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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 9
ZEEZROM WAS CONVINCED OF GOD'S POWER, VER. 1-14
Alma 9:4 For behold, he knows all thy thoughts; and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto
us by his Spirit;
Alma also noticed that Zeezrom "began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt," so he began
to add to the words of Amulek (1). He told Zeezrom that he had been taken in his "lying and
craftiness." "Thou hast not lied unto men only, but thou hast lied unto God" (3). Satan is using you
to get the people "to revile us and to cast us out" (5).
Alma 9:8 And behold, I say unto you all, that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to
catch this people,
No doubt Alma felt sorrow for this man whom Satan had deceived, and Zeezrom began to see that
he had been a tool of the adversary. He was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had been made
acquainted with "the thoughts and intents of his heart" (11). Therefore he began to inquire
seriously about the kingdom of God, the resurrection of "the just and the unjust" who are "to stand
before God, to be judged according to their works" (13, 14).
ALMA EXPLAINS THE RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT, VER. 15-32
Alma 9:15 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying, It is given unto many to
know the mysteries of God;
Then Alma told him that these are made known only to men whose hearts are right, and who give
heed and diligence in serving God. Men who do not harden their hearts receive more and more
knowledge until they have a full understanding of God's mysteries (18).
But if men harden their hearts they will not understand the word, and they will be taken captive by
the devil and led to destruction (19, 20).
Alma 9:23 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found
spotless:
To this Alma adds, "Our thoughts will also condemn us" (23). In this awful state men will be glad
if they can command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them, to hide them from his
presence (25). John, the Revelator, also wrote of a time when fear should fill the minds of wicked
men of all classes, until they would beg the rocks and mountains to fall and hide them "from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne" (Revelation.6:15-17).
Alma 9:26 But this can not be: we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power,
and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame, that all his
judgments are just: