Alma 32
People in this chapter
Alma's first real success among the Zoramites comes from an unexpected place. The wealthy Zoramites, who prayed from the Rameumptom, will not listen. But the poor class of people do (v. 2). They had helped build the synagogues with their own hands, and they had been thrown out of them because of the coarseness of their apparel. A great crowd of them comes to Alma on a hill, and their spokesman asks a question: we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do? (v. 5).
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Alma 32:1-6What Shall We Do?
1And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets. 2And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel— 3Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.
The missionaries preach everywhere: in synagogues, houses and streets. Their success comes among the poor, who had been thrown out of the synagogues because their clothes were rough.
4Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world. 5And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do? 6And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.
The poor come to Alma and ask, "What shall we do?" Alma is full of joy, because their hard experiences have humbled them and prepared them to hear the word.
Alma 32:7-16Blessed Are They Who Humble Themselves
7Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them: 8I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye. 9Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God. 10Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? 11And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?
Alma tells the poor they can worship God anywhere and on any day of the week.
12I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble. 13And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved. 14And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word? 15Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty. 16Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.
Being forced into humility can lead people to repent, and that is a blessing. But Alma says those who choose to be humble, because of the word, are even more blessed.
Alma 32:17-25Faith Is Not to Have a Perfect Knowledge
17Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. 18Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it. 19And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression? 20Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.
Some people say they'll believe if they see a sign. Alma says that isn't faith. If you already know something, you don't need to believe it. And knowing God's will and not doing it brings greater condemnation.
21And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
Alma's definition: faith is hoping for things you cannot see yet that are true. Faith is real when it is placed in something true, and above all in Jesus Christ.
22And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word. 23And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned. 24And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true— 25For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.
God is merciful to all who believe on His name. He gives His word to men, to women, and even to little children, whose words can surprise the wise.
Alma 32:26-36An Experiment upon My Words
26Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. 27But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Alma invites the people to test his words like an experiment. They can't know everything at first, so he asks them to wake up, use their minds, and try.
Alma says you can begin with very little: a particle of faith, or even just a desire to believe. That desire is enough to start.
28Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
If you don't resist the Spirit, the good seed begins to swell inside you. You feel it enlarge your soul, enlighten your mind, and taste good to you. That is the Spirit testifying the word is good.
29Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge. 30But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow. 31And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness. 32Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. 33And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
As the seed grows, your faith grows stronger. You can tell the seed is good because it grows, the way any seed produces its own kind. Having tried the experiment, you can know the seed is good.
34And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. 35O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? 36Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
Once you know the seed is good, your knowledge of that one thing is perfect. But you don't know everything yet. Keep your faith working, because there is much more to grow.
Alma 32:37-43Nourish the Word
37And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. 38But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out. 39Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
A young tree needs constant care to grow roots. If it is neglected, the sun scorches it and it dies. The seed was good all along; the tree needed nourishing.
40And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. 41But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
The tree is nourished by faith, diligence and patience, while looking forward to the fruit. Alma calls it the tree of life.
42And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. 43Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
Alma ends with a promise: if you nourish the word with faith, diligence, patience and long-suffering, you will receive the fruit.
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.
- Faith in Jesus ChristThe Church's summary of faith as a principle of action and power centered in Jesus Christ, the faith Alma defines in verse 21 and teaches how to grow in verses 26-43.
- FaithScripture passages on faith across all four standard works, including Alma 32:21 and Hebrews 11:1.
- Humble, HumilityScriptures on humility, the condition Alma calls "blessed" in verses 8-16.
- HopeHow hope relates to faith, the connection Alma makes in verse 21.
- Tree of LifeThe tree of life from Genesis to Revelation and Lehi's dream, which Alma's tree in verses 40-42 deliberately echoes.
Where this echoes in Scripture
What Shall We Do?
- Alma 31:28Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets.The wealthy Zoramites who cast out the poor.
- Acts 2:37Men and brethren, what shall we do?The same question at Pentecost.
- James 2:2-5Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?Favoring the rich in the synagogue.
- Matthew 5:3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed Are They Who Humble Themselves
- John 4:21-24The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
- Alma 34:38Worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth.Amulek's counsel to the same people.
- Alma 31:23Never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand.The once-a-week religion Alma is answering.
- Ether 12:27I give unto men weakness that they may be humble.
- D&C 112:10Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand.
Faith Is Not to Have a Perfect Knowledge
- Hebrews 11:1Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Ether 12:6Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
- D&C 63:9-10Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.
- Joel 2:28Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.The word given to men, women and children (v. 23).
- Alma 30:43If thou wilt show me a sign… then will I be convinced.Korihor's demand, which verse 17 echoes.
An Experiment upon My Words
- Alma 33:22-23Begin to believe in the Son of God… plant this word in your hearts.Alma names the seed.
- John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.
- Mark 9:24Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.A desire to believe, brought to Christ.
- D&C 8:2I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost.Enlarged soul, enlightened understanding (v. 28).
- D&C 50:24He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light.Whatsoever is light, is good (v. 35).
Nourish the Word
- Mark 4:5-6, 17When the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.The parable of the sower.
- 1 Nephi 8:10-11I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted.Lehi's tree, which Alma echoes.
- 1 Nephi 11:21-22Behold the Lamb of God… it is the love of God.The meaning of the tree.
- John 6:35He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
- Colossians 2:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.