Mosiah 27

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 green 4/21 Orange 6/22  Brown 2023.)

Chapter 27

Mosiah forbids persecution and enjoins equality—Alma the younger and the four sons of Mosiah seek to destroy the Church—An angel appears and commands them to cease their evil course—Alma is struck dumb—All mankind must be born again to gain salvation—Alma and the sons of Mosiah declare glad tidings. About 100–92 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah ^aconsulted with his priests. Trying to read this in light of coming persecution. We are going to have to be ready for this. We're going to want to murmur. We're going to complain to our leaders. They may even take our grievances to the president of the United States. I think they were trying to get a law passed to make it punishable if people persecute others like this. We'd call them "discrimination laws" today.  Is Alma the prophet, or Mosiah? Just noticing that Mosiah had “priests”. Was this a religious office or political? Is this another example where government and religion were not separate? I think our Presidents can and do have religious advisors...
  2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever ^apersecute any of those who belonged to the church of God. This should spawn a hate crime bill protecting christians or mormons. Why not, they have them for other "group". But at the point it happens to us, we'll be labeled "dangerous", so the persecution will be deemed justified and the government will probably participate in it. 
  3 And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no ^apersecutions among them, that there should be an ^bequality among all men; The prophet will condemn persecution within the church as well
  4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their ^apeace; that every man should ^besteem his ^cneighbor as himself, ^dlaboring with their own hands for their support . this suggests that the form the persecution took was pride and looking down on others as less than you. Maybe the wealthy didn’t feel like they had to share their wealth or wanted to support others with their wealth so they didn’t have to labor.
   5 Yea, and all their priests and teachers ^ashould ^blabor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the ^cgrace of God. Maybe the ones who thought themselves better were teachers that wanted to be paid to teach.
  6 And there began to be much peace again in the land; and the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land. When people obey out of fear or reason, or just laws, there is peace. Interesting that this pride seemed to be put down so easily. 
  7 And the Lord did ^avisit them and ^bprosper them, and they became a large and wealthy people.
  8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the ^aunbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an ^bidolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much ^cflattery to the people; therefore he ^dled many of the people to do after the manner of his ^einiquities. Those who are gifted with language and the ability to persuade must be careful how they use that gift.
  9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; ^astealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his ^bpower over them. This last phrase is how Alma was the cause of much iniquity. He ‘gave the enemy of God a chance to exercise his power over them’ by his words, providing temptation through ideas and reason and logic. It also teaches that the people he persuaded were still responsible for giving in to Satan's power. 
 10 And now it came to pass that while he was going about to ^adestroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king—How did he do this "secretly"?
 11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about ^arebelling against God, behold, the ^bangel of the Lord ^cappeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a ^dcloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood; When was the last time this happened? Ever in our day? Why not?
 12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them. because they were not conscious? 
 13 Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: ^aThis is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall ^boverthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people. THIS IS GOD'S CHURCH and NOTHING SHALL OVERTHROW IT, except our own transgression. We know Zion is established, so that is done by those who don't rebel and the return of the 10 Tribes and those gathered by the 144000. If there is some widespread apostasy in these latter days, maybe one of the reasons the building of the NJ is not led by the gentiles. Had the thought that much of the "falling away" in our day will be because people can't handle the persecution (Great and Spacious bldg/Lehi's dream) 

 14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath ^aheard the prayers of his people, and also the ^bprayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has ^cprayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the ^dknowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to ^econvince thee of the power and authority of God, that the ^fprayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.DO NOT underestimate the power of prayer! Pray with faith! Pray that the wicked are brought to a knowledge of the truth. People can be convinced by the power and authority of God. I really want to believe that we can “pull down” the powers of heaven through our faith. This angel came because Alma had prayed WITH MUCH FAITH, specifically that his son would be BROUGHT to a knowledge of the truth. He prayed he could somehow be CONVINCED with the power and authority of God. What did Alma do/believe that the Lord knew he had MUCH FAITH? When we learn to do this, we can affect/change things by our faith. Remember the bible dictionary states: “ Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants... All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for.” From this we can assume that Alma ‘did’ something to show/exercise his faith besides just pray. What physical and mental actions did he take? Is the ‘assurance’ we have something that comes by the Spirit, or is it assurance because we know we are showing our exceeding faith and that God will honor it?  
 15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also ^abehold me before you? And I am sent from God. remember he was sent to convince Alma. So here’s an angel; his voice shakes the earth. Are you convinced?
 16 Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of ^aHelam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in ^bbondage, and he has ^cdelivered them.There is a strong message in the scriptures about bondage. It is at the bottom of the Pride Cycle and only God can deliver once you get there. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, see what prayer and faith can do? and this even if thou wilt of ^dthyself be ^ecast off.
 17 And now it came to pass that these were the last words which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed.
 18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an ^aangel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which ^bshook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder. I think they were convinced! You think it would be enough to see an angel, but to have the earth quake at his voice...that would be amazing!
 19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became ^adumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father. Our bodies have a physical reaction to glory and truth. Maybe it's one of the reasons we have a veil placed over us in this life. It also may be why the Father has to communicate to us through the Holy Ghost to veil His glory so we can function in our bodies.
 20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God. His faith had assured him this would happen!
 21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him.
 22 And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray  Some things require fasting along with prayer. The more you need/want something the more you should add fasting to your prayers to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God. We live in a day where the eyes of the people need to be opened to see and know the goodness and glory of God. We should pray and fast much.
 23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, some fasts need to be longer than 24 hours. Also could be an example of the “much” part of praying and fasting much. Also could be an exercise of faith, going beyond the normal 24 hour fast, to show God how much you desire something the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:
 24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. Something we all must eventually say...
 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be ^aborn again; yea, ^bborn of God, ^cchanged from their carnal and ^dfallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his ^esons and daughters; Part of me says, why not marvel? It doesn't seem to be a common or easy thing. How is it done? Isn't that a marvel when it happens? Maybe we are to marvel not, because it isn’t supposed to be a rare event. It should happen to everyone. How are we “changed” to a “state” of righteousness? Earlier I asked how we “become” a son or daughter of God. Apparently this ‘change’ is part of that. For Alma it was this experience that changed him. We are taught sometimes that for most people it is a process. I’m not convinced of that. Being born is not a process. It happens in one experience. If God is using that analogy, then it doesn’t make sense to me that we can make that mean it can take a lifetime. Birth is preceded by a period of development, though, so if there is a process, it is the preparation for this rebirth moment.
 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in ^anowise inherit the kingdom of God. Here’s our motivation. We can’t go to the celestial kingdom unless we become these “new creatures”. 
 27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
 28 Nevertheless, after ^awading through much ^btribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an ^ceverlasting burning, and I am born of God.Maybe the "wading through much tribulation and repenting" are not optional. But how do you do this? What did Alma experience that he would describe it as “wading” through much “tribulation”? How do you really “repent night unto death”? Do we need to pray to have God show us the ‘effects’ of our sins on others? 
 29 My soul hath been ^aredeemed from the gall of bitterness and ^bbonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was ^cracked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is ^dpained no more. Everyone that is under Satan's control is in the bonds of iniquity. We need to pray they/we are delivered as Alma.
 30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto ^aall.This is such a sweet truth! God remembers EVERY creature of his creating and He WILL make himself manifest unto ALL! The hope is that is comes before the last day.
 31 Yea, ^aevery knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be ^bjudged of him, then shall they confess that he is ^cGod; then shall they confess, who live ^dwithout God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his ^eall-searching eye. The all-seeing eye is a symbol from the scriptures but Satan has co-opted it. Earlier I asked the question about the resurrection of our bodies as being a pre-judgment before our final judgment at the bar of God. This verse says we are “judged at the last day” and it takes place when “every knee shall bow”, so that sounds like a judgment day when Christ comes, when the disciples are said to be the judges. Wondering how that all works...
 32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them. Some of this seems just since he has been a persecutor himself. I say 'just' in a karma kind of way. But he also has personal understanding for why they are doing it that would give him great patience.
 33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God. Not sure if the 'long-suffering and much travail' part is referring to Alma or the members, but if it's the members, it's a lesson in faithfulness no matter our condition. I think it refers to Alma and it teaches us that even though he had this miraculous experience, that doesn’t mean God makes it easy for him to share and teach. He still has to exercise his faith and demonstrate it to God by not giving up when it’s hard. 
 34 And four of them were the ^asons of Mosiah; and their names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the names of the sons of Mosiah.
 35 And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the ^apeople who were under the reign of king Mosiah, ^bzealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, ^cconfessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them. Agency - you had to desire to hear Seems like the redemption Alma felt was a kind of grace forgiveness, knowing their repentance would continue after their experience as they tried to repair the damage they had done.
 36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. They went from being instruments of Satan to instruments of God. 
 37 And how blessed are they! For they did ^apublish ^bpeace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.