Alma 27:1-14

Chapter 27

The Lord commands Ammon to lead the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi to safety—Upon meeting Alma, Ammon's joy exhausts his strength—The Nephites give them the land of Jershon—They are called the people of Ammon. About 90–77 B.C.

1 NOW it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi.

2 And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry.  And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to ^astir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them.

3 Now this people again refused to take their arms, and they suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of their enemies.

4 Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them—for they were treated as though they were angels sent from God to save them from everlasting destruction—therefore, when Ammon and his brethren saw this great work of destruction, they were moved with compassion, and they said unto the king:

5 Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites, and flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not destroyed.

6 But the king said unto them: Behold, the Nephites will destroy us, because of the many murders and sins we have committed against them.

7 And Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord, and if he say unto us, go down unto our brethren, will ye go?

8 And the king said unto him: Yea, if the Lord saith unto us go, we will go down unto our brethren, and we will be their slaves until we repair unto them the many murders and sins which we have committed against them.

9 But Ammon said unto him: It is against the law of our brethren, which was established by my father, that there should be any slaves among them; therefore let us go down and rely upon the mercies of our brethren.

10 But the king said unto him: Inquire of the Lord, and if he saith unto us go, we will go; otherwise we will perish in the land.

11 And it came to pass that Ammon went and inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said unto him:

12 Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this people in this generation, for I will preserve them.

13 And now it came to pass that Ammon went and told the king all the words which the Lord had said unto him.

14 And they gathered together all their people, yea, all the people of the Lord, and did gather together all their flocks and herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the wilderness which divided the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla, and came over near the borders of the land.

Alma 27:1-14

The Lamanites, having failed in their attempts to defeat the Nephites returned to the land of Nephi.^[1]   

The Amalakites were very angry at their defeat.  The wicked Amalakites stirred up the people to anger and directed it towards the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.^[2] An army was assembled and they attacked the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.  They refused to take up arms in their defense.  It was nothing less than a slaughter of innocent men, women, and children.^[3]

Ammon and his brethren saw the slaughter and realized there was a serious problem.  If nothing changed, it wouldn’t be long before they would all be dead.  Ammon went to the king and discussed this problem.  His recommendation was they go to the land of Zarahemla.

The king was hesitant.  Remembering all the violence committed against the Nephites, he was concerned with their safety.  He feared they would be destroyed because of their murders. Ammon told the king he would inquire of the Lord.  Should the Lord say “go,” would they agree to go?

The king, having great faith, told Ammon if the Lord told him to take his people to the land of Zarahemla, they would go.  But, he placed a condition on it.  They would become slaves to the people as penance for all the murders and sins committed against the Nephites.

Ammon told him that was not possible.  His father’s laws prohibited slavery.  He told them they would go and “rely upon the mercies of our brethren” (Alma 27:10).  Ammon went and inquired of the Lord.

Ammon set the example we should follow.  We need to inquire of the Lord as we face decisions and choices in our lives.  The Lord will hear and answer our prayers.  He is just waiting for us to ask with faith. “It is the privilege and the right of every member of the Church to receive revelation and to enjoy the gifts of the Spirit. When we are confirmed members of the Church, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead, based on faithfulness. The actual enjoyment of this gift depends upon personal worthiness.”^[4]

The word of the Lord came to Ammon.  The people must leave the land.  Satan has a hold of the Amalekites.  They will do all they can to destroy the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  The only way they can be preserved is to leave the land.  Ammon returned to the king and shared the words of the Lord with him.

The people gathered their flocks, herds, and possession and left the land of Nephi and went to the land of Zarahemla.

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[1] “And behold, now it came to pass that those Lamanites were more angry because they had slain their brethren; therefore they swore vengeance upon the Nephites; and they did no more attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time. But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them. And after that, they had many battles with the Nephites, in the which they were driven and slain”

(Alma 25:1-3).

[2] It is not unusual to see the wicked stir up anger towards the righteous.  “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts” (Acts 13:50).

[3][3] “Yea, and [the Nephites] also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon—and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a covenant and they would not break it—therefore, if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.  And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance” (Alma 43:11-12).

[4] The Lord’s People Receive Revelation, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, April 1971 General Conference, accessed June 24, 2015.

Alma 25:1-17

Chapter 25

Lamanite aggressions spread—The seed of the priests of Noah perish as Abinadi prophesied—Many Lamanites are converted and join the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi—They believe in Christ and keep the law of Moses. About 90–77 B.C.

1 AND behold, now it came to pass that those Lamanites were more angry because they had slain their brethren; therefore they swore vengeance upon the Nephites; and they did no more attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time.

2 But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them.

3 And after that, they had many battles with the Nephites, in the which they were driven and slain.

4 And among the Lamanites who were slain were almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren, who were the priests of Noah, and they were slain by the hands of the Nephites;

5 And the remainder, having fled into the east wilderness, and having usurped the power and authority over the Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire because of their belief—

6 For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.

7 And it came to pass that those rulers who were the remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to death, yea, all those that believed in these things.

8 Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in the wilderness; and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the east wilderness.

9 And behold they are hunted at this day by the Lamanites.  Thus the words of Abinadi were brought to pass, which he said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should suffer death by fire.

10 For he said unto them: What ye shall do unto me shall be a type of things to come.

11 And now Abinadi was the first that suffered death by fire because of his belief in God; now this is what he meant, that many should suffer death by fire, according as he had suffered.

12 And he said unto the priests of Noah that their seed should cause many to be put to death, in the like manner as he was, and that they should be scattered abroad and slain, even as a sheep having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts; and now behold, these words were verified, for they were driven by the Lamanites, and they were hunted, and they were smitten.

13 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that they could not overpower the Nephites they returned again to their own land; and many of them came over to dwell in the land of Ishmael and the land of Nephi, and did join themselves to the people of God, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.

14 And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments and his statutes.

15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled.  But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.

16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come.

17 And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular.

Alma 25:1-17

The Lamanites have ceased killing the Ammonites.^[1]  They became angry they had killed their own people, so they swore vengeance upon the Nephites.  They took the armies into the land of Zarahemla.  They attacked the city of Ammonihah.^[2]   They destroyed the city in short order.^[3]

They continued fighting the Nephites.  They had little success, being driven and slain by the Nephites armies.  Among the dead were most of the seed of the wicked priests of Noah.^[4]  They fled into the east wilderness.  The remainder of the descendants of the priests were put to death by fire, fulfilling the words of Abinadi.^[5]

The Lamanites suffered severe losses and afflictions during the war.  Many started to remember the teachings of Aaron and his brethren.[6]  They questioned and no longer accepted the traditions of their fathers.[7]  They turned to the Lord and were converted in the wilderness.

“So Lamanite aggression was not only longstanding, but it also occurred simultaneously with the missionary efforts of the sons of Mosiah. That those who later became converted were integrally involved in these attacks is certain (see again Alma 25:6 for an explicit mention of this), especially in light of the preeminent position that king Lamoni’s father held among the Lamanites during at least part of the time that the Lamanites were launching these wars.”^[8]

Among the survivors were the rulers of the Lamanites.^[9]  They were descended from the Noah’s wicked priests.  Hating the believer, they caused them to be executed.  Those who were martyred would receive great joy with their (and our) Savior. “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it”

(Matthew 10:39).^[10] “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).^[11]

The martyrdom of the believers angered many of the Lamanites.  They began to hunt those who were descendants of the wicked priests.  As they found them, they executed them.  The survivors fled east into wilderness.

Mormon breaks into the narration to tell us that, half a millennia later, the descendants of the wicked priests were still being hunted.  When found, they were executed by burning at the stake.  This fulfilled Abinadi’s words, “But this much I tell you, what you do with me, after this, shall be as a type and a shadow of things which are to come” (Mosiah 13:10).  Abinadi prophesied the descendants of the priests would have many put to death by fire.  They would be scattered “even as a sheep having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts” (Alma 25:12). 

The time came when the Lamanites realized they were not able to defeat the Nephites.  The returned to the lands of Ismael and Nephi.  Many joined the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.

While genetics generally determine descent among the Nephites, it is not the sole criterion. A practice similar to adoption is also recognized. For example, the children of the priests of King Noah are so ashamed of their fathers’ wickedness that they repudiate their ancestry and begin to call themselves after and trace their descent from Alma, who had spiritually liberated them (Mosiah 25:12). Similarly, Lamanites who convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ by the teachings of the sons of Mosiah adopt the complementary self-identifiers “anti-Nephi-Lehi” and “people of Ammon” (Alma 23:16–17; 24:1–2). Other Lamanite converts are also called by these terms (Alma 25:13).[12]

Those that joined the Anti-Nephi-Lehies accepted their covenant with the Lord and buried their weapons of war.  The new additions became a righteous people, obeying the Lord and his commandments.[13]

Like the Nephites, the Lamanites kept the law of Moses, as it was not fulfilled.[14]  Even so, they looked forward to the coming of Christ.[15]  The law of Moses was a type of His coming.  “In latter days, the Lord has emphasized again how, in the words of the Book of Mormon, our ‘outward performances’ (Alma 25:15), are defiling or edifying. What we say and how we act will create an atmosphere welcoming or hostile to the Holy Ghost.”^[16]

The sons of Mosiah rejoiced with the brethren for their success among the Lamanites.  They had prayed[17] and the Lord had granted the desires of their hearts and fulfilled His word in every way.

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[1] “Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done” (Alma 24:24).

[2] “And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them.  Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them” (Alma 8:16).

[3] “And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah were destroyed; yea, 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).

[4] “And Amulon and his brethren did join the Lamanites, and they were traveling in the wilderness in search of the land of Nephi when they discovered the land of Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren” (Mosiah 23:35).

[5] “Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God” (Mosiah 17:15).

[6] “Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood” (Alma 21:9).

[7] Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning?  Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language” (Alma 26:24).

[8] Were the Ammonites Pacifists? Duane Boyce, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture, 18/1 (2009): 36.

[9] “Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel” (Alma 24:29).

[10] “He who seeketh to save his life shall [GR sacrifice] it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (JST Matthew 10:39).

[11]“It has been suggested that when Jesus extolled the blessed state of those who were ‘presecuted for righteousness sake’ (Matthew 5:10), He was really saying ‘for the sake of the Righteous One’ – meaning Himself.  In Hebrew, the difference between zedeq (righteousness) and zadiq (righteous one) is very small.  Either way, disciples are bid to follow Jesus because He is both the Righteous One and the embodiment of righteousness. (The Life and Teachings of Christ – From Bethlehem to the Sermon on the Mount, A Reading on the Sermon on the Mount – A Restoration Perspective, Andrew C. Skinner.)

[12] The Covenant of the Chosen People: The Spiritual Foundations of Ethnic Identity in the Book of Mormon, Steven L. Olsen, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21/2 (2012): 22.

[13] “Oh, how merciful is our God!  And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby” (Alma 24:15) & “For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren” (Alma 26:32)

[14] “Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the ^claw of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.  And after this manner did they teach them” (Jarom 1:11).

[15] “Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses. And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood” (Mosiah 3:14 - 15).

[16] “The Tongue of Angels,” Elder Robert S. Wood, October 1999 General Conference, accessed June 22, 2015.

[17] “And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted.  And they were comforted. And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls” (Alma 17:9-11).

Alma 24:20-30

20 And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land.

21 Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.

22 And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God.

23 Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword—

24 Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.

25  And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.

26 And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved.

27 And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.

28 Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors.

29 Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel.

30 And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things.

Alma 24:20-30

Shortly after burying their weapons of war, the Lamanites who rejected the sons of Mosiah began preparing for war.  The ultimate goal was to kill King Anti-Nephi-Lehi and replace him with a new a king.  They also wanted to destroy the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  “Like their biblical counterparts, the Amalekites in Alma’s narrative led massacres of unsuspecting people. In these attacks, the Amalekites and their supporters killed thousands of converted Lamanites in the land of Nephi.”^[1]

As the Lamanite army approached, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies met the invading army.  They lay themselves flat on the ground before the advance army and began call on the Lord’s name.  “Now this people again refused to take their arms, and they suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of their enemies” (Alma 27:3).

[W]hen we read of the atrocities encountered by the missionary sons of Mosiah among the Lamanites—including the slaughter of the 1,005 Anti-Nephi-Lehies (see Alma 24:21–22)—perhaps we will be more likely to notice that Alma’s mention of the true villains is in line with the book’s structure: “The greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites [Amlicites] and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors.” And among the converts to the truth “were none who were Amalekites [Amlicites] or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel” (Alma 24:28–29).^[2]

One has to wonder what manner of men would kill unarmed men, women, and children.  The Anti-Nephi-Lehies were offering no resistance. The slaughter continued.  “For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren” (Alma 26:32).

The hearts of many who were participating in the slaughter were softened.  They repented of their actions and threw down their swords.  They would never take up their swords again, “for they were stung for the murders which they had committed” (Alma 24:25). They joined those laying on the ground, “relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them” (Alma 24:25).

As we read, 1,005 were martyred by the attacking Lamanites.  The number of those who repented, threw away their weapons, and joined the Anti-Nephi-Lehies numbered more than those who died.  

The Lord has told us the rewards awaiting the martyr. 

• “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come” (Isaiah 57:1).
• “Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments. For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them” (D&C 59:1-2).
• “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

All who were martyred were righteous.  Many came to a knowledge of truth.  The Lord works many ways to bring salvation to His people.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Alma would tell his son, Helaman, “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).

Those responsible for the slaughter were Amalekites and Amulonites, those who were after the order of Nehor. The descendants of Laman and Lemuel did not kill a single Anti-Nephi-Lehi.[3]

[I]t’s important to understand exactly who the Ammonites were. We know that they were Lamanites, and we also know that, unlike other groups who also carried the designation “Lamanite,” they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel (Alma 24:29). We also know that they were the Lamanites who were converted by the sons of Mosiah in the period stretching approximately from 91 B.C. to 77 B.C. (Alma 17:4, 6).^[4]

Mormon highlights an important principle.  Once we have the light give us by the Spirit of God, and have a knowledge of truth and fall away, you will be in a state that is worse than those who have never known the Gospel.  The scriptures make this clear.

• “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27).
• “Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God” (Alma 47:36).
• “But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me” (2 Nephi 31:14).

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[1] Moses, Captain Moroni, and the Amalekites, Matthew Roper, Volume 32 Number 4 – 2012, accessed June 20, 2015.

[2] Alma’s Enemies The Case of the Lamanites, Amlicites, and Mysterious Amalekites, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, pg.114 Volume 14, number 1, 2005.

[3] “And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities” (Alma 23:14).

[4] Were the Ammonites Pacifists, Duane Boyce, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 18 Number 1, 2005, pg. 34.

Alma 24:11-19

11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain—

12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.

13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

15 Oh, how merciful is our God!  And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.

16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall ^ago to our God and shall be saved.

17 And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.

18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.

19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

Alma 24:11-30

King Anti-Nephi-Lehi continues preaching to his people.

He refers to himself and his people “as the most lot of all mankind” (Alma 24:11).  Repentance was not easy because of the number of murders they had committed.  He eventually took away their sins.[1] “Given the harsh reality of their past, and given the difficulty of receiving forgiveness for such sins (‘it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain,’ Alma 24:11), it is not surprising that they felt the need to maintain this forgiveness by repudiating not only murder, but also anything even resembling it.”^[2]

An interesting incident in the Book of Mormon involves the staining of swords with blood (see Alma 24:12-15, ca. 90 B.C.). The Lamanites who had been converted by Ammon refused to take up arms, giving the following argument: "Since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren" (Alma 24:12; cf. Alma 24:13, 15). Two separate metaphors are used here: first, that the swords had been stained with blood, and second, that they had been made bright again by God.[3]

God has taken the stain off their swords.  He told them we must no longer stain the swords with the blood of their brethren.[4]

The king showed he understood the nature of his people.  Should they take up arms again, they may become the people they were and the stain[5] “can be no more washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God” (Alma 24:13).  “Symbolically, the blood of Christ has removed the blood from their swords, thus cleansing the repentant Lamanites. By fully accepting Christ's shedding his blood for them, they no longer will shed the blood of their brethren. The token of that pledge, the king proposes, is to bury their swords deep in the earth as a testimony at the last day that they have never used them.”^[6]

The covenant they made was so binding, the Nephites honored it.

The only Book of Mormon group given an exemption from military service were the famous converts of Ammon. In repenting of their previous shedding of blood, they swore an oath that they would never again take up arms (see Alma 24:11–13). After arriving in Zarahemla, they were granted an extraordinary exemption from active military duty if they would help to sustain the Nephite armies with provisions (see Alma 27:23–24). Surprisingly, this grant of exceptional privilege was consistent with ancient Israelite law.[7]

God has granted them His mercy.  He has made His gospel known that they will not perish and because he loves their souls and their children.  Angel have visited them teaching the plan of salvation.

The Savior emphasized the importance of a soul.  “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4).^[8] “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).

The king calls upon his people to hide their weapons^[9] as a testimony to God they are converted and never again stained the swords with the blood of their brethren.  This action would later be tested.  Even when their lives were on the line thy refused to violate their covenants and sacrificed their lives for their covenant.^[10]

The king ended his sermon.  They people got together and took their swords and weapons of war and buried them deep in the Earth.  Samuel the Lamanite would refer to the Ammonites.  “And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ” (Helaman 15:9).

They did this as a testimony to God and man they would never take up arms again.  Rather than kill, they were willing to sacrifice their lives.  They refused to be an idle people.  They covenanted they would labor with their hands for their own support.  As we will read, there was a time they considered breaking their oath to help defend the Nephites.  “And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them. And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites” (Alma 53:11-12).[11]

Mormon breaks into his narration to remind us when the Ammonites accepted the truth, they were firm in their faith.  As we will see, they will die rather than dig up their weapons.  They remained true to their covenants.

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[1] “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

[2]Were the Ammonites Pacifists?, Duane Boyce, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 18, 2015.

[3] Warfare in the Book of Mormon – Swords in the Book of Mormon, William J. Hamblin and A. Brent Merrill, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 18, 2015.

[4] Archeology has shown the swords use in Mesoamerica were made of wood and sharpened stone (macuahuitl).  Wooden swords would explain why the king referred to their swords stained with blood.  We do not thing of steel swords as something that will be stained with blood. (See Swords and "Cimeters" in the Book of Mormon, Mattew Roper).

[5] “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

[6] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" – Sermons, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 18, 2015.

[7] Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon – A Steady Stream of Significant Recognitions, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 18, 2015.

[8] “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine and go into the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (JST Luke 15:4).

[9] “And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments and his statutes” (Alma 25:14).

[10] “For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren” (Alma 26:32).

[11] This will lead to powerful example of the 2,000 stripling warriors.

Alma 24:1-10

Chapter 24

The Lamanites come against the people of God—The Anti-Nephi-Lehies rejoice in Christ and are visited by angels—They choose to suffer death rather than to defend themselves—More Lamanites are converted. About 90–77 B.C.

1 AND it came to pass that the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their brethren.

2 And their hatred became exceedingly sore against them, even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king, insomuch that they would not that he should be their king; therefore, they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.

3 Now the king conferred the kingdom upon his son, and he called his name Anti-Nephi-Lehi.

4 And the king died in that selfsame year that the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of God.

5 Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

6 Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.

7 Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.

8 And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.

9 And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

Alma 24:1-10

The Amalekites and Amulonites, after rejecting the gospel, became angry with those who did.  “Over time, people settled a ‘land of Amulon’ (Alma 24:1) in Lamanite territory, a place-name that must go back to the leader of the defrocked priests. One can reasonably assume that it was descendants and family members of these former officials who were among the prominent colonists who came to live in this area.”^[1]

These group began a rebellion against the king and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.  Lamoni’s father died and his son, renamed Anti-Nephi-Lehi, became king.  This is the state as they began arming for rebellion.

A council was called when Ammon and his brethren saw the preparations of the Lamanites for war.  “The travels of the sons of Mosiah₂ as teachers among the Lamanites confirm the small scale of the lands in and around Nephi. For example, the brothers all got together to confer about the problem of protecting their converts (see Alma 24:5), and all the believers lived close enough together that they departed from the land as one body (see Alma 27:14).”^[2]

They faced an important issue.  The Anti-Nephi-Lehies had covenanted not to take up arms, even in their own defense.  “Another military use of the oath in the Book of Mormon was the oath of peace sworn by the Lamanites Ammon and his brethren converted. Pursuant to this ritual, thousands of Lamanites took upon themselves a new name, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi (see Alma 23:17). When the unconverted Lamanites began preparations to kill these people, Ammon and his brethren held ‘a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites’ (Alma 24:5). None of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies ‘would take up arms against their brethren; ... yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not’ (Alma 24:6).”^[3]

The king, Anti-Nephi-Lehi, commanded his people not to take up arms.  He spoke to his people, expressing his gratitude the sons of Mosiah and their brethren came and taught his people the traditions of the fathers were wrong.[4]

They were convinced that "the traditions of [their] wicked fathers" were wrong (Alma 24:7). That meant Laman and Lemuel were wrong and Nephi was right, a deep and profound reversal of their whole identity as a people that required an upending of old values. Their acceptance of this new tradition went hand in hand with their acceptance of the gospel.^[5]

He expressed his gratitude to God His Spirit softened their hearts and they had opened a correspondence with the Nephites.^[6]  They have been convinced of their sins.^[7]  He then confessed they had committed many murders.  We know, for example, Lamoni had no problem executing servants who lost his flocks.^[8]

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[1] Marriage and Treaty in the Book of Mormon: The Case of the Abducted Lamanite Daughters, S. Kent Brown, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2015.

[2] Mormon's Map – Distances and Directions, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2015.

[3]Warfare in the Book of Mormon – Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2015.

[4] “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:5).

[5] The Lamanite View of Book of Mormon History, Richard L. Bushman, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2015.

[6] “And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).

[7] “And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father” (D&C 18:44).

[8] “Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men.  And they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already. Now they wept because of the fear of being slain” (Alma 17:28-29).

Alma 23:-1-18

Chapter 23

Religious freedom is proclaimed—The Lamanites in seven lands and cities are converted—They call themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies and are freed from the curse—The Amalekites and the Amulonites reject the truth. About 90–77 B.C.

1 Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land.

2 Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries.

3 And thus they might go forth and preach the word according to their desires, for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness.

4 And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city, and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them; and thus they began to have great success.

5 And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time.

6 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

7 For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.

8 Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord:

9 The people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Ishmael;

10 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Middoni;

11 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the city of Nephi;

12 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.

13 And these are the names of the cities of the Lamanites which were converted unto the Lord; and these are they that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war; and they were all Lamanites.

14 And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities.

15 Therefore, we have named all the cities of the Lamanites in which they did repent and come to the knowledge of the truth, and were converted.

16 And now it came to pass that the king and those who were converted were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore the king consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning the name that they should take upon them, that they might be distinguished.

17 And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more called Lamanites.

18 And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them.

Alma 23:1-18

The proclamation[1] was sent throughout Lamoni’s father’s land.  It was made clear they should not hinder the sons of Mosiah and their brethren as they went throughout the land.  They were free to preach wherever they desired, anywhere in the land.

Then in Alma 23 the Lamanite king pushes the church; he backs it up. He rules a very large area, you notice. As we find out at the beginning of the next chapter, he rules the Amalekites, the Amulonites, the Lamanites, and the people of Anti-Lehi-Nephi who were his own people. The key to this whole thing is that those who were converted at this time were a relatively small group, but very influential. Alma 23:1: "The king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people that they should not lay their hands on Ammon [or his people]" or make any trouble, but let them do anything they wanted. The brethren were given a carte blanche here to go forth and preach in whatsoever place they wanted to.[2]

The king granted them this authority as his entire household had been converted.[3] They would teach the traditions of their fathers was wrong.  They convinced them they should not commit a number of sins. 

[King] Benjamin reports that he had not allowed his people to do five specific criminal things: they were not to "murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery … [nor] any manner of wickedness" (Mosiah 2:13). This exact list appears several other times in the Book of Mormon. In Alma 23:3, the converted Lamanite king issued a proclamation that his people "ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness." These words were evidently brought to the Lamanites by the four sons of Mosiah, who, of all people, would have remembered and used the words of their grandfather Benjamin.^[4]

Aaron and his brethren went into the land of the Lamanites and preached the gospel.  Wherever they went, they established churches and consecrated priests and teacher among the Lamanites. “Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni—the four sons of Mosiah₂—consecrated priests among the Lamanites (Alma 23:4), but there is no reason, despite their absence of fourteen years (Alma 17:4), to suppose that they did so independent of the priesthood authority resident in the Nephite church. Later, Ammon at least appears as an ecclesiastical subordinate to Alma₂ (Alma 30:20, 30).”^[5]

Going city-to-city is a common way the gospel is taught. 

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him” (Luke 8:1).^[6]

“Behold, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should proclaim my gospel from land to land, and from city to city, yea, in those regions round about where it has not been proclaimed” (D&C 66:5).

“Yea, let all those take their journey, as I have commanded them, going from house to house, and from village to village, and from city to city” (D&C 75:18).

Through their missionary efforts, thousands were brought to the truth of the gospel.  They accepted the traditions of the Nephites and were taught from Nephite records that had been handed down since Nephi₁.^[7]

Here, Mormon relates the conviction of the converted Lamanites.  “[A]s many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away” (Alma 23:6, emphasis mine).[8]  They also laid down their weapons of war and never again fought against the Nephites and Lamanites.

Ammon and his brethren found success in the following lands:

Ishmael

Middoni

city of Nephi

Shilom

Shemlon

city of Lemuel

city of Shimnilom

In all these places, the Lamanites laid down all weapons of war.

They did not find success among the Nephite dissenters, the Amulonites[9] and the Amalekites.[10]  They also had no success with the Lamanites in the same part of the land.[11]

The converted Lamanites desired to have a new name to distinguish them from the rest of the Lamanites.

In the Book of Mormon, names have importance and significance consistent with Israelite practices recorded in the Old Testament (i.e., a name can be a memorial, an indication of change of character, and a part of a covenant or an adoptive relationship.) The Israelite concept that the term name (sām) also means memorial is demonstrated in the passage when Helaman talks with his sons Nephi and Lehi about their names. He tells them that they were given the names of their forefathers so "that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works" (Helaman 5:6–7). The Israelite idea that change of name shows a change of character is demonstrated by the Lamanites who are converted to Christ and "were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren" (Alma 23:16).[12]

Lamoni’s father consulted with Aaron about the name they should take.

When Ammon successfully converted Lamoni and his people, it was necessary for them, and the Lamanites converted by the other sons of Mosiah, to make significant changes in their lives. The first step for the converted Lamanites was to call themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies, a name chosen after Lamoni's father, the king over all the land, consulted with "Aaron and many of their priests" regarding a name whereby "they might be distinguished from their brethren" (see Alma 23:16–17).^[13]

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies became and industrious people.  They established relations with the Nephites and their curse was lifted. Half a millennia earlier, Nephi saw this day would come.

“And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers. And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people” (2 Nephi 30:5-6).

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[1] “And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the seashore, and the borders of the wilderness which was on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti, by the head of the river Sidon, running from the east towards the west—and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided” (Alma 22:27).

[2] Teachings of the Book of Mormon – Semester 2, Lecture 53; Alma 23–27 – War, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 14, 2015.

[3] “Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants.  And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear.  And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them.  And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord” (Alma 22:23).

[4] King Benjamin's Speech – Benjamin, the Man: His Place in Nephite History, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 14, 2015.

[5] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 14, 2015.

[6] “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: [JST Luke 8:1 ... and the twelve who were ordained of him, were with him]”(Luke 8:1).

[7] “Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of [Helaman₂] were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth” (Alma 63:12).

[8] “And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God.  And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27).

[9] “And behold, they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which they called Amulon; and they had begun to possess the land of Amulon and had begun to till the ground” (Mosiah 23:31).

[10] Save it be one (Alma 23 14).

[11] “Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel” (Alma 24:29).

[12] The Lord Will Redeem His People: Adoptive Covenant and Redemption in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon, Jennifer Clark Lane, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 14, 2015.

[13] Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon – From a Convert's Viewpoint, Alison V.P. Coutts, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 14, 2015.