In the previous chapter, we left off with the wicked priest of Noah, Amulon, receiving authority from the Lamanites to rule over Alma’s people in the land of Helam. Alma’s people had experienced an extended period of freedom—perhaps as much as 20 years or more—after escaping from King Noah, but this came to an end with Amulon.
Amulon and his fellow priests had somehow won favor with the Lamanite king, who made them teachers of his people (verse 1). The priests did not teach the Lamanites anything of the Lord, which is no surprise given their wickedness and hypocrisy, but they did teach them the language of the Nephites and how to keep records. With these skills, the Lamanites became more prosperous in their labors and their trade (verses 4-7).
Amulon thus was given pretty wide reign over Alma’s people. And he had not forgotten that Alma had been one of Noah’s priests before repenting and turning to the Lord when hearing from the prophet Abinadi. Out of seething resentment for what he sees as Alma’s betrayal and rebellion, Amulon makes life really hard for Alma’s people by placing backbreaking demands upon them (verses 8-9). The description of heavy tasks and taskmasters makes me think of the Israelites under bondage in Egypt to Pharaoh’s men.
This is where it gets interesting. What do Alma’s people do when faced with these great afflictions? They don’t put up a physical fight. Instead, they appeal to God for help (verse 10). Predictably, Amulon hates this. When he finds out that they are calling to God, Amulon places guards over them and threatens to put to death anyone who won’t stop (verse 11). This shows that Amulon clearly fears the power of prayer—if not, why would he ban it on pain of death? He has witnessed the power that Abinadi had, even as a prisoner, in witnessing of the truth, as well as the power God had to change Alma. So even though he is wicked, Amulon can’t help but fear what God can do.
But stopping Alma’s people from praying out loud doesn’t prevent them from communicating with God. In one of the most stirring passages in the Book of Mormon, Mormon tells us that instead of raising their voices to the Lord, the people pour their hearts out to him (verse 12).
So we find Alma’s people in the most desperate of situations, where they seem doomed to lives of grim, unending toil under oppressive rulers. They can’t even say their prayers out loud. But even the worst tyrant in the world can’t keep someone from remembering the Lord in their thoughts and silently pleading for His help. Unfortunately, we have situations in countries, in homes, and in other places in today’s world where this same situation applies. The message remains the same. Don’t despair. God is still listening and can answer.
And he does! The voice of the Lord comes to Alma’s people. It tells them three very important and comforting things. First, He knows they are His people. They have made a covenant with Him and he will take care of them. Second, He will deliver them out of their bondage from the Lamanites and the wicked Amulon. Third, while they are waiting for this deliverance, He will lighten the burdens they carry, so that “even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (verses 13-14). What a promise! Giving relief to those who can’t see any end to. their suffering is quite miraculous. It reminds us of Jesus’ teaching to the people of Galilee that “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
Can it really be that you are working hard but feel like you’re hardly working. I used to think, “No way!” But I have had that feeling many times when I have engaged with full purpose in something that is line with what the Lord wants for my life. This passage is like refreshing water for the thirsty souls who feel downtrodden or mistreated, so that they know that there is no place so dark or low where God cannot make things better.
The only thing the Lord asks of Alma’s people in return is to remember the truth that He delivers us from our afflictions, and share that truth with others so that they know of God’s power at all times and in all places (verse 14).
Sure enough, the Lord keeps his word, and Alma’s people find their burdens miraculously lightened. As they persevere despite unfair treatment from Amulon, the Lord rewards their faith and patience by telling them that He will help them escape their bondage the next day. And He makes good on this promise by causing the Lamanites to fall into a deep sleep even though it is morning time (verses 15-19).
What happens next tells us something about the character of Alma’s people. They have spent more than 24 hours without sleep, preparing for departure and making their escape into a nearby valley. They must be completely exhausted. But they remember the goodness of their God. They pour out their thanks to Him (verses 20-22). They don’t wait before reaching their destination to this. They do it as soon as possible after getting away from the grip of Amulon and the Lamanites in the land of Helam.
The Lord whom they praise then warns them to
leave, and promises to stop the Lamanites somehow so that they can’t get past
the valley to pursue Alma’s people. Twelve days later, the people find their
way to Zarahemla, and are greeted joyfully by King Mosiah (verses 23-25).
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