Lesson Highlights

• Alma calls the people of Ammonihah to repentance, but they reject him.
• Amulek preaches to the people of Ammonihah.
• Amulek contends with Zeezrom and testifies of Christ.
• Alma further explains Amulek's words and warns against hard-heartedness.

Scripture references for study:  Alma 8–12
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 23 Handout (PDF format)

Introduction

1. After having taught his mighty sermon on spiritual rebirth, Alma set the church in order in Zarahemla. He did this prior to beginning a journey  to other parts of the land preach the gospel (see Alma 6).
2. Alma went to the land of Gideon where he (see Alma 7):
• Testified of the mission of Jesus Christ.
• Taught the necessity of faith, repentance, baptism.
• Encouraged the qualities of faith, hope, and charity.
3. Alma 8.
• Alma preaches in the land of Melek with great success.
• Alma continued his mission in the land of Ammonihah.
• "Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma." (Alma 8:9)
• The people "withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron." (Alma 8:13)
• On his way to the land of Aaron an angel appeared to Alma, gave him a warning about the people and their intentions, and commanded him to return to the land of Ammonihah.
• Alma did not question the angel, but "returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah" (Alma 8:18).
• Upon returning to the land of Ammonihah, he entered "the city by another way" and was met by Amulek who had received instructions from an angel to host Alma.
• LIKE THE PREPARATIONS MADE FOR ALMA'S MISSION, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE LORD PREPARE A WAY FOR YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP DO HIS WORK?
• There is much evidence of this in Church history.
• Consider Wilford Woodruff's mission to England and the great conversions in Herefordshire. The people of this area had been searching for truth. Their hearts had been prepared. In just a few months, Elder Woodruff was responsible for the baptisms of nearly 2000 people.
• Each missionary that goes out, seems to have doors opened to assist him or her in getting on the mission and then finding those the Lord would have them find.
• Alma, accompanied by Amulek, went out and began to preach to the people of Ammonihah.

Alma 9

1. Alma returns to his preaching to the people of Ammonihah.
• READ ALMA 9:1-6. The response of the Ammonihahites to Alma.
• WHAT ARGUMENTS DID THE PEOPLE OF AMMONIHAH USE IN ATTEMPTING TO REJECT ALMA AS HE  BEGAN PREACHING TO THEM A SECOND TIME?
• "Who art thou?" (v2).
• They did not recognize the authority and standing of Alma as the high priest of the church, nor did they recognize the nature of this divinely appointed mission. It was an excuse.
• "We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day" (v4).
• Another statement that they did not recognize Alma's authority and also a statement about their lack of faith.
• "Who is God, that sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things?" (v6).
• Just another excuse. They said they were unwilling to believe the testimony of one man.
• WHY DO MANY PEOPLE TODAY IGNORE THE IMPORTANT TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL?
• Many, like the people of Ammonihah, are so caught up in their deviant lifestyles and sins, that they will use any convenient excuse to justify their behavior and refuse to listen to the truth.
2. The people forget the tradition of their fathers.
• As you recall from Lesson 22 (Alma 5), Alma was concerned about the members of the church remembering the experiences of their fathers.
• We see in Alma's visit to Ammonihah the results of not holding in remembrance those that went before.
• "Behold, O ye wicked and perverse generation, how have ye forgotten the tradition of your fathers; yea, how soon ye have forgotten the commandments of God." (v8).
• Again we see the importance of remembering those who went before and the importance of recording our sacred experiences in our journals.
It may be our written words that might motivate or provoke some future family member to repent and/or to stay faithful.
3. Sinning against light and knowledge.
• READ ALMA 9:19-23.
• WHY DOES GOD EXPECT MORE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE THE GOSPEL THAN FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT?
• "...after having had all things made known unto them, according to their desires, and their faith, and prayers" (v20).
• They had been revealed sacred and eternal truths, pearls of great price.  Once they have been given this valuable knowledge, why should they than be able to turn away from these truths without consequence?
• "And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them." (v23).
• Brigham Young: "Those who do not profess to know anything of the Lord are far better off than we are, unless we live our religion, for we who know our Master's will and do it not will be beaten with many stripes; while they who do not know the Master's will and do it not will be beaten with few stripes. This is perfectly reasonable. We cannot chastise a child for doing that which is contrary to our wills, if he knows no better; but when our children are taught better and know what is required of them, if they then rebel, of course, they expect to be chastised, and it is perfectly right that they should be." (JD, 16:110-11)
• HOW CAN WE COME TO VIEW THIS EXPECTATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY RATHER THAN A BURDEN?
• We need to remember and consider the blessings and positive consequences that come from living righteously.
• "Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been--if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil."
(Alma 9:28)
• Remember what eventually happened to the city of Ammonihah (see Alma 16).

Alma 10

1. Amulek begins teaching.
2. He talks of his own conversion.
• Amulek says he is a man "of no small reputation" and that he has many kindreds and friends. Further, he acquired many riches by the hand of his industry (v4).
• Amulek continued by stating that he had never "known much of the ways of the Lord" (v5).
• He said, "I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear" (v6).
• DO WE EVER HARDEN OUR HEARTS AND TUNE OUT THE WHISPERINGS OF THE SPIRIT (WHICH ARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD DIRECTLY TO US)?
• HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE RECEPTIVE TO HIS COMMUNICATIONS?
• Obedience, prayer, scripture study, etc.
• We must give heed to his words when we do hear them. This is absolutely essential. Why would the Lord continue to bless us with revelation and communication if we ignore his counsel?
• Receiving revelation and communication from the Lord requires practice.
3. The prayers of the righteous.
• READ ALMA 10: 22-23.
• WHAT DID AMULEK TEACH ABOUT THE POWER OF THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS?
• There is great power in prayer and righteous living, even to the preservation of a society.
• Spencer W. Kimball speaking of our day said: "There are many many upright and faithful who live all the commandments and whose lives and prayers keep the world from destruction." (CR, Apr 1971)
• HOW DO YOU THINK THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE HELPED COUNTER THE EFFECTS OF WICKEDNESS TODAY?
4. "And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges."
(v27)
• Remember that the Book of Mormon is written to us in our day.
• DO WE SEE THIS HAPPENING IN OUR OWN SOCIETY?
  • Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet: "One of the signs of moral decay, of apostasy and corruption within a society, is an emphasis on technicalities of law. This comes about when, in order to advance their cause, people seek to play the letter against the spirit of the law and in effect to legalize chicanery. Among the pure in heart God's laws are etched on the soul; they are found written in the countenances and inscribed on the inward parts. Among the perverse, however, law is a means of accomplishing the manipulation of others. Both anciently and in our own day, lawyers who seek to uphold the law, who strive to bring the lawless to account, who earnestly endeavor to protect the rights of all-these perform a valuable and appreciated service in society. On the other hand, when lawyers undertake to generate business for themselves by encouraging litigation in instances when patience and long-suffering would be more appropriate; when they cover up the truth; when their manipulations result in the guilty not being brought to justice, thereby penalizing and punishing the innocent; and when they employ the witchery of words or the sophistry of speech to deceive the unwary or the trusting-when they do such things they have become pawns in the hand of the Father of all lies. They have sold their souls. Amulek stated the matter simply: 'The foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges'." (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 3: 72)
• "Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ." (v32)
• "Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them." (Alma 11:20)
• IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY?
• Judges are either elected or they are appointed by elected officials. We must be more active in the political process:  voting, campaigning, and supporting worthy candidates.  We need to do all of this prayerfully and not be caught up in the hype that attends politics.

Alma 11

1. "And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?" (v21).
• Amulek's response: "Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord" (v22).
2. WHAT WAS ZEEZROM'S FIRST REQUEST?
• "Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being" (v22).
• Here we see evidence of a corrupt lawyer and man. It would seem that Zeezrom's most effective tool for dealing with judges and witnesses was to buy their testimony. He could once again demonstrate his "great skill" as a lawyer by getting Alma's chief witness to change or deny his testimony.
• HOW DID AMULEK RESPOND?
• "O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations? Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him" (v23-24).
• Zeezrom was a man who denied the truth. Amulek was the absolute opposite, he simply told the truth in plain terms. That is easy to do when you act "according to the Spirit."
3. Zeezrom learned that Amulek was a man of conviction. Since bribery did not work, he then attempted to trap Amulek through a line of questioning.
• After asking some questions about God, Zeezrom asked if the Son of God would save the people in their sins.
• "And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word" (v34).
• Zeezrom attempts to set the trap by catching Amulek in a contradiction: "Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people--as though he had authority to command God" (v35).
• Amulek continues to tell the plain truth:  "Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins. And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins" (v36-37).
4. Amulek then went on and taught Zeezrom and the people about the Atonement, the resurrection, and the judgment.
• "Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble" (v46).
• Apparently the truth was a rare thing in Ammonihah. The people were "astonished" and Zeezrom knew that he had been the one trapped.

Alma 12

1. Once again, Alma begins speaking .
2. Snares of the devil.
• If Zeezrom had not heard enough of the truth, Alma painted the picture even more clearly.
• READ ALMA 12:3-6.
• WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT SATAN FROM ALMA'S RESPONSE TO ZEEZROM?
• He will use any means necessary to thwart the work of salvation.
• President Harold B. Lee: "Note carefully that . . . our most deadly contest in life is not with human enemies which may come with guns, with army tanks, or bombing planes to destroy us, but that our eternal struggle is with enemies which strike out of darkness and may not be perceived by human senses." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p.330)
• HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST SATAN'S SUBTLE DEVICES?
• Put on the "whole armour of God" (see Ephesians 6:11-18).
• HOW CAN WE TEACH CHILDREN TO RECOGNIZE AND REJECT SATAN'S INFLUENCE?
3. Knowledge of the Lord.
• READ ALMA 12:9-11.
• HOW DOES THE CONDITION OF OUR HEARTS AFFECT OUT RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD?
• Joseph Smith: "Many men will say, 'I will never forsake you, but will stand by you at all times.' But the moment you teach them some of the mysteries of the kingdom of God that are retained in the heavens and are to be revealed to the children of men when they are prepared for them they will be the first to stone you and put you to death." (TPJS, p309)
• Joseph Smith: "I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them. The Lord deals with this people as a tender parent with a child, communicating light and intelligence and the knowledge of his ways as they can bear it." (TPJS, p304)
• HOW CAN WE DEVELOP HEARTS THAT RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND, AND ACCEPT THE WORD OF GOD?
• Consider Nephi's words: "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers." (1 Nephi 2:16)
• "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?--If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you." (1 Nephi 15:11)
4. The plan of redemption.
• READ ALMA 12:25-37.
• WHAT INSIGHTS INTO GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR REDEMPTION DO YOU GAIN FROM ALMA'S TEACHINGS?
• WHY DO YOU THINK ALMA EMPHASIZED THAT GOD PREPARED THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION "FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD"? (v25 & 30)
• WHAT DOES THIS DISCOURSE TEACH US ABOUT WHY GOD GAVE US COMMANDMENTS?

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on the teachings of Alma and Amulek. What have you learned that can become part of your life? How do we respond to the Zeezrom's around us?

Resources Used In This Lesson

• Conference Reports (CR).
• Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Volume 3, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet.
• Journal of Discourses (JD).
• Stand Ye In Holy Places by Harold B. Lee.
• Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS).

Next Lesson

Lesson 24:  Alma 13–16