Lesson 1

Alma 30–35



Complete assignment 7 and any three of the other assignments:

1.   Alma 30:6–44. Korihor the Anti-Christ

Read the institute student manual commentaries “Alma 30: Modern-day Korihors” and “Alma 30:6: Anti-Christs” (page 213). Write answers to the following questions:

  • Who or what are some examples of modern-day anti-Christs?
  • What did Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) point out about an anti-Christ’s teachings concerning salvation?

As you read Alma 30:12–28, make a list of Korihor’s false teachings.

Read the student manual commentary “Alma 30:12–18: Strategies of Korihor” (page 214). Then write a statement summarizing Hugh Nibley’s assessment of Korihor’s teachings.

Sometimes we are confronted by people who don’t believe in God. A typical response is to list physical evidences in nature that testify of God’s existence. Alma listed some of those physical evidences in verse 44, but note that he listed four spiritual evidences before any physical ones. List Alma’s four spiritual evidences of God:

Read the student manual commentary “Alma 30:15–16: Korihor’s False Teaching” (pages 214–15). Explain in writing what you learn from President Boyd K. Packer and Alma’s example in talking to people who attack the Church.

Write how each of the following groups in Alma 30:6, 18–44 responded to Korihor’s teachings:

  • People of Zarahemla
  • People of Ammon
  • People in the land of Gideon
  • Giddonah
  • Alma

Write a paragraph explaining how you can follow Alma’s example in verses 37–44 when confronted with someone who attacks the Church or its teachings and practices. Share what you wrote with a family member or a friend.

Read Alma 30:49–60. Describe in a paragraph what Korihor admitted after being struck deaf and dumb. What lesson do you think Mormon wanted the latter-day reader to draw from this experience?

2.   Alma 31:5–6. The Power of the Word

Carefully study Alma 31:5–6. Write answers to the following questions:

  • As Alma and his companions prepared to go and teach among the wayward Zoramites, what did Alma decide was the most persuasive tool they could use?
  • How is Helaman 6:37 a good example of this principle?
  • What difference should this make in the dedication of our personal scripture study?

Read the student manual commentary “Alma 31:5: The Power of the Word” (pages 219–20). Write a paragraph describing “the power of the word” in your life.

3.   Alma 31:15–35. Praying with Sincerity and Faith

Read the Zoramites’ prayer in Alma 31:15–18 and list the insights you learn about the Zoramites from their prayer.

Read Alma’s prayer in Alma 31:26–35. Contrast how Alma’s prayer differed from the Zoramites.

Study Alma 31:31–33. What attributes did Alma pray for to help him and the other missionaries as they labored among the Zoramites? How do those attributes help us reach out to those among us who have fallen into error?

Read Alma 33:1–3 and describe in writing how Alma said that the Zoramites could worship God or exercise faith.

Read Alma 33:4–11; 34:17–29. What did Alma and Amulek emphasize in these passages about prayer?

Write a paragraph on what you have learned about prayer that you would like to improve in your own personal prayers.

4.   Alma 32:1–14. Preparation to Hear the Word

Read Alma 32:1–6 and explain in writing who was ready to hear the word among the Zoramites and why.

Read Alma 32:13–14 and describe in writing two ways Alma said a person can become humble.

Read the student manual commentary “Alma 32:8–16: ‘Blessed Are They Who Humble Themselves’” (pages 222–23). Write a paragraph explaining how a person may be humbled by the word and why this would be preferred to the other way most people choose to become humble (see Alma 32:13–14).

5.   Alma 32:26–43. Reaping the Rewards of Faith

Read Alma 32:26–27 and write in your own words what Alma asked the Zoramites to do.

List words and phrases from Alma 32:27–43 that are central to what Alma taught. Choose five of the words or phrases you identified and write a few sentences about the importance of each of these words as used in these verses.

Read the student manual commentaries “Alma 32:27–37: Experimenting on the Word of God Brings Conversion” and “Alma 32:28–35: ‘It Beginneth to Be Delicious to Me’” (pages 225–26). Write about a time when you “experimented” with the word of God. Be sure to include the things you did and things you learned through your experience. What rewards did you reap as a result of your diligence, faith, and patience? (see verse 43).

6.   Alma 33. The Atonement Solves Problems of False Beliefs

From Alma 31:8–23; 32:2–5, identify false teachings and practices among the Zoramites. Write a summary of what Alma taught in Alma 33 that provides correction for the false teachings and practices you listed.

7.   Alma 34:8–41. The Infinite and Eternal Atonement

Mark Alma 33:11, 22 in your scriptures. Write a statement of what these verses teach about the mission of Jesus Christ.

The “great question” in Amulek’s day is ultimately the great question people of the world are being challenged with today. According to Amulek, what is the great question?

Read Alma 34:1–17. Write a paragraph summarizing Amulek’s main points concerning the infinite Atonement of Christ.

After reading Alma 34:15–17, 30–41 and the student manual commentary “Alma 34:14–17: ‘Faith unto Repentance’” (pages 229–30), write a one-page paper on what we can do if we have faith in Jesus Christ and gratitude for the Atonement. What can we do to more effectively prepare to meet and be worthy to live with the Lord forever?

8.   Alma 34:17–28. Prayer

Read Alma 34:17–28 and complete the following tasks in writing:

  • What did Amulek say we should pray for?
  • Give modern equivalents of what we could pray for based on verses 20–26.
  • Amulek taught that something would make our prayers vain if we failed to do it. What was it?

9.   Alma 34:32–35. The Time for Repentance

Read Alma 34:32–35 and the student manual commentary “Alma 34:34–35: That Same Spirit Will Possess Us” (pages 230–31). Write several sentences explaining the necessity of repenting in this life.

10. Alma 35:1–10. Nephite-Lamanite Wars

Read Alma 35:1–10. The last part of the book of Alma (chapters 43–63) gives an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Write a brief paragraph describing some of the reasons given in these verses for why this war began.