I. Historical Context

A. Some Nephites left the land of Nephi with Mosiah¹ and join with the people of
Zarahemla.
B. Zeniff later leaves Zarahemla and returns to the land of Nephi. His son was
wicked King Noah who was the father of King Limhi.
C. During King Noah’s reign, Alma and his converts left the land of Nephi. They
eventually return to Zarahemla.
D. King Mosiah², grandson of Mosiah¹, sends Ammon to land of Nephi to inquire
about the people who went there under Zeniff who are now the people of
Limhi.
E. Ammon helps the people of Limhi return to Zarahemla and they arrive around
the same time as Alma¹ and his people.

II. Mosiah 25—read chapter heading.

III. Mosiah 26—read chapter heading.

IV. Conversion of Alma² (Mosiah 27; Alma 36)

A. Read Mosiah 27:8-12

1. Without looking ahead, what would you expect the angel to say? (list on the board in column)

2. What did the angel say? (Read Mosiah 27:13-17; check off list, add to
list)

3. Of all things, why did the angel want him to remember how the Lord has
delivered his people from physical bondage? (Compare Alma 36:2,
28-29)

a. Deliverance from spiritual bondage is just as miraculous as deliverance from temporal bondage. There is a clear parallel between Alma¹ people’s deliverance, the deliverance of the
Israelites from Egypt, and the spiritual deliverance offered to each
of us.

b. Read Mosiah 23:23. Likewise, none could deliver Alma² from the bondage of sin but the Lord his God.

i. What role did the people of Alma¹ play in their deliverance? (Mosiah 24:12) What role did Alma² play in his deliverance
from the bondage of sin? (Alma 36:18)

ii. How does this apply to us? Can we deliver ourselves from
our bondage to sin? (Read John 8:34, 36)

iii. In what ways was Alma² worthy of the Lord’s intervention? (Alma 36:5—he wasn’t!) What have each of us done to be
worthy of the Lord’s intervention on our behalf? (Romans
5:8)

4. Did the Lord infringe upon Alma’s agency by threatening him with destruction? (Choice of action does not equal choice of consequences.) How does this relate to our agency?

B. Summarize Mosiah 27:18-22

C. Read Mosiah 27:23-29

1. “Becoming his sons and daughters”—How do we become God’s
children? Aren’t we already his children? (John 1:12-13; D&C 76:23:24; Romans 8:13-18; Galatians 4:4-7; 1 Peter 1:3 1 John 2:29-3:2) This is
what it means to be “born of God.”

Bruce R. McConkie: Those who are born of God are adopted “into the
family of Elohim. They become his adopted sons so that they can
receive, inherit, and possess along with his natural Son…We are adopted
into the family of the Father; we are adopted his sons, appointed to
inherit along with his natural Son” (Promised Messiah, pp. 355, 357)

2. What does it mean to be “snatched?” (See footnote). ‘I am saved.’ In
what ways are we “saved” here and now in mortality?

“As Latter-day Saints use the words saved and salvation, there are [several] different meanings. According to some of these, our salvation is assured—we are already saved. In others, salvation must be spoken of as a future event (e.g., 1 Cor. 5:5) or as conditioned upon a future event (e.g., Mark 13:13). But in all of these meanings, or kinds of salvation, salvation is in and through Jesus Christ” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Have you been saved,” April 1998 General Conference)

He mentions some ways we are saved here and now: 1) Having been born again; 2) having died to sin and come alive to righteousness; 3) saved from ignorance about God, Jesus, and the plan of Salvation; 4) saved from our sins on the condition of continued faithfulness.

So, as strange as it may sound to our ears in LDS culture, it isn’t inappropriate to say “I am saved” or to answer affirmatively the
question of “Have you been saved?” As a matter of fact, there are scriptural examples of such language. (1Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Mosiah 27:29)

D. Summarize Alma’s missionary efforts after conversion

E. Read first three lines of Alma 36:28—How can you be certain that God “will raise [you] up at the last day to dwell with him in glory?” Should you be
worried about your salvation if you are striving to be faithful to God?

F. Conclusion

G. I have a special hand-out that I think is insightful, although not part of the lesson. Please look over it when you get a chance.

I noticed that Kathryn Lynard Soper has been posting some Sunday school notes at T&S. here is her post for Lesson 20 on Alma’s conversion with some good thoughts about how parents might think about this lesson.

MOSIAH 29
-How would you describe the relationship between a form of government and the spiritual growth of a people?
-Compare the relative importance of (1) the political system, (2) the political leader(s), and (3) the people themselves in determining the spirituality of the Nephites (and of us).
-In Mos. 29:32, what does Mosiah say he wants to do away with, what does he want to establish, and what does he want the people to enjoy?
-What equal rights would they get?
-How does the rubber meet the road in 29:34?
-What kind of balance do you recommend between rights and accountability?
-What happens if they get out of balance?
-Does verse 38 sound like the people want rights w/o responsibility?
-What sort of “balance” were 1/3 of the hosts of heaven looking for?

ALMA 1: 2-9 Tellin’ ‘Em What They Wanna Hear
-Now that church and state are separate and the Voice of the People chooses political leaders, how long do you think it will take someone to suggest that the people should choose their own religious leaders?
-Alma 1: 2-4. What is likely to resonate best with people: a truth, slightly—or terrifically–twisted, or a bare-faced, flat-out lie? Are any of Nehor’s teachings true or useful:
1. popular? [Does he mean that the people should choose their own priests & teachers?]
2. supported?
3. all saved?
4. need not fear/tremble?
5. lift heads & rejoice?
6. Lord created all?
7. Lord redeemed all?
8. all have eternal life?

-What would Satan have said to persuade 1/3 of the hosts of heaven to follow him? [see Moses 4:1]
-What do you think you answered?
-What would Nehor have said to Gideon (Alma 1:7)? What do you think Gideon would have answered?

ALMA 1 & 4 The More You Give . . .
-Compare Alma 1:29 and Alma 4:6. Is there any difference in the stuff?
-Compare Alma 1:30 with Alma 4:8. What makes the difference?

ALMA 4:19 Pure Testimony
-Is it mainly knowledge, information, that will reclaim people?

MOSIAH AMLICI ALMA NEHOR
Wouldn’t be king Wanna-be king Served God Served self
Equality Subjugation Equality Divisions
Gave up Preached
position to get
to preach position