Alma 33:12-23

12 And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

13 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son.

14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

15 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things—

16 For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.

17 And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death.

18 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen. (Alma 33:12-23)

Having quoted Zenos, Alma asks if they believe the scriptures which have been written. We are told they have been written for us. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”(Romans 15:4).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable [GR beneficial or useful for instruction] for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

“And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).

If they do believe in the scriptures, they must believe Zenos’s words, “Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son” (Alma 33:13).

If they do believe the scriptures, they must believe in Christ as the Son of God. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).

Not only did Zenos write about these things, Zenock also spoke of these things.

He quotes Zenock, “Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son” (Alma 33:16).

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water” (2 Peter 3:3-5).[1]

“To forgive yourself and others, you must trust the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The prophet Zenock prayed, ‘Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.’ Our Father in Heaven is saddened when we limit the power of His Son’s atoning sacrifice. As you exercise faith in Jesus Christ, you can have your guilt ‘swept away.’ If guilt remains after sincere repentance, believe your priesthood leaders when they declare you to be worthy.”[2]

Zenock was a second prophet testifying about the Son of God. For that, he was stoned to death.

But, Zenos and Zenock are not the only prophets who testified of Christ.

Moses also testified of Christ.

“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18).

He then refers to his raising a type in the wilderness.

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea [HEB Reed Sea], to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

“And the Lord sent fiery [OR poisonous] serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:4-6).

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).

Many refused to look at the serpent. It was too easy. They chose to ignore Moses and died rather than follow the prophet. Those who obeyed Moses looked and lived.

Alma explains, “few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them” (Alma 33:20).

“The sad irony is that, too often, those most in need turn away from their one perfect source of help—our Savior, Jesus Christ. A familiar scriptural account of the brazen serpent teaches us that we have a choice when faced with challenges. After many of the children of Israel were bitten by ‘fiery flying serpents,’ ;a type was raised up … that whosoever would look … might live. [But it was a choice.] And many did look and live … But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished.’

“Like the ancient Israelites, we are also invited and encouraged to look to the Savior and live—for His yoke is easy and His burden is light, even when ours may be heavy.”[3]

If they could look at the raised up serpent and  be healed, what would they do? Would they look or would they refuse to look and die because of the unbelief.

“And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:57-58).

They should cast their eyes and believe in Christ. “Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come” (Alma 25:16).

He will come to redeem his people. He will suffer and die to atone for our sins. “And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory” (Alma 22:14).

“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made” (Alma 34:9).

He will bring to pass the resurrection when He rises from the dead.

“Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time” (Alma 11:42-43).

We will all stand before him and be judged by our works.

“He will by His power, bring all men to stand before Him; for if He has risen from the dead the bands of the temporal death are broken that the grave has no victory. If then, the grave has no victory, those who keep the sayings of Jesus and obey His teachings have not only a promise of a resurrection from the dead, but an assurance of being admitted into His glorious kingdom; for, He Himself says, ‘Where I am, there shall also my servant be’ (see John 12).”[4]

Alma told them to plant his words in their hearts. It will become a tree leading to everlasting life. “But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life” (Alma 32:41).

“Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you” (Alma 32:43).

God will then grant to them their burdens will be light, through the joy of His Son.

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[1] “Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

“Denying the Lord Jesus Christ, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things must continue as they are, and have continued as they are from the beginning of the creation.

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that of old the heavens, and the earth standing in the water and out of the water, were created by the word of God ” (JST, 2 Peter 3:3-5).

[2] “The Great and Wonderful Love, ” Elder Anthony D. Perkins, October 2006 General Conference.

[3] Turn to the Lord, Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, October 2017 General Conference.

[4] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 62.