Difference between revisions of "Alma 1:11-15"
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(→Questions: added qn abt Alma's legal reasoning, separated 2 qns abt v. 14, elaborated one of them) |
(→Exegesis: Alma sets constitutional precedents, breaks with the monarchical order) |
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== Exegesis == | == Exegesis == | ||
| − | + | * v. 14: Alma feels he has to argue for the rule of law. Judging by Mosiah 29:11, 15, 22-23, they seem to have had laws during the reigns of the kings -- but laws that existed at the kings' pleasure. The rule of the king had been primary, not the rule of law. With Mosiah newly dead, Alma takes pains to emphasize that the law both remains and rules. | |
| + | * v. 14: Alma grounds the rule of law in the people's acceptance of it, not in the authority of his office as chief judge. This is a distinct break from the old ways described in Mosiah 29:22-23. | ||
== Related links == | == Related links == | ||
Revision as of 18:59, 24 June 2011
The Book of Mormon > Alma > Chapter 1
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Questions
- v. 12: To what group does “this people” refer? Is Alma saying that this is the first case of priestcraft since Lehi’s colony arrived? Why would priestcraft result in the destruction of the people? Do we have priestcraft among us today? Outside the Church? In it?
- vv. 12-13: Why does Alma reason from collective, corporate consequences and responsibilities, and not (as modern American law would do) from Gideon's individual right to live?
- vv. 13-14: What is Alma’s justification for the death penalty?
- v. 14: What does the last part of v. 14 mean: “[the law] has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law"? How do we acknowledge our laws? Why does Alma need to ground even the rule of law in the people's collective acknowledgement, rather than taking it as given? (Is he establishing a constitutional precedent? Was the rule of law itself somewhat novel?)
- v. 15: Why do you think ancient peoples felt it was important for a criminal given the death penalty not only to die but to suffer an ignominious death?
Lexical notes
Verse 15
- Ignominious Today's definition of this word, something like "shameful" in this context, is the same as the meaning cited in Webster's 1828 dictionary.
Exegesis
- v. 14: Alma feels he has to argue for the rule of law. Judging by Mosiah 29:11, 15, 22-23, they seem to have had laws during the reigns of the kings -- but laws that existed at the kings' pleasure. The rule of the king had been primary, not the rule of law. With Mosiah newly dead, Alma takes pains to emphasize that the law both remains and rules.
- v. 14: Alma grounds the rule of law in the people's acceptance of it, not in the authority of his office as chief judge. This is a distinct break from the old ways described in Mosiah 29:22-23.
Related links
- Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links
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