What was the Brother of Jared’s name? Does it ever say? Well, it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small villages, after the name of him who first possessed them Alma 8:7 And the Jaredites called the name of the place Moriancumer Ether 2:13 So was his name Moriancumer? It’s possible. But the custom was the Nephites’ custom, not the Jaredites’. Could they have had the same custom? Probably. How did the tradition begin? And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare […]

Ether 1:6-32 is Ether’s genealogy. Why do we need to know all that? There is a similar time in 1 Chronicles 5-9, which are pretty much all just the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and ectara of Joseph. That proves to be important later, when it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, […]

and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts Mormon 3:12 Mormon didn’t have faith in the Nephites. But James said But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. James 1:6-7 Does that mean, that if Mormon prayed in faith, would the Nephites have repented? Maybe. But […]

And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again. Mormon 1:18 I don’t think that Mormon means that the treasures literally “became slippery”. I think he only means that figuratively. When something is slippery, it slides out of your hands easily. My guess is the Lord made it so the treasures slid out of their possession easily. How? Well, maybe the […]

But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. 3 Nephi 21:10 Who is Jesus talking about? He’s talking about Joseph Smith, who would translate these words almost 2,000 years later. That means that Joseph Smith might have known that he was going to be martyred. But maybe he didn’t understand who it was talking about, although I don’t think that’s likely. […]

And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. 3 Nephi 11:27 But I thought we didn’t believe in the Trinity! We don’t. The Guide to the Scriptures says, These three persons are one in perfect unity and harmony of purpose and doctrine. God, Godhead They’re not the same person. They just are in unity. We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity […]

Starting in 3 Nephi 2, the people begin to be very wicked, even after they see the sign of Christ’s birth! A few chapters later, they repent, but soon, most of the people go wicked again. There are lots and lots of wars, contentions, robbing, murders, etcetera, and etcetera. But maybe there’s a point to all this. If they weren’t righteous enough to stay believers after they saw an amazing sign, then perhaps they weren’t righteous enough to see Christ. And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and […]

In Helaman 3, it says there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land. And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers. Helaman 3:3-4 It then goes on to describe all about what they did there. But how would they know? Well, that’s not the first time people went to the land northward. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also […]

Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; … yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies. Alma 60:16 Why is he talking about the king-men? Pahoran can’t send help due to the king-men, but how would Moroni know that? Well, he doesn’t. But why mention them then? He’s reminding Pahoran of the last time the king-men attacked. He’s saying “the Lord gave us these afflictions because we were […]

And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty. Alma 51:17 What does “to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth” mean? Pull down their pride means to take off their pride; to stop them from being proud. They are proud because their parents are important people. They are proud because that means that they would be kings. Now those who […]

Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ. Alma 40:2 What does that mean? Well, it means that we are corrupted, and until we resurrect, we will be still corrupted. But how are we corrupted? For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the […]

Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you. Alma 39:14 What does Alma mean when he says that? I think that there are a few meanings. First, they probably just can’t carry them with them. They might not have room to bring treasure. When Nephi and his family left Jerusalem, they probably knew that they weren’t staying in the area, so they probably brought a lot. But they didn’t have room for their treasure. Alma and his sons were just going on a little mission. I don’t think they […]

Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. Alma 38:9 How is Jesus Christ all that? Well, here are some ways he can be those things. He is the life of the world: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25 The death he’s talking about isn’t physical. It’s spiritual. Further spiritual death comes as a result of our own disobedience. Our sins make us unclean and unable to dwell […]

For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed. Alma 37:28 What curse is Alma talking about? This one: Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which […]

Yea, and I had murdered many of his children Alma 36:14 Wait, what? Alma was a murderer before he repented? No, see what he says next? or rather led them away unto destruction Alma 36:14 So no, he did not kill their bodies. But he did lead them away from the truth. He led them off of the path. He led them towards hell. He removed any righteousness in them. He killed their soul. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both […]

My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true. Alma 34:7 That’s what Amulek says after Alma talks about Zenos and Zenock. But Alma and Amulek aren’t brothers! Well, they kinda are brothers. As children of our Heavenly Father, all men and women are spiritually brothers and sisters. In the Church, male members and friends of the Church are often addressed as brothers. Brethren, Brother – Guide to the Scriptures Just […]

Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven […]

Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate. What does that mean? So, there were dead bodies lying everywhere in Ammoniah, and it smelled really bad. It was called the “Desolation of Nehors”. What does that mean? […]

  And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed. Alma 13:15 Why did Abraham pay his thing to Melchizedek instead of God? Well, Genesis 14:18 says And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine so maybe it was more of a tax as he was the King. Or, the same verse also says: and he was the priest of the most high God. So maybe he was just the person to collect tithing, like how the Bishop collects our tithing today. […]

  The first 19 verses of Alma 11 explain the monetary system of the Nephites. Why do we need to know that, though? I’m not sure. Maybe it is so we can know, that when Zeezrom said unto [Amuek]: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being. we would know that that is a lot of money. But Mormon could have just written Zeezrom said unto Amulek: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt […]

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. We see the words in Deuteronomy 17:6 come true in Alma 9-14. When Alma comes, the people say: Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away? But when Alma and Amulek both come, Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he […]

And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it. What tree and axe is Alma talking about? Remember Jacob 5, the parable of the vineyard? God will get rid of all the bad trees. He will cut them down. The axe is already at the tree, so the Lord is getting […]

Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. In Judges 2:16, a system of judges was started. In Mosiah, the same thing happened among the Nephites. I think that the Nephites might have got the idea from the Israelites. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/4?lang=eng&verse=#p

Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of the intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare to meet them; yea, they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters, and with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings, and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind. How were they aware? The scriptures don’t tell us, but I have some ideas: 1: The Nephites had a spy that told them. 2: The Amlicites mistakenly did all that in plain sight. 3: The Amlicites accidentally told the Nephites. 4: The spirit told them. […]

Alma 1:7-9 reads: And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God. Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage. Now, because […]

In Mosiah 27, Alma the Younger is being very wicked. But then, only two chapters later, in Mosiah 29, And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the charge concerning all the affairs of the church. Look at the dates. Mosiah 27 takes place About 100–92 B.C. And Mosiah 29 happens About 92–91 B.C. Only 9 years at the most, and right away at the least! That just tells us how strong his conversion was, […]

Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his stead. What does Mosiah mean, “destroy his son”? How would being king destroy him? Well, read the previous verse: … I fear there would rise contentions among you. And who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong, should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after him, which would cause wars and contentions […]

And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed. reads Mosiah 26:19-39. But why does that matter? Why should we pray for the wicked? Well, we want to get back to heaven. And for that, we need to be like Jesus. If Jesus looses something, he will search until it is found, as he says in the following parables: And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which […]

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of […]