“Now the Words That Alma Spake Unto Zeezrom Were Heard by the People Round About”

W. Cleon Skousen

All the time Amulek was bearing his testimony and certifying to the glorious revelation he had personally received, Alma was watching the crowd. It will be recalled from Alma 9:32 that this mob was about to seize Alma when Amulek intervened. It must have been gratifying to Alma to see the impact which the words of this new missionary companion were having on the apostate assemblage.

Before relating Alma’s sermon we note from verse 2 that a great crowd had assembled. This public debate between the famous Zeezrom and these two Christian missionaries was sensational. The huge crowd listened intently as Alma said:

“Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit; And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out -- Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all. And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.”

Treasures from the Book of Mormon

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