Alma 14:1-13

Chapter 14

Alma and Amulek are imprisoned and smitten—The believers and their holy scriptures are burned by fire—These martyrs are received by the Lord in glory—The prison walls are rent and fall—Alma and Amulek are delivered, and their persecutors are slain. About 82–81 B.C.

1 And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures.

2 But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges.

3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to put them away privily.

4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land.

5 And the people went forth and witnessed against them—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.

6 And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell.

7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them.

8 And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.

9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.

10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.

13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not. (Alma 14:1-13).

Alma and Amulek had some success in their missionary efforts. Many people accepted their teachings and began to repent and study the scriptures.

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

“Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ…

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:2-3, 11).

Even so, the majority were angered by Alma’s and Amulek’s words. They were angry “because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom” (Alma 14:2). They pulled out the tired old claim they lied and had slandered their lawyers and judges.

They were also angry with them because they testified plainly against them and their wicked ways. “Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation” (Proverbs 26:26).

They conspired to secretly put them away. People were brought in to testify against them. They claim he had denounced their law, their lawyers, their judges, and all the people in the land.

“The political and legal thrust of this accusation was perhaps fair from their point of view since the political nature of Alma’s ministry was clear. Alma was persuaded to return to Ammonihah because, as the angel told him, ‘they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people’ (Alma 8:17).”[1]

He taught there was only one God. This God would send his Son among the people; but, He would not save them. They continued to testify against Alma and Amulek..

Zeezrom was astonished by the words of Alma and Amulek. He knew the minds of the were blinded by his words.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:14).

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [GR hardness] of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17-18).

“Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also” (2 Nephi 9:32).

He was devasted by his actions. He understood his role and guilt. He was racked by the pains of hell.

Zeezrom confessed his guilt and proclaimed Alma and Amulek innocent before God. He fought for them. It didn’t take long for the people to turn on him. They claimed he was possessed of a devil. They spit on him and cast him out, along with all those who accepted Alma’s and Amulek’s teachings. It wasn’t enough to just cast them out. Men were sent to follow and stone them and they departed.

Those who believed were rounded up and “caused that they should be cast into the fire” (Alma 13:8). They also gathered the scriptures and threw them on the first, hoping to destroy their records.

Alma and Amulek were taken and forced to watch those who were burned. Amulek was appalled at what he saw. He told Alma, “he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames” (Alma 14:10).

Alma told Amulek the Lord commanded him he must not do anything. The martyrs will be received, in glory, in His kingdom. He allows these things to happen so that His judgements will be brought upon the wicked.

“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

“The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:8-13).

“For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God” (Alma 60:13).

The judgements they will face will be brought upon them in the Lord’s wrath. The blood of the innocent will stand as a witness against them. Abinadi’s words to King Noah warned him of the consequences of their actions. “Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day” (Mosiah 17:10).

Amulek then said, “Behold, perhaps they will burn us also” (Alma 14:12). Alma responded whatever happens will be the will of the Lord; but, their work was not finished. They would not be burned.

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[1] “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.

Alma 13:25-31

25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.

26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.

31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book. (Alma 13:25-31)

Alma continues.

He has been teaching about Christ. He was waiting to hear the new proclaimed by angels. But, he does not know exactly when and how soon. “Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world” (1 Nephi 10:4).

What does Alma meant when he says, “we know not how soon” (Alma 13:25). He don’t know if he was aware of Nephi’s prophecy. “Alma is not speaking of Jesus' birth-of which he already knows-but of Jesus' coming among the Nephites in their own land. In fact, Alma says nothing about Christ's birth in this passage. but speaks of the Lord's ‘coming in his glory [see verse 24[1]].’”[2]

He wishes it would happen in his day, but his words imply he knew it would not happen (“Would to God that it might be in my day, but let it be sooner or later”).

When the time comes, it will “made known unto just and holy men” (Alma 13:26) by angel. This will fulfil prophesies made in the past. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but [JST “until”] he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

He wishes, with great anxiety, they would listen to his words, repent of their sins, and not procrastinate the day of their repentance.

Samuel the Lamanite also warned the Nephites not to procrastinate they day of their repentance.

“O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light” (Helaman 13:29).

“But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head” (Helaman 13:38).

He called on them to humble themselves before the Lord. Pray in His name and watch and pray they will not be tempted beyond their power to resist. “There hath no temptation taken [GR seized upon] you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Being led by the Holy Spirit, they will become humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love, and long-suffering.

“I realize, brothers and sisters, that other suggestions could be added to these. However, I believe that when we focus on a few basic objectives, we are more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life makes on us. Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off-balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin counseled ‘that all these things are done in wisdom and order’ (Mosiah 4:27).”[3]

They must have faith in the Lord and have a hope they will obtain eternal life. And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works” (Alma 7:24).

Doing this, they will have the love of God int their hearts. “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).

“And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength” (D&C 20:31).

“Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him” (D&C 76:116).

Doing this, they will be “be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest” (Alma 13:29).

Doing this, the Lord will grant their repentance. They will not surface his wrath and be bound by the chains of hell. “O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe” (2 Nephi 1:13).

“And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance” (2 Nephi 28:22).

“And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell” (Alma 12:11).

They will not suffer the second death. “And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness” (Alma 12:16).

“Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could” (Alma 12:32).

“Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness” (Helaman 14:18).

“You can’t be static. You can’t just stay between them; you must make your choice. As Heraclitus says, the road upward and the road downward are the same. It depends entirely on the way you are facing. You can’t compromise between them; you take the up road or the down road. You can’t go off at an angle, or anything like that. It’s the same thing here. You harden or you keep open. ‘Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.’ He has been using ‘chains of hell’ just as an image here. They aren’t real chains, but this is what is meant by the ‘chains of hell.’”[4]

Mormon closes, telling us “Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book” (Alma 13:31).

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[1] “For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.” (emphasis mine)

[2] A More Perfect Priority?, Matthew Roper, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994): 364.

[3] Keeping Life’s Demands in Balance, President M. Russell Ballard, April 1987 General Conference.

[4] Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 2, Lecture 48.

Alma 13:21-24

21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh;

22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory. (Alma 13:21-24)

Alma continues.

He told them now was the time for them to repent.

“Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

“And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?

“Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved” (Alma 5:29-31).

“And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed” (Alma 34:33).

The day of salvation is near.

The voice of the Lord is declared to us through the mouth of His angels. This word is declared to all nations. This is done so they will “may have glad tidings of great joy” (Alma 13:22).

These tidings are declared to all His people, even to all who are scattered over the face of the earth.

The tidings are made known using plain terms so they will understand the Lord’s words.

“But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass” (2 Nephi 25:7).

“For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding” (2 Nephi 31:3).

They are wanderers in a strange land. “And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days” (Jacob 7:26).

“[T]he Nephites appear to have seen their repeated exodus experiences as archetypal expressions of their individual and collective spiritual journeys. They were, as Alma₂ said more than five centuries after their arrival in the Americas, ‘wanderers in a strange land.’”[1]

They are highly favored of the Lord. Because they are these glad tidings are declared to all parts of the Nephites.

Angels are still declaring God’s word in the land at this time. “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).

Speaking to Corianton, Alma told him, “Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming” (Alma 39:19).

He is preparing the hearts of man to receive His words when He comes in glory.

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[1] Not Joseph's, and Not Modern, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute website.

Alma 13:13-20

13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.

14 Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high priesthood forever.

15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.

16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.

17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;

18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.

19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.

20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. (Alma 13:13-20)

Alma continues speaking about the priesthood.

They are told to humble themselves before God and bring forth fruit which will bring repentance. “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham”[1] (Luke 3:8).

They must humble themselves as the people did in the days of Melchizedek, a high priest after the order about which he spoke. “Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah” (D&C 84:14).

Alma identifies Melchizedek as the high priest to whom Abraham paid tithes.

“And Melchizedek [HEB King of righteousness] king of Salem brought forth bread and wine[2]: and he was the priest of the most high God.

“And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor [OR creator] of heaven and earth:

“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” (Genesis 14:18-20).

All ordinances were given so people would look forward to the Son of God. “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof” (5^th Article of Faith).

“And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption” (Alma 13:2).

The priesthood is a type of His order. “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

“Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 5:8-10).

This allowed them to look forward to a forgiveness of their sins so they might enter into the Lord’s presence.

“It seems that the holy order was a group within the house of Israel that advanced to a god-like status while yet in the premortal world, much as our Jesus had. They emerged as the leaders within the house of Israel and were prepared and ordained to the holy order, which was the order of the Son of God, to show the manner of ‘Christ-ness’ to the people, they being types of Christ (Alma 13:16). In this manner the people would understand what they themselves had been foreordained to become and could ultimately also enter this holy order. These high priests of the holy order undoubtedly labored among the spirits in the premortal world and were ordained and prepared to descend to earth and be leaders in the Lord's redeeming work here. It would appear that all the house of Israel could ultimately be part of this holy order, or the order of Gods.”[3]

Melchizedek was the king of Salem. His people were a wicked people. He was a man of might faith. He received the priesthood and called on his people to repent. They obeyed his word and peach was established throughout the land. He was call the prince of peace.

“Melchizedek was evidently a prince by birth, for he became king of Salem (later Jerusalem-Gen. 14:18; Ps. 76:2), where he reigned ‘under his father’ (Alma 13:18). ‘Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire’ (JST Gen. 14:26).

“Though living among a wicked people, Melchizedek ‘exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God’ (Alma 13:18). This priesthood was after the order of the covenant that God had made with Enoch (JST Gen. 14:27), and Melchizedek ruled both as king and priest over his people.

“… With extraordinary goodness and power, Melchizedek diligently administered in the office of high priest … Consequently, Melchizedek became known as ‘the Prince of peace’ (JST Gen. 14:33; Heb. 7:1-2; Alma 13:18). ‘His people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven’ (JST Gen. 14:34). His Hebrew name means ‘King of Righteousness.’”[4]

There were many before Melchizedek. “Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the order of God; yea, even after the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them” (Helaman 8:18).

Even so, none were greater.

“There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.

“Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest” (D&C 107:1-2).

Alma closed his comments reminding them they had the scriptures before them. If they resist the scriptures, it will be to their destruction.

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[1] “… Abraham is our father; we have kept the commandments of God, and none can inherit the promises but the children of Abraham; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (JST Luke 3:13).

[2] “… and he brake bread and blest it; and he blest the wine, he being the priest of the most high God” (JST Genesis 14:17).

[3] Alma the Younger Covenants with the Fathers (Part 1), M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute website.

[4] Melchizedek, Bruce Satterfield, Maxwell Institute website.

Alma 13:10-12

10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;

11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God. (Alma 13:10-12)

Alma continues to discuss the high priesthood.

Many were ordained as high priests. In the Doctrine and Covenants, we have a the patriarchal order is established from Adam to Noah

“40 The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.

“41 This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner:

“42 From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of sixty-nine years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam’s) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth;

“43 Because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age.

“44 Enos was ordained at the age of one hundred and thirty-four years and four months, by the hand of Adam.

“45 God called upon Cainan in the wilderness in the fortieth year of his age; and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak. He was eighty-seven years old when he received his ordination.

“46 Mahalaleel was four hundred and ninety-six years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.

“47 Jared was two hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.

“48 Enoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-five and Adam blessed him.

“49 And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated.

“50 Methuselah was one hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam.

“51 Lamech was thirty-two years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.

“52 Noah was ten years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.

“53 Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.

“54 And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.

“55 And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever” (D&C 107:40-55).

They received the priesthood through their faith, repentance and righteousness. They chose to repent and live righteously rather than perish.

Those called to the priesthood were sanctified. “And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him” (Leviticus 8:30).

“That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

“For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified” (Moses 6:59-60).

Their garments were washed white through the blood of the lamb.

“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.

“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:19-20).

Their garments having been made white, they were sanctified by the Holy Ghost. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

“For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies” (D&C 84:33).

They stand pure and spotless before God. “O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day” (Mormon 9:6).

They could not look upon sin without abhorrence. “Let love be without dissimulation [GR sincere, unfeigned, real]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).

“O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin” (2 Nephi 4:31).

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

“Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations and their murders” (Alma 37:29).

There were many “who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God”  (Alma 13:12).

Alma 13:4-9

4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.

5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—

6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—

7 This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things—

8 Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end—

9 Thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen. (Alma 13:4-9)

Alma continues to teach them about those who are called to hold the priesthood.

Those who are called to receive the priesthood are called because of their faith. “Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God” (Ether 12:10).

Those who are not called are not called because they reject the Spirit of God because they have hardened their hearts and blinded their minds.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:14).

“Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also” (2 Nephi 9:32).

Had they not, they would have received the priesthood as did their faithful brethren.

“[A]s people do in this world, the maturing spirits in the premortal world advanced at different rates and to different levels of spirituality, though Alma says that they were initially on the same standing with each other (Alma 13:5); that is, they had equal opportunity to advance, but some rejected the Spirit of God ‘on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their mind’ (Alma 13:4) and did not make the progress that would have given them the privilege of entering the holy order.”[1]

At the first, all were on the same standing. “For there is no respect [GR partiality] of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). Those who received the calling were prepared from the beginning.

The did not harden their hearts “being in and through the atonement.”

Having been called and ordained to the high priesthood, they will teach His commandments to us so we might enter into his rest.

“You can study the word of God, not for yourself alone but to be an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ to all the world. When you increase your power to teach the gospel, you are qualifying to help Heavenly Father in gathering His children. As you do that, another blessing will come. Should the need ever come in family life in this world, or in the world to come, to draw back lost sheep, you will have received more power than you may now recognize.”[2]

This priesthood, after the order of Christ, was from the foundation of the world, without beginning, “being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things” (Alma 13:7).

“For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

“To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually”[3] (Hebrews 7:1-3).

“[Referring to Hebrews 7:1-3] Here we are left with the impression that there was a man, a king, with no father, mother, genealogy, beginning, or end. In Alma 13, we have an expanded discourse on Melchizedek and the clarification that Paul was not referring to a man but to the high priesthood: ‘This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things’ (Alma 13:7; italics added).”[4]

They were ordained after they were called and ordained with a holy ordinance to the holy order.

Those ordained “high priests forever, after the order of the Son” (Alma 13:9).

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth…

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”[5] (John 1:14, 17).

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[1] Alma the Younger Covenants with the Fathers (Part 1), M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Faith and the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, President Henry B. Eyring, April 2008 General Conference.

[3] “For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God, which order was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually” (JST, Hebrews 7:3).

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

[5] “For the law was given through Moses, but life and truth came through Jesus Christ” (JST, John 1:17).

Alma 13:1-3

Chapter 13

Men are called as high priests because of their exceeding faith and good works—They are to teach the commandments—Through righteousness they are sanctified and enter into the rest of the Lord—Melchizedek was one of these—Angels are declaring glad tidings throughout the land—They will declare the actual coming of Christ. About 82 B.C.

1 And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.

2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. (Alma 13:1-3).

Alma continues his sermon.

He told them to return to the time the Lord gave the commandments to man. At that time priests were ordained after the order of His Son to teach to the people.

“Now this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7).

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations…

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abraham 2:9, 11).

“Which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.

“And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God.

“And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God” (D&C 84:17-19).

Those priests were ordained after the order of His Son.

“Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.

“Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.

“But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood” (D&C 107:2-4).

This was done in a manner which lets the people know they are to look forward to His Son for redemption. “Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord” (Alma 13:16).

“When a man is ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, he enters into an ‘order’ by which he may be refined through service to others, especially his own family, and blessed by the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.”[1]

Those who were ordained to the priesthood had been called from before the foundation of the world.

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel [GR appointed plan, purpose] and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23).

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).[2]

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

“I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God” (D&C 138:55).

“But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” (Moses 4:2).

After they were called, they were also prepared. “Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56).

This was done before the foundation of the world.

“Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken…

“And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works” (Alma 12:25, 30).

“And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name” (Alma 22:13).

They were chosen through their faith and good works. They were given the choice between good and evil.

“From this passage [Alma 13:3] we learn that ordinations to the priesthood in mortality are a result of (1) preparation of the individual in premortality (given that the ‘world’ was ‘founded’ before it was physically created), (2) faith and good works, (3) choices of good over evil, (4) the opportunity to exercise faith, and (5) the provision of redemption. It follows that these stipulations are part of a plan that was conceived before the earth was created, even a plan to direct the creation of the earth and the course of its inhabitants. This gave me hope that I too was part of a plan; I mattered, and my being here on earth was not just a convergence of biological events.”[3]

“We approached a grove of uncertainty as we awaited our call to this earth. It must have been an anxious and rather frightening experience as we left our loved ones to part the veil. When Spartacus was asked by one of his followers if he was afraid to die, he said, ‘No more than I was to be born.’ That our preexistence was also a testing period where we were free to choose is confirmed by our prophets. Alma suggests that it was our exceeding faith and good works that earned us the right of priesthood.”[4]

“[Y]ou and your fathers were reserved to be born at a time and in a place where you could not fail to hear the gospel preached and accept the holy priesthood. Thus, a preparatory redemption was made for you through a priesthood heritage from your fathers and mothers.”[5]

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[1] Moving Closer to Him, Elder Craig A. Cardon, October 2006 General Conference.

[2] “For him whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to his own image, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (JST, Romans 8:29).

[3] From a Convert's Viewpoint, Alison V.P. Coutts, Maxwell Institute website.

[4] Decisions, Elder Gerald E. Melchin, April 1994 General Conference.

[5] Salvation for the Dead – A Missionary Activity, Elder Theodore M. Burton, April 1975 General Conference.