Chapter 24
Amulon persecutes Alma and his people—They are to be put to death if they pray—The Lord makes their burdens seem light—He delivers them from bondage, and they return to Zarahemla. About 145–120 B.C.
1 And
it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor in the eyes of the king of
the Lamanites; therefore, the king of the Lamanites granted unto him and
his brethren that they should be appointed teachers over his people,
yea, even over the people who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the
land of Shilom, and in the aland of Amulon.
2 For
the Lamanites had taken possession of all these lands; therefore, the
king of the Lamanites had appointed kings over all these lands.
3 And now the name of the king of the Lamanites was aLaman, being called after the name of his father; and therefore he was called king Laman. And he was king over a numerous people.
4 And he appointed ateachers of the bbrethren of Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people; and thus the clanguage of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the Lamanites. Interesting that he did this. Wonder why... Did they not speak the same language as the Nephites anymore? Or does "language" represent other kinds of learning?
5 And
they were a people friendly one with another; nevertheless they knew
not God; neither did the brethren of Amulon teach them anything
concerning the Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they
teach them the words of Abinadi; but the teachers knew these things?
6 But they taught them that they should keep their record, and that they might write one to another. I'm assuming the Lamanites could not read or write, and that's why they taught the language of the Nephites Ah....
7 And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to atrade
one with another and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise
people, as to the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people,
delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder, except it were among
their own brethren. Look what true freedom of speech allows, both for good and evil. Were they "plundering" one another? What is the "wisdom of the world"?
8 And now it came to pass that aAmulon began to exercise bauthority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children. After the manner of the Lamanites who taught their children to hate the Nephites.
9 For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been aone
of the king’s priests, Remember Amulon was one of the priests of Noah with Alma and he was one of the priests that kidnapped the daughters of the Lamanites. It also means that Amulon knew full well about God and the law of Moses and chose not to teach it. and that it was he that believed the words of
Abinadi and was driven out before the king, "driven" out? Not exactly, except by the Lord...and therefore he was wroth
with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised authority
over them, and put btasks upon them, and put ctask-masters over them.
10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; It sounds like crying mightily here means it was out loud, or how else could they command them to stop? So if we feel to pray "mighty" prayers, is this teaching us that we need to "cry outloud"? and he aput guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. The evil side always wants to silence the righteous voice. Death for praying? Really? Why is he so threatened by this? Does he think if they don't pray outloud that God won't hear their prayers? And if he just found it annoying...is that really something punishable by death? Talk about a "snowflake"!
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their ahearts to him; and he did know the bthoughts of their hearts. Notice
in this case they did not take a stand "I have a right to pray and you
can't tell me I can't and I'll defend that right even if you kill me."
The deeper principle is that you can pray in your heart and truly no man
can force you not to do that. SO they didn't really lose their right to
pray. Sometimes it is better to "render unto Caesar what is his..." I’m not really sure that is a correct use of the “render to Cesar” phrase. Here’s an article (https://mises.org/wire/render-unto-caesar-most-misunderstood-new-testament-passage) where someone presents a different interpretation of Jesus answer to the question that was posed. In it he says if ALL is God’s then “Caesar” really owns nothing and you render nothing to him. The article is worth the read.
13 And it acame
to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions,
saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the
covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people
and deliver them out of bondage. Covenants are two way promises
14 And I will also ease the aburdens
which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon
your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye
may stand as bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their cafflictions. Seems to be telling them that the deliverance will not be immediate specifically so they will have experience they can witness about in the future.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; What exactly were these burdens? yea, the Lord did astrengthen them that they could bear up their bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with cpatience to all the will of the Lord. Part of this may have been due to the promise that deliverance was indeed coming. Notice that they didn't submit to Amulon...but to the Lord. It's all perception and perspective...And they knew they would have to witness to the Lord's intervention so they were quick to recognize His tender mercies and it made them glad!
16 And
it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that
the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort,
for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. Did their faith and patience speed up the plan of the Lord? Notice that faith can be "so great". It is not all or nothing. It can be little faith, or great faith and great faith has more power than little faith.
17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go awith thee and deliver this people out of bbondage.
18 Now
it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered
their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the
night-time were they gathering their flocks together. Another
night-time escape. Interesting that it's this way. My "stereo-type" is
that wicked people stay up all night and do their evil deeds in the
cover of night. Maybe their weakness was being drunk and that's when
they slept...
19 And in the morning the Lord caused a adeep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. Here the Lord is intervening in the history/agency of man to accomplish His purposes. No deep sleep due to being drunk? Just a God-induced deep sleep? Will God do this again when it’s time for his people to escape again? Maybe it's important that we know this story so we can call upon God in greater faith, to do this for us as He's done in the past. How will He ask us to show "greater faith" so we can have this miracle?
20 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, because he led their way in the wilderness.
21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their athanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their bburdens,
and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and
none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God. Before,
they gave the guards wine and got them super drunk. Maybe this was a
"fool me twice" thing and that was not an option again.
22 And they gave athanks
to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children
that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God. Out loud.
we all have them.
sometimes it's about patience
Submit cheerfully and with patience
23 And
now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people
out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee;
therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in
this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this people. This reminds me of Elder Holland saying the Lord will say to this virus "This far and no farther!" I am tempted to think this didn't come to pass, but maybe it did. The virus had a 99.7% survival rate. That sounds like "this far and no further". The rest of the death came from man not treating it correctly; lack of priesthood healings due to lack of true faith and ability to exercise priesthood power; not intervening sooner with therapeutics; calling deaths that weren't from Covid, still death by Covid; and controlling the media. THAT part of the pandemic, God seems to let go on and on and on as far as we let it.
24 And it came to pass that they departed out of the valley, and took their journey into the wilderness.
25 And after they had been in the wilderness atwelve days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also breceive them with joy.
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