Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

THE CHURCH WAS BUILT UP, VER. 1-7
Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 2
Alma 2:2 But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for
the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under
foot and destroyed by the Lamanites,
While the war had ended by the defeat of the Lamanites and Amlicites, the peace was costly to
both sides. In the land of Zarahemla "every soul had cause to mourn" (3). It was commonly
thought that their losses were “the judgments of God sent upon them, because of their
wickedness” (3). (See Mosiah 6:6; 7:30-36.)
Alma 2:4 And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters
of Sidon, and were joined to the church of God;
It is more in the nature of God to permit retribution to come on the disobedient and wicked than to
send it. But the Hebrew tendency, as revealed in the Old Testament, was to affirm that God
controlled and brought punishment or blessing by direct intervention. Once having covenanted to
give man his agency, God at the same time gave man the responsibility of his own choices.
Results follow causes then as a consequence of psychological and natural laws.
Concerning the difficulties of the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1833, the Lord said, "I
have suffered the affliction to come upon them, ...in consequence of their transgressions. ...In the
day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but in the day of their trouble, of necessity
they feel after me" (D. and C. 98:1a,3c).
The Nephites took their afflictions as a just punishment, and became "awakened to a remembrance
of their duty" (Alma 2:3). "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous;
nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11).
Alma 2:6 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the Judges, there were about three
thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God, and were baptized.
The high priest of the church, Alma, performed the sacrament of baptism. There is no reason to
believe that Alma did all of this in one day as did the disciples of Jesus later in Palestine (Acts
2.41). The record says this "came to pass in the seventh year. ..and there was continual peace in all
that time" (6,7).
PRIDE AND CONTENTIONS A STUMBLING BLOCK, VER. 8-17
Alma 2:8 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the Judges, that the people of the church
began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine twined linen,
Two years before these people were mourning their losses of men and property. They confessed
their wickedness and then actively proselyted to establish the church of God. It seems that their
mood changed quite rapidly, and their economic status also.