The first eight years of the reign of the judges were a difficult time for the people of Nephi and for their leader, Alma the Younger. He had been ordained a high priest by his father, Alma, who had established churches throughout the land. He also had the distinction of serving as the first chief judge under the new system of government established by King Mosiah (Mosiah 29).
During this time, he encountered a challenge to the church in the form of a man named Nehor (Alma 1). He also encountered a challenge to the government in the form of a man named Amlici (Alma 2, 3). But even more worrisome were the trends he saw among the people: contention and inequality arising from pride. In order to combat these trends, he ultimately resigned his position as chief judge and dedicated himself full-time to the role of high priest (Alma 4).
Here are some blog posts relating to these chapters:
Principles of Effective Government
- Counseling with others: By the Voice of the People – Mosiah 29:26
- Participating in the political process: That Every Man Might Bear His Part – Mosiah 29:33-34
- Being the voice of reason: Let Us Be Wise – Mosiah 29:8-10
- Holding our leaders accountable: What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Impeachment? and What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Corruption?
Nehor
- Clothing and pride: What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?”
- Keeping on the covenant path: They Were Steadfast and Immovable – Alma 1:25
- Ministering with priesthood power: The Preacher Was No Better Than the Hearer – Alma 1:26
Amlici
- The importance of civility: Amlici Did Stir up Those Who Were in His Favor – Alma 2:7-10
- Making our voices heard: Much Dispute and Wonderful Contentions – Alma 2:2-5
- Choosing your “spiritual employer:” Every Man Receiveth Wages – Alma 3:26-27
- Leaning toward righteousness: Whom He Listeth to Obey – Alma 3:26-27
- Intent vs. impact: They Brought Upon Themselves the Curse – Alma 3:18-19
Pride and contention
- Overcoming complacency: To Stir Them Up in Remembrance of Their Duty – Alma 4:19
- Overcoming discouragement: Nevertheless, the Spirit of the Lord Did Not Fail Him – Alma 4:15
- Letting success go to your head: Lifted Up in the Pride of Their Eyes – Alma 4:6-9
- Delegation: And This He Did That He Himself Might Go Forth – Alma 4:18-19
- The dangers of prosperity: Alma 4:12-13 He Saw Great Inequality Among the People
Blog Posts: May 26-31
“Every Man According to His Mind” – Alma 2:5
Lehi taught his sons that they were free to make choices—including choices which would reduce that freedom. He urged them to choose liberty, not captivity (2 Nephi 2:26-29). About five years after King Mosiah abolished the monarchy and established a government “by the voice of the people” (Mosiah 29:26), a man named Amlici tried to…
The Fallacies of Nehor – Alma 1:3-4
Less than a year after King Mosiah’s death, during Alma’s first year as chief judge, a man named Nehor created some controversy in the land of Zarahemla, by advocating two principles which opposed the teachings of the church. Here are two false teachings which he promoted: The fallacy of popularity – Nehor taught that “every priest…
“Steadfast and Immovable” – Alma 1:25
About 90 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a group of believers on the American continent endured substantial mistreatment by non-believers. They had been taught not to fight back, but to patiently endure their afflictions, and so they carried on, “steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience…
“Having Prayed Mightily” – Alma 2:28
As a Nephite army led by Alma struggled to defend their country against an insurgency led by a man named Amlici, they were alarmed to discover that the insurgents had joined forces with their enemies, and that the combined army was marching toward their capital city. They were terribly outnumbered, but they had an important…
“They Did Not Set Their Hearts Upon Riches” – Alma 1:30
“If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” – Psalm 62:10 In the first chapter of Alma, we read about two groups of people. One group became prosperous because of their consistent self-discipline. And they remained prosperous because of their generosity: “They did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry,…
“They Were Awakened to a Remembrance of Their Duty” – Alma 4:3
A few weeks ago, a colleague at work asked me, “What good could possibly come from the COVID-19 pandemic?” I can’t remember what I said which prompted this question, but I remember not having an immediate answer. In subsequent weeks, a number of answers have come to mind. One of them, which I’ve been pondering…
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