The righteous often suffer persecution for the sake of the gospel. The harvest of Alma and Amulek’s season of preaching in the city of Ammonihah is only modest. The greater part of the people refuse to believe in the words they have heard, reviling instead against the men of God and condemning the circle of believers to a fiery martyrdom. The Spirit constrains Alma from intervening to stop this grievous persecution of the innocent. Why? Because the Lord has received the righteous victims “up unto himself” (verse 11)—and so that the impending judgments of God upon the wicked perpetrators “may be just” (ibid.).
Concerning the suffering of the innocent, Joseph Smith Jr., wrote these words from Liberty Jail on December 16, 1838: “Dear brethren, do not think that our hearts faint, as though some strange thing had happened unto us, for we have seen and been assured of all these things beforehand, and have an assurance of a better hope than that of our persecutors. Therefore God hath made broad our shoulders for the burden. We glory in our tribulation, because we know that God is with us, that He is our friend, and the He will save our souls. We do not care for them that can kill the body; they cannot harm our souls” (HC 3:227).
President Harold B. Lee formulated the following statement concerning universal persecution for the cause of righteousness:
To be persecuted for righteousness sake in a great cause where truth and virtue and honor are at stake is god-like. Always there have been martyrs to every great cause. The great harm that may come from persecution is not from the persecution itself but from the possible effect it may have upon the persecuted who may thereby be deterred in their zeal for the righteousness of their cause. Much of that persecution comes from lack of understanding, for men are prone to oppose that which they do not comprehend. Some of it comes from men intent upon evil. But from whatever cause, persecution seems to be so universal against those engaged in a righteous cause. (Decisions for Successful Living [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1973], 61–62)