Alma 4
People in this chapter
The wars of the fifth year leave every family grieving, and grief does what prosperity could not: they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty (v. 3). The church grows. In one year about thirty-five hundred people are baptized (v. 5).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Alma 4:1-5Awakened to a Remembrance of Their Duty
1Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla; 2But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites. 3And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.
After the wars, everyone is grieving. The people see their losses as a call from God, and they remember their duty to Him.
4And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma. 5And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time.
The church grows. Many are baptized by Alma, whom his father had made high priest. In the seventh year about 3,500 people join.
Alma 4:6-10A Great Stumbling-Block
6And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel. 7Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders over the church; yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people. 8For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.
By the eighth year the church members are rich, and they grow proud. They wear costly clothes, look down on each other, and persecute people who believe differently.
9And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God. 10And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.
The church members became even prouder than those outside the church. Their bad example kept others from believing, and the church stopped growing.
Alma 4:11-14For Christ's Sake
11And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people. 12Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.
Alma sees great inequality. Some lift themselves up and ignore the poor, the hungry, and the sick.
13Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy; 14Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.
Alma 4:15-20Bearing Down in Pure Testimony
15And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him. 16And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. 17Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people. 18Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah.
Alma is deeply sad, but the Spirit does not leave him. He appoints a wise elder named Nephihah as chief judge and keeps the office of high priest for himself.
19And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. 20And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
Alma leaves the judgment-seat to preach. He believes the only way to reach his people is bearing down in pure testimony, a plain witness of the truth carried by the Holy Ghost.
Alma gives himself wholly to his calling as high priest and to testifying of the word of God.
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.
- Alma, Son of AlmaAn overview of Alma the Younger's life, including his years as chief judge and the decision in verses 16-20 to devote himself to preaching.
- PrideScriptures on pride, the sin that undoes the church in verses 6-12 and that the Book of Mormon returns to again and again.
- TestimonyWhat a testimony is and how it comes by the Holy Ghost, background for Alma's choice to bear pure testimony in verse 19.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Awakened to a Remembrance of Their Duty
- Helaman 12:2-3Except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions... they will not remember him.
- Mosiah 29:42He being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him.
- Mosiah 18:17Whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.
- Hebrews 12:11No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
A Great Stumbling-Block
- Alma 39:11When they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.
- Romans 14:13That no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
- 4 Nephi 1:24-26Lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel... and they began to be divided into classes.The same pattern ends the Nephites' two centuries of peace.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-18Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches.
For Christ's Sake
- Mosiah 4:26For the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day... impart of your substance to the poor.
- Matthew 25:40Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Mosiah 16:7-8There is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
- Mosiah 18:9Willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
- D&C 38:27Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.
Bearing Down in Pure Testimony
- Alma 31:5The preaching of the word... had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else.
- Alma 7:1I having been wholly confined to the judgment-seat, having had much business that I could not come unto you.
- Acts 6:2-4It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables... We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.The Twelve make a similar choice.
- Alma 17:2-3When they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
- D&C 11:21Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed.