Alma 32-35 Planting Good Word of God

Alma 32:1-6 Success among the Poor
Keep in mind that Alma and his associates have seen people in Antionum, the Zoramites, who are obsessed with wealth and status. Their success comes among the poor. Have students read Alma 32:1-6 and explain what would cause the poor to want to listen to Alma’s message.

Alma 32:7-16 Humility
Have students locate the word “humble” each time it appears in these verses. Invite them to list the things that make humility an important part of salvation. Cross-reference: Mosiah 3:19.

Alma 32:21 Scripture Memorization
Invite students to memorize this verse and discuss the relationship between faith, hope, knowledge and truth described in this verse. What are things that we hope for that we cannot see? What are things that we cannot see that we know are true? How can we know that things we cannot see are true? See John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Nephi 32:8-9.

Alma 32:23 Angels Impart the Word of God
Cross-reference: Joel 2:28-29; 3 Nephi 26:14-16; D&C 128:18; 133:58; Moses 5:6-8, 58; Helaman 16:14; Moroni 7:22-25, 37; D&C 103:19-20.

Alma 32:28-43 An Experiment with the Word of God
Alma challenges the poor among the Zoramites to perform an experiment with the word of God. He tells them to exercise faith, to believe things they cannot see for the moment, so that they will have faith and hope and receive the rewards that come from with these qualities. Take the students through these verses and invite them to analyze them. A pattern follows:

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye [the poor among the Zoramites] give place, that a seed [the word] may be planted in your heart, behold [pay attention], if it be a true seed [the true word], or a good seed [the good word], if ye do not cast it [the true, good word] out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it [the true, good word] will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this [the word] is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it [the word] beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it [the word] beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it [the word] beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold [pay attention], would not this [the swelling feeling] increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it [your faith] hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold [pay attention], as the seed [the word] swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed [the word] is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold [pay attention], will not this [the obvious growth of the word, the obvious increased understanding from the Spirit] strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed [word]; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold [pay attention], are ye sure that this [the word] is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness [words grow in our soul according to the source from which they spring].
32 Therefore [Because words produce according to their source], if a seed [word] groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore [because it does not grow or enlarge our understanding] it is cast away.
33 And now, behold [pay attention], because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed [word], and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed [word] is good.
34 And now, behold [pay attention], is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant [at rest, not active]; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it [light] is discernible [can be understood by the mind], therefore [because it is light and good and can be discerned by the mind] ye must know that it [the light that comes from the word] is good; and now behold [pay attention], after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed [the good, true word] that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed [the good, true word] was good.

37 And behold [pay attention], as the tree [the word, together with the increased understanding that comes with it] beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it [the word] with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit [even greater understanding] unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it [the word] with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 But if ye neglect the tree [the word, together with the increased understanding that comes with it], and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it [the good, true word] will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it [the good, true word] hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed [the good, true word] was not good, neither is it because the fruit [the greater understanding that comes as one studies the word] thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground [heart] is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore [because your heart is empty and you will not nourish the word of God] ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus [in this way], if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life [have a perfect knowledge of the love of God].
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof [a perfect knowledge of the love of God], it [the good, true word] shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst [see 1 Nephi 8:10-12, 11:21-23].

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap [harvest] the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Alma 33:1-11 How Do I Plant the Seed?
The poor Zoramites ask Alma how they can plant the seed. Alma quotes from the writings of Zenos, “the prophet of old,” to give them the answer. Have students read verses 4-11 and look for the answer to the question, “How do I plant the word of God in my heart?”

Alma 33:19-20 The Serpent of Brass
Cross-reference: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-15; Helaman 8:14-15. What does this event have to do with planting the seed of the word of God in your hearts.
Have students find the words “atonement,” and “sacrifice.” Have them explain in their own words what Alma taught concerning the atonement of Christ.

Alma 34:17-31 Cry unto God!
In these verses, Alma continues to explain to the poor people among the Zoramites how they can plant the seed of the word of God in their hearts. Have students read these verses looking for things they could do to plant that seed in their own hearts.

Alma 34:32-36 Scripture Analysis
Amulek connects the idea of the word of Christ, the atonement of Christ and repentance together in these verses. Use the following scripture analysis as you invite students to read these verses.

32 For behold [pay attention], this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I [Amulek] said unto you [the Zoramites] before, as ye have had so many witnesses [the witnesses he has cited are Alma, himself, Zenos, Zenock, Moses and the scriptures], therefore [because you have so many witnesses], I beseech of [plead with] you that ye do not procrastinate [postpone] the day of your repentance until the end [judgment day]; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold [pay attention], if we do not improve our time [make the most of our time] while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis [stand before God to be judged], that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. [Notice that Amulek’s understanding of the resurrection is that we will have bodies and spirits, just as we do now.]
35 For behold [pay attention], if ye have procrastinated [postponed] the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore [because you are sealed to the devil], the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth [lives] not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white [their sins shall be washed away] through the blood of the Lamb.

Alma 34:38-41 Have Patience
Once again, Amulek is attempting to answer the question posed by the Zoramites, “How do we plant the seed?” Invite students to list the ways we can plant the seed and be prepared for God’s judgment.

Alma 35:1-11 It Destroyed Their Business
When Alma and Amulek finished their preaching they observed the reaction of the people. Have students find the way the rich and the poor responded to the doctrine of faith and repentance. Why would the rich refuse to repent? Why would the poor want to repent?

Alma 35:12-16 The Rewards of Repentance?
Have students read these verses and discover what happened to the people who believed the message of Alma and Amulek. While the people suffered great difficulties, they were also blessed. How did they suffer and how were they blessed? How do the righteous suffer and receive blessings in our day?