Difference between revisions of "Alma 14:11-15"

Revision as of 12:55, 7 July 2011

The Book of Mormon > Alma > Chapter 14

Questions

Verse 11

• Alma declares that the people being burned are received “unto himself [God], in glory.” The footnote for glory in your scriptures leads you to the topical guide heading for “exaltation.” Is this verse declaring that martyrdom equals exaltation? If not, what does “in glory” mean? If so, does all martyrdom equal exaltation or does glory refer only to this specific case?

• What does this verse teach us about Ethics and priesthood responsibly? After all, don't we have an ethical responsibility to protect those around us from harm?

• What does the "last day" refer to in this verse? Is that refering to this life or the next?

• Is Alma reinforcing John the Beloved's message (in the book of Revelation) that the Saints are to spend their time, energy, and resources doing good and preaching repentance rather than fighting against evil?

Verse 12

• Could you read this as Amulek actually hoping to die also, since members of his own family were likely consumed in the flames before his eyes? In other words, is it possible to read verse 12 as a sort of death wish on Amulek's part?

Verse 13

• Does this verse say anything about free will if Alma and Amulek are not free to either die or be killed?
• Why does the judge punch Alma and Amulek in the face ("smote on their cheeks)? What significance is there to being punched in the face in ancient culture? How does this connect to the Savior's words of "turning the other cheek?"

Verse 14

• Is the Chief judge using “fire and brimstone” as a literal term, or is condemning those who were burned to hell? Compare Gen. 19:24 and Ps. 11:6 for Biblical usage of this term.

Verse 15

• When the chief judge taunts them for not having power to save those who had been cast into the fire, is he referring to the conversation they had in v10-11?

• What is the chief judge looking for? Is he asking rhetorical questions or does he expect real answers? Does the text give us any indication that Alma and Amulek can escape punishment if they answer these questions to the satisfaction of the Chief judge?

Lexical notes

Verse 11

Webster's 1828 dictonary "Constrain" is to exert moral or physical force in either urging to action or restraining it. However according to Webster's 1828 dictonary "Constrain" can also have a stronger meaning, to force or imprison.

Verse 14

Brimstone, according to the footnote in the LDS version of the Old Testament for Gen. 19:24 is from the Heb. Term meaning, “combustible materials (especially sulphur and pitch).”

Exegesis

Martyrdom of the Believers

Verse 8 told us that the wives and children of those men who had been cast out because of their belief plus anyone else who believed was burned. Verse 14 suggests that part of the motivation for choosing this way to kill them was to make a point in contrast to Alma's prophecy in 12:17. There Alma had prophesied that if the people didn't repent they would ultimately be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone. So then, when the wicked cast the believers into a lake of fire, it seems the point is something like "we are the one's with the power to cast people into the fire. Don't be afraid of God's punishment be afraid of ours."

Elder Maxwell said, "Touting our own “hand” makes it doubly hard to confess God’s hand in all things," and he cites v. 11 as an example of Alma refusing to tout his own hand.

Alma says in v11 that "the Spirit constraineth me" not to act to prevent these deaths. Other uses of this word in scripture include Paul's discussion of the moment of judgment before God ("for the love of Christ constraineth us" 2 Corinthians 5:14) and Job's refusal to speak ("for I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me" Job 32:18).

The Greek word used in the New Testament that is translated as “constraineth” in 2 Corinthians 5:14 is συνέχω, (soon-ekh'-o) [1]. This word means to hold something together in order to prevent it from falling apart. The KJV is the only major Bible translation that uses constraineth for this verse. Most English translations use either “control” or “compel.”

Power Structures

In these verses, the question of power as such explicitly comes to the fore. Interestingly, it is Amulek who raises the question, perhaps as part of his growing understanding of what it means to be called of God: "Let us stretch forth our hands and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames."

In verse 15, the chief judge again raises the issue: "ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them." Not only is Alma and Amulek's power brought into question, but the clout of God himself is challenged!

It is striking, then, that sandwiched between these first two mentions of power, the legal overtones of the chapter reach their most significant peak: God has permitted the believers to be burned in order that "the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness." Situated in the center of two questions, one about how one ought to exercise God's power (v.10), and the other about how that power manifests itself in the eyes of others (v.15), is a manifestation of God's exercise of that power as He is seated in righteous judgment. God is judging the people's actions, and their assertion of hierarchy and a power structure over and against his own excites "his [just] wrath."

Elements Prefiguring Christ

The contents of this section have been moved by mjberkey to the discussion page for possible revision.

Related links

• Jacob Baker's article
• http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/09/14/your-friday-firestorm-12/
• This link contains additional material which isn't designed to be direct commentary on Alma 14, but which may be helpful to interested readers of Alma 14.