Alma 34:1-7

Chapter 34

Amulek testifies that the word is in Christ unto salvation—Unless an atonement is made, all mankind must perish—The whole law of Moses points toward the sacrifice of the Son of God—The eternal plan of redemption is based on faith and repentance—Pray for temporal and spiritual blessings—This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God—Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. About 74 B.C.

1  AND now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying:

2  My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.

3  And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—

4  Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.

Alma 34:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

Amulek began preaching after Alma(2).  He begins by reminding them that it was not possible that they were ignorant of Christ.  He reminds them he knows they were taught this before they separated from the Nephites.

Sherrie Mills Johnson examines the Zoramite separation.

“We do not know exactly when the Zoramites separated from Nephite culture, only that Alma began his efforts to reclaim them in about 74 BC. By this time the Zoramites had built homes and synagogues and established themselves in Antionum. We do know that not too much time had elapsed since their separation because the people that Alma encountered in Antionum were of the same generation that left Zarahemla. Amulek's words to the Zoramites substantiate this: ‘I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us’ (Emphasis in original) (Alma 34:2; see 31:8—9). Amulek says that those in his audience, not their fathers or grandfathers, had been taught and then had dissented.

“Amulek's claim that the word had been taught to the Zoramites ‘bountifully’ may indicate that they were still in Zarahemla or its environs during the time of the extensive missionary labors that took place there in the seventh year of the reign of the judges (ca. 85 BC).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

Amulek challenged them to plant the word in their hearts.  He challenged to “try the experiment of its goodness.” 

5  And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.

6  And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.

7  My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.

Alma 34:5-7 (Emphasis mine)

Even having been preached to about Christ, told about his mission in life, and the atonement, the great question in their mind was will there be a Christ.

He explains that Alma(2) has proven to them that “the word is in Christ unto salvation” and he used even more evidence of the prophets.  He used the words of Zenos and Zenock.  He also “appealed unto Moses” to prove that Christ would come.

They had evidence.  They had the word preached to them before their separation.  Then they had the testimony of Alma(2).  Then he told them they had words of prophets of the Lord testifying to its truthfulness.

14  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.

John 1:14 (Emphasis mine)

John Clark wrote about the Nephite rejection of the Messiah.

“A substantial number of Nephites, at times a majority, rejected the Messiah through embracing the counter-beliefs of the dissidents identified in this study and falling away from a covenant relationship with Christ through spiritual lethargy. Amulek, in his teaching to the Zoramites, identified the issue central to the theological history of dissidents when he said, ‘We have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ’ (Alma 34:5). In answering this ‘great question,’ he went to the very heart of redemptive theology and explained the necessity for a Messiah…” [2] (Emphasis mine)

Richard Williams adds:

“Chapter 34 reframes the question of faith. The question the Zoramites had was how to plant the seed and do the experiment. Amulek, no doubt moved upon by the Spirit, tells us what the real question of faith is: ‘And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ’ (Alma 34:5).

“Faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the knowledge of him is both sure and possible. The contrast between faith as sure knowledge and the knowledge reason can provide is evident when we compare Amulek's testimony of Christ as the anchor to sure knowledge with the conclusion of many Nephites just before His coming: ‘And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: that it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come (Helaman 16:17–18). Not ‘reasonable,’ but nonetheless true.” [3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.

[2] Painting Out the Messiah: The Theologies of Dissidents, John L. Clark, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.

[3] Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 5, 2011.

Alma 10:12-18

12  And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

13  Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.

14  Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.

15  Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.

16  And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

Alma 10:12-16 (Emphasis mine)

The people were amazed that there was an additional witness to testify against them.  They were, no doubt, amazed that it was one of “their own.”

Dennis Largey explains, “The people in Ammonihah rejected and ridiculed Alma and his message, but became astonished at the words of Amulek, "seeing that there was more than one witness that testified of the things whereof they were accused" (Alma 10:12; italics added). It was the second witness that astonished the people.” [1]  (Emphasis mine)

There was a group who decided they needed to step in and end this.  They had “cunning devices” to confuse them and find ways to have them contradict their own words.  Their goal was to take the before their judges, tried, found guilty, and either thrown into prison or executed.  These were the lawyers.

Hugh Nibley comments:

“Alma 10 is the legalistic chapter. It's on legalism and lawyers. It packs a real wallop and shows immense insight ... That's the whole business of lawyers—to make your side appear whatever it is … That's the skill of rhetoric. You can take either side and make it win. Whether it was good or bad had nothing to do with it; you won the case. That's what you are supposed to do. To make the worse appear the better reason shocked everybody. That's what we have here; this is way up in it …

“… It's frightening because these people make the rules as they go. They're the lawyers and they're free to move the goal post anytime they want, so they always win … they had [Amulek] in their clutches. They were going to weave a tangled net to get him.”[2]  (Emphasis mine)

Thomas Valetta observes:

“When Amulek provided support for Alma's testimony, those of the order of Nehor in Ammonihah attempted to ‘question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words’ (Alma 10:13). These men were "lawyers ... learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession" (Alma 10:15). A once-enlightened people of the Lord had degenerated to the level of marshaling all their secular skills and tactics in their efforts to destroy the representatives of God (see Alma 10:14)." [3] (Emphasis mine)    

17  Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs.  But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.

18  Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.

Alma 10:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

It’s tough to use your “cunning devices” to confuse you and have you contradict yourself when your opponent knows your thoughts.  Amulek was ready for them. 

Amulek wasted no words with them.  He called them “lawyers and hypocrites.”  He told them that they were laying the foundations of the devil and that they would bring the wrath of God upon them, resulting in the utter destruction Ammonihah.

21  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23  Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25  And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Luke 5:21-25 (Emphasis mine)

6  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

7  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

10  And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.  And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Acts 13:6-11 (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Book of Mormon, An Interpretive Guide to the New Testament, Dennis Largey, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2011.

[2] Lecture 48: Alma 10-12, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2011

[3] Conflicting Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah, Thomas R. Valletta, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 19, 2011.

Alma 10:1-11

Chapter 10

Lehi descended from Manasseh—Amulek recounts the angelic command that he care for Alma—The prayers of the righteous cause the people to be spared—Unrighteous lawyers and judges lay the foundation of the destruction of the people. About 82 B.C.

1  NOW these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:

2  I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was the same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.

3  And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.

4  And behold, 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 10:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

Amulek next began speaking to the people.

He begins by identifying himself and his descent.  He is a descendent of Lehi and of Manasseh, don of Joseph.

He is a well-known man.  He is relying on his reputation and success in life in Ammonihah as making his words more credible.

We are introduced, briefly, to a Book of Mormon prophet, Aminadi.  The finger of God wrote a message on the wall of a temple.  Aminadi interpreted the writing.  Was this a part of the lost 116 pages?  I tend to think it was.  My thinking is that if Mormon included a reference to Aminadi, he did so because he was a part of the abridgement.

Hugh Nibley made some observations about Amulek.

“So then Amulek stood forth and began to preach to them. Amulek introduced himself, and he is a very striking character. These vignettes, these character sketches in the Book of Mormon, are very clearly marked. He was the most respected citizen you could possibly imagine. He was a blueblood. Alma 10:2: ‘I am Amulek …  a descendant of Aminadi, . . . and Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi.’  He was proud of his genealogy. And here we have an extremely important genealogical note. Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh, who was half Egyptian … He had been a successful businessman, and made himself very rich. He had been very successful and very respected. He was la creme de la creme.” [1] (Emphasis mine)

5  Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power.  I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

6  Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

7  As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.

8  And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house.  And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.

9  And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.

10  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.

11  For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.

Alma 10:5-11 (Emphasis mine)

Amulek confesses to the people that he had been called many times by the Lord, but he had hardened his heart and did not hear the calling.  It was only when an angel of the Lord came to him, and told him about Alma(2), that he began to understand his calling. 

He then testifies both of Alma(2)’s calling as a holy man and his words.  Now the people no longer have the word of only one person.  They have the testimony of two; one of the two was known by the people.

In verse 11, we have a reference to how the people lived.  We see an entire family unit together in one home.  Brant Gardner explains that there is archeological evidence to show that this type of a dwelling was not unusual in Mesoamerica.

“Mesoamerican dwellings were basically compounds for multiple family units. How well does this archaeological feature fit with the rare Book of Mormon descriptions of dwelling units? We find the following in Alma: ‘For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake’ (Alma 10:11). When Amulek describes Alma's blessing, he paints a picture of how Amulek perceives his kin connections. These descriptions fit the general picture of Mesoamerican households…

“The first term Amulek uses is ‘my house.’ For kin-based societies, this typically is as real as it is symbolic of the family. Kin-based societies frequently live in compounds. Excellent documents allow anthropologists to visualize some Aztec households close to the time of the Conquest. … One account from 1580 indicates that houses typically contained six or seven married couples besides unmarried youth.

“The archaeological discovery of living areas that clearly contain multiple buildings led archaeologists to the conclusion that such an area was a family compound, which is a very common feature of the archaeological sites of the Maya area dating to the Book of Mormon time period … Amulek may plausibly have lived in a typical Mesoamerican household compound … When Amulek speaks first of Alma blessing his ‘house’ and then lists specific groups, we are justified in assuming that these are people who are living in the same ‘house,’ which would mean the entire dwelling area, not a single structure.” [2]      (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Lecture 47: Alma 5-10. Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 18, 2011.

[2] Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion, Brant Gardner, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 18, 2011.

Alma 8:27-32, Alma 9:1-4

27  And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he began to preach unto the people.

28  And it came to pass that the people did wax more gross in their iniquities.

29  And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away.

30  And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

31  And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison.  Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.

32  And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them.

Alma 8:27-32 (Emphasis mine)

Finally, the time came for Alma(2) to go and preach to the people.  But he was not to go alone.  Amulek was to go with him.  They went forth with the power of God behind them. 

It was not possible to kill them; they couldn’t be jailed.  Even though they had this protection, they only used it when they could show that they went forth with the power of the Lord.  For example, they only time they exercised their power to keep from being confined in prisons was when there were thrown into prisons.  Then they used their power and were released from confinement.

 Thomas Valletta writes: 

“After Alma's return to Ammonihah and while he was spiritually preparing Amulek, the people ‘did wax more gross in their iniquities’ (Alma 8:28). Again Alma ‘went forth,’ this time with Amulek, ‘to declare the words of God unto’ the wicked of Ammonihah (Alma 8:30). Filled with the Holy Ghost, Alma and Amulek preached and prophesied ‘according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them’ (Alma 8:32). Alma was the first to speak, but his spirit and power seemed not to influence the people. They reacted contentiously (see Alma 9:1).” [1]     (Emphasis mine)

The words of Alma, and also the words of Amulek, which were declared unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah.  And also they are cast into prison, and delivered by the miraculous power of God which was in them, according to the record of Alma.

Comprising chapters 9 to 14 inclusive.

Chapter 9

Alma commands the people of Ammonihah to repent—The Lord will be merciful to the Lamanites in the last days—If the Nephites forsake the light, they shall be destroyed by the Lamanites—The Son of God soon cometh—He shall redeem those who repent and are baptized and have faith in his name. About 82 B.C.

We now return to Alma(2)’s account.

1  AND again, I, Alma, having been commanded of God that I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again unto this people, or the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass as I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying:

2  Who art thou?  Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away?

3  Now they understood not the words which they spake; for they knew not that the earth should pass away.

4  And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day.

Alma 9:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) began to preach and he was immediately challenged by the people of Ammonihah.

Who are you?  Why should we believe the testimony of one man?  Then they made it clear that the rejected his prophecy that Ammonihah would be destroyed in one day. 

(Jump ahead to Alma 16:9-10:  And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could not destroy, because of its greatness.  But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the carcasses were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness.  So much for their foresight.)

Hugh Nibley said:

“But first Alma was preaching to them. Was it the same old thing here? Well, it was different because they put up a fight. They argued back. They shouted back and forth. It turned out to be a shouting match. Alma began to preach to the people, and he said (chapter 9, verse 1): ‘As I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying … This is Alma's own record here; before it was [Mormon’s] record. They said, you have no clout—we don't know who you are … they said, ‘Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away? Now they understood not the words which they spake; for they knew not that the earth should pass away.’ They were pronouncing the doom on themselves. Their city was buried completely.”  [2] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Conflicting Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah, Thomas R. Valletta, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 13, 2011.

[2] Lecture 47: Alma 5-10, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 13, 2011.