The simplest theory is that he hated the church because of his wicked character. Part II focuses on the First Vision, touches on the four first-hand accounts. “And now I say unto you, ye have been oppressed by king Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them; therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity. It sounds like an important lesson he eventually learned, his life lesson: Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Just a very brief observation that they prayed. Well, this idea was put to the test when Ammon’s converts knelt in prayer passively as the wicked Lamanites slew them in great wanton slaughter. Alma the Younger made it clear that the Lamanites were “cut off from the presence of the Lord” (v. 14) in God and he was not associated with them. But what changed his mind and gave him complete confidence in his father, confidence in himself, and in God, was that his father never gave up on him. March 27 — Alma the Younger is Converted unto the Lord, Mosiah 27; Alma 36. … It kind of sounds like the business climate in America today, actually. He was careful to start his sermons by declaring himself “consecrated by my father, Alma” which gave him “authority.” (Alma 5:3) But he pushed back on them by declaring that Amonihah’s judgement would be worse than for the Lamanites (v. 15), because they were willfully rebelling against the light while the Lamanites were born into their situation. Separated from his parents at birth, he was taken by the Egyptian king’s family, educated, and raised like one of the Egyptians. This means he was at least a few years old by the time they fled from Amulon, yet he did not consider himself part of that group until after they fled. The Lamanite king had Amulon appoint local teachers throughout the kingdom to educate them on language, culture, and trade, and the purpose seemed to be primarily an economic one. The people were going to do whatever Alma said–Amulon knew that–and what better way to influence Alma than holding his son hostage? Modern historians recognize how self-serving Arminiu’s switch of alliance seemed. Germany entirely transformed under him and the innovation brought from his Roman education. In the midst of being racked with torment, Alma said he longed to “also be born of God” (v. 24) as Lehi his forefather had been. The Lamanites appointed loyal subjects to possess the land, and they allowed Alma to remain leader of the people. 3 NEPHI. 0 A.D. 100 200 300 400 A.D. People of Zarahemla We can’t be sure that this indicates young Alma’s point of view, as it could be the result of Moroni or some other later author editing the text. Huge change for the kingdom likewise came in Alma’s time, and a great deal of it likely came from him. He was “wicked and an idolatrous,” but what specifically motivated him to fight against the church? It is believed that he was born in 126 BC. But was their religious ideas really the same? But the angel changed Alma the Younger’s mind. Why did he omit talk of being a child hostage? 120 BC Alma’s people depart to Zarahemla. Begins presidency over the church. “And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; “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.”. The difficulty of this early experience and the life change of entering Zarahemla probably had something to do with it. Preaches and is imprisoned at Ammoniah with Amulek. Alma rebuked their associating him with Lamanites by appealing to their forefathers. A Father’s Persistence – The feeling I get–and this is all just a far-fetched theory, after all–is that Alma the Younger saw his father setting up synagogues of learning and appointing priesthood leaders as teachers throughout the kingdom, and it reminded him of what Amulon had done, and he freaked out about it. He was the son of Alma, not the Lamanites. He did not need to be the saving hero, and he did not need to fight to extinguish evil, as Christ the true hero achieves these things. We know that Alma Sr. kept a record because it was later read to the people in Zarahemla; this must have been from that record. “And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? One burning question I’ve had over the years has been why Alma the Younger rebelled against his father and sought to destroy the church of God. They were already righteous followers of Christ at that point. After all, didn’t Alma Sr. go down without a fight when the Lamanites invaded Helam? Among the tribes, hostages were not generally returned to their original families, however. Indeed, this perfectly describes the situation of Alma’s people. Title of . Look for little clues as you read along. We don’t know when Alma had children, but if the youngest of his children started his mission at age 20, they would have been born around 95 BC, and Alma would have been 27 years old–a fitting age. But maybe they were questioning his origins and loyalties. And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.”. Alma was trying to implement an educational system similar to what Amulon had done, and everybody was probably already suspicious if he had been Amulon’s child hostage. Well, it wasn’t that severe, considering they had only broken off a few generations back and worshiped the same God. They praised “their” God–not Amulon’s or the Lamanites’ God. Why Couldn’t Joseph Smith Re-Translate The Lost 116 Pages? Pharaoh only became more wicked as Moses brought divine intervention. Compare. Ammon. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma.”. His father saved him from spiritual and physical death. To me, the flow and consistent style of the book of Mosiah, and how it effortlessly transitions into the book of Alma, suggests same authors, and Alma is clearly authored by Alma the Younger. Alma likewise was rejected by some cities under Zarahemla control who resisted Alma’s radical ways, and they sought his life. Indeed, Alma St. was not nearly as effective as Amulon, as many people immediately apostatized. In this same chapter, the description of Alma Sr.’s position of leadership is in marked contrast with Amulon’s. Alma is first mentioned as an unbeliever, engaged in persecuting and attempting to destroy the church. Sometimes it didn’t end well. Alma + Helaman + 3 Nephi = 49% of the total pages in the Book of Mormon. When Alma the Younger described the degenerate and fierce nature of the Lamanites, it would have made them more fearful of their longtime enemies. If he had been a hardened man it would have made him even worse. 100-92 BC Alma the Younger struck dumb by an angel. Like Alma the Younger, we must at times be “harrowed up” by the idea of standing before God for eternal judgment. I have to wonder what role a woman played in Alma the Younger’s life as well. Alma repented and went on to become a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord, preaching the gospel of repentance and baptism. The moment he returned, they departed. The puts him in his twenties if he had left Helam as a young child. Preaches in Sidom. If he had been cast off, he would have been a “child of the devil” and it would have resulted in “death” (v. 41-42). 100-92 BC Alma the Younger struck dumb by an angel. Especially considering the descended from king Zedekiah in Israel, himself a Dueteronomist? He is the primary writer. Mosiah sets up a system of judges. The Lord answered the faithful prayers of his people and Alma's father, and Alma was visited by an angel of the Lord who asked him “Why persecutest thou the church of God” (Mosiah 27:13)? There was at least 20 years between Alma’s departure from Helam until Alma the Younger’s experience with the angel. The period of time is likely when Alma the Younger reunited with his father Alma. It’s one thing to leave the church, and it is another the travel around trying to destroy it. To opt out of Google Analytics, visit the Google Analytics Opt-out Page. When Alma joined his father and entered Zarahemla, how was this change for him? He wanted to use Moses to make the Hebrews subservient to Egypt and unite the Hebrews under Egypt. Alma delivers the judgement seat to Nephihah and devotes himself to the ministry. A lot changed since Zeniff. But here, at the moment they fled from Lamanite bondage, who was it that experienced a change of heart? The book of Mosiah itself was probably written to secure Alma’s authority as chief judge, as we’ve seen. Scholars have tackled the question of authorship by considering why it was written. Consider what the text says about this initial invasion–written after Alma the Younger got over the resentment. I like to think they were adults when Alma was translated from off the earth in 73 BC. The angel’s visit answered his concern and convinced him to see things differently. Perhaps he had been there before in an official royal visit with Alma the Younger, or perhaps he only received detailed descriptions from Alma. They entered into covenants with God and took upon themselves the name of the Lord. Did Alma do it to win the judgment seat a gain power? Amalickiah tried to become king over the Nephites. It’s hard to believe that the Moses was ignorant of his true Hebrew origins like the movies portray. 73 BC Alma’s children go on missions. Why did God go to such great miraculous lengths to convert Alma the Younger? “Nothing in the book of Mosiah would suggest that it was intended for Mormon’s latter-day readers,” Sturgess points out. To ensure that the pricing on the website is the same as what is in your catalog or advertisement, please enter the catalog code provided. Returns to Zarahemla. An angel appears to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah, telling them to "seek to destroy the church no more" (Mosiah 27:16). Their new structure of government came with a higher purpose as a nation, which included an obligation to the Lamanites to unite this entire branch of Israel under Christ. 0. These children also served as hostages to thwart, it was hoped, possible uprisings.”, “And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.”. 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