During Alma’s first year as chief judge, he faced a difficult situation. A man named Nehor had become popular and rich by preaching false doctrines. In defending his views, he had taken the life of Gideon. Alma sentenced Nehor to death, but this didn’t put an end to the difficulties. Nephite society had become polarized between non-believers, who persecuted church members, and believers, most of whom remained humble and steady, ignoring the persecution.
Chapter Outline
- Nehor teaches universal salvation and advocates priestcraft (v. 1-6)
- Nehor kills Gideon and is executed (v. 7-15)
- Non-believers persecute believers (v. 16-24)
- Believers prosper because of their patience and generosity (v. 25-33)
My Takeaways
- We need to avoid believing the twin fallacies of celebrity and impunity.
- Freedom of speech cannot be unlimited in an organized society.
- When we are treated badly, it’s important to be steady and patient.
- We should be generous and avoid being distracted by worldly measures of success.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Nehor’s teachings – Alma 1:1-6
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…
❖ Non-believers persecute believers – Alma 1:16-24
King-Men and Freedom of Speech
Words matter. Words have an impact, for good or for evil. Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). And Alma warned the people of Ammonihah, some of whom were guilty of deceiving others, “Our words will condemn us” (Alma 12:24).…
Civility
When church members were being persecuted, they were urged not to reciprocate. As we interact with people who disagree with us, we can practice civility by being good listeners, framing our positions noncontentiously, and showing genuine love for others.
❖ Church members prosper – Alma 1:25-33
They Were Steadfast and Immovable – Alma 1:25
25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them. (Alma 1:25) One of the purposes of the church is to help us endure. Consistency…
The Preacher Was No Better Than the Hearer – Alma 1:26
26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself…
Thus They Began to Have Continual Peace Again – Alma 1:27-28
27 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began…
They Began to Be Exceedingly Rich – Alma 1:29-31
29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need–an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk…
“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,…
Old Testament Foundations
No Respecter of Persons
God doesn’t show favoritism. The Greek word prosopolemptes means literally “countenance-taker.” The word appears in our Bible as “respecter of persons.” God doesn’t favor people based on worldly measures of success—and neither should we.
New Testament Parallels
Gamaliel
Gamaliel urged the Sanhedrin to treat Peter and John with tolerance. If this work is of men, he said, it will fail on its own. If it’s of God, you don’t want to fight against it. This is a useful model for dealing with differences of opinion productively.
“The Poor Always Ye Have with You”
We can learn at least three things from Jesus’s observation that there will always be poor people among us: 1. Don’t overextend yourself trying to do good. 2. Make specific proposals. 3. You have an ongoing responsibility to care for the poor and needy.
Church History Connections
Practicable
Do you ever feel like there isn’t enough time to do everything that you need to do? How do you deal with that situation? In January of 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had multiple competing demands on their time. They had taken a break from translating the Bible to preach the gospel (Doctrine and…
Caring for the Poor and the Needy: Three Principles from God’s Law
Doctrine and Covenants 42 and 44 teach three principles to help us care for the poor and needy: 1. When you have more than enough, share. 2. A gift is a gift. Once given, it is no longer yours. 3. Do something now; don’t wait for the perfect organization before giving.
All Posts Referencing Alma 1
- There Was Corn in Egypt (3/17/2026)
- Collaboration vs. Individualism (11/29/2025)
- A Healthful Habitation (11/2/2025)
- Caring for the Poor and the Needy: Three Principles from God’s Law (5/4/2025)
- Civility (6/6/2024)
- Obeying, Honoring, and Sustaining the Law (6/5/2024)
- Gideon (5/25/2024)
- No Respecter of Persons (7/18/2023)
- Gamaliel (7/9/2023)
- “The Poor Always Ye Have with You” (5/20/2023)
- Abram and Lot: No Strife (2/10/2022)
- Freedom of Religion (11/19/2021)
- Practicable (7/3/2021)
- King-Men and Freedom of Speech (1/14/2021)
- Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6 (12/5/2020)
- “He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3 (6/12/2020)
- “They Did Not Set Their Hearts Upon Riches” – Alma 1:30 (5/30/2020)
- The Fallacies of Nehor – Alma 1:3-4 (5/27/2020)
- Why Is Steadiness Important? (11/2/2019)
- How Can I Be More Patient with Myself? (6/26/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Patience? (4/11/2019)
- What Is the Relationship Between “Idolatry” and “Idleness?” (4/8/2019)
- What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?” (4/3/2019)
- They Were Steadfast and Immovable – Alma 1:25 (11/18/2018)
- The Preacher Was No Better Than the Hearer – Alma 1:26 (11/17/2018)
- Thus They Began to Have Continual Peace Again – Alma 1:27-28 (2/4/2017)
- There Should Be No Persecution – Alma 1:21-24 (2/4/2017)
- They Were Obliged to Abide by the Laws – Alma 1:1 (2/3/2017)
- They Did Not Send Any Away – Alma 1:30 (12/7/2016)
- They Began to Be Exceedingly Rich – Alma 1:29-31 (7/9/2016)
- The Priests Left Their Labor – Alma 1:26 (6/29/2016)
- They Bore with Patience the Persecution – Alma 1:21-22, 25 (3/19/2016)
- When the Priests Left Their Labor – Alma 1:26 (6/1/2015)
- They Were Liberal to All – Alma 1:29-32 (5/29/2015)
- Alma 1:21-24 For the Hearts of Many Were Hardened (10/27/2014)