The Book of Alma the Son of Alma
Nehor Teaches Falsely and Slays Gideon Event 70
Reference: Alma 1:1-33
The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first andchief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the high priestover the Church. An account of the reign of the judges, andthe wars and contentions among the people. And also anaccount of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites,according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.NOW it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of thejudges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward,king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, havingwarred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God,leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he hadestablished laws, and they were acknowledged by thepeople; therefore they were obliged to abide by the lawswhich he had made.MormonLand ofZarahemla91 B.C.2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign ofAlma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought beforehim to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted forhis much strength. 3 And he had gone about among thepeople, preaching to them that which he termed to be theword of God, bearing down against the church; declaringunto the people that every priest and teacher ought tobecome popular; and they ought not to labor with theirhands, but that they ought to be supported by the people. 4And he also testified unto the people that all mankindshould be saved at the last day, and that they need not fearnor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads andrejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had alsoredeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should haveeternal life.5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so muchthat many did believe on his words, even so many that theybegan to support him and give him money. 6 And he beganto be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear verycostly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a churchafter the manner of his preaching.7 And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to thosewho believed on his word, he met a man who belonged tothe church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and hebegan to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but the man withstood him,admonishing him with the words of God. 8 Now the nameof the man was Gideon; and it was he who was aninstrument in the hands of God in delivering the people ofLimhi out of bondage. 9 Now, because Gideon withstoodhim with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, anddrew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon beingstricken with many years, therefore he was not able towithstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword. 10And the man who slew him was taken by the people of thechurch, and was brought before Alma, to be judgedaccording to the crimes which he had committed.MormonLand ofZarahemla91 B.C.11 And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pledfor himself with much boldness. 12 But Alma said unto him:Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introducedamong this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty ofpriestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; andwere priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would provetheir entire destruction. 13 And thou hast shed the blood of arighteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among thispeople; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon usfor vengeance. 14 Therefore thou art condemned to die, accordingto the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and ithas been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people mustabide by the law.Alma15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name wasNehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti,and there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge,between the heavens and the earth, that what he had taughtto the people was contrary to the word of God; and there hesuffered an ignominious death.MormonHill Manti nearland of Zarahemla16 Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading ofpriestcraft through the land; for there were many who lovedthe vain things of the world, and they went forth preachingfalse doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches andhonor. 17 Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known,for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore theypretended to preach according to their belief; and now thelaw could have no power on any man for his belief. 18 Andthey durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such werepunished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he thatmurdered was punished unto death.Land ofZarahemla19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to thechurch of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name ofChrist. 20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict themwith all manner of words, and this because of theirhumility; because they were not proud in their own eyes,and because they did impart the word of God, one withanother, without money and without price. 21 Now therewas a strict law among the people of the church, that thereshould not any man, belonging to the church, arise andpersecute those that did not belong to the church, and thatthere should be no persecution among themselves. 22Nevertheless, there were many among them who began tobe proud, and began to contend warmly with theiradversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite oneanother with their fists.MormonLand ofZarahemla91 B.C.23 Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma,and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, itwas the cause of much trial with the church. 24 For thehearts of many were hardened, and their names were blottedout, that they were remembered no more among the peopleof God. And also many withdrew themselves from amongthem. 25 Now this was a great trial to those that did standfast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast andimmovable in keeping the commandments of God, and theybore with patience the persecution which was heaped uponthem. 26 And when the priests left their labor to impart theword of God unto the people, the people also left theirlabors to hear the word of God. And when the priest hadimparted unto them the word of God they all returned againdiligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeminghimself above his hearers, for the preacher was no betterthan the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than thelearner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor,every man according to his strength. 27 And they did impartof their substance, every man according to that which hehad, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and theafflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet theywere neat and comely.90 to 88 B.C.28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; andthus they began to have continual peace again,notwithstanding all their persecutions. 29 And now, becauseof the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedinglyrich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stoodin need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and ofsilver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk andfine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.MormonLand ofZarahemla90 to 88 B.C.30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did notsend away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or thatwere athirst, or that were sick, or that had not beennourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches;therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, bothbond and free, both male and female, whether out of thechurch or in the church, having no respect to persons as tothose who stood in need. 31 And thus they did prosper andbecome far more wealthy than those who did not belong totheir church.32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulgethemselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and inbabblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costlyapparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes;persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committingwhoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness;nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those whodid transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.33 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law uponthem, every man suffering according to that which he haddone, they became more still, and durst not commit anywickedness if it were known; therefore, there was muchpeace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of thereign of the judges.