Alma 7:10-13

As Alma(2) continues preaching Christ, he says the following in verse 10:

10  And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

Alma 7:10 (Emphasis mine)

This verse is used by opponents of the Church and the Book of Mormon to show it can’t be true.  Christ was not born in Jerusalem, they tell us.  He was born in Bethlehem.   Joseph Smith got it wrong.  This shows he wrote the Book of Mormon.

Are they correct?

As I discuss this issue, I am going to use information from an article found at the Maxwell Institute (accessed August 28, 2011), On Alma 7:10 and the Birthplace of Jesus Christ by Daniel C. Peterson. (Emphasis in article mine)

“One of the most popular anti-Mormon claims is that the Book of Mormon gives the wrong location for the birth of Jesus Christ. ‘The Book of Mormon teaches that Jesus Christ was born at Jerusalem (Alma 7:10),’ says one representative anti-Mormon volume. ‘Of course, the Bible teaches He was born at Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1).’ However, since Bethlehem is five or six miles from Jerusalem, and is a distinct town, the critics claim that "Alma 7:10 is clearly a false prophecy.’

“…no Latter-day Saint has ever interpreted the Book of Mormon as claiming that Jesus was born in Jerusalem rather than in Bethlehem. Alma 7:10 does not even mention the city of Jerusalem. Rather, the text reads: ‘And behold, he [Jesus] shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers.’ (emphasis in original)  The Jerusalem at which Jesus was to be born is thus quite clearly called a land, not a city.

“From across the ocean, the distance between Jerusalem and Bethlehem would hardly have seemed significant to a Nephite. We routinely speak, in the United States, of people who live in ‘the Chicago area’ or in ‘the vicinity of Boston.’  When in the Middle East or Europe (or often even in Utah), one of the authors routinely answers ‘Los Angeles’ when asked where he is originally from, although that answer is literally untrue, and the more accurate reply would be ‘Pasadena’ (birthplace), or ‘San Gabriel’ (residence through high school), or even ‘Whittier’ (residence of his parents since the mid-1970s).”

(Personal note.  When I was in the Air Force, my hometown was Sandy, Utah.  When people would ask me where I’m from, at first I responded “Sandy, Utah.”  The next question was, “Where is that?”  “A suburb of Salt Lake.”  Then people understood where I was from.  I eventually stopped saying “Sandy” and began saying “Salt Lake.”  As with Dr. Peterson, that wasn’t accurate; however, people have an idea where Salt Lake was located.  Back to Dr. Peterson.)

“Furthermore, to suggest that Joseph Smith knew the precise location of Jesus' baptism by John (‘in Bethabara, beyond Jordan,’ 1 Nephi 10:9; cf. John 1:28), but hadn't a clue about the famous town of Christ's birth, is inconsistent.  It is highly improbable that the Book of Mormon's author or authors missed one of the most obvious facts about the most popular story in the Bible—something known to every child and to every singer of Christmas carols?

“It must not be forgotten, in the consideration of this issue, that Alma was writing some time in the first century B.C. In other words, more than five centuries separated him and his people and their habits of speech from their ancestral homeland and its characteristic expressions. This is plenty of time for linguistic change to accumulate, as anyone can testify who has tried to read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the original Middle English.”

The quotes I’ve included are a simple overview of Dr. Peterson’s article.  It’s worth reading the entire article.

This also brings up a point about how opponents of the Church work.  They take an issue like this and make a “simple” statement – “The Book of Mormon says Christ will be born in Jerusalem.”  

As you can see, the response and explanation is more involved and much longer.  Sadly, it’s easy to make simplistic and short attacks.  It frequently is more involved to respond to that simplistic statement.

Back to Alma(2)’s sermon.

11  And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12  And he will take upon him death,

        that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people;

    and he will take upon him their infirmities,

        that his bowels may be filled with mercy,

            according to the flesh,

        that he may know according to the flesh

            how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13  Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Alma 7:11-13 (Emphasis mine)

(Formatting in verse 12 from The Book of Mormon – A Reader’s Edition, by Grant Hardy, pg. 269.)

Alma(2) explains what Christ will suffer.  After saying he would suffer pain, affliction, and temptation, he explains that this is to fulfill words of Isaiah.

3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4  ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5  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 53:3-5 (Emphasis mine)

He continues explaining that He will die to defeat death; He will take upon Him the sins of the people, and our transgressions will be blotted out.  Alma(2) then states that this is his testimony.

17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 2:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:14-15 (Emphasis mine)

35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 6:35-38 (Emphasis mine)

1  THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 8:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

And here ends Alma(2)’s testimony of Christ.

Alma 7:1-9

Mormon now ends his abridgement of the record to give us the text of a sermon given by Alma(2).  As I mentioned in a post about Alma 5, Mormon apparently felt that it was more important for us to have the actual text of this sermon rather than an abridgement of the record.  Let’s review this sermon and see why Mormon felt that it was important for us to have the actual text.

The words of Alma which he delivered to the people in Gideon, according to his own record.  Comprising chapter 7.

Chapter 7

Christ shall be born of Mary—He shall loose the bands of death and bear the sins of his people—Those who repent, are baptized, and keep the commandments shall have eternal life—Filthiness cannot inherit the kingdom of God—Humility, faith, hope, and charity are required. About 83 B.C.

1  BEHOLD my beloved brethren, seeing that I have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in my language; yea, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been wholly confined to the judgment–seat, having had much business that I could not come unto you.

2  And even I could not have come now at this time were it not that the judgment–seat hath been given to another, to reign in my stead; and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should come unto you.

3  And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire

    that I should

        find that ye had humbled yourselves before God,

        and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace,

    that I should find

        that ye were blameless before him,

    that I should find

        that ye were not in the awful dilemma

        that our brethren were in at Zarahemla.

Alma 7:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

(Verse 3 follows formatting from The Book of Mormon – A Reader’s Edition by Grant Hardy, pgs. 267-268)

Alma(2), having resigned the judgment-seat, is now free to travel around the church and personally see what is happening.  He comes to Gideon in hopes that they are more faithful and righteous than those church members in Zarahemla.

Alma(2) hoped the people had “… continued in the supplicating of his grace …”  What does he mean by this?

John Gee wrote that “[i]n the record of Alma the Younger, Jesus Christ is said to be ‘full of grace, and mercy, and truth’ (Alma 5:48) or ‘full of grace, equity, and truth’ (Alma 9:26; 13:9). Only once does Alma address the question of how people obtain grace. Alma tells the people that they must continue ‘in the supplicating of his grace’ (Alma 7:3), meaning that people had to ask for it.” (Emphasis mine)

4  But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness.

5  And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.

6  But behold,

    I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren;

    I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts;

    yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of

                                 the world;

    yea, I trust that you do not worship idols,

        but that ye do worship the true and the living God,

    and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins,

       

    with an everlasting faith, which is to come.

Alma 7:4-6 (Emphasis mine)

(Verse 6 follows formatting from The Book of Mormon – A Reader’s Edition by Grant Hardy, pg. 268)

Verses 1-6 compose the introductory part of Alma(2)’s sermon.  He then moves on to his message.

7  For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.

8  Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case.  Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.

9  But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—

    Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord,

        and walk in his paths, which are straight;

    for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand,

        and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.

Alma 7:7-9 (Emphasis mine)

(Verse 9 follows formatting from The Book of Mormon – A Reader’s Edition by Grant Hardy, pg. 268)

Alma(2) begins to talk about the coming of Christ.  This is going to happen in the not so distant future (around 80 years from now).  He will not come to dwell among the Nephites during his ministry.  Nevertheless, he was commanded to cry to the people to prepare for the day when the Son of God will come.

I want to stop here for this post.  Verse 10 needs to be discussed in detail, and I don’t want this post any longer than necessary. 

So, we’ll pick up with verse 10 in the next post.

Alma 6

After Alma(2) finished preaching (Chapter 5), he ordained elders and priests to help with the ministry (Alma 6:1).  The work went forth.  Those that repented and were baptized became a part of the church.  Those that refused had their names removed (blotted out) and were no longer a part of the church.  (Alma 6:2-3). 

Mormon breaks into his account and offers a brief explanation.  In verse 5, he wrote:

Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God.

Mormon tells us that all had the opportunity to hear the word and that freedom to assemble and hear the word of God is available to all.

The people met often and fasted and prayed for those who rejected the word of the Lord (verse 6).  The Lord offered many opportunities for the wicked to repent; they could never claim that they didn’t have real opportunities to repent.

Fasting is an important part of gaining the spirit.  There are a number of scriptures that point this out.

10  Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11  All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12  And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Esther 4:10-16 (Emphasis mine)

13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Psalms 35:13 (Emphasis mine)

18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

 Daniel 6:18–23 (Emphasis mine)

12  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Joel 2:12 (Emphasis mine)

1  THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3  And [then] the tempter came to him …

Matthew 4:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

14  And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  how long shall I suffer you?  bring him hither to me.

18  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith … nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:14-21 (Emphasis mine)

30  And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31  And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:30-31 (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2004 General Conference, Elder Carl B. Pratt discussed the importance of fasting.

“Brethren, I hope you noticed this morning, as President Hinckley prepared to announce the names of two new Apostles, he spoke of fasting and praying to know the Lord’s will.

“Fasting has always been a practice among God’s people. In our day it is a commandment given by the Lord to all members of the Church. In addition to occasional special fasts that we might have for personal or family reasons, we are expected to fast once a month on the first Sunday …

“I fear, brethren, that too many of us are either not fasting on fast day or we are doing so in a lackadaisical manner. If we are guilty of taking our fast day for granted … we are depriving ourselves and our families of the choice spiritual experiences and blessings that can come from a true fast.

“Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined with prayer … Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours. But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.” (Emphasis mine)

After Alma(2) took care of things in Zarahemla, he departed for Gideon to preach to the church there.  In the next post, we’ll review his teachings.