Alma 32:28-34

28  Now, we will compare the word unto a seed.  Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29  Now behold, would not this increase your faith?  I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

Alma 32:28-29 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) begins his famous sermon on faith and the seed.  He likens faith to a seed.  If you allow the seed to be planted in your heart, he said, it would begin to grow.  It will only grow if it is a true seed, a good seed, if it is not cast out by unbelief, and you do not resist the Lord.

The seed will begin to grow because it is a good seed.  As the seed grow, you begin to understand the things of the spirit.  Even with all this, you don’t have a perfect knowledge.

“Alma explains that our faith increases because we come to understand the revelation of the gospel. Thus progression is from faith to faith rather than from absence of faith to the acquisition of faith. We cannot claim to have come even to our faith on our own; it is a gift, something everyone has been given. For example, Alma does not say that we should plant a seed in our hearts and then see whether it grows, in spite of what is often said about the second half of his sermon. Rather, Alma says that a person should ‘give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart’ (Alma 32:28). In other words, we should allow the seed to be planted.” [1]  (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley comments:

“Notice that it comes by degrees; it comes by steps here. There's more and more reason why you should believe, but no reason why you should believe it completely ever. This is the interesting thing here. It's like planting a seed in your heart. If it's a true seed this is what will happen. Don't cast it out in your unbelief. Give it a chance; let it grow. It will begin to swell within your breast. Then you will feel the swelling motions. You will think something is happening here. Don't throw it away at all. If it is growing it must be good ‘for it beginneth to enlarge my soul [this is recognition]; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.’ “ [2] (Emphasis mine)

30  But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow.  And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith?  Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

31  And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed?  I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

32  Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

Alma 32:30-32 (Emphasis mine)

As the seed grows, you know the seed is good.  Knowing it is a good seed will strengthen your faith. How can you be sure that it is a good seed?  A good seed can only bring forth a good seed.  A bad seed won’t grow and will be cast off.

Hugh Nibley observes:

“Each success leads to another try; it gets better and better … if the seed grows it's good; don't cast it away. Because you have tried the experiment and planted the seed and it ‘swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good.’ It's not dead yet. If it doesn't work just forget it. This is the whole thing.” [3] (Emphasis mine)

33  And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

34  And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect?  Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

Alma 32:33-34 (Emphasis mine)

You’ve tried the experiment and planted the seed.  The seed has grown so you know the seed is good.  Is your knowledge perfect?  Now you have reached that point.  You no longer have faith; you know. 

The word sprouted and grew and knowledge has taken the place of faith.

7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalms 19:7 (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Romans 1: Notes and Reflections (Verses 16-17), Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 1, 2011.

[2] Lecture 55: Alma 32-35, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 1, 2011.

[3] Ibid.

Alma 32:21-27

21  And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

22  And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

23  And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also.  Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.

Alma 32:21-23 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) begins his great sermon on faith.  He teaches us that it is not a perfect knowledge; with faith, you hope for things you don’t see, but those things that are true.

This is an important point.  Many people today have faith in many things.  For example, people believe in psychics.  People believe the stars control their future.  Belief in things that are false is not true faith.  You do not believe in something that is true. 

Richard Williams observes:

“In that verse we all know so well, Alma teaches us that faith, like belief, is not to have this sort of ‘perfect knowledge’ (Alma 32:21). Faith is like belief in this way, but Alma makes it clear that it is not merely belief. Faith grows into a knowledge that is, in its crucial attributes, perfect. In contrast to knowledge founded on what we see, and also subtly different from mere belief, faith is allied with ‘hope for things which are not seen, which are true.’ Faith thus is not a clinging to in the absence of knowledge of truth but a hope for what is true.” [1]     (Emphasis mine)

Sidney Sperry adds:

“This Book of Mormon prophet has his feet on the ground—when a person has faith he hopes for things which are not seen, which are true … Alma takes faith out of the realm of mere credulity—i.e., readiness to believe on slight evidence. A note in his statement rings true to the critical mind. Too many persons in every generation, including our own, hope for things—fantastic things—in the name of faith and religion, but give little thought as to whether or not they are based on truth.” [2] (Emphasis mine)

24  And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—

25  For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.

26  Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words.  Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27  But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Alma 32:24-27 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) refers back to his statements about those who are compelled to humble themselves.  He tells that that he does not mean that they had all been forced to be humble.  He knew there were those who would be humble regardless of the circumstances.

He repeats that faith is not a perfect knowledge.  So it is with his words.  At first, they cannot know for sure they are true.  This is faith.  It is not a perfect knowledge.

If they test his word, and exercise faith, they will have a desire to believe.  That desire will continue until they will finally believe.

16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 7:16-17 (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley discussed the importance of the experiment.

“That's what [Alma(2)] is telling us here. It turns out that faith is intellectual honesty. That's what it is. He makes this very clear a little later. He says, first you arouse your faculties, use your brains, and be willing to make an experiment. You don't accept it when you make an experiment. You're going to try it out to see if it is so. … Of course, you're not going to do anything if you don't have that inducement, to want to believe in something … You never discover anything unless you hope it is there or wish it is there. Here he talks about your faith being dormant, but he says don't fight it. If you have a desire to believe, don't fight it, ‘that ye can give place for a portion of my words.’ Notice that it comes by degrees; it comes by steps here.” [3] (Emphasis mine)

Sidney Sperry wrote:

“Alma seems to have such confidence in these religious truths that he is willing to have his words subjected to experimental trial … The recognition that many teachings in the spiritual realm may be, and should be, tested by experiment is of universal interest and validity … A feeling of confidence, trust, and respect is aroused in an individual when he is invited to experiment upon or test the validity of a religious principle.” ^[4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 30, 2011.

[2] Some Universals in the Book of Mormon, Sidney B. Sperry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 30, 2011.

[3] Lecture 55: Alma 32-35, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 30, 2011.

[4] Op. Cit., Sperry.

Alma 32:15-20

15  Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

16  Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

Alma 32:15–16 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) teaches an interesting principle in these verses.  He tells us that the person that humbles themselves, repents of their sin, and endures to the end, without being compelled, is much more blessed than those that are forced into humility because of their poverty.

John Welch comments:

“Some people have the gift to believe quite readily (see D&C 46:13–14), but most people need evidence, clues, and inducements to believe because they are by nature stubborn. Alma told the poor in Antionum that it was blessed to believe in the word of God ‘without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know’ (Alma 32:16); but being ‘brought to know’ is better than never coming to know at all. I have been ‘brought to know’ many things by means of evidence, even though that evidence has fallen short of compelling me to know.” [1] (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley remarks: 

“But remember, to seek riches is to seek power, prestige, influence and luxury, and you are not humble when you are looking for those things—if they are the things that interest you. So I must assert that I am humble if I want to feel right. If I'm too rich I have to make a big shout about being humble. I've heard a lot of that from rich friends. ‘Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble’—that's nice, and without talking about it, of course.” [2] (Emphasis mine)

17  Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

18  Now I ask, is this faith?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.

19  And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?

20  Now of this thing ye must judge.  Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.

Alma 32:17-20 (Emphasis mine)

Show us a sign, and we will believe.  Alma(2) asks is this faith?  No.  If you know something, you no longer believe because you know. 

The consequence of those who know and turn away from what they know is far more serious than one who believes. 

38  ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it…

Matthew 12:38-39 (Emphasis mine)

27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Luke 16:27-31 (Emphasis mine)

Hugh Nibley explains:

“Notice, [Alma(2)]'s beginning with the fundamentals with these people. These people are practically slaves. They want to know about the gospel. They don't know anything. There are things they don't understand. All the hints they've been taking, they've been taking from the other Zoramites. They were Zoramites, too, you see. This is a sermon on faith that comes here, and it's a very important sermon on faith. He begins working from the ground up with these people … He says, shouldn't we begin by showing you a sign? … ‘How I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.’ “ [3] (Emphasis mine)

Nibley then asks a question.  Are knowledge and faith enemies?

“Well, are knowledge and faith enemies then? If I have something, I don't have to believe and I don't have to have faith. There are some people who would tell us that knowledge is the enemy of faith. Will study weaken faith? That's thought to be so in some quarters. If you know, it's not the same thing as only believing. ‘And it shall be unto every man according to this work. And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.’  You hope it is true. Peter in his argument with Simon Magus says [something like this]. You can imagine an island. It's an imaginary island; you have never been there. It's a real island though … It's imaginary for you. You have faith that it's there. You are imagining something that's real, but for you is only imagination. Peter says the same thing: Before I came to Caesaria I didn't know what it was like. I had an image of what it was like, which was not correct. But it was reality, and here I am [paraphrased].” [4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Power of Evidence in the Nurturing of Faith, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2011.

[2] Lecture 55: Alma 32-35, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2011.

[3] Ibid.  

[4] Ibid.