Alma and his followers
With
the death of Abinadi, we are introduced to the new prophet, Alma the
elder. We are told that Alma was a priest of Noah, who upon hearing
Abinadi, recognized they were not living the law of Moses nor living
righteously, and attempted to defend him. Alma was thrust out, and went
into hiding, where he spent many days repenting of his sins.
We
are not exactly told where Alma received his priesthood authority. It likely came from the ordination of priests under Noah - priesthood and religion were under the direction of the king. Later, we'll see that Alma 1 is authorized by King Mosiah to establish churches, even though Mosiah had his own priests. The pattern of
kings approving of the priests' ordination, or perhaps doing them
himself, are shown in Zeniff's and Noah's actions. This is a pattern we
see with the kings of Israel, beginning with David and Solomon.
However, it is interesting that Limhi does not seem to have the ability
to provide priesthood ordination to anyone, as he hoped Ammon could
baptize the people. The Limhites seem to recognize that Alma had the
proper authority to baptize and wished to be with him to receive the
ordinance. It is possible that with the death of Noah and his priests fleeing, the priesthood was no longer available. Limhi as king, was not anointed by his father nor by the priests, and so did not have authority to ordain new priests.
In
chapter 18, Alma teaches on the border of the wilderness in a land
called Mormon. Though it does not specifically state it, Alma teaches
the "Doctrine of Christ" (2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11). In verse 21 he
encourages them to have no contentions among themselves, then teaches of
faith in Christ, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost. He teaches
them to be one. In his explanation of the baptismal covenant, he
discusses the promise to be "willing to bear one another’s burdens, that
they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that
mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (vs 8-9).
Such promises tie the baptismal covenant directly to the Doctrine of
Christ, which is to become one with each other. In this Doctrine, we
also observe "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all
things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death" (vs 9).
We become one with God. Truly we learn the two great
commandments here:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39).
In
receiving baptism, we covenant to live by these two great commandments
of loving God and man. In becoming one with our neighbors, we learn how
to become one with Christ. Jesus then brings us into the presence of
the Father, as well. As the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God (or
Godhead), so we can also be one with them.
Alma then sets priests to teach and watch over the flocks. In his
religious administration, he sets them up distinctly from the priests of
Noah (which he once was). Each is given a group of people to watch
over. They are to work with their own hands to provide for themselves.
There is not a paid ministry, especially not one paid for out of the
taxation of the people. For their spiritual pay, they receive the
"grace of God" (vs 26) wherein they would have power and authority from
God, and greater knowledge of spiritual things. They would be the
servants. If a priest was financially struggling, he would be helped via
the charity of the Church, just as any other member would be helped.
The People of Noah
While
the people of Alma were one and living in peace and harmony, the people
of Noah were in a constant state of contention and struggle. In
chapter 19, we find that "there began to be a great contention among
them" (vs 3). Here Mormon gives us our first major comparison between a chosen people
and that of a fallen people. Those who chose to follow Christ and be
humbled by the words of Alma had peace, prosperity, and hope; while the
people of Noah found themselves up in arms in a civil war. Gideon takes
his sword and rushes after Noah to take his life. Where are Noah's
guards? Are they perhaps also contending against others in a civil
strife? Are they secretly on Gideon's side, and so choose to look away
when he comes charging in? Or is Noah so vain that he ignores the
shouts and contentions around him, and believes he does not need
protection?
As
it is, we find that Noah's army is reduced in size. Perhaps it is
smaller due to the belief that no Lamanite army can harm them. Remember, in judging Abinadi, the priests and Noah believed that Isaiah had prophesied of them, returning to the mountains to establish Zion and being blessed for doing so (Mosiah 12:19-30).
Perhaps budget problems hit Noah, as his excessive spending sprees have
bankrupted the royal expense account. Maybe a bad crop lessened the
amount he took in on his 20% tax rate. Did he choose to raise taxes
higher (30-40%) in order to pay for his luxurious lifestyle, and thus
cause the contention and ire of the people against him? Budget cuts
would necessitate shrinking his army, leaving Noah unprepared for a
civil war or an invading Lamanite army.
King
Noah knows his army is in disarray or non-existent due to the uprising
among his people, and so commands them to flee from the Lamanites.
Where would they go? They are between the Lamanites on one side and the
jungle wilderness (with its inherent dangers) on the other. As the
Lamanites, fresh into battle, catch up to the battle weary people of
Noah, the king commands the men to flee into the wilderness, leaving
wives, children, sick and old to fend for themselves. These will slow
the Lamanite army's advance, giving Noah time to escape.
What
kind of man sacrifices women and children to save himself? We shudder
to think how sick, depraved, and wicked Noah is. But then, look at the
world around us. How many men walk away from their families and into
the arms of a younger woman? How many spend all their hours at work, on
the golf course, or playing video games, instead of spending time with
their kids? How many men daily walk out on their families, even if it
is just to walk into the den and tell them to leave him alone? How do
we justify such behavior-by saying we've provided for them financially,
we should be able to do anything else we want? Do we sacrifice our wives
and children out of selfishness?
Why
did it require the remorseful men to slay King Noah and seek to kill
his priests, just so they could return to their families? The
Lamanites stopped killing when they saw the fair beauties among the
Limhite daughters. Why would they stop when they did? Were they
allowed to take the girls with them as war trophies, concubines,
Lamanite wives? Why would grown men hide behind their daughters'
dresses for safety?
Aftermath of Noah's Reign
Under
Noah's evil reign, the people had forced servitude, including paying
20% of their earnings in taxes. Now, humbled into near slavery, the
Lamanites would force them to pay 50% tribute. The
Limhites would be forced to bear burdens, beaten and humiliated by the
Lamanites.
Limhi has kingship suddenly thrust upon him. He seems to be a good man,
but one wonders why he said or did nothing when Abinadi was slain, or
Alma was setting up his church in the wilderness of Mormon.
In
chapter 20, things get worse for the Limhites. The notorious priests
of Noah have not only stolen food from the Limhite people, but stolen 24
Lamanite virgins. Perhaps this becomes a poetic justice for the
Lamanites attraction to the Limhite daughters? Of the evil priests,
were there 24 of them as well? Interestingly, when a Lamanite army
stumbles upon them, the Lamanite daughters will plead for the lives of
their new husbands. Why a change? Were the girls willing to run off
with the priests in the first place, or did they learn to love their
husbands over a period of just a few years? The priests stole from the
Limhites at night, and it is possible they stole nice items to please
their young brides with. Else, why would so many young women not try to
escape earlier and get help for the group? Clearly there is more behind
this story. It may also be possible that the evil priests frequently
visited the place where the girls danced, flirting with some of them,
and then these 24 girls, flattered by the attention, ran off with the
priests.
Struggling
under the burden of slavery, the Limhites go to war three times against
the Lamanites. Each time they are hit with a bigger loss, until they
are forced to be humble. Later, in Alma 32, Alma the younger will note
to the poor Zoramites that they are blessed for being forced to be
humble, but more blessed are they who are humbled just by hearing the
word. It may be Alma the younger was directly referencing the different
experiences of the contentious Limhites versus the humble followers of Alma the
elder. As the Limhites do humble themselves in their humiliation, the
Lord slowly lightens their load, and increases their crops to alleviate
hunger.
In
chapter 21, we do see the Limhites have reached the point where they
are ready to believe in Christ, repent, and be baptized. In not having
anyone able to baptize them, they decide to hold off on creating a
church. Obviously, baptism was tied to membership in a church. One
could not have an official organization to administer the teachings,
covenants and ordinances without first being baptized. As noted
before, Limhi did not see himself able to choose and set apart new
priests, as did Zeniff and Noah before him. It may be that he was king,
but never was ordained to the priesthood himself.
In
chapter 22, Limhi discusses with Ammon and Gideon a plan to escape.
Theirs is a natural plan: getting the Lamanite guards drunk, and then
sneaking out at night. Interestingly, the pursuing Lamanite army
loses track of the Limhites after just two days. How does one lose an
entire city of people and flocks (perhaps as many as 30-40,000 people)?
In the jungle, afternoon weather can produce monsoons that can wipe out
all traces of those who have gone before. In wandering through the
wilderness, trying to find such a people in a major storm, one could
easily get lost. And this is probably how the Lamanite army became lost
in the jungle.
Alma
Compare
the struggles of the Limhites to those of Alma and his people in
chapter 23. Alma is warned of King Noah's men marching towards them.
They wander several days into the jungle and establish a city. After a
few years, the Lamanite army that was lost in the jungle chasing Limhi's
people, first stumble across the priests of Noah, and then the people
of Alma. While the Lord was slow to hear the prayers of Limhi's people,
he is quick to hear those of Alma's people. While God lessened the
burdens placed on the people of Limhi, he actually made the burdens
placed on Alma's people seem light to them. He protected them and kept
them safe. Then, when the Lord prepared all things, HE caused a deep
sleep to fall upon the Lamanites, and allowed Alma and his people to
escape. God
continued to be with them, as he commanded them to continue on their
escape and would stop the Lamanite army in the valley of Alma.
The
Limhites had to find their own solutions. God helped Alma and his
people, providing several miracles along the way to provide for them and
protect them. Clearly, the baptismal covenant provided greater
blessings and miracles that were not offered to the stubborn.
No comments:
Post a Comment