Gospel Art Picture Kit
Mosiah 27
I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. Mosiah 27:29
;)
The first Alma mentioned in the Book of Mormon was a priest of wicked King Noah who later became a prophet and leader of the Church in Zarahemla after hearing the words of Abinadi. Many people believed his words and were baptized. But the four sons of King Mosiah and the son of the prophet Alma, who was also called Alma, were unbelievers; they persecuted those who believed in Christ and tried to destroy the Church through false teachings. Many Church members were deceived by these teachings and led to sin because of the wickedness of Alma the Younger. (See Mosiah 27:1–10.)
As Alma and the sons of Mosiah continued to rebel against God, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, speaking to them with a voice as loud as thunder, which caused the earth to shake. They were so frightened that they fell to the ground. (See Mosiah 27:11–12.) The angel “cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God?” (Mosiah 27:13).
The angel told Alma why he had come to him: “Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith” (Mosiah 27:14). Before the angel left, he told Alma to remember the power of God and to quit trying to destroy the Church (see Mosiah 27:16).
Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah fell to the earth. They knew that the angel was sent from God and that the power of God had caused the ground to shake and tremble. Alma’s astonishment was so great that he could not speak, and he was so weak that he could not move even his hands. The sons of Mosiah carried him to his father. (See Mosiah 27:18–19.)
When Alma the Elder saw his son, he rejoiced because he knew what the Lord had done for him. Alma and the other Church leaders fasted and prayed for Alma the Younger. After two days and nights Alma regained his strength and was able to stand and speak to the people. He told them, “I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit” (Mosiah 27:24; see also Mosiah 27:20–23).
From that time forth, Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah traveled throughout the land trying to undo the damage they had done to the Church, confessing their sins, telling what they had seen, and explaining the scriptures to all who wanted to hear them (see Mosiah 27:35). Alma spent the rest of his life teaching the principle of repentance and proclaiming the word of God.
Summary
Alma the Younger and the four sons of King Mosiah were trying to destroy the Church, and many people followed them. The prophet Alma and King Mosiah were worried about their sons and prayed for them. So did other members of the Church. The Lord heard their prayers, and one day an angel came to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. The angel told them to stop destroying the Church. From that time on Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah repented and spent the rest of their lives teaching the word of God.
Artist, Gary L. Kapp
© 1997 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA
^ Back to top