Brief Biography
Alma I was a descendant of Nephi. His immediate ancestors were among those who accompanied Zeniff in their resettlement of the lands of Nephi-Lehi and Shilom. When he was still a young man, King Noah appointed Alma as one of his priests. When the prophet Abinadi was brought before King Noah and his court, Alma became convinced of the truth of his words and attempted to persuade King Noah to spare the prophet’s life. Noah, angered by Alma’s support of the prophet, cast him out and sent servants to try to kill him; but Alma escaped and hid. Alma repented of his sins, recorded the words of Abinadi, and began to secretly teach them to the people. Several hundred people believed in these teachings, so Alma baptized them and organized them into a church at the Waters of Mormon. When King Noah learned of Alma’s activities, he sent an army to destroy him and his followers. Alma and his people escaped into the wilderness, where they founded another settlement that they named Helam. Although greatly loved by his people, Alma refused to be their king. They were brought into bondage by a group of Lamanites led by Amulon, one of Noah’s former priests, but were miraculously delivered by God. They migrated to the land of Zarahemla, where King Mosiah II permitted Alma to organize the Church of God among his people. Alma was a man of great faith and died at the age of 82.
Insights into the Words and Phrases
Alma the Elder
Did you know that Alma’s words show influences from the words of the prophet Abinadi?
Alma uses the divine title "Almighty God," when he baptizes. This title is used only four times by four speakers in the Book of Mormon. Alma is the first to use the words "bonds" and "bonds of iniquity" in the text. Both the single word and the phrase appear five times. In addition to Alma I, only Alma the Younger and Mormon use the phrase "bonds of iniquity." Alma uses each of them once in his 577 words, which is a rate much higher than that in the rest of the text.
Although we only have 577 words from Alma I, Abinadi’s influence can still be detected. This suggests that Abinadi’s words and testimony of Christ were always at the back of Alma’s mind. Alma’s references to "eternal life" and "the first resurrection" in his words at the Waters of Mormon (Mosiah 18:9, 13) echo Abinadi’s testimony before king Noah (Mosiah 15:21-25; 18:9, 13). This is also true of his reference to Christ’s redemption being "prepared from the foundation of the world" (Mosiah 15:19; 18:13) and the Lord’s people being identified as those who are redeemed of God (Mosiah 15:18-19, 23; 18:9).
It is also interesting to contrast Alma’s positive characterization of the newly baptized people of the Lord, as those who are willing to serve God, have righteous desires, and strive to keep the commandments (Mosiah 18:8, 10), with Abinadi’s warning against those who go "according to their own carnal wills and desires" (Mosiah 16:12), and do not "keep the commandments" (Mosiah 12:33). Here, Alma takes what he learned from Abinadi’s warning and applies it positively to the new converts.
Abinadi’s discourse before Noah began with a passage from Isaiah, which said, "the Lord hath comforted his people" (Mosiah 12:23). This reminds us of Alma’s observation that the repentant converts desired "to be called his people" (Mosiah 18:8) and would "comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:9). One way the Lord comforts His people is through having them minister to one another.
Key Insights
Alma clearly continued to study and ponder Abinadi’s words. When we read Alma’s words, we should do so in light of Abinadi’s testimony. As we ponder the teachings of these prophets, we can apply their wisdom to new situations and bless and minister to others.
Chronology
160-150 B.C. Alma is appointed to be a priest by King Noah.
148 B.C. Alma hears Abinadi’s words when the prophet is brought before King Noah’s court. He becomes convinced of the truth of the prophet’s message and urges King Noah to spare his life. King Noah casts Alma out of his court and sends his servants to slay him. Alma escapes, records Abinadi’s words, and repents of his sins. He begins to secretly teach the words of Abinadi to those who will believe.
147 B.C. Alma teaches and baptizes. He organizes the Church of God at the Waters of Mormon and ordains priests to teach the members of the Church.
145 B.C. Discovered by King Noah, Alma and his followers escape into the wilderness and establish a settlement at Helam.
145-121 B.C. Alma refuses to be king. His people prosper. They are brought into bondage by the Lamanites. Because of their great faith, the Lord lightens their burdens and delivers them from bondage. They escape into the wilderness and settle in the land of Zarahemla.
120 B.C. King Mosiah II permits Alma to establish the Church of God in the land of Zarahemla.
121-91 B.C. Alma I leads the Church in righteousness. Alma’s son Alma II rebels against his father and secretly seeks to destroy the Church. In response to his father’s prayers, an angel appears to Alma and the sons of Mosiah to stop them in their work of destruction. Alma’s son repents.
91 B.C. Alma I dies at the age of 82.
The Baptismal Covenant and the People of Alma I
Did you know that Jesus’ promises and blessings in delivering Alma I and his people from bondage reflected the covenant promises they had made when they were baptized?
When Alma and his people were baptized, they made a "covenant" with God, witnessing their willingness to serve Him and keep His commandments (Mosiah 18:10). When Alma and his people were greatly oppressed in their bondage to the Lamanites, the Lord heard them and said, "I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people to deliver them out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:13).
When Alma and his people were baptized, they were desirous to "come into the fold of God, and to be called his people" (Mosiah 18:8). Significantly, the Lord twice refers to Alma and his faithful group as "my people" (Mosiah 24:13-14) when he covenants to deliver them.
Alma taught that those who entered into the baptismal covenant should be willing to "comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:9). Later, when Alma’s people were in bondage to their enemies, the Lord bid them to "lift up your heads and be of good comfort" (Mosiah 24:13), and to "be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:17).
Those who received the baptismal covenant were "willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light" (Mosiah 18:8). Later, when those people were in bondage, the Lord covenanted, "I will also ease the burdens which are upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while ye are in bondage" (Mosiah 24:14). We are then told that "the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease" (Mosiah 24:15).
When they were baptized, Alma and his people covenanted that they were willing "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9). When they were in bondage to the Lamanites, the Lord told Alma that he would bless and deliver them, "that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter" (Mosiah 24:14).
When we compare Alma’s words about the baptismal covenant with the words of the Lord to Alma’s people when they were in bondage, we can see that the Lord did what His people had earlier promised Him that they would do. As they had covenanted to comfort others and bear their burdens that they might be light, so the Lord comforted and bore the weight of His people’s burdens and afflictions that they were made light---to the point that they could not feel them upon their backs! As they covenanted to be witnesses of God at all times and places, the Lord blessed them with deliverance that they could continue to testify of His miraculous mercy and intervention in the future.
Key Insights
The words of Alma and the Lord about covenants teach us what it means to be called the Lord’s people. When we read what the Book of Mormon teaches about covenants, we should pay attention to how those covenant blessings are honored and fulfilled. As a covenant people, we can know that the Lord will bless us, just as we have promised Him to serve and bless others. He often honors those covenants in ways we may not anticipate, sometimes with blessings beyond measure.