Alma and Amulek Teach the people of Ammonihah
More than one Witness
SuperCooled - Water
Freeze Bottled water for 2 hours and 45 minutes it should be colder than freezing and yet not frozen.
Take bottled water and hit it slightly on the side of the bottle - insta freeze of the ice should occur.
(this is due to the pressure and coldness of the ice - the strike causes instability and thus instant freezing)
Alma 8:8-13 Alma attempts to preach to the people of Amonihah - they reject him and cast him out
Attention Activity:
How much evidence is required before we will believe?
SuperCooled - Water
Freeze Bottled water for 2 hours and 45 minutes it should be colder than freezing and yet not frozen.
Take bottled water and hit it slightly on the side of the bottle - insta freeze of the ice should occur.
(this is due to the pressure and coldness of the ice - the strike causes instability and thus instant freezing)
Alma's first attempt with the people of Ammonihah
Alma 8:8-13 Alma attempts to preach to the people of Amonihah - they reject him and cast him out
9 Satan had great hold upon the hearts of the people of Amonihah - they don't listen
10 Alma Labored much in the spirit - wrestling with God in mighty prayer - that he might baptise them
11 Nevertheless they hardened their hearts - We do not believe foolish traditions of father
12 We are not of thy church - and you are not the chief judge
13 They withstood all his words - reviled him and spit upon him - caused he should be cast out
10 Alma Labored much in the spirit - wrestling with God in mighty prayer - that he might baptise them
11 Nevertheless they hardened their hearts - We do not believe foolish traditions of father
12 We are not of thy church - and you are not the chief judge
13 They withstood all his words - reviled him and spit upon him - caused he should be cast out
Why didn't the people accept him? Didn't he pray mightily unto God wrestling with him?
Why then wasn't his prayer answered?... or was it?
Have you ever thought your prayers weren't answered?
How does Agency fit in with this picture?
Alma attempts to leave to go towards the city of Aaron
Alma 8:14-18 Alma very sorrowful - sees angel he is sent back to teach them - he goes speedily
14 weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation, and anguish of soul - angel comes
15 Blessed are though Alma - thou has been faithful
16 angel commands him to preach to the people - repent or be destroyed
17 they are trying to destroy liberty of the people
18 Alma retuns speedily to the land of Ammonihah
15 Blessed are though Alma - thou has been faithful
16 angel commands him to preach to the people - repent or be destroyed
17 they are trying to destroy liberty of the people
18 Alma retuns speedily to the land of Ammonihah
What was Alma's response when asked to go back to the city?
Alma lives with Amulek and blesses his family
Alma 8:18-21 Amulek meets and feeds Alma
18 Alma enters the city by another way - from the sout side
19 He is hungry and asks for food
20-21 Amulek - responds - you art a prophet - and takes him into his house
19 He is hungry and asks for food
20-21 Amulek - responds - you art a prophet - and takes him into his house
Alma 10:7-8 As Amulek was jouneying to a near kindred - Angel tells him to go to his house
Have you ever seen the lord prepare a way for you to do your work?
The Lord knows the beginning from the end - he knows what needs done to fulfill his plan.
Have you ever seen - "Coincidental" occurances that just make what needs doing done - is it really a coincidence?
When the Lord answers our prayers, it’s easy for us to say, “Lord, forget that request a few days ago. I’ve taken care of it myself.” We think that we have done something ourselves, or that what occurred by divine direction was merely a coincidence. A number of experiences have convinced me otherwise. The Lord constantly blesses our lives, but often we fail to recognize those blessings.
...
A blessing? A coincidence? I acknowledge the role that chance plays in a world based upon agency. But I have experienced enough answers to prayer to know that we are being watched over by a loving Father in Heaven. He answers our prayers, and we need to recognize those blessings. They bring to us true exhilaration and a sense of well-being that affects almost every aspect of our lives. They also let us know that God loves us and will lead us “in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Ensign - Dec 1990 - Answered Prayers or Coincidence?
Alma contents with the people of Ammonihah
Alma 9:1-6 Who art thou - and who is god that he sends no more authority than one man?
1 Alma takes Amulek and goes forth to preach to the people
2-3 Who art thou - if he should preach earth should pass away Mark 13:31, Math 24:35, Luke 21:33, Section 45:22
4-5 We will not believe if this great city should be destroyed in one day Alma 16:9-10 - it was destroyed in one day
6 who is god that he sends no more authority than one man among this people
2-3 Who art thou - if he should preach earth should pass away Mark 13:31, Math 24:35, Luke 21:33, Section 45:22
4-5 We will not believe if this great city should be destroyed in one day Alma 16:9-10 - it was destroyed in one day
6 who is god that he sends no more authority than one man among this people
With extraordinary claims requires extraordinary evidence? Carl Sagan (1943-1996)
Is this a true statement?
Requiring extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims sounds good on the surface. But, it is subjective. The fact is that a person's presuppositions strongly affect how and to what degree the statement is applied. Furthermore, what is extraordinary is also subjective.
Take for example the ressurection of Jesus Christ - that is an extraordinary event. Must we then have extraordinary evidence for this fact?
If I were to ask an individual denying this claim what would qualify as extraordinary evidence for the resurrection of Jesus? Generally, nothing sensible is offered. Normal evidence would be written accounts. Extraordinary evidence would be a film, but we know that this extraordinary evidence is not reasonable since there was no film in Jesus' time. Because this event is a historical event - typical historical claims should be applied. i.e. eyewitness accounts, records of events etc through historical accounts. Furthermore, the presupposition of the resurection did not occur is what caused the claim for extraordinary evidence in the first place - thus a subjective response. :)
Why do many people ignore the simple truths of the gospel?
How much evidence is required - what evidence is there?
How does knowledge affect our state during the Judgement? Is this a scary proposition, or positive affirmation?
Alma 9:14-15,19-23 It is more tolerable for the Lamanites than for you - because of your great knowledge
Section 82:3 For unto whom much is given much is required - sin against greater light greater condemnation (Luke 12:48, James 4:17)
Alma 41:13-15 Restoration - brings back evil for evil, good for good, just for just, mercy for mercy, karma
People's response to Alma - Amulek stands to preach
Alma 9:31-34 People were wroth - they were stiffnecked - fallen people - Lord protected me not cast into prison
Amulek's Initial preaching:
What sort of man was Amulek?
Alma 10:1-6 Descendant of Nephi - no small reputation - many kindred and friends - much riches - never knew much of Lord
6 I hardened my heart for I was called many times yet I would not hear!
What do you think it means to be called many times but no hear?
I knew them - yet I would not know then? what does he mean by that?
How do we become hard in our hearts - that we can't feel his words?
People become astonished because there are two witnesses:
Alma 10:12-13 When Amulek had spoken these words - they were astonished - more than one witness
13 Some sought to through cunning devices - catch them in their words
Alma and Amulek strengthen each others witness - by teaching the same principles in their own way
Doctrine | Amulek | Alma |
The Atonement |
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Repentance |
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Judgment |
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Mosiah monetary system - reckoned after their measure.
Coins in the Book of Mormon - anachronism - Fair Mormon.Org Response
All these items are based upon a measure - not specifically a coin - they probably weren't minting coins back then. But instead were speaking of a measure of silver/gold etc. matching to a measure of grain or what have you.
Who was Zeezrom?
Alma 11:20-21 - Zeezrom was a man expert in the devices of the devil - that he might destroy that which was good
Two Volunteers: They will read to us the conversation between themselves found in:
Alma 11:21–40Amulek - Zeezrom
How much money was he offering him?
Alma 11:3 - a judge received a senine of gold for a days work - equals to a measure of every kind of grain (Alma 11:7)
Alma 11:22 - six onties of silver - bribe to Amulek
1 senine of gold = 1 senum of silver = 1 measure of grain = 1 days work for a judge
1 seon of gold = 2 senine of gold
1 shum of gold = 2 seon of gold = 4 senine of gold
1 limnah of gold = value of them all = 1+2+4=7 senine of gold = 7 days work for a judge
1 senum of silver
1 amnor of silver = 2 senum
1 ezrom of silver = 4 senum
1 onti of silver = value of them all = 1+2+4=7 senum of silver = 7 days work for a judge
In the case of Zeezrom, he eaned an onti of silver for a week’s work as a judge, therefore, six onties of silver amounted to 42 days of work, or about a month and a half salary. When he offered Amulek six onties of silver, he was offering what to him was a significant amount of money. By today’s standards, for a person making $50,000 a year, he would be offering about 11% of his annual salary or $5,555.00. By Zeezrom’s comment, “all these” would suggest he thought the amount he was offering was an impressive amount of money.