Alma 8

(March 20, 2014)
Sometimes chapters are just dense with things to draw from, and this is one of them.  Alma, who had just been rejected, could have been prideful or felt justified in the inevitable punishment that Ammonihah would encounter.  But instead, he went away sorrowing for the people and the suffering they would endure.  He was to teach them that the Lord would destroy Ammonihah, but we know that it was ultimately the Lamanites who did the deed.  The Lord likely did not inspire the Lamanites to do so (although their roundabout route to Ammonihah raises doubts about that assertion), but it shows that even as the Lord often blesses us through other hands, He also sometimes punishes us through other hands (or punishes us by withholding His protection from others).

Amulek’s statement that he was a Nephite has always seemed odd, but in light of the fact that the Ammons we know from the Book of Mormon were Ammon (named a Mulekite), Ammon the son of Mosiah (likely with Mulekite blood, as part of an intermarriage which brought the first Mosiah to the throne when the people merged), and Ammonihah, it is reasonable to believe that Ammonihah was a Mulekite city rather than a Nephite city – thus making Amulek stand out and making him need to point out that he was a Nephite.

Finally, Mormon’s commentary that Alma and Amulek could not be held captive in prison, but this power was not shown until they were bound, is somewhat of a symbol for our lives.  We too cannot be bound in sin, because of the infinite Atonement, if we accept Christ.  But we often don’t reach out to Him until we are held captive ourselves.  Like Alma and Amulek, this allows the Lord to show forth His matchless power through our lives, and gives an additional answer as to why the angels rejoice over the sinner who repents.