Today as I was studying scriptures, and re-reading a chapter that I've studied several times in the last week, I felt an intense wave of emotion as I read Alma 2:30:
At this point in history, an evil man Almici, was trying to make himself king of Zarahemla. When he didn't succeed by vote, he made himself a king anyway with his followers, then tried to overthrow the Nephites in the land by brute force. When that didn't work, and the Amlicites had to flee from the Nephites, the Amlicites joined forces with the Lamanites to return and destroy the Nephites. That's when we get to this verse.
In Alma 2:16, it says that Alma is "at the head of his armies," not trying to protect himself, but to protect his people, fighting with the wicked Amlicites face-to-face. This is a scary prospect. It says in Alma 2: 27 that after the Amlicites joined forces with the Lamanites and returned to defeat the Nephites that those Lamanites + Amlicites were "numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea." The Nephites were relying on their faith in the Lord, and that they were defending their beliefs, their God, and their families.
Alma never flinched from his faith in the Lord and in doing so, he helped his people to be strong during great adversity. The Lord gave him strength to slay Amlici in Alma 2:31, then fight the king of the Lamanites in Alma 2:32. I think it's interesting that with Alma's great faith he slew, and even gave chase, that they might have peace in their lands. Whereas the king of the Lamanites hid behind his guards once he realized that he wasn't going to defeat Alma.
Remembering
Earlier this month, I shared a seven-minute video on the book of Mosiah and how we can turn to the Lord if we always remember. When we get to Alma 4, just eight years after King Mosiah has died, and Zarahemla no longer has a king (they've moved to a system of judges that King Mosiah recommended to prevent an evil king from taking over one day, like King Noah did), we see the effects of people forgetting.
In Alma 1, no one went hungry or naked. Everyone was equal. By Alma 4, just eight years later, there were envyings and strife, and people turning their backs upon the naked and hungry. (Click on image to enlargen or click on links above to go to those scripture chapters.)
It's stunning how little time it takes for people to forget, and for a righteous to become corrupt. It's stunning how many people forgot the words of King Mosiah and how much peace and happiness they had throughout the land. It's a reminder to always remember, and always put the Lord first in our lives. We can't take our blessings and gifts for granted, lest we forget where they come from and that they should be used for good, to serve others, to serve our God. We can't forget that the Lord loves us all equally, no matter the trials we face in our lives, our gender, our age, our titles, or the color of our skin. We are to serve each other as equals, as brothers and sisters united under one God.
As happened in the land of Nephi, when Alma listened to Abinadi and escaped into the wilderness to preach the word of God, there were people in Zarahemla that hadn't forgotten. They were steadfast and immovable. They still fed and clothed the poor and needy. Alma himself stepped down as chief judge, appointing a righteous man in his place, so that he could go out among the people and teach the word of God. He was steadfast and immovable in his conviction and desire to bring people to God. He didn't put a title in front of the value of worthy work, and that's something that Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Enos, King Mosiah, King Benjamin, King Mosiah's son King Mosiah, Alma, and of course, Alma the Younger himself, all did. It was never about fame, accolades, title, or wealth. It was about serving their people because when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God. (Mosiah 2:17).
Gideon Never Forgot
One final thought I want to share about this section of scriptures, is another one of my favorite scripture heroes, Gideon. Gideon was a brave and intelligent warrior. It says in the scriptures that the wicked Amlici was also a wise man but only "as to the wisdom of the world." (Alma 2:1). Gideon could have defeated King Noah but he let him go because the Lamanites were coming and King Noah lied and said he needed to save his people. Then, when King Noah's people were taken in bondage by the Lamanites, it was Gideon who devised a plan to help them escape and return to Zarahemla (Mosiah 22:3-9). Finally, Gideon died defending the word of God from the wicked Nehor (Alma 1:8), because at that point he was very old, and no longer able to defend himself from the blows of the sword. I admire this courageous man. A lot of his successes were that he never forgot. He ended his life as a martyr for the Lord, never forgetting his Lord, his God.
At this point in history, an evil man Almici, was trying to make himself king of Zarahemla. When he didn't succeed by vote, he made himself a king anyway with his followers, then tried to overthrow the Nephites in the land by brute force. When that didn't work, and the Amlicites had to flee from the Nephites, the Amlicites joined forces with the Lamanites to return and destroy the Nephites. That's when we get to this verse.
In Alma 2:16, it says that Alma is "at the head of his armies," not trying to protect himself, but to protect his people, fighting with the wicked Amlicites face-to-face. This is a scary prospect. It says in Alma 2: 27 that after the Amlicites joined forces with the Lamanites and returned to defeat the Nephites that those Lamanites + Amlicites were "numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea." The Nephites were relying on their faith in the Lord, and that they were defending their beliefs, their God, and their families.
Alma never flinched from his faith in the Lord and in doing so, he helped his people to be strong during great adversity. The Lord gave him strength to slay Amlici in Alma 2:31, then fight the king of the Lamanites in Alma 2:32. I think it's interesting that with Alma's great faith he slew, and even gave chase, that they might have peace in their lands. Whereas the king of the Lamanites hid behind his guards once he realized that he wasn't going to defeat Alma.
Remembering
Earlier this month, I shared a seven-minute video on the book of Mosiah and how we can turn to the Lord if we always remember. When we get to Alma 4, just eight years after King Mosiah has died, and Zarahemla no longer has a king (they've moved to a system of judges that King Mosiah recommended to prevent an evil king from taking over one day, like King Noah did), we see the effects of people forgetting.
In Alma 1, no one went hungry or naked. Everyone was equal. By Alma 4, just eight years later, there were envyings and strife, and people turning their backs upon the naked and hungry. (Click on image to enlargen or click on links above to go to those scripture chapters.)
It's stunning how little time it takes for people to forget, and for a righteous to become corrupt. It's stunning how many people forgot the words of King Mosiah and how much peace and happiness they had throughout the land. It's a reminder to always remember, and always put the Lord first in our lives. We can't take our blessings and gifts for granted, lest we forget where they come from and that they should be used for good, to serve others, to serve our God. We can't forget that the Lord loves us all equally, no matter the trials we face in our lives, our gender, our age, our titles, or the color of our skin. We are to serve each other as equals, as brothers and sisters united under one God.
As happened in the land of Nephi, when Alma listened to Abinadi and escaped into the wilderness to preach the word of God, there were people in Zarahemla that hadn't forgotten. They were steadfast and immovable. They still fed and clothed the poor and needy. Alma himself stepped down as chief judge, appointing a righteous man in his place, so that he could go out among the people and teach the word of God. He was steadfast and immovable in his conviction and desire to bring people to God. He didn't put a title in front of the value of worthy work, and that's something that Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Enos, King Mosiah, King Benjamin, King Mosiah's son King Mosiah, Alma, and of course, Alma the Younger himself, all did. It was never about fame, accolades, title, or wealth. It was about serving their people because when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God. (Mosiah 2:17).
Gideon Never Forgot
One final thought I want to share about this section of scriptures, is another one of my favorite scripture heroes, Gideon. Gideon was a brave and intelligent warrior. It says in the scriptures that the wicked Amlici was also a wise man but only "as to the wisdom of the world." (Alma 2:1). Gideon could have defeated King Noah but he let him go because the Lamanites were coming and King Noah lied and said he needed to save his people. Then, when King Noah's people were taken in bondage by the Lamanites, it was Gideon who devised a plan to help them escape and return to Zarahemla (Mosiah 22:3-9). Finally, Gideon died defending the word of God from the wicked Nehor (Alma 1:8), because at that point he was very old, and no longer able to defend himself from the blows of the sword. I admire this courageous man. A lot of his successes were that he never forgot. He ended his life as a martyr for the Lord, never forgetting his Lord, his God.
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