Alma 6

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

Chapter 6

The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order—Alma goes to Gideon to preach. About 83 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ^aordained ^bpriests and elders, by laying on his ^chands according to the order of God, to preside and ^dwatch over the church. Leaders don’t just preside. They “watch over”. Years ago there was a big emphasis on “watchcare”. 
  2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who ^arepented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, notice they had repented, then were baptized unto repentance. Baptism is a witness that you will go forward in your imperfection, repenting daily until you receive a full remission of your sins which come by the Baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith said water baptism only was just half a baptism and good for nothing without the baptism of fire. Why do we not teach this second baptism, to seek it anxiously until we receive it? and were received into the church.
  3 And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not ^arepent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the ^bpride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were ^cblotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous. I wonder if these people willingly left or if they thought they should be able to stay. Notice the sin was “lifted up in the pride of their hearts”. Today, we would be considered so judgmental if we excommunicated someone because of pride. I would think this “pride” would have led to “actions” that were more factual in nature that justified them being kicked out. In any case, the principle seems to be, if you don’t really want to be here (as evidenced by your lack of repentance) then, you don’t get to be here and we reject you as a fellow member, because you are not here honestly and you just end up hurting us. I suppose local excommunication is the modern day version of "cleansing" the church.
  4 And thus they began to establish the order of the church in the ^acity of Zarahemla.
  5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal no one was afraid to speak freely of Christ and the truth unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God. He seems to be making the statement that it's important we understand that though the unrepentant were "rejected" and excommunicated, they were still free to assemble with the church to hear the word of God. No one was denied that privilege. But be clear...they were assembling to hear the word of God.
 6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in ^afasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God. For any who think Sunday meetings aren’t a commandment...  Also, even though they “rejected” those that had left, they “joined in fasting and mighty prayer” that they would return. This was not a just a “dutiful” prayer...”bless all those who have left the fold that they may return”...they all joined in fasting and “mighty” prayer. They truly desired they would return and loved them. So the earlier phrase of “rejecting” them wasn’t a term to describe their feelings towards them. It was just a line they had to draw to protect their flock. Or rather it was a line that Christ had drawn. I think the phrase "the children of God" is a subset of those that "went" to church. These are the ones who had been "born again" and been blessed to know God and were granted "children of God" status. They wanted to gather (maybe even separately?) and they fasted and prayed mightily for the others. 
  7 And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the ^ariver Sidon, into the ^bvalley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was ^cslain by the hand of Nehor with the sword.
  8 And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the ^atestimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen. Here’s the list showing why Alma’s preaching was so effective:

1. He preached the truth in the scriptures
2. He preached the truth of recent prophets and past
3. He interpreted their words by the spirit of prophecy and he could prophecy himself
4. He bore testimony of Jesus Christ: because he had been given this knowledge
    a. He was the Son of God
    b. He would come to redeem “his people” from their sins (only “his people” answer the call to repent and are redeemed. All others who do not choose to repent and follow him do not become “his people/children” and are not redeemed)
5. He was called and given authority through proper priesthood channels