Alma’s message to the people of Ammonihah is simple: Repent, or you will be destroyed. He reminds them of the promise Lehi received from God and the evidence that the Lamanites have suffered as a result of not keeping God’s commandments. He prophesies that the Son of God will come “not many days hence” to redeem the repentant.
The people try to silence him at the beginning with angry rhetorical questions, but they allow him to speak. They try to physically remove him at the end, but Amulek unexpectedly comes forward to support him.
Chapter Outline
- The people ask questions (v. 1-7)
- Remember what God has done (v. 8-11)
- Main message: Repent or you will be destroyed (v. 12-24)
- Prophecy: The Son of God shall come in his glory (v. 25-29)
- The people become angry when Alma calls them “a lost and a fallen people” (v. 30-34)
My Takeaways
- God sees every factor in our decisions. We should therefore be forgiving of others and mindful of our own obligations.
- The Savior is generous, fair and honest.
- Jesus is both responsive to us and patient when we are unresponsive to Him.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Repent – Alma 9:12-24
Weakness vs. Rebellion
God distinguishes between unintentional errors (sinning in ignorance) and intentional ones (sinning against light and knowledge). He can help us overcome both, but the repentance process may be different when we need to change our desires and motives.
Because of the Traditions of Their Fathers – Alma 9:14-17
14 Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the word of the Lord has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have been cut off from his…
It Shall Be More Tolerable for Them – Alma 9:14-16
14 Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the word of the Lord has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have been cut off from his…
❖ The Son of God – Alma 9:25-29
Full of Grace, Equity, and Truth – Alma 9:26
26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers. (Alma…
Full of Patience – Alma 9:26
26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers. (Alma…
Quick To Hear…and to Answer – Alma 9:26
26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers. (Alma…
Old Testament Foundations
Unto All Who Call on His Name – Alma 9:17
17 And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name. (Alma 9:17) One of the Ten Commandments…
New Testament Parallels
They Know Not
Acknowledging the boundaries of human knowledge can help us forgive. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We can also extend grace to others by assuming they will do better when they know better.
Lost
Why is it so hard for us to admit when we are lost? For some reason, we find comfort and stability in knowing where we are. There is something unnerving about not knowing our location. And we certainly don’t like other people suggesting that we are in that situation. To be lost is to be…
All Posts Referencing Alma 9
- Merciful and Gracious (4/26/2026)
- Seeing the Face of God (8/27/2025)
- Preparing the Way of the Lord (6/20/2025)
- Wickedness (2/13/2025)
- Zeezrom and the Mob (6/29/2024)
- Being an Amulek (6/20/2024)
- Weakness vs. Rebellion (6/19/2024)
- Mercy (3/26/2024)
- Testimony of Jesus = Spirit of Prophecy (12/30/2023)
- They Know Not (6/21/2023)
- Finding Grace (6/12/2022)
- Heavenly Help (2/22/2022)
- An Help, Meet for Him (1/7/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- “My Time Is at Hand” – 3 Nephi 17:1 (9/29/2020)
- Sixteen Cities (9/17/2020)
- “Highly Favored” – Alma 9:20-24 (6/14/2020)
- Lost (6/13/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Affirm? (12/28/2019)
- How Can I “Use Boldess, but Not Overbearance?” (9/12/2019)
- What Is the Significance of God’s Promise to Nephi? (7/19/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Patience? (4/11/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be “Long-Suffering?” (3/1/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be “Baptized Unto Repentance?” (2/22/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Grace? (1/28/2019)
- Unto All Who Call on His Name – Alma 9:17 (7/9/2018)
- Because of the Traditions of Their Fathers – Alma 9:14-17 (7/8/2018)
- Quick To Hear…and to Answer – Alma 9:26 (11/4/2017)
- Full of Patience – Alma 9:26 (3/17/2016)
- Full of Grace, Equity, and Truth – Alma 9:26 (6/12/2015)
- “Quick to Hear…and to Answer” – Alma 9:26 (6/11/2015)
- It Shall Be More Tolerable for Them – Alma 9:14-16 (6/11/2015)
- Alma 9:26 Full of Patience…Quick to Hear (10/31/2014)