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Alma is the first judge...
(compare Alma, chapter 1)When King Mosiah died in 91 BC. there was no king left to rule the Nephites. Mosiah, righteous before God, had established laws the people had accepted and were bound to live by. So the people were ruled by judges rather than a king.
Alma was the first judge. During his first year as judge, a man named Nehor was brought before him. Nehor was a large, strong man. He'd been preaching what he said was the word of God, yet he spoke against the church.
He told the people every priest and teacher should become popular, be supported by the people and not have to work with his own hands.
He had also testified to the people that everyone would be saved at the last day, so they need not fear God's judgment. He told them to lift up their heads and rejoice, for the Lord had created and redeemed everyone, and in the end, everyone would have eternal life.
Many people believed Nehor and supported him with their money. He became proud in his heart and wore very expensive clothing. He even started his own church according to his own preaching.
Before Nehor had been brought to Alma for judgment he had been on his way to preach to his believers. He had met Gideon, one of the teachers who belonged to God's church--the same man who many years earlier had been an instrument in God's hands in delivering Limhi's people out of bondage.
Nehor began to criticize Gideon in order to lead more people of the church away. Gideon responded to Nehor boldly, defending the church with the true word of God.
Now Gideon was strong in the word of God. Because Gideon had exposed his lies, Nehor became very angry. He drew his sword and killed Gideon, who was too old to defend himself.
This is why the people of the church had brought Nehor before Alma to be judged for his crime. Nehor stood before Alma and boldly pled for himself.
But Alma said to Nehor,
"This is the first time priestcraft has been practiced among this people. You're not only guilty of priestcraft, but guilty of enforcing it with the sword. If priestcraft were allowed to be enforced among this people, it would bring about their entire destruction.
You have killed a righteous man! He was a man who did much good among this people. If we spared you, his blood would come upon us for vengeance.
Therefore, you are condemned to die according to the laws given by our last king, Mosiah. For our people have agreed to live by these laws."
And so Nehor was taken to the top of Manti Hill. There he confessed before heaven and earth that what he had taught was contrary to the word of God. Then he suffered a disgraceful death.
But this event did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft throughout the land.
Many people loved the vain things of the world. They went around preaching false doctrines for money and fame. They pretended to believe what they preached to cover their lies, for liars were punished.
By doing this the law had no power over them. The people dared not steal or murder for fear of the law, for whoever murdered was punished by death.
As time passed, those who didn't belong to God's church began to persecute those who had taken the name of Christ upon themselves. They persecuted and criticized the Christians for humbly preaching God's word without payment.
A strict law prevented church members from persecuting non-members and members alike. But in spite of this strict law, many church members began to be proud, arguing with those who persecuted them, even to the point of having fist fights with them.
In 90 BC, this pride and contention caused many afflictions and trials to come upon the church. Many proud church members were excommunicated, and many others decided to leave the church on their own.
All this was very hard on the faithful, but they stayed firm in keeping God's commandments, patiently bearing heavy persecution.
When the righteous priests left their work to preach, the people left their work to hear God's word. Then they would all return to their work, for the priests didn't feel they were above working. They were all equal, and every man worked according to his own strength.
The righteous saints gave to the poor, the needy, the sick and afflicted. If a man had more, he gave more, for they all gave according to what they had. None of them wore expensive clothing, but their clothes were neat and attractive.
This is how the church worked. It was a system that brought continual peace to its members in spite of persecution.
Because of the righteousness in the church, its members all became very rich. They had an abundance of everything they needed--flocks, herds, grain, gold, silver, silk, fine linen and precious things. Yet even with all their riches, they didn't turn away anyone who was hungry or who needed clothing, for their hearts were not set upon their riches. They were generous to all people.
The righteous gave to the elderly as well as to the young. They gave to those in debt as well as to those who were free. They gave to members and non-members alike.
The righteous gave to anyone in need, and this is how they all prospered together. The righteous saints became much more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church, or than those who did not practice charity.
Those who did not take the name of Christ upon themselves indulged in sorcery, idolatry, spiritualism, envying and arguing. They wore expensive clothing and were vain and proud. They participated in persecuting, lying, robbing, committing sexual sins and in murder.
For doing all this, they were brought to justice as much as possible according to the laws established by Mosiah.
Because the righteous brought sinners to the law to be judged and punished according to their crimes, the wicked became more secretive and did not dare sin openly.
There was still peace among the Nephites until 87 BC.
Amlici rebels, fights Nephites...
(compare Alma, chapter 2)In this same year, a very cunning man named Amlici began to cause contention. He acted according to Nehor's order (doctrine), and was wise as to the wisdom of the world. He gained many followers, so many that they became very powerful and wanted Amlici to become king over all the people.
This was alarming to the people of the church and to all who had not been persuaded by Amlici, for they knew that according to their law, a man could only become king if the majority of the people voted for him. They knew if Amlici were elected king, he would take away their right to worship God, for Amlici was a wicked man who wanted to destroy God's church.
The people came from all parts of the land and assembled into separate groups. Some were for Amlici and some against him. They argued as they assembled to vote.
The results of their voting were brought to their judges, and the majority of the people had voted against Amlici becoming king.
When the election results were announced, those against Amlici celebrated, but those for Amlici were incited by him to become very angry. They gathered together and consecrated Amlici to be their king.
As soon as these rebellious people had made Amlici their king, he commanded them to take up arms against their brethren, for he wanted power over all the people.
The people who followed Amlici were called Amlicites, and the rest were called Nephites, or the people of God.
Aware of the Amlicites' intentions, the Nephites prepared to fight them. They armed themselves with swords, scimitars, bows, arrows, stones, slings and with every other kind of weapon. They were organized and appointed captains, higher captains and chief captains according to their numbers.
Amlici also armed his men with all types of weapons, and he also appointed rulers and leaders over his people to lead them to war against their brethren.
The Amlicites came upon Amnihu Hill, east of Sidon River, which ran along the land of Zarahemla. On the hill, the Amlicites began to fight the Nephites.
As chief judge and governor of the people of Nephi, Alma went up on the hill with his captains and chief captains, leading his armies to battle against the Amlicites.
They began to kill the Amlicites upon the hill, but the Amlicites fought the Nephites with great strength killing many of them.
The Lord strengthened the Nephites so that they became mighty in battle. They killed so many Amlicites so quickly that they began to run away.
When night came, Alma stopped his chase. He and his army camped in Gideon Valley (named after Gideon who had been killed by Nehor).
Alma sent spies to follow the surviving Amlicites, to learn of their plans and plots, to guard himself against them and keep his people from being destroyed. Alma sent out Zeram, Amnor, Manti and Limher with their men to spy on the Amlicite camp.
The next morning these men came running back to the Nephite camp, very surprised and fearful, reporting,
"We followed the Amlicites outside of Zarahemla to the land of Minon where they joined a very large Lamanite army! Our brethren in Minon are running from them with their flocks, wives and children toward our city! Unless we hurry back to our city, our enemies will obtain it and our families will be killed!"
Alma quickly led the Nephite army back to their own city, Zarahemla. As they were crossing the Sidon River, the Lamanites and the Amlicites, who seemed to be as numerous as the sands of the sea, came upon them.
But the Nephites were again made strong by the hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to Him that He would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
The Lord heard their cries, for the Lamanites and Amlicites fell before them in battle.
Then Alma fought Amlici face to face. They fought mightily with their swords. Alma, being a man of God, and having practiced great faith, cried out,
"Oh Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in Thy hands to save and preserve this people."
Then Alma continued the fight with Amlici. He was strengthened and he killed Amlici with his sword.
Then the Lamanite king fought with Alma, but the king soon ran from him and sent his guards to fight instead.
Alma and his guards killed and drove back the Lamanite king's guards.
Alma and his men cleared the west bank of the Sidon River by throwing the dead Lamanites into the river so that the rest of the Nephite army could cross.
When they had all crossed the river, the Lamanites and Amlicites ran with terror from Alma, even though they were so numerous they could not be counted.
They ran from the Nephites toward the wilderness in the west and the north. The Nephites chased them with their might, killing many. The Lamanites and Amlicites were surrounded and killed, or chased into the wilderness called Hermounts, which was inhabited by wild animals.
The mark of dark skin explained...
(compare Alma, chapter 3)Many died of their wounds in this wilderness and were eaten by wild animals and vultures. Later their bones were found and piled in heaps.
After this war, the surviving Nephites buried their dead, which were too numerous to be counted. Then they all returned to their lands and houses, to their wives and children.
Many women and children had been killed, many flocks and herds had been destroyed, and many grain fields had been trampled by the great armies.
Many bones of the Lamanites and Amlicites who had been thrown into the Sidon River came to rest in the depths of the sea.
Like the Lamanites, the Amlicites identified themselves with red paint upon their foreheads, but unlike the Lamanites, they did not shave their heads.
The Lamanites shaved their heads and wore armor and small skins for loincloths. They carried bows, arrows, stones and slings.
The Lamanites had dark skin, which was God's mark upon them--a curse first given to their forefathers, Laman and Lemuel, because of their transgression and rebellion against their brothers, Nephi, Jacob, Joseph and Sam, who were just and holy men.
Because Laman and Lemuel wanted to kill their brothers, they were cursed with this mark of dark skin, and Ishmael's wicked children were also cursed. This was done to identify their offspring.
By doing this, the Lord could preserve His people, for the mark was intended to keep the Nephites from being enticed by the Lamanites, from marrying them, and from believing in their false traditions which would prove their destruction.
Also, the Nephites who married Lamanites brought the same curse of dark skin upon their children. And every Nephite who joined the Lamanites had a mark placed on him, and was then called a Lamanite.
Those who did not believe the Lamanites' false traditions were called Nephites. They believed what was written in the records that were brought out of Jerusalem--the correct traditions of their forefathers, and they kept God's commandments.
And they have kept these true records of their people, and also of the Lamanites.
The light-skinned Amlicites had put red paint on their foreheads. By marking themselves, God's word to Nephi was fulfilled, saying,
"I have cursed the Lamanites and will put a mark upon them. By this mark, their offspring may be separated from yours forever, unless the Lamanites repent of their wickedness and turn to me so that I may have mercy on them.
I will put a mark upon those who mix with your brothers' children and they will also be cursed.
I will also put a mark upon those who fight you and your children, and those who leave you will no longer be called Nephites. But I will bless you and anyone who calls himself your offspring."
Now the Amlicites didn't know they were fulfilling God's words by painting a red mark on their foreheads. But they had come out in open rebellion against Him, so this curse and condemnation came upon them.
Like all who are cursed, they had brought it upon themselves.
Not many days after this battle, another Lamanite army attacked the Nephites at Amnihu Hill. A Nephite army was sent from Zarahemla to drive them out of the land. Alma had been wounded and did not go to battle this time against the Lamanites.
Alma sent a numerous army against the Lamanites. They killed many of them and drove the rest out of the land.
Then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, and for awhile they had no more trouble with their enemies.
All this fighting began and ended in 87 BC, the fifth year of the judges' reign.
During this year, tens of thousands of souls were sent to the eternal world to reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or evil, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery according to the spirit that they had chosen to obey, either a good spirit or a bad one. For everyone will receive the reward of whom he chooses to obey.
This is the truth according to the spirit of prophecy.
Church is taken seriously because of war...
(compare Alma, chapter 4)In 86 BC, there was no fighting in the land of Zarahemla. But the people suffered because they had lost so many men, animals and crops. So great was their suffering that everyone had reason to mourn. They knew they had received God's judgments because of their great sinfulness, and they had now awakened to remember their duty toward Him. They began to establish the church more fully.
Many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and joined God's church. They were baptized by Alma, who had been consecrated to be the high priest over the people of the church by his father Alma. Eighty-five BC was a year of peace, during which 3,500 souls were baptized into God's church.
But again in 84 BC, the people of the church began to be proud of the wealth they had acquired. Because of their fine silks and linen, their flocks and herds, their gold and silver, and all their valuables, their pride began to show, and they started wearing very expensive clothing.
Alma and the teachers, priests and elders, whom he had consecrated to teach the church, were all very sorrowful because of this wickedness that had begun among the people of the church.
It sorrowed them to see the people boasting of their accomplishments, and setting their hearts upon their money and the vain things of the world.
The people began to despise one another, and to oppress the humble people of the church who did not believe as they.
After enjoying only one year of peace, there was much fighting among the people of the church. They were envious of one another and had great contentions among themselves, and many church members became even more proud than those who did not belong to God's church.
By the end of 84 BC, the progress of the church began to fail, for the non-members saw all the pride and contention of the church members and had no desire to join their church.
By 83 BC, Alma saw that the wicked example of the church was leading astray those who had not joined it--a wickedness that was the beginning of the people's destruction. Alma saw great inequality among the people.
Many thought they were better than others, and turned their backs on the people who needed food, drink, clothing and physical care. This inequality caused great sadness among the people.
Yet some humbled themselves and gave what they had to the poor and needy. They suffered all types of afflictions because they believed in Jesus Christ who would soon come, as declared to them by the spirit of prophecy. They looked forward to Christ's coming.
By giving to the poor, they retained a remission of their sins. They were filled with great joy, for they believed that the will and power of Jesus Christ would deliver them from a permanent death.
Even though Alma was very sorry to see this inequality in the church--so many church members afflicting God's humble followers, the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.
Following the Spirit, Alma selected Nephihah, a wise elder of the church, and gave him power, by the voice of the people, to make and enforce new laws according to the laws already given.
Nephihah was appointed chief judge and governor of the people, but Alma remained high priest over the church.
Alma gave up his judgment-seat so he could go among his fellow Nephites and preach God's word to them--to help them remember their duty to each other and to bring down all the pride and contention among them. He saw no other way to bring them back to God except by bearing down in pure testimony of Christ against them.
By the beginning of 83 BC, Alma had given up his temporal work as chief judge and did nothing but spiritual work according to the high priesthood of the holy order of God. His work was to testify of God's word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
Alma calls the people to repentance...
(compare Alma, chapter 5)Alma began to testify in Zarahemla and throughout all the land. These are his words, from his own record, to the people in the church at Zarahemla:
"I, Alma, have been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over God's church. My father was given power and authority from God to baptize his brothers and sisters and establish a church in the land of Mormon. My father and his people were delivered out of the hands of King Noah's people by God's mercy and power.
After being delivered, they were brought into bondage again by the Lamanites (who had been pursuing Limhi and his people). But by the power of His word, the Lord delivered them a second time. He brought them into this land, where His church has been established.
Now I ask you, the members of this church...
...have you completely forgotten your fathers' captivity?
....have you completely forgotten the Lord's mercy and long-suffering toward them?
...most of all, have you completely forgotten that He delivered their souls from hell?
You see, He changed their hearts.
He awoke them from a deep sleep,
and they awoke to Him.They were surrounded by darkness and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction awaited their souls. Then the Lord lit up their souls by the light of His everlasting word.
I ask you, my brothers and sisters, were they destroyed? No, they were spared!
Were they freed from bondage, and were their souls saved? Yes, for when they were freed their souls grew, and they sang redeeming love, and I tell you that they have been saved!
And how were they saved--loosened from the bands of death and the chains of hell? It all happened because my father believed Abinadi, a holy prophet, who spoke the words of God.
And because of my father's faith, there was a mighty change made in his heart.
Then my father preached God's word to your fathers, and such a mighty change was made in their hearts, they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true, living God.
And because they were faithful to the end, they were saved.
Now I ask you, have you been spiritually born of God?
Have you received His image in your countenances?
Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
Do you exercise faith in the redemption of your Creator?
Do you look forward with faith, seeing your mortal body raised to immortality, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds done in the body?
Will you hear the Lord say to you,
'Come to me, you that are blessed,
for your works were righteous on earth.'Or would you think to lie to the Lord, saying,
'Lord, my works have been righteous on earth'
...and imagine that He would believe you?
Or will your soul be filled with guilt and remorse for your wickedness as you perfectly remember defying God's commandments?
Now which do you think will be your case when you are brought before the judgment of God?
Will you be able to look up to God that day with a pure heart and clean hands, having His image engraved in your soul?
Can you think of being saved when you have given yourself up to become a slave to the devil?
On that day you will know that you cannot be saved, for no one can be saved unless his or her robes have been washed white, purified and cleansed from all stain through the blood of Him whom our fathers spoke of, who will come to redeem His people from their sins.
How will you feel, standing before the bar of God, with your robe stained with blood and all types of filthiness?
And what will these stains testify against you? That you are murderers and are guilty of all types of wickedness!
Brothers and sisters, do you think anyone like this will have a place to sit down in God's kingdom with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets whose robes are clean, spotless, pure and white? No! Unless you think our Creator is a liar from the beginning, you cannot think this, for those with stained robes will be sent out, for they are the children of the devil's kingdom.
In the past, if you have ever experienced a change of heart and have wanted to sing the song of redeeming love, how do you feel now?
Have you kept yourselves blameless before God?
If you were to die now, could you say to yourselves that you've been humble enough, and that your robes have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem His people from their sins?
Are you stripped of pride? If not, you're not prepared to meet God. You must prepare quickly, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and those who are proud will not have eternal life.
Are any of you envious? Such a person is not prepared, for he won't be found guiltless. I warn you to prepare quickly, for the Lord will soon come, though we don't know exactly when.
Do any of you make fun of your brother, speak ill of him, or treat him badly? Cursed are such, for they're not prepared, and the time is near when they must repent (change) or they will not be saved!
Yes, cursed are all you workers of sin.
Repent, for the Lord God has spoken it! He sends an invitation to all people. His arms of mercy are extended toward them, and He says,
'Repent and I will receive you. Come to me and you will taste the fruit of the tree of life. You will eat and drink freely of the bread and water of life. Come to me with your righteous works and you will not be cut down and thrown into the fire.'
The time is close when those who bring forth bad fruit will have reason to wail and mourn.
Oh you workers of iniquity, puffed up by your pride in the vain things of the world. You who have professed to have known the ways of righteousness but have gone astray like sheep without a shepherd, even though the shepherd has called after you. He's still calling after you, but you won't listen!
The Good Shepherd is calling you in His own name, which is Christ. If you won't listen and respond to the name, "Childen of Christ", then you're not His sheep. And if you're not His sheep, whose are you? Who can deny you are the devil's? Whoever does deny this is a liar.....a child of the devil.
For good comes from God, and evil comes from the devil.
If a man does good works, he listens to the Good Shepherd's voice and follows Him.
But whoever does evil works becomes the devil's child by listening to his voice and following him. All who do this must receive the devil's wages--spiritual death--a death to the things of righteousness, for they are dead to all good works.
My brothers and sisters, I want you to understand me, for I speak with all the energy of my soul! God has commanded me to speak to you plainly so you cannot misunderstand.
I am called to speak in this way according to the holy order of God, which is in Jesus Christ. I am commanded to stand and testify to you about the things our forefathers said would happen.
Do you think I don't have a testimony of these things?
I testify that I know what I have said is true! And why do you think I'm so sure of my knowledge? It's because I have fasted and prayed many days to know these things for myself.
I know they're true, for the Lord God has shown them to me by His Holy Spirit. And this is the spirit of revelation in me.
Furthermore, it has been revealed to me, according to the spirit of prophecy in me, that the words of our forefathers are true.
The spirit of prophecy is also a manifestation of the Spirit of God. I know for myself that what I say about the future is true.
This is the order after which I am called--to preach to you and to everyone in the land--to the old, young, bond and free, crying to them that they must repent and be born again.
The Spirit says,
'Repent, everyone from the ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is coming soon. The Son of God will come in His glory, might, majesty, power and dominion. The glory of the King of heaven and earth will very soon shine among all people.'
The Spirit also speaks to me with a mighty voice, saying,
'Go forth and say to this people: Repent, for unless you repent you cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The axe is laid at the foot of the tree, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire--a fire that cannot be put out.
Remember, the Holy One has spoken this.'
Brothers and sisters, can you ignore these things and trample the Holy One under your feet?
Can you build yourselves up in the pride of your hearts?
Will you continue to wear expensive clothing and set your hearts upon your riches.....the vain things of the world?
Will you continue to think that you are better than others?
Will you continue to criticize your brothers and sisters who humble themselves and walk after the holy order of God?
By this holy order they have been brought into this church and have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and their works prove their repentance.
Will you continue to turn your backs on the poor and the needy and not share your blessings with them?
And finally, I say to those of you who will continue in your wickedness, you will be cut down and thrown into the fire unless you quickly repent.
To those who want to follow the Good Shepherd's voice, I say,
"Come out from among the wicked. Separate yourselves from them and do not touch their uncleanness, for their names will be blotted out and not be found among the names of the righteous."
Then God's word will be fulfilled, which says,
'The names of the wicked will not be mingled with the names of my people, which will be written in The Book of Life. And I will give my people an inheritance at my right hand.'
And now, my brothers and sisters, what can you say against this? And if you do speak against this, it doesn't matter, for God's word will be fulfilled.
Is there a shepherd who does not watch over his sheep in order to keep wolves from eating his flock? If a wolf comes into his flock, does he drive it out? Yes, and if possible, he will kill it.
Now the Good Shepherd calls you, and if you will listen to His voice, He will bring you into His fold, and you will be one of His sheep. He commands you not to let a hungry wolf come in and destroy you.
Now I, Alma, command you, as God has commanded me, to do good works according to what I have said.
I command you who belong to the church.
And to those who do not belong to the church, I invite you to come and be baptized unto repentance, that you may also taste the fruit of the tree of life.
Alma sets the church in order...
(compare Alma, chapter 6)After Alma finished speaking to the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders to preside and watch over the church. He did this ordination by the laying on of his hands, according to the order of God.
Those who had not belonged to the church, but who repented of their sins, were baptized unto repentance and received into the church. Those who belonged to the church, yet refused to repent and humble themselves--who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts--were excommunicated and not numbered with the righteous.
This is how the priests and elders began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla.
I, Mormon, want you to understand that God's word was liberal to all, for no one was deprived of his right to assemble and hear the word of God.
The children of God were commanded to gather together often, and to join in fasting and mighty prayer, on behalf of the welfare of the souls who did not know God.
After making these regulations, Alma left the city of Zarahemla and went to the valley of Gideon, east of the Sidon River. In that valley was the city of Gideon, named after the man who was killed by Nehor.
Alma declared God's word to the church established in Gideon. He spoke by revelation, confirming the truth of his forefathers' words.
He also spoke by the spirit of prophecy because of his testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would come to redeem His people from their sins.
Alma did all things according to the holy order of God to which he had been called.
Alma testifies of Christ...
(compare Alma, chapter 7)In Gideon, Alma preached,
"My beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first time I have been able to speak to you, for I have been very busy as chief judge. But now I have given the judgment-seat to Nephihah.
The Lord has shown great mercy in allowing me to come to you. I have come, hoping to find you humbling yourselves before God, asking for His grace, so that you would be blameless before Him.
I have come hoping that you were not in the same awful dilemma as our brethren in Zarahemla. But God has given me great joy in knowing that the people of Zarahemla are righteous again.
I trust, according to God's Spirit in me, that I will also have joy over you, for I would rather not experience again the type of sorrow I had over the people of Zarahemla.
I trust that you are more believing than your brethren--that you are not as proud as they were. I trust that you have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world, and that you do not worship idols.
I trust that you worship the true, living God, looking forward to a remission of your sins with an everlasting faith, for there are many events to come.
The most important event is that the Redeemer will come and live among His people. The Spirit told me that He will not come to us while He lives on earth as a man.
I don't know when or how the Lord God will come to us, but only that He has the power to do everything He said He would do.
The Spirit told me,
'Cry out to this people: Repent, prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in His straight paths, for the kingdom of heaven is near, and the Son of God will come upon the face of the earth.'
He will be born of Mary in Jerusalem, the land of our forefathers.
Mary will be a virgin--a precious and chosen vessel,
who will be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son--the Son of God.He will suffer all types of pain, affliction and temptations to fulfill the words,
'He will take the pains and sickness of His people upon Himself.'
He will die in order to loosen the bands of death that bind His people.
He will be merciful and powerful in the flesh.
And He will know by His mortal experiences how to overcome His people's ills (temporal and spiritual).'
The Spirit already knows how this is done, but the Son of God will suffer in mortality, that He may erase the sins of His people, which they commit in mortality. This is my testimony.
Now, you must repent and be born again, for the Spirit says if you are not born again, you cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
So come and be baptized unto repentance. Be washed from your sins, showing your faith in the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world.
He will be mighty to save us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Do not be afraid to come, and put aside every sin that easily tempts and binds you down to destruction. Come and show your God that you are willing to repent of your sins.
Make a covenant with Him to keep His commandments, and witness this to Him today by going into the waters of baptism.
Those who do this, and who keep God's commandments throughout their lives, will remember that I have told them according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit:
'You will have eternal life.'
Do you believe these things? Through the Spirit, I know you do, and because your faith in Christ is strong, my joy is great.
I'm glad you're not having the same problems your brothers and sisters have in Zarahemla. I see you're on the path of righteousness that leads to God's kingdom, making His paths straight.
Through the testimony of His word, you know the Lord cannot walk on crooked paths. He will do as He said, never turning from what is right. This is why His course is one eternal round (a continuing cycle).
He does not live in unholy temples, and filthy things cannot come into His kingdom. At the last day, those who are filthy will remain filthy.
I have said these things to awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, to motivate you to walk blameless before Him after the holy order of God, the order by which you have been received into the church.
Be humble, submissive, gentle and teachable. Be full of patience, long-suffering and temperate in all things. Be diligent in keeping God's commandments at all times, asking for whatever you need, both spiritually and temporally.
And always return thanks to God for what you receive.
Be sure to have faith, hope and charity, and then you will always do many good things.
May the Lord bless you and keep your robes spotless, that you may at last be brought in to sit down in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the holy prophets, never to leave again.
I have spoken these words according to the Spirit, which testifies within me. My soul rejoices because you have responded so well to my words.
Now may God's peace be with you and your families. May it bless your homes, lands, flocks and all that you possess, according to your faith and good works, now and forever. Amen."
Alma is rejected in Ammonihah...
(compare Alma, chapter 8)After Alma had taught the people of Gideon many things, too many to be written, and had established the order of the church as he had in the land of Zarahemla, he returned to his home in Zarahemla to rest from his labors.
This is how 83 BC ended--the ninth year of the judges' reign over the Nephites.
In 82 BC, Alma went to the land of Melek, west of the Sidon River, near the wilderness. He taught the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God--the order by which he had been called to teach. From all over the land that bordered the wilderness, people came to him to be baptized.
After Alma finished his work in Melek, he traveled north for three days. He arrived at a city called Ammonihah. (It was a Nephite custom to name the lands, cities and even small villages after the name of the leader who first lived there. This city had been named after Ammonihah.)
Alma began to preach God's word to the people in Ammonihah, but Satan had taken great hold upon their hearts, and they would not listen to him.
Alma labored in the spirit, asking God in mighty prayer to pour out His Spirit upon the people, that he might baptize them and make their repentance complete.
But the people hardened their hearts and said,
"We know who you are. You're Alma, high priest over the church you established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition. We don't belong to your church or believe in your foolish traditions.
Since we're not members of your church, you don't have power over us. And because you gave the judgment-seat to Nephihah, you're not chief judge over us."
After the people reviled and rejected Alma, and even spit on him, they threw him out of their city.
Alma left and traveled toward the city of Aaron. As he went, he sorrowed over the people's wickedness in Ammonihah. His soul was weighed down with great tribulation and anguish.
Then one of the Lord's angels appeared to him, and said:
"You are blessed Alma, so lift up your head and rejoice, for you have great cause to rejoice. You have been faithful in keeping God's commandments from the time I gave you His first message.
I have been sent to you again, to command you to return to Ammonihah and preach to the people there. Tell them that unless they repent, the Lord God will destroy them.
The people of Ammonihah are planning to destroy the liberty of your people, which is against the statutes, judgments and commandments the Lord has given them."
After receiving this message, Alma quickly returned to Ammonihah, entering the city from the south side.
Alma had been fasting for many days, so he asked a man, "Will you give a humble servant of God something to eat?"
The man replied, "I am a Nephite, and I know you are a holy prophet of God, for you are the man an angel showed me in a vision and told me to receive.
Come with me to my house, and I will give you something to eat, for I know you will be a blessing to me and my family."
The man who fed Alma with bread and meat was Amulek.
After eating his fill, Alma blessed Amulek and his family and gave thanks to God.
Then he said, "I am Alma, the high priest over God's church throughout the land. I have been called to preach God's word among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
When I was here before, the people rejected me, and I planned never to come back again. But I was commanded to come back and prophesy to this people again--to testify against their sinfulness.
Amulek, because you took me in and fed me, you are blessed. For I was very hungry, having fasted for many days."
Alma stayed with Amulek and taught him for many days before preaching to the people again. By this time, the people were even more sinful than before. Then the Lord's word came to Alma,
"Go with Amulek and prophesy to this people, saying: Repent, for the Lord has said that unless you repent, He will visit you in His fierce anger, and not turn it away!"
Alma and Amulek went to declare the word of God, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
They had been given power, so they could not be kept in dungeons or be killed. But they never showed their power until they had been tied up and thrown into prison. This is how the Lord showed His power to the people of Ammonihah.
Alma and Amulek went about preaching to the people, according to the spirit and the power that the Lord had given them.
Alma and Amulek go and preach...
(compare Alma, chapter 9)I, Alma, write that God commanded me to take Amulek with me and preach to the people of Ammonihah.
As I began to preach to them, they resisted, saying, "Who are you? Do you really think we would believe the testimony of just one man, even if you told us that the whole earth would pass away?"
Now these people did not know what they were saying, for in fact the whole earth will pass away. They also said, "We would not believe you even if you told us that this great city would be destroyed in one day."
These people did not know that God could destroy their city in one day, for they were hard in their hearts and stubborn. They said, "Who is God, who sends us the authority of only one man to tell us such great and marvelous things?"
They were about to take hold of me, but something stopped them.
Then I stood boldly and testified to them. I said, "You wicked, perverse generation.
How could have you forgotten God's commandments and your forefathers' traditions so quickly?
Don't you remember that our forefather, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem by the hand of God?
Don't you remember that he and those with him were all led by God through the wilderness?
Have you forgotten so soon just how many times God delivered our forefathers out of the hands of their enemies, preserving them from being destroyed by their own brothers?
If it had not been for His matchless power, mercy and long-suffering toward us, we would have all been cut off from the face of the earth long ago, and perhaps even now we would be in a state of endless misery and woe.
Now He commands you to repent, and unless you do, you will never inherit His kingdom.
This is not all. He has commanded you to repent, or He will completely destroy you off the face of the earth, visiting you in His fierce anger, not turning it away.
Don't you remember these words He spoke to Lehi,
'If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land. Otherwise, you will be cut off from my presence.'
I hope you remember that the Lamanites who have not kept God's commandments have been cut off from His presence.
But it will be better for them in the day of judgment than for you if you remain in your sins. It will even be better for them in this life than for you, unless you repent.
For the Lamanites have been given many promises. They are ignorant because of their forefathers' false traditions, so the Lord will be merciful to them and save their lives.
Someday they will be brought to believe His word, and they will come to know that their forefathers' traditions are false. Many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful to all who call on His name.
But if you persist in your wickedness, your lives will not be long, for the Lamanites will be sent upon you. They will come when you least expect them, and you will be completely destroyed by the Lord's fierce anger.
The Lord will not allow you to live in such sinfulness and destroy His people, the Nephites. He would rather allow the Lamanites to destroy all the Nephites, if they were to fall into sin after being so blessed.
1. The Nephites have been highly favored by the Lord, above every nation, tribe, tongue and people.
2. They have had all things revealed to them according to their desires, faith and prayers--things of the past, present and future.
3. They have been visited by God's Spirit, talking with angels and hearing the Lord's voice.
4. They have been given the spirit of prophecy, revelation, the gift of tongues, preaching, the gift of translation, and the Holy Ghost.
5. They have been delivered by God out of the land of Jerusalem and saved from famine, sickness and disease.
6. They have been made strong in battle, that they might not be destroyed.
7. They have been brought out of bondage, again and again.
8. And they have been prospered and made rich.
Now, if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, sin against the light and knowledge they have been given, then it will be far better for the Lamanites than for them.
For the Lord's promises are made to the Lamanites, but not to you if you sin.
The Lord has clearly promised and firmly stated that if you rebel against Him, you will be destroyed off the face of the earth.
To save His people from this destruction, the Lord has sent His angels to visit many of His people. These angels cry mightily,
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Soon the Son of God will come in His glory. His glory will be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, who is full of grace, equity, patience, mercy and long-suffering.
He is quick to hear the cries of His people and answer their prayers. He will come to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance through faith in His name.
So prepare the way of the Lord, for the time is near when all people will receive a reward according to their works.
If they have done righteous works, they will receive the salvation of their souls according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ.
If they have done evil works, they will receive the damnation of their souls according to the power and captivity of the devil.'
My beloved brethren (for you are my brethren, and you should be beloved), you need to repent. You must realize that your hearts have become very hardened against God's word, and that you've become a lost and fallen people.
I, Alma, could not finish speaking, for the people were angry with me because I had told them they were hard-hearted, stubborn, a lost and fallen people.
They tried to take me and throw me into prison, but the Lord did not allow them to do that at that time. Then Amulek began to preach, but only part of his words are written in this book....
Amulek testifies on behalf of Alma...
(compare Alma, chapter 10)I am Amulek, son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, a descendant of Aminadi, who interpreted the writing upon the wall of the temple, written by the finger of God.
Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem. Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers.
I have a great reputation among those who know me, having many friends and relatives. I have also worked hard to become wealthy.
I had seen the Lord's mysteries and marvelous power that has preserved the lives of this people, but I hardened my heart. I was called many times, but I would not listen.
I knew about these things but refused to understand them. Instead, I went on rebelling against God in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of the seventh month of this year, 82 BC.
At that time, I was going to see a close relative when an angel of the Lord appeared to me and said,
'Amulek, go back home, for you will feed a prophet of the Lord--a holy man, chosen by God. He has fasted for many days because of the sins of this people.
Take him to your home and feed him, and he will bless you. And the blessing of the Lord will rest upon you and your family.'
I obeyed the angel and started for home. On my way, I met the man the angel had shown me....this same man who has been speaking to you about the things of God today.
I know he's a holy man, for an angel told me so. I know the things he has testified of are true, for as the Lord lives, He sent His angel to teach me these things while Alma was staying in my home.
And this is because Alma blessed me and my family. He blessed my women and children, my father and all my relatives. And the Lord's blessings have rested upon us according to his words.
When Amulek finished speaking many people were astonished, realizing there was more than one witness who testified in the spirit of prophecy against them, and of the things which were to come.
But some men questioned Alma and Amulek, thinking that by their cunning they would catch them in their words, and deliver them to be judged according to the law--to be killed or thrown in prison, according to the crimes of which they thought they could accuse them.
The men who tried to destroy Alma and Amulek with their own words were lawyers. They were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law when their criminal trials came to court before judges.
These lawyers were educated in all the skills and cunning of their people in order to be successful in their profession.
The lawyers questioned Amulek, trying to make him contradict himself. They never thought that Amulek could know their plan. As they began to question Amulek, knowing their thoughts he said,
"You wicked, perverse generation! You lawyers are hypocrites because you are doing the devil's work--laying traps and snares to catch God's holy ones.
You are making plans to distort the ways of the righteous, which will bring down God's anger upon your own heads and totally destroy this people.
Mosiah, our last king, spoke well when he said, 'If the time comes when the majority of this people choose wickedness, then they are ripe for destruction.'
The Lord has judged you well in your sinfulness. He warns this people by the voice of His angels, who say,
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Soon the Lord will come down among His people with equity and justice.'
If it were not for the prayers of the righteous who live in the land, you would have already been destroyed by drought, sickness and war. But because of the prayers of the righteous you are spared.
Now if you drive the righteous out from among you, then the Lord will not hold back. In His fierce anger, He will come out against you, and you will soon be destroyed by drought, sickness and war, unless you repent now."
After Amulek said these things, the people were even more angry with him. They shouted, "This man speaks out against our laws which are fair. He also speaks out against our wise lawyers whom we have hired."
Then Amulek stretched out his hand and shouted even louder, "Oh you wicked, perverse generation! Why has Satan got such a great hold upon your hearts? Why do you surrender to him and give him power over you? Satan has blinded your understanding of the truth I am telling you.
Have I really testified against your law? No, I have spoken in favor of your law--to your condemnation! The foundation of the destruction of this people is being laid by your lawyers and judges!"
After Amulek said this, the people shouted against him, "Now we know this man is a child of the devil, for he has lied to us. He has spoken out against our law, yet he says that he has not. He has also spoken out against our lawyers and judges."
Now, the lawyers made sure that the people remembered their accusations against Amulek.
One lawyer in particular, Zeezrom, was Amulek and Alma's greatest accuser. Because he was one of the lawyers with the most expertise, he had a lot of business among the people.
Like the other lawyers, all Zeezrom wanted was to get money from the people as he practiced law.
The Nephite units of money...
(compare Alma, chapter 11)According to the law written by King Mosiah, every man appointed to be a judge was paid for the time he spent judging.
If a man owed another and refused to pay his debt, he was brought before the judge. After the evidence was given, the man was compelled to pay his debt. If he still refused to pay, his property was taken and he was thrown out of the city as a thief and a robber.
The judge was paid a senine of gold for a day of judging, or he was paid a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold.
Various measurements of gold and silver were made by the Nephites. They did not measure their gold and silver like the Jews in Jerusalem. They created their own ways of measuring things according to their needs and circumstances.
They continued to do this in every generation until the judges' reign, when King Mosiah first established the standard measures.
Gold was measured in units called senines, seons, shums and limnahs. Silver was measured in senums, amnors, ezroms and ontis.
A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold. Either of these were equal to a measure of barley, or any kind of grain.
These were the standard measurements for gold:
1 seon = 2 senines.
1 shum = 2 seons (4 senines).
1 limnah = 1 shum+1 seon+1 senine (7 senines).These were the standard measurements for silver:
1 amnor = 2 senums.
1 ezrom = 4 senums (2 amnors).
1 onti = 1 ezrom+1 amnor+1 senum (7 senums).This is how they measured smaller amounts:
A shiblon = 1/2 senum.
They traded a shiblon for half a measure of barley.
A shiblum = 1/2 shiblon.
A leah = 1/2 shiblum.
And 1 antion of gold = 3 shiblons (1.5 senums).Now, these lawyers had accused Alma and Amulek in order to get gold and silver, for they were paid according to how much time they spent dealing with the law. This is why they stirred up the people to riot and to create all types of disturbances and wickedness. By doing this, they were hired and paid more often for the many lawsuits that were brought to them.
Zeezrom, an expert in the ways of the devil to destroy what was good, asked Amulek, "Will you answer a few of my questions?"
Amulek answered, "Yes, if it is according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me. For I will not say anything contrary to the Spirit of the Lord."
Then Zeezrom said, "Here are 6 onties of silver. I will give them to you if you deny the existence of a Supreme Being."
Note: From the measures scale above, we learn that 1 onti of silver was worth 7 senums. And since we are told that a judge was paid 1 senine of gold a day, and that 1 senine of gold equalled 1 senum of silver, Zeezrom's offer, "6 onties of silver", was the value of a judge's pay for 42 days.
In 2008, a circuit judge in an average county is paid about $400 a day. If the Nephite ecomony valued a judge's time as we do now, Zeezrom's offer was nearly the equivilant of a $17,000 offer today.
Amulek replied, "Oh you child of hell, why do you tempt me? Don't you know that the righteous yield to no such temptations? Do you believe there is a God, Zeezrom? Yes, you know there is, but you love money more than Him.
You have lied to me before God, never intending to give me your silver. You only wanted me to deny the true and living God in order to obtain a legal way of destroying me. Because you have done this great evil, you will have your reward."
Then Zeezrom asked Amulek the following questions, which Amulek answered accordingly:
"You say there is a true and living God?" --- "Yes, there is."
"Is there more than one God?" --- "No."
"How do you know these things?" --- "An angel made them known to me."
"Who will come? The Son of God?" --- "Yes."
"Will He save His people in their sins?" --- "No, He will not save His people in their sins, for it is impossible for Him to deny His word."
Then Zeezrom cried out to the people, "Remember this: Amulek just said there's only one God, but that a Son of God will come, and not even to save his people. Amulek speaks as if he has authority to command God!"
Then Amulek said, "You have lied again by saying I spoke as if I had the authority to command God. I said that He will not save His people in their sins. This is true because God cannot deny His word and save His people in their sins. And I cannot deny His word, which is,
'No unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven.'
Now how can you be saved without inheriting the kingdom of heaven? And how can you inherit the kingdom of heaven if you are unclean, remaining in your sins?"
Zeezrom then asked, "Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?"
"Yes," answered Amulek. "He is the very Eternal Father of heaven and earth, and He created all the things in them.
He was at the beginning and He will be at the end, being the first and the last. He will come into the world to redeem His people and to take upon Himself their transgressions.
And He will only grant salvation and eternal life to those who believe in Him. The wicked will remain as if no redemption were made, but they will still be resurrected to an immortal body.
For the day will come when all will rise from the dead to stand before God and be judged according to their works. The death of Christ will free everyone from the death of their bodies.
The spirit and the body will be reunited again in its perfect form. Every limb and joint will be perfectly restored. We will be brought to stand before God, having awareness as we do now.
And when we stand before God we will completely remember all our guilt.
This restoration will come to all--to the old and the young--to those in bondage and those who are free--to the wicked and to the righteous.
Not even a hair of our heads will be lost. Every part of the body will be restored perfectly, and everyone will be brought before Christ the Son, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, who are one Eternal God.
Then each person will be judged according to their good or evil works.
I have just told you about the death and resurrection of the mortal body--that our spirits will unite with our immortal bodies, never to be divided.
After Amulek said this, the people were astonished, and Zeezrom began to tremble. Amulek said more things that I, Mormon, have not written.
Alma exposes Zeezrom's lies...
(compare Alma, chapter 12)Amulek's words had silenced Zeezrom, catching him in his attempt to destroy Amulek by lying and deceiving. He was now shaking under a consciousness of his guilt. Seeing this, Alma spoke to Zeezrom, explaining the scriptures beyond what Amulek had done.
By now a great crowd had gathered. They heard Alma say to Zeezrom,
"You know that your lying and craftiness have been exposed. You have lied to men and to God, who knows all your thoughts.
You also know that your thoughts are made known to us by His Spirit. And you know that we know of your very subtle plan, as subtle as the devil's, to lie and thereby deceive this people, that you might turn them against us, to hate us and throw us out.
This was the plan of your adversary, who has exercised his power in you.
Now remember, what I say to you I say to all. This was the devil's trap, which he has laid to catch this people--to bring you under his power and surround you with his chains--to chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity."
As Alma said this, Zeezrom trembled even more, for he was convinced more and more of God's power. He was also convinced that Alma and Amulek knew the thoughts and intentions of his heart, for they were given the power to know these things by the spirit of prophecy.
Now Zeezrom began to ask sincerely to know more about God's kingdom. He asked Alma,
"What does Amulek mean when he speaks about the resurrection of the dead--that all will rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and stand before God to be judged according to their works?"
Alma answered Zeezrom, explaining,
"God gives many people a knowledge of His mysteries. God also gives them a strict command not to say more than He wants them to say.
God gives more of His words to those who diligently obey what He has already given them. Those who do not harden their hearts receive more of His words until they know all of His mysteries.
Those who harden their hearts are given less and less, until they know nothing about God's mysteries. Then they are taken captive by the devil and are led by his will down to destruction. This is what is meant by the chains of hell.
Amulek has spoken plainly about death, about being raised from mortality to a state of immortality, and about being brought before God to be judged according to our works.
On that day of judgment, if we have hardened our hearts against God's words, so that we do not know them, then we will be in an awful state of condemnation.
If we have hardened our hearts against God's words, then our words, actions, and even our thoughts will condemn us, and we will not be found spotless before Him.
Note: Proof that he had studied the Nephites' records, above Alma makes a clear reference to the following words of King Benjamin, spoken about 60 years prior to Alma's time...."But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not." --- Mosiah 4:30.
And in this awful state, we would not dare look up at our God. We would be more happy if we could command rocks and mountains to fall on us and hide us from His presence.
But this cannot be. We must stand before Him in His glory, power, might, majesty and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all His judgments are just--that He is just in all His works, that He is merciful to all His children, and that He has all power to save those who believe in Him and show by their actions that they have repented.
Then a second death comes to those who die in their sins--a spiritual death, for they will become dead to righteousness.
At that time, their torment will be like a lake of burning sulfur with flames that go up forever. They will be chained down to an everlasting destruction according to Satan's power of captivity.
They will be as if no redemption had ever been made, for they will not be worthy to be redeemed according to God's justice. And in this awful state, they cannot die, for all will live forever."
When Alma finished speaking, the people were even more astonished. But there was one among them named Antionah, a chief ruler. He said, "What is this you have said--that we will rise from the dead and become immortal, with a soul that can never die? What about the scripture that says,
'God placed an angel with a flaming sword near the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve from eating fruit of the tree of life and living forever.'
If God kept our first parents from becoming immortal, how can we, their offspring, possibly live forever?"
Alma answered, "We believe that Adam and Eve fell by eating of the forbidden fruit. Because of their fall, all their descendants became lost and fallen from God's presence.
At that time, if Adam and Eve had eaten of the fruit of the tree of life, they would h
