KnoWhys

Recommended Resources

Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. Read this week's KnoWhy connected with the Come Follow Me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this week's scripture reading.

John W. Welch Notes

Come Follow Me - Alma 32-35

Come Follow Me (Insights into Alma 32–35, July 13–19)

Book of Mormon Central

Reading Plan

Structure your personal scripture study by following a multimedia, day by day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. If you are looking to dive deep into your study, skip down to "Additional Resources" for a selected bibliography of articles, books, and chapters on Alma 32–35.

Monday

• Scripture: Alma 32:1–7
• KnoWhy 124: Why Did Alma and Amulek Preach in Synagogues?
• Quote: “Bad religion breeds bad societies. The Zoramites created a class system that ostracized their less fortunate brothers and sisters from the very synagogues they had built. But--as has been the case from time immemorial--it was these downtrodden souls who proved most responsive to the message of Alma and his companions. Impoverished ‘as to things of the world,’ they are described as ‘poor in heart’ or ‘lowly in heart.’ That is, they were dispirited and quite hopeless. Alma ‘beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.’”
  Turner, Rodney. “A Faith unto Salvation.” Essay. In Studies in Scripture, Volume 8: Alma 30 to Moroni, edited by Kent P. Jackson, 19. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. Co., 1988.
• Chart: The Speeches of Alma

Tuesday

• Scripture: Alma 32:8-20
• Quote: “Spiritual humility—the recognition of one’s dependence upon God for all things temporal and spiritual, coupled with a willingness to accept his law—is a precondition for true repentance. Some achieve this humility only after they have been ‘compelled to be humble’ by those ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ of which Hamlet soliloquized. Some do so only after they have been brought face-to-face with the stark truth about themselves and the God they defied, or never knew.
  “Some will never learn humility and, therefore, never repent even when they stand before God with a ‘perfect knowledge’ of their guilt and uncleanness.”
  Turner, Rodney. “A Faith unto Salvation.” Essay. In Studies in Scripture, Volume 8: Alma 30 to Moroni, edited by Kent P. Jackson, 19–20. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. Co., 1988.
• Quote: “How do we ignite this power of divine instruction in our lives? First, we need to start with a willingness to be instructed. While many naturally hunger and thirst after righteousness, others may be compelled to be humble. Some of us, rather than follow instructions or change ourselves, would simply like to change the rules. Naaman certainly wanted to be rid of his leprous flesh but went away in a rage when told by the prophet’s messenger to simply wash seven times in the River Jordan. It was inconvenient, a little thing, and he felt that the rivers in his land were better than the Jordan. But his leprosy was cured as he listened to his servants, changed his mind, and did 'according to the saying of the man of God.' He was dramatically shown that there was a prophet and a God in Israel. We too must realize that God has governing laws and that His wisdom is greater than our own. Even Moses observed, after seeing God’s majesty and workmanship, ‘Man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.’”
  Steuer, Robert R. “Being Teachable.” General Conference April 2002.

Wednesday

• Scripture: Alma 32:21–43
• Chart: Three Trees in the Book of Mormon
• Quote 924: “Some people speak of a testimony as if it were a light switch—it’s either on or off; you either have a testimony, or you do not. In reality, a testimony is more like a tree that passes through various stages of growth and development. Some of the tallest trees on earth are found in Redwood National Park in the western United States. When you stand at the base of these massive trees, it is amazing to think that each one grew from a tiny seed. So it is with our testimonies. Although they may begin with a single spiritual experience, they grow and develop over time through constant nourishment and frequent spiritual encounters . . . This is often how a testimony begins: with sacred, enlightening, assuring feelings that demonstrate to us that the word of God is true. However, as wonderful as these feelings are, they are only the beginning. Your work to grow your testimony is not done—any more than the work of growing a redwood tree is done when the first tiny sprout pokes out of the ground. If we ignore or neglect these early spiritual promptings, if we do not nurture them by continuing to study the scriptures and pray and by seeking more experiences with the Spirit, our feelings will fade and our testimonies will diminish.”
  Christensen, Craig C. “I Know These Things of Myself.” General Conference October 2015.
• KnoWhy 140: Why Did Alma Use Creation Imagery in His Sermon on Faith?

Thursday

• Scripture: Alma 33:1–23
• KnoWhy 141: What Are the Nephite Articles of Faith?

Friday

• Scripture: Alma 34:1–15
• Chart: Why Would Mankind “Unavoidably Perish” without the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
• KnoWhy 142: Why Must There be an Infinite and Eternal Sacrifice?

Explore Further:

• KnoWhy 317: Why Would Mankind “Unavoidably Perish” without the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Saturday

• Scripture: Alma 34:16–41
• KnoWhy 424: How the Law of Moses Teaches about the Atonement
• Quote: “Now is the time. But how do we prepare? Begin with repentance! Scripture declares, ‘If ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; … no unclean thing can dwell with God.’ He gave this simple rule: ‘Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory. Now is the time to show reverent respect for one’s physical body. It serves as the tabernacle for one’s spirit throughout all eternity. Physical appetites are to be controlled by the will of one’s spirit. We are to ‘deny [our]selves of all ungodliness.’ We are to ‘forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, [and] live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.’”
  Nelson, Russell M. “Now is the Time to Prepare.” General Conference April 2005.

Sunday

• Scripture: Alma 35:1–16
• KnoWhy 143: Why Was the Zoramite Defection So Disastrous?

Additional Resources (Bibliography)