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

Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 2
Paul wrote to the saints of Galatia, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you
into the grace of O1rist unto another gospel" (Gal. 1:6).
The answer to the variableness of both of these groups may lie in the lack of adequate ministry
available at the time and, in the Nephite era, the abundance of natural resources available to them.
It is a mistake to judge their lives and changeableness with our standards of today. The record tells
us, however, that they obtained these precious things-gold and silver, as well as flocks and herds-
"by their industry" (9).
Alma 2:11 Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom
Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders, over the church;
The members were not only lifted up in pride, but "they began to be scornful, one towards another,
and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure"
(14). The contentions, envyings, and general wickedness of the church became "a great stumbling
block to those who did not belong to the church" (17).
ALMA SELECTED NEPHIHAH TO BE CHIEF JUDGE, VER. 18-28
Alma 2:18 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the
church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers, on
from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people;
This condition caused Alma to take drastic action to remedy the situation. The great inequality
among his people, some swelling with pride because of their riches, while despising the needy, the
naked, and the sick, caused this high priest and the more humble members much sorrow. The
righteous among them believed in the prophecy of Christ's coming, his life, death and resurrection,
and retained a remission of their sins (20, 21).
Alma therefore decided to give up the judgment seat and devote his full time to ministering to the
spiritual needs of the people. He selected “a wise man who was among the elders of the church"
and appointed him chief judge.
Alma 2:23 And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power
according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which
had been given, and to put them in force, according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people.
Evidently this means that Alma acted according to the laws set up by King Mosiah which the
people had accepted. "Make it your law to do your business by the voice of the people" (Mosiah
13:36; see also A. 1:60). He might write and enforce laws but, as in all democracies, his success
would be based on the support and consent of the governed.
Alma 2:28 And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the Judges over the people
of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high
priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation
and prophecy.