Chapter 35
The preaching of the
word destroys the craft of the Zoramites—They expel the converts, who then join
the people of Ammon in Jershon—Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the
people. About 74 B.C.
1 Now it came to pass
that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from
the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon.
2 Yea, and the rest of
the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came
over into the land of Jershon.
3 And it came to pass
that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together
concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because
of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken
unto the words.
4 And they sent and
gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with
them concerning the words which had been spoken.
5 Now their rulers and
their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their
desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.
6 And it came to pass
that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in
favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out
of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of
Jershon.
7 And it came to pass
that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.
8 Now the people of
the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the
chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the
people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those
who came over from them into their land.
9 And he breathed out
many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their
words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor
of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did
clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did
administer unto them according to their wants.
10 Now this did stir
up the Zoramites to anger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix
with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them.
11 And thus the
Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the
people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites.
12 And thus ended the
seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
13 And the people of
Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of
Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites,
that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the
Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in
the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an account shall be given
of their wars hereafter.
14 And Alma, and
Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land
of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing
many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance
were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the
land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their
wives, and children, and their lands.
15 Now Alma, being
grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds,
and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word,
or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing
that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be
offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly
sorrowful.
16 Therefore, he
caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them
every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto
righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto
them according to his own record. (Alma 35:1-16)
Having finished preaching to the poor Zoramites, Alma and
Amulek went to the land of Jershon. The rest of their party also left for the
land of Jershon.
The Zoramites discussed Alma and Amulek’s teachings to the people.
They were angry because they knew if the people accepted their teachings, it
would destroy everything they worked for, priestcraft being a major part of
their faith.
“[The Lord] commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts;
for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light
unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek
not the welfare of Zion” (2 Nephi 26:29).
“But Alma said unto [Nehor]: Behold, this is the first time
that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art
not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword;
and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their
entire destruction” (Alma 1:12).
“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you:
At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the
fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above
all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled
with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of
hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret
abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the
fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my
gospel from among them” (3 Nephi 16:10).
The Zoramites rejected their words.
“After describing the doctrines taught by Alma and Amulek,
Mormon indicates that these teachings angered the wealthy Zoramites because
they ‘destroy[ed] their craft’ (Alma 35:3). While Mormon never describes
precisely what the craft of the rich Zoramites was, Book of Mormon usage of the
word is always negative, referring to some type of deceptive skill or
manipulation, and is consistently connected with false teachings … Alma’s
teachings threatened to undermine the very foundations of Zoramite societal
structure. The wealthy Zoramites lost their ability to exert pressure on the
poor in order to get gain, and their craft was destroyed.”[1]
The Zoramite leaders gathered the people together and
discussed Alma and Amulek’s teachings. They did not let the people know what
they desired. They privately went about learning what the people thought.
It turns out they wanted to identify those who accepted the
teachings of Alma and his brethren. Having identified those people, they were
cast out. This group went to Jershon. When they arrived, Alma and his brethren
ministered to the people.
They had joined with the Ammonites in Jershon. The Zoramites
were angry the Ammonites accepted those they cast out. Their chief ruler
(“being a very wicked man”) sent people to ask them to cast out those people as
they had done.
It wasn’t enough he wanted the Ammonites to cast them out,
he made threats against them. The Ammonites ignored the Zoramite leader. They
took all the Zoramites and nourished them. They followed King Benjamin, and the
Lord’s, words. “And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto
you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to
day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of
your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to
their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants”
(Mosiah 4:26).
“And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be
healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and
mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy” (D&C 42:43).
The Zoramites, having been rejected by the Ammonites, began
to stir up the Lamanites against the
Ammonites. They began to prepare for war against both the Nephites and the
Ammonites.
The Ammonites left the land of Jershon and moved to the land
of Melek. The Nephite armies moved into the land of Jershon, prepared to fight
the Lamanite and Zoramite armies. Mormon breaks into the record and tells us he
will return later to give us an account of the war (see Alma 43).
Alma, Ammon and their brethren, as well as two of Alma’s
sons, Shiblon and Corianton, returned to Zarahemla.
Alma was saddened by the iniquity of his people. There had
been wars and bloodshed. He had preached in every city, but the hearts of the
people began to harden. They were offended by his teachings.
Alma brought his sons together so he could talk to them
separately. Mormon shifts from war to Alma’s words to his sons beginning with
Alma 36.
[1] The
Zoramites and Costly Apparel: Symbolism and Irony, Parrish Brady and
Shon Hopkin, Journal of the Book of
Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/1 (2013): 47.
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