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.