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—

Alma 33:12-15 (Emphasis mine)

Now comes the logical question – Do you believe the scriptures that have been written?  We’ve talked about faith and belief.  We’ve talked about how the seed needs to grow. The scriptures help nourish the seed of faith.  It helps it grow into the tree.

If you believe in the scriptures, Alma(2) says, then you must believe in the writings of Zenos.  If you believe in Zenos, you must believe in the Son of God.  All the scriptures testify of Christ. 

Richard Rust writes:

“After this poetic and persuasive close to Alma's sermon, his auditors ask what they should believe and how they should plant the seed he has spoken of. Alma's response is to give them three main categories of means of belief as presented by three ancient prophet-witnesses: The first is prayer, as recalled by the poetic words of Zenos—whose main point is that one can pray anywhere and be heard (Alma 33:3–11). Second is the scriptures, as evidenced by the prophet Zenock's teaching found in the brass plates that witness to the truth of the teachings of Zenos (Alma 33:15–16). Third is the testimony of Jesus found in types, specifically here the brazen serpent that Moses raised in the wilderness as a type of Christ (Alma 33:19–22).” ^[1] (Emphasis mine)

Then he says not only has Zenos spoke about these things, Zenock also spake of these things.  Once again, we are introduced into a prophet whose record we’ve lost, but were available to the Nephites on the brass plates.

Zenos is frequently quoted in the Book of Mormon.  The Allegory of the Tame and Wild Olive Tree (Jacob 5) is from the writings of Zenos.  Nephi quotes Zenos (1 Nephi 19:10, 12, 16).  Nephi(2) quotes Zenos (Helaman 8:19, 15:11) and Nephi(3) (3 Nephi 10:11).  Alma’s sermon in chapter 32 is based on the writings of Zenos. There are fewer references to Zenock.

Here’s some information about Zenock.

“Zenock was a preexilic Israelite prophet whose words were found on the plates of brass, a record carried from Jerusalem to the new promised land in the Western Hemisphere by the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi c. 600 B.C. Zenock is not known from the Hebrew Bible or other sources and is noted in only five passages in the Book of Mormon. It is possible that he was of the lineage of Joseph of Egypt and an ancestor of the Nephites (3 Ne. 10:16).

“Each reference to Zenock refers to his teaching of either the coming or redemptive mission of Jesus Christ … Alma 33:16 contains the only direct quotation of Zenock's words, citing him as one of many Israelite prophets who foretold the mission of the Son of God (Alma 33:14—17; cf. 34:7) and quoting him on the mercies that God grants because of his Son. (Alma 33:17). Nephi(2) cited Zenock and others who testified of the coming of the Son of God (Hel. 8:20). In the last reference to his work, Mormon wrote that Zenos and Zenock foretold the destruction that preceded the coming of Christ to the remnant of their posterity (3 Ne. 10:14—16).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

16  For behold, [Zenock] 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.

Alma 33:16-18 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) informed us that, because Zenock testified of Christ, and the people could not understand him, he was martyred for his testimony.

Alma(2) adds, there even more who have testified of Christ.

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

4  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.

5  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 (Emphasis mine)

38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:38-39 (Emphasis mine)

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 33:19-23 (Emphasis mine)

Moses testified of Christ.  When he raised the serpent in the desert, those who looked upon it were saved.  Those who refused to do so, died.  Christ was raised up on the cross.  Those who accept Him (look upon him) will be saved.

Alma(2) closes with a reminder that Christ will redeem his people.  He will suffer and die to atone for their sins.  He will be resurrected.  All men will eventually stand before Him and be judged of their works. 

He closes by encouraging the people to plant his word (the seed) in their hearts.  It will begin to be nourished by their faith and grow and become a tree.  This tree will lead them to eternal life through their belief in Christ.

John Welch summarizes:

“Another day, I was preparing to deliver a lecture on Alma 32. It suddenly dawned on me what this text says we actually learn by planting within ourselves the seed of faith in Christ (Alma 33:22–23). Alma never says that we learn that the seed is true; rather, we learn that the seed is good. Obviously, it is one thing to know what is true—even Hitler knew a great deal of truth. It is quite another thing to know what is good. As I have become more sensitive to this reality, I have become more aware that truth is worthless if it is not conjoined with a value system. Truth, like any other tool, is morally neutral: a hammer can be used either to build up or to tear down. For me, the Book of Mormon thoroughly unites the domains of truth and goodness—even explicitly, in Moroni 10:6: ‘Whatsoever thing is good is just and true.’ “ [3] (Emphasis mine)

14 ¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16  ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

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[1] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" – Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 4, 2011.

[2] Zenock, Kent P. Jackson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 4, 2011.

[3] Good and True, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 4, 2011.

Alma 33:1-11

Chapter 33

Zenos taught that men should pray and worship in all places, and that judgments are turned away because of the Son—Zenock taught that mercy is bestowed because of the Son—Moses had lifted up in the wilderness a type of the Son of God. About 74 B.C.

1  NOW after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

2  And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues.  But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.

Alma 33:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

The people had questions for Alma(2).  In order for the seed to grow and be able to partake of the tree, should we believe in one God?  We’ve been cast out of the synagogues.  How can we worship?

Alma(2) responded that if they think they can’t worship because they’ve been cast out of the synagogues, they have made a mistake.  If you think this is what you have been taught in the scriptures, you don’t understand them.

In verse 2, we learn about education and the Zoramite society.  This is that they were a literate people.  Alma(2) comments that they should “search the scriptures.”  If you can’t read, it doesn’t do you much good to search the scriptures. 

Sherrie Mills Johnson writes:

“It is interesting to note that usually education and ability play a part in class discrimination. However, when Alma addressed the Zoramite poor, he assumed they could read (see Alma 33:2—3, 12, 14). This is a revealing insight into both Zoramite and Nephite culture. Despite the fact that these people were poor and of the lowest social class, they were literate.” [1] (Emphasis mine)

3  Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?

4  For he said:

    Thou art merciful, O God,

    for thou hast heard my prayer,

        even when I was in the wilderness;

    yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed

        concerning those who were mine enemies,

        and thou didst turn them to me.

5  Yea, O God, and

    thou wast merciful unto me

        when I did cry unto thee in my field;

    when I did cry unto thee in my prayer,

       and thou didst hear me.

6  And again, O God,

    when I did turn to my house

       thou didst hear me in my prayer.

7  And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord,

   and prayed unto thee,

       thou didst hear me.

8  Yea, thou art merciful

   unto thy children

       when they cry unto thee,

    to be heard of thee

        and not of men,

        and thou wilt hear them.

9  Yea, O God,

    thou hast been merciful unto me,

    and heard my cries

       in the midst of thy congregations.

10  Yea, and thou hast also heard me

    when I have been cast out

        and have been despised

        by mine enemies;

    yea, thou didst hear my cries,

      and wast angry with mine enemies,

      and thou didst visit them

          in thine anger

              with speedy destruction.

11  And thou didst hear me

    because of mine afflictions

        and my sincerity;

    and it is because

        of thy Son

    that thou hast been

        thus merciful unto me,

    therefore I will cry unto thee

        in all mine afflictions,

    for in thee is my joy;

    for thou hast turned

        thy judgments

        away from me,

    because of thy Son.

Alma 33:3-11 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) then quotes an unknown prophet – Zenos.  While he is unknown to us, obviously he was known to the people.  He was probably known to the Nephites through his writings on the brass plates.

Daniel Ludlow gives us more information about Zenos.

“Zenos is one of four Israelite prophets of Old Testament times cited in the book of Mormon whose writings appeared on the plates of brass but who are not mentioned in the Old Testament (see also Zenock; Neum; and Ezias). Zenos is quoted or mentioned by Nephi₁ (1 Ne. 19:10—17), Jacob (Jacob 5:1—77; 6:1), Alma₂ (Alma 33:3—11, 13, 15), Amulek (Alma 34:7), Nephi₂ (Hel. 8:19—20), and Mormon (3 Ne. 10:14—17).

“Although specific dates and details of Zenos' life and ministry are not known, the Book of Mormon provides considerable information about him from his teachings and related facts. Evidently he lived sometime between 1600 and 600 B.C. because he was apparently a descendant of Joseph of Egypt and his writings were on the plates of brass taken from Jerusalem to the Americas by Nephi(1) about 600 B.C. He may also have been a progenitor of the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi (cf. 3 Ne. 10:16). Zenos spent time ‘in the wilderness’ (Alma 33:4), but also preached ‘in the midst’ of the ‘congregations’ of God (Alma 33:9) … Finally, he was slain because of his bold testimony of the coming of the ‘Son of God’ (Hel. 8:13—19).

“A major theme in the teachings of Zenos was the destiny of the house of Israel …”  [2] (Emphasis mine)

The point of Alma(2) quoting this passage is to show the people that there is no one place where you can worship.  Zenos prayed and worshiped in his field, after he had been cast out, in his afflictions, in his house, in his closet, in his congregation. 

This was important for the new believers.  They had been taught and believed that, only in the synagogue, could one worship.  Here Alma(2) clarifies you can worship anywhere and any time you desire.

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[1] The Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 3, 2011.

[2] Zenos, Daniel H. Ludlow, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 3, 2011.