Alma 8:23-32

23 And after he had eaten and was filled he said unto Amulek: I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God throughout the land.

24 And behold, I have been called to preach the word of God among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy; and I was in this land and they would not receive me, but they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever.

25 But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn again and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against them concerning their iniquities.

26 And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken me in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many days.

27 And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he began to preach unto the people.

28 And it came to pass that the people did wax more gross in their iniquities.

29 And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away.

30 And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

31 And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.

32 And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them. (Alma 8:23-32)

Amulek invited Alma into his home and he provided him a meal. Alma told Amulek he was the high priest of the church throughout the land. He explained he had attempted to preach to the people of Ammonihah, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy. Instead, he was cast out of Ammonihah by the people. He left, having no intention of returning.

He continued, explaining to Amulek, he had been commanded to return to Ammonihah to prophesy and testify against them because of the sins. Amulek, he said, was blessed for taking him in, feeding him, and taking care of him. He remained with Amulek for some days before preaching to the people.

During this time, we learn “the people did wax more gross in their iniquities” (Alma 8:28).

Finally, the word of the Lord came to Alma, commanding him to take Amulek and to prophesy to the people, lest they repent, the Lord will visit his fierce anger. This, they did, filled with the Holy Ghost.

Alma and Amulek were given power by the Lord. They could not be held in dungeons. Those who wanted to kill them failed. Even though they had this power, they only used it when appropriate, such as after they were bound and cast into prison.

Through the power given them by the Lord, and as guided by the Spirit, they preached and prophesied to the people of Ammonihah.

“[W]hen one speaks ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost’ carries the message to the hearts of humankind (2 Nephi 33:1). The power of the Holy Ghost also manifests knowledge (Jacob 7:12) and causes one to teach with power and authority (Mosiah 18:26) … It is by means of the power of the Holy Ghost that the virgin shall be overshadowed and conceive (Alma 7:10). Alma and Amulek ‘went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them’ (Alma 8:32), while the power and Spirit of God leads to the conversion of many (3 Nephi 7:21).”[1]

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[1] Book of Mormon Pneumatology, John Christopher Thomas, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 221.