Alma 35
People in this chapter
After Amulek's sermon, the missionaries leave the Zoramites and go to Jershon, the land the Nephites had given to the people of Ammon. The Zoramite leaders are angry: the preaching did destroy their craft (v. 3). They quietly find out who believed the missionaries, and they cast those people out. They were many (v. 6).
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Alma 35:1-7They Were Cast Out of the Land
1Now it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon. 2Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon. 3And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words. 4And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken. 5Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.
The Zoramite leaders are angry because the preaching threatened their power. They secretly find out who believed the missionaries.
6And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of Jershon. 7And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.
Everyone who believed the missionaries was cast out of the land, and there were many. Alma and his companions ministered to them.
Alma 35:8-12They Did Receive All the Poor
8Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land. 9And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants.
The Zoramite ruler threatens the people of Ammon and demands they send the refugees back. The people of Ammon are not afraid. They take everyone in.
10Now this did stir up the Zoramites to anger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them. 11And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites. 12And thus ended the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
The kindness of the people of Ammon makes the Zoramites angry. They join the Lamanites and prepare for war. The seventeenth year ends.
Alma 35:13-16His Heart Was Exceedingly Sorrowful
13And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an account shall be given of their wars hereafter. 14And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands.
The people of Ammon move to Melek to make room for the Nephite armies. Alma and the missionaries return home. The Zoramite converts defend their new home.
15Now Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
Alma is grieved. His people are at war and contending, and their hearts are getting hard. They are offended by how strict the word is.
16Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record.
Grieved by his people, Alma gathers his sons and teaches each one separately. His words to them fill the next chapters.
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.
- Anti-Nephi-LehiesThe converted Lamanites later called the people of Ammon, who receive the Zoramite poor in verses 8-9.
- PoorScriptures on caring for the poor, which the people of Ammon put into practice in verse 9.
- Helaman, Son of AlmaAlma's eldest son, the first of the three sons to receive his charge after verse 16.
Where this echoes in Scripture
They Were Cast Out of the Land
- Acts 19:24-27Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.Another religious trade threatened by the gospel.
- Alma 34:40-41That ye do not revile against those who do cast you out.Amulek's counsel, which they now needed.
- Matthew 5:10-12Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
They Did Receive All the Poor
- Matthew 25:35-40I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me.
- Alma 24:18Rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him.The covenant the people of Ammon made when they buried their weapons.
- Alma 27:22-23This land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.How the people of Ammon came to have land to share.
- Mosiah 4:16Ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need.
- Leviticus 19:34The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.
His Heart Was Exceedingly Sorrowful
- John 6:60, 66-68This is an hard saying; who can hear it?… Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
- Alma 43:4The Zoramites became Lamanites; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them.Where the war Mormon promises here is told.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.
- D&C 68:25Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion… that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God…