A personal note.

To my fabulous readers,

As I noted in one of my comments I have been at Women's Conference the last few days with my mom and sisters. I am sorry I got behind in the posts...I couldn't find a way to blog there. The posts are now all caught up. I hope this wasn't too much of a problem for any of you. Thank you to Danika who left me a wonderful comment explaining how I can post ahead! I have asked so many people how to do that and no one was able to tell me. I also googled it but could not find the answer. I should have known to just ask you, my amazing readers! I want you to know that from now on I will post ahead anytime I may be away from a computer.

I also want to tell Jen who is a reader (and my niece, although she seems like a sister because she is only 8 years younger than me) THANK YOU for all the kindness you shared with me about this blog. I was really touched by your encouragement. I'm so sad that I didn't get to spend more time with you.

Lastly I want to thank all of you readers. I have grown so much from these past 4 months of consistent Book of Mormon study and I want to honor you for "sharing" this cyberspace with me. I know it isn't always easy to make the time to read your scriptures and I applaud you for your dedication! I know you will be blessed for your efforts. I hope the next four months are as wonderful as the last four!

xoxo
Kathryn

pgs. 236 and 237...the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame.

29 And he answered, No.

30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things?

31 And he said: An ^aangel hath made them known unto me.

32 And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God?

33 And he said unto him, Yea.

34 And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people ^ain their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.

35 Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall ^anot save his people—as though he had authority to command God.

36 Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast ^alied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins.

37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their ^asins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that ^bno unclean thing can inherit the ^ckingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?

39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very ^aEternal Father of heaven and of earth, and ^ball things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;

40 And he shall come into the ^aworld to ^bredeem his people; and he shall ^ctake upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been ^ano redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that ^ball shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be ^cjudged according to their works.

42 Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the ^abands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

43 The spirit and the body shall be ^areunited again in its ^bperfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, ^cknowing even as we know now, and have a bright ^drecollection of all our ^eguilt.

44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be ^arestored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the ^bFather, and the Holy Spirit, which is ^cone Eternal God, to be ^djudged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the ^adeath of the mortal body, and also concerning the ^bresurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is ^craised to an ^dimmortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can ^edie no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming ^fspiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.

46 Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written.

THE BOOK OF ALMA

THE SON OF ALMA

CHAPTER 12

Alma contends with Zeezrom—The mysteries of God can be given only to the faithful—Men are judged by their thoughts, beliefs, words, and works—The wicked shall suffer a spiritual death—This mortal life is a probationary state—The plan of redemption brings to pass the resurrection and, through faith, a remission of sins—The repentant have a claim on mercy through the Only Begotten Son. About 82 B.C.

1 Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his ^alying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a ^bconsciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done.

2 Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by the people round about; for the multitude was great, and he spake on this wise:

3 Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy ^athoughts, and thou seest that thy ^bthoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;

4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very ^asubtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to ^brevile us and to cast us out—

5 Now this was a plan of thine ^aadversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all.

6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a ^asnare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his ^bchains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.

7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they ^aknew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.

Amulek's ability to hold his own as a lawyer is proven here. He knows that Zeezrom believes in God because the Holy Ghost whispered it to him in verse 24. He also knows that Zeezrom loves money more than God. He realizes that if he appeals to Zeezrom's logical side he may be able to win him over. He does this by telling Zeezrom in verses 43 and 44 that "we shall all be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt." He also explains to him that we will be judged according to our works. This is the wake-up call Zeezrom needed to hear and in verse 46 Zeezrom begins to tremble. In chapter 12 Alma then takes over the conversation and gives Zeezrom a way out of his position by blaming Satan for tricking him into believing a lie.

pgs. 234 and 235...O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.

27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the ^adestruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the ^bunrighteousness of your ^clawyers and your judges.

28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a ^achild of the devil, for he hath ^blied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.

29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges.

30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.

31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to ^aaccuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.

32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain ^aaccording to their employ.

THE BOOK OF ALMA

THE SON OF ALMA

CHAPTER 11

Nephite coinage set forth—Amulek contends with Zeezrom—Christ will not save people in their sins—Only those who inherit the kingdom of heaven are saved—All men shall rise in immortality—There is no death after the resurrection. About 82 B.C.

1 Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive ^awages ^baccording to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged.

2 Now if a man owed another, and he would not ^apay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber.

3 And the judge received for his wages ^aaccording to his time—a ^bsenine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given.

4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the ^amanner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and their measure, according to the minds and the circumstances of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been ^bestablished by king Mosiah.

5 Now the reckoning is thus—a senine of gold, a seon of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold.

6 A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver.

7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind of grain.

8 Now the amount of a seon of gold was twice the value of a senine.

9 And a shum of gold was twice the value of a seon.

10 And a limnah of gold was the value of them all.

11 And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums.

12 And an ezrom of silver was as great as four senums.

13 And an onti was as great as them all.

14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning—

15 A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for half a measure of barley.

16 And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon.

17 And a leah is the half of a shiblum.

18 Now this is their number, according to their reckoning.

19 Now an antion of gold is equal to three shiblons.

20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get ^again, because they received their wages according to their ^bemploy, therefore, they did ^cstir up the people to ^driotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might ^eget ^fmoney according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.

21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was ^aexpert in the ^bdevices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?

22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the ^aSpirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I ^bgive thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.

23 Now Amulek said: O thou ^achild of hell, why ^btempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

24 Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that ^alucre more than him.

25 And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me—Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee—when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward.

26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?

27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.

28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?


Zeezrom's attempt to pay Amulek to deny God is so sad. And Amulek's answer declaring Zeezrom a child of hell does not leave any room for doubt as to who Zeezrom worships. I read a commentary on this saying that the value of 6 onties today is approximately $50,000. I asked my mom her feelings about this story and she said "we all have to be able to say my honesty and integrity are not for sale at ANY price." This is the valuable lesson that we learn from Amulek's example. Even if you are offered the whole world it would not be worth it to deny God.

pgs. 232 and 233...well doth he cry by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.

THE BOOK OF ALMA

THE SON OF ALMA

CHAPTER 10

Lehi descended from Manasseh—Amulek recounts the angelic command that he care for Alma—The prayers of the righteous cause the people to be spared—Unrighteous lawyers and judges lay the foundation of the destruction of the people. About 82 B.C.

1 Now these are the ^awords which ^bAmulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:

2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the ^awriting which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.

3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of ^aManasseh, who was the son of ^bJoseph who was ^csold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.

4 And behold, I am also a man of no small ^areputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and ^bfriends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my ^cindustry.

5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his ^amysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was ^acalled many times and I would not ^bhear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling ^cagainst God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an ^aangel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has ^bfasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt ^creceive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.

8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the ^aman whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.

9 And the angel said unto me he is a ^aholy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.

10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his ^aangel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath ^bdwelt at my house.

11 For behold, he hath ^ablessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.

12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was ^amore than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning ^adevices they might catch them in their words, that they might ^bfind witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.

14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were ^alawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.

15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and ^acunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.

16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him ^across his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

17 Now they knew not that Amulek could ^aknow of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he ^bperceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse ^cgeneration, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying ^dtraps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.

18 Ye are laying plans to ^apervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.

19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should ^achoose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.

20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord ^ajudge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his ^bangels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: ^aI will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.

22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the ^aprayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by ^bflood, as were the people in the days of ^cNoah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the ^dsword.

23 But it is by the ^aprayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will ^bcast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the ^ctime is soon at hand except ye repent.

24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise ^alawyers whom we have selected.

25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to ^ablind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?

This story of a righteous man, Amulek, trying to explain the ways of the Lord to learned and cunning lawyers is all too familiar in our day. There are so many important issues that come under scrutiny in a court of law and become twisted around to make the Lord's way appear wrong. Abortion is a perfect example of this. It actually brings me comfort to know that this is not new to our generation. I just got back from Women's Conference at BYU last night and while I was there I heard Apostle L. Tom Perry speak. He talked about the public image of the church and how easy it is in the media to make our good church look bad. I know we who are faithful followers of Christ can follow Amulek's example and stand up and defend the truth with the power of the Spirit in a peaceful and strong way.