Alma's Call to Humility

 Mormon described the behavior of Alma (the Younger) before his conversion in this way: “He became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.” In other words, he was a very prideful man who “[rebelled] against God” and sought to gain a following of those who would likewise break the commandments of God. This extreme pride that led him about doing works of iniquity was broken by the angel who dramatically called him to repentance, showing him a power that was much greater than his own. From that time forth Alma showed great humility as he was found with the sons of 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 27:8, 11, 35). He later showed humility again as he gave up the judgment seat and took it upon himself to simply preach and bring souls to repentance. Given his experience, it is not surprising that one of Alma’s principal messages in so many of his teachings was a call to humility.

               Humility was a theme that Alma addressed often as he preached the gospel among the Nephites. To the people of Zarahemla he taught that their fathers “humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God.” He questioned the people, “Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?... Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God” (Alma 5:13,27-28). At Gideon Alma expressed his hope for them in these words: “That I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace.” He then gave this powerful invitation: “And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering” (Alma 7:3,23). To those at Ammonihah he gave a similar invitation to humility: “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest. Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek…. that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering” (Alma 13:13-14,28). Knowing of their great pride, he sought to help them humble themselves before God. From there he went to Sidom and though we don’t have his teachings there, we know that humility was on his mind: “Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God” (Alma 15:17). And when among the Zoramites he rejoiced in their humility, saying, “It is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.” He encouraged them to be humble on their own without being compelled by their circumstances: “Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed…. blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe” (Alma 32:12,15-16). Again and again Alma’s message to the people was their need to humble themselves before God. And he hoped that Helaman would continue helping the people to humble themselves, telling his son, “Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart” (Alma 37:33). Alma’s invitation is for all of us today to so humble ourselves before God, so that we too, like him and the sons of Mosiah, can have that “exceeding joy… which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness” (Alma 27:18).