Alma 4:18-20

Brant Gardner

When Alma leaves the chief judge position, he retained the office of high priest over the church. The reason for this was his intention to try to resolve the growing contentions in the church by going on a personal missionary journey. However, this journey would not be to make new members for the church, but to encourage those of the church to recommit to living correctly according to Nephite principles.

It is interesting that although there is an internal division among the people, and Alma had the opportunity to apply a political or military solution, he did not do so. It is probable that there was no simple way to apply a military solution. There was no standing police force or military. Thus, Alma would have to call up neighbors to take arms against neighbors. That would hardly have had a healing result.

Thus, his solution was to try to change hearts rather than enforce specific actions.

Our Chapter 4 was Mormon’s Chapter II. No change was made to this chapter, as it was already very short. The reason for this chapter break is that Mormon is going to change source material for his record, and he makes that change in a new chapter.

Book of Mormon Minute

References