Alma the Younger and Jacob

Shortly before the death of King Mosiah, Alma the Younger was entrusted with all the records of the Nephites previously kept by the Nephite kings. King Mosiah “took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem” (Mosiah 28:20).

The Dangers of Pride and Riches

A comparison of Alma’s teachings with those on the plates of Nephi shows that Alma drew upon the words of his prophetic ancestors. One example of this is his teaching about pride.

Alma spoke of the dangers of pride and riches to the people of Zarahemla. His teachings and words on this subject are similar to those of Jacob the brother of Nephi on the small plates. In both passages, the prophets are concerned with the negative impact of wealth and prosperity upon the people of Nephi. Both Jacob and Alma speak of riches and the costly apparel of the people. Each condemns the pride of the hearts of the people, in which they suppose that they are better than their brethren, which leads to persecution (Alma 5:53–54; Jacob 2:13).

Personal application

Alma’s words about riches provide a good caution for our day. When you read Alma’s teachings, ponder on your own humility, how you can be more humble before God and your fellow man, and always treat others as you would like to be treated. Draw upon the scriptures, as Alma did, to help you learn about humility and how to overcome pride.

Jacob	Alma
And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they (Jacob 2:13).	Can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches? Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren? (Alma 5:53–54).

Jacob

Alma

And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they (Jacob 2:13).

Can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?

Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren? (Alma 5:53–54).