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Annotations |
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Chapter 27
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1 And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were
inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church
began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and
they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah.
And Mosiah consulted with his priests.
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2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation
throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever
persecute any of those who belonged to the church of God.
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3 And there was a strict command throughout all the
churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should
be an equality among all men;
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4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb
their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring
with their own hands for their support.
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5 Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor
with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in
sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the
grace of God.
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6 And there began to be much peace again in the land; and
the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the
face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the
west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land.
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7 And the Lord did visit them and prosper them, and they
became a large and wealthy people.
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8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the
unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he
being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked
and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much
flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the
manner of his iniquities.
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9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of
the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much
dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise
his power over them.
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10 And now it came to pass that while he was going about
to destroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of
Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the
Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king—
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11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about
rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and
he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of
thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
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Mosiah 27:11-17
An instance in which the miracle precedes the faith. This seems to contradict
Ether 12:6, “dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until
after the trial of your faith.”
Also, note the similarities between Alma’s conversion story and that of Saul
(Paul) in Acts 9.
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12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to
the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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13 Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand
forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said:
This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it,
save it is the transgression of my people.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard
the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is
thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou
mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this
purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that
the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For
behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me
before you? And I am sent from God.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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16 Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of
thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how
great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has
delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to
destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even
if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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17 And now it came to pass that these were the last words
which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:11-17 above
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18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to
the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had
beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the
earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could
shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder.
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Mosiah 27:18-19
Another example in Book of Mormon of a group being so astonished or overtaken
by the Spirit that they all fall to the earth.
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19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he
became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even
that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were
with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father.
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Annotation for Mosiah 27:18-19 above
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20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had
happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the
power of God.
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21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered
together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also
for those that were with him.
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22 And he caused that the priests should assemble
themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their
God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that
his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be
opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God.
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23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed
for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their
strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to
be of good comfort:
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This says Alma received strength to move and could talk
after two days and two nights of others fasting and praying. Some critics
think this contradicts Alma 36:10 because it says that Alma could not open
his mouth for three days and three nights. I think the defense of this is
robust. The people fasting for Alma wouldn’t necessarily have started fasting
for Alma right away; they may have started a day after his mouth was shut.
Likewise, though in Mosiah it says Alma could speak after they fasted, it
doesn’t say that he could speak immediately after they ended their
fast; it could have taken a day after the fasting and prayer stopped for him
to speak again.
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24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been
redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
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25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind,
yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born
again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a
state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and
daughters;
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26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do
this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
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27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be
cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
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28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation,
repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out
of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
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29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness
and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the
marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I
am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
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According to D&C 19:6-12 the words “endless” and
“eternal” do not mean without end when it comes to “endless torment” or
“eternal damnation”. These verses in the D&C explain that these words are
used because, “it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work
upon the hearts of the children of men.” When people read these words in the
Book of Mormon, how do they likely understand the words “endless” and
“eternal”? Is this honest communication if D&C 19 reveals the actual
meaning of these words?
In this instance, it is actually clear from the context in
this verse that “eternal torment” does not mean torment without end.
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30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been
spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come,
and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself
manifest unto all.
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31 Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess
before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged
of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who
live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting
punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and
shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.
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The qualifier for punishment here is “everlasting.” One is
left to wonder what that means exactly since according to D&C 19:6-12 the
words “endless” and “eternal” do not mean without end when it comes to “endless
torment” or “eternal damnation”. These verses in the D&C explain that “endless”
and “eternal” are used because, “it is more express than other scriptures,
that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men.” When people read
these words in the Book of Mormon, how do they likely understand the words “endless”
and “eternal”? Is this honest communication if D&C 19 reveals the actual
meaning of these words? Does “everlasting” also not mean without end?
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32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time
forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the
angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land,
publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and
preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by
those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.
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33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much
consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with
long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God.
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34 And four of them were the sons of Mosiah; and their
names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the names of
the sons of Mosiah.
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35 And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla,
and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously
striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church,
confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen,
and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear
them.
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36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in
bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their
Redeemer.
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37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace;
they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people
that the Lord reigneth.
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