Lesson Highlights

• Alma teaches the people how they can experience a "mighty change" of heart.
• Alma and the people establish the order of the Church in Zarahemla.
• Alma testifies of Jesus Christ. He encourages the people in Gideon to follow the Savior.

Scripture references for study:  Alma 5–7
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 22 Handout (PDF format)

A Mighty Change of Heart

1. Introduction.
• Following the reign of Mosiah, Alma (the younger) served as both chief judge and high priest to the Nephite nation.
• The Nephite nation suffered a time of war, both a civil war, and a war against the Lamanites.
• The church was established more fully in the land (see Alma 4).
  • There was peace in the land.
  • The people prospered.
  • Amidst this prosperity, many became proud and set their hearts upon the things of the world.
  • Alma stepped down from the judgeship and appointed Nephihah in his place.
  • "...that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty...seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them" (4:19).
• Alma 5 contains the discourse of Alma to the people in the land, first in Zarahemla, and then throughout the whole land.
• Brother Andrew C. Skinner: "Alma's testimony illuminates the practical application of the doctrines associated with rebirth and provides a kind of spiritual checklist by which the people then and we today can measure our spiritual stature. In addition, Alma's testimony demonstrates his consummate skill as a teacher." (Studies In Scripture, 7:296)
2. Alma speaks to the people.
• Alma speaks of his father establishing the church in the land of Mormon.
• Many were baptized in the waters of Mormon.
• The people were brought into bondage by the Lamanites and delivered by "the power" of the word of God.
• Alma asks some important questions:
• "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to the Church,
• Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
• Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them?
• Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?" (Alma 5:6)
• WHY IS ALMA SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE REMEMBERING THAT WHICH HAPPENED TO EARLIER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH?
• If people are made aware of such events, they may be more desirous to do what is right and learn from their experience.
• If this held true for the ancient Nephites, certainly it holds true for us today. As we study our great heritage we should be inspired to strengthen our testimonies and live more fully in accordance with that which we know to be true.
• Some years ago I took the opportunity to read The Life of Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney. As I read that book, much of it taken from Heber's journal, I was amazed at what incredible challenges our early brothers and sisters faced. I was inspired and humbled by their incredible faith. As I read accounts of moving from home to home, facing mobs, doing missionary work, leaving family to serve the Lord, I wondered if I would have the faith to meet such challenges. My study drove me towards a reexamination of my testimony and greater desire to serve the Lord.
• Alma recalls the mighty change that occurred in the hearts of these people.
• READ ALMA 5:10-13.
• HOW WERE THE HEARTS OF THESE PEOPLE CHANGED AND THEIR SALVATION MADE SURE?
• They believed the words of the prophets.
• Through their faith.
• They humbled themselves.
• Put their trust in God.
• They were faithful to the end.
3. Alma challenges the testimonies of the people by asking some probing questions. These questions were asked of members of the church. These are questions we must ask ourselves.
• "I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?" (v14)
• WHAT DOES ALMA MEAN WHEN HE ASKS THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH IF THEY HAVE BEEN SPIRITUALLY BORN OF GOD? WHY WOULD HE ASK MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH SUCH A QUESTION?
• To be spiritually born of God means more than just being baptized, attending church, or living the Word of Wisdom.
• To be spiritually born of God literally means that. To have received and been infused with his spirit.
• Elder Mark E. Peterson: "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. I do not believe that a person will ever see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.... That birth of the spirit means something more than most of us normally realize. Through proper teaching, a conviction is born in our soul. Faith develops. Through it we see how important it is to become like Christ. We see ourselves as we are in contrast to a Christlike soul. A desire for a change-over is born within us. The change-over begins. We call it repentance. Through our faith and as part of our conversion or change from one state to another, we begin to see sin in its true light.... We strive with all our souls to become like the Savior." (quoted in A Companion To Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p197)
• Subsequent verses further define Alma's meaning.
• "Have ye received his image in your countenances?" (v14)
• THIS IS POWERFUL LANGUAGE.  WHAT IS ALMA SAYING?
• Brother Andrew Skinner: "An 'image' is not just an outward visual impression but also a vivid representation, a graphic display, or a total likeness of something. It is a person or thing very much like another, a copy or counterpart. Likewise, countenance does not simply mean a facial expression or visual appearance. The word comes from an old French term originally denoting 'behavior,' 'demeanor,' or 'conduct.' In earlier times the word countenance was used with these meanings in mind.

    "Therefore to receive Christ's image in one's countenance means to acquire the Savior's likeness in behavior, to be a copy or reflection of the Master's life. This is not possible without a mighty change in one's pattern of living. It requires, too, a change in feelings, attitudes, desires, and spiritual commitment. This involves the heart." (Studies In Scripture, 7:301)
• Consider these thoughts:
• What difference will it make as teach our children if we have truly received the Lord's image in our countenances?
• How will we conduct our daily lives, at work, in civic affairs, at home, if we have truly received his image in our countenances?
• "Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" (v14)
• Alma is asking these people if they have had the same great change in heart that was experienced by their fathers at the waters of Mormon.
• WHAT DOES HE MEAN WHEN HE ASKS IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED A "MIGHTY CHANGE" IN THEIR HEARTS?
• We hearken back to the experience of King Benjamin and his people.
• "And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.
And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:1-2)
• This mighty change of heart causes one to desire righteousness and turn from evil. It causes one to obey the Lord in love.
• WHAT MUST WE DO TO EXPERIENCE THIS "MIGHTY CHANGE" OF HEART?
• Consider the people of King Benjamin:
• They were touched by his words.
• They humbled themselves.
• Called upon the name of the Lord, in faith.
• It was after this that "the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them" (Mosiah 4:3).
• HOW DID THIS AFFECT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES?
• They lived in righteousness.
• WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH EXPERIENCE THIS MIGHTY CHANGE?
• Heber C. Kimball:
• "The time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a test, a test coming, and who will be able to stand?"  (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p446)
• "The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?"  (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p450)
• Those that have had this "mighty" change wrought upon their hearts will be those that stand.
• "Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?" (v15)
• Alma continues to further define his original question and have the people probe their own hearts and evaluate their souls. Have they truly been "spiritually born of God"?
• WHAT DOES THIS QUESTION ENTAIL?
• As James wrote, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20)
• Faith entails doing the works of righteousness:
• Prayer.
• Keeping all the commandments.
• Serving your fellow man.
• Striving for the salvation of your fellow man.
• Our works of faith are evidence of spiritual rebirth.
• One who claims to have had this mighty change, but has not, will not continue in mighty works.
• "Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?" (v15)
• This is a good test of our testimony, spiritual birth, or mighty change.
• Can you imagine yourself standing before the judgment bar of God at this moment and looking forward to it.
• Alma continues to pursue questions concerning the great judgment day:
• "I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?" (v16)
• "Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say--Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth--and that he will save you?
Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?" (v17-18)
• "Can ye look up at God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?" (v19)
• "Can ye look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" (v19)
• Again, Alma refers to having the image of God upon us, but he emphasizes it further by using the word "engraven."
• "I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?" (v20)
• Alma then testifies that those who have not had this "mighty change" wrought upon them cannot stand at the last day.
• "I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins." (v21)
4. Alma then continues by asking another series of questions that further defines the definition of "spiritual birth" and "the mighty change of heart."
   • These questions are directed at the members of the church, those who have partaken of the "spiritual birth" and "the mighty change of heart."
   • "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (v26)
   • Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "It is not enough for us to have once been close to the Savior. (So was Sidney Rigdon.) Alma said, if we have once 'felt to sing the song of redeeming love,' can we 'feel so now?' Dutiful discipleship creates many happy memories, but it does not make nostalgia a substitute for fresh achievement." (Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, p88)
   • This is one good reason to read the Book of Mormon at least once each year. Alma's sermon serves as a reminder to carefully re-examine our testimony.
   • He asks asks us if we "continue to sing the song of redeeming love?"
   • He further challenges us with additional questions.
   • "Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?" (v27)
   • WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD? MUST WE BE PERFECT?
   • Have we made every effort to keep the commandments.
   • Have we strived to keep our thoughts and lives pure.
   • Have we strived to treat our fellow men with courtesy, dignity, and love.
   • "Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?" (v27)
   • President Marion G. Romney commented on these verses: "The implication of these questions is in strict harmony with the teachings of all the prophets and of the Lord himself. They all proclaim that he who can at that great day look up to God with the pure heart and clean hands that will qualify him for eternal life is he who so lives as to retain, to the end of his life, the forgiveness received through baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost." (Learning for the Eternities, p135)
   • "Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?" (v27)
   • WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
   • Humility is the opposite of pride.
     • Pride in the Book of Mormon: Serving the carnal man by striving for material gain, higher position over our fellow man, and participating in the pleasures of the flesh.
   • Yielding to the enticings of the Spirit and heeding the words of the Prophets.
   • "Behold, are ye stripped of pride?" (v28)
   • WHAT IF WE ARE NOT STRIPPED OF THIS PRIDE?
   • You are not prepared to meet God (v28).
   • You must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of God is at hand (v28).
   • "Is there one among you that is not stripped of envy?" (v29)
   • If not, you are not prepared.
   • Prepare quickly.
   • Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet wrote: "The antidote to virtually every spiritual ill is charity. When the people of the Lord's fold are filled with his pure love, they seek to build up one another, take joy in the accomplishments or acquisitions of one another, and feel no desire to have more than they need. Some of the most serious sins known to mankind, such as murder and adultery, are generally due to pride and envy and covetousness." (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 3: 33)
   • "And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?" (v30)
   • HOW MIGHT WE BE GUILTY OF SUCH BEHAVIOR?
   • If not, we are not prepared.
   • Alma issues an invitation to those who have not brought their lives in compliance with the above principles:
   • "Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it! Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely." (Alma 5:32-34)
   • Alma emphasized in some of the preceding verses the necessity of preparing quickly.
   • HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THE TEMPTATION TO PROCRASTINATE OUR PREPARATION?
   • Alma continues to speak to the people, those that have been worthy members of the church and have fallen into iniquity.
   • They have ceased to follow the good shepherd, Christ.
   • Alma says they are following a new shepherd, the devil.
   • "For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.
   Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him. And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works." (Alma 5:40-42)
   • President Kimball said that "Sin...is service to Satan".  (Miracle of Forgiveness, p20)
   • HAVE WE THOUGHT OF SIN THIS WAY?  DO WE WANT TO BE IN SERVICE TO THIS MONSTER?
   • And yet we serve Satan when we have pride, envy, and do not give heed to voice of the Good Shepherd.
5. HOW CAN WE GAIN OR STRENGTHEN OUR TESTIMONIES?
• What did Alma do?
• READ ALMA 5:45-47.
• WHY DO YOU THINK ALMA EMPHASIZED THE POINT THAT TESTIMONIES COME AS SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS?
• HOW CAN WE DEVELOP GREATER SENSITIVITY TO THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT?
• HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CHILDREN DEVELOP THIS SENSITIVITY?
6. Alma's Warning To The People.
• "And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches? Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance-- Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them? And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent." (Alma 5:53-56)
• Alma indicates that all of this is issued by way of commandment to the members of the church and by way of invitation to the non-members. (v62)
• Alma's promise to those who repent and are baptized (speaking to the people in the land of Gideon in chapter 7).
• READ ALMA 7:14-16.

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on Alma's great sermon. How would you respond to Alma's questions to the people?

Resources Used In This Lesson

• A Companion To Your Study of the Book of Mormon by Daniel H. Ludlow.
• Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Volume 3, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet.
• Learning for the Eternities by Marion G. Romney.
• Life of Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney.
• The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball.
• Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book edited by Cory H. Maxwell.
• Studies in Scripture, Volume 7, edited by Kent P. Jackson.

Next Lesson

Lesson 23:  Alma 8–12