You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/10?lang=eng.
With the end of the previous chapter, Alma passes the proverbial baton to his new companion Amulek after pleading with the people of Ammonihah to repent and dealing with even more rejection.
One can imagine the enraged crowd being taken aback and more than a little curious. “Why is this local notable (Amulek) getting ready to speak to us as though he is with this troublesome person claiming to be a prophet?”
Amulek starts, as we’d expect from someone descended from Middle Eastern heritage, by describing himself in terms of his family history. Amulek is, like most of the people in Ammonihah, a Nephite. We learn here that Nephi and his family came from the Israelite tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh was one of the sons of Joseph of Egypt. Amulek also tells the crowd that one of his ancestors is a person named Aminadi, who is not elsewhere mentioned in present-day scriptures but apparently was held in high regard by Amulek’s contemporaries as someone with a gift of translating mysterious, divine writings (verses 1-3).
Then Amulek reminds the people that he is a prosperous and prominent member of their community—clearly establishing that he has a lot of credibility (verse 4). Right away, he uses that credibility to condemn his own shortsightedness. He tells the people that despite all of his worldly accomplishments and accolades, he has not taken the opportunity to learn more about the ways of the Lord (verses 5-6). Only now, when visited by the angel who told him to help Amulek, has he softened his heart and become open to what the Lord has wanted to teach him for so long—that He cares about the people of the world and sends messengers to bless them. Amulek, by identifying himself with the people of Ammonihah, and then discussing his own closed mind and heart, is trying to wake the people up to their own need to let the Lord into their lives and recognize how much He gives them.
After that, Amulek relates the experience he had with the angel telling him about Alma, and then describes how he found and took care of Alma. His main point is to testify to the people that they should regard Alma as a blessing to them rather than a nuisance or a threat, doing this by declaring how deeply Alma’s presence and teaching in his (Amulek’s) home had blessed his entire family (verses 7-11).
This clearly has a profound effect on the crowd, because they are astonished that another witness has emerged to back up Alma (verse 12). And it seems that they are especially astonished because this testimony comes from one of their own.
But that doesn’t end the opposition to what Alma and Amulek are teaching. The lawyers of the city, who are skilled at argument and therefore use their powers of persuasion to gain influence and power, profit from contention and strife, because that leads to more legal action and fees. Apparently threatened by the possibility that Alma and Amulek might be getting through to the people, these lawyers try to change the narrative (verses 13-15). For them, unfortunately, control is more important than truth. They are panicking at the possibility that this upstart Amulek—who, even if prominent, is no lawyer—is making a real bid to free the people from the stranglehold of falsehood and worldliness upon which their livelihoods are based.
Thankfully, while Amulek may be overmatched by the lawyers’ training, God helps him make up the difference. The pure in heart are entitled to help that often allows them to avoid the snares others lay for them. As the lawyers begin to ask questions with the aim of getting Amulek to contradict himself or otherwise lose credibility from his responses, he is able to perceive their thoughts and confidently expose their true intentions (verses 16-18). He reminds the people of King Mosiah’s warning (in Mosiah 29:27) that if they choose what is wicked, they will reap destruction for themselves (verse 19). Then he echoes Alma’s call for them to repent. Like Alma, Amulek also refers to the coming of God among them in the person of Jesus (verses 20-21). It seems that while Alma was recovering physically and emotionally in Amulek’s home, Alma taught and trained Amulek about these vital truths and how to share them with the people.
After that, Amulek raises a new and very important point. He observes that the people of Ammonihah are hanging on by a very small thread. It is only because of the prayers of a select group of righteous people in the city that the people have been preserved thus far. His unmistakable warning is that the many in Ammonihah who reject God’s ways for the cold, harsh calculations of worldly gain will find themselves with neither worldly nor spiritual protection if they continue to make those trying to live good, decent lives feel unwelcome. He provides very specific caution that they will face famine, disease, and war if they do not make significant changes (verses 22-23). I can’t help but wonder if similar concerns might apply to the people of today’s world.
The people’s response is predictable: attack the messenger rather than take time to ponder whether his message is worth heeding. Their rejoinder to Amulek is that he is unfairly attacking their law and their lawyers (verses 24 and 27-28). Amulek makes the effort to separate the two (verses 25-26). He explains that the principles of the law (which are based on inspired teachings) are good, but, going back to his point about the need for repentance, the lawyers are not representing the law properly. It is a theme that the prophet Abinadi also used when condemning Noah and his priests for twisting holy teachings to benefit their own agendas (in Mosiah 12). When a group of people have a monopoly to interpret something to society, there is always a danger they will abuse their power. This is what Amulek is exposing. Of course, Jesus did this with the priestly classes of his day too. It is always a tough sell to convince a society of their own shortcomings.
The chapter ends
with one of the foremost lawyers, Zeezrom, preparing to weigh in against Alma
and Amulek (verse 31).
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