Alma 10:1-11
10:1-4 - We are introduced to Amulek, as he introduces himself to the people of Ammonihah. Amulek is a very interesting person and introduces us to a whole new writing style and speech pattern. Before we get too much into the content, there are a few examples of his different style that I would like to discuss. First even just within the first 11 verses he uses words and phrases that we haven't seen before. Just as a disclaimer here, there are a few instances where Mormon uses some of the same new words during his own written account, and I'm not going to attribute them to a specific writing style, because as the abridger of so many hundreds of records, he was surely introduces to new words, phrases and speech patterns and this no doubt influenced his own writing style and speech patterns, so when I say that it was only _____ and Mormon who used those words or phrases, I'm accounting the initial speaker as the only one who had used them. The first word used that we see no where else is "reputation." No where else is this word used in the entire Book of Mormon. Also while introducing himself, he does so in a way that is unlike any other way that we've seen. Maybe it's because he's new to the work, maybe it's because he's still a little bit arrogant, maybe he is just very confident in who he is and who he is in the Lord, but Amulek is quite "assertive" when telling the people, in my own words, "I am well known in many social circles, and I have a big family with lots of friends, and I'm also very rich because of my job." Is it cocky? Maybe. Was it an honest assessment of who Amulek is and how he would be known by the people? Maybe. Is it unique? Absolutely. I can not recall a prophet or holy writer of the scriptures who introduces himself to his audience, especially one he is about to rebuke, by stating his place in society, his importance among his family, or his financial status. The second word used by Amulek is "mistake." The only other time that the word "mistake" is used in the Book of Mormon is by Mormon in 3 Nephi 8, and see above for why I don't count that. Now I know that the Book of Mormon was not recorded on the gold plates in English, but in using the words that were available in the Nephite language, we can only assume that the words that Joseph Smith translated into English were as unique in their passages as their English counterparts. The third word used is "kinsfolk." Now maybe it's because my ex husband was from the south, and I've spent a decent amount of time there, but "kinsfolk," took me by surprise a little bit. Now this word is used by Amulek here, Mormon in his own account, and also by Ether, so 3 times, Mormon doesn't count, and Ether was written before Amulek used the word, and that record was also not made available to Amulek, to he couldn't have used it for reference. We already discussed the way that he introduced himself as being unique, and also the way that he recounts time, noting it as "the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges." No one else marks time in this drawn out expanded way, usually it's simple "the 10th year of the reign of the judges," or more detailed as "the first day of the first month," but all the added word usage really make Amulek's time keeping system here unique. Continuing on, like many people do, especially in ancient days, Amulek begins by giving his genealogy. One thing he mentions, that I really really wish was expanded on further is in verse 2 when Amulek says that he is a descendant of Aminadi; "and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God." WHAT?! He's obviously referencing something to which all the people have a common knowledge, and Mormon included it here so surely he must have thought we would have had record of that occurrence. But here we are, maybe I'm missing something but when did the finger of God write on the temple wall? Ok let's think for a minute. Mormon knew exactly which records we would receive from the Nephites, as he controlled what was put in there. So if he referenced an event that he thought we would have record of, but it's not recorded in the Book of Mormon, then it must have been recorded in the records on the Old Testament. I know that we've run into this issue in the past, where something was mentioned but not expanded on because the full version was in the completed record from Adam to Lehi, and Mormon, assuming we had access to that record, mentioned it but did not feel the need to dedicate precious plate space on it's explanation, since we should have been able to go look it up in the other records ourselves. Or maybe I'm missing the point altogether, maybe there is something in the Old Testament that talks about his and I'm missing it. Anyway, by pointing out that he is a descendant of Aminadi, who was able to translate, and we have already learned that a seer is greater than a prophet, so he ancestor was a seer, so he's setting himself up here to show the people that he comes from a line of great spiritual leaders, perhaps giving himself a little bit more credibility with the people. He continues from Aminadi to Nephi, Lehi, Manasseh, and finally Joseph. This is the only topic on which the IM touches for this section, saying "Lehi's lineage as a descendant of Manasseh is partial fulfillment of a promise to Joseph of old. Shortly before his death, Joseph of Egypt relate assurances that the Lord made unto him concerning his posterity: 'the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins... and shall be carried into a far country, nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh... Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write.' Prior to their flight into the wilderness, Lehi and Ishmael, both descendants of Joseph, lived with their families in Jerusalem, which was part of the kingdom of Judah. One writer suggested an explanation for why Lehi's ancestry, through descended from Joseph, lived in Jerusalem, which for the most part was made up of descendants of Judah: 'some students of the Book of Mormon have wondered how descendants of Joseph were still living in Jerusalem in 600 B.C. when most members of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were taken into captivity by the Assyrians about 721 B.C. A scripture in 2 Chronicles may provide a clue to this problem. This account mentions that in about 941 B.C. Asa, the king of the land, gathered together at Jerusalem all of Judah and Benjamin 'and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh.' There 'strangers... out of Ephraim and Manasseh' who were gathered to Jerusalem in approximately 941 B.C may have included the forefathers of Lehi and Ishmael.'" Interesting, I had never considered that but it is fascinating for the students of history.
10:5-7 - Amulek continues, but now instead of perhaps raising his status in the eyes of his audience, he begins to break himself down. Maybe building himself up with his social status, lineage, and wealth was to show the people that he was about to rebuke that he was/is just like them, he's everything that they wanted to be, he came from their city, was a prominent citizen, and wealthy, which is what everyone wants. So he built himself up so that the people could identify themselves within him, and now that he's going to begin de-constructing himself, they can relate more innately. He tells them that despite his overwhelming success "Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power." This puts him in a victim role, "I was this amazing person, but God didn't think I was important enough to show me his ways." But he catches himself quite quickly, and perhaps he did this on purpose to show the people, that he didn't receive some wondrous flash or vision and suddenly he knew, suddenly God taught him, "I didn't know about God and now I do," really is taking the position of passive observer. "But behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people." "I never really knew God, oh wait, yes I did." It wasn't a matter of him not knowing God was important and suddenly being taught, it wasn't as if he was spiritually dead until God awoke him. No, he had always known, he had always been alive spiritually, but he refused to obey, he refused to participate. He says that he hardened his heart, rebelled against God, "for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know." This goes along with the "those who will not see, those who will not hear," phrases that the Lord used many times, among others. In an April 1989 general conference address entitled "Beware of Pride," President Ezra Taft Benson taught "the proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not." Sound like the Amulek who just introduced himself? President Benson continues, "This of what pride has cost us in the past and what it is now costing us in our own lives, our families, and the church. Think of the repentance that could take place with lived changed, marriages preserved, and homes strengthened, if pride did not keep us from confessing our sins and forsaking them. Think of the many who are less active members of the Church because they were offended and their pride will not allow them to forgive for fully sup and the Lord's table. Think of the tens of thousands of additional young men and couples who could be on missions except for the pride that keeps them from yielding their hearts unto God. Think how temple work would increase if the time spent in this godly service were more important than the many prideful pursuits that compete for our time." Amulek would not hear and would not know because of his pride, and it's interesting to me that Amulek was so successful by the world's standards, and we know that if he had hearkened to the Lord when he was initially called, then he would have been even more blessed spiritually and temporally, but that begs the questions, in what way could Amulek be more blessed than he already was, knowing that most prophets are not rich or popular. This is an excellent example of the concept of "laying up treasure in heaven," that spiritual is wealth and our status with the Savior is the most important. It's kind of like the saying "You aren't wealthy until you have something that money can't buy," if Amulek had been obedient from the beginning, he would have blessed to be poor and unliked, as most of the prophets are. Also with the appearance of the angel, it made me wonder if Amulek has already accepted his calling to the work and been in tune with the Holy Ghost if he would have been more subtly prompted instead of having an angel have to come and intervene. We have examples of angels appearing to just and holy men for good purposes, like Alma to return to Ammonihah, but it would seem that the vast majority of angelic appearances occur to those who need to receive a message and just won't hear it any other way, Alma the Younger, Laman and Lemuel, Saul, etc. Like we discussed previously when talking about the appearance of angels, it has been taught that angels only come to accomplish a specific mission, and that having the companionship of the Holy Ghost is much more important than seeing an angel.
10:8-11 - Amulek obeys the angel and "as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me." He takes Alma back to his home, feeds him, gives him a place to rest and "he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake." In a 1987 general conference address entitled "Priesthood Blessings," Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught "Priesthood blessings are not limited to those blessings spoken as hands are laid on the head of one person. Blessings are sometimes pronounced on groups of people. The prophet Moses blessed all the children of Israel before his death. The Prophet Joseph Smith 'pronounced a blessing upon the sisters' working on the Kirtland Temple. He also blessed 'the congregation.' As recently as last April conference President Benson blessed the Latter-day Saints and 'good people everywhere... with increased power to do good and to resist evil,' and 'with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon.' Priesthood blessings are also pronounced on places. Nations are blessed and dedicated for the preaching of the gospel. Temples and houses of worship are dedicated to the Lord by a priesthood blessing. Other buildings may be dedicated when their are used in the service of the Lord. 'Church members may dedicate their homes... as sacred edifices where the Holy Spirit can reside.' Missionaries and other priesthood holders can leave a priesthood blessing upon homes where they have been received." Whether it was by the laying on of hands, a generalized prayer, or just by his presence in the house, Amulek and his family were blessed enough that even those distance relatives, who probably didn't even know that Alma was staying with Amulek, noticed and discussed an improvement in their circumstances. We probably won't have an opportunity to house a prophet in our lifetime, but it would seem to me that when we live worthy to have the Holy Ghost stay with us, then we would receive blessings of the same caliber that Amulek and his family received. We don't have to wait until an angel appears or the prophet asks us to feed him while he roams the streets, we can have the love, happiness and blessings that came to this ancient family, now.
10:5-7 - Amulek continues, but now instead of perhaps raising his status in the eyes of his audience, he begins to break himself down. Maybe building himself up with his social status, lineage, and wealth was to show the people that he was about to rebuke that he was/is just like them, he's everything that they wanted to be, he came from their city, was a prominent citizen, and wealthy, which is what everyone wants. So he built himself up so that the people could identify themselves within him, and now that he's going to begin de-constructing himself, they can relate more innately. He tells them that despite his overwhelming success "Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power." This puts him in a victim role, "I was this amazing person, but God didn't think I was important enough to show me his ways." But he catches himself quite quickly, and perhaps he did this on purpose to show the people, that he didn't receive some wondrous flash or vision and suddenly he knew, suddenly God taught him, "I didn't know about God and now I do," really is taking the position of passive observer. "But behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people." "I never really knew God, oh wait, yes I did." It wasn't a matter of him not knowing God was important and suddenly being taught, it wasn't as if he was spiritually dead until God awoke him. No, he had always known, he had always been alive spiritually, but he refused to obey, he refused to participate. He says that he hardened his heart, rebelled against God, "for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know." This goes along with the "those who will not see, those who will not hear," phrases that the Lord used many times, among others. In an April 1989 general conference address entitled "Beware of Pride," President Ezra Taft Benson taught "the proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not." Sound like the Amulek who just introduced himself? President Benson continues, "This of what pride has cost us in the past and what it is now costing us in our own lives, our families, and the church. Think of the repentance that could take place with lived changed, marriages preserved, and homes strengthened, if pride did not keep us from confessing our sins and forsaking them. Think of the many who are less active members of the Church because they were offended and their pride will not allow them to forgive for fully sup and the Lord's table. Think of the tens of thousands of additional young men and couples who could be on missions except for the pride that keeps them from yielding their hearts unto God. Think how temple work would increase if the time spent in this godly service were more important than the many prideful pursuits that compete for our time." Amulek would not hear and would not know because of his pride, and it's interesting to me that Amulek was so successful by the world's standards, and we know that if he had hearkened to the Lord when he was initially called, then he would have been even more blessed spiritually and temporally, but that begs the questions, in what way could Amulek be more blessed than he already was, knowing that most prophets are not rich or popular. This is an excellent example of the concept of "laying up treasure in heaven," that spiritual is wealth and our status with the Savior is the most important. It's kind of like the saying "You aren't wealthy until you have something that money can't buy," if Amulek had been obedient from the beginning, he would have blessed to be poor and unliked, as most of the prophets are. Also with the appearance of the angel, it made me wonder if Amulek has already accepted his calling to the work and been in tune with the Holy Ghost if he would have been more subtly prompted instead of having an angel have to come and intervene. We have examples of angels appearing to just and holy men for good purposes, like Alma to return to Ammonihah, but it would seem that the vast majority of angelic appearances occur to those who need to receive a message and just won't hear it any other way, Alma the Younger, Laman and Lemuel, Saul, etc. Like we discussed previously when talking about the appearance of angels, it has been taught that angels only come to accomplish a specific mission, and that having the companionship of the Holy Ghost is much more important than seeing an angel.
10:8-11 - Amulek obeys the angel and "as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me." He takes Alma back to his home, feeds him, gives him a place to rest and "he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake." In a 1987 general conference address entitled "Priesthood Blessings," Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught "Priesthood blessings are not limited to those blessings spoken as hands are laid on the head of one person. Blessings are sometimes pronounced on groups of people. The prophet Moses blessed all the children of Israel before his death. The Prophet Joseph Smith 'pronounced a blessing upon the sisters' working on the Kirtland Temple. He also blessed 'the congregation.' As recently as last April conference President Benson blessed the Latter-day Saints and 'good people everywhere... with increased power to do good and to resist evil,' and 'with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon.' Priesthood blessings are also pronounced on places. Nations are blessed and dedicated for the preaching of the gospel. Temples and houses of worship are dedicated to the Lord by a priesthood blessing. Other buildings may be dedicated when their are used in the service of the Lord. 'Church members may dedicate their homes... as sacred edifices where the Holy Spirit can reside.' Missionaries and other priesthood holders can leave a priesthood blessing upon homes where they have been received." Whether it was by the laying on of hands, a generalized prayer, or just by his presence in the house, Amulek and his family were blessed enough that even those distance relatives, who probably didn't even know that Alma was staying with Amulek, noticed and discussed an improvement in their circumstances. We probably won't have an opportunity to house a prophet in our lifetime, but it would seem to me that when we live worthy to have the Holy Ghost stay with us, then we would receive blessings of the same caliber that Amulek and his family received. We don't have to wait until an angel appears or the prophet asks us to feed him while he roams the streets, we can have the love, happiness and blessings that came to this ancient family, now.
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