Site:SS lessons/BOM lesson 29

From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.

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Alma 36:1-5

The Book of Mormon > Alma > Chapter 36

Previous (Alma 35:11-16)

Next (Alma 36:6-10)

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Questions

Why does Alma counsel his sons individually rather than together?

Why do we, like Helaman, sometimes need to be reminded of the miracles God has done to deliver his people in times past?

Often when we think of God delivering people from bondage, we think of Jehovah, Moses, and the Exodus. Why does Alma instead refer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

v. 2: What is the significance of what Alma asks Helaman to remember? (Compare Mosiah 27:16.)

v. 3: Why do you think Alma bears this particular testimony to Helaman: “whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day"? Why this rather than something else?

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Lexical notes

Verse 1 starts a chiasmus that goes until the end of the chapter. In verse one, Alma says, “…inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.” This parallels verse thirty, “…inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.” The middle of the chiasmus is in verses 17 and 18.

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Exegesis

In verse 1 Alma tells his son that by keeping the commandments he will prosper in the land. Note that in the last verse of the chapter, Alma repeats this promise--that he will prosper in the land if he keeps the commandments. Most of what happens between the first and last verse of this chapter is that Alma tells the story of his conversion. One way of reading this is that Alma uses the story of his own life as an example of how someone who keeps the commandments of God prospers in the land. This reading suggests that the phrase "prosper in the land" isn't strictly about having material blessings like lots of flocks, riches or posterity. Why? Because instead of talking about these material blessings, Alma tells his son how by following the Lord he received spiritual blessings, for example, the blessings of great joy (verses 20-21; 25) and the blessing of support through trials (verse 27).

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Questions

Why would Alma go into such great detail of how he was once a sinner that fought against the church of God?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

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Questions

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Verse 11

Why did the thought of being destroyed strike Alma with "such great fear and amazement"? What does it mean to be "destroyed"? How does being destroyed translate into our current LDS thinking? What might being destroyed have meant in Alma's cultural context?

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Verse 12

Is there a connection between the fear of being destroyed and remembering sin?

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Verse 13

Why could Alma remember all his sins in this moment?

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Verse 14

Why do you think that Alma describes what he had done as murder? (Compare Alma 5:23 and Matt 10:28 — what does it mean to destroy both soul, i.e., spirit, and body in hell?)

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

Being destroyed: While we don't know for sure about the teachings of the Nehors or other dissenters among the Nephites at this period, throughout Mesoamerica most people believed in the immortality of the human soul, so the thought of that soul being utterly destroyed would have been amazing and frightful. According to modern revelation, all people will be resurrected, though Brigham Young taught that those who become sons of perdition will eventually be destroyed and lose their identity as organized beings, with their eternal elements being recycled (Journal of Discourses 1:118). Perhaps Alma realizes at this point that he has had enough light and knowledge to become a son of perdition if he continues on his course of apostasy.

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Questions

What symbolism can we see in Alma being stricken for 3 days and 3 nights? How does this relate to other prophets' experiences?

vv. 18-19: Why does Alma’s cry in v. 18 bring the results in v. 19? How is this connected to King Benjamin’s teaching in Mosiah 4? Is it significant that Benjamin delivered that address to a people who were diligent in keeping the commandments but that it also seems to apply to someone like Alma who has openly rebelled against those commandments?

v. 19: Since Alma is here telling us about the pains he experienced, what can he mean when he says “I could remember my pains no more"?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

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In verse 18 Alma makes his plea to Jesus Christ to be delivered from his suffering. We must make a similar plea for ourselves to Christ.

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Questions

Why might Alma have chosen to share his conversion story with his son Helaman? What did Alma want Helaman to learn from his past?

v. 22: Why would Alma have had a vision of Lehi at this point?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

In verses 6-20 Alma tells the story how he was converted unto the church of Jesus Christ through an Angel. He described his feelings- horror, fear, amazement, torment, and finally joy that was as great as his pain. He shared this story with only Helaman. He wanted him to know, as he says in verse 21 that “…there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” Alma wanted Helaman to know that ever since that experience, he has spent his life serving and loving the Lord. He wanted to bring people to taste that sweet bitterness that he tasted during the conversion in his life. He wanted them to be born of God and be baptized into His church (verse 26). Alma wants Helaman to love the Lord just as much as he loves Him. He wanted him to follow in his footsteps and give his life in service to the Lord.

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Questions

How does the Lord deliver us in our daily trials?

Verse 28: Is this verse parallel to v. 2? Why would Alma begin and end the account of his conversion by reminding Helaman of this scriptural type?

Verse 30: How are verses 28-29 (and, therefore, also v. 3) a type for what Alma says in this verse?

Verse 30: Here Alma repeats the promise made in verse 1 but adds the warning "and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence." Why is this warning not included at the begininning of their discussion (in verse 1)?

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Lexical notes

v. 27: Notice the parallelism found in this passage. "God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."

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Exegesis

vs.28-30: In verses 28-29 Alma cites examples of how the Lord has delivered His people in the past and exhorts them to retain [these things] in rememberance. In verse 30 he turns to the importance of keeping the commandments and how, if we do, we will not be cut off from the presence of the Lord. Alma's preaching to the people of Zarahemla in Alma 5 also called on the people to remember how the Lord had delivered their fathers from captivity. He then asks "And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?" Alma 5:6 Alma seems to be emphasizing the importance of retaining in rememberance that the Lord's deliverance is not only physical but also spiritual.

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Questions

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

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Questions

Verse 6: What are the "small and simple things" Alma is referring to?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

For those who feel that they are small and simple as to the things of the world, verse 6 should be of comfort to you. As individuals in the church, we may feel small and simple compared to the great body of the church or the universal plan of the Lord. However, as Alma points out, small and simple things can bring great things to pass. Not only do small and simple things bring great things to pass, in many instances, they confound the wise as well. Those learned of the world who choose to not accept the gospel or reject these glad tidings because they cannot see or feel with their senses can be overcome with a small and simple testimony from an individual of the church. Never sell yourself short in comparing your qualities or abilities with others. The Lord looks upon us all as equals - His children. Therefore, remember that being small and simple is a good thing; in the end, we will be made great and powerful if we simply fulfil our covenants given to us in this life.

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Questions

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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?

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Verse 12

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?

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Lexical notes

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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.

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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).

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Exegesis

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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.

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Verse 23

The Lord said that he prepares for his servant Gazelem (see lexical notes) a stone to "discover unto my people who serve me ... the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness and their wickedness and abominations." Why does the Lord emphasize bringing to light the secret works and works of darkness? Why is this emphasized especially given that, in verse 27, Alma tells Helaman not to let the people know about their secret oaths, covenants, sign and wonders?

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Lexical notes

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Verse 23

Gazelem is a name given to a servant of God. The word appears to have its roots in Gaz – a stone, and Aleim, a name of God as a revelator, or the interposer in the affairs of men. If this suggestion is correct, its roots admirably agree with its apparent meaning – a seer.

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Verse 43

What does shadow mean in this verse?

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Verse 46

Why did Alma use the phrase "easiness of the way" when he was talking about the liahona? A similar phrase is used in 1 Ne 17:41: "…He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished" (emphasis added).

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Verse 1

"Prosper in the land" vs. "cut off from his presence." We might expect that prospering in the land as a result of keeping the commandments would be juxtaposed to not prospering in the land as a result of not keeping the commandments. However, Alma does not say this. Instead, he says that not keeping the commandments will result in being cut off from God's presence. Why?

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Exegesis

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Verse 4

Although Alma starts off in verse 1 talking about prospering in the land as a result of obedience, it is clear that Shiblon has generally been obedient but has undergone a lot of hardship. So, whatever blessings there are for obedience to God, they do not seem to include the avoidance of hardship. This may help bridge the distance between the two concepts juxtaposed in verse 1, prospering in the land vs. being cut off from God's presence. That is, prospering in the land seems to mean something different than immediate avoidance of hardship. Rather, perhaps it is referring to a deferred blessing, and a blessing that does not imply that things will be easy. Although Shiblon has undergone a lot of hardships, but he has kept the commandments (cf. verse 2) and the Lord has been with him—and as a result of his patience, "the Lord was with [him]," Alma says.

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Verse 5

In verse 4, Alma says, "now thou knowest that the Lord will deliver thee." Here, Alma seems to admonish Shiblon to remember what he already knows. This bridging of time between what happened in the past and what should be preserved in the future, seems to be an important theme throughout these first verses of the chapter. That is, the patience talked about in verse 4 also seems to establish a sort of bridge through time, between current hardship and future deliverance.

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Verse 5

These things: Which things are the abomination being referred to here, sexual sin (cf. verse 9) or "leading away the hearts of many people to destruction" (cf. verse 12 and Alma 36:14)?

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Verse 6

Why does Alma repeat the phrase "it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness"? If it's to emphasize the point to Corianton, why might Alma feel this point needs to be emphasized to Corianton?

Why is the article "a" used to modify forgiveness here? (Note: all other uses of the term forgiveness in the scriptures do not use such an article.)

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Verse 9

What does it mean to "cross" yourself?
Why is remembering so important to the repentance process? How can remembering help you gain control of unwanted desires? What can you do each day to help you remember?

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Exegesis

vs. 13 - In this verse Alma emphasizes an important part of repentance - restitution, or repairing damages that our sins may have caused.

In verse 14 Alma tells his son not to seek for riches or vanities of the world because we cannot take these things with us into the next life. Note that, in contrast, Doctrine & Covenants 130:18 tells us that we can take knowledge and intelligence with us into the next life.

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Site:SS lessons/BOM lesson 29

From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.

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Verse 11

Verse 12

Verse 13

Verse 14

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Verse 21

Verse 24

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Verse 11

Verse 12

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Verse 12

Verse 12: Course

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Verse 12

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Verse 12

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Verse 23

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Verse 23

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Verse 33

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Verse 43

Verse 46

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