You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/12?lang=eng.
The triumph of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it can make a miraculous difference in the life of anyone, even the most cynical and hardened person around. That is the central point of this chapter, as we see the lawyer Zeezrom begin to lay aside his contentious, dishonest and manipulative ways and open his heart to remorse and positive change.
We can learn at least two important points from Zeezrom’s example. One, never dismiss anyone from having the potential—as a child of God—to grow and give off light, even if they resist or actively oppose your overtures. Two, we can look within to consider if there’s a little of Zeezrom in each one of us that we can push out of our lives in favor of something better.
Alma does a great job of jumping into the conversation at this point after Amulek has stood his ground and defended the truth against Zeezrom’s attacks. Our narrator Mormon aptly tells us that Alma is accomplishing two things that all teaching companions should do: (1) support and reinforce what his companion (Amulek) has already taught, and (2) explain or unfold the scriptures beyond that (verse 1). After all, Alma does have more experience than Amulek and has the authority of a prophet, so it is right that Alma has the last word and makes it count.
He starts by directly exposing Zeezrom’s deceptive intent to him and everyone else. Alma says that Zeezrom has been lying to God as well as to men in his efforts to discredit Alma and Amulek and set the crowd against them. Alma doesn’t shrink from denouncing what Zeezrom has done as wrong, but he is careful not to paint Zeezrom as the ultimate enemy. Instead, Alma explains that the devil is the common adversary that everyone needs to work against (verses 2-6). This opens a door for Zeezrom. He is given some space to decide whether he wants to side with the devil and persist in his fight against truth, or to join Alma and Amulek and the good things they share.
Verses 7 and 8 are the turning point—in fact a complete 180 from the initial questions Zeezrom had posed to entrap Alma and Amulek. First, Mormon writes that Zeezrom is so convinced of the power of God working through Alma and Amulek and seeing through his deceptions that he begins to tremble exceedingly. Then, Mormon writes that “Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God.” Now he’s truly motivated by a desire to know God’s will and plan concerning Him. He recognizes that what Alma and Amulek are teaching might be real, and somewhere from deep within himself he decides that he’d rather get right with the Lord than bash the Lord’s servants and feel guilty about it. This path will involve some pain, but is ultimately the way for Zeezrom to feel cleansing, healing, and—yes—joy.
The question Zeezrom asks pertains to our accountability before God as we are resurrected from the dead—with our bodies and spirits reuniting (verse 8). Alma explains that those who are willing to invite the word of God into their hearts will be in a much better place than those who harden their hearts to understand these sacred truths about what happens after this life. An open heart is also the key to being ready to face God, because it is only in that state that we will be prepared to repent and seek Christ’s help to save us from sin and allow us to feel comfortable in God’s presence (verses 9-19).
Facing another question from one of the city’s rulers, Alma makes a clarification about the immortality of the human soul. He helps the people understand that Adam and Eve were sealed off from reentering the Garden of Eden because after they ate of the forbidden fruit, they needed to pass through the great trial of mortal life, die, and then be resurrected. The kind of immortality they had in the garden was an innocent one without accountability. By keeping them from going back into the garden, God ensured that they would be responsible for the consequences of their choices. The immortality that Adam and Eve (and all of us who are their children) receive is a gift from Jesus due to His great redemptive sacrifice (verses 20-27). What kind of immortal existence we have depends on whether we are willing to repent of our sins and follow Jesus. It is more challenging than the Garden of Eden, but ultimately the only way for us to learn how to become truly more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus.
So as part of God’s plan, when we come to earth, God has messengers who are authorized to teach His truth, including about the importance of our choice to follow Jesus so we can stay close to Him. At times when his authority is not already present on earth, God’s initial messengers are angels sent from His presence (people who either have not yet entered into mortal life or have already ended their mortal journeys). Then the people whom the angels authorize to carry the message forward do so, and find others to help them (verses 28-30).
The main message to share with everyone on earth is that Jesus Christ saves from sin and brings people who are repentant back to the Father. Divine justice does not allow us to become clean in God’s sight or approach Him if we do not appeal to Christ’s saving and atoning power. But if we make the appeal, divine mercy does not allow us to be denied those blessings of becoming clean and receiving His presence—most commonly during this life by the manifestation of the comforting, peaceful, guiding influence of the Holy Ghost. Alma drives this home in his response to the ruler’s question (verses 31-37).
Also see the first
2:30 of this clip for an
abbreviated video treatment of this chapter.
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