Chapters 14 – 16 of the book of Alma relate the aftermath of Alma’s and Amulek’s teachings to the Ammonihahites. I hope you’ll forgive my wordiness, these chapters give us much to learn from with respect to fulfilling our duties, withstanding abuse, faithfulness in the face of catastrophe, and other great lessons.
After Alma and Amulek finished addressing the people of Ammonihah, some of the people believed what they had been taught. “But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges. 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” (Alma 14:2-3).
The angry people, mostly of the Order of Nehor, included the chief judge of the land, lawyers, teachers and others. They took Alma and Amulek, treated them roughly and put them in prison.
I thought it would be interesting to consider the events of these chapters from four different angles... These are versions of what happened from the perspective of each of the major participants discussed in chapters 14 through 16 of the book of Alma.
Zeezrom's story:
Although he led the charge to discredit and convict Alma and Amulek, it turned out that Zeezrom had a conscience and a spark of spirit. As Amulek and Alma spoke, Zeezrom became more and more weighed down by their words and began to tremble with his guilt. Eventually he was so affected that he was astounded at the crowd’s reaction to the teachings that profoundly affected him. Zeezrom protested to the treatment of Alma and Amulek by his former allies, saying “Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God” (Alma 14:7). As a result, Zeezrom is mocked, accused of being insane, driven out and had stones thrown at him. Heavily weighed down by his guilt, Zeezrom made his way to Sidom with the other outcast believers. He was so affected by his sins and actions that he came down with a burning fever.
When Alma and Amulek finally arrived in Sidom, Zeezrom took heart because they were alive, after he thought they had been killed because of his actions. Zeezrom asked to see Alma and Amulek, and they came to his sick bed where he asked for them to heal him. Although it doesn’t mention it in the narrative, I believe that Zeezrom sincerely sought for Alma’s and Amulek’s forgiveness. Lesson alert: Can we truly be magnanimous toward someone who may have offended or harmed us in some way? As the Savior said: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (Doctrine & Covenants 64:10).
Alma, desiring to heal Zeezrom, asked him if he believed the Savior could heal him. Zeezrom replied "yea, I believe all thy words" (Alma 15:7). Alma clarified his first question, saying “If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed” (Alma 15:8). This clarification should be noted: When we truly believe in Christ, many blessings can be, and are, given to us. What does it mean to truly believe in the redemption of Christ? Ponder that carefully, and remember that Jesus himself said: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne 27:27). Live our lives to emulate the Savior’s example.
Zeezrom told Alma “Yea, I believe according to thy words” (Alma 15:9). Alma blessed Zeezrom and he was healed by the power of God; he leaped to his feet, cured of his maladies. We read that he went about teaching the Gospel... Later in the book of Alma we read of Zeezrom accompanying Alma on a mission to the Zoramites. Clearly Zeezrom’s life was turned around from his encounter with Alma and Amulek. I think Zeezrom’s conversion is comparable to Alma’s conversion, with Alma playing the part of the angel of the Lord. I wonder if Alma felt there was a similarity between Zeezrom and himself. I wonder if we feel gratitude to those who helped us obtain and build a testimony. I hope we each have the opportunity to be a spiritual mentor to someone else.
The Believers’ story:
“And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures” (Alma 14:1). Is it any surprise that such powerful spiritual addresses as was given at Ammonihah would touch many people listening? Have you ever been moved to tears by a general conference talk? I have.
Unfortunately, the bulk of the people at Ammonihah were beyond feeling spiritual things and took it out on the people who believed Alma and Amulek’s teachings. The people evicted the believers from Ammonihah, throwing stones at them to drive them away. Furthermore, they took the women and children of these believing people into custody and all those who believed were burned to death, along with their scriptures and records. I can’t imagine a more painful and horrible way to die. The interesting thing of this story is: the wicked Ammonihahites purposely, but unwittingly, destroyed the only things in their city that would prevent their total destruction… This is analogous to the Old Testament story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah… Abraham asks if the city will be spared for the sake of 50 righteous people… He then asks if it will be spared for the sake of 45, then 40, 30, 20 and finally 10 righteous people, and each time is given an affirmative answer (see Genesis 18:16-33). The wicked Ammonihahites basically cooked their own goose.
The believers who fled Ammonihah went to the more righteous city of Sidom and were cared for by the good people there. They probably became part of the church that Alma later established in Sidom and would have added greatly to the spirit there.
Imagine, though, receiving the awful news that their loved ones had been burned to death by the dastardly people who had so recently driven them out. Hopefully their new-found faith sustained them in such a terrible event. Many good people have terrible things happen to them. Some might rend their clothes, curse God, say “why me?” Others might cling to the hope that the Gospel Plan gives us. God’s love can bring us peace, even in awful circumstances. Testimony of God’s plan can bring us hope in the face of devastation. It’s important to fortify our faith in God and build and strengthen our testimonies on a daily basis.
The other two stories will be in my next post…
Don
When Alma and Amulek finally arrived in Sidom, Zeezrom took heart because they were alive, after he thought they had been killed because of his actions. Zeezrom asked to see Alma and Amulek, and they came to his sick bed where he asked for them to heal him. Although it doesn’t mention it in the narrative, I believe that Zeezrom sincerely sought for Alma’s and Amulek’s forgiveness. Lesson alert: Can we truly be magnanimous toward someone who may have offended or harmed us in some way? As the Savior said: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (Doctrine & Covenants 64:10).
Alma, desiring to heal Zeezrom, asked him if he believed the Savior could heal him. Zeezrom replied "yea, I believe all thy words" (Alma 15:7). Alma clarified his first question, saying “If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed” (Alma 15:8). This clarification should be noted: When we truly believe in Christ, many blessings can be, and are, given to us. What does it mean to truly believe in the redemption of Christ? Ponder that carefully, and remember that Jesus himself said: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne 27:27). Live our lives to emulate the Savior’s example.
Zeezrom told Alma “Yea, I believe according to thy words” (Alma 15:9). Alma blessed Zeezrom and he was healed by the power of God; he leaped to his feet, cured of his maladies. We read that he went about teaching the Gospel... Later in the book of Alma we read of Zeezrom accompanying Alma on a mission to the Zoramites. Clearly Zeezrom’s life was turned around from his encounter with Alma and Amulek. I think Zeezrom’s conversion is comparable to Alma’s conversion, with Alma playing the part of the angel of the Lord. I wonder if Alma felt there was a similarity between Zeezrom and himself. I wonder if we feel gratitude to those who helped us obtain and build a testimony. I hope we each have the opportunity to be a spiritual mentor to someone else.
The Believers’ story:
“And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures” (Alma 14:1). Is it any surprise that such powerful spiritual addresses as was given at Ammonihah would touch many people listening? Have you ever been moved to tears by a general conference talk? I have.
Unfortunately, the bulk of the people at Ammonihah were beyond feeling spiritual things and took it out on the people who believed Alma and Amulek’s teachings. The people evicted the believers from Ammonihah, throwing stones at them to drive them away. Furthermore, they took the women and children of these believing people into custody and all those who believed were burned to death, along with their scriptures and records. I can’t imagine a more painful and horrible way to die. The interesting thing of this story is: the wicked Ammonihahites purposely, but unwittingly, destroyed the only things in their city that would prevent their total destruction… This is analogous to the Old Testament story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah… Abraham asks if the city will be spared for the sake of 50 righteous people… He then asks if it will be spared for the sake of 45, then 40, 30, 20 and finally 10 righteous people, and each time is given an affirmative answer (see Genesis 18:16-33). The wicked Ammonihahites basically cooked their own goose.
The believers who fled Ammonihah went to the more righteous city of Sidom and were cared for by the good people there. They probably became part of the church that Alma later established in Sidom and would have added greatly to the spirit there.
Imagine, though, receiving the awful news that their loved ones had been burned to death by the dastardly people who had so recently driven them out. Hopefully their new-found faith sustained them in such a terrible event. Many good people have terrible things happen to them. Some might rend their clothes, curse God, say “why me?” Others might cling to the hope that the Gospel Plan gives us. God’s love can bring us peace, even in awful circumstances. Testimony of God’s plan can bring us hope in the face of devastation. It’s important to fortify our faith in God and build and strengthen our testimonies on a daily basis.
The other two stories will be in my next post…
Don
This was a great post! It would make such a good talk! I love how you brought the stories to life and made them comparable to modern life. xoxo
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