A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 16 In this chapter, there is an account of a war between the Lamanites and the Nephites. It came at the end of a period of elongated peace. Before the Nephites are able to gather sufficient strength to withstand the Lamanite army, the town of Ammonihah is consumed. Other Nephites are taken captive. Fortunately, their military leader is a man by the name of Zoram who inquires of Alma as to where to go to find those Nephites that had been taken captive. Alma, being possessor of the spirit of prophecy, is able to tell Zoram exactly where to find the prisoners upon inquiry from the Lord. (See verses 4-8 ) The people of Ammonihah are destroyed in one day. ( vs. 10 ) --- After the wars are past, the work of the ministry is resumed. Alma and Amulek continued "preaching repentance to the people" together. (See vs. 13 ) In verse 14 , there is a hidden gem: "And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons , cont...

Alma 15 This chapter addresses something that I feel that I am not very good at: ministering to the sick and the poor. The story of Zeezrom also concludes in this chapter, he (having been taken gravely ill) being the key player to whom Alma administered to. (Side note: In times past, my wife and I have also discussed this chapter as evidence of how sin and one's mental and emotional state can have a direct impact on the physical well being of an individual.) After Alma and Amulek's miraculous deliverance from the prison at Ammonihah, they were commanded to leave that town. ( vs. 1 ) At Sidom, many of those who believed the preaching of Alma and Amulek had resorted there, and at Alma's arrival they learned of the fate of the wives and children, and also their own miraculous deliverance. The first case study in this chapter is Zeezrom. Zeezrom is fully convinced that Alma and Amulek were no more and that their destruction rested fully upon his own shoulders. The mental and sp...

Alma 14 This is a most painful account of discipleship and the potential cost of such. Alma's ability to discern impression of the Spirit in the midst of such opposition is notable, because it instructed him when to act and how to act. It also gave him hope for those who were taken from this life prematurely. There is also a great deal to learn here about justice and the judgments of God. How incredibly patient is God with his children! Slow to execute judgment unto destruction, even against his wicked children who would murder the innocent. "...He doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just," ( vs. 11 ). In my mind, it seems that sometimes mortal judgments are executed to prevent the wicked from sinning further. Sodom and Gomorah comes to mind when the Savior said "But I say unto you, That it shall be...

Alma 13:20-31 Alma now brings all this message home, by declaring repentance to the people of Ammonihah ( vs. 20 ). Vs. 22 - This verse is an interesting reminder of the work of angels in preparing the way for salvation to be ministered among all nations. Vs. 23 - The Nephites had it different than the Jewish nation. Amongst the Nephites the terms of salvation were plain to be understood. This privilege was extended to them because of their being made wanderers in a strange land. Sacrifice frequently brings spiritual advantages. Vs. 24 - All the land of the Nephites (and even the Lamanites, I would suppose) were being prepared through the ministering of angels for the time of Christ's coming, that the people would be prepared to receive his word. I find it curious that Alma, the spiritual head of the Church during his time, was made aware of this ministering from beyond the veil -- as if efforts were being coordinated between heaven and earth. How much we don't know! I feel ...

Alma 13:14-19 I don't know, or I don't believe that we have anywhere in modern, available scripture a more accurate or accessible account of Melchizedek, who lived during the time of Abraham. I find it curious that the people of his land, the land of Salem, "had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination... full of all manner of wickedness." ( vs. 17 ) The form and manner in which he choose to address this great difficulty was to become ordained to the priesthood and then preach repentance unto his people. To which his people responded by repenting. (see vs. 18 ) I find in this hope that at any time, one can decide where he stands before God, and take action to change the course of his own life, and literally the direction of the community where he lives.

Alma 13:1-13 Immediately following a discussion on the Plan of Redemption and a call to repentance at the end of chapter 12 , Alma then begins to discuss the priesthood and the calling of high priests. Perhaps it's a little clearer in my mind this time as I read it, but the two topics are more closely related than I had previously supposed. The difference between those called to the high priesthood and those who are not is distinguished solely by the individual's ability to exercise faith and perform good works. Alma explains that in all other regards men are equal (see vs. 4-5 ). The great divide among men is on whether men will repent of their sins and exercise faith in Christ, or not. The purposes of this high priesthood is to point men to Christ (see vs. 9 ), even the residue of men, that they might see how it is that they can return to God by following the path that those who have been ordained high priests have had to follow in order to qualify for that ordination.

Alma 12:25-37 In the corruption of Christianity through the means of the great Apostasy, one of the greatest cover-ups that Satan has tried to execute is the reality of a plan: a plan of redemption. No where in scripture is the reality of the plan of redemption (also called the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, etc. -- it's all the same plan) more clearly explained. Repeatedly, Alma asserts that this plan was prepared from the foundation of the world, and that everything that has transpired since then has been according to plan. (There are 7 specific references to the "plan of redemption" in the end of this chapter.) As discussed previously, there was a plan laid so that when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit that they would still be allowed a period of probation, in order that they may prepare to return to God's presence. The verses then that follow explain how without the plan, there would have been no resurrection, no probationary state, and the w...