They Had Searched the Scriptures Diligently

After the conversion of Alma and the sons of Mosiah, they went “round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation…. They traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them” (Mosiah 27:32, 35). We can see in this description that the scriptures became key to their sustained conversion and their ability to preach to the people. Mormon later gave this description of the sons of Mosiah: “They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God” (Alma 17:2). It was surely that searching of the scriptures that helped these men to become powerful servants of God. It was the message of scriptures that enabled Ammon, for example, to preach so effectively to King Lamoni: “[Ammon] rehearsed and laid before [Lamoni] the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem” (Alma 18:36). Similarly, Aaron used the scriptures in his teaching to the Lamanites and Amalekites. We read, “Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood” (Alma 21:9). When he later went to teach Lamoni’s father he again focused on the truths found in the scriptures: “And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name” (Alma 22:13). This led the Lamanite king to kneel before God and seek a remission of his sins. The scriptures were pivotal in the conversion of the sons of Mosiah and in their ability to take the message of the gospel to the Lamanites and ultimately bring thousands of them to repentance.

                Alma similarly focused on the scriptures the remainder of his life. After his conversion he became the guardian of the records and all the Nephite scriptures: “[Mosiah] took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them” (Mosiah 28:20). That must have been an awesome responsibility for Alma, and undoubtedly he spent much time studying and learning from these records. His emphasis on the scriptures is seen in much of his teaching. To the people of Ammonihah he taught powerfully from the scriptures as he helped them understand the priesthood, Melchizedek, Abraham, and the plan of salvation. He said, “Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction…. Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh” (Alma 13:20-21). Some of them were converted and “did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures.” Tragically, those who were opposed to them, recognizing the power of the scriptures, sought to get rid of them: “They also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire” (Alma 14:1, 8). Later to Korihor, Alma boldly declared, “Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God” (Alma 30:44). Alma knew what the scriptures said and that they were a powerful witness that God lives. To the Zoramites Alma said, “Ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them” (Alma 33:2). He then taught at length from the words of ancient prophets on the plates of brass. And to Helaman his son, Alma declared the power and miracle of the scriptures: “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise…. And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls. Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer” (Alma 37:8-9). Ultimately that is the major purpose of the scriptures—to bring us unto Jesus Christ and to rejoice in our redemption through Him. Alma and the sons of Mosiah were changed by the words of the scriptures, and these missionaries helped countless others come unto God through the words of the holy scriptures. Their stories are a reminder of the powerful role the scriptures can play in our lives to lead us to Him.