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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 10
now thinking 0£ his own fate, but as God had strengthened him before, he felt that He would give
them power to oppose this devilish work.
Alma 10:50 But Alma said unto him, The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand;
for behold, the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory;
It was given him to know that God would crown these martyrs with glory, and his judgments
would be visited upon their persecutors in justice (51). "The blood of the innocent shall stand as a
witness against them” (52). Amulek said, “Perhaps they will burn us also" (53).
ALMA AND AMULEK BOUND WITH CORDS AND SMITTEN. VER. 54-75
Alma 10:54 And Alma said, Be it according to the will of the Lord. But behold, our work is not
finished; therefore they burn us not.
There must be strength and comfort in the thought that a man is in God's care, and that his work is
not yet done. Shakespeare once wrote, "There is a divinity that shapes our ends." J. C. F. Schiller
added the corollary, "I feel that I am a man of destiny." Amulek had yet to learn that some of
God's purposes can be worked out only through suffering.
"Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews
12:6). This seems hard, and some will not endure chastening. It is likely that an acceptable
substitute for such discipline cannot be found, else a loving Father would use it. Jesus taught,
"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake" (Matthew 5:13).
Alma 10:57 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save these who had been cast into the fire; neither
has God saved them because they were of thy faith.
It was all these holy men could endure to see the innocent and righteous consumed by the flames,
but it must have been even more galling to be taunted. Then, adding insult to injury, the judge
smote their cheeks and cast them into prison. After three days came judges, lawyers, priests, and
teachers to question them. "But they answered nothing" (65).
The next day the judge came and again smote them. Others followed his example. "If ye have such
great power, why do ye not deliver yourselves?" (68). When they did not answer, they gnashed
"their teeth upon them" and spit upon them (69). "And thus they did mock them for many days"
(70). Also they with- held food and water. They took off Alma's and Amulek's clothing and bound
the men in their prison cells with strong cords (71,72).
PERSECUTORS DESTROYED AND ZEEZROM HEALED, VER. 76-111
Alma 10:76 And when the last had spoken unto them, the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek,
and they arose and stood upon their feet; and Alma cried, saying, How long shall we suffer these great
afflictions, O Lord?