Alma 4

Alma 4

After horrible wars sending “thousands and tens of thousands…to the eternal world” (Alma 3:26) there was a period of peace among the Nephites during which thousands of Nephites were baptized.  For two years they prospered.  After this, the members of the Church began again to be prideful.  Alma 4 presents us a textbook case of how to and how not to be Christian.

Alma 3

Alma 3

“For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey” (v. 27).  It’s a basic law.  It couldn't be simpler to understand.  For example, some people who insist upon getting a great tan every summer will have rather leathery skin when they’re older from years of abuse in the sun.  For them the choices were: protect my skin, or get a great tan.  They will have received the wages of the choice they made. 

How do we teach our children this concept?  One way is through allowance.  If a child is paid an allowance only after chores are completed, the choices are:  do my chores, or goof off.  A child paid an allowance regardless of doing chores isn't being taught the Lord’s important simple lesson about wages.  Let us teach them, as Paul taught us: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Alma 2

Alma 2

When the combined army of the Lamanites and the Amlicites fell upon the fleeing Nephites it must have been a striking sight.  So many of the enemy!  Yet the Nephites prevailed in the battle – how?  With the Lord’s help.  He had strengthened them in answer to their prayers (see v. 28).  The combined forces which attack marriages and the family are as numerous as the hosts of the Lamanites and the Amlicites.  As the Nephites did, we can also pray to the Lord for His help in overcoming those enemies.  It requires the Lord’s help to prevail over evil forces.

Alma 1

Alma 1

This chapter begins a different kind of division among the Nephites.  It is not a division between believers and non-believers, but rather one of believers versus believers.  Both groups believed in the Lord, but some, led by a man named Nehor, believed that all men would have eternal life, whereas the Christians believed that eternal life wasn’t automatic.  Nehor’s preaching made him a wealthy man, and when he became rich, he was overcome with pride (see verse 6).  Thus overcome, Nehor contended over doctrine with the now elderly Gideon to the point of killing him.  Under Nephite law, Nehor was sentenced to death for murder.  And even though he confessed that his preaching hadn’t been of God (see verse 15), the popularity of his teaching wasn’t diminished.  And the two groups continued fighting against each other.  Ultimately many of the Christians also began to be proud (verse 22) and began to contend warmly with the Nehors.  This chapter teaches us that pride is the father of contention.  Let us watch ourselves carefully and understand that whenever we find ourselves arguing, pride is somewhere in the equation.  Let us humble ourselves and bring greater peace into our lives, as Alma and the Christians managed to do in verse 28.

Mosiah 29

Mosiah 29

For nearly 480 years, the Nephites had been ruled by kings.  When all of King Mosiah’s sons turned down the opportunity to succeed him as king of the Nephites, Mosiah suggested a different kind of government.  He reasoned that if a king causes people to sin, their iniquities are answered upon the head of that king.  But if there is no king, every man is equal to every other.  And if that is the case, each person is responsible for his own actions (see verses 30 – 32).  Mosiah’s desire was that his kingdom become a land of liberty, that everyone might “enjoy his rights and privileges alike.”  So King Mosiah established an organization of judges to succeed him in leading the people.

Mosiah 28

Mosiah 28

In this chapter, King Mosiah translated the Jaredite record that Limhi’s people brought with them when they joined the Nephites.  And though he allowed the people in Zarahemla to know what had been written by the Jaredites, it was not added to the Book of Mormon record that was being kept at that time.  Rather, we’re told it would be added to the record later.  Is the Jaredite record important?  Yes!  See verse 19.  So, why wasn't it included earlier in the record?  See Ether 4:1 for an answer that question.

Mosiah 27

Mosiah 27

In verse 30 lies a little nugget of love.  There Alma the Younger teaches us that the Lord “remembereth every creature of his creating.”  Neither in our joys nor in our sorrows does the Lord forget us.  We are something the Lord created.  He not only remembers each one of us individually, but He is a great support if we remember Him.