Alma 46:38-41

Brant Gardner

Mormon gave the political aftermath of the Amalickiahite conflict in verses 34–37. These verses give the religious aftermath. The cause of religious liberty had been supported, and therefore “they [did] have much peace and rejoicing in the church.” As with other times of peace, Mormon gives very few details about that period. Verse 40 notes that there were some who died of fevers; therefore, the time of a lack of conflict was not a time of an absence of sorrow.

The impact of verses 40 and 41 is simply to note that life went on, and that while some died, they died of reasons not related to war.

Verse 38 requires some clarification. It says that they maintained order in the church for four years. That is not the same as peace in the land. The church itself was strengthened and not threatened for four years. Nevertheless, there was war in the land with the Lamanites.

This is not the end of the chapter in the 1830 edition.

Book of Mormon Minute

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