“All Their Precious Things Which They Are Ornamented With”

Brant Gardner

Alma’s response to the Zoramite social situation is an anguished prayer to God. Alma sees Zoramite worship as a complete reversal of the principles of the gospel. Since these are a people who had access to the gospel, and who have actively rejected the gospel for this new religion-political creed, Alma sees them as grossly wicked. They have consciously chosen to oppose the plan of God.

As Alma describes the particular problems with the Zoramites, he specifically mentions their pride, and the evidence of their pride is plainly manifest in what Alma sees as each persons mounts their holy stand. They are wearing costly apparel. Fitting precisely the description of Mesoamerican wealth display on clothing, these people are wearing their wealth in the form of visible displays of precious items. Alma does not have to hear their pride, he can see it in what they wear, and in the ceremony that is designed to highlight that visual appearance by placing the wearer above the crowd is full display.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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