Talking Scripture

00:26 – Alma’s letters to his sons remind us to parent one by one, bear testimony, lead by example, find Jesus in scripture, and sincerely praise.

06:24 – Be more wise than we have been.

13:36 – Shiblon is steady and good. Seek to be a high yield, low maintenance member of the church.

19:44 – Alma recounts his torment and horror of facing God in his many sins, then the role of the atonement which brought him joy and marvelous light.

27:38 – Elder Holland teaches about justification.

31:02 – Alma 36 is a beautifully constructed chiastic structure.

33:54 – A triangle in our heart that spins when we sin.

41:21 – It seems so simple that the easiness of the way can make us negligent. Because it is easy to do, it is easy to not do.

42:32 – Don’t give up if you don’t see immediate changes. Dip 7 times in the river like Naaman.

44:38 – Alma 37 as a temple ascension text.

54:38 – Possible meanings of Gazelem.

58:34 – Bridle our passions.

1:02:04 – Alma’s knowledge of truth did not come from the angel, but from the Spirit.

For the quotes used in this podcast, see Alma 36-38 Great Quotes. For Book of Mormon Central’s excellent video of John Welch explaining his personal discovery of chiasmus in the text of the Book of Mormon, go here. John’s son Greg Welch also has an excellent presentation on Book of Mormon Central here. For a brief explanation of chiasmus, go here. For a visual demonstration (PDF) of the chiastic structure of Alma 36, go here. For more on the possible meanings and constructions of the word gazelem, see The Book of Mormon Onomasticon. For more information on Alma 37 as a text that is written in code, teaching us about ascension, the temple, and our discipleship, with links and notes to further your study, see Alma 37 as Temple Text.

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00:26 – Overview.

02:04 – Alma teaches when you can say “I know”. He explains what it means to know something and describes 3 phases of a testimony and 4 ways of knowing spiritual truths.

14:24 – Joseph Smith explains that true doctrine tastes good.

33:06 – If you nourish the tree, it will nourish you.

34:20 – C.S. Lewis re-evaluates his beliefs when his wife dies.

39:51 – The Brass Plates represent a northern prophetic tradition, both Zenock and Zenos were edited from the Hebrew Bible.

50:29 – Moses raises a serpent as a type. Look to God and live. He has the power to heal all who will look.

57:27 – Important verses in Alma 34.

1:00:04 – Amulek teaches that we must take care of each other.

1:03:42 – Do not procrastinate repentance. This life is a time for men to prepare to meet God. Don’t be discouraged and know there is safety in staying on the path.

For the quotes used in this podcast, see Alma 32-35 Great Quotes. For an excellent review of the Greek notion of faith or pistis (πίστις), I highly recommend this video of Brent Schmidt’s presentation at BYU in 2019. You can access a copy of Karel Van der Toorn’s book Scribal Culture and the Hebrew Bible here. For an introduction to the Documentary Hypothesis, go here. For a brief overview of the four main strands of the Hebrew Bible, see Stories Told Twice in the Bible. On the Brass Plates being an “E Source” document, go here. To understand more about the editing of the Hebrew Bible at the time of Lehi and Nephi’s stewardship and how both of these prophets reacted to these changes, see our podcast on 1 Nephi 1-7, from 7:00- 29:00.

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00:26 – Overview.

08:00 – The Anti-Nephi-Lehies lay down their weapons of rebellion.

12:22 – The pattern of seven in the king’s speech.

19:31 – Swords and stains.

21:37 – Left-behinds. How to deal with those who get angry at converts.

26:09 – Make room for converts. Defend, protect, and consider them your friends.

30:37 – Avoid putting people in categories.

33:28 – The challenges and joys of missionary work.

41:15 – Timeline of the Ammulonites.

49:19 – Pride is ugly. It says, “if you succeed, I am a failure”. The antidote to Saul disease.

1:01:31 – Patricia Holland’s quotation about comparison.

To access the Book of Mormon Onomasticon page and its analysis of “Anti-Nephi-Lehi,” go here. To read a PDF version of Corbin Volluz’s paper “A Study in Sevens Hebrew Numerology in the Book of Mormon,” go here. It is also accessible on BYU Studies website here. For more on the pattern of seven in the king’s speech in Alma 24 as well as how Mormon used this number elsewhere in the text, see “Swords and Stains in King Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s Covenant Text in Alma 24.” You can see the chronological chart of the Amulonites and how Abinadi’s prophecy was fullfilled here. Read President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk on pride here. Both the quote from The Chronicles of Narnia and Patricia Holland’s teaching about comparison can be found here.

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00:30 – Overview.

02:24 – Ammon’s approach to missionary work.

14:34 – The Golden question: Lamoni asks, “Who are you?” (Alma 18.18)

21:09 – Aaron’s approach.

25:28 – Aaron is preaching to a more hardened group, the Amalekites and Amulonites.

28:29 – Patience with people who choose another path. Likening Alma 17-22 to our day.

34:17 – Offer our whole souls.

38:24 – Find common ground when teaching truth. Point to the Savior.

43:39 – Falling into trances in Alma 19 and 22. Some examples in the Biblical narratives.

47:43 – Abish.

49:23 – Why are Lamoni’s enemies at his palace? Another way to understand the drama at the Waters of Sebus.

55:49 – The meaning of the name Abish and possibilities as to why Mormon put this in the record.

There is so much going on behind the scenes in Alma 17-18. To read Hugh Nibley’s argument for the background of the scattering of the flocks at the Waters of Sebus, as well as Brant Gardner’s argument that this is a political rivalry, go here. For more information about the trances happening to the people in this text, see “Alma 19 & 22: Trances in the Book of Alma.” For much more regarding Abish, the meaning of her name, and possibly why Mormon added her name to the record, see Matt Bowen’s article here – “Father Is a Man: The Remarkable Mention of the Name Abish in Alma 19:16 and Its Narrative Context.”

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00:28 – Preparatory redemption.

03:17 – Priesthood power.

14:47 – What the scriptures teach us about Melchizedek.

30:37 – Melchizedek is a type of Christ.

33:43 – Alma’s interpretation of priesthood authority.

35:31 – Be humble, obey, and submit. He will pull us into His rest.

38:35 – The problem of evil. Why does God allow good people to suffer? Two explanations are given.

51:45 – Zeezrom lays sick with fever and believes Christ can heal him.

54:06 – Establish a check on pride.

Alma discusses traditions about Melchizedek in Alma 13. Psalm 110, used in the coronation of the king in First Temple Israelite religion, is the most quoted Old Testament text in the New Testament. Here you can read more about this passage, and how it was understood. Go here for the text of 11Q13, the Melchizedek document. For C.S. Lewis’ quote Heaven Works Backwards, go here. Margaret Barker’s book, The Great High Priest: The Temple Roots of Christian Liturgy can be found here. You can see brief excerpts from her book as it relates to the subject of Melchizedek here.

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01:39 – The power of increasing witnesses. The closer you are to someone, the more credible your testimony is. An invitation to share what you know.

03:07 – Amulek is a greater witness to the people of Ammonihah because he is one of them.

06:42 – Zeezrom steps forward to try to trick Alma and Amulek.

19:00 – The earth will be the final witness.

22:53 – The destruction of Ammoniah is described from two different viewpoints. An example of the complexity of the narrative.

26:59 – The order of the Nehors is a warning to watch for truths with a twist in our day.

29:29 – Insight into Zeezrom’s questions about social segregation, denying the atonement of Christ, and costly apparel.

35:55 – Examining resurrection ideas in both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.

41:40 – The righteous can hold off destruction.

47:40 – Metonymy in Zeezrom’s name, the punning of names in scripture is really cool.

50:31 – Zeezrom ends up being a missionary with Alma to the Zoramites.

For more information regarding the specific teachings of The Order of the Nehors, go here. August Landmesser refused to give the Nazi salute and was photographed (see photo here) at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany in June 1936 with his arms folded in defiance of Nazi power. Here you can read Gordon Thomasson’s paper on metonymic naming. For more information about our discussion regarding scholarship and the resurrection beliefs of the Jews before Christ, read “Resurrection in the Book of Mormon.”

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00:30 – Overview of Alma’s two sermons.

01:38 – The power of remembering helps rekindle the flame of spirituality.

12:00 – Oliver Cowdery & Nathaniel are examples of how remembering past spiritual experiences invites new spiritual experiences.

18:21 – The difference between mid-term and final exams. C.S. Lewis quote about getting rid of “rats in the cellar”.

25:57 – Invitation to open our hearts to God so He can save us. Choose Him as your shepherd and He will take us home.

26:58 – Greek distinction between being “born again” and “born of God”.

31:13 – Ezra Taft Benson quote about Christ taking the slums out of the people.

35:46 – David O. McKay’s dream of the heavenly city.

39:30 – Alma reveals the phenomenal truth of Christ’s infinite atonement. Nowhere else in scripture even comes close.

45:20 – Historical debates about Christology lasted 300 years.

52:34 – Recommit and bind yourself to act in all holiness.

54:44 – Alma 7.10 Jesus will be born at Jerusalem.

You can access the show notes with all of our quotes as well as the Greek translation of John 3.3, here.

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00:34 – The Amlicites marked themselves. See how this is so applicable today.

14:09 – We are punished as much by our sins as we are punished for them.

21:32 – Skins, curses, and marks.

27:03 – We are all alike unto God.

29:13 – In the midst of adversity you can still be blessed.

31:13 – Mormon explains how we should see ourselves and each other.

33:36 – The philosophy of Nehor: Why his teachings were so dangerous to the Nephite culture.

37:04 – Blood speaking from the ground. Nehor’s ignominious death.

41:29 – Antichrists don’t agree with each other, but are united in tearing down Jesus.

42:41 – The Amlicite wars and the story of Nehor are related to the stratification of society.

44:52 – The church prospers by the examples of our members.

For more on Nehor’s punishment and the Fallen Angels, go here.

For more information regarding blood vengeance in the Book of Mormon, see this article.

For more information on the Amlicite wars, the church prospering amidst adversity, and the meaning of Nehor’s name, go here.

To see the temple context related to skins as used by the authors of the Book of Mormon, go here.

For Ethan Sproat’s article: Skins as Garments in the Book of Mormon, go here.

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00:45 – Alma’s conversion.

03:37 – The prayers of Alma’s father made a difference.

06:17 – The Book of Mormon is a continual story of God remembering all His children.

10:57 – Justification and sanctification in Christ. Alma’s experience typified both.

19:01 – Alma was snatched by Jesus in Mosiah 27.29 and Alma 26.17.

26:15 – The purpose of Church discipline.

35:04 – Solving problems the Lord’s way: Identify, study it out, pray, listen, then go & do.

38:02 – The transition from a monarchy to a system of judges. Principles of good government.

40:44 – Striking the balance between rights and responsibilities.

50:33 – Answering a question about baptism in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.

You can see the chart “Solving Problems the Lord’s Way” as well as the qutoes by Elder Christofferson, Holland, and Bednar here.

For more information regarding the practice of Nephite baptism that we discussed at the end of the podcast, go here.

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00:25 – Brief overview.

07:20 – Alma’s message is a one of healing. Focus on God, listen to inspired leaders, and live the gospel.

08:32 – Repentance, redemption, and faith helps cure mistakes we have made.

09:17 – The Lord always offers us a do-over. The way to start over is to show desire by renewing a covenant with God. You can read about Alma and his authority to baptize here.

11:59 – Increase of the Spirit, do-over is granted. You are on the right track, on the path.

16:04 – Alma is haunted by the past. Be aware of “the switch”…

17:45 – Beautiful list of gospel living. Here is how you manifest to the Lord your desire for a do-over.

20:23 – Comfort those that stand in need of comfort and how it relates to Isaiah 40.1-5 and John 14.26. Deep roots for the word comforter and how the Holy Spirit fills us with spiritual dynamite, as related by Donna Nielsen. You can read the Donna Nielsen quote here.

24:16 – Comfort my people. See how this relates to the Pre-Earth Heavenly Council. The Hebrew word for comfort in Isaiah 40 is Nahom.

26:21 – Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain shall be made low. Repentance is the act of tearing down the mountain between you and the Lord. Stephen Robinson’s story of his son. “Can’t we ever be friends again?”

28:44 – Go comfort my people, bring my children home. God the Father is speaking to Jehovah and rest of the Heavenly Council. See Isaiah 40.3 where Jehovah (and you!) accept the directive from the Father.

33:54 Alma is tying his words with our promises we made to God the Father in the Heavenly Pre-Earth Council as well as Isaiah’s intensive use of this word comfort.

34:23 John Widstoe’s quote about our promise to God to bring his children home. You can read Elder Widstoe’s quote here.

36:52 – The book of Mosiah is a message of deliverance. Trust in God, He can deliver against all odds.

43:14 – Dan Jones’ story being stranded in Wyoming from Elder Bednar’s talk In The Strength of the Lord. You can read the Dan Jones’ story here. You can read Elder Bednar’s talk In the Strength of the Lord, here.

46:28 – Katie Lewis’ story by Elder Holland. You can read Elder Holland’s talk Look to God and live here.

49:50 – The groups that are lost in the book of Mosiah make it home eventually.

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