Alma 8:1-13

Chapter 8

Alma preaches and baptizes in Melek—He is rejected in Ammonihah and leaves—An angel commands him to return and cry repentance unto the people—He is received by Amulek, and the two of them preach in Ammonihah. About 82 B.C.

1 And now it came to pass that Alma returned from the land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon many things which cannot be written, having established the order of the church, according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla, yea, he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest himself from the labors which he had performed.

2 And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

3 And it came to pass in the commencement of the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma departed from thence and took his journey over into the land of Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west by the borders of the wilderness.

4 And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God, by which he had been called; and he began to teach the people throughout all the land of Melek.

5 And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness side. And they were baptized throughout all the land;

6 So that when he had finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days’ journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah.

7 Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small villages, after the name of him who first possessed them; and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah.

8 And it came to pass that when Alma had come to the city of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of God unto them.

9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma.

10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.

11 Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions.

12 And now we know that because we are not of thy church we know that thou hast no power over us; and thou hast delivered up the judgment-seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chief judge over us.

13 Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron. (Alma 8:1-13).

Alma finished his preaching in the land of Gideon. Mormon tells us what we read in Chapter 7 was not all he taught. He wrote Alma taught “many things which cannot be written” (Alma 8:1). Mormon does not clarify this statement. Why did he not record all of Alma’s sermons? It could well have been because of space available on the plates. It also could mean he had recorded the same teachings earlier in his abridgement of Alma’s record. We just don’t know.

He returned to his home in Zarahemla. He spent time resting from his labors. The ninth year of the reign of judges ended during this time. In the tenth year, Alma left and went to the land of Melek to preach. Melek was located near the borders of what the Nephite’s called wilderness.

When he arrived, he began teaching the people in throughout the land of Melek. People from throughout the land came to here his words. Many were baptized. This is all the information Mormon provides about Alma’s time in Melek.

Alma then journeyed to Ammonihah. As we will see, his time in Ammonihah was a particularly challenging part of his mission.

When he arrived, he found “Satan had gotten great hold upon the heart of the people in Ammonihah” (Alma 8:9). They rejected Alma’s message.

In spite of their rejected, he remained there, teaching the people. He prayed to the Lord asking Him to pour out his Spirit on the people of Ammonihah. He also asked the Lord to be with him that he might baptized the people unto repentance.

They people rejected his message. They recognized him as the high priest over the church, but rejected his “foolish traditions.” They also pointed out they knew he was no longer the chief judge, and as they were not a part of his church, he had no power over them.

13 Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.

They withstood his words, mocked him, spit upon him, and cast him out of Ammonihah. He left and headed towards the city Aaron.