Lesson 24: Give Us Strength
According to Our Faith-in Christ
Purpose
To help class members recognize the importance of honoring
their foreordained roles, callings, and priesthood responsibilities and to help
them understand that following the counsel of prophets helps us enter into the
rest of the Lord.
Scriptures
·
Alma 13. Alma gives a powerful
discourse on the priesthood and the doctrine of foreordination.
·
Alma 14. Alma, Amulek, and other
faithful believers are persecuted for their righteousness. The Lord delivers
Alma and Amulek from prison because of their faith in Christ.
·
Alma 15. Zeezrom is healed and
baptized. Many people in Sidom are baptized.
·
Alma 16. The words of Alma are
fulfilled as the Lamanites destroy Ammonihah. The Lord prepares people's hearts
to receive the word preached by Alma, Amulek, and others.
What are the most important parts of the lesson for you
to cover? I would suggest:
·
13:1-12 – The importance of foreordination,
faith, and righteousness in the callings of priests (Melchizedek priesthood),
but it applies to all callings we receive in the church.
·
13:16-19 - Ordinances were given so we would
look forward to the Son of God.
·
14:8-14 – This is the horrific account of the burning
of women and children because of their beliefs. Many wrestle with this and ask why the Lord would
allow this to occur. There are some great
scriptures and additional support materials that help us better understand why an
event like this occurred.
·
14:15-29 - Alma2 and Amulek’s experience
in prison. This is a great tale of righteousness
and faith. It is also a good follow-up to
the horrific account in verse 8-14.
·
15:3-12 – The healing of Zeezrom. Once again, this is a great conversion tale. Here we have one of the strongest opponents of
Alma2 and Amulek recognizing his sin and the consequences of his sin.
We also learn that it is through our faith
that we are healed.
·
15:16-18 – We learn the great sacrifice Amulek made
when he accepted the Gospel. Would we have
the strength to do the same?
·
16:13-21 – The gospel is preached to the Nephites,
they become righteous, and gain a temporary victory over the devil.
This is a lot of material for 45-minutes. This is just a suggestion. We all need to the Spirit to we know what is best
for our Ward members, what information in this lesson will they need to help them.
Chapter 13
Men are called as high priests because of their exceeding
faith and good works—They are to teach the commandments—Through righteousness
they are sanctified and enter into the rest of the Lord—Melchizedek was one of
these—Angels are declaring glad tidings throughout the land—They will reveal
the actual coming of Christ. About 82 B.C.
Review of Scriptures in Chapter 13
·
1-3 – The Lord ordains priests after
the order of his Son; men are called before the foundation of the world.
o
1 – Ordained priests, after order of
Son, to teach to the people.
o
2 – Ordained after order of Son;
people know what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.
o
3 - Priest were called and prepared from
foundation of world; this is according to foreknowledge of God.
o
Alison V.P. Coutts writes:
§
“From this passage
we learn that ordinations to the priesthood in mortality are a result of (1)
preparation of the individual in premortality (given that the ‘world’ was
‘founded’ before it was physically created), (2) faith and good works, (3)
choices of good over evil, (4) the opportunity to exercise faith, and (5) the
provision of redemption. It follows that these stipulations are
part of a plan that was conceived before the earth was created, even a plan to
direct the creation of the earth and the course of its inhabitants. This gave
me hope that I too was part of a plan; I mattered, and my being here on earth
was not just a convergence of biological events.”[1]
·
4-9 – Priest called because of
faith; do not harden hearts; called and ordained through holy calling; ordained
to teach being called with holy calling; become high priests forever.
o
4-6 – Priest called because of
faith; others would reject Spirit of God because of hard heart; all were on the
same standing; those called refused to harden their hearts and accept the
atonement of Christ; after being called, they were ordained “unto the high
priesthood of the holy order of God;” teach commandments to people.
o
7-9 – High priesthood after the
order of his Son was before foundation of world; without beginning of days or
end of years; being prepared for all eternity; called, ordained, and take upon
themselves high priesthood without beginning or end; become high priests
forever.
o
M. Catherine Thomas wrote:
§
“Of
course, as people do in this world, the maturing spirits in the premortal world
advanced at different rates and to different levels of spirituality, though
Alma says that they were initially on the same standing with each other (Alma
13:5); that
is, they had equal opportunity to advance, but some rejected the Spirit of God
‘on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds’ (Alma
13:4) and did not make the progress that would have given them the privilege of
entering the holy order.”[2]
o
Additional scripture references:
§ And
Melchizedek [HEB King of righteousness] king of Salem brought forth
bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Genesis 14:18
§
FOR this Melchisedec, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by
interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which
is, King of peace;
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth
a priest continually.
Now
consider how great this man was, unto
whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Hebrews 7:1-4
For
the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
FOR
every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God,
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Hebrews 5:1
WHEREFORE,
holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as
also Moses was faithful in
all his house.
Hebrews 3:1-2
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which
he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him;
Called
of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:8-10
·
10-12 – Many were ordained because
of exceeding faith, repentance, and righteousness before God; called after His
holy order; garments washed with through blood of Lamb; sanctified by Holy
Ghost; pure and spotless before God.
o
10 – Many made high priests because
of exceeding faith/repentance/ righteousness before God; chose to repent and
work righteousness.
o
11 – Called after holy order;
sanctified; garments washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
o
Thomas Valletta wrote:
§
“As with
all prophets before and after the meridian of time, Melchizedek is a
type of Jesus Christ. He was called ‘the prince of peace’ (Alma
13:18) as
a type of the Prince of Peace. As righteous as Melchizedek was—and, as
Alma declared, ‘none were greater’ (Alma 13:19)—Jesus Christ, not
Melchizedek, is the righteous one. Alma made it clear through his
teaching that while Melchizedek was an excellent example, those who enter into the
holy order are ‘washed white through the blood of the Lamb’ (Alma
13:11). The ordinances of the holy order were given in such a manner ‘that
thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God’ (Alma 13:16).”[3]
·
13-15 – We should humble ourselves
before God; bring forth fruit meet for repentance; Abraham paid tithes to
Melchizedek.
o
13 – We are to humble ourselves
before God and bring forth the fruits of repentance.
o
14 – We should humble ourselves as
the people in the days of Melchizedek did; he was a high priest after the order
of the Son of God.
o
15 – Abraham paid tithes (one-tenth
of all he possessed) to Melchizedek.
·
16-19 – Ordinances were given so
people would look forward to the Son of God; Melchizedek King of Salem; people
were wicked; Melchizedek exercised mighty faith and received priesthood; people
repent.
o
16 – Ordinances were given as a type
of Melchizedek’s order; look forward to Son of God for remission of sins.
o
17 – Melchizedek was king of Salem; people were extremely wicked.
o
18 – He exercised might faith and
received the priesthood; he preached
repentance to his people; they repented of their sins; He established peach in
his land; called the prince of peace (a type of Christ for us to look forward
to).
- Hugh Nibley writes:
- “Then he tells about Melchizedek and his people. These
people were as bad as they could be, yet they were saved. What this
shows us is that it is possible, making all eligible for judgment. If
it is possible for the most wicked to become righteous, as Jeremiah
says, then we are all responsible for not becoming righteous. Don't say
you ‘have stepped in too far, that wade no more would be as tedious as
go o'er.’ “[4]
- Sidney Sperry adds:
- “In Alma 13:14—19 is found a discourse upon Melchizedek, the
great high priest mentioned in Genesis 14. Not only is Melchizedek
accepted as an individual to whom Abraham paid tithes (cf. Genesis
14:20), but he is accepted as one of the greatest spiritual characters who
ever lived. Details are given of him which are not found in our present
Old Testament.”[5]
o
19 – Many came before and after
Melchizedek but none were greater.
·
20-23 – Scriptures available; if you
distort them it will be to their destruction; Alma2 called people to
repent; voice of Lord through angels declare it also; made known in plain
terms.
o
Hugh Nibley writes:
§
“It can be
done, just as it can be done with the Constitution or anything else—you can
wrest them. How can you avoid that natural tendency to wrest them in your own interest?
Of course, take them in their full context and with prayer. Prayer doesn't give
me a franchise to give my personal interpretation and impose it on anybody else.”[6]
o
20 – You have the scriptures
available to you; if you twist their meaning, it will be to your destruction.
o
21 - Alma2 tells people the time to
repent is now; day of salvation is near.
o
22 – Voice of the Lord, through
angels declare it to all nations; tidings of great joy is made to all nations.
o
23 – They are made known is plain
languages so we can understand them without making a mistake.
·
24-26 – Angels are declaring the day
of salvation in the land; we only wait for the joyful news; new shall be made
known to just and holy men.
o
24 – Angels declare day of salvation
to prepare hearts of men to receive the coming of the Son of God.
o
25 – We wait with joy for that day
to be declared; Alma2 wishes it would be in his day; will be sooner
or later and he will rejoice.
o
26 – His coming will be made known
to just and holy men by angels; He will come that the words of their fathers
will be filled.
§
Amos 3:7 tells us:
·
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but
he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
§
Matthew Roper writes:
·
“[Alma2]
and others were preparing the hearts of the people of their land to receive
Christ's word when he came among them, just as Nephi promised they would need to do. Christ would come among
them, Alma says, ‘that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to
that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit
of prophecy which was in them.’“[7]
·
27-31 - Alma2 closes his
words with an appeal to them to listen to and accept his words; don’t
procrastinate the day of your repentance; cast off their sins; humble
themselves before the Lord; watch and pray continually; be led by the Spirit; repent
and receive eternal life and the rest of God; may they not be bound by the
chains of hell and suffer the second death, the spiritual death, being cut off
from God.
o
27 - Alma2 pleads with
people to listen to his words, cast off sins, and not delay repentance.
o
28 – Humble yourself before the
Lord; watch and pray continually; pray not to be tempted beyond what you can
bear; be led by the Spirit, be humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love,
long suffering.
§
Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 10:13):
·
There hath no temptation taken you but such
as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it.
§
M. Catherine Thomas writes:
·
“It is
interesting that Alma mentions humility, patience, and love as the spiritual tools of
resistance to Satan.
“How important it is for us to know that the
spirits who followed Satan in the great rebellion in Heaven got here before
even Adam and Eve and are still here. What are they doing? They are influencing
you and me. They dwell in the hearts of the children of men (see
Mosiah 3:6). We are their victims until we learn to discern what is of God from
what is not of God. There are only two options and only two voices…”[8]
§
Reed Benson writes:
·
“The antidote for
pride is humility, ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ (3 Ne.
9:20, 12:19). Men can choose to do those things that will foster the growth of
humility:
they can choose to confess and forsake their sins, forgive others, receive
counsel and chastisement, esteem others as themselves, render service, love
God, and submit to his will (Benson, 1989, p. 7). By yielding ‘to
the enticing of the Holy Spirit,’ the prideful individual can become ‘a saint
through the atonement of Christ’ and become ‘as a child, submissive, meek,
humble’ (Mosiah 3:19; cf. Alma 13:28).”[9]
o
29 – Have faith in the Lord; hope to
receive eternal life; have love of God in your hearts; do this to be lifted up
at the last day.
o
30 – May Lord grant you repentance;
repentance will keep you from being bound by chains of hell; prevent second
death.
o
31 – Mormon ends Alma2’s
words here even though more was said.
Chapter 14
Alma and Amulek are imprisoned and smitten—The believers
and their holy scriptures are burned by fire—These martyrs are received by the
Lord in glory—The prison walls are rent and fall—Alma and Amulek are delivered
and their persecutors are slain. About 82–81 B.C.
Review of Scriptures in Chapter 14
·
1-3 – Alma2 and Amulek
have some success; many repented and began to search the scriptures; more
wanted to destroy Alma2 and Amulek; they spoke with plainness so
their words were understood; again they complain they have “reviled against law
and judges; they sought to “put them away.”
o
1 – After speaking, many believed
their words; they began to repent and search scriptures.
o
2 – Most were angry and wanted to
destroy Alma2 and Amulek; angry with Alma2 because of the
“plainness of his words;” claimed Amulek had lied; once again we see the tired
old complaint they reviled against their law, lawyers, and judges.
o
3 – Angry Alma2 and
Amulek because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness; they
wanted to “put them away privily.”
·
Richard Rust sums up what happened.
o
“Alma
steps forth and speaks to Zeezrom, his first audience, in words that are ‘heard by the
people round about; for the multitude was great’ (Alma 12:2).Two groups emerge
in this multitude. The first group, after Alma's sermon, ‘did believe on his
words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures’ (Alma
14:1). The
‘more part of them,’ however, ‘were desirous that they might destroy Alma and
Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the plainness of
his words unto Zeezrom’ (Alma 14:2). A fourth audience—whom we can imagine standing
at the head of the group of people who desire to destroy Alma and Amulek—is
Antionah, ‘a chief ruler among them’ (Alma 12:20).”[10]
·
4-5 – Bound and taken before chief
judge; people witness against them; charges listed.
o
4 – People decided not to put them
away; bound them and took them before chief judge.
o
5 – People witnessed against them
and listed charges:
§
They had disparaged their law.
§
They had disparaged their judges and lawyers.
§
They had disparaged all the people in the land.
(Nothing like leaving no stone unturned!)
§
They testified there was only one God.
§
They testified he would send his Son among the
people.
§
God’s Son would not save the people.
·
6-7 – Zeezrom astonished by what was
taught; knew words were lies; cried to people saying he was guilty; plead for Alma2
and Amulek; reviled by the people.
o
6 – Zeezrom believed words taught;
knew he was responsible for lies and “blindness of minds;” he became aware of
his guilt; he was encircled by the “pains of hell.”
§
“Pains of hell” is a powerful phrase.
§
Discussing the beauty of this phrase, Cynthia
Hallen wrote:
·
“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).”[11]
§
John Tvedtnes wrote about Alma2 and
the pains of hell.
·
“In later
years, he
told his son Helaman how he had been ‘racked with eternal torment, for [his]
soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all [his] sins. Yea,
[he] did remember all [his] sins and iniquities, for which [he] was tormented
with the pains of hell’ (Alma 36:12–13). Alma dwelt on the ‘inexpressible horror’ that
did rack [his] soul’ (Alma 36:14; see also Alma 36:16). As he was ‘racked
with torment’ and ‘harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins, he remembered
his father's teachings of Christ, who would come ‘to atone for the sins of the
world’ (Alma 36:17).”[12]
·
7 – Cried to people; confessed his
guilt; said Alma2 and Amulek were “spotless” before God; plead for
them; people turned on one of their, now former, favorites; claimed Zeezrom was
possessed of the devil; spit on him; cast him out; also cast out those who
believe Alma2 and Amulek; sent people to cast stones at them.
o
Reminiscent of the woman caught in adultery.
§
So when they continued asking him, he lifted
up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And
they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by
one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and
Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
John 8:7-9 (Emphasis
mine)
§
We now read about one of the most horrific and
evil actions in the Book of Mormon.
·
8-9 – The wives, children, and those
who believed were brought together and cast into fire; records containing the
holy scriptures; Alma2 and Amulek were also brought to the fire to witness what
is occurring.
o
(Personal comments) What is it about the wicked
that causes them to perform such evil and horrendous deeds? Here we
see innocent women and children die a painful death because of their
beliefs. They’ve broken no laws. They’ve done nothing
wrong. They just have the audacity to believe things that other
don’t. Yet, the wicked kill them. Why does the Lord allow this?
·
10 – Amulek wanted to exercise their
priesthood powers and put an end to it (I would have been fully with Amulek!).
·
11 – Alma2 told them they
could do nothing; “[t]he Spirit constraineth me;” the Lord receives “them up
unto himself in glory.” (I can’t help but think this had to be one of the
hardest things Alma2 ever did, standing there and doing nothing even
though he knew it was the will of the Lord.)
o
(Personal comments)They have their free
agency. They can choose wicked and appalling acts like
this. The day will come when their victims will stand as a witness
against them. They must stand before God and answer for their
actions. When that day comes, they will be cast off and condemned to
be “encircled with the pains of hell.” (verse 6) Justice will eventually
be done.
o
Hugh Nibley commented:
§
“Alma and Amulek
had witnessed that [burning of heretics], that horrible thing which I assure
you is quite routine in religious history. Irony, isn't it? They are all
religious, these [burning of heretics]—the burning of women and children and
books in big piles. It has happened not once but hundreds of times...
§
“The hardest test
of all is holding back. It's not blowing up or doing violence. This is the test
to which they are being subjected now in any action... Alma is
being tested here to the breaking point…” [13]
o
Thomas Valletta points out the consequences of
this criminal act.
§
“Prior to
the final Lamanite invasion that completely destroyed the city, the wicked had
turned against even their own blood by ‘cast[ing] into the fire" their
innocent wives and children who had "believed or had been taught to
believe in the word of God’ (Alma 14:8). The consequences
of following the order of Nehor were that ‘every living soul of the
Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, which they
said God could not destroy, because of its greatness’ (Alma 16:9).”[14]
·
12-13 – Amulek asks if they will be
burned also; Alma2 responds if it be the will of the Lord, but our
work is not done, we will not be burned.
o
Alma2 seems very calm at this
moment. I believe the Spirit was with
him so strongly that he was able to deal with this calmly, regardless of his
feelings.
§
14-15 – The fires had barely gone
out and Alma2 and Amulek are brought before the chief judge; he
smote on the face and asks a series of questions:
o
Are you still going to preach to this people
after you’ve seen what we’ve done and we will do again?
o
Neither you nor God has the power to save just
because they were of your faith.
o
What do you have to say in your
defense?
§
16-17 – The judge was “after the
order and faith of Nehor; Alma2 and Amulek show their contempt for
the judge in the best way possible – quite contempt; they refuse to responds;
they are cast into prison.
o
Hugh Nibley observes:
§
“The judge
said, ‘Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast
into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy
faith.’ You
saw what happened, etc. This judge was after the manner of Nehor. Notice, the
[order of] Nehors is a permanent establishment which begins way back in the
first chapter of Alma…
“This is religious persecution by the
establishment. The burning was [a sentence to death by fire]. But
they answered nothing, and that's infuriating …Remember, they mocked Jesus for a long time. The
New Testament tells us that they made mockery of him and the gospel…”[15]
§
18 – After three days in prison,
lawyers, judges, priests, and teachers came and questioned Alma2 and
Amulek; they maintained a contemptuous silence.
§
19 – Judge threatens Alma2
and Amulek; says he has power to burn them; commands them to speak; Alma2
and Amulek reuse.
§
20 – People leave and return the
next day; they attempted to humiliate them by hitting them in the face;
challenged their right to judge the people; if they are so powerful, why can’t
they free themselves.
§
21 – They were very angry that they
could not get them to talk (gnashing their teeth); they spat on them; they
mocked them (How shall we look when we are doomed?).
§
22 – They did this to Alma2
and Amulek for many days; they withheld food and water; they left them naked in
their cell; they bound them with strong cords.
o
People also mocked and abused Christ.
§
28 And they stripped him, and put
on him a scarlet robe.
29 ¶ And when they
had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a breed
in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying,
Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon
him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that
they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment
on him, and led him away to crucify him.
37 And set up over
his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there
two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 ¶ And they that
passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou
that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the
cross.
41 Likewise also the
chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others;
himself he cannot save. If he be the
King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will
have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matthew
27:28-31; 37-43
o
Daniel C. Peterson once commented on the tone
found in a message board with comments written by those who oppose the
Church. He likened them to those who were persecuting Alma2
and Amulek.
§
“Contemplating
a depressing number of the posters on that board, I have thought to myself, ‘If
this is what liberation from the Mormon “myth” makes you—a vulgar and sometimes
duplicitous crank, cackling with malice and spite—then I would prefer to spend
the few brief years left to me (before I dissolve into the irreversible and
never-ending oblivion many of the board's atheistic contributors prophesy for
me and all humankind) with people who have not been liberated.’ I think of the
apostates of Ammonihah, mocking Alma and Amulek in prison, ‘gnashing their
teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we
are damned?’ (Alma 14:21). Surely the damned will not look much different
from this.” [16]
·
23 – After many days, the usual suspects
returned to the prison.
·
24 – Chief judge smote them again;
chief judge demands a sign – deliver yourself from prison and we will believe
(uh, oh, be careful what you wish for…)
o
Christ taught us about those who seek signs.
§
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, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
§
40 For as Jonas was three
days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 12:38-40
o
Hugh Nibley comments:
§
“Well, here's the old chestnut [in verse 24]:
‘If ye have the power of God deliver yourselves from these bands.’ They
asked Jesus to bring himself down from the cross if he could. And, of course,
they asked for a sign. They all went forth and smote them again, and this
routine went on until Alma and Amulek had had about enough.”[17]
·
26 – Alma2 cries to Lord;
asks for strength (“according to our faith which is in Christ”) to be
delivered; broke cord; people fled fearing their destruction.
·
27 – Before they reached the outer
door, they fell to earth; earth began to shake; the walls of the prison
collapsed; and those who asked for a sign got their sign (chief judge, lawyers,
priests, and teachers died when the walls collapsed).
·
28 - Alma2 and Amulek
walked out of rubble, safe; Lord granted their request according to their
faith; everyone else in the prison died.
·
29 – Multitudes cam to see what
happened; saw Alma2 and Amulek walked out of ruble, safe; people
struck with fear and fled.
o
Hugh Nibley describes these events.
§
“They
broke the bonds, which they could not have done by their own strength. When the
people saw that they were terrified and tried to put as much distance as they
could between them and Alma and Amulek. So what did they do? They all made for the
gate. There was a rush and there was a earthquake. You notice that
miracles are in the timing, not in the event. This was earthquake country. It's
not surprising that there was a earthquake, but just at that moment was when it
was helpful. They all made a rush for the gate, so naturally they
crowded the exit. They jammed the exit, nobody could get out, the gate collapsed, and
they were all killed there. The only safe people were Alma and
Amulek who stayed behind. [The people] tried to get as far from them as they
could.”[18]
Chapter 15
Alma and Amulek go to Sidom and establish a church—Alma
heals Zeezrom, who joins the Church—Many are baptized and the Church
prospers—Alma and Amulek go to Zarahemla. About 81 B.C.
Review of Scriptures in Chapter 15
·
1 - Alma2 and Amulek
commanded to leave; they come to the land of Sidom; find those who had been
cast out because they believed Alma2 and Amulek.
·
2 – They related all that had
happened since they were cast out.
·
3 - Alma2 and Amulek find
Zeezrom ill with a burning fever; illness caused by his wickedness and
assumption Alma2 and Amulek were dead; they were slain because of
his wickedness; he feared he had no chance for deliverance.
·
4 – Zeezrom heard Alma2
and Amulek were in Sidom; he sent a message asking them to come to him.
o
Hugh Nibley remarked:
§
“Well,
Zeezrom was there in Sidom; it was a safe place for these people. Sidom was a
tolerant city, apparently. Zeezrom was there sick of a burning
fever. He
was obsessed with guilt, which drove him out of his mind. His fever was
actually an escape because he wanted to die. Verse 3: ‘And this great
sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become
exceedingly sore, having no deliverance [he couldn't stand it]; therefore he
began to be scorched with a burning heat.’ The fever was part of his sickness which he
brought upon himself … ‘And his mind also was exceedingly sore because
of his iniquities.’ See, he was out of his mind. He was having terrible mental anguish
because of the things he had done. This was the cause of his sickness; this
will bring it on every time.”[19]
·
5 - Alma2 and Amulek
quickly went Zeezrom; they found him ill and mind sore because of his sins; he
asked Alma2 and Amulek to heal him.
·
6-9 - Alma2 doesn’t
immediately heal him; he asks do you believe in the power of Christ unto
salvation?; he responds that he believes all the words he was taught; Alma2
responds if he believes in Christ’s redemption, he can be healed; Zeezrom
responds he believes all his words.
·
10-11 - Alma2 cries unto
the Lord, asking him to heal Zeezrom according to his faith; Zeezrom immediately
jumps out of bed and walks; the people were astonished and the story spread
throughout the land.
o
Notice, before Zeezrom is healed, he has to
affirm his faith. Once he does, he is
healed through his faith in Alma2 and Christ.
o
Hugh Nibley observes:
§
“[Zeezrom]
is sick to the point of death and destruction, but salvation is to be saved from any dire
condition you are in. From any desperate end to which you might come the power
of Christ will save you. Here he is right in the depths, and [Alma]
is saying, do you believe in the power of Christ to save you? ‘And he answered
and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught. ‘This means if you
believe it, you can come back, they say. Verse 8: ‘And Alma said:
If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.’ Redemption means ‘to buy back, to let
you in again, to take you back home again; like the prodigal son. He [the Savior]
will do it as long as you repent. As long as you are here, you can do it. It's
redemption, he says, according to the faith. Is faith the power
that does that, or is it Jesus Christ or what? Well, faith is the power
that plugs us in; it's not the power [that heals]. It plugs us into the
circuit, so to speak. The power is always there; we are surrounded by an enormous
amount of power all the time. By applying faith we make it accessible to us; we
make it useful for us. We are able to plug in, to use a vulgar expression, but
that's the sort of thing you do. You open your mind to faith, and then you are able
to do it, remembering this.”[20]
·
12
- Alma2 baptizes Zeezrom; he preaches the gospel to the
people.
·
13-14 - Alma2 establishes
church in the land of Sidon; he consecrated priests and teachers; they received
authority to baptize; they baptized many; people came from all around to be
baptized.
·
15 – In spite of all that happened
in Ammonihah; they remained a hard-hearted and stiffnecked people; they did not
repent; they attributed the power of Alma2 and Amulek to the devil;
they refused to believe in repentance.
o
Christ was also accused of doing his miracles
through the power of the devil.
§
Then was brought unto him one possessed
with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and
dumb both spake and saw.
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by
Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house
divided against itself shall not stand:
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then
his kingdom stand?
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children
cast them out?
therefore they shall be your judges.
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is
come unto you.
Matthew
12:22-28
·
16 – Amulek gave up all he had
(gold, silver, precious things) and was rejected by his former friends, father,
and his kindred (he lost everything when he chose to serve the Lord).
o
Christ told us:
§
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
·
17 - Alma2 established
the church at Sidom; people were beginning to humble themselves; they assembled
together to worship God; they watched and prayed continually they might be
delivered from Satan, death, and destruction.
·
18 - Alma2 and Amulek
return to land of Zarahemla; they go to Alma2’s home; Alma2
administers to Amulek in his time of tribulation.
Chapter 16
The Lamanites destroy the people of Ammonihah—Zoram leads
the Nephites to victory over the Lamanites—Alma and Amulek and many others
preach the word—They teach that after his resurrection Christ will appear to the
Nephites. About 81–77 B.C.
Review of Scriptures in Chapter 16
·
1-3 – Along peace as broken by the
cry of war heard throughout the land; Lamanite armies attacked Ammonihah; some
were carried away into the wilderness.
·
4-5 – Nephites wanted to free the captives;
Zoram, the chief captain, went to inquire of Alma2 what the Lord
wanted them to do.
o
Here we see a common practice where religion and
war are connected.
o
William Hamblin writes:
§
“Religion and
warfare were closely connected in the Book of Mormon. Certain elements of the
Israelite patterns of ‘holy war’ were continued in the Book of Mormon, such
as the important ancient idea that success in war was due fundamentally to the
will of God and the righteousness of the people (Alma 2:28; 44:4—5; 50:21; 56:47;
57:36; 58:33; Morm. 2:26). Nephite armies consulted prophets before going to
battle (Alma 16:5; 43:23—24; 3 Ne. 3:19) and entered into
covenants with God before battle.”[21]
·
6 - Alma2 inquired of the
Lord; he was told the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in south wilderness;
this is where the army should meet the Lamanites to deliver the captives.
·
7-8 – Zoram marched the army to
where the Lord told Alma2 they would find the Lamanite armies; the
battle began and Zoram’s army scattered the Lamanites into the wilderness; they
also were able to free the captives; not one captive was lost.
·
9-10 – The Lamanites had destroyed
the people of Ammonihah; every living thing was destroyed; the city that could
not be destroyed in a day was; it was left desolate; dogs and wild beasts
“mangled” the carcasses of the dead.
o
John Welch explains that the destruction of
Ammonihah falls with the bounds of divine laws.
§
“When the
justice of God destroyed that city, Alma effectively showed in the record that
this fate befell them in accordance with divine law … The law
demanded that the city should be destroyed completely by fire, ‘and it shall be
a heap for ever.’ Alma records, ‘Every living soul of the Ammonihahites was
destroyed, and also their great city, . . . [and] their dead bodies were heaped
up upon the face of the earth’ (Alma 16:9-11). Alma does not say how Ammonihah
was destroyed, but that fire was involved
would have been normal.”[22]
·
11 – Eventually, the bodies were
brought together and covered with a shallow covering; the stench was so
overpowering people did not posses Ammonihah for many years; called the
Desolation of the Nehors.
·
12 – There was peace for a period of
three years.
·
13-14 - Alma2 and Amulek
went out preaching repentance to the people; they preached to any and all who
would listen.
·
15 - Alma2 and Amulek and
others who had been chosen preached throughout all the land; the church was
established throughout the land, among all the Nephites.
·
16-17 – There was not inequality
among the Nephites; the Lord’s Spirit was poured out on all the land to prepare
the people for the coming of the Lord; this was so they would receive the word
with joy; if they did they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
o
Hugh Nibley observes:
§
“Alma and
Amulek went forth, and also many more went forth to preach. So they started a
motion going. In verse 15 many went forth to preach after their example. So
they established the church throughout all the land, and it ‘became general
throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the
Nephites [this is wonderful; this movement spread] And there was no inequality
among [all the people].’ Whoever thought it would end up that way? But there
was still preparation, and we are still being prepared. ‘The Lord
did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the
children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be
taught among them at the time of his coming.’ That was to be seventy-eight
years later. (We
are still being prepared; we haven't gone all the way.)…”[23]
·
18 – Priests taught people against:
o
Lyings
o
Deceiving
o
Envying
o
Strifes
o
Malice
o
Reviling
o
Stealing
o
Robbing
o
Plundering
o
Murdering
o
Committing adultery
o
All manner of lasciviousness
·
19 – They taught that shortly, the
Son of God would come; He would suffer and die; He would be resurrected from
the dead.
·
20 – People asked where the Son of
God would come; they were taught He would visit them after his resurrection;
this brought joy to the people.
o
Richard Dilworth Rust wrote:
§
“Righteous Nephite
people anticipated two great events: the mortal birth and ministry of Jesus and
his promised visit to the Nephites after his resurrection. Just as
Nephite Saints knew the approximate time of Jesus's birth (e.g., through
prophecies by Lehi and Samuel the Lamanite), so they knew in advance when and where the
resurrected Savior would visit them in the New World. Those who gathered at the
temple in Bountiful had long anticipated and prepared for their experience, having
been taught that Jesus ‘would appear unto them after his resurrection’ (Alma
16:20). One can imagine a continuing heritage of anticipation among the
faithful. For instance, Mormon connects some righteous members of the church described in Alma
16 with persons 112 years later who continued their ancestors' belief system
and were carefully prepared in advance to be at the Bountiful Temple and meet
the Savior when he came.”[24]
o
Matthew Roper commented:
§
“Alma wants to
prepare the people in his land, so that they will prepare their children for
Christ's coming among them. So Alma appears to know that Christ will not come
in his lifetime, but in the lifetime of at least some of the rising generation, information
which, it is reasonable to assume, he learned from the records in his
possession. So when Mormon states a few years earlier, ‘And many of the people
did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they
were taught [why not by Alma who would already have known from the scriptures
in his possession?] that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and
this the people did hear with joy and gladness’ (Alma 16:20).”[25]
·
21 – When the church had been
established throughout the land; the pure word of God was preached; the Lord poured blessings on the people; they were
able to gain victory over the devil.
o
Richard Dilworth Rust writes about the victory
over the devil as the church grew.
§
“… in Alma 16 the Nephites win a physical
victory over the desolating Lamanites who have made incursions into the land of
the Nephites. But there is another battle as well—the battle of righteousness. First,
the wicked people of Ammonihah, who had imprisoned Alma and Amulek and burned
the wives and children of their followers, are destroyed at the hands of the
Lamanites; second, Alma and Amulek go forth to preach the word throughout all the land
and get ‘the victory over the devil’‘ (Alma 16:21).”[26]
[1] From
a Convert's Viewpoint, Alison V.P. Coutts, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
, accessed October 31, 2011.
[2] Alma the
Younger, Part 1, M. Catherine Thomas, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 1, 2011.
[3] Conflicting
Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah, Thomas R. Valletta, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed November 2, 2011.
[4] Lecture
49: Alma 12-14, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 2, 2011
[5] The
Book of Mormon and the Problem of the Pentateuch, Sidney B. Sperry, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 2, 2011.
[6] Lecture
49: Alma 12-14, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 3, 2011.
[7] A
More Perfect Priority? Matthew Roper, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 3, 2011.
[8] Alma the
Younger, Part 2, M. Catherine Thomas, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 3, 2011.
[10] "Know
the Covenants of the Lord" – Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 4, 2011.
[11] Beauty
on the Mountains: Inspiration from the Book of Mormon for LDS Writers,
Cynthia L. Hallen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 4, 2011.
[12] The
Voice of an Angel, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 4, 2011.
[13] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 5, 2011.
[14] Conflicting
Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah, Thomas R. Valletta, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed November 5, 2011.
[15] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 5, 2011.
[16] Reflections
on Secular Anti-Mormonism, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed November 6, 2011.
[17] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 6, 2011.
[18] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 7, 2011.
[19] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 7, 2011.
[20] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 7, 2011.
[21] Warfare
in the Book of Mormon, William J. Hamblin, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 9, 2011.
[22] The
Destruction of Ammonihah and the Law of Apostate Cities, John W. Welch,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 10, 2011.
[23] Lecture
50: Alma 14-17, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 10, 2011.
[24] Letters
(Richard Dilworth Rust), Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration
Scripture: Volume - 20, Issue - 1, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
November 11, 2011.
[25] A
More Perfect Priority? Matthew Roper, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed November 11, 2011.
[26] "Great
Things the Lord Hath Done" - Epic Elements, Richard Dilworth Rust,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 11, 2011.
