Alma 15:1-19

Chapter 15

Alma and Amulek go to Sidom and establish a church—Alma heals Zeezrom, who joins the Church—Many are baptized, and the Church prospers—Alma and Amulek go to Zarahemla. About 81 B.C.

1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma.

2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance.

3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.

4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.

5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.

6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.

10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.

11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.

12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.

13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.

14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized.

15 But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins.

16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;

17 Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction—

18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.

19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. (Alma 15:1-19)

Seeing there was nothing they could do to Alma Amulek, the people forced them to leave city. They traveled to the land of Sidom. There, they found the believers who had also been forced to leave the city, being stoned as they departed, living in Sidom.

They told them all the things that had happened as well as how they had been delivered from prison.

They found Zeezrom in Sidom. He was ill from a burning fever. It was caused by his belief that he caused the deaths of Alma and Amulek. He also was suffering for his many sins. He believed there was no deliverance from his sins.

“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” (Alma 14:6).

He was told not only were Alma and Amulek alive, they were in Sidom. He began to have hope and asked they be brought to him.

Alma and Amulek received the message and went to him. They found him on his sick bed. Seeing them, he pleaded with them to heal him.

“And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

“And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

“And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

“And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words” (Alma 15:6-9).

Alma then cried to the Lord, asking Him to have mercy on him. Scriptures reference the importance of mercy.

“I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20).

David wrote, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about” (Psalm 32:10).

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee…

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:5, 15).

During His ministry, the Lord used an incident to emphasize the necessity of faith.

“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house [OR at home].

“And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

“And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne [GR carried] of four.

“And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee…

“I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

“And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion” (Mark 2:1-5, 11-12).

No sooner had Alma called upon the Lord, asking He heal Zeezrom, Zeezrom jumped to his feat and began walking. The people were astonished and word of the miracle spread throughout the land of Sidon.

Zeezrom was baptized, and he joined Alma as he preached the gospel to the people in Sidom.

Alma established a church in Sidom. He consecrated priests and teacher to teach them people and baptized those who desired to join the church.

Many were baptized. Mormon tells us people “did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized” (Alma 15:14).

Back in Ammonihah, they were still a wicked people. They claimed Alma and Amulek did what they did through the power of the devil. Belonging to the order of Nehor, they rejected the need to repent of their sins.

To join Alma in his missionary service, Amulek gave up all his wealth (“I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry” (Alma 10:4). He had also been rejected by his father, kindred, and friends.

Sacrifice is an essential part of being a disciple of Christ. “[W]hosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

The members of the church at Sidom turned away from pride and humbled themselves before God. They met in the churches to worship Him. “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power” (Psalm 150:1).

“And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews” (Alma 16:13).

They watched and prayed they might be delivered from death and destruction.

Alma took Amulek with him as they returned to his home in the land of Zarahemla. He took care of him and strengthened him.