Talk:Alma 9:1-34

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9:1-5[edit]

I ask this question because given Alma's comments in verse 3 it seems that verse 2 means something like "do you think we should believe what just one person tells us even if he tells us that the earth will pass away." But, in my mind even if means about the opposite of although. I am hoping someone else can explain how to interpret "although." --Matthew Faulconer 19:56, 17 Apr 2005 (CEST)

I think "even if" may be the proper way to read it. This would be in line with the way although is used in Mark 14:29. Although [according to the Oxford English Dictionary] could be read as even though, though..even, though, be it that, granting that, or supposing that. So it may be that the people are saying, "supposing that the earth passes away, and this is what you preach, we still will not believe that you knew this would happen." They may be granting Alma the possibility of "guessing" correctly. MJ 15:53, 19 Apr 2005 (CEST)
Hi MJ,
I found the reference to Mark 14:29 and the OED very helpful. I went ahead and posted something along those lines to the lexical notes. Do you think someone should add something there about the "guessing correctly" interpretation? I didn't put anything in because I wasn't sure how to fit that view in with Alma's comments in verse 3.
Also I don't have the OED so I tried to minimize how much I attributed to it. Please fix that if I messed it up or if you think there's more I could add to it that would help. Thanks for the response, Matthew Faulconer 09:52, 20 Apr 2005 (CEST)
Hello Matthew,
The "guessing correctly" thought stems from Helaman 16:16, when the people were in a similar state of unbelief. But in this context I am unsure if it fits.
I wonder about the degree of unbelief among these people. They seem to clearly state that they would not believe Alma if great things came to pass that he prophesied (i.e. the destruction of the earth or destruction of their city). Would they have been more open to prophesies of small things? Or, does their unbelief appear because of the message and/or the messenger? A more applicable question might be: Do members of the Church limit what they will believe because of the message and/or messenger? These verses show how easily some people dismiss prophesy or revelation, even on a seemingly small note (That God sent no more than one man). These verses alert us to this and can help us personally avoid getting in this mindset. MJ 15:48, 20 Apr 2005 (CEST)

Verses 9:11-15[edit]

v. 11 Even though they haven’t always been the most obedient, Alma reminds them that God has preserved them and been patient with them. Otherwise, they would have been destroyed long ago.

v. 12 Usually God tells us what we must do and the blessings associated with it. It seems that He only resorts to telling us what to do and the consequences or punishment if we don’t when He is about to give up on us. He warns us BEFORE He punishes us. Their destruction is imminent because they refuse to listen to God and His servants.

v. 13 Keeping commandments of God= prosperity. Not keeping commandments= no prosperity and cut off from the presence of God. What does it mean to be cut off from the presence of God? Level 1- cut off from His physical presence..Adam and Eve cast out. Level 2- cut off from His presence…not having Him to guide us through the Holy Ghost. Level 3- cut off from the opportunity to return to His presence.