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Alma 39–42
Scripture Central Videos
Watch videos from Gospel scholars and teachers to learn more about these Book of Mormon passages.
Other Creator Videos
KnoWhys
Evidences
Commentary
Book of Mormon Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from Book of Mormon scholar Brant A. Gardner. John W. Welch's notes for Come, Follow Me are also available for free.
John W. Welch, General Editor
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, 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. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.
Monday
- Scripture: Alma 39:1–10
- Commentary: Alma Uses a Different Pattern of Speech for Corianton
- Commentary: Alma 39:3-6
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Was Corianton’s Sin So Serious?
- Commentary: Alma 39:10-11
- KnoWhy: What Does Alma Say about Avoiding Sexual Sin?
- Evidence: No Baal Names
Tuesday
- Scripture: Alma 39:11–19
- Commentary: Alma 39:17-19
- Commentary: When They Saw Your Conduct, They Would Not Believe in My Words
- Commentary: Would Christ Really Come?
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 39:15-16
- KnoWhy: What Impact Do My Actions Have on Others?
- Evidence: Plan of Salvation
Wednesday
- Scripture: Alma 40:1–10
- Commentary: Time Is Measured Only unto Men
- Evidence: Alma's Use of Abinadi's Words
Thursday
- Scripture: Alma 40:11–26
- Video: Come, Follow Me with John Hilton III (Alma 39-42)
- Commentary: The Restoration Spoken by the Mouths of the Prophets
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about the Afterlife?
- KnoWhy: Why Did Alma Draw on the Teachings of Abinadi?
- KnoWhy: What Unique Doctrines Did the Lord Reveal through the Book of Mormon?
- Commentary: Time in the Spirit World
- Commentary: Alma 40:11-12
- Commentary: Alma 40:19-21
Friday
- Scripture: Alma 41:1–15
- Commentary: Chiasmus for Corianton Too
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Can Wickedness Never Bring Happiness?
- Evidence: Earliest Manuscripts
- Commentary: Not Everyone Will be Resurrected to the Same Glory
- Commentary: Alma 41:1-2
- Commentary: Alma 41:3-5
- Commentary: Alma 41:6-8
- Commentary: Alma 41:9-10
- Commentary: Alma 41:14-15
Saturday
- Scripture: Alma 42:1–10
- Commentary: The Need for Mercy
- Commentary: Alma 42:8-10
- KnoWhy: Why Are There So Many Different Names for the Plan of Salvation?
Sunday
- Scripture: Alma 42:11–31
- Commentary: Alma 42:11-14
- Commentary: Alma 42:21-23
- Commentary: Mortality is a Probationary State to Repent
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Mercy Depends on Repentance
- Commentary: Alma 42:16-20
- Commentary: Alma 42:27-28
- KnoWhy: Why Does Alma Mention “the Plan” Ten Times in His Words to Corianton?
- KnoWhy: How Are Atonement, Resurrection, Judgment, and Redemption Interconnected?
- Evidence: Gradation
Additional Resources
Explore art, charts, and more.
Images
Charts
- The Nephite Judges
- Alma as High Priest: Years 9–19 of the Reign of the Judges
- Nephihah as Chief Judge: Years 9–24 of the Reign of the Judges
- Key Doctrinal Chapters: Mosiah–Alma
- The Speeches of Alma
- Women in the Book of Mormon
- Nephite Cycles: Years 1–49 of the Reign of the Judges (90–40 B.C.)
- Whose Words Are Found in the Book of Mormon?
- Number of Pages in Books of the Book of Mormon
- Average Number of Pages Covering One Nephite Year
- Nephite Books Compared by Length and Years Covered
- Nephite Books Listed Chronologically
- Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Names and Concepts Associated with Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names for Christ Used Exclusively by Individual Authors
- Ten Essential Features of Book of Mormon Geography
- Geographical Names Listed Alphabetically
- Geographical Names Listed by Scripture Reference
Bibliography
Alma 39
Ball, Terry B. “Alma 39: A Model for Teaching Morality.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 2, no. 2 (2001): 25–36.
Bowen, Matthew L. “’See That Ye Are Not Lifted Up’: The Name Zoram and Its Paronomastic Pejoration.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 109–143.
Cowan, Richard O. “Restoration, Redemption, and Resurrection: Three R’s of the Book of Mormon.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 176–185. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University/Deseret Book, 2007.
Gardner, Brant A. “Labor Diligently to Write: The Ancient Making of a Modern Scripture, Chapters 14 & 15.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 35 (2020): 271–328.
Hilton, III, John. “Textual Similarities in the Words of Abinadi and Alma's Counsel to Corianton.” BYU Studies 51, no. 2 (2012): 39–60.
Judd, Jr., Frank F. “How to Be Reclaimed from the Fall of Adam.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 223–236. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2007.
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Two Great Sins.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 210–214. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Alma 39:3
Tvedtnes, John A., John Gee, and Matthew Roper. “Book of Mormon Names Attested in Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9, no. 1 (2000): 40–51, 78–79.
Alma 39:5
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was Corianton’s Sin So Serious? (Alma 39:5).” KnoWhy 147 (July 20, 2016).
Garrett, H. Dean. “The Three Most Abominable Sins.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 157–171. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Alma 39:9
Book of Mormon Central. “What Does Alma Say about Avoiding Sexual Sin? (Alma 39:9).” KnoWhy 326 (June 14, 2017).
Gee, John. “Scripture Insight: Book of Mormon Word Usage: To Cross Oneself.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 21, no. 6 (2001): 4.
Alma 39:11
Book of Mormon Central. “What Impact Do My Actions Have on Others? (Alma 39:11).” KnoWhy 390 (December 14, 2017).
Alma 40
Callister, Tad R. “Teaching the Atonement.” Religious Educator 3, no. 1 (2002): 51–64.
Cowan, Richard O. “Restoration, Redemption, and Resurrection: Three R’s of the Book of Mormon.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 176–185. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University/Deseret Book, 2007.
Cowan, Richard O. “A New Meaning of ‘Restoration’: The Book of Mormon on Life After Death.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 195–210. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Gardner, Brant A. “Labor Diligently to Write: The Ancient Making of a Modern Scripture, Chapters 14 & 15.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 35 (2020): 271–328.
Hilton, III, John. “Textual Similarities in the Words of Abinadi and Alma's Counsel to Corianton.” BYU Studies 51, no. 2 (2012): 39–60.
Judd, Jr., Frank F. “How to Be Reclaimed from the Fall of Adam.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 223–236. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2007.
Peterson, H. Donl. “What is the meaning of the Book of Mormon scriptures on eternal hell for the wicked.” Ensign (April 1986).
Roberts, B.H. “A Nephite's Commandments to His Sons - III. Corianton II-Concluded.” Improvement Era 3, no. 11 (1900): 835–843.
Alma 40:9
Book of Mormon. “Why Was Corianton So Concerned About The Resurrection? (Alma 40:9).” KnoWhy 148 (July 21, 2016).
Alma 40:11
Book of Mormon Central. “What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about the Afterlife? (Alma 40:11).” KnoWhy 315 (May 19, 2017).
Nyman, Monte S. “The State of the Soul Between Death and the Resurrection.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 173–194. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Alma 40:12
Allred, Philip A. “Alma’s Use of State 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, 157–163. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Alma 40:23
Smith, Joseph F. “Editor's Table: On the Resurrection.” Improvement Era 7, no. 8 (1904): 619–625.
Alma 41
Allred, Philip A. “Notes and Communications: Alma's Use of State in the Book of Mormon: Evidence of Multiple Authorship.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 1 (1996): 140–146.
Allred, Philip A. “Alma’s Use of State 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, 157–163. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Callister, Tad R. “Teaching the Atonement.” Religious Educator 3, no. 1 (2002): 51–64.
Cowan, Richard O. “Restoration, Redemption, and Resurrection: Three R’s of the Book of Mormon.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 176–185. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University/Deseret Book, 2007.
Cowan, Richard O. “A New Meaning of ‘Restoration’: The Book of Mormon on Life After Death.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 195–210. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Gardner, Brant A. “Labor Diligently to Write: The Ancient Making of a Modern Scripture, Chapters 14 & 15.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 35 (2020): 271–328.
Hilton, III, John. “Textual Similarities in the Words of Abinadi and Alma's Counsel to Corianton.” BYU Studies 51, no. 2 (2012): 39–60.
Roberts, B.H. “A Nephite's Commandments to His Sons - III. Corianton II-Concluded.” Improvement Era 3, no. 11 (1900): 835–843.
Alma 41:1
Book of Mormon Central. “Why and How Did Alma Explain the Meaning of the Word "Restoration"? (Alma 41:1).” KnoWhy 149 (June 22, 2016).
Alma 41:10
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Can Wickedness Never Bring Happiness? (Alma 41:10).” KnoWhy 329 (June 21, 2017).
Black, Sharon, Brad Wilcox, and Kyle C. Lyons. “Book of Mormon Citations in General Conference.” Religious Educator 17, no. 3 (2017): 144–169.
Hasler, John W., and Marjorie E. Hasler. “Train Up a Child.” Ensign 29, no. 4 (1999).
Alma 41:12–15
Larsen, Val. “Restoration: A Theological Poem in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 10 (2014): 239–256.
Alma 42
Callister, Tad R. “Teaching the Atonement.” Religious Educator 3, no. 1 (2002): 51–64.
Cowan, Richard O. “Restoration, Redemption, and Resurrection: Three R’s of the Book of Mormon.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 176–185. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University/Deseret Book, 2007.
Cowan, Richard O. “A New Meaning of ‘Restoration’: The Book of Mormon on Life After Death.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 195–210. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Gardner, Brant A. “Labor Diligently to Write: The Ancient Making of a Modern Scripture, Chapters 14 & 15.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 35 (2020): 271–328.
Hilton, III, John. “Textual Similarities in the Words of Abinadi and Alma's Counsel to Corianton.” BYU Studies 51, no. 2 (2012): 39–60.
Judd, Jr., Frank F. “How to Be Reclaimed from the Fall of Adam.” In Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, edited by Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift, 223–236. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2007.
Larsen, Val. “Restoration: A Theological Poem in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 10 (2014): 239–256.
Matthews, Robert J. “The Atonement of Jesus Christ: 2 Nephi 9.” In The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 177–199. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1989.
Peterson, H. Donl. “The Law of Justice and the Law of Mercy.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 211–222. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Roberts, B.H. “A Nephite's Commandments to His Sons - III. Corianton II-Concluded.” Improvement Era 3, no. 11 (1900): 835–843.
Alma 42:5
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Are There So Many Different Names for the Plan of Salvation? (Alma 42:5, 8, 13, 15).” KnoWhy 312 (May 12, 2017).
Alma 42:8
Black, Sharon, Brad Wilcox, and Kyle C. Lyons. “Book of Mormon Citations in General Conference.” Religious Educator 17, no. 3 (2017): 144–169.
Alma 42:13
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Does Alma Mention “the Plan” Ten Times in His Words to Corianton? (Alma 42:13).” KnoWhy 150 (July 25, 2016).