Alma’s Teachings to the Zoramites

To the Penitent

Alma 32:8-11

The lowly of heart are blessed; did you think you could only worship God once a week in synagogues?

I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye. Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God. Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?

Alma 32:12

Humility leads to wisdom; poverty leads to humility.

I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

Alma 32:13

The humble seek repentance, and the repentant find mercy and salvation.

And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

Alma 32:14

Those that are humble by necessity are blessed, but more blessed are those who voluntarily humble themselves because of the word.

And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

Alma 32:15

The voluntarily humble are more blessed than those who are humble out of necessity.

Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

Alma 32:16

Blessed are those who believe without stubbornness, and who believe without first being compelled to knowledge.

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

Alma 32:17-18

Sign-seeking is incompatible with faith; knowledge precludes the presence of belief.

Yea, there are many who do say:

“If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven,
then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.”

Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.

Alma 32:19-20

Knowledge, in contrast to belief, comes with greater accountability and expectation of action.

And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?

now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.