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Alma 53–63
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 53:1–23
- Scripture: Alma 54:1–24
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Ancient Fortified Sites in the Americas
- KnoWhy: How Old Were the Stripling Warriors?
- Commentary: Mormon’s Vocabulary Comes through in these Chapters
- Commentary: Premodern Warfare
- Commentary: Alma 53:13-15
- Commentary: The Stripling Warriors Volunteer to Serve
- Commentary: “Behold, I Am in My Anger”
- Commentary: Ammoron and Amalickiah Were Zoramites
Tuesday
- Scripture: Alma 55:1–35
- Scripture: Alma 56:1–57
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 55:4-7
- Commentary: Alma 56:43-48
- KnoWhy: How Realistic are Nephite Battle Strategies?
- KnoWhy: Why Did Moroni Change His Mind about Exchanging Prisoners with Ammoron?
- Commentary: Introduction to Alma 56
- Commentary: Helaman’s Sons Fight and Are Not Killed
- Commentary: Alma 56:38-42
- Evidence: Flashback (Alma 56–58)
Wednesday
- Scripture: Alma 57:1–36
- Commentary: Ammoron Desired a Prisoner Exchange of Helaman
- Commentary: Alma 57:6-8
- Commentary: Why Did the Lamanites Give Up So Easily?
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Unruly Lamanite Prisoners
- Commentary: Alma 57:13-15
- Evidence: Realistic Warfare
- KnoWhy: Why Did the Stripling Warriors Perform Their Duties “With Exactness”?
Thursday
- Scripture: Alma 58:1–41
- Commentary: Alma 58:34-38
- Commentary: Alma 58:39-41
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: How Did Helaman’s Army Maintain Faith While Being Cut Off from Provisions?
- Commentary: Manti Is Retaken
- Commentary: Alma 58:8-10
- Commentary: Alma 58:11-15
- Commentary: Alma 58:27-30
- Evidence: Tents
Friday
- Scripture: Alma 59:1–13
- Scripture: Alma 60:1–36
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Additional Study
- Video: Come, Follow Me with John Hilton III (Alma 53-63)
- Commentary: Who Was Directing the War in Zarahemla?
- Commentary: Moroni Was Glad to Receive Helaman’s Epistle
- Commentary: Alma 60:12-15
- Commentary: Alma 60:20-21
- KnoWhy: Why Did Moroni Refer to Vessel Impurity in Condemning the Central Government?
- Evidence: Thrones
Saturday
- Scripture: Alma 61:1–21
- Scripture: Alma 62:1–52
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 62:49-52
- Commentary: Alma 62:3-5
- Commentary: Alma 62:15-18
- KnoWhy: How Does Chiasmus Teach Us to Reverse the Pride Cycle?
- Evidence: Ladders
- KnoWhy: Why Was Teancum Captured and Killed?
- KnoWhy: How was Pahoran a Strong Leader in Turbulent Times?
- KnoWhy: Why Was Moroni’s Correspondence with Pahoran Significant?
Sunday
- Scripture: Alma 63:1–17
- Commentary: The Book of Alma in Retrospect
- Commentary: Alma 63:1-3
- Commentary: Alma 63:4-9
- Commentary: Alma 63:10-13
- Commentary: Alma 63:14-17
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Did Mormon Mention Hagoth?
- Evidence: Migrations Northward
Additional Resources
Explore art, charts, and more.
Images
Charts
- The Nephite Judges
- Pahoran as Chief Judge: Years 25–39 of the Reign of the Judges
- How Do You Say "Law" in Hebrew?
- Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon
- Wars in the Book of Mormon
- Data on Wars Involving the Nephites
- Number of Months Involving Nephite Military Actions
- References to Nephite Fortifications Recorded in the Book of Mormon
- Mesoamerican Fortified and Defensive Sites by Period
- 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 53
Bassett, K. Douglas. “Nephi's Freedom Thesis and the Sons of Helaman.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 291–303. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Boyce, Duane. “The Ammonites Were Not Pacifists.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 20 (2016):293–313.
Alma 53:3–7
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “References to Nephite Fortifications Recorded 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 142.
Alma 53:11
Tvedtnes, John A. “Oaths in the Book of Mormon.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 222–227. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Alma 53:13
Bowen, Matthew L. “’They Were Moved with Compassion’ (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016): 233–253.
Alma 53:16
Tvedtnes, John A. “What were the ages of Helaman’s ‘stripling warriors?’” Ensign (September 1992).
Alma 53:20
Book of Mormon Central. “How Old Were the Stripling Warriors? (Alma 53:20).” KnoWhy 161 (August 9, 2016).
Alma 53:22
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.
Alma 54
Alma 54:16
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was Ammoron Determined to Avenge the Blood of His Brother? (Alma 54:16).” KnoWhy 162 (August 10, 2016).
Alma 54:17
Bushman, Richard L. “The Lamanite View of Book of Mormon History.” In By Study and Also By Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley, Volume 2. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1990).
Reynolds, Noel B. “The Political Dimension in Nephi's Small Plates.” BYU Studies Quarterly 27, no. 4 (1987): 15–37.
Reynolds, Noel B. “Nephi’s Political Testament.” In Rediscovering the Book of Mormon: Insights That You May Have Missed Before. Edited by John L. Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne. Provo and Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book and The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1991.
Alma 54:23
Russell, Collin Charles. “Meeting Zoram.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 24 (2017): 11–26.
Alma 55
Alma 55:2
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Moroni Change His Mind about Exchanging Prisoners with Ammoron? (Alma 55:2).” KnoWhy 163 (August 11, 2016).
Alma 55:16
Book of Mormon Central. “How Does the Book of Mormon Help Explain the Origins of the Word of Wisdom? (Alma 55:16).” KnoWhy 321 (June 2, 2017).
Alma 56
Bassett, K. Douglas. “Nephi's Freedom Thesis and the Sons of Helaman.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 291–303. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Alma 56:30
Book of Mormon Central. “How Realistic are Nephite Battle Strategies? (Alma 56:30).” KnoWhy 164 (August 12, 2016).
Alma 57
Alma 57:21
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did the Stripling Warriors Perform Their Duties “With Exactness”? (Alma 57:21).” KnoWhy 165 (August 15, 2016).
Alma 58
Alma 58:37
Book of Mormon Central. “How Did Helaman’s Army Maintain Faith While Being Cut Off from Provisions? (Alma 58:37).” KnoWhy 167 (August 17, 2016).
Alma 59
Alma 59:3
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was Moroni’s Correspondence with Pahoran Significant? (Alma 59:3).” KnoWhy 168 (August 18, 2016).
Alma 60
Alma 60:23
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Moroni Refer to Vessel Impurity in Condemning the Central Government? (Alma 60:23).” KnoWhy 169 (August 19, 2016).
Alma 61
Moran, Oralyn. “Moroni and Pahoran.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 15, no. 3 (2014): 102–115.
Alma 62
Alma 62:5
Roper, Matthew. “Eyewitness Descriptions of Mesoamerican Swords.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 169–176. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Alma 62:9–10
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.
Alma 62:36
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was Teancum Captured and Killed? (Alma 62:36).” KnoWhy 170 (August 22, 2016).
Alma 62:48–49
Book of Mormon Central. “How Does Chiasmus Teach Us to Reverse the Pride Cycle? (Alma 62:48–49).” KnoWhy 468 (September 18, 2018).
Alma 62:52
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.
Alma 63
Alma 63:1
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.
Alma 63:5, 8
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Mormon Mention Hagoth? (Alma 63:8).” KnoWhy 171 (August 23, 2016).
Loveland, Jerry K. “Hagoth and the Polynesian Tradition.” BYU Studies Quarterly 17, no. 1 (1976): 59–73.
Midgley, Louis C. “A Māori View of the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 1 (1999): 4–11, 77.
Parsons, Robert E. “Hagoth and the Polynesians.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 249–262. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Sorenson, John L. “New Technology and Ancient Voyages.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 177–179. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
(Hagoth) 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 63:13
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.