Alma 37:11-15
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
The Book of Mormon > Alma > Chapter 37
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Contents |
Questions
Verse 11
- Mysteries: What does the word "mysteries" mean in this verse? Does it mean something different here than in verse 4 or verse 21?
- Why does Alma seem to view the possible future restoration of the Nephites to righteousness as a mystery?
Verse 12
- Counsel in wisdom. What does this phrase mean? How are we to relate to His counsel? What does it mean that he counsels "over" all his works? What is meant here by wisdom. Is this meant to be the same Wisdom from the Hebrew Wisdom literature we have in the Old Testament?
- Paths are straight. What does this mean?
- One eternal round: What does the phrase "one eternal round" mean? How can the Lord's paths be "straight" while his course is "round"?
- Course: What does the term "course" mean here?
Verse 13
- What does Alma mean by saying the commandments of God are "strict"?
- What does Alma mean by "prosper in the land" or "cut off from his presence"? Are these meant to be opposites? Is there a connection between being in the presence of God and prospering?
Verse 14
- What does it mean for God to entrust these men with the records? In what ways did the see this responsibility as a trust?
- Why does Alma consider the records sacred? What does it mean that they are "kept sacred"?
Verse 15
- What allows Alma to tell Helaman these things "by the spirit of prophecy"? Why mention that in this counsel to his son?
- How might the sacred things "be taken away...by the power of God"? Why weren't they taken away from Omni, who considered himself "a wicked man" Omni 1:2?
- Delivered up unto Satan. What does this mean?
- Sifted as chaff before the wind. What does this mean? Does it say something about Nephite agriculture, or is it just an ancient expression?
Lexical notes
Verse 12
- One eternal round: The phrase "one eternal round" does not occur in the Bible, but is found four other times in Latter-day scriptures: 1 Ne 10:19, Alma 7:20, D&C 3:2, and D&C 35:1.
Verse 12: Course
Course: While we have no idea what the orignial term translated here as "course" may have meant, in English, the word has several definitions, most of which suggest a connected series events which could be seen as a type of path or sequence:
- A series of educational lessons (eg. "she took a course in linguistics")
- A connected series of events, actions, or developments (eg. "the Senate took a firm course")
- A sport facility laid out with a sequence of features (eg. a golf course)
- A mode of action (eg. "his plan was on the wrong course")
- A pathalong which something travels or moves (eg. "the course of a river")
- A general line of orientation (eg. "the highway takes a mountainous course")
- Part of a meal served at one time (eg. "she served a four course meal")
- A layer of masonry (eg. "a course of bricks")
The word "course" occurs 24 times in the Book of Mormon, most often in reference to a path or direction of travel (eg. Mosiah 7:4, Alma 46:31) but also in the phrase "course of my days" (eg. 1 Ne 1:1, Enos 1:24).
Verse 15
- Chaff: Chaff driven by the wind, is a fairly common metaphor in our Old Testament, and these passages were probably present on the Brass Plates. The specific language of being "sifted" as chaff occcurs in the scriptures only here and at D&C 52:12
Exegesis
Verse 12
Alma tells his son that the brass plates are preserved for a wise purpose because God counsels in widsom, his paths are straight and his course is one eternal round. These three reasons are positioned as explanations for why Helaman should have confidence in the wise purpose that God has preserved the records for. Consider each in turn.
By saying God counsels in wisdom Alma is emphasizing the fact that the choices God makes are well thought out. Saying God's paths are straight emphasize the fact that God's choices are good. He will not choose evil. To understand what Alma may mean by God's course being one eternal round it is helpful to look at Alma 7:20 where Alma also uses this phrase to describe God. There Alma says that God's course is one eternal round because "he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong." It seems then that by saying God's course is one eternal round, Alma is emphasizing the qualities of God that do not change. Alma may be emphasizing that God is totally trustworthy by saying his course is one eternal round. Or it may be just to show how God is different (and better) than we are which should imply that we have faith and confidence in the purpose for which God preserves the brass plates--even if we don't fully understand what that purpose is, as Alma says he doesn't in verse 11.
Related links
Verse 12
- Nibley on "one eternal round": Hugh Nibley has written about on "one eternal round" in Temples and Cosmos. In particular, see the chapter 4 entitled "The Circle and the Square" and chapter 9 entitled "One Eternal Round: The Hermetic Version". Here is a page for quotes, summary, and discussion of these chapters.
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