| abstract
| - Alma the Younger, after whom the Book of Alma was named, was the son of a prophet of the same name in the Book of Mormon. Alma is first mentioned as an unbeliever, engaged in persecuting and attempting to destroy the church. The persecution that Alma and his followers caused weighed on the church so much so that “the church began to murmur and complain...” (Mosiah 27:1) and Alma and the unbelievers “...became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people” (Mosiah 27:9). The Lord answered the faithful prayers of his people and Alma's father, and Alma was visited by an angel of the Lord who asked him “Why persecutest thou the church of God” (Mosiah 27:13)? The angel commanded Alma to cease trying to destroy the church and to recognize the power and authority of God. Alma's experience brought him near death. While he was unconscious he saw the bitterness of hell; when he was spiritually rescued, he experienced joy equal to the sorrow that had harrowed him nearly to destruction. Alma repented and went on to become a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord, preaching the gospel of repentance and baptism. The Book of Alma shares many of Alma’s missionary experiences as he traveled and preached in Gideon, Zarahemla, Ammonihah, and to the Zoramites. The Book of Alma is full of gospel principles: And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins (Alma 5:14, 15, 21). But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (Alma 7:9-12). Shortly before handing over the plates to his son Helaman, Alma instructed his sons, Shiblon, Corianton, and Helaman on the subjects of death, resurrection, the unpardonable sin, chastity, and the plan of salvation. The scriptures record that Alma’s mortal life ended without his ever tasting death, meaning he was translated by the Lord, as was Moses.
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