Alma 10
People in this chapter
Amulek begins by telling the crowd who he is. He is a descendant of Aminadi, the man who interpreted the writing written by the finger of God on the temple wall, and through him of Nephi and Lehi (vv. 2-3). He is well known, with many friends and much wealth. And he admits that for all that, he had been a man who knew concerning these things, yet I would not know (v. 6).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Alma 10:1-6I Knew, Yet I Would Not Know
1Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying: 2I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God. 3And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.
Amulek introduces himself by naming his ancestors. One of them, Aminadi, interpreted writing that God Himself wrote on the temple wall. Through Aminadi, Amulek descends from Nephi, Lehi and Joseph of Egypt.
4And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry. 5Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. 6Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.
Amulek is respected and rich. He starts to say he never knew much about God, then corrects himself: he had seen God's power, but he would not listen. He was called many times and refused.
Alma 10:7-11Thou Shalt Feed a Prophet
7As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house. 8And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God. 9And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.
On his way to visit a relative, Amulek meets an angel who tells him to go home and feed a hungry prophet. Amulek obeys and finds Alma, just as the angel said.
10And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house. 11For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
Amulek testifies that Alma's words are true. The Lord made them known to him while Alma lived in his house, and Alma blessed his whole family, just as the angel promised.
Alma 10:12-16More Than One Witness
12And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
The people are astonished, because now there are two witnesses testifying of the same things.
13Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them. 14Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges. 15Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession. 16And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.
Some men, the lawyers of the city, want to catch Alma and Amulek in their words so they can be judged, imprisoned or killed. They question Amulek, hoping he will contradict himself.
Alma 10:17-23Spared by the Prayers of the Righteous
17Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God. 18Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people. 19Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.
Amulek knows what the lawyers are planning. He calls them hypocrites who are laying traps for God's servants, and he reminds them of King Mosiah's warning: when the people choose iniquity, they are ripe for destruction.
20And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 21Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.
22Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword. 23But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.
Amulek tells the people that the only reason they have not been destroyed is the prayers of the righteous among them. If they cast out the righteous, nothing will hold back the Lord's judgment.
Alma 10:24-32In Favor of Your Law
24And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected. 25But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth? 26For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation. 27And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.
The people accuse Amulek of attacking their laws. Amulek answers that he has spoken in favor of their law, and the law condemns them. The real danger comes from corrupt lawyers and judges.
28And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it. 29And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges. 30And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him. 31And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people. 32Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ.
The people call Amulek a liar and a child of the devil. The lawyers make a note of his words to use against him. The foremost of them is a man named Zeezrom. Their goal is money.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- AmulekScripture references for Amulek, whose testimony begins in this chapter.
- WitnessThe law of witnesses, which explains why Amulek's testimony astonished the people (v. 12).
- TestimonyKnowledge of truth given by the Holy Ghost, the kind of knowledge Amulek says he received (v. 10).
- PrayerIncluding prayer for others, the prayers of the righteous that spare Ammonihah (vv. 22-23).
Where this echoes in Scripture
I Knew, Yet I Would Not Know
- Matthew 19:21-22When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- Revelation 3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.
- Daniel 5:5, 17In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote... I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.Another writing on a wall, interpreted by a prophet.
- 1 Nephi 5:14He knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt.
Thou Shalt Feed a Prophet
- Alma 8:19-21Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat?The same meeting, told from Alma's side.
- Acts 10:3-6He saw in a vision... an angel of God coming in to him... send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.Cornelius is also prepared by an angel to receive a servant of God.
- Luke 19:9This day is salvation come to this house.
- D&C 75:19And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you, leave your blessing upon that house.
More Than One Witness
- Matthew 18:16In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- Matthew 22:15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
- Luke 11:53-54Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
- D&C 6:28In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Spared by the Prayers of the Righteous
- Mosiah 29:27If the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you.
- Mosiah 3:5The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth... shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay.
- Genesis 18:32Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
- James 5:16The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Helaman 13:14It is for the righteous' sake that it is spared... when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction.
In Favor of Your Law
- 1 Timothy 6:10For the love of money is the root of all evil.
- Luke 11:46, 52Woe unto you also, ye lawyers!... ye have taken away the key of knowledge.
- Isaiah 5:20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.
- Alma 1:16There were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.Priestcraft spread after Nehor; the same love of gain drives Ammonihah's lawyers.