Alma 9: Alma Preaches Repentance to the People of Ammonihah

Book of Mormon Student Study Guide, (2000), 103–104

The hard-hearted people of Ammonihah were angry with and shouted insults at Alma and Amulek. Later, these two faithful missionaries were thrown into prison. If you were faced with this kind of opposition, how would you react? As you read Alma 9, imagine that you are there with Alma. What kind of courage would be needed to face those people? What could you say that would best help them? Alma’s and Amulek’s teachings to the people of Ammonihah are found in chapters 9–14.

Understanding the Scriptures

Alma 9

Contend (v. 1)Argue, debate
Stiffnecked (vv. 5, 31)Stubborn, prideful
Perverse generation (v. 8)Evil people
Consigned to a state (v. 11)Assigned to a condition
Verified (v. 14)Proven to be true
More tolerable (vv. 15, 23)Better
Prolong their existence (v. 16)Extend their time
Is nigh at hand (v. 25)Will soon come
Equity (v. 26)Fairness, justice
Suffer (v. 33)Allow

Alma 9:26–27—The Healing Process of Repentance

Christ

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “All of us have made wrong turns along the way. I believe the kind and merciful God, whose children we are, will judge us as lightly as He can for the wrongs that we have done and give us the maximum blessing for the good that we do. Alma’s sublime utterance [in Alma 9:26] seems to me an affirmation of this” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 75; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 53).

Studying the Scriptures

Do activities A and B or activity C as you study Alma 9.

Activity A iconWhat Can We Learn from History?

Count the times Alma used the phrases “do ye not remember” and “have ye forgotten” in Alma 9:7–14.

  1. 1.

    List the examples he used from Nephite and Lamanite history to show the necessity of repentance.

  2. 2.

    Write your ideas about how each of these examples would help the people in Ammonihah to repent.

  3. 3.

    In what ways do his examples help you have a greater desire to repent?

Activity B iconTake an Inventory

Alma lists the many blessings the Nephites experienced in Alma 9:18–22.

  1. 1.

    Make two columns in your notebook. In one column list the temporal (physical) blessings the Nephites were given and in the other column list the spiritual blessings they received.

  2. 2.

    Read Alma’s warning in Alma 9:23–24. How does his warning apply to Doctrine and Covenants 82:3? Why?

Activity C iconMake a Poster

Create a poster that represents the doctrines taught in Alma 9:25–30. Design the poster in a way that you could use it in a class to help other students better understand Alma’s teachings about Jesus Christ.

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