Mosiah 24
People in this chapter
Amulon, the man who once sat beside Alma as a priest of King Noah, now rules over him. The Lamanite king has made Amulon and his brethren teachers over the Lamanites. They teach writing and record keeping, and nothing about God (vv. 4-6). Amulon remembers that Alma believed Abinadi and was driven out, and he uses his power to make Alma's people suffer (v. 9).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Mosiah 24:1-7They Knew Not God
1And it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor in the eyes of the king of the Lamanites; therefore, the king of the Lamanites granted unto him and his brethren that they should be appointed teachers over his people, yea, even over the people who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the land of Shilom, and in the land of Amulon. 2For the Lamanites had taken possession of all these lands; therefore, the king of the Lamanites had appointed kings over all these lands. 3And now the name of the king of the Lamanites was Laman, being called after the name of his father; and therefore he was called king Laman. And he was king over a numerous people. 4And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people; and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the Lamanites.
Amulon won the favor of the Lamanite king, Laman. The king made Amulon's brethren teachers across his lands, and the Nephite language began to spread among the Lamanites.
5And they were a people friendly one with another; nevertheless they knew not God; neither did the brethren of Amulon teach them anything concerning the Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they teach them the words of Abinadi; 6But they taught them that they should keep their record, and that they might write one to another. 7And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one with another and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder, except it were among their own brethren.
The priests taught the Lamanites to read, write, and trade, but nothing about God, the law of Moses, or Abinadi's words. The Lamanites grew rich and clever, and also wicked.
Mosiah 24:8-12They Did Pour Out Their Hearts
8And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children. 9For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the king's priests, and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them.
Amulon knew Alma from their days as Noah's priests, and he hated him for believing Abinadi. He persecuted Alma's people, even setting his children against theirs, and put task-masters over them.
10And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God. 11And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. 12And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
When the people cried to God, Amulon made prayer punishable by death. So they prayed silently, pouring out their hearts, and God knew their thoughts.
Mosiah 24:13-15Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease
13And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 14And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 15And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
The Lord's voice came to them in their afflictions. He reminded them of the covenant they had made with Him and promised to deliver them.
The Lord said He eased their burdens so they could be His witnesses and know for sure that He visits His people in their afflictions.
The people's part was to submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. The Lord strengthened them, and they accepted His timing.
Mosiah 24:16-25None Could Deliver Them Except the Lord
16And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 17And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage. 18Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together. 19And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep.
Because of their faith and patience, the Lord told them He would deliver them the next day. They gathered their flocks all night, and in the morning the Lord put the Lamanites into a deep sleep.
20And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. 21Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God. 22And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God.
After a day's travel they stopped in a valley, named it after Alma, and poured out their thanks to God. Every person old enough to speak praised Him aloud.
23And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this people. 24And it came to pass that they departed out of the valley, and took their journey into the wilderness. 25And after they had been in the wilderness twelve days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy.
The Lord warned Alma that the Lamanites were coming and promised to stop them in the valley. After twelve days, Alma's people reached Zarahemla, and King Mosiah welcomed them with joy.
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.
- How Does the Lord Make Our Burdens Light?Looks at how Alma's people prayed in their hearts when vocal prayer was forbidden, and how the Lord eased their burdens before delivering them.
- Alma the ElderScripture references for Alma the Elder, including his people's bondage and deliverance.
- AdversityScriptures on how trials can give experience and strength, and how the Lord helps His people in them.
- PrayerPrayer as communion with Heavenly Father, including prayer carried in the heart (v. 12).
Where this echoes in Scripture
They Knew Not God
- 2 Nephi 9:28-29To be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
- Alma 21:3The Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder.What became of the people Amulon's brethren taught.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
- Mosiah 10:6King Laman died, and his son began to reign in his stead.The earlier King Laman and his son.
They Did Pour Out Their Hearts
- Exodus 1:11They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.Israel's bondage in Egypt.
- Alma 34:27When you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually.
- 1 Samuel 1:13Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.Another prayer the Lord heard without a voice.
- Daniel 6:10He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.Daniel also kept praying when prayer was forbidden.
- D&C 6:16There is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.
Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease
- Matthew 11:28-30Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- Alma 7:11-12That he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
- Mosiah 18:8-9Willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light... and to stand as witnesses of God.The covenant these people made at baptism.
- Alma 33:23That your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
None Could Deliver Them Except the Lord
- Exodus 14:13-14Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord... The Lord shall fight for you.
- Alma 36:2They were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham.Alma the Younger remembers his father's deliverance.
- Alma 5:5-6Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
- Psalm 150:6Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
- Mosiah 25:17-18Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them.The two delivered peoples become one church.