Alma 17 – 29

First, important definition I forgot last time. To “wrest the scriptures” is to distort the meaning or interpretation of them to suit one’s own interests or views.

Alma 17:2

“…they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.”

“3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting”

From The Book of Mormon Study Guide, “In order to come unto Christ and be perfected in him, each person needs to receive a testimony of the Lord’s words. Some individuals falter because they fail to open the books, others because they read casually. As one would expect, there is a difference between diligent searching or ‘pondering over the scriptures’ and casual reading…

“There are certain blessings obtained when one searches the scriptures. As a person studies the words of the Lord and obeys them, he or she draws closer to the Savior and obtains a greater desire to live a righteous life. The power to resist temptation increases, and spiritual weaknesses are overcome. Spiritual wounds are healed” (Bateman, “Coming unto Christ,” 27).

Alma 17:11 “….and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.”

What does the illustration of being an instrument make you think of? What is important for a musical instrument to play beautifully? For a tool to work properly? How does that relate to being an instrument for the Lord?

Alma 17:15, “Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance.”

Alma 19:36, “And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.”

Notice the common thread, anybody who repents can be forgiven.

Alma 17:25 Lamoni wanted Ammon to marry one of his daughters? That was fast wasn’t it? But remember Ammon was a prince.

Alma 18:23 “And the king answered him, and said: yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.”

Wait what? Ammon used guile?

From the Book of Mormon Study Guide, “Although the word guile is frequently used to mean ‘deceitful cunning’ or ‘treachery,’ it can also denote the use of strategy. It is evidently used in the latter sense in Alma 18:23; in other words, Ammon planned or used strategy in arranging the questions he asked king Lamoni” (Ludlow, Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, 207)

On Alma 23:3, “The sons of these people of Ammon were the army of Helaman, who helped fight the nonconverted Lamanites (see Alma 56:3-6). So the strength of the army of Helaman really began with their parents, who were the people of Ammon” (Matsumori, “A lesson from the Book of Mormon, “76).

I hadn’t realized this until someone pointed it out a few months ago.

Alma 23:7 “… they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.”

“To set aside cherished ‘weapons of rebellion’ such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience requires more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility, repentance, and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion. Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from becoming converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now” (Bednar, “Converted unto the Lord,” 108-109)

Alma 26:32 “…and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren.”

Elder Renlund said, “Covenants anchor us to the Savior and propel us along the path that leads to our heavenly home. The power of covenants helps us maintain the mighty change of heart, deepen our conversion to the Lord, and receive Christ’s image more fully in our countenance. But a half-hearted commitment to our covenants will not guarantee us anything. We may be tempted to equivocate, throw our old ways in calm water, or bury our weapons of rebellion with the handles sticking out. But an ambivalent commitment to our covenants will not open the door to the sanctifying power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

When we are trying to quit a habit it is important to remove the temptations so that it is difficult to pick it up again. What weapons do you need to bury deep? What do you need to remove from your life? Your phone? Your room? Or your heart?

On Alma 23:17 and the name “Anti-Nehpi-Lehies”

“Book of Moron scholars suggested a variety of definitions for Anti-Nephi-Lehies. George Reynolds and Janne Sjodahl suggest that the word anti means a ‘mountain’ or ‘hill’ and conclude that the name ‘anti-Nephi-Lehies may mean that they were located in a hilly or mountainous country’—the land of Nephi and Lehi. Hugh Nibley suggests ‘a Semitic and common Indo-European root corresponding to anti that means “in the face of” or “facing,” as of one facing a mirror, and by extension either “one who opposes” or “one who imitates.’” Stephen Ricks suggest, ‘The name “Anti” of Anti-Nephi-Lehies may be a reflex of the Egyptian nty “he of, the one of.” Thus, rather than having the sense “against,” it has the meaning “the one of Nephi and Lehi”’”

Another theory I heard was the “Anti” refers to Nephi only, as in, not from Nephi, because they were not direct descendants of Nephi, but from Lehi.

On Alma 24:12-13, “Although today we speak of ‘stainless steel,’ in Joseph Smith’s day, metals were not generally thought of becoming stained, Staining was a term that generally applied to wood, cloth, or other substances subject to discoloration… If the Nephite swords were the Mesoamerican macuahuitl with a wooden shaft, blood would naturally stain and discolor the wood when an enemy was wounded… Thus the metaphor of the great mercy of God in removing bloodstains from the swords becomes much more powerful and understandable if it refers to wood stained with blood, which only a miracle would remove, rather than if it refers to metal stained with blood, which a piece of cloth would clean” (Hamblin and Merrill, “Swords, in the Book of Mormon.” 342).

Alma 25:2

Some of the Lamanites, mad about their brethren converting, attacked them. When they didn’t attack back they “were more angry because they had slain their brethren” and went and attacked the Nephites. Which city did they choose? Ammonihah, the one prophesied to be destroyed after rejecting Alma, Amulek, and Zeezrom.

Alma 28:8 “… and their incomprehensible joy”

Did you know the word “joy” appears 24 times in Alma 23-29?

“Elder Hafen relates this to what he calls ‘Lehi’s paradox: “He shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.’” Elder Hafen further explains: ‘There is a link between sorrow, toil, affliction, and ‘incomprehensible joy.’ Otherwise, there may only be innocence—‘having no joy, for they knew no misery’ (2Nephi 2:23)” (Hafen, broken Heart, 70).

“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy” (President Russell M. Nelson “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign  or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 820


Resources that may have been used:
Thomas R. Valletta's The Book of Mormon Study Guide Revised Edition 2019

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