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Book of Mormon Commentary
ELDERS AND PRIESTS ORDAINED, VER. 1-6
Alma Chapter 4
Alma 4:1 And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the
church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his
hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church.
The method of ordination is seldom mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Jacob (1:18) said that he
and Joseph were consecrated .'by the hand of Nephi." When Jesus ordained the twelve on this
continent, the account reads, "He touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by
one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them'. (3 Nephi 8:70).
This is not pointed out to question the method used in ancient America, as these passages, together
with Alma 2:5; Moroni 2: 1, 2; 3: 2, make clear that ordination was performed then as now by the
laying on of hands. However, there are many other references to ordination and consecration
where no mention of the method was given.
Alma 4:2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins,
were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church.
Some question the meaning of the phrasing in this passage, as also that in Doctrine and Covenants
17:7d: "And truly manifest by their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ unto the
remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church”. If this means that their sins
are remitted before baptism then why baptize? Is it just the door by which they enter the church?
On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized ...for the remission of sins" (Acts
2:38). See also Mark 1:3; Acts 22:16; II Nephi 13:24; Doctrine and Covenants 32:2 g. "Unto a
remission of sins" or "unto repentance" as used in the passages under discussion must mean what
Luke (3:13) termed, "bring forth. ..fruits worthy of repentance."
A sincere believer will give evidence of worthiness before baptism, but the gospel promise of a
complete remission or forgiveness of sins by God is based upon obedience to the ordinance of
baptism, as well as the principle of repentance which must precede and accompany the ordinance.
Alma 4:4 I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; the same were rejected, and their
names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous; and thus they
began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla.
There comes a time when the good orchardist must prune the deadwood from the tree. Cutting
people off from the church is a serious step. History never reveals the soul-searching that this
process always involves. It is radical surgery to amputate a dead member from the physical body
but, as every physician knows, it is the only way to save the life of the body. Note the wording,
"establish the order of the church." Doubtless this means to make the church a significant factor in
the life of the city, as well as to set the branch in order as required by God.
Alma 4:5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all; that none
were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God;