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Alma 13–16
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 13:1–20
- Commentary: The Correct Understanding of Priesthood Callings and Ordinances
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Additional Study
- Evidence: Scribal Error in Alma 13
- Commentary: Introduction
- Commentary: Hebrew Numerology in Alma’s Speech
- Commentary: The Significance of Alma’s Use of Melchizedek
- Commentary: Alma 13:1
- Commentary: Alma 13:2-3
- Commentary: Alma 13:14-16
- Commentary: Alma 13:17-20
Tuesday
- Scripture: Alma 13:21–31
- Commentary: Alma Prayed that the People Would Repent
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Additional Study
- Evidence: Rest and Repentance in Alma 12–13
- Commentary: Alma 13:21-24
- Commentary: Alma 13:25-26
- Commentary: Alma 13:27-30
- Commentary: Alma 13:31
Wednesday
- Scripture: Alma 14:1–13
- Commentary: Believers Are Killed by Fire
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Does God Sometimes Allow His Saints to Be Martyred?
- Commentary: Many People Begin to Repent
- Commentary: Amulek and Zeezrom as People
- Commentary: Alma 14:1-2
- Commentary: Alma 14:3-5
- Commentary: Alma 14:6-7
- Commentary: Alma 14:8-11
- Evidence: Hand Gestures (ANE)
Thursday
- Scripture: Alma 14:14–29
- Commentary: Alma 14:12-16
- Evidence: Earthquake in Ammonihah
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 14:17-19
- Commentary: Alma 14:20-22
- Commentary: Alma 14:23-25
- Commentary: Alma 14:26-29
- Evidence: Treatment of Prisoners
- Evidence: Alma’s Recommission
Friday
- Scripture: Alma 15:1–19
- Commentary: Alma 15:1-2
- Commentary: Alma 15:3-5
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 15:6-12
- Commentary: Alma 15:13-14
- Commentary: Alma 15:15-19
- Commentary: The Tenth Year of the Reign of Judges
- KnoWhy: Why Did the People of Sidom Go to the Altar for Deliverance?
Saturday
- Scripture: Alma 16:1–12
- KnoWhy: Why Was the City of Ammonihah Destroyed and Left Desolate?
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Additional Study
- Commentary: A Little Peace in the Aftermath of the Destruction of Ammonihah
- Commentary: Alma 16:3-4
- Commentary: Alma 16:5-8
- Evidence: Attestation of Aha
Sunday
- Scripture: Alma 16:13–21
- Commentary: Sometimes “I Do Not Know” Is a Good Answer
- KnoWhy: Why Did Alma and Amulek Preach in Synagogues?
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Preach Nothing Save It Were Repentance
- Commentary: Alma 16:13-17
- Commentary: Alma 16:18-21
Additional Resources
Explore art, charts, and more.
Images
Charts
- Life Spans of Mosiah's Lineage
- 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
- Missionary Work
- Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon
- Legal Charges Brought against Abinadi
- The Law of Apostate Cities
- A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists
- Wars in the Book of Mormon
- Data on Wars Involving the Nephites
- Nephite Cycles: Years 1–49 of the Reign of the Judges (90–40 B.C.)
- Alma's Journeys in the Land of Zarahemla
- Metals in the Book of Mormon
- 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 13
Baker, LeGrand L., and Stephen D. Ricks. “Alma 13, Alma Teaches about the Eternal Nature of Priesthood and Kingship.” In Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?: The Psalms in Israel’s Temple Worship in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, 583–585. 2nd ed. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2011.
Baker, LeGrand L., and Stephen D. Ricks. “Alma 13, The Quest for Self: To Know the Law of One's Own Being.” In Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?: The Psalms in Israel’s Temple Worship in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, 564–572. 2nd ed. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2011.
Thompson, A. Keith. “Were We Foreordained to the Priesthood, or Was the Standard of Worthiness Foreordained? Alma 13 Reconsidered.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 21 (2016): 249–274.
Wright, Dennis A. “’None Were Greater’: A Restoration View of Melchizedek.” Ensign (February 1998).
Alma 13:1–9
Baker, LeGrand L., and Stephen D. Ricks. “Alma 13:1-9, Premortal Responsibilities and Opportunities to Bless Others.” In Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?: The Psalms in Israel’s Temple Worship in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, 573–582. 2nd ed. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2011.
Duke, James T. “The Literary Structure and Doctrinal Significance of Alma 13:1–9.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 1 (1996): 103–118.
Alma 13:3
Book of Mormon Central. “How a Tangent About Foreordination Helps Explain Repentance (Alma 13:3).” KnoWhy 398 (January 11, 2018).
Berkey, Kimberly M. “Untangling Alma 13:3.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 187–191.
Alma 13:8
Book of Mormon Central. “What Did the Book of Mormon Teach Early Church Leaders about the Order and Offices of the Priesthood? (Alma 13:8).” KnoWhy 330 (June 23, 2017).
Alma 13:13–19
Welch, John W. “The Melchizedek Material in Alma 13:13-19.” In By Study and Also By Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley, Vol. 2. Edited by John M. Lundquist and Stephen D. Ricks. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1990.
Alma 13:14
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Alma Talk about Melchizedek? (Alma 13:14).” KnoWhy 120 (June 13, 2016).
Alma 13:16
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Are Ordinances So Important? (Alma 13:16).” KnoWhy 296 (April 5, 2017).
Hardy, Grant R. “New Light: The Book of Mormon as a Written (Literary) Artifact.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 2 (2003): 107–109, 118.
Alma 13:21
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.
Alma 13:23
Boehm, Bruce J. “Wanderers in the Promised Land: A Study of the Exodus Motif in the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3, no. 1 (1994): 187–203.
Alma 13:26
Tvedtnes, John A. “Angels Announce the Coming of Christ.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 242-245. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Alma 13:37
Skinner, Andrew C. “Zion Gained and Lost: Fourth Nephi as the Quintessential Model.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 289–302. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
Alma 14
Baker, LeGrand L., and Stephen D. Ricks. “Alma 14: The Origins of Good and Evil.” In Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?: The Psalms in Israel’s Temple Worship in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, 586–606. 2nd ed. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2011.
Thompson, A. Keith. “Apostate Religion in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 25 (2017): 191–226.
Welch, John W. “The Trial of Alma and Amulek.” In The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon, 237–271. Provo, UT: BYU Press/Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2008.
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 14:10
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.
Alma 14:11
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Does God Sometimes Allow His Saints to Be Martyred? (Alma 14:11).” KnoWhy 351 (August 11, 2017).
Alma 14:25–29
Book of Mormon Central. “What Kind of Earthquake Caused the Prison Walls to Fall? (Alma 14:29).” KnoWhy 121 (June 14, 2016).
Rappleye, Neal. “’The Great and Terrible Judgments of the Lord’: Destruction and Disaster in 3 Nephi and the Geology of Mesoamerica.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 15 (2015): 143–157.
Alma 15
Thompson, A. Keith. “Apostate Religion in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 25 (2017): 191–226.
Alma 15:5–6
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.
Alma 15:17
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did the People of Sidom Go to the Altar for Deliverance? (Alma 15:17).” KnoWhy 122 (June 15, 2016).
Bokovoy, David E. “A Place of Deliverance: Altars in the Hebrew Bible and Book of Mormon.” Insights: A Window of the Ancient World 21, no. 2 (2001): 2.
Alma 16
Thompson, A. Keith. “Apostate Religion in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 25 (2017): 191–226.
Alma 16:1
Sorenson, John L. “The Nephite Calendar in Mosiah, Alma, and Helaman.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 173–175. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 16:5
Merrill, Brent A. “Nephite Captains and Armies.” In Warfare in the Book of Mormon. Edited by Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990.
(Aha) 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 16:9–11
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was the City of Ammonihah Destroyed and Left Desolate? (Alma 16:9–11).” KnoWhy 123 (June 16, 2016).
Welch, John W. “The Destruction of Ammonihah and the Law of Apostate Cities.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 176–179. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 16:13
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Alma and Amulek Preach in Synagogues? (Alma 16:13).” KnoWhy 124 (June 17, 2016).
Thompson, A. Keith. “Nephite Insights into Israelite Worship Practices before the Babylonian Captivity.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 3 (2013): 155–195.