Alma 10

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 Green 4/21  orange 7/22 Brown 7/2023)

Chapter 10

Lehi descended from Manasseh—Amulek recounts the angelic command that he care for Alma—The prayers of the righteous cause the people to be spared—Unrighteous lawyers and judges lay the foundation of the destruction of the people. About 82 B.C.

  1 Now these are the ^awords which ^bAmulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
  2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the ^awriting which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God. There's a "story" about "interpreting the writing upon the wall of the temple” that we don't know about. What could that have been? Was it like God's finger writing the 10 commandments on the tablets of stone? Why did it need interpreting? It sounds like these people knew the story too. Remembering from the last chapter that the gift of interpretation is one of the gifts of the Spirit. Interesting that Mormon included this much but didn't feel the need to share the rest of the story. 
  3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of ^aManasseh, who was the son of ^bJoseph who was ^csold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren. Is this a subtle “jab” as in - are you going to sell out your own brothers to the Lamanites? Amulek found it helpful to recount his genealogy all the way back to Joseph of Egypt. Was this to help them remember they were relatives? Common heritage? To give him credibility? Spiritual heritage? 
  4 And behold, I am also a man of no small ^areputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and ^bfriends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my ^cindustry. They would connect with reputation and riches because they valued those things and gave power to those that had them. Perhaps this is one of the reasons God chose Amulek. But also, what a great test for Amulek to put all that on the line to preach against his "friends" and to lose that power and prestige.
  5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his ^amysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. He hits on one of their justifications for their wickedness "I didn't know"... but they did!
  6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was ^acalled many times and I would not ^bhear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling ^cagainst God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges. This is an interesting passage. First he says he had never known much of the ways of the Lord. Perhaps he's thinking "personally". But then he remembers his history and admits he had many opportunities to "remember" and chose not to acknowledge it. In our day, evil is not hiding. There are blatant lies and deception going on. People have to know, but so many “yet would not know”. They don’t want to accept the “awful situation” we are in and so they rebel against the truth. They want to get on with life and their “ways” and don’t want to see evil...for then they would have to acknowledge God and they don’t really want to change. We are also "called many times" by those around us that are awake to our awful situation, as we drop little hints to see if others will "hear", but most harden their hearts. One of the "all is well" dangers in our church right now is to believe that all we have to do is "follow the prophet" and not think at all for ourselves, because we have been taught he cannot lead us astray or God would remove him. Well...I think our own history has proven that to not mean what we think it does. If it is a true statement it only refers to teaching against Christ. It can't mean that anything and everything that he speaks is the word of God. The scriptures teach in several places that it is only "when moved upon by the Holy Spirit" that it is from God. WE have to have the Spirit and know by the Spirit what is from God. Our prophet has emphasized the importance of "hearing Him" and learning to be taught by "the Lord Himself". More and more, the Lord is teaching us the truth through those we "trust" even if those people are doing/saying things that are not in harmony with truth. Pres. Nelson spoke the truth about how to navigate Covid, which was to "Hear the voice of the Lord" and not himself. We cannot claim the prophet led us astray with his counsel to get the vax when before that he taught to us to "hear Him". We are accountable. 
  7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an ^aangel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has ^bfasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt ^creceive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house. Amulek just admitted he wasn't "righteous" as to the commandments of the Lord, yet an angel came to him. Same with Alma the younger; and Saul; and Moses. God's purposes will be accomplished and he knows the hearts of those he sends angels to. My thought is that he wouldn't send them if they wouldn't respond. Well...I take that back. Laman and Lemuel didn't respond. Notice the angel says "thou shalt" (commanding). Also, I wonder how many days Amulek fasted...were they consecutive? consistent but spread out? This adds to my testimony that adding a sacrifice to your prayers has great power. I’m impressed that the sins of others would cause him to fast for many days. We are in a situation where we need to start fasting that our loved ones may “see”...even if that means they need an angel to come to them!
  8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the ^aman whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.
  9 And the angel said unto me he is a ^aholy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God. So...you can know he's a holy man too. It's not "me" saying it, but an angel of God.... I think Amulek is trying to establish that he was "one of them" or "like them" until this all happened, but that they should believe what happened to him.
 10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, This is "oath" language...even so has he sent his ^aangel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath ^bdwelt at my house. It sounds like Amulek is saying that he had further witnesses from an angel even after Alma showed up.
 11 For behold, he hath ^ablessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake. Amulek's family were all brought in on this and they all believed. How does one receive the blessing of having all their family brought to the same knowledge, perhaps by an angel? 
 12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was ^amore than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them. This is what they had asked for...more than one witness.
 13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning ^adevices they might catch them in their words, that they might ^bfind witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them. They knew they could not take him because of his beliefs, for that is what they started out with against Alma. "You have no authority over us because we don't "believe" what you are saying and the law protects us.".
 14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were ^alawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.
 15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and ^acunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession. Probably still applies today...
 16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him ^across his words, or contradict the words which he should speak. Interesting that the profession hasn't changed in all these years!
 17 Now they knew not that Amulek could ^aknow of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he ^bperceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse ^cgeneration, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying ^dtraps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.
 18 Ye are laying plans to ^apervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people. Is this referring to what the angel told Alma about those plotting to overthrow liberty?
 19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should ^achoose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction. Is this most clearly manifest by our elections? Our last election seems to have been won by fraud. If it were accurate then the voice of the people will have chosen evil. Since the true voice did not choose evil, are we exempt from the curse? Even though the majority really chose good, are they really choosing good in their personal lives? Praying for a national religious revival! We are the edge of that or falling off the cliff!
 20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord ^ajudge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his ^bangels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is accomplished by angels speaking to prophets  But don’t discount them visiting others too...
 21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: ^aI will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.
 22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the ^aprayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by ^bflood, as were the people in the days of ^cNoah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the ^dsword. No one will get the flood again, so we can all expect famine, pestilence and sword. I think the prayers of the righteous in our land has also been staying judgment.
 23 But it is by the ^aprayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will ^bcast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the ^ctime is soon at hand except ye repent. Elder Ballard recently said, "we are a nation founded on prayer and preserved by prayer"
 24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise ^alawyers whom we have selected. I believe Amulek was not reviling against the law. He was saying the law was just, but that if people used the "law" to create unjust laws by the voice of the people, they would be destroyed. And yes by your 'voice' you have chosen wicked lawyers whom you call 'wise' and for that you are condemned.
 25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? This is both a condemning statement and a merciful one. You have chosen wickedness, but it's not really you...it's Satan. He is our common enemy. Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to ^ablind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth? The irony here is that these people think they are so "wise" and above "old traditions" and "free"...but in yielding to Satan, they have enslaved themselves to his will and have become blind to the truth that would really set them free.
 26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
 27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the ^adestruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the ^bunrighteousness of your ^clawyers and your judges. And so it is today as well...
 28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a ^achild of the devil, for he hath ^blied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it. They are guilty of this very thing.
 29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges. It seems they put these lawyers and judges above God. Trusted in the arm of flesh above their own critical thinking and common sense.
 30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.
 31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to ^aaccuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.
 32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain ^aaccording to their employ. No money if there is no lawsuits, so they stir people up to contend.