John Gee writes that in Alma 39:9, Alma exhorts his son Corianton to "repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things."
The reflexive use of the verb "to cross" is unusual and awkward in modern English. This usage is also unique in the Book of Mormon. Three times the Book of Mormon uses the verb to cross in an entirely different sense: in Mosiah 12:19; Alma 10:16; and Helaman 9:19. In these passages, the verb to cross is used as a synonym for "to contradict," a point made explicit in Alma 10:16. All of these passages are in the context of legal interrogation. Alma, having been a judge himself for eight years (Mosiah 29:42-44; Alma 1:10-14; 4:15-20), uses a legal metaphor with his wayward son. He talks about how Corianton had "been guilty of so great a crime" and that his crimes "will stand as a testimony against [him] at the last day." By repenting and forsaking his sins, Corianton can cross-contradict-the testimony of his crimes. Also Alma then urges his son "to counsel with [his] elder brothers" and to "give heed to their counsel," thus using his brothers the way a defendant uses a legal counsel.(Alma 39:7-10)
It is interesting to note that although in Joseph Smith's day one sense of the verb to cross was "to contradict," That usage had been outmoded for more than a century, and yet the unfamiliar term is particularly apt in its context. This is an instructive example of how seemingly awkward wording in the Book of Mormon can, upon closer examination of the text itself, prove to be not only correct but also effective and even poetic. [John Gee, "Book of Mormon Word Usage: To Cross Oneself," in FARMS Insights, vol . 21, 2001, p. 4]
The Lord Redeems His Covenant Children
Alma 1 -- Alma 44