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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 7
Alma 7:22 And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the
incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers;
Many of the Lamanites had been deceived and had sinned in ignorance. But because of God's
mercy "many of them will be saved" (23).
THE DESTRUCI1ON OF THE CITY Is PREDICTED, VER. 24-36
Alma 7:24 But behold, I say unto you, that if ye persist in your wickedness, that your days shall not be
prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you;
The use of the passive voice may indicate that the Lamanites would be used by God to scourge the
city. Then Alma broadens the scope of his warning to include "all this people who are called the
people of Nephi" (27). Because of the greater light given to the Nephites, and the blessings God
had extended to them, more would be required of them (Luke 12:57).
Alma 7:36 I say unto you, that if this be the case; that if they should fall into transgression, that it would
be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them.
Jesus told his disciples in Palestine, "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil" (John 3:19). The Nephites
had "the spirit of prophecy ...the gift of speaking with tongues ...of preaching, and the gift of the
Holy Ghost" (Alma 7:31). They were to be held accountable for this light.
CHRIST S COMING TO SAVE THE REPENTANT, VER. 37-51
Alma 7:39 And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord has sent his angel to visit
many of his people, declaring unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto this people,
saying, Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand;
The visits of angels to the Nephites are recorded in fifty-four places in the Book of Mormon
before this time. Amos declared, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, until he revealeth the
secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). When one reads Mormon's lamentation, as he
viewed the slain after the last great battle which destroyed his people (Mormon 3:17-23), he
should remember God's patience, mercy, and grace in these Visits and warnings.
Alma 7:40 And not many days hence, the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the
glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long
suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people, and to answer their prayers.
"Not many days" was actually a little over fourscore years. Peter said, "One day is with the Lord
as a thousand years [with us], and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). “He cometh to
redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance” (Alma 7:41). Alma follows this statement by