“After Having Had So Much Light and So Much Knowledge Given Unto Them”

Brant Gardner

Perhaps Alma understands that his words are describing condemnation for his entire nation, or perhaps he is too focused on the current situation to see that his words also depict the Nephites’ ultimate destruction at the end of the Book of Mormon. For the Ammonihahites’ current situation, Alma invokes reciprocity with Yahweh (much given/much required) to reverse the effect of that chosen status. When the “much given/much required” is removed because of sin, it reverses itself (in this case) to “nothing accepted/nothing permitted.” Because the Ammonihahites have rejected Yahweh’s covenant, Yahweh will reject them and consign them to destruction—both physical and spiritual.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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