Mosiah 26
People in this chapter
Mosiah 26 begins with a problem every generation of believers faces. Many of the children who had been too young to understand King Benjamin's great sermon grew up and did not believe. They did not believe the tradition of their fathers (v. 1), and they began to persuade members of the church to sin (v. 6).
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Mosiah 26:1-6The Rising Generation
1Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers. 2They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. 3And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
Children who were too young to understand King Benjamin's sermon grew up without believing it. Their parents' conversion did not automatically become theirs.
Mormon says they could not understand because of their unbelief. Belief opens the door to understanding, and unbelief closes it.
4And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God. 5And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous as the people of God; but because of the dissensions among the brethren they became more numerous. 6For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church.
The unbelievers would not be baptized or pray. Then they began to lead church members into sin, and the church had to respond.
Mosiah 26:7-14Alma Inquired of the Lord
7And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought them before Alma, who was the high priest. 8Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church. 9And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerning them; but there were many witnesses against them; yea, the people stood and testified of their iniquity in abundance. 10Now there had not any such thing happened before in the church; therefore Alma was troubled in his spirit, and he caused that they should be brought before the king.
Members who sinned were brought to the priests and then to Alma. This had never happened before in the church, and Alma was troubled.
11And he said unto the king: Behold, here are many whom we have brought before thee, who are accused of their brethren; yea, and they have been taken in divers iniquities. And they do not repent of their iniquities; therefore we have brought them before thee, that thou mayest judge them according to their crimes. 12But king Mosiah said unto Alma: Behold, I judge them not; therefore I deliver them into thy hands to be judged.
Alma brings the case to the king, but Mosiah sends it back. Church members' standing in the church is for the church to judge.
13And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God. 14And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:
Alma is afraid of getting it wrong, so he poured out his whole soul to God. The Lord answers him.
Mosiah 26:15-28This Is My Church
15Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi. 16And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto them. 17And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people. 18Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine. 19And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed. 20Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.
Before answering the question, the Lord blesses Alma and his people for their faith, which came from hearing words alone. He even blesses Alma for asking, and covenants that Alma will have eternal life.
21And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive. 22For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive. 23For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand. 24For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
Baptism is unto repentance. It is a promise to keep turning to God, and the Lord receives those who believe in His name.
25And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me. 26And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed. 27And then I will confess unto them that I never knew them; and they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 28Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not hear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church, for him I will not receive at the last day.
Those who refuse to know the Lord will still learn one day that He is their Redeemer, but too late. Those who will not hear His voice are not to be received into His church.
Mosiah 26:29-32As Often as My People Repent
29Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also. 30Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
The Lord gives Alma the rule: a member who confesses before thee and me and sincerely repents is to be forgiven, and the Lord will forgive him too.
31And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation. 32Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward.
The Lord adds a second command: forgive one another. Someone who will not forgive a repentant neighbor brings himself under condemnation.
Mosiah 26:33-39To Give Thanks in All Things
33And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down that he might have them, and that he might judge the people of that church according to the commandments of God. 34And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been taken in iniquity, according to the word of the Lord. 35And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them he did number among the people of the church; 36And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were blotted out.
Alma writes the revelation down and follows it exactly. Those who confess and repent stay in the church. Those who will not are no longer numbered among its members.
37And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walking circumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizing many. 38And now all these things did Alma and his fellow laborers do who were over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of God in all things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to the church of God. 39And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.
The church finds peace again and keeps growing. The leaders admonish others and are admonished themselves. No one is above correction.
In the middle of persecution, the Lord commands them to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.
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.
- Church Discipline in the Book of MosiahA scholarly study of how Alma handled transgression in the church (vv. 6-39), and how the revelation he received shaped church practice in the rest of the record.
- Repentance and Membership CouncilsHow the Church helps members repent today. The handbook cites Mosiah 26:29-36 among the scriptures behind this work and names its purposes: to protect others, to help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through repentance, and to protect the integrity of the Church.
- ForgiveScriptures on God's forgiveness and on our duty to forgive others, the two halves of verses 29-31.
Where this echoes in Scripture
The Rising Generation
- Mosiah 5:2The Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent... has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts.What the parents experienced and the children did not.
- Judges 2:10There arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.The same thing happened after Joshua's generation.
- Alma 32:27-28If ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you.
- Mosiah 27:8Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma.The rising generation includes Alma's own son.
Alma Inquired of the Lord
- Mosiah 25:19King Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land.The source of Alma's authority over the church.
- Matthew 18:15-17If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.The Savior's own pattern for dealing with offenses in the church.
- James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
- D&C 9:8You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.
This Is My Church
- John 10:27-28My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life.
- John 1:29Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- Mosiah 3:8Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.Benjamin's witness that the Redeemer is also the Creator (v. 23).
- Matthew 7:21-23Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me.
- Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance.
As Often as My People Repent
- Moroni 6:8But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.The church kept this pattern centuries later.
- Matthew 18:21-22I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
- Matthew 6:14-15If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- D&C 58:42-43He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
- D&C 64:9-10I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
To Give Thanks in All Things
- Alma 5:57-58The names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life.Alma the Younger later teaches the same principle of names.
- 3 Nephi 18:31-32Ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues... for ye know not but what they will return and repent.The Savior's instruction about those not numbered.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.
- D&C 59:7Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.