Chapter 12
Alma speaks to
Zeezrom—The mysteries of God can be given only to the faithful—Men are judged
by their thoughts, beliefs, words, and works—The wicked will suffer a spiritual
death—This mortal life is a probationary state—The plan of redemption brings to
pass the Resurrection and, through faith, a remission of sins—The repentant
have a claim on mercy through the Only Begotten Son. About 82 B.C.
1 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.
2 Now the words that
Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by the people round about; for the multitude
was great, and he spake on this wise:
3 Now Zeezrom, seeing
that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied
unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy
thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his
Spirit;
4 And thou seest that
we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil,
for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us,
to revile us and to cast us out—
5 Now this was a plan
of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye
should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all.
6 And behold I say
unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch
this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might
encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting
destruction, according to the power of his captivity.
7 Now when Alma had
spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was
convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that
Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the
thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they
might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy. (Alma 12-1-7).
Mormon now returns to Alma responding to Zeezrom. Amulek had
silenced him. He knew he had been caught lying and attempting to destroy
Amulek.
Alma pointed out to Zeezrom he had been caught in his lies
and craftiness. He had not only lied to men, but also to God. He knows all his
thoughts.
“But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help
of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your
thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very
abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God” (Jacob 2:5).
“Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none
else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (D&C 6:16).
He saw the Spirit had made Alma aware of his thoughts.
Alma and Amulek knew his subtle plan. “For there are many
yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded
by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who
are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C
123:12).
He had been led by the devil to lie and deceive the people. The
devil had led him to have Alma and Amulek being cast out of the city. This is
what the adversary wanted, and he was exercising his powers through Zeezrom.
He quickly adds, “remember that what I say unto thee I say
unto all” (Alma 12:5).
Zeezrom’s attempts to catch Amulek in a lie was a snare set
by the adversary.
“The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that
receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his
feet.
“In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but
the righteous doth sing and rejoice” (Proverbs 29:4-6).
The devil has laid this snare to catch the people and bring
them into subjection to him. He wants to encircle them with his chains, leading
them to everlasting destruction.
“We live in a day in which misinformation about our beliefs
abounds. In times such as these, a failure to protect and deepen our spiritual
roots is an invitation to have them gnawed at by those who seek to destroy our
faith in Christ and our belief in His restored Church. In Book of Mormon times,
it was Zeezrom who sought to destroy the faith of the believers.
“His actions and words were ‘a snare of the adversary, which
he … laid to catch [the] people, that he might bring [them] into subjection
unto him, that he might encircle [them] about with his chains’ (Alma 12:6).
Those same snares exist today, and unless we are spiritually vigilant and build
a sure foundation on our Redeemer (see Helaman 5:12), we may find ourselves
bound with Satan’s chains and being led carefully down the forbidden paths
spoken of in the Book of Mormon (see 1 Nephi 8:28).”[1]
Hearing Alma’s words, Zeezrom was convinced of God’s power.
He also knew both Alma and Amulek knew him, his thoughts, and the intents of
his heart.
“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” (Alma 14:2).
They received this knowledge and power through the spirit of
prophecy.
Zeezrom ceased being the inquisitor and began to ask them
questions concerning the kingdom of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment