June 2024

Having finished their missionary message to the people of Ammonihah, Alma and Amulek were thrown into prison. Though they were smitten and mocked for their faith, they did not fear. They knew that God was still with them. In time, they were freed from their bonds in a show of God’s power that left no room for doubt. 

Alma and Amulek were powerful missionaries because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Even though Christ had not been born yet, they knew He would one day come and atone for the sins of the world. Their witness came from choosing to believe in Him and experiencing His power to forgive sins.

Does it ever seem like you can’t get your kids to be nice to each other? Does doing the same thing over and over not make any difference? Alma found that as prophet, doing the same thing over and over wasn’t helping the people of Zarahemla repent. However, Alma realized that what his people needed wasn’t more lecturing. They needed a “mighty change” of heart (Alma 5: 14) as he did when he was a rebellious youth.

The age of the kings has ended with Mosiah as Alma the Younger becomes the first chief judge of the Nephites. Founded in the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the new Nephite government gets off on a rocky start with a civil war breaking out. Alma himself takes up the sword to defend his people, praying for peace as both prophet and military leader.