13:1
What is the priesthood? Is it power? Is it authority? “And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.” I believe the original name for the Melchizedek priesthood was “The holy priesthood after the order of the Son of God.” Alma suggests that order is a key word in describing the priesthood.
I think that the priesthood, especially keys in the priesthood, is the primary principle in maintaining order in God’s kingdom. Here and in heaven. Priesthood keys are what keep this church organized. People have specific, different responsibilities that don’t overlap. In a ward, a Bishop, Elder’s quorum president and the Teacher’s and Deacon’s quorum presidents hold keys. A stake or area president has different keys. The prophet and apostles hold all of the keys necessary to lead God’s kingdom on earth. Only the prophet has the authority to exercise all priesthood keys. These separate priesthood keys ensure order in the various organizations of the church.
Priesthood keys also control access to the blessings and ordinances of the priesthood. We know that Moses, Elijah, Elias, Peter, James, John and John the Baptist all returned to earth to deliver priesthood keys. These keys the sealing power and the gathering of Israel and the gospel of Abraham (Abrahamic covenant).
All of this can get confusing. It’s important that we remember that all priesthoods and keys serve one purpose that Alma explains. “And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.” All priesthood powers and authority and keys serve one purpose: to turn people to Christ.
They help us build the kingdom of God on earth through clarifying roles and responsibilities but also give us a greater understanding of our responsibilities of gathering Israel, performing ordinances for those who have died. What Elias brought gives us hope for our own eternal potential. All of this, again, is to point us to Christ and understand our role in his work.
13:3
“And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.” Those who would be called to the priesthood in this life demonstrated “faith and good works.”
It appears that our preparation in the premortal life has effect on our condition here. The character that we are born with retains our premortal development even though we have no memory of it. Our choices prepared us.
There is a phrase in this verse that isn’t repeated in scripture as far as I know. In talking about this “holy calling,” Alma states that it was “prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.” I’m not sure exactly what to make of this. It does make sense that a man who strives to be worthy of holding the priesthood and exercises that priesthood worthily receives some preparatory redemption. Worthy priesthood holders are redeemed to a degree to make them able to serve as true disciples of Christ. They have shed the natural man and have resisted this fallen world. Being valiant in the priesthood is a type of preparatory redemption that can not compare to the complete redemption offered by the grace of the Savior.
13:4
The phrase “hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds” is used over and over again in scripture. It would be helpful to fully understand what this means. I’m not sure I completely understand but I think this phrase is opposite of the phrase, “broken heart and contrite spirit.” If our hearts and minds are open, we will respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the promptings of the Spirit to lead us back to Christ. When we close our heart and calcify our brains, we become settled and immovable and uninspired. We follow the path of least resistance along the selfish path of leisure and pleasure.
13:10
The two principles of “faith and repentance” are used over and over and over again in the scriptures. Often, prophets are called to teach nothing but faith and repentance. When the gospel seems complicated, we must focus on our faith in Jesus Christ and how we can repent. That is our main responsibility. The other aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ are simply strengthening measures to help us.
Consider the covenants available to us. Consider the power of the Holy Ghost. These are blessings that help us progress in our discipleship. Thank God.
13:12
“Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.” We all want to be sanctified. We cannot sanctify ourselves. We are sanctified in this life by the Holy Ghost.
When this happens, we aren’t tempted by sin. In fact, we look upon sin “with abhorrence.” It can be exhausting to resist sin. It requires energy. But, if we are truly sanctified, it no longer requires effort. When we are made pure, not perfect, it is restful. Our energy can be directed at uplifting others and facing the natural effects of a fallen world. But all of that effort can be magnified by the power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost. As President Nelson talked about how life can be easier when yoked with Christ, “However, when you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He, and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world.” When not fighting the pull of this world, we can feel rest. He continued, “My plea to you this morning is to find rest from the intensity, uncertainty, and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through your covenants with God.” It’s beautiful.
The first, repeating, step to feeling this rest is repentance. “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.”
13:16
“Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.” Every ordinance is mean to be a type of Christ. Every ordinance is mean to turn our minds and hearts to him. Every ordinance is meant to be strengthening event that enhances our discipleship.
We need ordinances to help us look forward to Christ. We need the sacrament. We need baptism. We need the endowment ceremony in the temple. We need the sealing ordinance. I appreciate the incremental focus I receive as I partake of the sacrament. When I attend the temple, I leave elevated with my mind and heart cleared. The formal nature of the event helps me to ignore distractions and point my mind toward the Savior. Furthermore, participating in these activities frequently helps me to keep my mind pointed toward Him consistently. In other words, I am able to better “look forward to him for a remission of my sins.”
13:20
“Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.” We have the scriptures. We have the truth. The truth won’t change if we really, really want it to. We cannot break the commandments, we can only break ourselves against the commandments. As the Lord said to Saul, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
13:21, 27
Alma says something that is very true for ALL of us. “Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh.” For everyone reading this, we are all, likely, within 30-40 years of being done with this mortal life. It is likely that our timeline won’t involve Jesus returning but us returning to Jesus. His second coming will likely be after our first coming to him.
I say this to emphasize the point that now is the time to repent. The day of our salvation truly is near. Thirty years ago, my first child was born. I remember it well. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. That’s what I have left. Truly, “the day of salvation draweth nigh.”
Alma cares about these people. “And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” If we get into a pattern of procrastination, that pattern will continue until our procrastination becomes predestination. We can procrastinate our repentance long enough that our sins are much more fixed in our character.
13:23
Do we belong in this telestial world? Is this fallen world our home? Nope. We are strangers to this place. We are on a mission. God wants the gospel available to us so help. “Glad tidings of great joy…are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.” For those who are “highly favored” the purpose of life isn’t a mystery. Our trial is not to figure out the purpose of life. Our trial is to have faith in Jesus Christ and repent.
13:28
Being humble is a key to progression. I proud person doesn’t believe he can improve. He thinks he’s at the top already. None of us are on the top. We all have an infinite amount of progress in front of us. Alma understands the importance of humility. “But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering.”
13:29
“Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.” Faith in Christ and hope for our future are the two key factors that keep us moving forward.
If my progress is based on faith in myself, that’s not good because I’m largely pathetic in so many ways. However, Christ is perfect so, if I rely on him, I’m all but guaranteed success. Faith in Christ pulls me forward.
I must have hope for all that the Abrahamic covenant promises. I can receive eternal life with Heavenly Father. My hope pulls me forward.
14:3, 8
What can make someone upset faster than anything? Point out their wickedness. “And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to put them away privily.” They wanted to “put them away” by killing them. That’s how much they hated being criticized. We’re the same way.
In fact, they don’t want anything that might even remind them of their wickedness. They don’t want to feel guilty. One way that wicked people feel guilty is when there are righteous people to compare their wicked selves with. The answer is to get rid of all of those pesky righteous folks. Plus, anything written down that clarifies that what they’re doing is wrong must go. “And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.“
14:11
“But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and 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; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.” Consider if someone’s bad actions never had literal consequences. For example, say I intended to steal a sandwich. What if that sandwich disappeared the moment I went to steal it and I was unable. Could the police arrest me for stealing the sandwich? Of course not. So, even though I had already decided to steal the sandwich and even acted on that decision, there was no effect.
Could I be held accountable? Could there be punishment? Could their be any justice imposed? No, because the sandwich was never stolen. Unfortunately for me, The character digression that comes with stealing has already happened with no accountability.
I think this story about a sandwich relates to what Alma said about these people. Part of why the Spirit “constrained” Alma from saving the people was that the consequences of their bad decisions and actions could be in place. The spiritual development that will come from facing the consequences of bad choices can occur if the bad choices are allowed to happen.
I think this is why spiritual development in the spirit world is much harder than here. We can have all kinds of wicked desires that cannot come to fruition. Our ability to make bad choices are severely limited there - therefore our agency is limited as compared to mortality.
You could say that an actual prison is similar. Those criminals have no ability to rob a bank or stare at pornography. Their ability to choose good when wicked choices are available are limited - therefore limiting their growth.
14:14
Wicked people love to connect wickedness as a consequence of righteousness. A judge tried this with Alma and Amulek. “Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?” The judge attempt to connect the deaths of the people as a consequences of their teaching. The deaths of the people were directly connected to the wickedness of the people - not Alma and Amulek’s teachings!
What is the modern day version of this? Some examples may include:
“Your church sometimes separates families so your church cannot be good.”
“The high expectations for your youth causes anxiety and depression.”
“Abstinence before marriage creates problems in relationships.”
Wickedness is never righteous and righteousness is never wicked. Beware anyone who is telling you otherwise!
14:17-19
I think it’s interesting that Alma and Amulek wouldn’t answer the lawyers, judges, priests and teachers. Why wouldn’t they answer? Even at the threat of their life, they wouldn’t answer. “And it came to pass that the judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.” It reminds me of Christ not answering King Herod.
When don’t Alma, Amulek and Christ not answer a powerful person who could release them? I think it has something to do with dignity and futility. It is undignified to debate and grovel before someone who isn’t worthy of it. We shouldn’t “cast our pearls before swine.” It is futile to argue with someone who is so far gone and hardened that they cannot process truth when they hear it. All you are doing is devaluing the thing that you're saying.
14:22-25, 28
We all want deliverance from our trials. Alma and Amulek certainly didn’t enjoy being imprisoned. They suffered. “And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did they say unto them; and thus they did mock them for many days. And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with strong cords, and confined in prison.” God didn’t free them the first day or the second day or the third. It sounds like they were imprisoned for a while.
Even on the last day, God didn’t free them early on. “And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last;” There was a line of abusers and God allowed every single one of them to strike Alma and Amulek. God allows our trials to continue and continue. Does he save us from our problems? Rarely. Even in this case, God doesn’t save them but EMPOWERS them. “…and when the last had spoken unto them the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet.”
Alma and Amulek had faith. Their suffering didn’t dim that faith. “And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.” They had faith in Christ. They asked for strength. In this case, they wanted strength “even unto deliverance.” We can always receive strength to endure. Always. No exceptions. Strength to be delivered is another story. We may not be delivered in the short term. Our immediate problems might continue throughout our lives.
But, one day, every one of us will be delivered. We can be strengthened continually by the Spirit and Jesus Christ until that day. Everyone of us will be delivered from the trials of this world. It’s just a matter of when.
Truly understanding what it means to have faith in Christ is likely the most important principle that we can embrace as children of God. “And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ.” What does it mean that the Lord granted them power? What does that look like for us?
What is it like to receive power from Jesus Christ? Is it that we:
Feel energized and enlightened?
Experience increased motivation and can discern truth better?
See the path forward more clearly?
Are able to have a good attitude in the midst of struggle?
Can figure out problems that have frustrated us?
Learn something new more easily?
Gain another or additional perspective?
Feel less pain in a chronic health situation?
I think it can be any and all of these things. Receiving strength through Christ can manifest in a thousand different ways. The point is that we receive power to overcome the world. The Christian world is very familiar with Christ saying “Be of good cheer. For I have overcome the world.” What Latter Day Saints also know is that Christ invited that WE overcome the world. In D&C 64, we read, “For verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world.” Christ’s strength is essential in doing that. But all of us can overcome the focused natural world forces aligned to destroy us with a thousand cuts.
15:3, 6-10
Zeezrom was suffering because of his iniquities. They did “harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.” There was no relief for Zeezrom. I picture a pressure-cooker without any release valve. Without any way to relieve the pressure, the suffering and pain would just get worse and worse. It can be this way for many of us who are unaware of Christ’s healing power. If we don’t understand that our worst sins can be wiped away because of Jesus, That sinful suffering can expand.
Alma came to Zeezrom when called. Alma asked a question, informed Zeezrom of the solution and then requested that the Lord heal him.
“And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation? And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.”
“And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed. And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.”
“And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.”
This wasn’t complicated. This wasn’t impossible. Zeezrom simply needed to believe in the power of Christ unto salvation. Do we have faith enough to be healed? The process is exactly he same for us as it was for him. We must “believe in the redemption of Christ.”
Of course, there is always evidence of a healing. In Zeezrom’s case, his healing involved a cessation of the pain and suffering. But the evidence extended into him attempting to make things right. “And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.” Zeezrom attempted to right the wrongs that he had done. Having faith in Christ always involves following him. It is God’s work and glory that we have faith in Christ enough to follow him back to the presence of God.
15:16
You have to respect Amulek. He was a rich, influential, powerful, respected man. He was successful in every worldly definition. “And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred.” Rough. Amulek was rejected by his friends and family - including his own father. How hard would that be? Amazing faithfulness.
15:17
There’s an interesting term in this verse. “Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God…” I think that the church can provide a “check” for us.
To me, this sounds like a boundary. It sounds like the line provided in a coloring book. It sounds like guardrails on a dangerous road. The church organization provides a line that we know we shouldn’t cross. Without these checks, our variable consciences could invent all kinds of new standards.
Imagine that we didn’t have a church to lead us about what is right and wrong. We’d have an infinite number of personal standards that were all based on individual’s truths rather than THE truth.
16:16
This verse is hopeful for me. There are important people in my life whose hearts are currently hardened as to the things of the Spirit. I know that God can soften their hearts. “…the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming.” I find solace in the power of the Spirit to soften people’s hearts. I pray for it every day.
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