Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 22

Alma teaches of a mighty change of heart

After serving for eight years as both the chief judge and the high priest over the church, Alma recognized a problem.  The spirituality of the people as a whole was diminishing.  This was a problem that had consequences on many levels.  As obedience to God’s commandments decreased, Alma 4 identifies three specific civil consequences:

1. Care for the poor decreased.  This is clearly a welfare problem.  (see Alma 4:12)
2. Economic inequality increased.  The difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots” increased and became more noticeable.  (see Alma 4:12)
3. Persecution of others who are “different” increased.  We might call this a civil rights issue.  (see Alma 4:13, 15)

In his position as both the spiritual leader and civil leader of the people, he could have chosen to address these problems from the political arena and legislated solutions.  A Nephite Social Security Administration, progressive taxation and Human Rights Commission may all have addressed these problems.  And for all we know, Alma’s successor in the judgment seat Nephihah did these things.  Remember: the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring people to Christ.  There’s only enough historical context given in each account to accomplish this higher purpose.  Alma tried a different approach.  President Ezra Taft Benson taught:

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. … The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6).

Thus Alma began a “spirituality tour” to tackle these problems from the spiritual angle.  His first visit was to Zarahemla, where many of the problems were deeply rooted.

Learn from the past

Alma begins his address by recounting a little history.  Summarize Alma 5:3-9.  Why do you suppose he did this?

• To establish his proper authority as the high priest
• To highlight that spiritual bondage leads to physical bondage
• Because the people in Zarahemla were in spiritual bondage and they could only be delivered by the same Lord who delivered their fathers physically

Read Alma 5:13.  This is the key to deliverance, both physical and spiritual.

Might change of heart

Read Alma 5:14.  What does this mighty change of heart mean?  And how do we experience one?

• Our hearts – the things we love and that motivate us – change.  We put off again the natural man and do things because we love God and our fellow man.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Except in … unusual circumstances, as with Alma (Mosiah 27), spiritual rebirth is a process. It does not occur instantaneously. It comes to pass by degrees. Repentant persons become alive to one spiritual reality after another, until they are wholly alive in Christ and are qualified to dwell in his presence forever” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:401).

How was Alma converted?  After the initial experience with the angel, his was converted – his heart was changed.  But he did not rest on his newfound change of heart; he worked to continue to build his testimony.  Read Alma 5:45-46.

Can you imagine?

Show the Book of Mormon video presentation of the young man on trial asking himself some of the questions in Alma 5.

Pride and envy

Read Alma 5:28-29.  What is pride?  What is envy?

President Benson quoted C. S. Lewis:

The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10.)

If in our hearts we are still proud, we measure our worth by how much more we have than other people.  But what has our Father promised us if we are faithful?  All that the He hath.  How would the proud feel in heaven if no one had any less than they did?  They would be miserable.  (see Mormon 9:4)

The church is set in order because of humility

Read Alma 6:2-3, then President Benson quote:

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness (see Alma 7:23). … Let us choose to be humble. We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. … We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement. … We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us. … We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service. … We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others. … We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently. … We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God. … We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 6; or Ensign, May 1989, 6–7).

Alma testifies of Jesus Christ

Alma went to the land of Gideon where the people were more righteous than Zarahemla had been.  Because they were more righteous, he could teach more of the pure, hopeful doctrines of the gospel.  In Alma 7:8 Alma points out that he doesn’t know everything, but he does know the things that are most important.  He then proceeds to testify of Jesus Christ and call the people to repentance.  Notice that even though the inhabitants of Gideon are primarily righteous, they are still called to repent.

Conclude with Alma 7:9-13.