Alma 5:36-42

³⁶ For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.  ³⁷ O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice!  ³⁸ Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

³⁹ And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?  Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this?  Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil. ⁴⁰ For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.

Alma 5:36-40 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) warns them that those that do not bring forth good fruit, “or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness” will suffer for their choices.

The Savior taught what would happen to those who did not bring forth good fruit.  “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matthew 3:10).  Warning His followers about false prophets, He tells them “[y]e shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  very tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:16-20).

The people who “have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray.”  They have no shepherd.  They are on their own.  Yet, there is a Shepherd who still calls after His sheep.  Christ is calling them even now with his own voice.  If they ignore the voice, they “are not the sheep of the good shepherd.” 

King Benjamin made this clear in his great sermon.  He told the people “under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free.  There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives” (Mosiah 5:8).

Alma(2) questions them, asking if you’re not of Christ’s fold, “of what fold are ye?”  He answers his own question, telling the people “the devil is your shepherd and ye are of his fold.” 

The Savior warned us “[n]o man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Jacob taught “our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness (2 Nephi 9:9).

That’s our choice.  We can either accept Christ as our Shepherd and become part of His fold, or we can accept the devil as our shepherd and become part of his fold.  There is no other choice; it is either Christ or the devil.  Alma(2) reminds us “whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.”

⁴¹ Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him. ⁴² And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.

Alma 5:41-42 (Emphasis mine)

Those who do good works belong to the good Shepherd.  Those who do evil works become a child of the devil.  Abinadi told King Noah “[the wicked] are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.  Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.  But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him.  Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God” (Mosiah 16:3-5).

We will receive wages from whomever we follow.  If we follow Christ, we bring forth works of righteousness as our wages.  If we follow the devil, we receive spiritual death as our wages, “being dead unto all good works.”

Paul taught the “wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  The Lord warned Joseph Smith that those who “love darkness rather than light, and their deeds are evil, and they receive their wages of whom they list to obey” (D&C 29:45).

Alma 5:29-35

²⁹ Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy?  I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. ³⁰ And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? ³¹ Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! ³² Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!

Alma 5:29-32 (Emphasis mine)

Are you envious, Alma(2) asks?  You have a problem.  In Proverbs, King Salmon wrote, “[a] sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30).  In his epistle, James wrote, “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16). 

Do you mock a brother or persecute him?  King Solomon taught, “[w]hoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5). 

What are the consequences of these sins?  Alma(2) made it clear that they are not prepared to meet God.  “[T]he time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!” 

Alma(2) doesn’t stop there.  He continues to call on “all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hat spoken it!”  He reminds the people that this call to repentance comes not from him.  It comes from “the Lord God.”

Richard Rust sums up this part of the sermon.

“The dramatic summary of this phase of the sermon is ‘Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!’ (Alma 5:32). In reaching this point, Alma has stressed the urgency of his message with references to ‘quickly’ or ‘at hand’ and has built it up rhythmically with such repeated phrases as ‘I say unto you’ and ‘Wo unto.’ “ [1] (Emphasis mine)

³³ Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. ³⁴ Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; ³⁵ Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—

Alma 5:33-35 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) makes it clear that the Lord “sendeth an invitation unto all men.”  The Lord wants all to repent.  He is there to help and support.  We don’t have to do it alone. 

He tells us the Lord’s “arms of mercy are extended towards them.”  Before his death, Lehi told his children “the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15).

Jacob told the Nephites “I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.  And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts” (Jacob 6:5).

The Savior Himself promised us “if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.  Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me” (3 Nephi 9:14). 

David Seely reminds us “[t]he image of the arm of mercy also occurs in Mosiah 16:12; Alma 5:33; 19:36; 29:10; and 3 Nephi 9:14. Each time, the Lord is offering ‘to all people who will repent and believe on his name’ (Alma 19:36) the chance to take full advantage of the Atonement. For example, ‘Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you’ (Alma 5:33).” [2]

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[1] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" - Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 7, 2012.

[2] The Image of the Hand of God in the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament, David R. Seely, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 7, 2012

Alma 5:22-28

²² And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?  Behold, what will these things testify against you?  ²³ Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?

²⁴ Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white? ²⁵ I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.

Alma 5:22-25 (Emphasis mine)

If we do not repent, we will stand before God, our “garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness.”   Our garments will testify of our iniquities. 

Isaiah taught, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness” (Isaiah 59:2-3).  He continued “[f]or our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them” (Isaiah 59:12).

What would it be like to stand before God, wearing garments that testify we “are guilty of all manner of wickedness?”  We will know of our sins.  We will know we are not worthy to be in the presence of God.

Alma(2) asks, “do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God?”  Will we be able to sit, “in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, Isaac and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets?”  He responds with a clear response – “No!” 

There must have been those present who thought God would overlook these things.  There will be a place for them at this table.  Alma(2) tells them that there is no way you can believe these things “except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning.  The Savior clearly taught that there would be no place for them at the table.  Instead, “[t]here shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28).

The truth is, there is no place in the kingdom of heaven for the wicked.  “[T]hey will be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.”

Jacob warned us if we are wicked, “our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness” (2 Nephi 9:9).

²⁶ And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? ²⁷ Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?  Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?  That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? ²⁸ Behold, are ye stripped of pride?  I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God.  Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

Alma 5:26-28 (Emphasis mine)

Here, we learn what it means to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ.  First, we have to experience a change of heart.  This change of heart occurs only in the truly converted.  This change of heart makes us want to do what is right.  We find sin deeply abhorrent.    We cannot imagine committing sin.  We want to rejoice, to “sing the song of redeeming love.”

M. Catherine Thomas explained “[a]s a result of the mighty change wrought in their hearts (see Mosiah 5:2), they received Christ's image in their countenances; they could ‘sing the song of redeeming love,’ their hearts having been ‘stripped of pride’ and enmity (Alma 5:26, 28; see 5:12, 19).” [1]

The multitude who listened to King Benjamin’s sermon, proclaimed “we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).

By accepting the Lord and experiencing that mighty change of heart, we make a covenant with the Lord.  We “shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters” (Mosiah 5:7).

Kent Jackson wrote, “I was spiritually reborn, according to these descriptions and definitions in the Bible. I experienced ‘a change of heart’ (Alma 5:26) ‘through faith on his [Christ's] name,’ and I was ‘born of him’ (Mosiah 5:7).” [2]      

After reminding them of what happened to them when they accepted Christ, Alma(2) asks, “can ye feel so now?”  This is what matters.  If they can’t “feel so now,” they’ve moved away from Christ.

Then he asks a question we should be asking of ourselves, “if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?  That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are ye stripped of pride?” (verses 27 and 28).  

Then he tells them “if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God.”  He warns them that they “must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.”

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[1] Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 6, 2012.

[2] Am I a Christian?, Kent P. Jackson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 6, 2012.

Alma 5:16-21

Alma(2) is questioning the people.  By questioning them, they have to examine themselves and their lives.  Are they living the gospel?  If they had to “stand before God to be judged,” what would that judgment be? 

Here are the questions Alma(2) has asked the people:

1. Have you been spiritually been born of God?
2. Have you received his image in your countenance?
3. Have you experienced the mighty change in your heart?
4. Do you exercise faith in God?
5. Do you look forward to standing before God and being judged “according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?”

We should look at these questions and be asking them of ourselves as well!

¹⁶ I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?  ¹⁷ Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?  ¹⁸ Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

Alma 5:16-18 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) has us imagine the day that we “hear the voice of the Lord saying unto you, in that day:  Come unto me ye blessed.”  These are the words we want to hear.  In the parable of the sheep and the goats, if we follow his teachings, if we serve others, we will hear “the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world … Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:34, 40).

The opposite is also true.  If we have lived a wicked life, do we think we can “lie unto the Lord in that day?”  Do you believe that lie will save you?  There is a problem.  We will have “a perfect remembrance of all [our] wickedness.”  As I study the scriptures, I am convinced we will not be judged by Christ.  When we stand before Him, our “perfect remembrance” will cause us to judge ourselves worthy or unworthy. 

Many scriptures tell us we will have the remembrance of our lives.

And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

Ezekiel 20:43 (Emphasis mine)

Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

2 Nephi 9:14 (Emphasis mine)

O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.

Mosiah 2:40 (Emphasis mine)

And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

Mosiah 3:25 (Emphasis mine)

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; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

Alma 11:43 (Emphasis mine)

Richard Rust continues this thought.

“Additional questions build to the ironic question, ‘say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? (Alma 5:16). The ironic content is exposed by the following question: ‘Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?’ (Alma 5:17). Probing more deeply with each rhetorical question, Alma eventually asks, ‘I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?’ (Alma 5:20).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁹ I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?  I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances? ²⁰ I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? ²¹ I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

Alma 5:19-21 (Emphasis mine)

How can someone be saved?  “[T]here can no man be saved except his garments are washed white … through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins” (verse 21).  Alma(2) reminds them of the importance of Christ’s atonement. 

Abinadi spoke of Christ.  He told King Noah and his wicked priests “I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses” (Mosiah 13:28).  They could also rely on the words of Isaiah. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5) and “[c]ome now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Discussing white garments, Hugh Nibley writes:

“We're told in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that when the priest and his sons come out, having performed the sacrifice, their garments are spattered with this blood. That blood testifies that the sacrifice has been made, and the other garments are washed clean. The other blood is off then. So there's no contradiction in having garments washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. It testifies that they have been cleansed. Of course, we say this is all symbolic, but these symbols were very real to these people. Alma 5:21: It's the Lamb's blood on the garment of the high priest that makes your garment white. So that's what he's talking about here. Notice this rich symbolism. It will testify against you. We can't apportion guilt, because we're all guilty. We must all be purified. All our lives we have to repent.” [2]  (Emphasis mine)

John Welch and Robert Hunt add:

“You will recognize a priest by his white robes. Only priests and the very rich can afford such clothing. Imagine what it means for these priests if their robes get stained, as is often the case when they perform their sacrificial duties. With no laundromat or laundry detergent available, stains remain on clothes. This is an additional reason why white cloth is not used much and gives added insight to scriptures that talk about having our robes white or washed white in Christ's blood (see Alma 5:21). Getting clothes this white is particularly difficult, if not impossible, especially if they are stained.” [3]  (Emphasis mine)

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[1] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" - Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 5, 2012.

[2] Lecture 46: Alma 5, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 5, 2012.

[3] Culturegram: Jerusalem 600 BC, John W. Welch, and Robert D. Hunt, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 5, 2012.

Alma 5:11-15

Alma(2) has told the people how important it is to remember the time his father’s group was delivered from King Noah’s armies through the intervention of the Lord.  He reminded them of the time they were in Lamanite captivity but were miraculously delivered by the Lord.

He has likened sin to captivity.  Those that sin and do not repent are in captivity to the devil; they are wrapped in the chains of hell.

¹¹ Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi?  And was he not a holy prophet?  Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them? ¹² And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart.  Behold I say unto you that this is all true.  ¹³ And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God.  And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

Alma 5:11-13 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) questions the people about his father.  Didn’t Alma(1) believe in the words which were delivered by Abinadi?  Wasn’t he a prophet?  Didn’t he speak the word of God and “my father” believe in them?  This was the beginnings of the church.  Mormon wrote “there was one among them whose name was Alma … he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken” (Mosiah 17:2).  Alma(1) pleaded with the king to spare Abinadi.  He was willing to put his life on the line to save Abinadi.  He was able to flee and, through him, we have Abinadi’s words.

Not only did his father believe, but “a mighty change was also wrought in [his] heart.”  According Noel Reynolds “[t]he gospel message tells the person who has just learned the truth of Christ how he can respond to receive God's grace. If he will repent and covenant not to sin further, and then be baptized of water, he is promised that he will receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, which brings ‘a mighty change’ of heart…” [1]

Corbin Volluz expands on the concept of “a might change” of heart.

“We also learn from Alma₂ that his father, Alma₁, after being converted by the words of Abinadi in King Noah's court, had a mighty change wrought in his heart (Alma 5:11–12). Alma₁ then began preaching the gospel of Abinadi to others and established a church in the wilderness, and ‘a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts’ (Alma 5:7, 13).

“From this, we may conclude that not only were Alma₁ and the church he organized by the waters of Mormon redeemed, but so was Abinadi himself who taught the message in the first place. It would be strange for Abinadi to teach the message of redemption if he had not himself experienced the ‘mighty change of heart.’ “ [2] (Emphasis mine)

Alma(1) preached the gospel to “your fathers” and the experienced this mighty change.  They put their trust “in the true and living God.”

Almost half a millennia later, as Moroni(2) was writing his first farewell comments, he told us to “[b]e wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God” (Mormon 9:28).

Corbin Volluz sums up this part of Alma(2)’s message.

“Alma(1) taught the redemptive message of Abinadi to his followers. ‘According to [Alma(1)'s] faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart’ (Alma 5:12). Similarly, Alma(1)'s followers ‘humbled themselves and put their trust [faith] in the true and living God’ (Alma 5:13). Abinadi's words themselves contain the injunction to ‘repent of your sins’ (Mosiah 16:13). Alma₁ at the waters of Mormon did ‘teach [his followers], and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord’ (Mosiah 18:7).” [3] (Emphasis mine)

The people were saved because they were “faithful until the end.”  Alma(2) was repeating the words of Nephi.  “And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful.  He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (2 Nephi 31:15).

The first part of his sermon was a wonderful tribute to his father and all his work.  Marilyn Arnold words are a great way to end this part of Alma(2)’s sermon.  She wrote, “[w]hat a powerful testifier the first Alma was! We have many more of his son's words, but that son's ability to reach hearts with the inspired spoken word could not have been any greater than his father's.” [4]

Alma(2) turns to the topic at hand – how to be a true follower of Christ. 

¹⁴ And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? ¹⁵ Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?  Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

Alma 5:14-15 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) begins by asking questions – have you been born of God?  Have you “received his image in your countenances?  Have you experienced a “mighty change in your hearts?” Do you exercise faith in God?  Do you look forward to the day you will be judged according to what you have “done in the mortal body?”  He is asking the people to look at themselves and their lives.

Ann Madsen wrote “[t]he Lord's image in one's countenance? Alma had seen it (see Alma 36:5—27, especially v. 22). He knew his father had seen it on a courageous prophet who was willing to suffer in the pattern of his Redeemer to the last moments of his life.”

The concept of becoming a new person is common way of describing someone a person who follows truth.  The Lord told Jeremiah “I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart” (Jeremiah 24:7).  Through Ezekiel, the Lord said “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” (Ezekiel 11:19). 

Christ told Nicodemus “[v]erily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7). 

Paul wrote “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17),  We have King Benjamin’s powerful words, “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19).

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[1] The True Points of My Doctrine, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 4, 2012.

[2] Cry Redemption: The Plan of Redemption as Taught in the Book of Mormon, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 4, 2012.

[3] Ibid.

[4] The Book of Mormon: Passport to Discipleship, Marilyn Arnold, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 4, 2012.

Alma 5:5-9

⁵ And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also. ⁶ And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?  Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them?  And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell? ⁷ Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.  Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

Alma 5:5-7 (Emphasis mine)

After being delivered from King Noah’s armies, Alma(1) and his followers settled in the land of Helam.  Once again, they were brought into captivity by the Lamanites. 

After searching for the people of Limhi, Finding Alma(1)’s group, the Lamanite armies were “lost in the wilderness for many days” (Mosiah 23:30).  “[T]hey discovered the land of Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren.  And it came to pass that the Lamanites promised unto Alma and his brethren, that if they would show them the ^away which led to the land of Nephi that they would grant unto them their lives and their liberty.  But after Alma had shown them the way that led to the land of Nephi the Lamanites would not keep their promise; but they set guards round about the land of Helam, over Alma and his brethren” (Mosiah 23:35-36). 

Alma(2) reminds them that the “Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word.”  (Because of their faith, “the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.  And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage … And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task–masters were in a profound sleep” (Mosiah 24:16-17, 19). 

Alma(2) asks them if they remember this captivity of their fathers.  This is not an idle question.  As the angel was finishing his message to him, he was told to “[g]o and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them” (Mosiah 27:16).

As he began his second epistle, he said the he “now write[s] unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 3:1-2). 

Then he changes his example somewhat.  He asks them if the remembered that the Lord “has delivered their souls from hell.”  The form of captivity has changed.  First, they were freed from physical captivity; then they were freed from spiritual captivity.  They were delivered from hell.  The Lord “changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.” 

They were in a bad spiritual position.  “[T]hey were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them” (verse 7).

Alma(2) describes what is meant by the “chains of hell.”  He explains that those who “ill harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction.  Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell” (Alma 12:11). 

The Lord revealed to President Joseph F. Smith that those who died without hearing the gospel would have it preached to them.  “While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful; And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel … And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell” (D&C 138:18-19, 23).

Mack Sterling writes:

“In this discourse, Alma contrasts the redeemed state of those converted by his father with their condition before their conversion to Christ, when they were in a deep sleep, in darkness, encircled by the chains of hell, and awaiting an everlasting destruction. This, of course, is a powerful description of the spiritual alienation of the first spiritual death, which all accountable souls experience to a greater or lesser degree. The reversibility of this first spiritual death during probation by being born of God is confirmed by Alma's description of the mighty change of heart his father's converts experienced. By being born of God they were brought into the light, having awakened to God. Thus the chains of hell binding them were loosed and they were delivered from the hell or everlasting destruction that had formerly awaited them (see Alma 5:6–9).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

⁸ And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not. ⁹ And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed?  I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love.  And I say unto you that they are saved.

Alma 5:8-9 (Emphasis mine)

Even though “an everlasting destruction did await them,” (verse 7), they were not destroyed.  The bands of death and the chains of hell were loosed.  They were released from their spiritual captivity.  Then “they did sing redeeming love.”  Hugh Nibley explains “they went back to the law of Moses, and the song of redeeming love was a very important part in the cult of Moses. When the people all came together, they would sing the song of redeeming love. It was part of their ritual…” [2]     

Cynthia Hallen writes:

“Like the tree of life and the waters of life in Nephi's vision, our arts and letters can be representations of the ‘love of God’ (1 Nephi 11:21—25). If we remember with Johann Wondra that ‘art is therefore a possibility for love,’ our words can be clothed with charity regardless of topic, genre, or audience (see Moroni 7:47) … As authors, our works can be as beautiful as ‘the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon’ to readers who are refugees from the wilderness of wickedness (Mosiah 18:30). The power of divinely inspired words can liberate people from the pains of hell, enabling them to ‘sing redeeming love’ (Alma 5:9; 26:13).” [3] (Emphasis mine)

David wrote:

¹ PRAISE ye the LORD:

   for it is good

      to sing praises unto our God;

   for it is pleasant;

   and praise is comely.

² The LORD doth build up Jerusalem:

      he gathereth together

         the outcasts of Israel.

³ He healeth

      the broken in heart,

   and bindeth

      up their wounds.

⁴ He telleth

      the number of the stars;

   he calleth them

      all by their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord,

   and of great power:

   his understanding

     is infinite.

⁶ The LORD lifteth up

      the meek:

   he casteth

      the wicked

         down to the ground.

⁷ Sing unto the LORD

   with thanksgiving;

   sing praise upon the harp

      unto our God:

Psalms 147:1-7 (Emphasis mine)

When they were loosed, “their souls did expand.”  Kevin Barney looks at this phrase.  “[Paul] Hoskisson notes that in Alma 5:9 we read ‘their souls did expand,’ where the context suggests a meaning such as ‘they became happy.’ He further notes that soul is used with the verb enlarge in Alma 32:28 and later in that chapter with the verb swell (Alma 32:34). This is odd usage, since normally in English a soul does not ‘expand.’ If, however, ‘soul’ here renders kabed ‘liver,’ then this usage is right at home in the ancient Near East,” [4] (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) tells them that by being released from spiritual captivity, they were saved.

Mack Sterling clarifies the importance of the term “remission of sins” in the Book of Mormon.

“Virtually every time remission of sins is described as having occurred in the Book of Mormon, it refers to a relatively well focused event (Enos 1:2, Mosiah 4:2-3, Alma 5:6-13, Alma 38:8, 3 Nephi 1:23, 3 Nephi 7:25). Rather than being portrayed as a lifelong process completed only when one is perfect, remission of sins is almost always described as something which occurs at the outset of an individual's acceptance of Christ/the Gospel (2 Nephi 31:17-20) and which must be retained (Mosiah 4:11-12, 26; Alma 4:14) during the long and gradual process of sanctification (Helaman 3:35, Alma 13:10-12).” [5] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Way of Life and the Way of Death in the Book of Mormon, Mack C. Sterling, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 3, 2012.

[2] Lecture 53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 3, 2012.

[3] Beauty on the Mountains: Inspiration from the Book of Mormon for LDS Writers, Cynthia L. Hallen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 3, 2012.

[4] A More Responsible Critique, Kevin L. Barney, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 3, 2012

[5] Doctrines of the Book of Mormon: The 1991 Sperry Symposium, Mack C. Sterling, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 3, 2012.

Alma 5:1-4

We are beginning an important chapter in the Book of Mormon.  First, Marilyn Arnold reminds us that verses 1-13 are a tribute to Alma(1).

“One measure of the first Alma's great faith and strength as a prophet is in his ultimate influence on his rebellious son and namesake. When the converted younger Alma leaves the judgeship and dedicates himself solely to teaching the word of God throughout the land, he launches what would become his principal sermon with a lengthy tribute to his father. He tells who his father was and what he achieved as a devoted emissary of God. We cannot overstate the importance of the first thirteen verses of Alma 5, as they reveal the forthright, unwavering character of the first Alma. How grateful I am that this son recognized his father's accomplishments, but perhaps more than that, the kind of man he was. It is only too bad that this son wasted his early years in foolish denial of his father's holy calling, exceptional leadership, and capacity for love.” [1] (Emphasis mine) 

Kent Jackson, writing about what it means to be a Christian tells us “I believe that most other thoughtful evangelicals would use similar words to describe what it means to be a real Christian. Significantly, but not surprisingly, those definitions are also consistent with the teachings of the Book of Mormon (see, for example, Mosiah 4:1–5:15; Alma 5:2–62; 7:14–16).” [2]  

Please keep these important points in mind as we study Alma(2)’s sermon to the people of Zarahemla.

The words which Alma, the High Priest according to the holy order of God, delivered to the people in their cities and villages throughout the land.

Comprising chapter 5.

Chapter 5

To gain salvation, men must repent and keep the commandments, be born again, cleanse their garments through the blood of Christ, be humble and strip themselves from pride and envy, and do the works of righteousness—The Good Shepherd calleth his people—Those who do evil works are children of the devil—Alma testifies of the truth of his doctrine and commands men to repent—Names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life. About 83 B.C.

¹ NOW it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land [About 83 B.C.]. ² And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record, saying:

³ I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon. ⁴ And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.

Alma 5:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

We are going to be studying a sermon delivered by Alma(2) as he began his mission to the church.  The words we are about to are “according to his own record.”  Mormon felt this was such an important sermon that he did want to abridge this part of the record.

Alma(2) begins by stating his authority.  Authority is all-important when it comes to religion.  We read, “all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD” (1 Samuel 3:20).  The people knew that when dealing with Samuel they were dealing with the Lord’s authorized prophet.

Christ taught the importance of having the proper authority as well.  Talking to His disciples, he told them “[y]e have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” (John 15:16). 

Paul began his epistle to the Galatians by stating his authority.  “PAUL, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1).  In Hebrews we are informed, “no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4).

Nephi “consecrate[d] Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people (2 Nephi 5:26).  When Alma(2)’s father baptized at the waters of Mormon, he began his prayer by saying “I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God…” (Mosiah 18:13). 

The Book of Mormon makes it clear that only those who have authority given them in the proper and proscribed manner may act as a representative of the Lord.

Then he reminds how his father and his followers “were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.”  When the armies of King Noah were approaching, “Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah would come upon them, and having made it known to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king Noah” (Mosiah 23:1). 

As we studied the book of Mosiah, we read about the Lord delivering two peoples out of bondage.  This was done through their faith and trust in the Lord.

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[1] The Book of Mormon: Passport to Discipleship, Marilyn Arnold, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 2, 2012.

[2] Am I a Christian?, Kent P. Jackson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 2, 2012.

Alma 4:11-20

¹¹ And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year [83 B.C.], Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people. ¹² Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.

¹³ Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy; ¹⁴ Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.

Alma 4:11-14 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) “saw the wickedness in the church.”  He was concerned because “the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people” (verse 11). This was a serious problem for the church.  We will see this problem arise during Alma(2)’s mission to the Zoramites.  This occurred when Corianton used the services of a local prostitute.  Alma(2) would tell him “[s]uffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots.   Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words” (Alma 39:11).  It is amazing deeply sinful acts by those who claim to be believers hurt the work of the Lord.  Much hard work and success can be undone by one thoughtless person committing sinful acts.

Then we see another sign of the Nephite iniquity.  They turned their back on the poor.  They refused to help them.  Jacob faced this problem very early in Nephite history.  He told his people that he desired that the Lord “would rid you from this iniquity and abomination.  And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!  Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you” (Jacob 2:16-17).

King Benjamin spent time reminding the people of their obligations to the poor.  He told that he told them these things “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).  He also told the people that anyone who ignored the needs of the poor “hath no interest in the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 4:18). 

The humble members of the church were disturbed by the wickedness of the people.  They continued to support the poor, “imparting their substance … feeding the hungry and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake” (verse 13).  They accepted King Benjamin’s promise, “[l]ooking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins” (verse 14).

¹⁵ And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.  ¹⁶And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. ¹⁷ Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment–seat to judge and to govern the people.

Alma 4:15-17 (Emphasis mine)

The time had come for Alma(2) to do something.  He saw “the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them.”  He was also concerned about the inequality among the people.  In this dispensation, the Lord told Joseph Smith “it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin” (D&C 49:20).

As Alma(2) considered what to do, he was not alone.  Mormon wrote, “the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.”  Alma(2) would give up the position of chief judge.  Daniel Peterson wrote “[a]fter only about five years, Alma₂ gave up his position as chief judge (presumably the least effective of his two offices) in order to concentrate his attention upon the high priesthood as the solution for the urgent problems that faced the Nephites (Alma 4:15—20). Never again would a Nephite king serve as both religious and temporal leader of his people.” [1]

Alma(2) selected “a wise man who was among the elders of the church” as his replacement.  Nephihah was appointed chief judge by the voice of the people. The selection of a righteous replacement was very important.

“Whether it pertains to society, church, government, military, or home, the value of righteous leadership in the narrative cannot be overstated. King Benjamin stresses it in his valedictory sermon (Mosiah 2). Concerned about the wickedness of members in the newly founded church, Alma resigns his position as chief judge to concentrate on his duties as chief priest (Alma 4:15–20). Lamanite kings who are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ risk position, power, and their very lives to act in a manner consistent with their spiritual conversion (Alma 24).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁸ Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment–seat unto Nephihah.  ¹⁹ And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. ²⁰ And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment–seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.

Alma 4:18-20 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) kept the office of high priest “that he might preach the word of God unto them.”  The time came and he stepped down so that he might “[confine] himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy” (verse 20). 

Leslie Taylor and Marilyn Arnold explain to us the importance of what Alma(2) did.

“Understanding this quality of the word of God, Alma, at an earlier time, relinquished the judgment-seat and embarked on a ministry in which he hoped to ‘pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them’ (Alma 4:19).” [3]    (Emphasis mine)

“The second Alma knew that power. He said that ‘the preaching of the word … had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them’ (Alma 31:5). It was Alma's conviction of the word's capacity to change people that prompted him to leave the Nephite judgment seat and go forth to ‘preach the word of God … bearing down in pure testimony’ in an effort to ‘stir [his people] up in remembrance of their duty’ (Alma 4:19).” [4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 1, 2012.

[2] Prospering in the Land of Promise, Steven L. Olsen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.

[3] The Word of God, Leslie A. Taylor, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.

[4] The Book of Mormon: Passport to Discipleship, Marilyn Arnold, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, March 1, 2012.