Alma Teaches Abinadi’S Message

Event 58

Reference: Mosiah 18:1-29

AND now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from theservants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities,and went about privately among the people, and began toteach the words of Abinadi— 2 Yea, concerning that whichwas to come, and also concerning the resurrection of thedead, and the redemption of the people, which was to bebrought to pass through the power, and sufferings, anddeath of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension intoheaven. 3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach.And he taught them privately, that it might not come to theknowledge of the king. And many did believe his words.MormonSee Isa. 53:1-12Land of Nephiand land ofShilom280 to 121 B.C.4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did goforth to a place which was called Mormon, having receivedits name from the king, being in the borders of the landhaving been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, andAlma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicketof small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytimefrom the searches of the king.Waters ofMormon in land ofMormon6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him wentthither to hear his words.7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodlynumber gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hearthe words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together thatbelieved on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them,and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, andfaith on the Lord.8 And it came to pass that he said unto them:Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called)and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to becalled his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens,that they may be light; 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with thosethat mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, andin all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may beredeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the firstresurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 10 Now I say untoyou, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you againstbeing baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before himAlma that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will servehim and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spiritmore abundantly upon you?AlmaSee Isa. 53:1-12Waters ofMormon in land ofMormon280 to 121 B.C.11 And now when the people had heard these words, theyclapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed:MormonThis is the desire of our hearts.People12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he beingone of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, andcried, saying:MormonO Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do thiswork with holiness of heart.Alma13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lordwas upon him, and he said:MormonHelam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, asa testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him untilyou are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lordbe poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life,through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from thefoundation of the world.Alma14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma andHelam were buried in the water; and they arose and cameforth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a secondtime into the water, and baptized him according to the first,only he did not bury himself again in the water. 16 And afterthis manner he did baptize every one that went forth to theplace of Mormon; and they were in number about twohundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in thewaters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.17 And they were called the church of God, or the church ofChrist, from that time forward.MormonAnd it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by thepower and authority of God was added to his church.18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority fromGod, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of theirnumber did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teachthem concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom ofGod. 19 And he commanded them that they should teachnothing save it were the things which he had taught, andwhich had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, whohad redeemed his people. 21 And he commanded them thatthere should be no contention one with another, but thatthey should look forward with one eye, having one faithand one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unityand in love one towards another. 22 And thus hecommanded them to preach. And thus they became thechildren of God.MormonSee Isa. 53:1-12Waters ofMormon in land ofMormon280 to 121 B.C.23 And he commanded them that they should observe thesabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day theyshould give thanks to the Lord their God. 24 And he alsocommanded them that the priests whom he had ordainedshould labor with their own hands for their support. 25 Andthere was one day in every week that was set apart that theyshould gather themselves together to teach the people, andto worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it wasin their power, to assemble themselves together.26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people fortheir support; but for their labor they were to receive thegrace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit,having the knowledge of God, that they might teach withpower and authority from God. 27 And again Almacommanded that the people of the church should impart oftheir substance, every one according to that which he had; ifhe have more abundantly he should impart moreabundantly; and of him that had but little, but little shouldbe required; and to him that had not should be given. 28 Andthus they should impart of their substance of their own freewill and good desires towards God, and to those priests thatstood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. 29 Andthis he said unto them, having been commanded of God;and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to oneanother both temporally and spiritually according to theirneeds and their wants.