Book Of Mormon Lesson 27: ALMA 30-31
“ALL THINGS DENOTE THERE IS A GOD”
For more insight into this lesson please click here and visit the Mormon Stories Engaging Gospel Doctrine page. At the bottom you
Book Of Mormon Lesson 27: ALMA 30-31
“ALL THINGS DENOTE THERE IS A GOD”
For more insight into this lesson please click here and visit the Mormon Stories Engaging Gospel Doctrine page. At the bottom you can find a podcast, hosted by bible scholar, Jared Anderson, that also examines lesson 27. His podcasts can also be downloaded on itunes.
Sixteenth and Seventeenth years: Alma 30:1-5
30:1 As pointed out in the last post, Mormon frequently assists his readers in demarcating major segments of the text by using resumptive repetition as a framing device. For instance, Alma 28 begins: “And now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon…” which is nearly identical to the opening of chapter 30: “Behold, now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon…” The material in between consists largely of Alma2‘s comments on contemporary events, suggesting that these chapters be read as a literary unit. (Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon, A Reader’s Guide, pg. 106)
30:3 “…they were strict in observing the ordinances of God…” There are several definitions of “ordinance”. Which is being used in this verse?
or·di·nance [awr-dn-uhns] Show IPA
- an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command.
- a public injunction or regulation: a city ordinance against excessive horn blowing.
- something believed to have been ordained, as by a deity or destiny.
- an established rite or ceremony.
- a sacrament.
- the communion.
30:3 “…until it should be fulfilled…” This idea is also found in 2 Nephi 25:24(Nephi); Mosiah 13:27-28 (Abinadi); Alma 25:15-16 (Mormon); Alma 34:13-14 (Amulek)
Korihor, an Anti-Christ: Alma 30:6-21a
From the perspective of aesthetics, direct discourse enhances the drama of the narrative – even villains such as Korihor get to present their ideas in their own words. Why doesn’t Mormon simply paraphrase Korihor and then describe the reactions of the original recipients?
As pointed out in other posts, the sheer abundance of specific narrative repetition in Mormon’s abridgment suggests not only deliberate selection and shaping but also that, in the working out of God’s will, certain events are likely to recur. Hence there are two confrontations between prophets and Antichrists (Alma 1, Alma 30 with a precedent in Jacob 7 [Jacob of course not being edited by Mormon as it came from the Small Plates])
30:10 Through parallel allusions, Mormon tells us indirectly that the converted Lamanites were taught the following:
- The moral principles enunciated by King Benjamin. These principles are found in the Lamanite king’s proclamation (in Mormon’s paraphrase) that his people “ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness” (Alma 23:3). This matches both the elements and order of Benjamin’s assertion that he had not permitted his subjects to “murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery, nor even have I suffered that ye would commit any manner of wickedness” (Mosiah 2:13) This is again repeated in the review of Nephite law as found in Alma 30:10.
30:17 Korihor, through the editing of Mormon, sets up the atonement as being in contradiction to the following:
- we prosper according to our own management and genius
- we conquer according to our own strength
- whatever we do is not a crime
Does the atonement run contrary to the above statements?
Korihor and Giddonah2: Alma 30: 21b-29
30:22 “…to interrupt their rejoicings?” Why is this what Giddonah chooses as his defense of the atonement?
30:22, 23 Question: “why do ye speak against all the prophecies…?” Korihor’s answer has several parts:
- they are foolish
- they allow the ecclesiastes to usurp power over others
- they make one ignorant
- they are suppressing
- they put people in bondage
- they are not true (I am unsure if this means faithful or true in the sense of a propositional statement being true)
- they make one guilty of transgressions they did not commit
- they prophecy of things that will not happen (Christ’s coming)
Korihor and Alma2: Alma 30:30-55
30:32 Notice that Mormon never provides any of the words that Gideon speaks to Korihor. Mormon obviously has a great love for the way in which Alma2 speaks. It is immediately evident that Mormon himself is quite impressed with Alma2. Of the seven sermons th