Amulek’s plea that he and Alma exercise the power of God to save those who were being burned, and Alma’s restraint (vv. 10–11), illustrates their knowledge of priesthood power. However, Alma was aware that the power was to be used only as the Lord directed. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that: “the doctrine [use] of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven” (D&C 121:45). To distil is to send forth in small quantities, or to depend on the whisperings of the Spirit as to when to exercise the priesthood, as Alma did in this circumstance.
There were two principles that Alma taught Amulek, and also teaches us. First, the martyrs were received into glory by the Lord. However, this is not a blanket coverage for all who die at the hand of the wicked. It must be remembered that these people had refused to denounce their belief in the word of God (Alma 14:8). These faithful saints were like those spoken of in the New Testament: “Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in the flesh is not of God” (1 John 4:2–3). The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “he spoke to a people who were under the penalty of death, the moment they embraced Christianity; and no one without a knowledge of the fact would confess it, and expose themselves to death, and this was consequently given as a criterion to the church or churches to which John wrote.” (TPJS, 213). While many may be justified by their willingness to stand for the truth even unto death, their individual accountability is determined by the Lord. We must leave judgment up to him. However, we can be assured that zealous patriots of unjust causes are not led by the Spirit of God, or received in glory by the Lord.
Secondly, Alma teaches us that the Lord allows good people to be martyred in order to stand as witnesses against the wicked (Alma 14:11). Justice will be met. As Nephi taught: “the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them” (2 Nephi 28:10; see also 26:3; Genesis 4:10; Revelation 18:24). These people will certainly be blessed and given full opportunity for all the gospel ordinances. General Moroni later cautioned Pahoran, the Governor of the land: “For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God” (Alma 60:13).
There is a third lesson given to us by Alma, which is taught previously in the Book of Mormon. In response to Amulek’s concern that he and Alma would be burned, Alma reminds him that their work was not yet finished. Abinadi taught the principle when he was threatened by the wicked King Noah and his priests (see Mosiah 13:1–9). Alma had taught these same people this same principle (see Alma 9:33 and comments in chapter 4 of this work). The Lord protects his servants until their work is completed.