Alma 1:7-10

Brant Gardner

After introducing the man and his religious crimes, we arrive at his social crimes. The beginning of the incident is incited by religious differences, and the hero Gideon contends with this currently unnamed man. They come to blows, and the man slays Gideon.

Thus, there are two crimes. The judge for both crimes is Alma the younger, in his position of simultaneously being the chief judge and the high priest of the church. We should note that verse 10 tells us that it was the people of the church who brought him to Alma. In essence, it is a hate crime murder. The murder itself was reason for judgment, but it was a crime incited by religious division.

Book of Mormon Minute

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