Nephite civilization as a whole...

“It should be clear … we are talking here about weights and measures, not coins. When the Book of Mormon speaks of ‘the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver,’ as well as naming them ‘according to their value’ (Alma 11:4), we should probably not think that it is referring to minted coins. Rather, the term pieces most likely refers to metallic weights of some sort. The first coins known to history—at least coins in the modern sense—appeared in Lydia in western Asia Minor by the seventh century BC, spreading into the Mediterranean region only after Lehi had left Jerusalem. As in other ancient cultures, the Nephites seem to have used weighted pieces of metal as payment for measured amounts of grain.”[1]

Mormon then explains the monetary system (see Alma 11:5-19). “Mormon is trying to set the stage for the bribe that follows and that the bribe was made in terms familiar to both the ‘briber’ (Zeezrom) and the ‘bribee’ (Amulek). These terms may no longer have been in use in Mormon’s day and so would not have been part of his vocabulary. It seems much more likely that Mormon draws these words from the text he is abridging. But the passage in question provides good authorship evidence for the Book of Mormon. It demonstrates that the abridger (Mormon) had a document from which he was working and knew that he would have to insert the explanatory material in order that his future audience might understand the enormity of the bribe.”[2]

Lawyers did not hesitate to cause problems. If there were problems, they had clients. If they had clients, they got paid. So, they set the people against Alma and Amulek.

“Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

“Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;

“The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day” (Lamentations 3:60-62).

Zeezrom questioned them. Mormon tells us he “was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good” (Alma 11:21). He asked Amulek if he would be willing to answer a few questions.

“Ostensibly appointed to administer the law on behalf of the people, Mormon indicates that Ammonihah’s unique political class of lawyers ‘did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness’ in order to ‘have more employ’ since their ‘sole purpose [was] to get gain’ (Alma 11:20). This class was not a part of the original structure outlined by Mosiah₂, but developed during the first eight years of the reign of the judges. If Mormon’s account is accurate, this group often escalated disputes. If the ideal purpose of the new government was to provide means for all to enjoy their rights and privileges, the introduction of these lawyers had the potential of destroying that liberty by lionizing or demonizing those on the other side of a dispute, actually inflaming the problem rather than alleviating it. Yet this class appeared to have become an essential part of the political-legal system of Ammonihah.[3]

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[1] Weighing and Measuring in the Worlds of the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Not Your Everyday Wordprint Study: Variations on a Theme, John A. Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute website.

[3] “And it came to pass . . .”: The Sociopolitical Events in the Book of Mormon Leading to the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of the Judges, Dan Belnap,  Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 116.

Alma 10:18-32

19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.

20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.

22 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.

23 But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.

24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected.

25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?

26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.

27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.

28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.

29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges.

30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.

31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.

32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ. (Alma 10:19-32)

Amulek continues.

Amulek refers back to the words of King Mosiah, when he created the chief judgeship, allowing the Nephites to be governed by the voice of the people. He warned them of the consequences of the voice of the people choosing iniquity. “And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land” (Mosiah 29:27).

“The Nephites are constantly referring to earlier passages from their scripture for insight on how they should live (for example, Amulek in Alma 10: 19 refers to King Mosiah's discussion of leaders and citizens from Mosiah 29:27; likewise, Alma 9: 13 is one of many instances in which the Nephites refer back to 2 Nephi 1 :20); not only were the Nephites the ‘original audience,’ their use of the text shows how quickly the records became canonical for them.”[1]

The Lord will judge them by their iniquities. The Lord has cried to this people by the voice of angels, calling them to repent of their sins.

Were it not for the prayers of the righteous throughout the land, they would have been visited with destruction by famine, pestilence, and the sword.

“There are voices all about us. Some are harsh and raucous, others sweet and penetrating … Rasping voices proclaiming ‘doctrines of devils,’ saying there is no sin; there is no devil; there is no God. Saying that we will ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ like the antediluvians who never believed that the flood would really come.

“Many voices of seducing spirits advocate carnal pleasures and unrestrained physical satisfactions. Our world is now much the same as it was in the days of the Nephite prophet who said: ‘… if it were not for the prayers of the righteous … ye would even now be visited with utter destruction. …’ (Alma 10:22.) Of course, there are many many upright and faithful who live all the commandments and whose lives and prayers keep the world from destruction.”[2]

Should they cast out the righteous, then the Lord will no longer stay His judgments. They will face His fierce anger and they will be afflicted by famine, pestilence, and the sword. This will happen soon unless they repent of their sins.

They became angry with Amulek. He spoke against their “just” laws and “wise” lawyers they selected. “It is unclear which laws Amulek supposedly reviled, although it seems likely that the Ammonihahites viewed Alma’s and Amulek’s ministry as a threat to their community’s right to choose their own judges. Moreover, they likely took umbrage at Amulek’s declaration that only the prayers of the righteous, presumably church members, kept the city of Ammonihah from destruction.”[3]

Amulek broke in and continued preaching to them. Why, he asked, had they allowed Satan to control them? Why will they yield to him, allowing him to have power over them and blind their eyes.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Why, he asked, do they refuse to understand the words of truth spoken to them.

Amulek pointed out not only had he not spoken against their law, he spoke in favor of their law, which will lead to their condemnation.

The foundation for their destruction has already been laid. “And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them” (Alma 8:16).

“Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. But behold, this is not all—he has commanded you to repent, or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the earth; yea, he will visit you in his anger, and in his fierce anger he will not turn away” (Alma 9:12).

This foundation was built by their lawyers and judges. Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish” (2 Nephi 28:16).

“Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

“And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

“Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

“Truly ye bear witness that ye allow [GR agree, accord with] the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

“That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

“From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge[4]: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luke 11:45-52).

When Amulek finished, the people were even more angry. They called him a child of the devil. He lied, claiming he did not speak against their law when he did. He also reviled their lawyers and judges.

The lawyers were behind this. Mormon tell us, “the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him” (Alma 10:30). The lawyers were doing this because they made money when they were employed by the people.

We meet a lawyer who was “one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people” (Alma 10:31). His name was Zeezrom.

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[1] Scratching the Surface of Book of Mormon Narratives, Alan Goff, FARMS Review of Books 12/2 (2000): 61.

[2] Voices of the Past, of the Present, of the Future, President Spencer W. Kimball, April 1971 General Conference.

[3] “And it came to pass . . .”: The Sociopolitical Events in the Book of Mormon Leading to the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of the Judges, Dan Belnap, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 115.

[4] “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, the fullness of the scriptures; ye enter not in yourselves into the kingdom; and those who were entering in, ye hindered” (JST Luke 11:54).

Alma 10:12-17

12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.

14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.

15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.

16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God. (Alma 10:12-17)

The people had rejected Alma’s preaching because he was only one person. “And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things” (Alma 9:6). Having heard from a second witness who testified to Alma’s words caused astonishment among them.

“Is it not common in the work of the Lord to call forth as many witnesses as one can to prove the truth of a righteous claim? Witnesses express themselves differently, even though they are speaking about the same events. Some have seen more, or were present longer, or were present in a different capacity. The people in Ammonihah rejected and ridiculed Alma and his message, but became astonished at the words of Amulek, ‘seeing that there was more than one witness that testified of the things whereof they were accused’ (Alma 10:12; italics added). It was the second witness that astonished the people.”[1]

“Miraculous things happen when members join with missionaries and share pure testimony with those who are not members of the Church. For example, while many people were touched by Alma’s testimony in the land of Ammonihah, when Amulek stood and added his testimony to Alma’s, ‘the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified’ (Alma 10:12). The same thing can happen with us today. As we stand together the Lord will help us find many more of His sheep who will know His voice as we unitedly share our testimonies with them.”[2]

In the crowd, there were those who decided to question them. Using their “cunning,” they hoped to find ways they could be brought before their judges and be judged according to their law.

Jeremiah faced this during his ministry. “But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered” (Jeremiah 11:19).

Jeremiah would later write,

“Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

“Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;

“The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day” (Lamentations 3:60-62).

Those chose chosen to challenge Alma and Amulek were lawyers. Mormon describes them as being “learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skillful in their profession” (Alma 10:15).

The lawyers questioned Amulek, hoping to have him contradict himself. During Christ’s ministry, the Pharisees and Herodians used the same tactics against Him. “And they [sent] unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words” (Mark 12:13).

Unbeknownst to them, Amulek knew their plans. As they began to question him, he told them “ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God” (Alma 10:17).

The Lord described these people to Joseph Smith.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good;

“And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.

“Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction.

“And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment.

“Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work.

“Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy; behold, this is no harm. And thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him.

“And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare.

“And thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men” (D&C 10:20-27).

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[1] The Book of Mormon, an Interpretive Guide to the New Testament, Dennis Largey, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Pure Testimony, President M. Russell Ballard, October 2004 General Conference.

Alma 10:1-11

Chapter 10

Lehi descended from Manasseh—Amulek recounts the angelic command that he care for Alma—The prayers of the righteous cause the people to be spared—Unrighteous lawyers and judges lay the foundation of the destruction of the people. About 82 B.C.

1 Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:

2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.

3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.

4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.

5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.

8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.

9 And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.

10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.

11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake. (Alma 10:1-11)

In Chapter 9, Mormon closes by telling us he is writing the words of Amulek. He explains, “the words of Amulek are not all written” (Alma 9:34). So, we have an incomplete record. It would have been interesting to know why he chose not to include his complete sermon.

Amulek introduces himself by telling them a bit of his genealogy. He was the son of Ishmael. He is a descendant of Aminadi, “who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God” (Alma 10:2). For whatever reason, Mormon chose to provide us with no information about this event.

Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, the son of the Lehi. We then learn Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh.

The people know him. He has family and friends among the people of Ammonihah. He was also a wealthy man, having “acquired much riches by the hand of my industry” (Alma 10:4).

He never understood the ways, mysteries, and power of the Lord. But, this was a mistake. He had seen much of His mysteries and powers, in the preservation of the Nephites, but did not recognize it.

“Amulek was an industrious and prosperous man with many kindreds and friends. He described himself as a man who was called many times but would not hear, a man who knew the things of God but would not know. A basically good man, Amulek was distracted by worldly concerns…”

Even though he had previously hardened his heart, Amulek obeyed the voice of an angel, received the prophet Alma in his home, and provided nourishment to him. He was spiritually awakened during Alma’s visit and was called to preach the gospel. Amulek then forsook ‘all his gold, and silver, and his precious things … for the word of God, [and was] rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred.’”[1]

“Even when free of major transgression, we can develop self-contentment instead of seeking self-improvement. This was once true of Amulek, who later acknowledged, “I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God.” (Alma 10:4–6.)[2]

“While casual members are not unrighteous, they often avoid appearing to be too righteous by seeming less committed than they really are—an ironic form of hypocrisy.

“Some of these otherwise honorable members mistakenly regard the Church as an institution, but not as a kingdom. They know the doctrines of the kingdom, but more as a matter of recitation than of real comprehension.

“Casual members are usually very busy with the cares and the things of the world—much as honorable Amulek once was. Called many times, he would not hear. He really knew concerning the truths of the gospel, but Amulek would not acknowledge that he knew. (Alma 10:4–6.)”[3]

Amulek tells them he was traveling to visit a close relative. While he was traveling, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. He was told to return to his house. A “holy man” had been fasting for many days and was very hungry. He was told to return and provide him with food and lodging. For doing this, the Lord’s blessing will rest upon both him and his family.

He returned and found Alma. He knew Alma was “a holy man because it was said by an angel of God” (Alma 10:8).

After caring for Alma, Amulek said he had blessed his house. Alma had blessed him, his women and children, his father, and all his kinsfolk.

“When Amulek describes Alma’s blessing, he paints a picture of how Amulek perceives his kin connections. These descriptions fit the general picture of Mesoamerican households.[4]

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[1] Meek and Lowly of Heart, Elder David A. Bednar, April 2018 General Conference.

[2] Repentance, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, October 1991 General Conference.

[3] “Settle This in Your Hearts”, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, October 1992 General Conference.

[4] Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion, Brant A. Gardner, FARMS Review 17/2 (2005): 158.

Alma 9:26-34

26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.

27 And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name.

28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.

29 Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying unto the people.

30 And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen people.

31 Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken these words, behold, the people were wroth with me because I said unto them that they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.

32 And also because I said unto them that they were a lost and a fallen people they were angry with me, and sought to lay their hands upon me, that they might cast me into prison.

33 But it came to pass that the Lord did not suffer them that they should take me at that time and cast me into prison.

34 And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood forth, and began to preach unto them also. And now the words of Amulek are not all written, nevertheless a part of his words are written in this book. (Alma 9-26-34)

Alma continues.

Once again, Alma reminds them the day is soon when Christ will come in His glory. “Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men” (Alma 5:50).

His glory will be full of grace, equity, and truth. “Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth” (2 Nephi 2:6).

He will be full of patience and mercy. “(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them” (Deuteronomy 4:31).

“Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old” (Psalm 25:6).

“Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (Psalm 69:16).

“O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more” (2 Nephi 9:8).

“And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (Alma 42:15).

He will be quick to hear they cries of His people and answer their prayers. “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

“All of us have made wrong turns along the way. I believe the kind and merciful God, whose children we are, will judge us as lightly as He can for the wrongs that we have done and give us the maximum blessing for the good that we do. Alma’s sublime utterance seems to me an affirmation of this.”[1]

Christ will come to redeem those who are baptized, unto repentance and have faith in Him. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

“And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 9:23).

“[O]ne day I sat in a temple next to a sister who lives in a humble house. I spent two hours at her side. I looked often into her beautiful eyes and saw the love of the Lord in them. As we finished our work in the temple, I had a powerful realization. In all of the eternal blessings, in all of our most important privileges and opportunities, we were equals. I had been ‘baptized unto repentance,’ and so had she. I had spiritual gifts, and so did she. I had the opportunity to repent, and so did she. I had received the Holy Ghost, and so had she. I had received temple ordinances, and so had she. If both of us had left this world together at that moment, we would have arrived equal before the Lord in our blessings and potential.”[2]

It is time to prepare the way of the Lord. Soon, we shall reap wards according to your works.

 “Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you” (Alma 32:43).

“Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward” (D&C 6:33).

“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 1:10).

If our works are righteous, we will reap salvation through the power and deliverance of Christ.

If we are wicked, we will reap damnation to our souls, becoming captive to the devil’s power.

 “And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust” (JST John 5:29).

“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just” (Romans 3:8).

“Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying unto the people” (Alma 9:29).

Rather than listen to Alma’s words, they became angry. Nephi’s words described these words. “And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law” (2 Nephi 25:28).

Because he had told them they were a lost and fallen people, they attempted to take Alma and Amulek, and throw them into prison. They failed as the Lord did not allow them to cast them into prison.

Having finished, Mormon tells us Amulek began to preach to them.

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[1] “Woman, Why Weepest Thou?”, President James E. Faust. October 1996.

[2] An Outpouring of Blessings, Sister Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference.