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Scripture Block
Mosiah 29-Alma 4
May 25–31. “They Were Steadfast and Immovable”
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.
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. To dive deeper, skip down to Additional Resources for a selected bibliography on this week's chapters. 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 Mosiah 29 - Alma 4.
Monday
- Scripture: Mosiah 29:1–36
- KnoWhy 380: What is the Purpose of Democracy in the Book of Mormon?
- KnoWhy 301: How Did King Benjamin’s Speech Lead to Nephite Democracy?
Tuesday
- Scripture: Mosiah 29:37–47
- KnoWhy 107: How Were Judges Elected in the Book of Mormon?
Wednesday
- Scripture: Alma 1:1–25
- Chart: Three Diverse Opponents of the Nephites
- KnoWhy 108: Why Did Nehor Suffer an “Ignominious” Death?
- Scripture: Alma 1:26–33
- KnoWhy 373: How Do the Blessings in the Scriptures Apply to us Today?
Thursday
- Scripture: Alma 2:1–22
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Quote: “Soon after the establishment of a system of elected judges among the Nephites, several revolts take place against this type of government. The first of these revolts is headed by Amlici, who, in addition to being an avowed kingman, is also a follower of the order of Nehor and thus advocates priestcraft. Although Amlici is not successful in his desire to obtain the kingship, he precipitates a civil war that results in the deaths of over 19,000 people.”
Ludlow, Daniel H. A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976, 194. - KnoWhy 523: What Was One of the Main Causes of Warfare in the Book of Mormon?
Friday
- Scripture: Alma 2:23–38
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Quote: “Unquestionably, the individual battles between Alma and Amlici and the king of the Lamanites are most significant . . . [The] Lamanite force does not employ its numerical superiority. Rather than a general melee, Alma engages in two personal combats, one with Amlici and one with the Lamanite king. Thus, each leader represents his army in a battle of kings, not a battle between the armies themselves. Alma crossed the river with a small number of men under his immediate command and began combat with Amlici. It could not have happened by chance that, in an army as numerous as grains of sand, Alma coincidentally fell on one of two opponents of his own social ranking.”
Gardner, Brant. Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, UT: Greg Kofford Books, 2007, 4:65–66. - KnoWhy 109: How Were the Amlicites and Amalekites Related?
Saturday
- Scripture: Alma 3:1–27
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Quote: “The wars and contentions caused by Amlici and his followers had greatly afflicted the Nephites. The loss of their brethren as casualties in battle, not to mention the destruction of flocks, herds, and crops of grain, caused great mourning among the people. But the destruction had at least one good result: it caused much soul-searching among them, because they all felt that the judgments of God had come upon them because of their wickedness and abominations. For a time the Church grew in size because of numerous baptisms performed under the hands of Alma, who was the high priest and chief ecclesiastical authority among the people.”
Sperry, Sidney B. Book of Mormon Compendium. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1970, 329. - KnoWhy 110: Why Did Book of Mormon Prophets Discourage Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage?
Sunday
- Scripture: Alma 4:1–20
- Chart: Alma as Chief Judge: Years 1-8 of the Reign of the Judges
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Quote: “Every time I read about Alma the Younger relinquishing his role as head of state to preach the word of God, I am impressed. Alma clearly had a profound testimony of God the Father and Jesus Christ and felt accountable to Them completely and without reservation. He had the correct priorities and humility to give up status and position because he realized that serving the Lord was more important.”
Cook, Quentin L. “The Eternal Everyday.” General Conference October 2017. - KnoWhy 333: How Does the Book of Mormon Prepare Missionaries to Sacrifice, Serve, and Preach?
Additional Resources (Bibliography)
Mosiah 29
Bowen, Matthew L. “’This Son Shall Comfort Us’: An Onomastic Tale of Two Noahs.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 23 (2017): 263–298.
Bushman, Richard L. “The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution.” BYU Studies Quarterly 17, no. 1 (1976): 3–16.
Bushman, Richard L. “The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution.” In Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 189–211. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1982.
Dundas, Gregory. "Kingship, Democracy, and the Message of the Book of Mormon." BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 2 (2017): 7–58.
Halverson, Taylor. “Deuteronomy 17:14–20 as Criteria for Book of Mormon Kingship.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 24 (2017): 1–10.
Merrill, Byron R. “Government by the Voice of the People: A Witness and a Warning.” In The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 113–137. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1991.
Welch, John W. “Democratizing Forces in King Benjamin’s Speech.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 110–126. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Mosiah 29:1–6
Tvedtnes, John A. “King Mosiah and Judgeship.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 20, no. 11 (2000): 2.
Mosiah 29:10
Davis, Ryan W. “For the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 17, no. 1 (2007): 42–55, 85–86.
Mosiah 29:11
Tvedtnes, John A. “Kings and Judges in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 194–197. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Welch, John W. “The Law of Mosiah.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 158–161. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Mosiah 29:13, 16–17
Donaldson, Lee L. “Benjamin and Noah: The Principle of Dominion.” In The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 49–58. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1991.
Mosiah 29:20
Calabro, David. “’Stretch Forth Thy Hand and Prophesy’: Hand Gestures in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21, no. 1 (2012): 46–59.
Mosiah 29:25–29
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 121.
Mosiah 29:27
Book of Mormon Central. “What is the Purpose of Democracy in the Book of Mormon? (Mosiah 29:27).” KnoWhy 380 (November 9, 2017).
Mosiah 29:32
Book of Mormon Central. “How Did King Benjamin’s Speech Lead to Nephite Democracy? (Mosiah 29:32).” KnoWhy 301 (April 17, 2017).
Mosiah 29:39
Book of Mormon Central. “How Were Judges Elected in the Book of Mormon? (Mosiah 29:39).” KnoWhy 107 (May 25, 2016).
Mosiah 29:42
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Alma as Chief Judge: Years 1–8 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 34.
Alma Overview
Welch, John W. “The Testimony of Alma: ‘Give Ear to My Words.’” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 11, no. 2 (2010): 66–87.
The Book of Mormon: Alma, the Testimony of the Word. In The Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Alma’s Name
Bowen, Matthew L. “’And He Was a Young Man’: The Literary Preservation of Alma’s Autobiographical Wordplay.” Insights: A Window to the Ancient World 30, no. 4 (2010): 2–3.
Hoskisson, Paul Y. “What’s in a Name? Alma as a Hebrew Name.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7, no. 1 (1998): 72–73.
Berrett, LaMar C., S. Kent Brown, and Terrence L. Szink. “New Light: Further Evidence of a Semitic Alma.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 1 (1999): 64–70, 79.
Szink, Terrence L. “The Personal Name ‘Alma’ at Ebla.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 1, no. 1 (2000): 53–56.
Alma 1
Reeve, Jr., Rex C. “Dealing with Opposition to the Church.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 15–25. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Stenson, Matthew Scott. “Answering for His Order: Alma’s Clash with the Nehors.” BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 2 (2016): 127–153.
Welch, John W. “The Trial of Nehor.” In The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon, 211–236. Provo, UT: BYU Press/Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2008.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Three Diverse Opponents of the Nephites.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 122.
Wright, Mark Alan, and Brant A. Gardner. “The Cultural Context of Nephite Apostasy.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 25–55.
Alma 1:1
Welch, John W. “The Law of Mosiah.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 158–161. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 1:15
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Nehor Suffer an “Ignominious” Death? (Alma 1:15).” KnoWhy 108 (May 26, 2016).
Bokovoy, David E., and John A. Tvedtnes. “Confession of Sins Before Execution.” In Testaments: Links between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible, 157–160. Toelle, UT: Heritage Press, 2003.
Tvedtnes, John A. “Confession of Sins before Execution.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 23, no. 5 (2003): 2–3.
Alma 1:16
Richins, David. “Priesthood vs. Priestcraft in the Book of Mormon.” The Lunch is Free, 2016.
Alma 1:29
Book of Mormon Central. “How Do the Blessings in the Scriptures Apply to us Today? (Alma 1:29).” KnoWhy 373 (October 17, 2017).
Sorenson, John L. “Possible ‘Silk’ and ‘Linen’ in the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 162–164. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Sorenson, John L. “Silk and Linen in the Book of Mormon.” Ensign 22, no. 4 (1992): 62.
Alma 1:32
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 127.
Alma 2
Andersen, Joe V. Book of Mormon Objective Geographic Standard No. 1: Relationships among Zarahemla, Minon, Gideon, and River Sidon. 2016.
Reeve, Jr., Rex C. “Dealing with Opposition to the Church.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 15–25. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Proposed Details around Zarahemla.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 156.
Wright, Mark Alan, and Brant A. Gardner. “The Cultural Context of Nephite Apostasy.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 25–55.
Alma 2:2
Book of Mormon Central. “What Was One of the Main Causes of Warfare in the Book of Mormon? (Alma 2:2).” KnoWhy 523 (July 5, 2019).
Alma 2:11
Book of Mormon Central. “How Were the Amlicites and Amalekites Related? (Alma 2:11).” KnoWhy 109 (May 27, 2016).
Conkling, J. Christopher. “Alma’s Enemies: The Case of the Lamanites, Amlicites, and Mysterious Amalekites.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14, no. 1 (2005): 108–117, 130–132.
Alma 2:16
Childs, Larry G. “Present Participle Adjuncts in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 6, no. 1 (1997): 24–38.
Alma 2:20
Sorenson, John L. “Evidence for Tents in the Book of Mormon.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 135–138. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Alma 2:37
Magleby, Kirk. “Hermounts.” Book of Mormon Resources, (March 23, 2012).
Alma 3
Alma 3:1
Childs, Larry G. “Epanalepsis in the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 165–166. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 3:6
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Charge of ‘Racism’ in the Book of Mormon.” The FARMS Review 15, no. 2 (2003): 183–197.
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Charge of ‘Racism’ in the Book of Mormon.” In 2003 FAIR Conference. Orem, UT: FairMormon, 2003.
Alma 3:8
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Book of Mormon Prophets Discourage Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage? (Alma 3:8).” KnoWhy 110 (May 30, 2016).
Alma 4
Alma 4:11–17
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Learn from Alma and Amulek.” In The One-Hundredth and Eighty-Sixth Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2016.
Alma 4:20
Book of Mormon Central. “How Does the Book of Mormon Prepare Missionaries to Sacrifice, Serve, and Preach? (Alma 4:20).” KnoWhy 333 (Jun 30, 2017).
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephihah as Chief Judge: Years 9–24 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 36.