“Bear with All Manner of Afflictions”

Brant Gardner

Once again we have the exhortation to patience. Change to faith will not come overnight to most people.

Social: Amulek notes that they should “bear with all manner of afflictions.” With what afflictions will they have to bear? Alma and Amulek are urging them to accept a religious system that is not only different from their political rulers, but opposed to that of the rulers. Neither Alma nor Amulek are urging them to move, as that would disrupt all parts of their lives.

However, the religious beliefs that would be contrary to the dominant politico-religious party could easily cause difficulties for them. While the Nephites explain that they have no laws against how a person believes (Alma 30:7) we should not assume that this was a universal trait. Indeed, the very fact that Mormon considered it important enough to note rather suggests that it was contrary to the norm. Alma and Amulek are not just asking this people to believe in a religion, but to alter their view of the world, and possibly their relationship to the people who have rule over them. That places them is a precarious position, and Amulek is simply acknowledging that.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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