The Book of Alma Critics of the Church often bring up that Alma in Hebrew was a female name. However, the Alma Scroll found in Qumran, (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found) reads, “Alma the Son of Judah.” It was therefore settled (And yet another testament of the Prophet Joseph Smith).

Mormon viewed Alma as a prototype for preaching the Word of God. One of the best indications of this emphasis was Mormon’s use of leitmotif (dominant or recurring theme). He used that phrase 47 times in the first 42 chapters and also used “the word,” “His (God’s) word,” or “the word of the Lord,” all meaning the word of God, at least another 50 times.

Overview of the Book of Alma Alma sought to reform the Church by preaching the Word of God! Alma 17-29 The Sons of Mosiah converted the Anti-Nephi-Lehies by preaching the Word of God!

Point: The Word of God trumps the word of the devil! Alma 30 Alma and the Word of God silenced Korihor and the word of the devil. It is at the half-way point of the Book of Alma and the Book of Mormon. It is a scripture foil. Point: The Word of God trumps the word of the devil!

Alma 31-35 Alma and Amulek taught the Zoramite poor the process of conversion through planting the Word of God in their hearts. Alma 36-42 Alma taught his sons, so they could teach others the Word of God. Alma 43-63 The wars dramatized the power of the Word of God. They were righteous enough to win the wars, but not righteous enough to avoid them.

Alma 1-4 Alma 1:3 Do those who persecute the Church really hurt it? “Every time they persecute…this people, they elevate us,… and strengthen the hands and arms of this people. And every time they undertake to lessen our number, they increase it…Righteousness and power with God increase in this people in proportion as the Devil struggles to destroy it” (Brigham Young, Discourses, 351).

Alma 1:4 Elder Dallin H. Oaks instructed gospel teachers to look to the Savior and to help their students do the same: “A gospel teacher will never obscure [students’] view of the Master by standing in the way or by shadowing the lesson with self-promotion or self-interest. This means that a gospel teacher must never indulge in priest crafts, which are ‘that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise o the world’ (2 Nephi 26:29). A gospel teacher does not preach ‘to become popular’ (Alma 1:3) or ‘for the sake of riches and honor’ (Alma 1:16). He or she follows the marvelous Book of Mormon example in which ‘the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner’ (Alma 1:26). Both will always look to the Master” (Conference Report, Oct. 1999, 102).

The Nehoric Order or Priesthood introduced: Alma 1:1-6 The Nehoric Order or Priesthood introduced: 1. Every priest and teacher ought to become popular and ought not to labor with their hands, but be supported by the people. Sin was excused because of religion. 2. All mankind should be saved at the last day. All men, in the end should have eternal life. 3. Many believed and gave him money and he established a church after the manner of his preaching (priest-craft).

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “It makes no difference who the teacher is, if he teaches false doctrine, if he teaches that which has been condemned by the Lord, that is contrary to what is written in the revelations given to the Church, then he should not teach” (Conference Report, Oct. 1954, 21-22).

Alma 1:8-9 Gideon withstood him with the words of God! Nehor lost his temper and killed Gideon. What was Nehor thinking? What was Gideon thinking?

“Gideon-an instrument in the hands of God” 1. As a member of the colony that lived in the land of Nephi, he resisted the wicked leadership of King Noah. 2. He became “the king’s captain” during the reign of Limhi and played a significant part in preserving the colony and helping them escape to Zarahemla. 3. He met the high standards set forth to become a teacher in the Church. When confronted by Nehor’s false teachings, he admonished him with the “words of God.” He was so respected by the people that they named both a valley and a city in his honor (Alma 2:20; 6:7).

Alma 1:26 All teachers must remember this! Nehor put to death! The Church officially accepts capital punishment when administered in accordance with established law (Official Declaration, Millennial Star, 20 January, 1890, 33-34). Alma 1:26 All teachers must remember this! For the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal.

Elder Bednar defined priest-craft for teachers in the Church: “Anything you or I do as an instructor that knowingly and intentionally draws attention to self---in the messages we present, in the methods we use, or in our personal demeanor---is a form of priest craft that inhibits the teaching effectiveness of the Holy Ghost. ‘Doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God’ (D&C 50:17-18)” (“Seek learning by Faith” [an evening with Elder David A. Bednar, Feb. 3, 2006, 4).

Alma 2:4-6 “The Voice of the People” “Wonderful Contentions” Elder M Alma 2:4-6 “The Voice of the People” “Wonderful Contentions” Elder M. Russell Ballard encouraged us to raise our voices against the wicked trends in our day: “We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ (Conference Report, Oct. 2003, 17).

Alma 3:1 Over 19,000 deaths because one man wanted to be king. Alma 3:4 “Red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites” 1. The Lamanites had red skin so the Amlicites marked themselves with red also. 2. The Lamanites marked themselves with red and the Amlicites imitated them. This may provide a clue concerning the origin of painted war faces.

Both anciently and in the modern day, the wicked have “marked themselves.” “Young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient…A young man…does not need tattoos or earrings on or in his body. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve are all united in counseling against these things” (Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, January 2001, 11).

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught young men who hold the priesthood that worldly trends in dress and appearance will chase the Spirit of the Lord. He testified that he did not believe that you can stand for truth and right while wearing anything that is unbecoming to one who holds the Priesthood of God (Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 51-53).

Alma 4:10 “The wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block to those who did not belong to the Church.” Thus the Church began to fail in it’s progress (Alma 39:11, D&C 1:30). Alma 4:16-20 Why did Alma do this? v.19 Pure testimony! Elder Packer said pure testimony is when we bear witness of the Savior and His mission and the Prophet Joseph Smith and his mission.

Elder M. Russell Ballard counseled Latter-day Saints to bear pure testimony: “My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members’ testimonies linger on ‘I am thankful’ and ‘I love,’ and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, ‘I know.” Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies.

Testify that God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ Testify that God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true” (Conference Report, Oct. 2004, 42-43).

President Howard W. Hunter offered a caution with regard to emotions in testimonies: “Let me offer a word of caution on this subject….I get concerned when it appears that strong emotion or free-flowing tears are equated with the presence of the Spirit. Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the Spirit itself. “I have watched a great many of my brethren over the years and we have shared some rare and unspeakable spiritual experiences together. Those experiences have all been different, each special in its own way, and such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. Very often they are, but sometimes they are accompanied by total silence” (“Eternal Investments” [an evening with President Howard W. Hunter, Feb. 10, 1989], 3).

Alma 4:20 In Book of Mormon times only selected men were privileged to hold an office in the priesthood. There was no universal priesthood like today.