Alma 12-16- The Fall of Ammonihah

When you compare the stories of the people of Ammonihah with Zeezrom, a picture of God’s justice and mercy comes into clear view. It’s insightful that one of the chief instigators of the questioning and persecution which Alma and Amulek endured, Zeezrom, repents and is forgiven. At the same time God destroys others who followed Zeezrom but chose not to repent.

What it shows is God will forgive almost any sin (yes, I know there are a couple which He won’t forgive). But He’ll forgive A LOT of things. At the same time, if you are determined to go your own way, He’ll let you — to the point that when the day of reckoning comes, you’ll know with certainty it was you who put yourself in the dire straits you’re in. You’ll know there’s none but yourself to blame.

This is what Alma explains to Amulek as they watched the martyrdom of the righteous women and children of Ammonihah. He said God permitted the atrocity so there would be no question in the mind of any observer that the retribution which comes upon the residents of Ammonihah was well deserved.

He also talks how these victims go to rest in God’s kingdom. Having died for their testimonies, they will be blessed by Him. These are good things to remember when you feel the injustices of others heaped upon you. The wicked may have their “fun” for the time being, but in the long run, you don’t want to be in their position.

Sigh. It’s easy to say, but oh, so hard to do. It reminds me of what Thomas Payne wrote, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value…. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods….” These sentiments are profoundly true.

So, several good things to remember: one — anyone can repent and be forgiven. And the lessons we learn in adversity are often our most cherished and valued gifts.

Alma 9-12 - Showdown with Zeezrom

Zeezrom is another bad guy turned good by the power of God. His takedown and eventual conversion is unique in the Book of Mormon in that Mormon spends a significant amount of precious space to set the stage. This set up is telling for what it doesn’t say as well as for what it does say. It’s here we get an explanation of what the Nephite currency system was and how their legal system worked.

I emphasize the past tense because they were different from Mormon’s time too. The monetary system he describes is one backed by grain instead of a fiat system based upon precious metals — like ours. The article linked below gives a quick look at what works as a currency. It’s interesting that grain is better than gold. It’s kind of a surprise, don’t you think, that an unschooled farm boy would come up with something like that? But I digress.

The other thing Mormon spends time on is defining how their legal and tort system works. He makes the cynical observation that the lawyers and judges stirred up the people to keep themselves employed. It's observations like that which show me, it really was written for our day. Who'd of thought government officials were capable of injuring others for their own self interests?

Against this cultural context, he then introduces us to Zeezrom. Zeezrom was an opportunist wanting to make some money off of these two religious wacko’s (my guess at his estimation of them). He veils his attempt in a series of questions and distortions of Amulek’s answers. But, blessed with common sense and the Spirit, Amulek sees through them and exposes him to the people for what he was.

I also found it interesting that Amulek, presumably because he wasn’t as experienced as Alma, gets into a shouting match with the people. Yet he handled Zeezrom and when he’d silenced him, Alma stepped in and finished him off. In the end, Zeezrom is shaking with the guilt of what he’s done. It’s enlightening that he will come to be one of the go-to missionaries Alma calls upon when they try to save the Zoramites.

All in all, a lot of cool stuff going on… not to mention the great dissertation on the Savior and the plan of salvation.

Article on currencies.