“None of the Amalekites or Amulonites Join”

Monte S. Nyman

Mormon draws one more conclusion, or teaches us one more precept from the slaughter of the righteous. Those who were after the order of the Nehors, mainly the Amalekites and the Amulonites, were the murderers. On the other hand, none of them were converted and joined the people of the Lord. These people had once been enlightened by the Spirit of God, but had fallen away into sin. They were worse off than if they had never known the truth (v. 30). What a warning is given to those who have been converted, and to all missionaries and church members alike. The apostates knew better than to do what they did, and so do we know better. Those who know become accountable for their sins. Those who had never known (the Lamanites) are judged more tolerably by the Lord than those (the Nephites), who had been taught. Alma had taught them earlier (see Alma 9:14–18). The Prophet Joseph taught: “The Messiah’s kingdom on earth is of that kind of government, that there has always been numerous apostates, for the reason that it admits of no sins unrepented of without excluding the individual from its fellowship” (TPJS, 66–67). May we all learn from this great warning precept, and treasure the truth we have been given.

Book of Mormon Commentary: The Record of Alma

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