Alma 3

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 Green 4/21 orange 7/22 Brown 7/2-23)

Chapter 3

The Amlicites had marked themselves according to the prophetic word—The Lamanites had been cursed for their rebellion—Men bring their own curses upon themselves—The Nephites defeat another Lamanite army. About 87–86 B.C.

  1 And it came to pass that the Nephites who were not ^aslain by the weapons of war, after having buried those who had been slain—now the number of the slain were not numbered, because of the greatness of their number—after they had finished burying their dead they all returned to their lands, and to their houses, and their wives, and their children. They had a great respect for the human body. And perhaps it was a health issue to not have all those bodies rotting above ground.
  2 Now many women and children had been slain with the sword, so hard to picture...and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down by the hosts of men. It must break God’s heart to see this happen to innocent women and children...
  3 And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites who had been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon were cast into the ^awaters of Sidon; and behold their bones are in the depths of the ^bsea, and they are many. there’s a project for you...find a river (interesting they also called it a ‘sea’) where there's a ton of bones (if they haven’t decayed to nothing...)
  4 And the ^aAmlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had ^bmarked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites. People always divide themselves apart with something...clothes, tattoos, houses, cars, etc.
  5 Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were ^anaked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth. This is the stereotype Indian, it seems...
  6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a ^acurse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, hard to read this any other way than literally  However you could read it, that the dark skin was a sign that a mark had been set upon their fathers and that mark was a curse who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.  
  7 And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; not because of their skin color, but because they sought to destroy their brethren; that is why they were cursed and the curse wasn't the skin color and the Lord God set a ^amark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women. For as much as we want to be “inclusive” and not racist, it’s interesting to see that God Himself set a mark on the wicked to keep them separate from the Nephites. What must never mix, is correct beliefs with incorrect beliefs. This is really hard to keep pure if you mix beliefs in the same household. The children have to be left to choose one or the other, and of coarse, some choose the side of error. Eventually it destroys the family and then the nation.
  8 And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not ^amix and believe in incorrect ^btraditions which would prove their destruction. 
  9 And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed. Genetics here
 10 Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him. You can see, that the Amlicites, who were white, set a mark upon themselves, to distinguish themselves from the other Nephites. The "mark" represented their beliefs. Today it's just genetics. And we also see that at the end of the Book of Mormon, the white Nephites were more wicked than the Lamanites. The color of their skin did not "make" them better or righteous or protect them in any way, or show they were superior or more favored by God. Look for the true meaning of "the mark".
 11 And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the ^atradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them, were ^bcalled the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth—Names are important to God. He identifies His sheep by His Name. This includes Lamanites who converted. 
 12 And it is they who have kept the records which are ^atrue of their people, and also of the people of the Lamanites. I don't think the Lamanites kept records. It was a blessing ultimately for the Lamanites that the Nephites kept records. Did not having the records make it hard for them to teach the written language?
 13 Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a ^amark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads. Ultimately, we separate ourselves apart from others. There is "a mark" and there is the "curse". The mark was the dark skin or the mark on their forehead and the curse was being separated from God.
 14 Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be ^aseparated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and ^bturn to me that I may have mercy upon them. Notice the separation was only because of their incorrect beliefs. If they repented and turned to God, then he would have mercy on them and they could be one with their brothers again. 
 15 And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also.
 16 And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed. This sounds like the Amlicites marking themselves was still God’s will.
 17 And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed. God is the one who did the 'Marking' not man.
 18 Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open ^arebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them. You can believe or not believe what you want, but the word of God WILL be fulfilled. And that "word" was that God would "set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with they brethren, that they may be cursed also."
 19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the ^acurse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation. You are not "born" into a curse. Every man regardless of their genetics, brings upon themselves their own curse through rebellion.
 20 Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in upon the people of Nephi, in the ^asame place where the first army met the Amlicites. No time to rest!
 21 And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their land.
 22 Now Alma himself being afflicted with a ^awound did not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites;
 23 But he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of them out of the borders of their land.
 24 And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies. Ok, finally, a moment of rest.
 25 Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended in the fifth year of the reign of the judges. A lot can happen in one year.
 26 And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their ^arewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. This is a great scripture on the reality of the spirits that entice us! This verse is about the reality of death whether you be wicked or righteous. 
 27 For every man receiveth ^awages of him whom he listeth to ^bobey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges.