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Alma 1
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 1:1 | Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and they were acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws which he had made. | In the first year that judges ruled the people of Nephi, King Mosiah had passed away after living a righteous life. He left no one to take his place as king. However, he had created laws that the people accepted, so they were required to follow them. |
| Alma 1:2 | And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength. | In the first year of Alma’s rule as judge, a man known for being big and very strong was brought before him to be judged. |
| Alma 1:3 | And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people. | He went around preaching what he called the word of God, criticizing the church. He told people that every priest and teacher should aim to be popular and shouldn’t work with their hands, but should be supported by the people. |
| Alma 1:4 | And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life. | He also told the people that everyone would be saved in the end and that they shouldn’t be afraid or scared. Instead, they should be happy and hopeful because the Lord created and redeemed everyone, and in the end, everyone will have eternal life. |
| Alma 1:5 | And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money. | He taught these things so much that many believed him. In fact, so many believed that they started to support him and give him money. |
| Alma 1:6 | And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching. | He started to become proud and wear expensive clothes. He even began to set up a church based on his own teachings. |
| Alma 1:7 | And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began 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. | As he was going to preach to those who believed in his teachings, he met a man from the church of God, who was also a teacher there, and they started arguing. This man tried to lead people away from the church, but the teacher stood his ground and reprimanded him using the words of God. |
| Alma 1:8 | Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage. | The man’s name was Gideon. He was the one who helped God free Limhi’s people from captivity. |
| Alma 1:9 | Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword. | Because Gideon opposed him with God’s words, he got angry at Gideon, pulled out his sword, and started attacking him. Since Gideon was old, he couldn’t defend himself, and he was killed by the sword. |
| Alma 1:10 | And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to be judged according to the crimes which he had committed. | The people of the church took the man who killed him and brought him to Alma to be judged for his crimes. |
| Alma 1:11 | And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for himself with much boldness. | He stood before Alma and confidently pleaded his case. |
| Alma 1:12 | But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction. | But Alma said to him: Look, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among these people. And look, you are not only guilty of priestcraft, but have tried to enforce it by the sword; and if priestcraft were to be enforced among these people, it would lead to their complete downfall. |
| Alma 1:13 | And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance. | You have killed a good man, someone who has done a lot of good for these people. If we let you go, his death would be on us and we would be punished for it. |
| Alma 1:14 | Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law. | Therefore, you are sentenced to die according to the law given to us by Mosiah, our last king. The people have accepted this law, so we must follow it. |
| Alma 1:15 | And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; 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 taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious death. | They took him, Nehor, up to the top of hill Manti. There, between heaven and earth, he admitted that what he had taught the people went against God’s word. He was then put to a disgraceful death. |
| Alma 1:16 | Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor. | Even so, this didn’t stop the spread of priestcraft throughout the land. Many people loved the world’s vain things and went around preaching false doctrines for the sake of wealth and honor. |
| Alma 1:17 | Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they pretended to preach according to their belief; and now the law could have no power on any man for his belief. | Even so, they were afraid to lie if it could be found out because liars were punished by the law. So they acted like they were preaching what they believed, and the law couldn’t do anything to someone for their beliefs. |
| Alma 1:18 | And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that murdered was punished unto death. | They didn’t dare steal because they were afraid of the law and the punishments that came with it. They also didn’t dare rob or commit murder because those who did were punished by death. |
| Alma 1:19 | But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ. | Anyone who wasn’t a member of the church started to persecute those who were, and who had taken on the name of Christ. |
| Alma 1:20 | Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price. | Yes, they persecuted and mocked them in many ways because they were humble, not proud, and shared the word of God freely with each other without charging any money. |
| Alma 1:21 | Now there was a strict law among the people of the church that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves. | There was a strict rule among the church members that no one from the church should persecute those who were not members, and there should be no persecution among the members themselves. |
| Alma 1:22 | Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists. | Despite this, many of them became proud and started arguing intensely with their opponents, even to the point of fighting; yes, they would hit each other with their fists. |
| Alma 1:23 | Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church. | This happened in the second year of Alma’s rule, and it caused a lot of distress for the church; yes, it brought many challenges to the church. |
| Alma 1:24 | For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them. | Many people’s hearts became hard, and their names were erased from memory among God’s people. Also, many others chose to leave. |
| Alma 1:25 | Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them. | This was a tough challenge for those who stayed true to their faith. Even so, they stayed strong and unshakable in keeping God’s commandments, and they patiently endured the persecution thrown at them. |
| Alma 1:26 | And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. | When the priests took a break from their work to share the word of God with the people, the people also paused their work to listen. After the priests shared their message, everyone went back to their tasks with dedication. The priests didn’t consider themselves better than the people; the preacher was no greater than the listener, and the teacher was no better than the student. Everyone was equal and worked according to their ability. |
| Alma 1:27 | And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely. | They shared what they had with the poor, the needy, the sick, and the suffering. They didn’t wear expensive clothes, but they were clean and presentable. |
| Alma 1:28 | And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions. | So they set up the church’s affairs, and they started to have constant peace again, despite all the persecutions they faced. |
| Alma 1:29 | And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth. | Because the church was so stable, the people became very wealthy. They had everything they needed: lots of animals of all kinds, plenty of grain, gold, silver, precious items, silk, fine linen, and all sorts of good quality cloth. |
| Alma 1:30 | And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need. | In their prosperous times, they didn’t turn anyone away who was naked, hungry, thirsty, or sick, or who needed care. They didn’t focus on getting rich. They were generous to everyone, old or young, servant or free, men or women, whether they were church members or not. They helped anyone in need, without showing favoritism. |
| Alma 1:31 | And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church. | So they prospered and got much wealthier than those who weren’t part of their church. |
| Alma 1:32 | For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible. | People who weren’t part of their church dabbled in magic, idolatry, and laziness. They gossiped, envied each other, and fought. They wore expensive clothes and were overly proud, persecuted others, lied, stole, robbed, committed adultery, and murdered. They did all kinds of wicked things. However, the law was enforced on everyone who broke it, as much as it was possible. |
| Alma 1:33 | And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness if it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of the judges. | By enforcing the law, everyone suffered the consequences of their actions, and they became more cautious, not daring to do anything wicked if it could be found out. Therefore, there was a lot of peace among the Nephites until the fifth year of the judges’ reign. |
Alma 2
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 2:1 | And it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth year of their reign there began to be a contention among the people; for a certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world, he being after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law— | At the start of the fifth year of their reign, a dispute broke out among the people. This was because a man named Amlici, who was very clever and worldly-wise, wanted to rise to power. He followed the ways of the man who killed Gideon with a sword and was then executed according to the law. |
| Alma 2:2 | Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be king over the people. | Amlici, using his cleverness, had managed to convince a lot of people to follow him. They became so influential that they started working to make Amlici the king over the people. |
| Alma 2:3 | Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and also to all those who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of Amlici; for they knew that according to their law that such things must be established by the voice of the people. | The people of the church and everyone who had not been persuaded by Amlici were very concerned because they knew that according to their law, such decisions had to be made by the voice of the people. |
| Alma 2:4 | Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God. | So, if Amlici were to win the support of the people, he, being a bad person, would take away their rights and freedoms related to the church; because his plan was to destroy the church of God. |
| Alma 2:5 | And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another. | The people gathered together across the land, each person with their own opinion, either supporting or opposing Amlici, in separate groups, having many arguments and intense discussions with each other. |
| Alma 2:6 | And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges. | So they got together to vote on the matter, and their decisions were presented to the judges. |
| Alma 2:7 | And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people. | The people spoke out against Amlici, so he wasn’t made king. |
| Alma 2:8 | Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor. | Those who were against him were very happy about this, but Amlici made his supporters mad at those who were not on his side. |
| Alma 2:9 | And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king. | They gathered together and made Amlici their king. |
| Alma 2:10 | Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did that he might subject them to him. | After Amlici became king, he ordered his people to take up arms against their own brethren so he could bring them under his control. |
| Alma 2:11 | Now the people of Amlici were distinguished by the name of Amlici, being called Amlicites; and the remainder were called Nephites, or the people of God. | The people who followed Amlici were called Amlicites, while the others were known as Nephites, or the people of God. |
| Alma 2:12 | Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of the intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare to meet them; yea, they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters, and with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings, and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind. | The Nephites knew what the Amlicites were planning, so they got ready to face them. They armed themselves with swords, scimitars, bows, arrows, stones, slings, and all kinds of weapons. |
| Alma 2:13 | And thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at the time of their coming. And there were appointed captains, and higher captains, and chief captains, according to their numbers. | They were ready to face the Amlicites when they came. They had captains, senior captains, and chief captains based on their numbers. |
| Alma 2:14 | And it came to pass that Amlici did arm his men with all manner of weapons of war of every kind; and he also appointed rulers and leaders over his people, to lead them to war against their brethren. | Amlici equipped his men with all kinds of weapons and appointed leaders to guide them into battle against their brethren. |
| Alma 2:15 | And it came to pass that the Amlicites came upon the hill Amnihu, which was east of the river Sidon, which ran by the land of Zarahemla, and there they began to make war with the Nephites. | The Amlicites came to the hill Amnihu, east of the river Sidon near Zarahemla, and started a battle with the Nephites. |
| Alma 2:16 | Now Alma, being the chief judge and the governor of the people of Nephi, therefore he went up with his people, yea, with his captains, and chief captains, yea, at the head of his armies, against the Amlicites to battle. | Alma, being the chief judge and leader of the Nephites, took his captains and top commanders to lead his armies against the Amlicites in battle. |
| Alma 2:17 | And they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill east of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with great strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before the Amlicites. | The Amlicites and the Nephites started fighting on the hill east of Sidon. The Amlicites fought so fiercely that many Nephites were killed. |
| Alma 2:18 | Nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with great slaughter, that they began to flee before them. | Still, the Lord gave the Nephites strength, so they defeated the Amlicites with a great defeat, and the Amlicites started to run away. |
| Alma 2:19 | And it came to pass that the Nephites did pursue the Amlicites all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter, insomuch that there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two souls; and there were slain of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two souls. | The Nephites chased the Amlicites all day and killed many of them. In the end, 12,532 Amlicites and 6,562 Nephites were killed. |
| Alma 2:20 | And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites no longer he caused that his people should pitch their tents in the valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that Gideon who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in this valley the Nephites did pitch their tents for the night. | When Alma couldn’t chase the Amlicites any longer, he had his people set up camp in the valley of Gideon, which was named after Gideon, who had been killed by Nehor with a sword. The Nephites set up their tents there for the night. |
| Alma 2:21 | And Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the Amlicites, that he might know of their plans and their plots, whereby he might guard himself against them, that he might preserve his people from being destroyed. | Alma sent spies to follow the remaining Amlicites so he could learn about their plans and schemes, and protect himself and his people from being destroyed. |
| Alma 2:22 | Now those whom he had sent out to watch the camp of the Amlicites were called Zeram, and Amnor, and Manti, and Limher; these were they who went out with their men to watch the camp of the Amlicites. | The men he sent to keep an eye on the Amlicite camp were named Zeram, Amnor, Manti, and Limher. They went out with their teams to watch over the Amlicite camp. |
| Alma 2:23 | And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned into the camp of the Nephites in great haste, being greatly astonished, and struck with much fear, saying: | The next day, they hurried back to the Nephite camp, highly astonished and very scared, saying: |
| Alma 2:24 | Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites; and behold, the Amlicites have joined them; | We followed the Amlicite camp, and to our surprise, we found a large group of Lamanites in the land of Minon, which is above Zarahemla in the direction of the land of Nephi. The Amlicites had joined them. |
| Alma 2:25 | And they are upon our brethren in that land; and they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their children, towards our city; and except we make haste they obtain possession of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and our children be slain. | They’re attacking our people in that land, and our people are running towards our city with their flocks, wives, and children. If we don’t hurry, they’ll take over our city, and our fathers, wives, and children will be killed. |
| Alma 2:26 | And it came to pass that the people of Nephi took their tents, and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their city, which was the city of Zarahemla. | The people of Nephi packed up their tents and left the valley of Gideon heading towards their city, Zarahemla. |
| Alma 2:27 | And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the Lamanites and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy them. | As they were crossing the Sidon River, the Lamanites and the Amlicites, who were almost as numerous as the sands of the sea, attacked them to destroy them. |
| Alma 2:28 | Nevertheless, the Nephites being strengthened by the hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, therefore the Lord did hear their cries, and did strengthen them, and the Lamanites and the Amlicites did fall before them. | Even though the Nephites were few, they prayed hard to God to save them from their enemies. The Lord heard their prayers and gave them strength, so the Lamanites and Amlicites were defeated by the Nephites. |
| Alma 2:29 | And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with another. | Alma and Amlici fought each other face to face with swords, and they struggled fiercely against each other. |
| Alma 2:30 | And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people. | Alma, who was a man of God with strong faith, cried out, âLord, have mercy and save my life so I can help and protect these people.â |
| Alma 2:31 | Now when Alma had said these words he contended again with Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the sword. | After Alma said these words, he fought Amlici again; and he was strengthened so much that he killed Amlici with the sword. |
| Alma 2:32 | And he also contended with the king of the Lamanites; but the king of the Lamanites fled back from before Alma and sent his guards to contend with Alma. | Alma also fought with the king of the Lamanites, but the king ran away from Alma and sent his guards to fight him instead. |
| Alma 2:33 | But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of the king of the Lamanites until he slew and drove them back. | But Alma and his guards fought with the king of the Lamanites’ guards until he killed them and drove them away. |
| Alma 2:34 | And thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain into the waters of Sidon, that thereby his people might have room to cross and contend with the Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon. | He cleared the ground, or rather the bank, on the west of the river Sidon by throwing the bodies of the slain Lamanites into the river, so his people could cross and fight the Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon. |
| Alma 2:35 | And it came to pass that when they had all crossed the river Sidon that the Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee before them, notwithstanding they were so numerous that they could not be numbered. | When everyone had crossed the Sidon River, the Lamanites and the Amlicites started to run away, even though there were so many of them that they couldn’t be counted. |
| Alma 2:36 | And they fled before the Nephites towards the wilderness which was west and north, away beyond the borders of the land; and the Nephites did pursue them with their might, and did slay them. | They ran away from the Nephites toward the wilderness in the west and north, beyond the land’s borders. The Nephites chased them with all their might and killed them. |
| Alma 2:37 | Yea, they were met on every hand, and slain and driven, until they were scattered on the west, and on the north, until they had reached the wilderness, which was called Hermounts; and it was that part of the wilderness which was infested by wild and ravenous beasts. | Yes, they were attacked from all sides, killed and driven away, until they were scattered to the west and north, and reached the wilderness called Hermounts, which was filled with wild and dangerous beasts. |
| Alma 2:38 | And it came to pass that many died in the wilderness of their wounds, and were devoured by those beasts and also the vultures of the air; and their bones have been found, and have been heaped up on the earth. | Many people died in the wilderness from their wounds and were eaten by wild animals and vultures. Their bones have been found and piled up on the ground. |
Alma 3
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 3:1 | And it came to pass that the Nephites who were not slain by the weapons of war, after having buried those who had been slain—now the number of the slain were not numbered, because of the greatness of their number—after they had finished burying their dead they all returned to their lands, and to their houses, and their wives, and their children. | The Nephites who survived the war buried their dead, but there were so many killed that they couldn’t count them all. Once they finished burying their dead, they returned to their homes, their families, and their land. |
| Alma 3:2 | Now many women and children had been slain with the sword, and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down by the hosts of men. | Many women and children were killed, and their animals and crops were also destroyed, trampled by large armies. |
| Alma 3:3 | And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites who had been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon were cast into the waters of Sidon; and behold their bones are in the depths of the sea, and they are many. | Many of the Lamanites and Amlicites who were killed on the bank of the river Sidon were thrown into the water; and now their bones are at the bottom of the sea, and there are a lot of them. |
| Alma 3:4 | And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites. | The Amlicites were different from the Nephites because they had marked their foreheads with red like the Lamanites. However, they did not shave their heads like the Lamanites did. |
| Alma 3:5 | Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth. | The Lamanites had their heads shaved and were mostly naked, except for some cloth around their waists and their armor. They also had their bows, arrows, stones, slings, and so on. |
| Alma 3:6 | And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men. | The Lamanites had dark skin, which was a mark set upon their ancestors as a curse because they disobeyed and rebelled against their brothers Nephi, Jacob, Joseph, and Sam, who were good and righteous men. |
| Alma 3:7 | And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women. | Their relatives tried to destroy them, so they were cursed. The Lord put a mark on Laman, Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael, and the Ishmaelite women. |
| Alma 3:8 | And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction. | This was done so their descendants would be different from their relatives’ descendants, allowing the Lord to protect His people from mixing with others and adopting incorrect traditions that would lead to their downfall. |
| Alma 3:9 | And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed. | Anyone who mixed their descendants with the Lamanites brought the same curse upon their own descendants. |
| Alma 3:10 | Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him. | So, anyone who let themselves be influenced by the Lamanites was grouped with them and was marked. |
| Alma 3:11 | And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth— | Anyone who didn’t believe in the traditions of the Lamanites but believed in the records from Jerusalem and followed the traditions of their ancestors, which were correct, and kept God’s commandments, were called Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time on. |
| Alma 3:12 | And it is they who have kept the records which are true of their people, and also of the people of the Lamanites. | They are the ones who have kept the true records of their people and also of the Lamanites. |
| Alma 3:13 | Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads. | Let’s go back to talking about the Amlicites. They also had a mark set upon them; actually, they marked themselves with a red mark on their foreheads. |
| Alma 3:14 | Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them. | So, God’s word has come true, because these are the words He spoke to Nephi: “Look, I’ve cursed the Lamanites and marked them so that they and their descendants are separated from you and your descendants from now on, unless they repent of their evil ways and come back to me so I can show them mercy.” |
| Alma 3:15 | And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also. | And again: I will put a mark on anyone who mixes their descendants with your brothers’ descendants so that they will also be cursed. |
| Alma 3:16 | And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed. | I’ll mark anyone who fights against you and your descendants. |
| Alma 3:17 | And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed. | Again, I say, anyone who leaves you will no longer be considered your descendants; I will bless you and those who remain your descendants, from now on and forever. These were the promises of the Lord to Nephi and his descendants. |
| Alma 3:18 | Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them. | The Amlicites didn’t realize they were fulfilling God’s words when they started marking their foreheads. However, they openly rebelled against God, so it was necessary for the curse to come upon them. |
| Alma 3:19 | Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation. | I want you to understand that they brought the curse on themselves; in the same way, anyone who is cursed brings their own condemnation. |
| Alma 3:20 | Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first army met the Amlicites. | Not long after the battle in Zarahemla between the Lamanites and the Amlicites, another Lamanite army attacked the Nephites at the same place where the first fight happened. |
| Alma 3:21 | And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their land. | An army was sent to drive them out of their land. |
| Alma 3:22 | Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites; | Alma was injured, so he didn’t go to battle against the Lamanites this time. |
| Alma 3:23 | But he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of them out of the borders of their land. | He sent a large army against them, and they went and killed many of the Lamanites, driving the rest out of their land. |
| Alma 3:24 | And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies. | They went back and started to bring peace to the land, and for a while they didn’t have any trouble with their enemies. |
| Alma 3:25 | Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended in the fifth year of the reign of the judges. | All these events, including the wars and disputes, began and ended in the fifth year of the judges’ reign. |
| Alma 3:26 | And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. | In one year, thousands and tens of thousands of people passed away and went to the eternal world to receive their rewards based on their actions—whether they were good or bad. They went to experience eternal happiness or eternal misery, depending on whether they followed a good spirit or a bad one. |
| Alma 3:27 | For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges. | Everyone gets paid by the person they choose to follow, according to the words given by the spirit of prophecy. So, let it be in line with the truth. And that’s how the fifth year of the reign of the judges ends. |
Alma 4
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 4:1 | Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla; | In the sixth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi, there were no conflicts or wars in the land of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 4:2 | But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites. | The people were really suffering from losing their brothers, their flocks and herds, and their fields of grain, which were trampled and destroyed by the Lamanites. |
| Alma 4:3 | And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty. | Their suffering was so intense that everyone had a reason to be sad. They believed it was God’s judgment on them for their wickedness and terrible actions, making them remember their responsibilities. |
| Alma 4:4 | And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma. | They started to build up the church more completely. Many people were baptized in the Sidon River and joined the church. Alma, who had been made the high priest by his father Alma, performed the baptisms. |
| Alma 4:5 | And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus endeth the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time. | In the seventh year of the judges’ rule, about 3,500 people joined the church of God and got baptized. That’s how the seventh year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended, and there was peace the whole time. |
| Alma 4:6 | And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel. | In the eighth year of the judges’ rule, the people of the church started to become prideful because they were very rich and had fine silks, fancy linen, many flocks and herds, gold, silver, and all sorts of valuable things they obtained through their hard work. They became proud and began to wear very expensive clothes. |
| Alma 4:7 | Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders over the church; yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people. | This caused a lot of distress for Alma and many of the people he had chosen to be teachers, priests, and elders of the church. Many of them were deeply saddened by the wickedness they saw beginning among their people. |
| Alma 4:8 | For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure. | They were really saddened to see that the church members were starting to become proud and focused on getting rich and valuing the superficial things of life. They began to look down on each other and to mistreat those who didn’t believe the same way they did. |
| Alma 4:9 | And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God. | In the eighth year of the judges’ reign, there were serious conflicts among the church members. There was envy, fighting, hatred, persecution, and pride—greater than the pride of those outside the church. |
| Alma 4:10 | And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress. | The eighth year of the judges’ rule came to an end. The church’s wickedness became a big barrier for those who were not members, causing the church to start declining. |
| Alma 4:11 | And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people. | In the beginning of the ninth year, Alma noticed the church becoming wicked. He also saw that the church’s bad example was leading non-believers from one sin to another, causing the people to face destruction. |
| Alma 4:12 | Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted. | He saw that there was a lot of inequality among the people. Some were full of pride and looked down on others, ignoring those who were needy, naked, hungry, thirsty, sick, and suffering. |
| Alma 4:13 | Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ—s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy; | This was a big reason for sadness among the people. Meanwhile, others were humbling themselves and helping those in need. They gave their belongings to the poor and needy, fed the hungry, and endured all kinds of hardships for Christ’s sake, who was prophesied to come. |
| Alma 4:14 | Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death. | Looking forward to that day, they kept their sins forgiven and were filled with great joy because Jesus Christ will resurrect the dead through His will, power, and deliverance from death. |
| Alma 4:15 | And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him. | Alma saw the hardships and persecutions faced by God’s humble followers and the inequality among his people, which made him very sad. However, the Spirit of the Lord continued to support him. |
| Alma 4:16 | And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. | He picked a wise man from the church elders and gave him authority, based on the people’s choice, to create and enforce laws according to the existing laws and the people’s behavior. |
| Alma 4:17 | Now this man—s name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people. | A man named Nephihah was made the chief judge, and he took the seat to judge and lead the people. |
| Alma 4:18 | Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah. | Alma didn’t give up his role as high priest over the church; he kept that for himself. But he did hand over the position of judge to Nephihah. |
| Alma 4:19 | And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. | He did this so he could go among the people of Nephi and preach God’s word to them, reminding them of their responsibilities. He wanted to use God’s word to break down their pride, deceit, and conflicts, seeing no other way to bring them back except by sharing his pure testimony. |
| Alma 4:20 | And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy. | At the beginning of the ninth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, Alma handed over his role as chief judge to Nephihah and dedicated himself entirely to his duties as high priest, focusing on preaching according to divine revelation and prophecy. |
Alma 5
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 5:1 | Now it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land. | Alma started to share God’s word with the people, beginning in the land of Zarahemla and then throughout the whole region. |
| Alma 5:2 | And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record, saying: | These are the words he spoke to the people in the church in the city of Zarahemla, recorded his way, saying: |
| Alma 5:3 | I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon. | I’m Alma. My father, also named Alma, made me a high priest over God’s church. He had the authority from God to do this. He started a church in the area near Nephi, in a place called Mormon, and he baptized his brothers in the waters of Mormon. |
| Alma 5:4 | And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God. | Listen, I’m telling you, they were saved from King Noah’s people by God’s mercy and power. |
| Alma 5:5 | And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also. | After that, the Lamanites captured them in the wilderness. They were in captivity, but the Lord delivered them again by His word. Then we came to this land and started establishing the church of God here as well. |
| Alma 5:6 | And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell? | Now listen, my brothers and sisters in this church. Have you really remembered the struggles your ancestors went through? Have you remembered how merciful and patient God was with them? And also, have you remembered that He saved them from eternal punishment? |
| Alma 5:7 | Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them. | Look, he transformed their hearts; he woke them up from a deep sleep, and they became aware of God. They were in darkness, but their souls were lit up by the everlasting word’s light. They were surrounded by the bands of death and the chains of hell, with everlasting destruction awaiting them. |
| Alma 5:8 | And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not. | So, I ask you, my friends, were they destroyed? No, they weren’t. |
| Alma 5:9 | And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved. | Did the power of death break and were the chains of hell that trapped them set free? Yes, they were set free, and their souls felt immense joy, and they sang songs of redeeming love. And yes, they are saved. |
| Alma 5:10 | And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell? | Now let me ask you, under what conditions are they saved? What basis do they have to hope for salvation? Why are they freed from the bonds of death and the chains of hell? |
| Alma 5:11 | Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them? | Look, I can tell you—didn’t my father Alma believe in what Abinadi said? And wasn’t Abinadi a holy prophet who spoke God’s words? And didn’t my father Alma believe those words? |
| Alma 5:12 | And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true. | Because of his faith, his heart completely changed. I’m telling you, this is all true. |
| Alma 5:13 | And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved. | He preached to your ancestors, and their hearts underwent a mighty change. They humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. They stayed faithful until the end, and so they were saved. |
| Alma 5:14 | And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? | Listen, church members, let me ask you: Have you been spiritually born of God? Do you reflect His image in your faces? Have you felt this significant change in your hearts? |
| Alma 5:15 | Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? | Do you have faith in the redemption from your Creator? Do you look forward with faith, imagining this mortal body raised to immortality, and this corruptible body raised to incorruption, to stand before God for judgment based on your actions in this life? |
| Alma 5:16 | I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? | Imagine you hear the Lord’s voice saying to you: “Come to me, you who are blessed, because your actions on Earth have been righteous.” |
| Alma 5:17 | Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you? | Do you think you can lie to the Lord when the time comes and say, “Lord, we’ve done righteous things on earth,” and that he’ll save you? |
| Alma 5:18 | Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God? | Can you imagine standing before God’s judgment with your soul full of guilt and remorse, remembering perfectly all your wrongdoings, especially how you defied God’s commandments? |
| Alma 5:19 | I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances? | Can you look up to God on that day with a pure heart and clean hands? Can you look up, showing the image of God in your face? |
| Alma 5:20 | I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? | Can you really consider being saved when you’ve given in and become a follower of the devil? |
| Alma 5:21 | I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. | I tell you, on that day you’ll realize that you can’t be saved unless your garments are spotless. They must be purified from all stains through the blood of the one our ancestors spoke of, who would come to save his people from their sins. |
| Alma 5:22 | And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you? | So now I ask you, my brothers, how would you feel if you stand before God with your clothes stained by blood and all sorts of filth? Look, what will these things say about you? |
| Alma 5:23 | Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness? | Won’t they testify that you are murderers and guilty of all kinds of wickedness? |
| Alma 5:24 | Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white? | Listen, my brothers, do you think that someone like that can have a place in God’s kingdom, sitting with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets, whose clothes are cleansed and spotless, pure and white? |
| Alma 5:25 | I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil. | No, unless you believe our Creator has been lying from the start, you can’t think that those people will be in heaven; they’ll be cast out because they belong to the devil’s kingdom. |
| Alma 5:26 | And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? | Listen, my brothers, if you’ve felt a change in your heart and have felt the joy of being redeemed, I ask you, do you still feel that way now? |
| Alma 5:27 | Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? | Have you lived your life in a way that keeps you blameless before God? If you were to die right now, could you honestly say that you’ve been humble enough? Are your clothes clean and pure through the sacrifice of Christ, who is coming to redeem his people from their sins? |
| Alma 5:28 | Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. | Are you free of pride? If not, you’re not ready to meet God. You need to get ready quickly because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon, and those who aren’t prepared don’t have eternal life. |
| Alma 5:29 | Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. | Hey, is there anyone here who hasn’t gotten rid of envy? I’m telling you, you’re not ready if you still have envy. You need to get ready quickly because the time is almost here, and you don’t know when it will come. Those who still have envy aren’t considered innocent. |
| Alma 5:30 | And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? | Once again, I ask you: Is there anyone here who mocks their brother or heaps persecutions upon them? |
| Alma 5:31 | Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! | Woe to that person, because they are not ready. The time has come to repent, or they cannot be saved! |
| Alma 5:32 | Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it! | Woe to all you who do wrong; repent, repent, for the Lord God has spoken it! |
| Alma 5:33 | Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. | Look, He invites everyone, offering mercy to all. He says: Turn away from your sins, and I’ll accept you. |
| Alma 5:34 | Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; | He says: Come to me and you will experience the fruit of the tree of life; you will eat and drink the bread and water of life freely. |
| Alma 5:35 | Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire— | Come to me and do good deeds, and you won’t be cut down and thrown into the fire. |
| Alma 5:36 | For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn. | Look, the time has come that anyone who doesn’t produce good results or do righteous deeds will have a reason to cry and be sad. |
| Alma 5:37 | O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice! | You who commit sins and are obsessed with the meaningless things of this world, you who claim to know the right path but have strayed like lost sheep, even though a shepherd has called and is still calling for you, you refuse to listen to his voice! |
| Alma 5:38 | Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. | Listen, the good shepherd is calling you. Yes, he calls you by his own name, Christ. If you don’t listen to the voice of the good shepherd, the one who calls you by that name, then you aren’t one of his sheep. |
| Alma 5:39 | And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil. | If you are not following the good shepherd, who are you following? I’m telling you, it’s the devil who is guiding you, and you’re part of his group. Who can deny this? Anyone who does is lying and belongs to the devil. |
| Alma 5:40 | For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil. | Here’s what I’m telling you: Anything good comes from God, and anything bad comes from the devil. |
| Alma 5:41 | Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him. | So, if someone does good things, they’re listening to the voice of the good shepherd and following him. But whoever does bad things becomes a child of the devil because they’re listening to his voice and following him. |
| Alma 5:42 | And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works. | Anyone who does this must get what they deserve; therefore, what they earn is death when it comes to righteousness, being completely cut off from all good deeds. |
| Alma 5:43 | And now, my brethren, I would that ye should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to the commandments of God. | Now, my brothers, I want you to listen to me, because I’m speaking from the depths of my soul. I’ve tried to speak clearly so you won’t make mistakes, and I’ve spoken according to God’s commandments. |
| Alma 5:44 | For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. | I have been called to speak in this way by the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus. I am commanded to stand and testify to this people about what our ancestors have said regarding the things that are to come. |
| Alma 5:45 | And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? | And that’s not all. Don’t you think I know about these things myself? Look, I’m telling you that I know what I’ve talked about is true. And how do you think I know for sure? |
| Alma 5:46 | Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. | Listen, I’m telling you that the Holy Spirit of God has made these things known to me. I’ve fasted and prayed for many days to know these things for myself. Now, I know for myself that they are true because the Lord God has revealed them to me through His Holy Spirit. This is the spirit of revelation that I have within me. |
| Alma 5:47 | And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God. | And I also want to tell you that it’s been revealed to me that the words spoken by our ancestors are true, confirmed by the spirit of prophecy in me, which is also shown by the Spirit of God. |
| Alma 5:48 | I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. | I tell you that I personally know that whatever I say to you about the future is true. I tell you that I know Jesus Christ will come, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, mercy, and truth. He is the one who will come to take away the sins of the world, the sins of everyone who steadfastly believes in His name. |
| Alma 5:49 | And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again. | Now I’m telling you that my calling is to preach to all my dearly loved brothers and sisters, everyone in the land. I need to preach to everyone—young and old, enslaved and free, seniors, adults, and the younger generation—and tell them they need to repent and be born again. |
| Alma 5:50 | Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. | The Spirit says: Everyone, repent, because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon. The Son of God will come in his glory, majesty, power, and rule. My dear brothers and sisters, I tell you that the Spirit says: Look at the glory of the King of all the earth; soon, the King of heaven will shine among all people. |
| Alma 5:51 | And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people—Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven. | The Spirit also speaks to me, shouting loudly: Go and tell these people—Repent, because if you don’t, you can’t enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| Alma 5:52 | And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it. | Once again, I tell you, the Spirit says: Look, the ax is at the root of the tree, so any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire—a fire that can’t be put out. Remember, the Holy One has said this. |
| Alma 5:53 | And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches? | Now my dear friends, I ask you, can you ignore these words? Can you disregard them and disrespect the Holy One? Can you be arrogant and proud? Will you continue to wear expensive clothes and focus on the shallow things of the world, like your wealth? |
| Alma 5:54 | Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance— | Do you really think you’re better than others and will you keep persecuting those who are humble and follow God’s ways? They’ve joined this church and have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, showing deeds that prove their repentance. |
| Alma 5:55 | Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them? | Will you keep ignoring the poor and needy, and keep holding back what you have from them? |
| Alma 5:56 | And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent. | And to all of you who keep doing wrong, I’m telling you that you’ll be cut off and thrown into the fire unless you quickly repent. |
| Alma 5:57 | And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people; | Now I say to all of you who want to follow the voice of the good shepherd: separate yourselves from the wicked and don’t touch their unclean things. Their names will be removed, so the names of the wicked won’t be counted among the names of the righteous. This fulfills God’s word, which says: The names of the wicked will not be mixed with the names of my people. |
| Alma 5:58 | For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled. | The names of the righteous will be recorded in the book of life, and I will give them an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brothers, what do you have to say about this? I tell you, if you speak against it, it doesn’t matter because God’s word will be fulfilled. |
| Alma 5:59 | For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. | Which shepherd among you, having many sheep, doesn’t watch over them to keep the wolves from coming in and devouring the flock? And if a wolf does get in, doesn’t he drive it out? Yes, and if he can, he’ll even destroy it in the end. |
| Alma 5:60 | And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed. | Now I’m telling you that the good shepherd is calling out to you. If you listen to his voice, he will bring you into his flock, and you will be his sheep. He instructs you to not let any dangerous wolves among you, so you won’t be destroyed. |
| Alma 5:61 | And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do the words which I have spoken unto you. | Now I, Alma, instruct you with the authority of the one who instructed me: follow and do the things I’ve taught you. |
| Alma 5:62 | I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life. | I’m giving a command to those who are part of the church; and to those who aren’t, I’m offering an invitation: Come and be baptized so you can repent and share in the blessings of the tree of life. |
Alma 6
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 6:1 | And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church. | After Alma finished speaking to the people of the church in Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders by laying his hands on them according to God’s order, to lead and oversee the church. |
| Alma 6:2 | And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church. | Anyone who wasn’t part of the church but repented of their sins got baptized and were welcomed into the church. |
| Alma 6:3 | And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous. | And it also happened that whoever belonged to the church and did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—those who were proud in their hearts—were rejected, and their names were removed so they were not counted among the righteous. |
| Alma 6:4 | And thus they began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla. | So they started setting up the church’s order in the city of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 6:5 | Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God. | I want you to understand that God’s word was available to everyone, and no one was denied the chance to gather and hear it. |
| Alma 6:6 | Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God. | But the children of God were told to gather together often and to fast and pray strongly for the well-being of those who didn’t know God. |
| Alma 6:7 | And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword. | After Alma set these rules, he left the church in Zarahemla and crossed the Sidon River to the east, into the valley of Gideon. There, a city named Gideon had been built, named after the man who was killed by Nehor with a sword. |
| Alma 6:8 | And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen. | Alma went to the church in the valley of Gideon and began to share God’s word with them. He spoke based on the revelations and the spirit of prophecy he had, and he testified of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would come to redeem His people from their sins. He did this according to the holy order he was called to. Amen. |
Alma 7
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 7:1 | Behold my beloved brethren, seeing that I have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in my language; yea, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been wholly confined to the judgment-seat, having had much business that I could not come unto you. | Hello, my dear brothers. Since I’ve been allowed to come to you, I’d like to speak to you in my own words; yes, by my own voice. This is the first time I’m talking to you directly because I’ve been stuck in the judgment-seat with a lot of work and couldn’t come to you before. |
| Alma 7:2 | And even I could not have come now at this time were it not that the judgment-seat hath been given to another, to reign in my stead; and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should come unto you. | I couldn’t have come now if the judgment-seat hadn’t been given to someone else to rule in my place. The Lord, in His mercy, has allowed me to come to you. |
| Alma 7:3 | And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla. | I came with great hopes and a strong desire that I would find you humble before God, continuing to seek His grace, and that you were blameless before Him, not in the terrible situation that our brothers were in at Zarahemla. |
| Alma 7:4 | But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness. | But thank God that he’s let me know the incredible joy of seeing them follow his righteousness again. |
| Alma 7:5 | And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow. | I trust, with the Spirit of God in me, that I’ll find joy in you too. But I don’t want my joy to come from all the suffering and sadness I’ve had because of the people at Zarahemla. My joy with them came after going through a lot of pain and sorrow. |
| Alma 7:6 | But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come. | But look, I trust that you’re not as unbelieving as your brothers were. I trust that you’re not full of pride. I trust that you haven’t set your hearts on riches and the empty things of the world. I trust that you don’t worship idols, but that you worship the true and living God and look forward to the forgiveness of your sins with lasting faith. |
| Alma 7:7 | For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. | Listen, there are many things coming, but there’s one thing more important than all the others: the time is near when the Redeemer will live and come among his people. |
| Alma 7:8 | Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word. | Look, I’m not saying he’ll come among us while he’s living in a mortal body, because the Spirit hasn’t told me that he will. I really don’t know about that, but I do know that the Lord God has the power to do everything according to his word. |
| Alma 7:9 | But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. | Listen, the Spirit told me to say this: Tell the people, “Repent and get ready for the Lord. Follow His straight path because the kingdom of heaven is near, and the Son of God is coming to the earth.” |
| Alma 7:10 | And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. | And look, He will be born of Mary in Jerusalem, the land of our ancestors. She will be a virgin, pure and chosen, who will be overshadowed and conceive by the Holy Spirit, and she will have a son, yes, the Son of God. |
| Alma 7:11 | And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. | He will go through all kinds of pains, afflictions, and temptations to fulfill the prophecy that says he will take on the pains and sicknesses of his people. |
| Alma 7:12 | And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. | He will accept death so he can free his people from its grip. He will take on their weaknesses so he can be filled with mercy and understand how to help them in their struggles. |
| Alma 7:13 | Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me. | The Spirit knows everything; but the Son of God suffered in the flesh to take on the sins of his people and erase their wrongdoings through his power to save them. This is what I testify. |
| Alma 7:14 | Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. | You need to repent and be born again. The Spirit says if you aren’t born again, you can’t enter the kingdom of heaven. So, come and be baptized to show your repentance, be cleansed from your sins, and put your faith in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world and has the power to save and purify you from all unrighteousness. |
| Alma 7:15 | Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. | Come and don’t be afraid. Let go of every sin that holds you back and leads to your destruction. Show God that you’re willing to repent of your sins and make a promise to keep His commandments by being baptized today. |
| Alma 7:16 | And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me. | Anyone who does this and keeps God’s commandments from then on will remember that I told them they will have eternal life, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit, which speaks through me. |
| Alma 7:17 | And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these things? Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that ye believe them; and the way that I know that ye believe them is by the manifestation of the Spirit which is in me. And now because your faith is strong concerning that, yea, concerning the things which I have spoken, great is my joy. | My dear brothers and sisters, do you believe these things? I can tell you do, because the Spirit inside me confirms it. Your faith in what I’ve said makes me very happy. |
| Alma 7:18 | For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified. | Like I said from the start, I really hoped you wouldn’t end up in the same difficult situation as your brothers. Now, I’m happy to see that my wishes have come true. |
| Alma 7:19 | For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight. | I can see you are on the right path, the path that leads to God’s kingdom. Yes, I can see you are making His paths clear and straight. |
| Alma 7:20 | I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round. | I understand that you have learned through his word that God cannot walk in dishonest ways. He doesn’t change what he has said, nor does he shift from what is right to what is wrong. His path is consistently and eternally straight. |
| Alma 7:21 | And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness. | God doesn’t live in unholy places; nothing dirty or unclean can enter God’s kingdom. So, I’m telling you, there will come a time, at the last day, when those who are filthy will stay filthy. |
| Alma 7:22 | And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received. | My dear brothers and sisters, I’ve told you these things to help you recognize your duty to God, so that you can live blamelessly before Him and follow the holy order you’ve been called to. |
| Alma 7:23 | And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. | I want you to be humble, gentle, and easy to talk to; patient and able to endure hardships; moderate in everything you do; always diligent in following God’s commandments; asking for whatever you need, spiritually and physically; and always giving thanks to God for whatever you receive. |
| Alma 7:24 | And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works. | Make sure to have faith, hope, and love, and you will always do good things. |
| Alma 7:25 | And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out. | May the Lord bless you and help you stay pure, so that one day you can join Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets since the beginning of time. Just like their clothes are pure, may yours be too, and stay with them forever in heaven. |
| Alma 7:26 | And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word. | Now, my dear brothers and sisters, I have spoken these words to you with the Spirit that speaks through me. My heart is filled with joy because of how diligently and carefully you have listened to my words. |
| Alma 7:27 | And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen. | May God’s peace be with you, your homes, your lands, your animals, and all you own, including your families, based on your faith and good deeds, now and forever. That’s my message. Amen. |
Alma 8
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 8:1 | And now it came to pass that Alma returned from the land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon many things which cannot be written, having established the order of the church, according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla, yea, he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest himself from the labors which he had performed. | Alma went back home to Zarahemla after teaching the people in Gideon many things that couldn’t be written down and setting up the church order just like he did in Zarahemla before. He returned to his house in Zarahemla to rest from all the work he had done. |
| Alma 8:2 | And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | This is how the ninth year of the judges ruling over the Nephites ended. |
| Alma 8:3 | And it came to pass in the commencement of the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma departed from thence and took his journey over into the land of Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west by the borders of the wilderness. | In the beginning of the tenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, Alma left and traveled to the land of Melek, west of the Sidon river, near the wilderness. |
| Alma 8:4 | And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God, by which he had been called; and he began to teach the people throughout all the land of Melek. | He began teaching the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God, which was his calling, and he traveled around the whole land of Melek to teach everyone. |
| Alma 8:5 | And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness side. And they were baptized throughout all the land; | People from all around the land, especially near the wilderness, came to him. And they were baptized all throughout the land. |
| Alma 8:6 | So that when he had finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days— journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah. | When he finished his work in Melek, he left and traveled for three days to the north of Melek, arriving at a city called Ammonihah. |
| Alma 8:7 | Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small villages, after the name of him who first possessed them; and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah. | The Nephites had a tradition of naming their lands, cities, and villages, even the smallest ones, after the first person who possessed them. That’s why the land was called Ammonihah. |
| Alma 8:8 | And it came to pass that when Alma had come to the city of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of God unto them. | When Alma arrived in the city of Ammonihah, he started preaching the word of God to the people there. |
| Alma 8:9 | Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma. | Satan had a strong influence on the people of Ammonihah, so they wouldn’t listen to Alma. |
| Alma 8:10 | Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance. | Despite how hard things were, Alma worked tirelessly in the spirit, praying fervently to God to pour His Spirit out on the people in the city, so that he could baptize them and lead them to repentance. |
| Alma 8:11 | Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions. | But they were stubborn and said to him, “Look, we know you’re Alma, the high priest over the church you set up all over the place according to your traditions. We’re not part of your church, and we don’t believe in those silly traditions.” |
| Alma 8:12 | And now we know that because we are not of thy church we know that thou hast no power over us; and thou hast delivered up the judgment-seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chief judge over us. | We know that since we’re not part of your church, you have no power over us. You’ve given the judgment seat to Nephihah, so you’re not the chief judge anymore. |
| Alma 8:13 | Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron. | After the people said this, ignored everything he said, insulted him, spat on him, and kicked him out of their city, he left and headed towards a city called Aaron. |
| Alma 8:14 | And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying: | As he was traveling, feeling overwhelmed with sorrow, going through a lot of trouble and deep sadness because of the wickedness of the people in the city of Ammonihah, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: |
| Alma 8:15 | Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you. | You are blessed, Alma. So, lift your head and be happy, because you have many reasons to be joyful. You have been faithful in keeping God’s commandments since you first received His message. Look, I am the one who gave it to you. |
| Alma 8:16 | And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them. | Listen, I’ve been sent to tell you to go back to the city of Ammonihah and preach to the people there again. Tell them that unless they repent, the Lord God will destroy them. |
| Alma 8:17 | For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people. | Right now, they are planning to destroy your people’s freedom (as the Lord says), which goes against the rules, judgments, and commands He has given to His people. |
| Alma 8:18 | Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah. | After Alma got the message from the angel, he quickly went back to Ammonihah. He entered the city from a different direction, coming in from the south. |
| Alma 8:19 | And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat? | When he entered the city, he was very hungry and said to a man, “Will you give an humble servant of God something to eat?” |
| Alma 8:20 | And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house. | The man said to him, “I am a Nephite, and I know you’re a holy prophet of God because an angel told me in a vision that I should welcome you. So, come to my house and I’ll share my food with you. I believe you will be a blessing to me and my household.” |
| Alma 8:21 | And it came to pass that the man received him into his house; and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and meat and set before Alma. | The man welcomed him into his house; his name was Amulek. He brought out bread and meat and served Alma. |
| Alma 8:22 | And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was filled; and he blessed Amulek and his house, and he gave thanks unto God. | Alma ate bread until he was full. He blessed Amulek and his household and thanked God. |
| Alma 8:23 | And after he had eaten and was filled he said unto Amulek: I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God throughout the land. | After he had finished eating, he said to Amulek, “I am Alma, the high priest over the church of God in this land.” |
| Alma 8:24 | And behold, I have been called to preach the word of God among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy; and I was in this land and they would not receive me, but they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever. | I have been called to preach God’s word to these people through the spirit of revelation and prophecy. But they wouldn’t accept me and threw me out. I was about to leave this place forever. |
| Alma 8:25 | But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn again and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against them concerning their iniquities. | But listen, I’ve been told to come back and warn this people, to tell them about their sins. |
| Alma 8:26 | And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken me in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many days. | And now, Amulek, because you have fed me and taken me in, you are blessed. I was hungry because I had been fasting for many days. |
| Alma 8:27 | And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he began to preach unto the people. | Alma stayed with Amulek for many days before he started preaching to the people. |
| Alma 8:28 | And it came to pass that the people did wax more gross in their iniquities. | The people became even more wicked in their sins. |
| Alma 8:29 | And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away. | The word of the Lord came to Alma: Go, and tell my servant Amulek to also go and prophesy to these people, saying: Repent, for the Lord says, if you don’t repent, I will come to this people in my anger; and I will not hold back my fierce anger. |
| Alma 8:30 | And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. | Alma and Amulek went out among the people to teach them God’s words, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| Alma 8:31 | And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them. | They were given power so they couldn’t be held in dungeons, and no one could kill them. But they didn’t use their power until they were tied up and thrown into prison. This happened so the Lord could show His power through them. |
| Alma 8:32 | And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them. | They went out and started preaching and prophesying to the people, using the spirit and power the Lord had given them. |
Alma 9
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 9:1 | And again, I, Alma, having been commanded of God that I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again unto this people, or the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass as I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying: | God commanded me, Alma, to take Amulek and go preach again to the people in the city of Ammonihah. As I started preaching to them, they began to argue with me, saying: |
| Alma 9:2 | Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away? | Who are you? Do you really think we’d believe what just one person says, even if he tells us that the earth will pass away? |
| Alma 9:3 | Now they understood not the words which they spake; for they knew not that the earth should pass away. | They didn’t understand what they were saying because they didn’t know that the earth would one day pass away. |
| Alma 9:4 | And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day. | They also said: We won’t believe what you say, even if you predict that this great city will be destroyed in one day. |
| Alma 9:5 | Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous works, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people. | They didn’t know that God could do such amazing things, because they were stubborn and hard-hearted people. |
| Alma 9:6 | And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things? | They asked, “Who is God to only send one person with the authority to tell us about such amazing and important things?” |
| Alma 9:7 | And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them, yea, I did boldly testify unto them, saying: | They tried to grab me, but they couldn’t. I stood confidently and boldly told them: |
| Alma 9:8 | Behold, O ye wicked and perverse generation, how have ye forgotten the tradition of your fathers; yea, how soon ye have forgotten the commandments of God. | Look, you wicked and twisted generation, how could you have forgotten the traditions of your fathers? I mean, how quickly have you forgotten God’s commandments? |
| Alma 9:9 | Do ye not remember that our father, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem by the hand of God? Do ye not remember that they were all led by him through the wilderness? | Don’t you remember that God brought our father, Lehi, out of Jerusalem? Don’t you remember that God led them all through the wilderness? |
| Alma 9:10 | And have ye forgotten so soon how many times he delivered our fathers out of the hands of their enemies, and preserved them from being destroyed, even by the hands of their own brethren? | Have you forgotten already how many times he saved our ancestors from their enemies and protected them from being destroyed, even by their own people? |
| Alma 9:11 | Yea, and if it had not been for his matchless power, and his mercy, and his long-suffering towards us, we should unavoidably have been cut off from the face of the earth long before this period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state of endless misery and woe. | If it weren’t for God’s incredible power, mercy, and patience with us, we would have been wiped out long ago and possibly ended up in endless suffering and misery. |
| Alma 9:12 | Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. But behold, this is not all—he has commanded you to repent, or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the earth; yea, he will visit you in his anger, and in his fierce anger he will not turn away. | Listen, now I’m telling you that He commands you to repent; and if you don’t, you won’t be able to inherit the kingdom of God. But that’s not all—He’s commanded you to repent, or He will completely destroy you from the face of the earth; yes, He will come to you in His anger, and in His fierce anger, He will not turn away. |
| Alma 9:13 | Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. | Do you remember what He said to Lehi? “If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land.” And He also said, “If you don’t keep my commandments, you will be cut off from the presence of the Lord.” |
| Alma 9:14 | Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the word of the Lord has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have been cut off from his presence, from the beginning of their transgressions in the land. | I want you to remember that since the Lamanites didn’t keep God’s commandments, they have been separated from the Lord’s presence. We can see that what God said has come true—since the beginning of their disobedience in the land, the Lamanites have been cut off from Him. |
| Alma 9:15 | Nevertheless I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for them in the day of judgment than for you, if ye remain in your sins, yea, and even more tolerable for them in this life than for you, except ye repent. | But I tell you, it will be easier for them on the day of judgment than for you if you keep sinning. It will even be easier for them in this life than for you unless you repent. |
| Alma 9:16 | For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land. | There are many promises for the Lamanites. They stayed ignorant because of their fathers’ traditions, so the Lord will be merciful and let them continue living in the land. |
| Alma 9:17 | And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name. | At some point, they will start to believe in His word and understand that their ancestors’ traditions were wrong. Many of them will be saved because the Lord is merciful to everyone who calls on His name. |
| Alma 9:18 | But behold, I say unto you that if ye persist in your wickedness that your days shall not be prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you; and if ye repent not they shall come in a time when you know not, and ye shall be visited with utter destruction; and it shall be according to the fierce anger of the Lord. | But listen, I’m telling you that if you keep being wicked, your time in the land will be cut short because the Lamanites will be sent against you; and if you don’t repent, they’ll come when you least expect it, and you’ll be completely destroyed, all because of the Lord’s fierce anger. |
| Alma 9:19 | For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people who are called the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall into sins and transgressions, after having had so much light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God; | God will not let you keep living in your sins to destroy His people. No, He would rather allow the Lamanites to destroy all the Nephites if they could fall into sins and mistakes after being given so much light and knowledge from the Lord their God. |
| Alma 9:20 | Yea, after having been such a highly favored people of the Lord; yea, after having been favored above every other nation, kindred, tongue, or people; after having had all things made known unto them, according to their desires, and their faith, and prayers, of that which has been, and which is, and which is to come; | Yes, even though we were a people blessed by the Lord more than any other nation or people, and having everything revealed to us because of our faith, prayers, and desires about the past, present, and future… |
| Alma 9:21 | Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation; | The Spirit of God visited me; I talked with angels and heard the voice of the Lord. I have the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and many gifts, including speaking in tongues, preaching, the Holy Ghost, and translating. |
| Alma 9:22 | Yea, and after having been delivered of God out of the land of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Lord; having been saved from famine, and from sickness, and all manner of diseases of every kind; and they having waxed strong in battle, that they might not be destroyed; having been brought out of bondage time after time, and having been kept and preserved until now; and they have been prospered until they are rich in all manner of things— | Yes, after being delivered by God from Jerusalem through His power; having been saved from famine, sickness, and all kinds of diseases; and becoming strong in battle so they wouldn’t be destroyed; after being freed from captivity time and again and preserved until now; they have become prosperous and rich in all kinds of things… |
| Alma 9:23 | And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them. | And now listen to this: If the people who have received so many blessings from the Lord start disobeying despite the knowledge they have, it will be worse for them than for the Lamanites. |
| Alma 9:24 | For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed, that if ye will rebel against him that ye shall utterly be destroyed from off the face of the earth? | Listen, the Lord’s promises are given to the Lamanites, but they aren’t for you if you disobey. Didn’t the Lord clearly say that if you rebel against Him, you’ll be completely destroyed from the earth? |
| Alma 9:25 | And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord has sent his angel to visit many of his people, declaring unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto this people, saying: Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand; | Now, so you won’t be destroyed, the Lord has sent an angel to many of His people to tell them to go and strongly urge everyone to repent, because the kingdom of heaven is very close. |
| Alma 9:26 | And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers. | In a few days, the Son of God will come in his glory, and his glory will be that of the Father’s Only Begotten, full of grace, fairness, and truth. He will be patient, merciful, and enduring, quick to listen to his people’s cries and respond to their prayers. |
| Alma 9:27 | And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name. | And look, he comes to save those who choose to be baptized and repent, through faith in his name. |
| Alma 9:28 | Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil. | Get ready for the Lord’s coming, because the time is near when everyone will be judged by their actions. If you have been righteous, you will receive the salvation of your soul through the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ. If you have been evil, you will face the damnation of your soul through the power and captivity of the devil. |
| Alma 9:29 | Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying unto the people. | Now listen, this is the angel speaking to the people⦠|
| Alma 9:30 | And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen people. | My dear brothers, you are my brothers, and you should be loved. You should also do works that show true repentance, especially since your hearts have been seriously hardened against God’s word, and you are a lost and fallen people. |
| Alma 9:31 | Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken these words, behold, the people were wroth with me because I said unto them that they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people. | After I, Alma, said these things, the people got really angry with me because I told them they were stubborn and hardheaded. |
| Alma 9:32 | And also because I said unto them that they were a lost and a fallen people they were angry with me, and sought to lay their hands upon me, that they might cast me into prison. | I told them they were lost and fallen, which made them angry with me, and they tried to grab me and throw me into prison. |
| Alma 9:33 | But it came to pass that the Lord did not suffer them that they should take me at that time and cast me into prison. | But the Lord didn’t let them take me and throw me into prison at that time. |
| Alma 9:34 | And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood forth, and began to preach unto them also. And now the words of Amulek are not all written, nevertheless a part of his words are written in this book. | Amulek stood up and started preaching to the people. Not all his words are written down, but part of what he said is recorded in this book. |
Alma 10
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 10:1 | Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying: | Here is what Amulek said to the people in the land of Ammonihah: |
| Alma 10:2 | I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was the same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God. | I am Amulek. I’m the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi. Aminadi was the one who interpreted the writing on the temple wall, which was written by the finger of God. |
| Alma 10:3 | And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren. | Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi. Lehi came out of Jerusalem and was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers. |
| Alma 10:4 | And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry. | I am also a well-known man among those who know me. I have many relatives and friends, and I’ve gained a lot of wealth through my hard work. |
| Alma 10:5 | Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. | Even after all of this, I didn’t think I knew much about the ways of the Lord or his mysteries and incredible power. I said I didn’t know much about these things, but I was wrong, because I have seen a lot of his mysteries and marvelous power, especially in how he has preserved the lives of this people. |
| Alma 10:6 | Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges. | I kept hardening my heart. Even though I was called many times, I wouldn’t listen. I knew about these things, but I didn’t want to accept them. So, I kept rebelling against God, with wickedness in my heart, right up until the fourth day of the seventh month, in the tenth year of the judges’ rule. |
| Alma 10:7 | As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house. | While I was traveling to visit a close family member, an angel of the Lord appeared to me and said, “Amulek, go back home because you need to feed a prophet of the Lord—a holy and chosen man of God. He has been fasting for many days because of the people’s sins and is hungry. You will welcome him into your house, feed him, and he will bless you and your household, and the Lord’s blessing will be upon you and your family.” |
| Alma 10:8 | And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God. | I listened to the angel and went back towards my house. On my way, I found the man the angel told me to take into my home. It was the same man who had been talking to me about the things of God. |
| Alma 10:9 | And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God. | The angel told me he is a holy man. I know he is holy because an angel of God said so. |
| Alma 10:10 | And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house. | I know that everything he testified about is true. As surely as the Lord lives, he sent an angel to reveal these things to me while Alma was living at my house. |
| Alma 10:11 | For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake. | God has blessed my household, me, my wives, my children, my father, my relatives—yes, all my family. The Lord’s blessings have been upon us just as he said they would. |
| Alma 10:12 | And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them. | After Amulek finished speaking, the people were shocked. They saw that more than one person was testifying about the things they were accused of and the things that were going to happen, according to the spirit of prophecy in them. |
| Alma 10:13 | Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them. | Some of them wanted to trap the others with tricky questions so they could catch them saying something wrong, find witnesses, and bring them to the judges to be put on trial. If found guilty, they could be imprisoned or even killed. |
| Alma 10:14 | Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges. | The men who wanted to ruin them were lawyers hired or chosen by the people to handle the law during their trials or when crimes were brought before the judges. |
| Alma 10:15 | Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession. | These lawyers knew all the skills and tricks of the people, which made them very good at their job. |
| Alma 10:16 | And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak. | They started questioning Amulek to try to trip him up and make him contradict himself. |
| Alma 10:17 | Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundation of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God. | They didn’t know that Amulek could understand their plans. But as they started to question him, he realized what they were thinking, and he said to them: “You wicked and corrupt generation, you lawyers and hypocrites, you are laying down the foundation of the devil; you are setting traps and snares to catch the holy people of God.” |
| Alma 10:18 | Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people. | You are making plans to corrupt the paths of the righteous and to bring God’s anger upon yourselves, leading to the complete destruction of this people. |
| Alma 10:19 | Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction. | Yes, Mosiah, our last king, was right when he said that since he had no one to pass the kingdom to, he would let the people govern themselves. He also warned that if the time ever came when the people chose to do wrong and fall into sin, they would be ready for destruction. |
| Alma 10:20 | And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | Now I tell you, the Lord judges your sins accurately and calls out to this people through His angels: Repent, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. |
| Alma 10:21 | Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands. | Yes, he proclaims through his angels that: I will come down among my people with fairness and justice. |
| Alma 10:22 | Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword. | If it weren’t for the prayers of the good people here, you would have already faced complete destruction. But it wouldn’t be by floods like in Noah’s time; it would be through famine, disease, and war. |
| Alma 10:23 | But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent. | But it’s because of the prayers of good people that you’re being spared. So, if you kick them out from among you, the Lord won’t hold back anymore. In His fierce anger, He will come against you, and you will be hit with famine, disease, and war. This will happen soon unless you repent. |
| Alma 10:24 | And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected. | Now, the people got even angrier with Amulek and shouted, “This guy is speaking against our fair laws and the wise lawyers we chose.” |
| Alma 10:25 | But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth? | But Amulek reached out his hand and shouted even louder at them, saying: “You wicked and twisted people, why has Satan gained such a strong grip on your hearts? Why are you giving yourselves over to him, letting him have power over you to blind your eyes so that you can’t understand the truth of these words?” |
| Alma 10:26 | For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation. | Have I criticized your law? You don’t get it; you think I’ve spoken against it, but that’s not true. I’ve actually supported your law, which condemns you. |
| Alma 10:27 | And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges. | Listen up, I’m telling you that these people are on a path to ruin because our lawyers and judges are acting unfairly. |
| Alma 10:28 | And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it. | After Amulek said these things, the people yelled at him, saying: “Now we know this man is a child of the devil, because he has lied to us; he spoke against our law. And now he claims that he hasn’t spoken against it.” |
| Alma 10:29 | And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges. | He’s also badmouthed our lawyers and judges. |
| Alma 10:30 | And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him. | The lawyers decided in their hearts to keep these things in mind against him. |
| Alma 10:31 | And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people. | There was a man named Zeezrom among them. He was the main one accusing Amulek and Alma. Zeezrom was very skilled and had a lot of dealings with the people. |
| Alma 10:32 | Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ. | The lawyers wanted to make money, and they made money based on their work. |
Alma 11
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 11:1 | Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged. | According to the law of Mosiah, every judge was supposed to be paid based on the amount of time they spent judging cases. |
| Alma 11:2 | Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber. | If a man owed another and wouldn’t pay, he was brought before a judge. The judge would send officers to bring the man in, evaluate the case based on the law and evidence, and then force the man to either pay what he owed or face being stripped of his belongings or exiled as a thief and a robber. |
| Alma 11:3 | And the judge received for his wages according to his time—a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given. | The judge earned his salary based on his time—a senine of gold per day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; this was according to the law. |
| Alma 11:4 | Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and their measure, according to the minds and the circumstances of the people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they having been established by king Mosiah. | Here are the names of their different types of gold and silver pieces, based on their value. The Nephites had different names for them compared to the Jews in Jerusalem. They used a different system for their measurements and values, which they changed according to what worked best for their people over time, up until the time of the judges, which had been set up by King Mosiah. |
| Alma 11:5 | Now the reckoning is thus—a senine of gold, a seon of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold. | Here’s the breakdown: a senine of gold, a seon of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold. |
| Alma 11:6 | A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver. | A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of silver, and an onti of silver. |
| Alma 11:7 | A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every kind of grain. | A silver senum was equal to a gold senine, and either could buy a measure of barley or any other kind of grain. |
| Alma 11:8 | Now the amount of a seon of gold was twice the value of a senine. | The value of a seon of gold was twice that of a senine. |
| Alma 11:9 | And a shum of gold was twice the value of a seon. | A shum of gold was worth twice as much as a seon. |
| Alma 11:10 | And a limnah of gold was the value of them all. | The value of all of them was a limnah of gold. |
| Alma 11:11 | And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums. | A silver amnor was worth two senums. |
| Alma 11:12 | And an ezrom of silver was as great as four senums. | An ezrom of silver was worth as much as four senums. |
| Alma 11:13 | And an onti was as great as them all. | An onti was worth as much as all the others combined. |
| Alma 11:14 | Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their reckoning— | This is how they value the smaller numbers. |
| Alma 11:15 | A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon for half a measure of barley. | A shiblon is worth half of a senum, so a shiblon would be used to pay for half a measure of barley. |
| Alma 11:16 | And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon. | A shiblum is half of a shiblon. |
| Alma 11:17 | And a leah is the half of a shiblum. | A leah is half a shiblum. |
| Alma 11:18 | Now this is their number, according to their reckoning. | Here is their number, according to their records. |
| Alma 11:19 | Now an antion of gold is equal to three shiblons. | One gold antion is worth three shiblons. |
| Alma 11:20 | Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek. | The only reason they did it was to make money, since they got paid based on their work. So, they stirred up the people to riot and cause all kinds of trouble and wickedness so they would have more work and make more money from the cases that came before them. That’s why they stirred up the people against Alma and Amulek. |
| Alma 11:21 | And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you? | Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will you answer a few questions I want to ask you? Zeezrom was very clever in using evil tricks to destroy good things. He said to Amulek: Will you answer the questions I ask you? |
| Alma 11:22 | And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being. | Amulek said to him, “Yes, if it’s in line with the Spirit of the Lord in me; I won’t say anything against it.” Zeezrom then said, “Look, here are six pieces of silver. I’ll give them all to you if you deny the existence of a Supreme Being.” |
| Alma 11:23 | Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations? | Amulek said, “You child of hell, why are you trying to tempt me? Don’t you know that the righteous don’t give in to such temptations?” |
| Alma 11:24 | Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him. | Do you really think there’s no God? I’m telling you, no way. Deep down, you know there’s a God, but you love money more than Him. |
| Alma 11:25 | And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me—Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee—when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward. | You have lied before God and to me. You told me you would give me these six valuable coins, but you planned to keep them for yourself. You just wanted me to deny the true and living God so you could have a reason to destroy me. Now, because of this great evil, you will receive your punishment. |
| Alma 11:26 | And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God? | Zeezrom asked him, “Are you saying there’s a true and living God?” |
| Alma 11:27 | And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God. | And Amulek said, “Yes, there is a true and living God.” |
| Alma 11:28 | Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? | Then Zeezrom asked, “Is there more than one God?” |
| Alma 11:29 | And he answered, No. | He said, “No.” |
| Alma 11:30 | Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things? | Zeezrom asked him again, “How do you know these things?” |
| Alma 11:31 | And he said: An angel hath made them known unto me. | He said, “An angel has told me about them.” |
| Alma 11:32 | And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God? | And Zeezrom asked again, “Who is going to come? Is it the Son of God?” |
| Alma 11:33 | And he said unto him, Yea. | He replied, “Yes.” |
| Alma 11:34 | And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word. | Zeezrom asked, “Will he save his people while they’re still in their sins?” Amulek replied, “No, he won’t, because he can’t go against his own word.” |
| Alma 11:35 | Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people—as though he had authority to command God. | Zeezrom said to the people, “Remember these things. He says there is only one God, but also says that the Son of God will come and won’t save his people, as though he can command God.” |
| Alma 11:36 | Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins. | Amulek replied to him, “You’re lying. You said I spoke with authority to command God because I said He won’t save His people in their sins.” |
| Alma 11:37 | And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins. | I’m telling you again, he can’t save them while they’re still in their sins; I can’t go against his word, and he’s said that nothing impure can enter the kingdom of heaven. So, how can you be saved if you don’t enter the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, you can’t be saved if you’re still in your sins. |
| Alma 11:38 | Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? | Then Zeezrom asked him again, “Is the Son of God actually the Eternal Father?” |
| Alma 11:39 | And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last; | Amulek answered him, “Yes, He is truly the Eternal Father of heaven and earth, and everything in them. He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” |
| Alma 11:40 | And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else. | He will come into the world to save his people. He will take on the sins of those who believe in him. These are the ones who will have eternal life. Salvation comes to no one else. |
| Alma 11:41 | Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works. | So, the wicked will act as if no redemption was made, except for being freed from death’s grip. For a time will come when everyone will rise from the dead, stand before God, and be judged based on their actions. |
| Alma 11:42 | Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. | There is a type of death called physical death. Jesus Christ’s death will break the chains of this physical death, so that everyone will be resurrected from it. |
| Alma 11:43 | The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. | Our spirits and bodies will be reunited in their perfect form, with every limb and joint restored as they are now. We’ll stand before God, knowing as we do now, and clearly remembering all our guilt. |
| Alma 11:44 | Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. | This restoration will come to everyone, both old and young, both those in bondage and those who are free, both men and women, both the wicked and the righteous. Not a single hair on their heads will be lost. Everything will be restored perfectly as it was, either in the body or as it is now. They will be brought before the judgment bar of Christ the Son, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, who are one Eternal God, to be judged according to their deeds, whether those deeds are good or evil. |
| Alma 11:45 | Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption. | Listen, I’ve talked to you about the death of our physical bodies and also about their resurrection. I’m telling you that our mortal bodies will be raised to become immortal. This means they’ll come back from death, from the first death to life again, and will never die anymore. Our spirits will reunite with our bodies, never to be separated again, making them whole, spiritual, and immortal, free from decay or corruption. |
| Alma 11:46 | Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written. | When Amulek finished speaking, the people were amazed again, and Zeezrom started to tremble. And that was the end of Amulek’s words, or this is all that I have written. |
Alma 12
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 12:1 | Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done. | When Alma saw that Amulek’s words had shut Zeezrom up, and noticed that Amulek had exposed his lies and deceit, making Zeezrom start to tremble because he felt guilty, Alma spoke up to confirm what Amulek said and to explain further, expanding on the scriptures beyond what Amulek had covered. |
| Alma 12:2 | Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by the people round about; for the multitude was great, and he spake on this wise: | Alma’s words to Zeezrom were heard by the people around them, because there was a large crowd, and he spoke like this:. |
| Alma 12:3 | Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit; | Zeezrom, now that you’ve been caught in your lies and deceit, you haven’t just lied to people but to God as well. He knows all your thoughts, and you can see that His Spirit has shown us what you’re thinking. |
| Alma 12:4 | And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out— | You see that we know your plan was very clever, like the cunning of the devil, meant to lie and deceive these people so you could turn them against us, insult us, and drive us out. |
| Alma 12:5 | Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all. | This was your enemy’s plan, and he has used his power over you. I want you to remember that what I say to you, I say to everyone. |
| Alma 12:6 | And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity. | Listen up, everyone. This was a trap set by the enemy to capture you and put you under his control. He wants to wrap his chains around you and keep you bound forever, leading you to everlasting destruction with the power of his captivity. |
| Alma 12:7 | Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy. | After Alma spoke, Zeezrom started shaking even more because he was becoming increasingly convinced of God’s power. He also realized that Alma and Amulek knew him well, even understanding his thoughts and intentions, because they were given the ability to perceive these things through the spirit of prophecy. |
| Alma 12:8 | And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works? | Zeezrom wanted to learn more about the kingdom of God, so he started asking them questions. He asked Alma, “What does it mean when Amulek talked about the resurrection of the dead, that everyone will rise again, both the righteous and the wicked, and will stand before God to be judged based on their actions?” |
| Alma 12:9 | And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. | Alma started explaining these things to him, saying: Many people are given the chance to know God’s mysteries, but they are strictly commanded to only share according to the portion of His word granted to them, based on the attention and effort they give to Him. |
| Alma 12:10 | And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. | So, if you choose to harden your heart, you’ll receive less of God’s word. But if you keep your heart open, you’ll be given more of God’s word until you understand His mysteries completely. |
| Alma 12:11 | And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. | Those who harden their hearts are given less and less of God’s word until they know nothing about His mysteries. Then the devil captures them and leads them to destruction. This is what is meant by the chains of hell. |
| Alma 12:12 | And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works. | Amulek has clearly talked about death and rising from mortality to immortality, and being brought before God to be judged based on our actions. |
| Alma 12:13 | Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned. | If our hearts have become hardened and we’ve rejected the word so much that it isn’t within us, our situation will be dire, and we will be judged harshly. |
| Alma 12:14 | For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence. | Our words will judge us, and so will our actions. We won’t be found innocent. Our thoughts will also judge us, leaving us in such a terrible state that we won’t dare to look at God. We’d wish the rocks and mountains could fall on us to hide us from His presence. |
| Alma 12:15 | But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance. | But this can’t happen; we must show up and stand before him in his glory and power and strength, majesty, and rule, and admit to our eternal shame that all his judgments are fair; that he is just in everything he does, and that he is merciful to all people, and that he has the power to save anyone who believes in his name and shows true repentance. |
| Alma 12:16 | And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness. | Now listen, I’m telling you that there’s a death, called the second death, which is a spiritual death. When someone dies still carrying their sins, they don’t just experience physical death but also spiritual death. They won’t be connected to righteousness anymore. |
| Alma 12:17 | Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will. | That’s when their suffering will be like a lake of fire and brimstone, with flames that burn forever. That’s when they’ll be trapped in everlasting destruction, controlled and held captive by Satan, who has made them his according to his will. |
| Alma 12:18 | Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God—s justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption. | Then I tell you, it will be as if no redemption ever happened; they can’t be saved by God’s justice, and they can’t die because there’s no more decay. |
| Alma 12:19 | Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of speaking these words, the people began to be more astonished; | When Alma finished speaking, the people started to be even more amazed. |
| Alma 12:20 | But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler among them, came forth and said unto him: What is this that thou hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state that the soul can never die? | There was a man named Antionah, who was one of their chief rulers. He came forward and asked, “What do you mean when you say that people will rise from the dead and be changed from mortal to immortal, so the soul can never die?” |
| Alma 12:21 | What does the scripture mean, which saith that God placed cherubim and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden, lest our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, and live forever? And thus we see that there was no possible chance that they should live forever. | What does the scripture mean that says God placed cherubim and a flaming sword on the east side of the Garden of Eden, so that our first parents couldn’t enter, eat from the tree of life, and live forever? This shows that there was no possible way for them to live forever. |
| Alma 12:22 | Now Alma said unto him: This is the thing which I was about to explain, now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people. | Alma said: This is what I was going to explain. We see that Adam fell by eating the forbidden fruit, just as God said. Because of his fall, all humanity became lost and fallen. |
| Alma 12:23 | And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar, for he said: If thou eat thou shalt surely die. | So here’s the thing: if Adam could have eaten from the tree of life back then, there wouldn’t be death. This would make God a liar, because He said, “If you eat it, you’ll definitely die.” |
| Alma 12:24 | And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead. | We see that death comes to everyone. Amulek talked about this type of death, which is a physical death. However, humans were given time to repent, so this life became a time to prepare to meet God and to get ready for the life after resurrection. |
| Alma 12:25 | Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken. | If it weren’t for the plan of redemption set up from the beginning of the world, there wouldn’t be any resurrection of the dead. But because there is a plan of redemption, the resurrection of the dead will happen, just as has been said. |
| Alma 12:26 | And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect. | Now look, if our first parents could’ve eaten from the tree of life, they would’ve been miserable forever because they wouldn’t have had a time to prepare; the plan of redemption would’ve been ruined, and God’s word would’ve meant nothing. |
| Alma 12:27 | But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto men that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end. | But look, that’s not how it was. Everyone has to die, and after they die, they must face judgment, the same judgment we’ve talked about before, which is the end. |
| Alma 12:28 | And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them; | After God decided that these things should come to man, He saw that it was important for people to know about the things He had decided for them. |
| Alma 12:29 | Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory. | So he sent angels to talk to them, and they helped people see his glory. |
| Alma 12:30 | And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works. | From that time on, they started calling on God’s name. God talked with people and revealed to them the plan of redemption that had been set from the beginning of the world. He made this known to them according to their faith, repentance, and good actions. |
| Alma 12:31 | Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good— | So, he gave people commandments after they had already broken the first ones about worldly things, and became like Gods, knowing good and evil. They ended up in a position where they could act according to their desires, choosing either to do evil or to do good. |
| Alma 12:32 | Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God. | So, after God revealed the plan of redemption to them, He gave them commandments, telling them not to do evil. The consequence of doing evil would be a second death, which means eternal separation from righteousness. The plan of redemption wouldn’t work for them because justice must be upheld according to God’s supreme goodness. |
| Alma 12:33 | But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son; | God called out to people in the name of His Son, saying: If you repent and don’t harden your hearts, I will have mercy on you through my Only Begotten Son. |
| Alma 12:34 | Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. | So, anyone who repents and doesn’t harden their heart can receive mercy through my Only Begotten Son and have their sins forgiven; they will enter into my rest. |
| Alma 12:35 | And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest. | Anyone who hardens their heart and does wrong, I swear in my anger that they will not find peace with me. |
| Alma 12:36 | And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first. | Now, my brothers, I tell you that if you stubbornly refuse to change your hearts, you won’t enter the Lord’s peace. Your sins will make Him angry, bringing His wrath upon you as He did before, just as He said He would, leading to the eternal destruction of your souls. This will bring about your final death, as well as your initial one. |
| Alma 12:37 | And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word. | Now, my brothers, since we know these things are true, let’s repent and not harden our hearts so we don’t anger the Lord our God and bring His wrath upon us. Instead, let’s enter into God’s rest, which He has prepared according to His word. |
Alma 13
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 13:1 | And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. | And again, my friends, I want to remind you of the time when God gave these commandments to His children; and I want you to remember that God appointed priests, following His holy order, which is the same order as His Son’s, to teach these things to the people. |
| Alma 13:2 | And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. | The priests were ordained following the order of God’s Son, so that people would know how to look forward to His Son for redemption. |
| Alma 13:3 | And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. | This is how they were chosen: God knew from the beginning who would have great faith and do good works. First, they were given the choice between good and evil. Because they chose good and had great faith, they were given a special calling, a calling that was part of God’s plan for their redemption. |
| Alma 13:4 | And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. | They were called to this holy calling because of their faith, while others rejected God’s Spirit because their hearts were hard and their minds were blind. If it weren’t for this, they could have had the same privileges as their brothers. |
| Alma 13:5 | Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared— | In short, they were initially equal with their brothers. This holy calling was prepared from the beginning of the world for those who wouldn’t harden their hearts, through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared. |
| Alma 13:6 | And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest— | I’ve been called to this sacred role and ordained to the high priesthood of God’s holy order to teach His commandments to everyone, so they too can find peace in Him. |
| Alma 13:7 | This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things— | This high priesthood is according to the order of God’s Son, an order that has existed since the beginning of the world. In other words, it has no beginning or end and was prepared from eternity to eternity, according to God’s knowledge of everything. |
| Alma 13:8 | Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end— | They were chosen in this way—called with a holy calling, ordained with a sacred ordinance, and took on the high priesthood of the holy order, which has no beginning or end. |
| Alma 13:9 | Thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen. | So they become high priests forever, following the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who has no beginning or end, and is full of grace, fairness, and truth. And that’s how it is. Amen. |
| Alma 13:10 | Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish; | Now, as I mentioned about the holy order or the high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God. This happened because of their strong faith, repentance, and righteousness before God. They chose to repent and live righteously instead of perishing. |
| Alma 13:11 | Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. | So, they were called into this holy order and were made holy, and their clothes were made pure and clean through the sacrifice of Jesus. |
| Alma 13:12 | Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God. | After being sanctified by the Holy Ghost and having their garments made pure and spotless before God, they could not look at sin without feeling disgusted. Many, indeed a very many, were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord, their God. |
| Alma 13:13 | And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest. | Now, my brothers, I want you to humble yourselves before God and show true signs of repentance, so that you can also find that peace. |
| Alma 13:14 | Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high priesthood forever. | Just like the people in Melchizedek’s time, who humbled themselves, follow his example and embrace the high priesthood that lasts forever. |
| Alma 13:15 | And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed. | This is the same Melchizedek that Abraham paid tithes to; yes, even our forefather Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he owned. |
| Alma 13:16 | Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord. | These practices were given like this so that the people could look forward to the Son of God. They symbolized His way and helped the people look to Him for forgiveness of their sins, allowing them to enter the rest of the Lord. |
| Alma 13:17 | Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness; | Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem, and his people had become very wicked and immoral. They had all gone astray and were full of all kinds of evil. |
| Alma 13:18 | But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father. | But Melchizedek had great faith and was given the high priesthood according to God’s holy order. He preached repentance to his people, and they repented. Melchizedek brought peace to the land during his time, so he was called the prince of peace. He was the king of Salem and ruled under his father. |
| Alma 13:19 | Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention. | There were many who came before him and many who came after, but none were greater; so, people talk about him more specifically. |
| Alma 13:20 | Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. | I don’t need to go over it again; what I’ve said is enough. You have the scriptures in front of you; if you twist their meaning, it’ll be your own downfall. |
| Alma 13:21 | And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh; | After Alma finished speaking, he raised his hand and shouted loudly, “Now is the time to repent, because the day of salvation is coming soon.” |
| Alma 13:22 | Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us. | Yes, the Lord speaks to all nations through angels, sharing the message of great joy, so everyone can hear it. These happy messages reach all His people, even those who are far away across the earth, and that’s why they have come to us. |
| Alma 13:23 | And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard. | These things are made clear to us so we can understand and not make mistakes. This is because we are living in a foreign land, so we are very blessed to have this good news shared with us everywhere in our land. |
| Alma 13:24 | For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory. | Listen, angels are telling many people in our land about it right now. This is to get people ready to accept His word when He comes in His glory. |
| Alma 13:25 | And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice. | Now we’re just waiting to hear the good news from the angels about His coming. We don’t know exactly when it will happen. I really hope it happens in my lifetime, but whether it’s sooner or later, I’ll be happy when it does. |
| Alma 13:26 | And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them. | Good and holy men will learn about it from angels when He comes, so that what our ancestors said about Him, through the spirit of prophecy, will come true. |
| Alma 13:27 | And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance; | Now, my brothers, I deeply wish—so much that it causes me pain—that you would listen to me, let go of your sins, and not delay your repentance. |
| Alma 13:28 | But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; | But you should humble yourselves before the Lord, pray constantly, and call on His holy name, so you won’t be tempted more than you can handle, and you’ll be guided by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, gentle, obedient, patient, full of love, and enduring through all challenges. |
| Alma 13:29 | Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. | Have faith in the Lord, hope for eternal life, and keep God’s love in your hearts so you can be uplifted at the end and find peace with Him. |
| Alma 13:30 | And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death. | May the Lord help you repent, so you don’t bring His anger upon yourselves, so you aren’t trapped by the chains of hell, and so you don’t suffer the second death. |
| Alma 13:31 | And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book. | Alma spoke many more words to the people that aren’t written in this book. |
Alma 14
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 14:1 | And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures. | After he finished speaking to the people, many believed what he said, started to repent, and began studying the scriptures. |
| Alma 14:2 | But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges. | Most of them wanted to kill Alma and Amulek because they were mad at Alma for speaking so bluntly to Zeezrom. They also accused Amulek of lying to them and insulting their law, lawyers, and judges. |
| Alma 14:3 | And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to put them away privily. | They were also mad at Alma and Amulek. Because Alma and Amulek spoke so clearly against their wrongdoing, they tried to secretly get rid of them. |
| Alma 14:4 | But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land. | But they didn’t follow through; instead, they tied them up with strong ropes and brought them to the chief judge of the land. |
| Alma 14:5 | And the people went forth and witnessed against them—testifying that they had reviled against the law, and their lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should not save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land. | The people came forward and testified against Alma and Amulek, saying that they had spoken against the law, the lawyers, and the judges of the land, as well as against all the people. They also testified that there is only one God, who would send His Son among the people, but that He would not save them. They made many such accusations before the chief judge of the land. |
| Alma 14:6 | And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell. | Zeezrom was amazed by what had been said, and he realized the mental blindness he had caused among the people with his lies. He started to feel deep guilt and was tormented by the pains of hell. |
| Alma 14:7 | And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them. | He started to cry out to the people, saying: Look, I am guilty and these men are innocent before God. From then on, he began to plead for them, but they mocked him, asking: Are you also possessed by the devil? They spit on him, threw him out along with all those who believed in the words of Alma and Amulek, and sent men to throw stones at them. |
| Alma 14:8 | And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire, and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire. | They gathered their wives and children, and anyone who believed in the word of God, or had been taught to believe, and threw them into the fire. They also brought their records containing the holy scriptures and threw them into the fire to be burned and destroyed. |
| Alma 14:9 | And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire. | They took Alma and Amulek to the place where people were being martyred by fire so they could witness it. |
| Alma 14:10 | And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames. | When Amulek saw the suffering of the women and children burning in the fire, he felt their pain too. He asked Alma, “How can we watch this terrible sight? Let’s use God’s power in us to save them from the flames.” |
| Alma 14:11 | But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day. | But Alma said to him: The Spirit is telling me that I should not reach out my hand; because the Lord takes these people to himself in glory. He allows these things to happen because of people’s hard hearts so that his future judgments on them will be fair. The innocent blood will stand as a witness against them and cry out against them on the last day. |
| Alma 14:12 | Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also. | Then Amulek said to Alma, “Look, maybe they will burn us too.” |
| Alma 14:13 | And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not. | Alma said, “Let it be as the Lord wills. But look, our work isn’t done yet; so they won’t burn us.” |
| Alma 14:14 | Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone? | After the bodies of those thrown into the fire were burned up, along with the records that were thrown in with them, the chief judge came and stood in front of Alma and Amulek, who were tied up. He slapped them on the cheeks and said, “After everything you’ve seen, are you still going to preach to these people that they will be thrown into a lake of fire and brimstone?” |
| Alma 14:15 | Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves? | Look, you see that you couldn’t save those who were thrown into the fire, and God didn’t save them because they shared your faith. Then the judge hit them again and asked, “What do you have to say for yourselves?” |
| Alma 14:16 | Now this judge was after the order and faith of Nehor, who slew Gideon. | This judge followed the beliefs and teachings of Nehor, who killed Gideon. |
| Alma 14:17 | And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered him nothing; and he smote them again, and delivered them to the officers to be cast into prison. | Alma and Amulek didn’t say anything in response, so he hit them again and handed them over to the officers to be thrown into prison. |
| Alma 14:18 | And when they had been cast into prison three days, there came many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who were of the profession of Nehor; and they came in unto the prison to see them, and they questioned them about many words; but they answered them nothing. | After being thrown in prison for three days, a bunch of lawyers, judges, priests, and teachers who followed Nehor’s beliefs came to see them. They questioned them about many things, but the prisoners didn’t answer them at all. |
| Alma 14:19 | And it came to pass that the judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing. | The judge stood before them and said, “Why don’t you answer these people? Don’t you know I have the power to burn you? He ordered them to speak, but they said nothing. |
| Alma 14:20 | And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again on the morrow; and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves? | They left and went their separate ways, but came back the next day. The judge hit them again on their cheeks. Many others also came forward and hit them, asking, “Will you stand again to judge these people and condemn our law? If you have such great power, why don’t you save yourselves?” |
| Alma 14:21 | And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned? | They said many terrible things to them, grinding their teeth at them, spitting on them, and saying, “How will we look when we’re damned?” |
| Alma 14:22 | And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did they say unto them; and thus they did mock them for many days. And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with strong cords, and confined in prison. | They said many things like that to mock them for many days. They withheld food so they would go hungry and water so they would be thirsty. They even took their clothes, leaving them naked, and kept them tied up with strong ropes in prison. |
| Alma 14:23 | And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for many days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) that the chief judge over the land of Ammonihah and many of their teachers and their lawyers went in unto the prison where Alma and Amulek were bound with cords. | After suffering for many days, on the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi, the chief judge of Ammonihah, along with many teachers and lawyers, went to the prison where Alma and Amulek were tied up. |
| Alma 14:24 | And the chief judge stood before them, and smote them again, and said unto them: If ye have the power of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words. | The chief judge stood in front of them, hit them again, and said, “If you have God’s power, free yourselves from these ropes, and then we’ll believe that the Lord will destroy this people like you said.” |
| Alma 14:25 | And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last had spoken unto them the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet. | They all came forward and struck them, saying the same words, until the very last person had spoken. Then, the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they stood up on their feet. |
| Alma 14:26 | And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them. | Alma cried out, “Lord, how long will we suffer these great hardships? Please, Lord, give us strength according to our faith in Christ, so we can be delivered.” They then broke the cords that tied them up. When the people saw this, they started to run away because they were afraid of being destroyed. |
| Alma 14:27 | And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof. | The people were so scared that they fell to the ground and didn’t reach the prison’s outer door. The earth shook violently, and the prison walls split apart and fell. The chief judge, lawyers, priests, and teachers who had hit Alma and Amulek were killed by the falling walls. |
| Alma 14:28 | And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city. | Alma and Amulek came out of the prison unharmed because the Lord gave them power due to their faith in Christ. They immediately left the prison, freed from their chains, and the prison had collapsed. Everyone inside was killed except for Alma and Amulek. They then went straight into the city. |
| Alma 14:29 | Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek. | After hearing a loud noise, the people rushed over in large groups to find out what was happening. When they saw Alma and Amulek coming out of the prison with its walls collapsed, they were terrified and ran away from Alma and Amulek, just like a goat running away with her kids from two lions. And that’s how they fled from Alma and Amulek. |
Alma 15
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 15:1 | And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma. | Alma and Amulek were told to leave that city, so they left and went to the land of Sidom. There they found all the people who had left Ammonihah because they believed Alma’s words; these people had been cast out and stoned. |
| Alma 15:2 | And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance. | They told them everything that had happened to their wives and children, and also about themselves and how they had been delivered. |
| Alma 15:3 | And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat. | Zeezrom was lying sick in Sidom with a high fever because of the intense mental anguish from his wicked actions. He thought Alma and Amulek were dead, and believed it was his fault. This heavy guilt and his other sins weighed on his mind so much that he felt extreme pain and had no relief. He began to feel burning heat all over him. |
| Alma 15:4 | Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him. | When he heard that Alma and Amulek were in Sidom, he started to feel hopeful again. He quickly sent them a message, asking them to come to him. |
| Alma 15:5 | And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him. | They went right away, doing what he told them to do. They went to Zeezrom’s house and found him on his bed, very sick with a high fever. He was deeply troubled because of his sins. When he saw them, he reached out his hand and asked them to heal him. |
| Alma 15:6 | And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation? | Alma took him by the hand and asked, “Do you believe in the power of Christ to save you?” |
| Alma 15:7 | And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught. | He replied, “Yes, I believe everything you have taught.” |
| Alma 15:8 | And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed. | Alma said, “If you believe in the redemption of Christ, you can be healed.” |
| Alma 15:9 | And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words. | And he said: Yes, I believe what you said. |
| Alma 15:10 | And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ. | Then Alma prayed to the Lord, saying, “O Lord our God, please have mercy on this man and heal him based on his faith in Christ.” |
| Alma 15:11 | And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom. | After Alma spoke, Zeezrom jumped up and started walking, which amazed everyone. Word of this spread throughout the land of Sidom. |
| Alma 15:12 | And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people. | Alma baptized Zeezrom into the Lord’s church, and from that time on, he started preaching to the people. |
| Alma 15:13 | And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized. | Alma set up a church in the land of Sidom and appointed priests and teachers there to baptize anyone who wanted to be baptized. |
| Alma 15:14 | And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized. | A lot of people came from all around Sidom, and they got baptized. |
| Alma 15:15 | But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins. | But the people in the land of Ammonihah were still stubborn and hard-hearted. They didn’t repent of their sins and claimed that all the power of Alma and Amulek came from the devil. They followed the teachings of Nehor and didn’t believe in repenting of their sins. |
| Alma 15:16 | And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred; | Alma and Amulek went on their way. Amulek had given up all his gold, silver, and valuables in Ammonihah for the word of God. He was rejected by his friends, his father, and his family. |
| Alma 15:17 | Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction— | After Alma established the church in Sidom, he saw that the pride in people’s hearts was checked, and they started to humble themselves before God. They began gathering at their sanctuaries to worship God at the altar, always watching and praying so they could be delivered from Satan, death, and destruction. |
| Alma 15:18 | Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord. | As I mentioned, after Alma saw all these things, he took Amulek with him to the land of Zarahemla. He welcomed him into his own home, helped him through his troubles, and supported him in the Lord. |
| Alma 15:19 | And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | And that’s how the tenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended. |
Alma 16
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 16:1 | And it came to pass in the eleventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, on the fifth day of the second month, there having been much peace in the land of Zarahemla, there having been no wars nor contentions for a certain number of years, even until the fifth day of the second month in the eleventh year, there was a cry of war heard throughout the land. | In the eleventh year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, on the fifth day of the second month, there had been much peace in the land of Zarahemla. There had been no wars or conflicts for some years, but on the fifth day of the second month in the eleventh year, a cry of war was heard throughout the land. |
| Alma 16:2 | For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people and destroy the city. | The Lamanite armies invaded from the wilderness side, reaching the borders of the land and even into the city of Ammonihah. They started killing people and destroying the city. |
| Alma 16:3 | And now it came to pass, before the Nephites could raise a sufficient army to drive them out of the land, they had destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the wilderness. | Before the Nephites could gather a big enough army to drive them out, they destroyed the people in the city of Ammonihah, attacked some around the borders of Noah, and took others captive into the wilderness. |
| Alma 16:4 | Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous to obtain those who had been carried away captive into the wilderness. | The Nephites wanted to rescue those who had been kidnapped and taken into the wilderness. |
| Alma 16:5 | Therefore, he that had been appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites, (and his name was Zoram, and he had two sons, Lehi and Aha)—now Zoram and his two sons, knowing that Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he had the spirit of prophecy, therefore they went unto him and desired of him to know whither the Lord would that they should go into the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been taken captive by the Lamanites. | Zoram was the chief captain of the Nephite armies. He had two sons, Lehi and Aha. Knowing that Alma was the high priest of the church and had the gift of prophecy, Zoram and his sons went to Alma to ask where the Lord wanted them to go in the wilderness to find their brethren who had been captured by the Lamanites. |
| Alma 16:6 | And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And Alma returned and said unto them: Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti. And behold there shall ye meet them, on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the Lamanites. | Alma asked the Lord about the situation. Alma came back and told them, “The Lamanites will cross the Sidon River in the southern wilderness, far beyond the borders of the land of Manti. You’ll meet them on the east side of the Sidon River, and there the Lord will deliver your brethren who have been captured by the Lamanites.” |
| Alma 16:7 | And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon. | Zoram and his sons crossed the river Sidon with their armies and marched beyond the borders of Manti into the southern wilderness on the east side of the river. |
| Alma 16:8 | And they came upon the armies of the Lamanites, and the Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness; and they took their brethren who had been taken captive by the Lamanites, and there was not one soul of them had been lost that were taken captive. And they were brought by their brethren to possess their own lands. | They found the Lamanite armies, scattered them into the wilderness, and rescued their captured brothers. None of the captives were lost, and they returned to reclaim their own land. |
| Alma 16:9 | And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could not destroy, because of its greatness. | And that’s how the eleventh year of the judges ended. The Lamanites were driven out, and the people of Ammonihah were completely destroyed—every single one of them, along with their great city, which they had claimed God couldn’t destroy because it was so powerful. |
| Alma 16:10 | But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the carcasses were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness. | But in just one day, it was left deserted, with the bodies torn apart by dogs and wild animals. |
| Alma 16:11 | Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained desolate. | Even after many days, the dead bodies were still piled up on the ground, barely covered. The smell was so bad that people stayed away from the land of Ammonihah for years. They called it the Desolation of Nehors because those who died there followed Nehor’s teachings, and their land stayed empty and deserted. |
| Alma 16:12 | And the Lamanites did not come again to war against the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years did the people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land. | The Lamanites didn’t come to fight the Nephites again until the fourteenth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi. So, for three years, the Nephites had continuous peace in all the land. |
| Alma 16:13 | And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews. | Alma and Amulek went around teaching people to repent in their temples, sanctuaries, and synagogues built like the Jewish ones. |
| Alma 16:14 | And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons, continually. | Everyone who wanted to listen to them received the word of God, without discrimination, continuously. |
| Alma 16:15 | And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites. | Alma, Amulek, and many others chosen to preach went around the land teaching the word. The church became widespread throughout all the Nephite regions. |
| Alma 16:16 | And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming— | There was no inequality among them; the Lord poured out His Spirit across the whole land to prepare the hearts and minds of the people to receive the word that would be taught when He came. |
| Alma 16:17 | That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God. | So that they wouldn’t be resistant to the word, wouldn’t be unbelieving and end up in ruin, but instead accept the word joyfully and become part of the true vine, and find peace in the Lord their God. |
| Alma 16:18 | Now those priests who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be— | The priests who went among the people taught against all lying, deceit, envy, fighting, malice, slander, stealing, robbing, plundering, murder, adultery, and all kinds of immorality, declaring that these things should not happen. |
| Alma 16:19 | Holding forth things which must shortly come; yea, holding forth the coming of the Son of God, his sufferings and death, and also the resurrection of the dead. | They’re sharing things that will happen soon; like talking about the coming of the Son of God, his suffering and death, and also the resurrection of the dead. |
| Alma 16:20 | And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness. | A lot of people wanted to know where the Son of God would come, and they learned that he would appear to them after his resurrection. This news made everyone very happy and joyful. |
| Alma 16:21 | And now after the church had been established throughout all the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people—thus ended the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | Now that the church was established across the entire land, having triumphed over evil, and the pure word of God being preached everywhere, with the Lord blessing the people, the fourteenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites came to an end. |
Alma 17
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 17:1 | And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla. | As Alma was traveling from Gideon toward Manti, he was surprised to meet the sons of Mosiah, who were heading to Zarahemla. |
| Alma 17:2 | Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. | The sons of Mosiah were with Alma when the angel first appeared to him, so Alma was really happy to see his friends. What made him even happier was that they were still faithful to the Lord and had grown strong in the truth. They were wise men who had studied the scriptures diligently to know God’s word. |
| Alma 17:3 | But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. | But this is not all. They spent a lot of time praying and fasting; because of this, they had the spirit of prophecy and revelation. When they taught, they did so with the power and authority of God. |
| Alma 17:4 | And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him. | They had been teaching the word of God to the Lamanites for fourteen years, and they were very successful in helping many learn the truth. Because of their teachings, many came to the altar of God to pray and confess their sins. |
| Alma 17:5 | Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit. | Here’s what happened to them during their travels: they went through many hardships and suffered a lot, both physically and mentally. They experienced hunger, thirst, and exhaustion and had to work very hard in their spirit too. |
| Alma 17:6 | Now these were their journeyings: Having taken leave of their father, Mosiah, in the first year of the judges; having refused the kingdom which their father was desirous to confer upon them, and also this was the minds of the people; | Here’s how their journeys began: After saying goodbye to their father Mosiah in the first year of the judges, they declined the kingdom that their father wanted to give them. This was also what the people wanted. |
| Alma 17:7 | Nevertheless they departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and took their swords, and their spears, and their bows, and their arrows, and their slings; and this they did that they might provide food for themselves while in the wilderness. | Even so, they left the land of Zarahemla, taking their swords, spears, bows, arrows, and slings with them so they could hunt for food while in the wilderness. |
| Alma 17:8 | And thus they departed into the wilderness with their numbers which they had selected, to go up to the land of Nephi, to preach the word of God unto the Lamanites. | So they left into the wilderness with the people they had chosen to go to the land of Nephi to preach God’s word to the Lamanites. |
| Alma 17:9 | And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. | They traveled for many days in the wilderness. During this time, they fasted and prayed often, asking the Lord to give them a part of His Spirit to stay with them. They wanted to be instruments in God’s hands to help bring the Lamanites, if possible, to understand the truth and realize the falsehood of their ancestors’ traditions. |
| Alma 17:10 | And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted. | The Lord visited them with His Spirit and told them to be comforted. And they were comforted. |
| Alma 17:11 | And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. | And the Lord also said: Go to the Lamanites, your brothers, and share my word. Be patient through suffering and challenges, and set a good example for them in me. I will use you to help save many souls. |
| Alma 17:12 | And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God. | The sons of Mosiah and their companions found the courage to go to the Lamanites and share the word of God with them. |
| Alma 17:13 | And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken. | When they got to the borders of the Lamanite land, they split up and went their separate ways, trusting that the Lord would reunite them after their harvest, because they believed their work was very important. |
| Alma 17:14 | And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands. | It was truly a big deal because they were trying to preach God’s word to a wild, stubborn, and fierce people who loved murdering the Nephites and robbing and plundering them. These people were obsessed with riches like gold, silver, and precious stones, and they wanted to get these things through murder and theft instead of working for them. |
| Alma 17:15 | Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance. | They were a lazy people, many of whom worshipped idols. God’s curse had come upon them because of their fathers’ traditions. However, the Lord’s promises were still available to them if they chose to repent. |
| Alma 17:16 | Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption. | This is why the sons of Mosiah took on this work: to try to help them repent and come to understand the plan of redemption. |
| Alma 17:17 | Therefore they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him. | So they split up and went around alone, each following the word and power of God that was given to them. |
| Alma 17:18 | Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land. | Ammon was in charge and took care of the people. Before he left, he blessed them according to their needs and shared the word of God with them. Then they all went on their separate journeys throughout the land. |
| Alma 17:19 | And Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land being called after the sons of Ishmael, who also became Lamanites. | Ammon went to Ishmael’s land, which was named after Ishmael’s sons who became Lamanites. |
| Alma 17:20 | And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites took him and bound him, as was their custom to bind all the Nephites who fell into their hands, and carry them before the king; and thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure. | When Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites captured him and tied him up, as they usually did with any Nephites they caught. They took him to the king, who had the choice to kill him, keep him prisoner, or throw him out of his land, depending on what he wanted to do. |
| Alma 17:21 | And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael. | Ammon was brought before the king of the land of Ishmael, whose name was Lamoni, a descendant of Ishmael. |
| Alma 17:22 | And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people. | The king asked Ammon if he wanted to live among the Lamanites or with his own people. |
| Alma 17:23 | And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die. | Ammon said to him, “Yes, I’d like to live among these people for a while, maybe even for the rest of my life.” |
| Alma 17:24 | And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife. | King Lamoni was really pleased with Ammon, so he had his chains removed and wanted Ammon to marry one of his daughters. |
| Alma 17:25 | But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni. And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites. | But Ammon said to him, âNo, I will be your servant.â So Ammon became a servant to King Lamoni. He was placed among the other servants to watch over Lamoni’s flocks, as was the custom of the Lamanites. |
| Alma 17:26 | And after he had been in the service of the king three days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with their flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of Sebus, and all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they may have water— | After working for the king for three days, he went with the Lamanite servants to take their flocks to get water at the place known as the water of Sebus, where all the Lamanites bring their flocks to drink. |
| Alma 17:27 | Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king were driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways. | While Ammon and the king’s servants were driving their flocks to the watering place, a group of Lamanites, who had also come to water their flocks, scattered Ammon’s flocks and the king’s servants’ flocks, causing them to flee in many directions. |
| Alma 17:28 | Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already. | The king’s servants started complaining, saying: Now the king will kill us, just like he did to our fellow servants, because these men caused our flocks to scatter. They began crying a lot, saying: Look, our flocks are already scattered. |
| Alma 17:29 | Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words. | They cried because they were afraid of being killed. When Ammon saw this, his heart was filled with joy. He thought, “I will show my power to these fellow servants by bringing the flocks back to the king. That way, I can win their hearts and lead them to believe in my words.” |
| Alma 17:30 | And now, these were the thoughts of Ammon, when he saw the afflictions of those whom he termed to be his brethren. | And now, this is what Ammon thought when he saw the hardships faced by those he called his brothers. |
| Alma 17:31 | And it came to pass that he flattered them by his words, saying: My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us. | He used his words to calm them, saying: “My friends, don’t worry. Let’s go find the flocks, gather them, and bring them back to the water. That way, we will save the flocks for the king and he won’t kill us.” |
| Alma 17:32 | And it came to pass that they went in search of the flocks, and they did follow Ammon, and they rushed forth with much swiftness and did head the flocks of the king, and did gather them together again to the place of water. | They went looking for the flocks, following Ammon. They quickly caught up with the king’s flocks and gathered them back together by the water. |
| Alma 17:33 | And those men again stood to scatter their flocks; but Ammon said unto his brethren: Encircle the flocks round about that they flee not; and I go and contend with these men who do scatter our flocks. | The men started scattering the flocks again, but Ammon told his brothers, “Surround the flocks so they don’t run away. I’ll go deal with the ones trying to scatter them.” |
| Alma 17:34 | Therefore, they did as Ammon commanded them, and he went forth and stood to contend with those who stood by the waters of Sebus; and they were in number not a few. | So, they did what Ammon told them to do, and he went ahead and confronted the people by the waters of Sebus; and there were quite a few of them. |
| Alma 17:35 | Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the king. | They weren’t afraid of Ammon because they thought one of their men could easily kill him. They didn’t know that the Lord had promised Mosiah that his sons would be safe. They didn’t know anything about the Lord, and they enjoyed hurting their brothers. So, they were ready to scatter the king’s flocks. |
| Alma 17:36 | But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at them with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones amongst them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch that they began to be astonished at his power; nevertheless they were angry because of the slain of their brethren, and they were determined that he should fall; therefore, seeing that they could not hit him with their stones, they came forth with clubs to slay him. | But Ammon stepped forward and started slinging stones at them with his sling; yes, with great power he slung stones among them, killing some of them, which astonished them. However, they were angry because their friends had been killed, and they were determined to take him down. Since they couldn’t hit him with their stones, they charged at him with clubs to kill him. |
| Alma 17:37 | But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm. | But look, every man who raised his club to hit Ammon, he cut off their arms with his sword; he defended himself by cutting their arms with his sword, until they were so surprised that they started to run away from him. There were a lot of them, and he made them run away with his strength. |
| Alma 17:38 | Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few. | Six of them were taken down with a sling, but he didn’t kill anyone except their leader with his sword. He cut off as many arms as were raised against him, and there were quite a few. |
| Alma 17:39 | And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony of the things which they had done. | After driving them away, he came back and they watered their flocks before returning them to the king’s pasture. Then they went to the king, carrying the arms that Ammon had cut off from those who tried to kill him. They did this to prove what they had done. |
Alma 18
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 18:1 | And it came to pass that king Lamoni caused that his servants should stand forth and testify to all the things which they had seen concerning the matter. | King Lamoni had his servants come forward and tell everyone about what they had seen regarding the matter. |
| Alma 18:2 | And when they had all testified to the things which they had seen, and he had learned of the faithfulness of Ammon in preserving his flocks, and also of his great power in contending against those who sought to slay him, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders? | After everyone had spoken about what they had seen, and he learned about how Ammon had faithfully protected his flocks and shown great strength against those who tried to kill him, he was extremely amazed and said, “Surely, this is more than just a man. Isn’t this the Great Spirit who sends such severe punishments on this people because of their murders?” |
| Alma 18:3 | And they answered the king, and said: Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can they scatter the king—s flocks when he is with us, because of his expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain. | They replied to the king, saying, “We don’t know if he’s the Great Spirit or just a man, but we do know this: the king’s enemies can’t kill him, and they can’t raid the king’s flocks when he’s with us because of his skill and strength. So, we know he’s on the king’s side. And, king, we don’t believe a man could have such great power, because we know he can’t be killed.” |
| Alma 18:4 | And now, when the king heard these words, he said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and he has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you as I did your brethren. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our fathers have spoken. | When the king heard this, he said, “Now I know it’s the Great Spirit, and he has come to save your lives so I wouldn’t kill you like I did your brothers. This is the Great Spirit our ancestors talked about.” |
| Alma 18:5 | Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants; | Lamoni had learned from his father that there was a Great Spirit. Even though they believed in this Great Spirit, they thought whatever they did was right. But now Lamoni began to worry a lot, fearing that he might have done wrong by killing his servants. |
| Alma 18:6 | For he had slain many of them because their brethren had scattered their flocks at the place of water; and thus, because they had had their flocks scattered they were slain. | He had killed many of them because their brothers had scared away their flocks at the watering place. So, because their flocks were scattered, they were killed. |
| Alma 18:7 | Now it was the practice of these Lamanites to stand by the waters of Sebus to scatter the flocks of the people, that thereby they might drive away many that were scattered unto their own land, it being a practice of plunder among them. | The Lamanites used to stand by the waters of Sebus to scatter the people’s flocks, so they could drive many of them away to their own land. This was a way they practiced plunder. |
| Alma 18:8 | And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such great power? | King Lamoni asked his servants, “Where is this man with such great power?” |
| Alma 18:9 | And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses. Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi; for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land. | They told him, “Look, he is feeding your horses.” The king had previously told his servants to get his horses and chariots ready and take him to the land of Nephi, because Lamoni’s father, the king of all the land, had scheduled a big feast there. |
| Alma 18:10 | Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them. | When King Lamoni saw that Ammon was getting the horses and chariots ready, he was even more amazed by Ammon’s loyalty. He thought, “No other servant has ever been as faithful as this man; he remembers and carries out all my orders.” |
| Alma 18:11 | Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not. | Now I know for sure that this is the Great Spirit, and I want him to come to me, but I don’t dare. |
| Alma 18:12 | And it came to pass that when Ammon had made ready the horses and the chariots for the king and his servants, he went in unto the king, and he saw that the countenance of the king was changed; therefore he was about to return out of his presence. | After Ammon got the horses and chariots ready for the king and his servants, he went to see the king. When he saw that the king’s expression had changed, he was about to leave. |
| Alma 18:13 | And one of the king—s servants said unto him, Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great king, considering their kings to be powerful; and thus he said unto him: Rabbanah, the king desireth thee to stay. | One of the king’s servants said to him, “Powerful king,” which means great or powerful king, since they consider their kings to be powerful. He then said to him, “Powerful king, the king wants you to stay.” |
| Alma 18:14 | Therefore Ammon turned himself unto the king, and said unto him: What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king? And the king answered him not for the space of an hour, according to their time, for he knew not what he should say unto him. | So Ammon turned to the king and asked, “What do you want me to do for you, O king?” The king didn’t respond for about an hour because he didn’t know what to say. |
| Alma 18:15 | And it came to pass that Ammon said unto him again: What desirest thou of me? But the king answered him not. | Ammon asked him again, “What do you want from me?” But the king didn’t answer. |
| Alma 18:16 | And it came to pass that Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. And he said unto him: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their brethren with the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this that causeth thy marvelings? | Ammon, filled with the Spirit of God, could understand the king’s thoughts. He asked, “Is it because you heard that I defended your servants and flocks, killing seven thieves with a sling and sword, and injuring others to protect your flocks and servants? Is this why you are amazed?” |
| Alma 18:17 | I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do. | Why are you so amazed? Look, I’m just a man and your servant. So, whatever you want that’s right, I’ll do it. |
| Alma 18:18 | Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things? | When the king heard what Ammon said, he was amazed again because he realized that Ammon could read his thoughts. Despite this, King Lamoni spoke and asked him, “Who are you? Are you the Great Spirit who knows everything?” |
| Alma 18:19 | Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not. | Ammon replied, “I’m not.” |
| Alma 18:20 | And the king said: How knowest thou the thoughts of my heart? Thou mayest speak boldly, and tell me concerning these things; and also tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks— | And the king said: How do you know what I’m thinking? You can speak freely and tell me about these things, and also tell me by what power you killed and cut off the arms of my brothers who scattered my flocks. |
| Alma 18:21 | And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou desirest of me I will grant it unto thee. | If you tell me about these things, I will give you whatever you want. If needed, I would protect you with my armies, but I know you are more powerful than all of them. Still, whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you. |
| Alma 18:22 | Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee. | Ammon, being smart but gentle, asked Lamoni, “Will you listen to me if I tell you how I do these things? This is what I want from you.” |
| Alma 18:23 | And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile. | The king replied, “Yes, I believe everything you’re saying.” And with that, he was deceived. |
| Alma 18:24 | And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? | Ammon spoke boldly to him and asked, “Do you believe that there is a God?” |
| Alma 18:25 | And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth. | He replied, “I don’t know what that means.” |
| Alma 18:26 | And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit? | Then Ammon asked, “Do you believe in a Great Spirit?” |
| Alma 18:27 | And he said, Yea. | And he said, “Yes…” |
| Alma 18:28 | And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth? | Ammon said, “This is God.” He then asked, “Do you believe that this Great Spirit, who is God, created everything in heaven and on earth?” |
| Alma 18:29 | And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth; but I do not know the heavens. | And he said, “Yes, I believe that he made everything on the earth, but I don’t know about the heavens.” |
| Alma 18:30 | And Ammon said unto him: The heavens is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels. | Ammon said to him, “Heaven is where God lives along with all His holy angels.” |
| Alma 18:31 | And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth? | King Lamoni asked, “Is it above the ground?” |
| Alma 18:32 | And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning. | And Ammon said: Yes, he watches over everyone and knows all their thoughts and intentions. He created them all from the beginning. |
| Alma 18:33 | And king Lamoni said: I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God? | King Lamoni said: I believe everything you’ve said. Are you sent from God? |
| Alma 18:34 | Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; | Ammon said, “I am a man; and mankind was created in God’s image from the beginning. I’ve been called by His Holy Spirit to teach these people so they can understand what is just and true.” |
| Alma 18:35 | And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God. | A part of that Spirit is in me, giving me knowledge and power based on my faith and desires in God. |
| Alma 18:36 | Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem. | When Ammon said this, he started from the creation of the world and Adam. He explained everything about the fall of man and went over the records and scriptures of their people, as told by the prophets, up until the time their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem. |
| Alma 18:37 | And he also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth. | He also told the king and his servants about all the travels and hardships their ancestors faced in the wilderness, including their struggles with hunger and thirst, and all their other challenges. |
| Alma 18:38 | And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time. | He also told them all about the rebellions of Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, detailing every incident. He explained all the records and scriptures to them from the time Lehi left Jerusalem until the present. |
| Alma 18:39 | But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them. | But that’s not all; he explained to them the plan of redemption, which was set up since the beginning of the world. He also told them about the coming of Christ and shared with them all the works of the Lord. |
| Alma 18:40 | And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words. | After he explained everything to the king, the king believed him. |
| Alma 18:41 | And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people. | He started praying to the Lord, saying: “Lord, have mercy on me like you’ve had on the people of Nephi; show us your abundant mercy.” |
| Alma 18:42 | And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead. | After he said this, he fell to the ground as if he were dead. |
| Alma 18:43 | And it came to pass that his servants took him and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss. | His servants took him to his wife and put him on a bed. He lay there as if dead for two days and two nights. His wife, his sons, and his daughters mourned for him deeply, following the Lamanite customs. |
Alma 19
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 19:1 | And it came to pass that after two days and two nights they were about to take his body and lay it in a sepulchre, which they had made for the purpose of burying their dead. | After two days and nights, they were about to take his body and put it in a tomb they had prepared for burying their dead. |
| Alma 19:2 | Now the queen having heard of the fame of Ammon, therefore she sent and desired that he should come in unto her. | After hearing about Ammon’s reputation, the queen sent for him and asked him to come to her. |
| Alma 19:3 | And it came to pass that Ammon did as he was commanded, and went in unto the queen, and desired to know what she would that he should do. | Ammon did what he was told and went to the queen to ask what she wanted him to do. |
| Alma 19:4 | And she said unto him: The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name; | She told him, “My husband’s servants have told me that you’re a prophet of a holy God and that you have the power to do many great things in His name.” |
| Alma 19:5 | Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink. | So, if this is the situation, I’d like you to go in and see my husband. He’s been in bed for two days and nights. Some people say he’s not dead, but others say he is and that he smells bad and should be buried. But to me, he doesn’t smell bad. |
| Alma 19:6 | Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God— | This is exactly what Ammon wanted because he knew that King Lamoni was feeling God’s influence. He understood that Lamoni’s doubts were disappearing, replaced by the brilliant clarity of God’s glory—a wonderful light of goodness that filled him with joy. This light had lifted the cloud of darkness, and the light of eternal life shone in his soul. Ammon knew this had overwhelmed Lamoni physically, and he was deeply connected with God. |
| Alma 19:7 | Therefore, what the queen desired of him was his only desire. Therefore, he went in to see the king according as the queen had desired him; and he saw the king, and he knew that he was not dead. | So, what the queen wanted was the only thing he wanted. So, he went to see the king as the queen had asked; and he saw the king and realized he was still alive. |
| Alma 19:8 | And he said unto the queen: He is not dead, but he sleepeth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again; therefore bury him not. | He told the queen: He isn’t dead, he’s just sleeping in God. Tomorrow, he will wake up again, so don’t bury him. |
| Alma 19:9 | And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said. | Ammon asked her, “Do you believe this?” She replied, “I have no proof other than your word and the word of our servants, but I still believe it will happen as you said.” |
| Alma 19:10 | And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites. | Ammon said to her, “You are blessed because of your incredible faith. I tell you, woman, there hasn’t been such great faith among all the Nephites.” |
| Alma 19:11 | And it came to pass that she watched over the bed of her husband, from that time even until that time on the morrow which Ammon had appointed that he should rise. | She stayed by her husband’s side, watching over him from that time until the next day, which Ammon had appointed for his recovery. |
| Alma 19:12 | And it came to pass that he arose, according to the words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto the woman, and said: Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou. | He stood up as Ammon had told him to. As he got up, he reached out his hand to the woman and said, “Blessed be the name of God, and blessed are you.” |
| Alma 19:13 | For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit. | As surely as you live, I have seen my Redeemer. He will be born of a woman and will save everyone who believes in him. When he said this, he was filled with so much joy that he fell again. The queen also fell down, overcome by the Spirit. |
| Alma 19:14 | Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth. | When Ammon saw the Spirit of the Lord touch the Lamanites, his brothers, because of his prayers, he was deeply moved. Despite the Lamanites causing so much sorrow for the Nephites and the people of God because of their wrongdoings and traditions, Ammon fell to his knees. He poured out his heart in prayer and thanked God for what He had done for his brothers. Overwhelmed with joy, Ammon and the others all collapsed to the ground. |
| Alma 19:15 | Now, when the servants of the king had seen that they had fallen, they also began to cry unto God, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them also, for it was they who had stood before the king and testified unto him concerning the great power of Ammon. | When the king’s servants saw that they had fallen, they began to cry out to God too, because they also felt the fear of the Lord. They had been the ones to testify to the king about Ammon’s great power. |
| Alma 19:16 | And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father— | They called on the Lord with all their strength until they all fell to the ground, except one of the Lamanite women named Abish, who had been a believer in the Lord for many years because of a remarkable vision her father had. |
| Alma 19:17 | Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people. | Once she had converted to the Lord but hadn’t told anyone yet, she saw that all of Lamoni’s servants, the queen, and the king, along with Ammon, had fallen to the ground. Knowing this happened by God’s power, she thought it was a good time to tell the people about it, hoping they would believe in God’s power. So, she went from house to house, spreading the news to everyone. |
| Alma 19:18 | And they began to assemble themselves together unto the house of the king. And there came a multitude, and to their astonishment they beheld the king, and the queen, and their servants prostrate upon the earth, and they all lay there as though they were dead; and they also saw Ammon, and behold, he was a Nephite. | The people started to gather at the king’s house. A large crowd showed up, and to their surprise, they saw the king, the queen, and their servants lying on the ground as if they were dead. They also saw Ammon, and realized he was a Nephite. |
| Alma 19:19 | And now the people began to murmur among themselves; some saying that it was a great evil that had come upon them, or upon the king and his house, because he had suffered that the Nephite should remain in the land. | The people started complaining to each other. Some said it was terrible what had happened to them or to the king and his family because he had allowed the Nephite to stay in their land. |
| Alma 19:20 | But others rebuked them, saying: The king hath brought this evil upon his house, because he slew his servants who had had their flocks scattered at the waters of Sebus. | But others criticized them, saying: The king brought this trouble upon his own house because he killed his servants whose flocks were scattered at the waters of Sebus. |
| Alma 19:21 | And they were also rebuked by those men who had stood at the waters of Sebus and scattered the flocks which belonged to the king, for they were angry with Ammon because of the number which he had slain of their brethren at the waters of Sebus, while defending the flocks of the king. | The men who had been at the waters of Sebus and scattered the king’s flocks were angry with Ammon because he had killed many of their friends while protecting the king’s flocks, and they rebuked him for it. |
| Alma 19:22 | Now, one of them, whose brother had been slain with the sword of Ammon, being exceedingly angry with Ammon, drew his sword and went forth that he might let it fall upon Ammon, to slay him; and as he lifted the sword to smite him, behold, he fell dead. | One of the men, whose brother Ammon had killed with a sword, got really angry. He drew his sword and went to kill Ammon, but as he raised his sword to strike, he dropped dead. |
| Alma 19:23 | Now we see that Ammon could not be slain, for the Lord had said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith—therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord. | We see now that Ammon couldn’t be killed because the Lord had told his father, Mosiah, that He would protect Ammon based on Mosiah’s faith. So, Mosiah trusted the Lord to look after him. |
| Alma 19:24 | And it came to pass that when the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead, who lifted the sword to slay Ammon, fear came upon them all, and they durst not put forth their hands to touch him or any of those who had fallen; and they began to marvel again among themselves what could be the cause of this great power, or what all these things could mean. | When the crowd saw that the man who tried to kill Ammon had fallen dead, they were all afraid and didn’t dare to touch him or any of the others who had fallen. They started to wonder again among themselves about the reason for this great power and what it all meant. |
| Alma 19:25 | And it came to pass that there were many among them who said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was sent by the Great Spirit; | Some people said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was sent by the Great Spirit. |
| Alma 19:26 | But others rebuked them all, saying that he was a monster, who had been sent from the Nephites to torment them. | But others told them all that he was a monster sent by the Nephites to torment them. |
| Alma 19:27 | And there were some who said that Ammon was sent by the Great Spirit to afflict them because of their iniquities; and that it was the Great Spirit that had always attended the Nephites, who had ever delivered them out of their hands; and they said that it was this Great Spirit who had destroyed so many of their brethren, the Lamanites. | Some people said that Ammon was sent by the Great Spirit to punish them for their sins. They believed that the Great Spirit had always been with the Nephites, rescuing them from trouble, and that it was this Great Spirit who had killed many of their people, the Lamanites. |
| Alma 19:28 | And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them. And while they were thus contending, the woman servant who had caused the multitude to be gathered together came, and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears. | And so, the argument got really intense among them. While they were arguing, the woman servant who had gathered the crowd came over, and when she saw the argument, she was very sad and started crying. |
| Alma 19:29 | And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! | She went to the queen and took her by the hand, hoping to help her up. As soon as she touched her hand, the queen stood up and shouted loudly, “Oh blessed Jesus, you saved me from a terrible fate! Oh blessed God, have mercy on these people!” |
| Alma 19:30 | And when she had said this, she clasped her hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not understood; and when she had done this, she took the king, Lamoni, by the hand, and behold he arose and stood upon his feet. | After she said this, she clasped her hands, full of joy, speaking many words that weren’t understood. Then she took King Lamoni by the hand, and he stood up. |
| Alma 19:31 | And he, immediately, seeing the contention among his people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord. | When he saw his people arguing, he stepped up and started to correct them. He shared the teachings he had heard from Ammon. The people who listened to him believed and turned to the Lord. |
| Alma 19:32 | But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way. | But many of them wouldn’t listen to him, so they left. |
| Alma 19:33 | And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. | When Ammon got up, he helped them as well, just like all of Lamoni’s servants did. They all told the people the same thing: that their hearts had changed and they no longer wanted to do anything bad. |
| Alma 19:34 | And behold, many did declare unto the people that they had seen angels and had conversed with them; and thus they had told them things of God, and of his righteousness. | Many people said they had seen and talked with angels, and the angels had told them about God and His righteousness. |
| Alma 19:35 | And it came to pass that there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them. | Many people believed their message, and those who did were baptized. They became a righteous group and established a church among them. |
| Alma 19:36 | And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name. | And so, the work of the Lord started among the Lamanites. The Lord began to pour out His Spirit on them, showing that His help is available to anyone who repents and believes in His name. |
Alma 20
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 20:1 | And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father. | After they set up a church in that area, King Lamoni wanted Ammon to go with him to the land of Nephi so he could introduce him to his father. |
| Alma 20:2 | And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison. | The Lord spoke to Ammon, saying: You shouldn’t go to the land of Nephi because the king will try to kill you. Instead, go to the land of Middoni because your brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah, are in prison there. |
| Alma 20:3 | Now it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he said unto Lamoni: Behold, my brother and brethren are in prison at Middoni, and I go that I may deliver them. | When Ammon heard this, he said to Lamoni, “Look, my brother and friends are in prison in Middoni, and I’m going there to free them.” |
| Alma 20:4 | Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; for the king of the land of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend unto me; therefore I go to the land of Middoni, that I may flatter the king of the land, and he will cast thy brethren out of prison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison? | Lamoni said to Ammon, “I know you can do anything with the Lord’s help. But I will go with you to Middoni, because the king there, Antiomno, is my friend. I’ll convince him to release your brothers from prison.” Then Lamoni asked, “Who told you your brothers were in prison?” |
| Alma 20:5 | And Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it be God; and he said unto me—Go and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni. | Ammon said to him, “No one told me except God, who said to me, ‘Go and rescue your brothers, because they’re in prison in the land of Middoni.'” |
| Alma 20:6 | Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots. | When Lamoni heard this, he had his servants prepare his horses and chariots. |
| Alma 20:7 | And he said unto Ammon: Come, I will go with thee down to the land of Middoni, and there I will plead with the king that he will cast thy brethren out of prison. | And he said to Ammon, “Come with me to the land of Middoni, and I’ll talk to the king to get your brothers out of prison.” |
| Alma 20:8 | And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land. | As Ammon and Lamoni were traveling, they ran into Lamoni’s father, who was the king of the entire land. |
| Alma 20:9 | And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people? | And look, Lamoni’s father said to him, “Why didn’t you come to the feast on that special day when I made a feast for my sons and my people?” |
| Alma 20:10 | And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar? | And he also said: Where are you going with this Nephite, who is a descendant of a liar? |
| Alma 20:11 | And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him. | Lamoni explained to him where he was going because he didn’t want to offend him. |
| Alma 20:12 | And he also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his own kingdom, that he did not go unto his father to the feast which he had prepared. | He also explained why he stayed in his own kingdom instead of going to the feast his father had prepared. |
| Alma 20:13 | And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him, and said: Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property. | When Lamoni told his father everything, his father was shocked and angry. He said, “Lamoni, you’re going to help these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. They robbed our ancestors, and now their children are here to trick and deceive us so they can rob us again.” |
| Alma 20:14 | Now the father of Lamoni commanded him that he should slay Ammon with the sword. And he also commanded him that he should not go to the land of Middoni, but that he should return with him to the land of Ishmael. | Lamoni’s father ordered him to kill Ammon with a sword. He also told him not to go to Middoni but to return with him to Ishmael. |
| Alma 20:15 | But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God. | But Lamoni said to him: I won’t kill Ammon, and I won’t go back to the land of Ishmael. Instead, I’m going to the land of Middoni to free Ammon’s brothers because I know they are good men and true prophets of God. |
| Alma 20:16 | Now when his father had heard these words, he was angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to the earth. | When his father heard this, he got angry and pulled out his sword to strike him down. |
| Alma 20:17 | But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved. | But Ammon stepped forward and said to him, “Look, you can’t kill your son. It’s better for him to die than for you to, because he has repented of his sins. But if you die now, in your anger, your soul can’t be saved.” |
| Alma 20:18 | And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy soul. | You should hold back because if you kill your innocent son, his blood would cry out to the Lord for revenge, and you might lose your soul. |
| Alma 20:19 | Now when Ammon had said these words unto him, he answered him, saying: I know that if I should slay my son, that I should shed innocent blood; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him. | After Ammon said this, the man replied, “I know that if I killed my son, I would be spilling innocent blood because you are the one who tried to destroy him.” |
| Alma 20:20 | And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not use it. | He reached out to kill Ammon, but Ammon defended himself and hit his arm so he couldn’t use it. |
| Alma 20:21 | Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life. | When the king saw that Ammon could kill him, he started begging Ammon to spare his life. |
| Alma 20:22 | But Ammon raised his sword, and said unto him: Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my brethren may be cast out of prison. | Ammon raised his sword and said to him, “Look, I will strike you down unless you release my brothers from prison.” |
| Alma 20:23 | Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom. | The king, scared for his life, said: If you spare me, I’ll give you whatever you want, even up to half of the kingdom. |
| Alma 20:24 | Now when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the old king according to his desire, he said unto him: If thou wilt grant that my brethren may be cast out of prison, and also that Lamoni may retain his kingdom, and that ye be not displeased with him, but grant that he may do according to his own desires in whatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth. | When Ammon saw that he had convinced the old king as he wanted, he said to him: If you allow my brothers to be freed from prison, and let Lamoni keep his kingdom, and not be angry with him, but let him do what he wants, then I will spare you. Otherwise, I will strike you down. |
| Alma 20:25 | Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life. | When Ammon said these things, the king began to feel joy for being alive. |
| Alma 20:26 | And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more— | When he saw that Ammon had no desire to harm him and saw how much he loved his son Lamoni, he was very surprised and said, “Since all you want is for me to release your brothers and let my son Lamoni keep his kingdom, I will grant that he may keep his kingdom from now on and forever, and I will no longer rule over him.” |
| Alma 20:27 | And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them. | I’ll also make sure your brothers are freed from prison, and you and your brothers can come to me in my kingdom. I’d really like to see you. The king was amazed at what he had heard, both from you and from his son Lamoni, and he wanted to learn more. |
| Alma 20:28 | And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison. | Ammon and Lamoni continued their journey to the land of Middoni. Lamoni was well-regarded by the king there, so Ammon’s brothers were released from prison. |
| Alma 20:29 | And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings. | When Ammon met them, he was really sad because they were naked, and their skin was badly worn from being tied up with strong ropes. They had endured hunger, thirst, and all kinds of hardships, but they were still patient through all their suffering. |
| Alma 20:30 | And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon. | They ended up in the hands of a more stubborn and rebellious group of people. These people wouldn’t listen to them, threw them out, beat them, and chased them from house to house and place to place until they got to the land of Middoni. There, they were caught, tied up with strong ropes, and thrown into prison for many days until Lamoni and Ammon saved them. |
Alma 21
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 21:1 | Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers— nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon. | When Ammon and his brothers went their separate ways near the Lamanite land, Aaron headed to the place called Jerusalem by the Lamanites, named after the land where their ancestors were born. This place was near the borders of Mormon. |
| Alma 21:2 | Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem. | The Lamanites, Amalekites, and the people of Amulon built a big city called Jerusalem. |
| Alma 21:3 | Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations. | The Lamanites were already very stubborn on their own, but the Amalekites and Amulonites were even worse. They made the Lamanites even more stubborn and encouraged them to grow stronger in their wickedness and evil ways. |
| Alma 21:4 | And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And he began to preach to them in their synagogues, for they had built synagogues after the order of the Nehors; for many of the Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors. | Aaron went to the city of Jerusalem and started preaching to the Amalekites. He preached to them in their synagogues because they had built them according to the order of the Nehors. Many of the Amalekites and Amulonites followed the order of the Nehors. |
| Alma 21:5 | Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people? | So Aaron went into one of their synagogues to preach to the people. While he was speaking, an Amalekite stood up and started arguing with him, asking, “What is this you’ve been talking about? Have you seen an angel? Why don’t angels appear to us? Aren’t our people just as good as yours?” |
| Alma 21:6 | Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship God. We do believe that God will save all men. | You also say that if we don’t repent, we’ll perish. How do you know what we’re thinking and feeling? How do you know that we even need to repent? How do you know we’re not already righteous? Look, we’ve built churches and we gather to worship God. We believe that God will save everyone. |
| Alma 21:7 | Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? | Aaron asked him, “Do you believe that the Son of God will come to save humanity from their sins?” |
| Alma 21:8 | And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come. | The man said to him, “We don’t believe that you know any of this stuff. We don’t believe in these foolish traditions. We don’t believe that you know the future, and we don’t believe that your ancestors or our ancestors knew what they were talking about when they talked about the future.” |
| Alma 21:9 | Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood. | Aaron started explaining the scriptures to them about Christ’s coming, the resurrection of the dead, and how there could be no salvation for humanity except through Christ’s death, suffering, and the atonement by his blood. |
| Alma 21:10 | And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake. | As he started to explain these things to them, they got angry and began to make fun of him, and they refused to listen to what he was saying. |
| Alma 21:11 | Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani-Anti, and there he found Muloki preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren. And they contended with many about the word. | When he saw they wouldn’t listen to him, he left their synagogue and went to a village called Ani-Anti. There, he found Muloki preaching, along with Ammah and his brothers. They were debating with many people about the word. |
| Alma 21:12 | And it came to pass that they saw that the people would harden their hearts, therefore they departed and came over into the land of Middoni. And they did preach the word unto many, and few believed on the words which they taught. | They saw that the people wouldn’t listen and decided to leave, heading to the land of Middoni. There, they preached to many, but only a few believed what they taught. |
| Alma 21:13 | Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about. | Still, Aaron, along with some of his brothers, were captured and thrown into prison, while the others escaped from Middoni to the surrounding areas. |
| Alma 21:14 | And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed. | Those who were thrown into prison went through a lot, but they were saved by Lamoni and Ammon, who also gave them food and clothes. |
| Alma 21:15 | And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus they had suffered. | They went out again to preach the word, and this was the first time they were freed from prison; and so they had suffered. |
| Alma 21:16 | And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted. | They went wherever the Spirit of the Lord led them, preaching God’s word in every Amalekite synagogue or any Lamanite assembly they could get into. |
| Alma 21:17 | And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. | The Lord began to bless them, so much that they helped many people learn the truth. They convinced many of their sins and showed them that the traditions of their fathers were wrong. |
| Alma 21:18 | And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land of their inheritance. | Ammon and Lamoni went back from Middoni to Ishmael, their ancestral land. |
| Alma 21:19 | And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant. | King Lamoni wouldn’t let Ammon serve him or become his servant. |
| Alma 21:20 | But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together. | He made sure synagogues were built in the land of Ishmael, and he encouraged his people to gather there. |
| Alma 21:21 | And he did rejoice over them, and he did teach them many things. And he did also declare unto them that they were a people who were under him, and that they were a free people, that they were free from the oppressions of the king, his father; for that his father had granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the land of Ishmael, and in all the land round about. | He was happy for them and taught them many things. He also told them that they were his people and that they were free from the king’s oppression, his father. His father had given him the right to rule over the people of the land of Ishmael and the surrounding areas. |
| Alma 21:22 | And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni. | He also told them that they were free to worship the Lord however they wanted, wherever they were, as long as they were in the land ruled by King Lamoni. |
| Alma 21:23 | And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God. | Ammon preached to King Lamoni’s people and taught them everything about living righteously. He encouraged them every day with great effort, and they listened to his words and were enthusiastic about keeping God’s commandments. |
Alma 22
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 22:1 | Now, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the account of Aaron and his brethren; for after he departed from the land of Middoni he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land save it were the land of Ishmael; and he was the father of Lamoni. | While Ammon was continually teaching the people of Lamoni, let’s go back to the story of Aaron and his brothers. After leaving the land of Middoni, he was guided by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, specifically to the house of the king who ruled over all the land except the land of Ishmael. This king was Lamoni’s father. |
| Alma 22:2 | And it came to pass that he went in unto him into the king—s palace, with his brethren, and bowed himself before the king, and said unto him: Behold, O king, we are the brethren of Ammon, whom thou hast delivered out of prison. | He went with his brothers to the king’s palace, bowed before the king, and said, “King, we are Ammon’s brothers, the ones you freed from prison.” |
| Alma 22:3 | And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants. And the king said unto them: Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni with thee. | And now, O king, if you spare our lives, we will be your servants. The king replied, “Stand up, I will grant you your lives, and I won’t make you my servants; but I do expect you to assist me. I have been somewhat troubled because of the kindness and greatness of your brother Ammon’s words, and I want to know why he hasn’t come out of Middoni with you.” |
| Alma 22:4 | And Aaron said unto the king: Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni. | And Aaron said to the king, “The Spirit of the Lord guided him in a different direction. He went to the land of Ishmael to teach Lamoni’s people.” |
| Alma 22:5 | Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me. | The king asked them, “What have you been saying about the Spirit of the Lord? This is what is bothering me.” |
| Alma 22:6 | And also, what is this that Ammon said—If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day? | And also, what does Ammon mean when he says, âIf you repent, you’ll be saved, but if you don’t, you’ll be rejected at the end?â |
| Alma 22:7 | And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe. | Aaron answered him, “Do you believe in God?” The king replied, “I know that the Amalekites say there is a God, and I have allowed them to build sanctuaries so they can worship him. If you now say there is a God, I will believe.” |
| Alma 22:8 | And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God. | When Aaron heard this, he felt happy and said, “As surely as you live, O king, there is a God.” |
| Alma 22:9 | And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? | The king asked, “Is God the Great Spirit who brought our ancestors out of Jerusalem?” |
| Alma 22:10 | And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? | And Aaron said to him, “Yes, He is the Great Spirit who created everything in heaven and on earth. Do you believe this?” |
| Alma 22:11 | And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words. | He said, “Yes, I believe the Great Spirit made everything. I want you to tell me about all these things, and I will believe what you say.” |
| Alma 22:12 | And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen. | When Aaron saw that the king believed his words, he started from the creation of Adam and read the scriptures to the king. He explained how God made man in His own image and gave him commandments, and that because of disobedience, man had fallen. |
| Alma 22:13 | And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. | Aaron explained the scriptures to him, starting from the creation of Adam. He talked about the fall of man, their sinful state, and also the plan of redemption through Christ, which was set up from the beginning of the world for everyone who believes in Him. |
| Alma 22:14 | And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king. | Since humans had fallen, they couldn’t earn anything by themselves; but Christ’s suffering and death make up for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so on. He breaks the bonds of death so the grave won’t win and the sting of death is overcome by the hope of glory. Aaron explained all of this to the king. |
| Alma 22:15 | And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. | After Aaron explained these things to him, the king asked, “What do I need to do to have this eternal life you’re talking about? How can I be born of God, get rid of this wicked spirit within me, receive His Spirit, and be filled with joy, so I’m not cast off in the end? Look,” he said, “I’ll give up everything I have, even abandon my kingdom, to have this great joy.” |
| Alma 22:16 | But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest. | But Aaron said to him, “If you want this, if you will kneel before God, repent of all your sins, have faith and call on His name, believing that you will receive, then you will get the hope you desire.” |
| Alma 22:17 | And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying: | After Aaron said these words, the king knelt down before the Lord, bowing low to the ground, and cried out with great emotion. |
| Alma 22:18 | O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. | God, Aaron has told me that you exist. If you are real, and if you are God, please make yourself known to me. I will give up all my sins to know you and to be resurrected and saved on the last day. When the king finished saying this, he fell as if he were dead. |
| Alma 22:19 | And it came to pass that his servants ran and told the queen all that had happened unto the king. And she came in unto the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also Aaron and his brethren standing as though they had been the cause of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay them. | The king’s servants ran and told the queen everything that had happened to the king. She came in and saw the king lying there as if he were dead, with Aaron and his brothers standing nearby, looking like they were the reason for his condition. She got angry at them and ordered the servants to take Aaron and his brothers and kill them. |
| Alma 22:20 | Now the servants had seen the cause of the king—s fall, therefore they durst not lay their hands on Aaron and his brethren; and they pled with the queen saying: Why commandest thou that we should slay these men, when behold one of them is mightier than us all? Therefore we shall fall before them. | The servants saw why the king had fallen, so they didn’t dare touch Aaron and his brothers. They pleaded with the queen, saying, “Why do you want us to kill these men? One of them is stronger than all of us combined. We will be defeated.” |
| Alma 22:21 | Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants she also began to fear exceedingly, lest there should some evil come upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren. | When the queen saw how scared the servants were, she got really scared too, worried that something bad might happen to her. So she ordered her servants to go and gather the people to kill Aaron and his brothers. |
| Alma 22:22 | Now when Aaron saw the determination of the queen, he, also knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, feared lest that a multitude should assemble themselves together, and there should be a great contention and a disturbance among them; therefore he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth, and said unto him: Stand. And he stood upon his feet, receiving his strength. | When Aaron saw how determined the queen was, and knowing how stubborn the people were, he was afraid that a large crowd would gather and there would be a big conflict and unrest among them. So, he reached out, helped the king up from the ground, and told him to stand. The king got up and regained his strength. |
| Alma 22:23 | Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord. | This happened in front of the queen and many of the servants. When they saw it, they were amazed and became afraid. The king then stepped forward and started to help them. He helped them so much that his entire household converted to the Lord. |
| Alma 22:24 | Now there was a multitude gathered together because of the commandment of the queen, and there began to be great murmurings among them because of Aaron and his brethren. | A large crowd gathered because the queen ordered it, and they started complaining a lot about Aaron and his brothers. |
| Alma 22:25 | But the king stood forth among them and administered unto them. And they were pacified towards Aaron and those who were with him. | But the king stepped forward and took care of them. They calmed down towards Aaron and his companions. |
| Alma 22:26 | And it came to pass that when the king saw that the people were pacified, he caused that Aaron and his brethren should stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should preach the word unto them. | When the king saw that the people had calmed down, he had Aaron and his brothers come forward in front of the crowd to preach to them. |
| Alma 22:27 | And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the seashore, and the borders of the wilderness which was on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti, by the head of the river Sidon, running from the east towards the west—and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided. | The king sent out a proclamation to all his people in the land, including those in the areas near the sea to the east and west. This land was divided from Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness that stretched from the eastern sea to the western sea, along the seashores and the wilderness borders to the north by Zarahemla. This area also included the borders of Manti by the head of the Sidon River, running from east to west. This is how the Lamanites and Nephites were separated. |
| Alma 22:28 | Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and they were spread through the wilderness on the west, in the land of Nephi; yea, and also on the west of the land of Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore, and on the west in the land of Nephi, in the place of their fathers— first inheritance, and thus bordering along by the seashore. | Most of the lazy Lamanites lived in the wilderness and stayed in tents. They were spread out in the wilderness west of the land of Nephi and also west of the land of Zarahemla, near the seashore. They were in the area where their ancestors first lived, bordering along by the seashore. |
| Alma 22:29 | And also there were many Lamanites on the east by the seashore, whither the Nephites had driven them. And thus the Nephites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites; nevertheless the Nephites had taken possession of all the northern parts of the land bordering on the wilderness, at the head of the river Sidon, from the east to the west, round about on the wilderness side; on the north, even until they came to the land which they called Bountiful. | There were many Lamanites to the east near the sea, where the Nephites had driven them. So, the Nephites were almost surrounded by the Lamanites. However, the Nephites had taken over all the northern parts of the land near the wilderness, from the head of the river Sidon, stretching from east to west along the wilderness, up to the land they called Bountiful. |
| Alma 22:30 | And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing. | It bordered the land called Desolation, which was so far north that it connected to the land that had been inhabited and then destroyed. The bones we’ve mentioned were discovered by the people of Zarahemla, and it was where they first landed. |
| Alma 22:31 | And they came from there up into the south wilderness. Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind, a part of which had come from the land northward for food. | They went up from there into the southern wilderness. The land to the north was called Desolation, and the land to the south was called Bountiful. This wilderness was filled with all sorts of wild animals, some of which had come from the northern land for food. |
| Alma 22:32 | And now, it was only the distance of a day and a half—s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward. | Now, it was just a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite to travel from the east to the west sea along the line between Bountiful and the land Desolation. This means the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were almost surrounded by water, with only a narrow strip of land connecting the northern and southern areas. |
| Alma 22:33 | And it came to pass that the Nephites had inhabited the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea, and thus the Nephites in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies, had hemmed in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should have no more possession on the north, that they might not overrun the land northward. | The Nephites lived in the land Bountiful from the east coast to the west sea. Using their wisdom, guards, and armies, they contained the Lamanites to the south so they couldn’t take over the land to the north. |
| Alma 22:34 | Therefore the Lamanites could have no more possessions only in the land of Nephi, and the wilderness round about. Now this was wisdom in the Nephites—as the Lamanites were an enemy to them, they would not suffer their afflictions on every hand, and also that they might have a country whither they might flee, according to their desires. | So, the Lamanites could only hold territory in the land of Nephi and the surrounding wilderness. This was smart on the Nephites’ part—since the Lamanites were their enemies, it kept the Nephites from being attacked on all sides and also gave them a place to retreat to if needed. |
| Alma 22:35 | And now I, after having said this, return again to the account of Ammon and Aaron, Omner and Himni, and their brethren. | Now, after saying this, I’ll go back to talking about Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, and their brothers. |
Alma 23
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 23:1 | Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land. | Look, the king of the Lamanites sent out an announcement to all his people, saying they shouldn’t harm Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, or any of their brothers who are out preaching God’s word, no matter where they are in the kingdom. |
| Alma 23:2 | Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries. | He issued an order that no one should lay a hand on them to tie them up or throw them in jail; no one should spit on them, hit them, kick them out of their places of worship, whip them, or throw stones at them. They should be allowed free access to their homes, temples, and sanctuaries. |
| Alma 23:3 | And thus they might go forth and preach the word according to their desires, for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness. | This allowed them to go and share the word as they wished, because the king and his whole household had converted to the Lord. So, he sent out a proclamation across the land to his people, so that the word of God could spread without any barriers. His aim was to make his people understand the wrongness of their ancestors’ traditions, to see that everyone is brothers and sisters, and to discourage them from murder, plundering, stealing, committing adultery, or any other kind of wickedness. |
| Alma 23:4 | And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city, and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them; and thus they began to have great success. | After the king sent out his proclamation, Aaron and his brothers traveled from city to city and from one house of worship to another. They set up churches and consecrated priests and teachers among the Lamanites to preach and teach the word of God. They began to see a lot of success. |
| Alma 23:5 | And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time. | Thousands of people came to know the Lord and believe in the Nephite traditions. They were taught from the records and prophecies that had been passed down to their time. |
| Alma 23:6 | And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. | As surely as the Lord lives, everyone who believed, or who learned the truth through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, through the spirit of revelation and prophecy, and the power of God performing miracles among them—yes, I say to you, as the Lord lives, all of the Lamanites who believed in this preaching and were converted to the Lord, never fell away. |
| Alma 23:7 | For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren. | They became a righteous people. They put down their weapons and stopped fighting against God and each other. |
| Alma 23:8 | Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord: | Now, these are the people who turned to the Lord. |
| Alma 23:9 | The people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Ishmael; | The Lamanites who lived in the land of Ishmael. |
| Alma 23:10 | And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Middoni; | And also of the Lamanite people who were in the land of Middoni. |
| Alma 23:11 | And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the city of Nephi; | And also the Lamanite people in the city of Nephi. |
| Alma 23:12 | And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom. | And also the Lamanite people who lived in the land of Shilom, in the land of Shemlon, in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom. |
| Alma 23:13 | And these are the names of the cities of the Lamanites which were converted unto the Lord; and these are they that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war; and they were all Lamanites. | Here are the names of the Lamanite cities that turned to the Lord. These people put down their weapons of rebellion, all their weapons of war, because they were all Lamanites. |
| Alma 23:14 | And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities. | The Amalekites didn’t convert, except for one person. None of the Amulonites converted either. They hardened their hearts, and influenced the Lamanites in their area to do the same, in all their villages and cities. |
| Alma 23:15 | Therefore, we have named all the cities of the Lamanites in which they did repent and come to the knowledge of the truth, and were converted. | So, we listed all the cities of the Lamanites where the people repented, came to know the truth, and were converted. |
| Alma 23:16 | And now it came to pass that the king and those who were converted were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore the king consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning the name that they should take upon them, that they might be distinguished. | Now it happened that the king and those who converted wanted a name to set them apart from their brothers. So, the king talked with Aaron and many of their priests about what name they should choose to stand out. |
| Alma 23:17 | And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more called Lamanites. | They decided to call themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, and from then on, they were no longer called Lamanites. |
| Alma 23:18 | And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them. | The people became very hardworking and got along well with the Nephites, so they started communicating with them, and God’s curse no longer affected them. |
Alma 24
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 24:1 | And it came to pass that the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their brethren. | The Amalekites, the Amulonites, and the Lamanites in the lands of Amulon, Helam, and Jerusalem, and basically everywhere around, who hadn’t converted or taken the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were riled up by the Amalekites and Amulonites to anger against their brethren. |
| Alma 24:2 | And their hatred became exceedingly sore against them, even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king, insomuch that they would not that he should be their king; therefore, they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. | Their hatred grew so intense that they began to rebel against their king. They didn’t want him to be their king anymore, so they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. |
| Alma 24:3 | Now the king conferred the kingdom upon his son, and he called his name Anti-Nephi-Lehi. | The king gave the kingdom to his son and named him Anti-Nephi-Lehi. |
| Alma 24:4 | And the king died in that selfsame year that the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of God. | The king died that same year when the Lamanites started preparing for war against God’s people. |
| Alma 24:5 | Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites. | When Ammon, his brothers, and everyone who came with him saw that the Lamanites were preparing to destroy their people, they went to the land of Midian. There, Ammon met with all his brothers, and together they went to the land of Ishmael to hold a meeting with Lamoni and his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi to figure out how to defend themselves against the Lamanites. |
| Alma 24:6 | Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not. | There wasn’t a single person who had converted to the Lord that would fight against their own people. They didn’t even prepare for war. Even their king told them not to. |
| Alma 24:7 | Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers. | I thank God that in His goodness, He has sent our brothers, the Nephites, to us to preach and teach us about the wrong traditions of our ancestors. |
| Alma 24:8 | And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites. | I’m grateful to God for giving us some of His Spirit to soften our hearts, allowing us to communicate with our brothers, the Nephites. |
| Alma 24:9 | And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed. | And look, I also thank my God that by starting this communication we’ve recognized our sins and all the murders we’ve committed. |
| Alma 24:10 | And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son. | I thank my God, my great God, for letting us repent and forgiving us for all our sins and wrongdoings. He has taken away the guilt from our hearts through the merits of His Son. |
| Alma 24:11 | And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain— | Now look, my friends, it took everything we had (since we were the worst of all people) to repent of our sins and the many murders we committed, and to ask God to remove them from our hearts. It was all we could do to repent enough for God to take away our guilt. |
| Alma 24:12 | Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren. | My dear brothers, since God has cleansed us and our swords shine brightly, let’s not stain them again with our brothers’ blood. |
| Alma 24:13 | Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins. | Listen, I’m telling you, no. Let’s keep our swords clean and not stain them with our brothers’ blood. Because maybe, if we stain them again, they can’t be made clean through the blood of the Son of our great God, which will be shed to atone for our sins. |
| Alma 24:14 | And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations. | The great God has shown mercy to us and revealed these things so that we won’t perish. He has told us this ahead of time because he loves our souls just as much as he loves our children. Because of his mercy, he sends angels to visit us so that the plan of salvation is known to us and future generations. |
| Alma 24:15 | Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby. | Oh, how merciful is our God! Since we’ve done our best to cleanse ourselves and make our swords bright, let’s put them away to keep them shining as a witness to God on the last day, or when we stand before Him to be judged. This will show that we haven’t stained our swords with our brothers’ blood since He gave us His word and made us clean. |
| Alma 24:16 | And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved. | Now, my brothers, if our enemies try to destroy us, we will hide our swords and bury them deep in the ground to keep them bright, as proof that we never used them, on the last day. And if our enemies kill us, we will go to our God and be saved. |
| Alma 24:17 | And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man—s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth. | When the king finished speaking and everyone was gathered, they took their swords and all their weapons used for killing and buried them deep in the ground. |
| Alma 24:18 | And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man—s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands. | They did this to show God and others that they would never use weapons again to shed human blood. They promised and made a covenant with God that they would rather die than kill their brothers. Instead of taking from others, they would give to them. And instead of being lazy, they would work hard with their hands. |
| Alma 24:19 | And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace. | So, we see that when these Lamanites came to believe and know the truth, they stood strong and would rather die than commit sin. Because of this, they buried their weapons of war for peace. |
| Alma 24:20 | And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land. | The Lamanites, who were their brothers, got ready for war and came to the land of Nephi to kill the king and put someone else in his place. They also wanted to destroy the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi and drive them out of the land. |
| Alma 24:21 | Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword. | When the people saw that the Lamanites were coming against them, they went out to meet them. They bowed down to the ground and started praying to the Lord. While they were in this position, the Lamanites began to attack them and kill them with swords. |
| Alma 24:22 | And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God. | Without encountering any resistance, they killed 1,005 of them. We know they are blessed because they have gone to be with their God. |
| Alma 24:23 | Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword— | When the Lamanites saw that their brothers would not run away from the sword or move to the right or left, but chose to lie down and die while praising God, even as they were killed… |
| Alma 24:24 | Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done. | When the Lamanites saw this, they stopped killing them. Many of them were moved with compassion for their fallen brothers and regretted what they had done. |
| Alma 24:25 | And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them. | They threw down their weapons and refused to use them again, feeling remorse for the murders they had committed. They surrendered to their enemies, trusting in their mercy. |
| Alma 24:26 | And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. | That day, the people of God gained more new members than the number who had been killed. Since the ones who were killed were righteous, we believe they were saved. |
| Alma 24:27 | And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people. | None of the bad guys were killed, but over a thousand people came to understand the truth. This shows that the Lord has many ways to save His people. |
| Alma 24:28 | Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors. | Most of the Lamanites who killed so many of their brothers were Amalekites and Amulonites, and most of them followed the teachings of Nehor. |
| Alma 24:29 | Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel. | None of the people who joined the followers of the Lord were Amalekites, Amulonites, or followers of Nehor. They were all actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel. |
| Alma 24:30 | And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things. | So, we can clearly see that after people have been enlightened by the Spirit of God and have gained a lot of knowledge about righteousness, and then fall into sin and transgression, they become more hardened and their state gets worse than if they had never learned these things. |
Alma 25
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 25:1 | And behold, now it came to pass that those Lamanites were more angry because they had slain their brethren; therefore they swore vengeance upon the Nephites; and they did no more attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time. | The Lamanites were even angrier because they had killed their own people, so they vowed to take revenge on the Nephites. They stopped trying to kill the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi for the time being. |
| Alma 25:2 | But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, and destroyed them. | They took their armies and went over to the outskirts of Zarahemla. There, they attacked the people in Ammonihah and destroyed them. |
| Alma 25:3 | And after that, they had many battles with the Nephites, in the which they were driven and slain. | After that, they fought many battles with the Nephites, in which they were driven back and killed. |
| Alma 25:4 | And among the Lamanites who were slain were almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren, who were the priests of Noah, and they were slain by the hands of the Nephites; | Among the Lamanites who were killed, almost all of Amulon’s descendants and his fellow priests of Noah were slain by the Nephites. |
| Alma 25:5 | And the remainder, having fled into the east wilderness, and having usurped the power and authority over the Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire because of their belief— | The rest of them ran into the eastern wilderness, took control over the Lamanites, and caused many of them to die by fire because of their beliefs. |
| Alma 25:6 | For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness. | Many of them had suffered a lot and gone through many hardships. This made them remember what Aaron and his brothers had preached to them. Because of this, they started to doubt the traditions of their fathers and began to believe in the Lord and in the great power He gave to the Nephites. So, many of them became believers while they were in the wilderness. |
| Alma 25:7 | And it came to pass that those rulers who were the remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to death, yea, all those that believed in these things. | The remaining rulers from the children of Amulon ordered that everyone who believed in these teachings be put to death. |
| Alma 25:8 | Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in the wilderness; and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the east wilderness. | The martyrdom made many of their brothers angry, leading to disputes in the wilderness. The Lamanites began to hunt down the descendants of Amulon and his brothers, killing them, and they fled into the eastern wilderness. |
| Alma 25:9 | And behold they are hunted at this day by the Lamanites. Thus the words of Abinadi were brought to pass, which he said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should suffer death by fire. | Look, the Lamanites are still hunting them today. So, what Abinadi said about the descendants of the priests who made him die by fire has come true. |
| Alma 25:10 | For he said unto them: What ye shall do unto me shall be a type of things to come. | He told them, “What you do to me now will be a symbol of things to come.” |
| Alma 25:11 | And now Abinadi was the first that suffered death by fire because of his belief in God; now this is what he meant, that many should suffer death by fire, according as he had suffered. | Abinadi was the first to be burned to death because of his belief in God. What he meant was that many others would also suffer death by fire, just like he did. |
| Alma 25:12 | And he said unto the priests of Noah that their seed should cause many to be put to death, in the like manner as he was, and that they should be scattered abroad and slain, even as a sheep having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts; and now behold, these words were verified, for they were driven by the Lamanites, and they were hunted, and they were smitten. | He told the priests of Noah that their descendants would cause many people to be killed in the same way he was, and that they would be scattered and killed, just like sheep without a shepherd get attacked by wild animals. And now, these words came true because the Lamanites drove them out, hunted them down, and struck them. |
| Alma 25:13 | And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that they could not overpower the Nephites they returned again to their own land; and many of them came over to dwell in the land of Ishmael and the land of Nephi, and did join themselves to the people of God, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. | When the Lamanites saw they couldn’t defeat the Nephites, they went back to their own land. Many of them decided to live in the land of Ishmael and Nephi and joined the people of God, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. |
| Alma 25:14 | And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments and his statutes. | They also buried their weapons of war like their brothers had done. They started to become a righteous people, following the ways of the Lord and keeping His commandments and statutes. |
| Alma 25:15 | Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them. | Yes, they kept the law of Moses, because it was still necessary for them to do so, as it hadn’t been completely fulfilled yet. But even though they followed the law of Moses, they also looked forward to Christ’s coming. They understood that the law of Moses was a symbol of his coming and believed they needed to keep those outward practices until Christ was revealed to them. |
| Alma 25:16 | Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come. | They didn’t believe that salvation came from the law of Moses, but the law of Moses helped strengthen their faith in Christ. Because of this, they held onto hope through faith for eternal salvation, relying on the spirit of prophecy that spoke about future things. |
| Alma 25:17 | And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular. | Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, and their brothers were super happy because their work with the Lamanites had been successful. The Lord answered their prayers and kept all of his promises to them. |
Alma 26
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 26:1 | And now, these are the words of Ammon to his brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings? | These are the words of Ammon to his brothers: “My brothers, let’s be happy! When we left Zarahemla, did we ever think that God would bless us so much?” |
| Alma 26:2 | And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell? | So, what big blessings has he given us? Can you say? |
| Alma 26:3 | Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. | Look, I’ll answer for you. Our brothers, the Lamanites, were in darkness, in the deepest abyss. But now, see how many of them have been brought to see the marvelous light of God! This blessing has been given to us, that we have become tools in God’s hands to accomplish this great work. |
| Alma 26:4 | Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God. | Look, thousands of them are celebrating because they have joined God’s family. |
| Alma 26:5 | Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. | Look, the field was ready for harvest, and you are blessed because you put in the effort and reaped with all your strength, working all day long. See the number of your bundles! They will be gathered into the barns so nothing is wasted. |
| Alma 26:6 | Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. | Yes, at the end times, they won’t be overwhelmed by the storm; they won’t be troubled by the whirlwinds. When the storm comes, they will be gathered safely and the storm can’t reach them. Fierce winds won’t be able to drive them wherever the enemy wants. |
| Alma 26:7 | But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day. | But look, they are in God’s care, and they belong to Him; He will bring them back to life on the last day. |
| Alma 26:8 | Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever. | Blessed be the name of our God; let’s sing his praises and give thanks to his holy name because he always does what is right. |
| Alma 26:9 | For if we had not come up out of the land of Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God. | If we hadn’t left Zarahemla, our beloved brothers and sisters who love us so much would still be full of hatred towards us and wouldn’t know God. |
| Alma 26:10 | And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these words, his brother Aaron rebuked him, saying: Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting. | After Ammon said this, his brother Aaron scolded him, saying: “Ammon, I think you’re letting your excitement turn into bragging.” |
| Alma 26:11 | But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. | But Ammon said to him, “I’m not bragging about my own strength or wisdom. My joy is overflowing, and I will rejoice in my God.” |
| Alma 26:12 | Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. | I know that I am nothing; I’m weak when it comes to my own strength. So, I won’t brag about myself, but I will brag about my God, because with His strength, I can do anything. We’ve performed many mighty miracles here, and we will praise His name forever. |
| Alma 26:13 | Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? | Look at how many thousands of our brothers and sisters he has freed from the pain of hell. They are now singing about redeeming love, all because of the power of his word in us. So don’t we have great reason to rejoice? |
| Alma 26:14 | Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell. | Yes, we have every reason to praise Him forever because He is the Most High God and has freed our brothers from the chains of hell. |
| Alma 26:15 | Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work. | Yes, they were trapped in eternal darkness and destruction, but look, he has brought them into his eternal light, yes, into everlasting salvation; and they are surrounded by the incredible generosity of his love; yes, and we have been tools in his hands for doing this wonderful and amazing work. |
| Alma 26:16 | Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. | So let’s celebrate, yes, let’s take pride in the Lord. We will rejoice because our joy is complete. We will praise our God forever. Who can praise the Lord too much? Who can say enough about His great power, His mercy, and His patience with humanity? I’m telling you, I can’t even begin to express what I feel. |
| Alma 26:17 | Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state? | Who could have thought that God would be so merciful to rescue us from our terrible, sinful, and polluted state? |
| Alma 26:18 | Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty threatenings to destroy his church. | We went out angry, with strong threats to destroy his church. |
| Alma 26:19 | Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair? | Why didn’t God just destroy us? Why didn’t He let His justice punish us and condemn us to eternal despair? |
| Alma 26:20 | Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls. | Oh, my soul almost runs away at the thought. He didn’t punish us, but in his great mercy, he saved us from death and misery and brought us to the salvation of our souls. |
| Alma 26:21 | And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. | Now, my brothers, is there any natural person who knows these things? I tell you, no one knows these things except the one who repents. |
| Alma 26:22 | Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. | Anyone who repents, has faith, does good works, and prays constantly will be given the ability to understand God’s mysteries. They will be able to reveal things that have never been revealed before and help thousands of souls repent, just as we have been able to help our brothers repent. |
| Alma 26:23 | Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to scorn? | Do you remember, brothers, when we told the people in Zarahemla that we were going to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites, and they laughed at us? |
| Alma 26:24 | For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language. | They said to us, “Do you really think you can bring the Lamanites to know the truth? Do you think you can convince them that their ancestors’ traditions are wrong, given how stubborn they are; how they love violence; how their lives have been filled with serious sins; and how they’ve always been rebellious? My brothers, you remember this is what they said.” |
| Alma 26:25 | And moreover they did say: Let us take up arms against them, that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest they overrun us and destroy us. | And they also said: Let’s take up arms against them and destroy them and their wickedness from the land so they don’t overrun and destroy us. |
| Alma 26:26 | But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls. | But listen, my dear brothers, we came into the wilderness not to destroy our brothers, but hoping we might save some of their souls. |
| Alma 26:27 | Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. | When we were feeling really down and about to give up, the Lord comforted us and said: Go among your brothers, the Lamanites, and endure your hardships with patience, and I will make you successful. |
| Alma 26:28 | And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God. | Now look, we have come and been among them; we have been patient through all our struggles and have faced every hardship. Yes, we’ve gone from house to house, depending on the kindness of people—not just on their kindness, but on God’s mercy as well. |
| Alma 26:29 | And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again. | We went into their homes and taught them, and we taught them in their streets, and on their hills. We also went into their temples and synagogues to teach them. We were thrown out, mocked, spit on, and hit. We were stoned, tied up with strong ropes, and thrown into prison. Yet, through God’s power and wisdom, we were freed again. |
| Alma 26:30 | And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. | We’ve gone through all kinds of hardships, hoping we might help save some souls. We thought our joy would be complete if we could possibly save even a few. |
| Alma 26:31 | Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. | Look, we can see the results of our work; are they few? No, they are many. We can see their sincerity because of their love for their brothers and for us. |
| Alma 26:32 | For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren. | They would rather give up their lives than kill their enemy; and they’ve buried their weapons deep in the ground because of their love for their fellow men. |
| Alma 26:33 | And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not, even among the Nephites. | Now listen, has there ever been such great love in all the land? No, there hasn’t, not even among the Nephites. |
| Alma 26:34 | For behold, they would take up arms against their brethren; they would not suffer themselves to be slain. But behold how many of these have laid down their lives; and we know that they have gone to their God, because of their love and of their hatred to sin. | Look, they would fight against their own brothers; they didn’t want to be killed. But look how many have given up their lives, and we know they’ve gone to God because of their love for Him and their hatred for sin. |
| Alma 26:35 | Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. | Don’t we have every reason to be happy? I’m telling you, no one has ever had as much reason to rejoice as we do, ever since the beginning of the world. I’m so full of joy that I can’t help but brag about my God. He has all power, wisdom, and understanding; He knows everything and is merciful, offering salvation to those who repent and believe in Him. |
| Alma 26:36 | Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. | If this sounds like boasting, then I’m okay with it. This is my life, my guide, my happiness, my salvation, and my deliverance from endless sorrow. Yes, blessed is the name of my God, who has cared for us, a part of Israel, lost in a foreign land. Yes, blessed be the name of my God, who has looked after us, wanderers in a strange place. |
| Alma 26:37 | Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen. | My brothers, we can see that God cares about everyone in every land. He knows His people, and His compassion covers the whole earth. This makes me very happy and thankful. I will always give thanks to my God. Amen. |
Alma 27
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 27:1 | Now it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi. | When the Lamanites who had fought against the Nephites realized that all their efforts to destroy them were pointless, they returned to the land of Nephi. |
| Alma 27:2 | And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them. | The Amalekites were furious because of their losses. When they realized they couldn’t get revenge on the Nephites, they incited the people to be angry with the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and started attacking them again. |
| Alma 27:3 | Now this people again refused to take their arms, and they suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of their enemies. | This group of people once again refused to take up arms and allowed themselves to be killed by their enemies. |
| Alma 27:4 | Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them—for they were treated as though they were angels sent from God to save them from everlasting destruction—therefore, when Ammon and his brethren saw this great work of destruction, they were moved with compassion, and they said unto the king: | When Ammon and his brothers saw the destruction among those they loved so much, and who had loved them back—treating them like angels sent from God—they were filled with compassion. So, they said to the king: |
| Alma 27:5 | Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites, and flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not destroyed. | Let’s gather the Lord’s people and travel down to Zarahemla where our Nephite brothers are, so we can escape from our enemies and avoid being destroyed. |
| Alma 27:6 | But the king said unto them: Behold, the Nephites will destroy us, because of the many murders and sins we have committed against them. | But the king said to them, “Look, the Nephites will destroy us because of all the murders and sins we’ve committed against them.” |
| Alma 27:7 | And Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord, and if he say unto us, go down unto our brethren, will ye go? | Ammon said, “I’ll go ask the Lord, and if He tells us to go down to our brothers, will you go?” |
| Alma 27:8 | And the king said unto him: Yea, if the Lord saith unto us go, we will go down unto our brethren, and we will be their slaves until we repair unto them the many murders and sins which we have committed against them. | The king said to him, “Yes, if the Lord tells us to go, we will go to our brothers, and we will be their slaves until we make up for the many murders and sins we’ve committed against them.” |
| Alma 27:9 | But Ammon said unto him: It is against the law of our brethren, which was established by my father, that there should be any slaves among them; therefore let us go down and rely upon the mercies of our brethren. | But Ammon said to him, “Our brothers have a law set by my father that doesn’t allow any slaves among them. So let’s go and trust in the mercy of our brothers.” |
| Alma 27:10 | But the king said unto him: Inquire of the Lord, and if he saith unto us go, we will go; otherwise we will perish in the land. | But the king told him, “Ask the Lord, and if He tells us to go, we will go; otherwise, we will die here.” |
| Alma 27:11 | And it came to pass that Ammon went and inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said unto him: | Ammon went to ask the Lord, and the Lord told him: |
| Alma 27:12 | Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this people in this generation, for I will preserve them. | Get these people out of this land so they don’t get destroyed. Satan has a strong hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, and they’re making the Lamanites angry at their own brothers, convincing them to kill. So take these people and leave this land. The people in this generation are blessed because I will protect them. |
| Alma 27:13 | And now it came to pass that Ammon went and told the king all the words which the Lord had said unto him. | Ammon went and told the king everything the Lord had told him. |
| Alma 27:14 | And they gathered together all their people, yea, all the people of the Lord, and did gather together all their flocks and herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the wilderness which divided the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla, and came over near the borders of the land. | They gathered all the people of the Lord, along with their flocks and herds, and left the land. They went into the wilderness that separates the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla and came near the borders of the land. |
| Alma 27:15 | And it came to pass that Ammon said unto them: Behold, I and my brethren will go forth into the land of Zarahemla, and ye shall remain here until we return; and we will try the hearts of our brethren, whether they will that ye shall come into their land. | Ammon told them, “Look, my brothers and I will go to the land of Zarahemla. You stay here until we come back, and we’ll see if our people there will let you join them.” |
| Alma 27:16 | And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting. | As Ammon was going through the land, he and his brothers met Alma in the place we talked about before, and they were really happy to see each other. |
| Alma 27:17 | Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth. | Ammon was so overjoyed by God that he was completely overwhelmed; he was so filled with joy that it exhausted him, and he fell to the ground again. |
| Alma 27:18 | Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness. | Isn’t this an incredible joy? This kind of joy is only experienced by those who are truly repentant and sincerely seeking happiness. |
| Alma 27:19 | Now the joy of Alma in meeting his brethren was truly great, and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni; but behold their joy was not that to exceed their strength. | Alma was really happy to see his brothers, and Aaron, Omner, and Himni were too, but their happiness didn’t exhaust their strength. |
| Alma 27:20 | And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his brethren back to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And they went and told the chief judge all the things that had happened unto them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the Lamanites. | Alma took his friends back to Zarahemla, to his own home. They went and told the chief judge everything that happened to them in the land of Nephi with the Lamanites. |
| Alma 27:21 | And it came to pass that the chief judge sent a proclamation throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the people concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. | The chief judge sent out a message to everyone in the land, asking what they thought about letting their brothers, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, join them. |
| Alma 27:22 | And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying: Behold, we will give up the land of Jershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance. | The people said they would give up the land of Jershon by the sea on the east, next to the land Bountiful to the south, and give it to their brothers as an inheritance. |
| Alma 27:23 | And behold, we will set our armies between the land Jershon and the land Nephi, that we may protect our brethren in the land Jershon; and this we do for our brethren, on account of their fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should commit sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore repentance which they had, on account of their many murders and their awful wickedness. | Look, we’re going to position our armies between the lands of Jershon and Nephi to protect our brothers in Jershon. We’re doing this because our brothers are afraid to fight their own people since they think it would be sinful. Their strong fear comes from their deep repentance for all the murders and awful things they did before. |
| Alma 27:24 | And now behold, this will we do unto our brethren, that they may inherit the land Jershon; and we will guard them from their enemies with our armies, on condition that they will give us a portion of their substance to assist us that we may maintain our armies. | We’ll let our brothers live in the land of Jershon and protect them from their enemies with our armies. In return, they’ll give us part of their resources to help maintain our armies. |
| Alma 27:25 | Now, it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he returned to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, and also Alma with him, into the wilderness, where they had pitched their tents, and made known unto them all these things. And Alma also related unto them his conversion, with Ammon and Aaron, and his brethren. | When Ammon heard this, he went back to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, bringing Alma with him, into the wilderness where they had set up their tents. They told them everything that had happened. Alma also shared his conversion story along with Ammon, Aaron, and their brothers. |
| Alma 27:26 | And it came to pass that it did cause great joy among them. And they went down into the land of Jershon, and took possession of the land of Jershon; and they were called by the Nephites the people of Ammon; therefore they were distinguished by that name ever after. | This made them very happy. They went down to the land of Jershon and took it over. The Nephites called them the people of Ammon, and that’s what they were known as from then on. |
| Alma 27:27 | And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end. | They lived among the Nephites and were counted as members of God’s church. They stood out for their strong commitment to God and to others. They were completely honest and upright in everything, and their faith in Christ stayed strong until the end. |
| Alma 27:28 | And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it. | They viewed killing their fellow men with the utmost disgust; they could never be convinced to take up arms against them. They did not fear death at all because of their hope in Christ and the resurrection. So, for them, death was overcome by Christ’s victory. |
| Alma 27:29 | Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite them. | They would rather suffer a painful and horrible death inflicted by their own people than pick up a sword or scimitar to fight back. |
| Alma 27:30 | And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a highly favored people of the Lord. | They were a passionate and loved people, greatly blessed by the Lord. |
Alma 28
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 28:1 | And now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, and a church also established in the land of Jershon, and the armies of the Nephites were set round about the land of Jershon, yea, in all the borders round about the land of Zarahemla; behold the armies of the Lamanites had followed their brethren into the wilderness. | After the people of Ammon were settled in the land of Jershon and a church was established there, the Nephite armies surrounded the land of Jershon and all the borders around the land of Zarahemla. Then, the Lamanite armies followed them into the wilderness. |
| Alma 28:2 | And thus there was a tremendous battle; yea, even such an one as never had been known among all the people in the land from the time Lehi left Jerusalem; yea, and tens of thousands of the Lamanites were slain and scattered abroad. | There was a huge battle, unlike anything ever seen since Lehi left Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Lamanites were killed and scattered. |
| Alma 28:3 | Yea, and also there was a tremendous slaughter among the people of Nephi; nevertheless, the Lamanites were driven and scattered, and the people of Nephi returned again to their land. | There was a huge battle among the Nephites, but even so, the Lamanites were defeated and scattered, and the Nephites went back to their land. |
| Alma 28:4 | And now this was a time that there was a great mourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land, among all the people of Nephi— | This was a time of great mourning and lamentation heard throughout the whole land among all the people of Nephi. |
| Alma 28:5 | Yea, the cry of widows mourning for their husbands, and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain. | Widows were crying for their husbands, fathers were crying for their sons, daughters were crying for their brothers, and brothers were crying for their fathers. The sounds of mourning were everywhere as they grieved for their loved ones who had been killed. |
| Alma 28:6 | And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer. | This was indeed a sad day—a time for being serious, and a time for much fasting and prayer. |
| Alma 28:7 | And thus endeth the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; | And that’s how the fifteenth year of the judges’ reign ended for the people of Nephi. |
| Alma 28:8 | And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever. | This is the story of Ammon and his brothers, their travels in the land of Nephi, their struggles and hardships, their deep sorrow and incredible joy, and their arrival and safety in the land of Jershon. May the Lord, the Savior of everyone, bless their souls forever. |
| Alma 28:9 | And this is the account of the wars and contentions among the Nephites, and also the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites; and the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is ended. | This is a record of the wars and disputes among the Nephites, as well as the conflicts between the Nephites and the Lamanites. The fifteenth year of the judges’ rule has ended. |
| Alma 28:10 | And from the first year to the fifteenth has brought to pass the destruction of many thousand lives; yea, it has brought to pass an awful scene of bloodshed. | From the first year to the fifteenth, many thousands of lives have been lost, leading to a terrible scene of bloodshed. |
| Alma 28:11 | And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a state of endless wo. | Many thousands of bodies are buried in the ground, while many thousands are decomposing on the surface of the earth. Many thousands are mourning the loss of their loved ones because they fear, as promised by the Lord, that they are in a state of endless sorrow. |
| Alma 28:12 | While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness. | While many thousands of others are deeply mourning the loss of their loved ones, they still feel joy and celebrate in the hope, and even know for sure, because of the Lord’s promises, that their loved ones are now at God’s right hand, in a state of eternal happiness. |
| Alma 28:13 | And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men. | This shows us how much inequality there is among people because of sin and wrongdoing, and the devil’s influence, which comes from the clever tricks he uses to trap people’s hearts. |
| Alma 28:14 | And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life. | So we see the great need for people to work hard in the Lord’s vineyards. We also see the reasons for both sorrow and joy—sorrow because of the death and destruction among people, and joy because of Christ’s light leading to life. |
Alma 29
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 29:1 | O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! | I wish I were an angel so I could fulfill my heart’s desire to go out and speak loudly with God’s power, shaking the earth, and call everyone to repent. |
| Alma 29:2 | Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. | Yes, I want to tell everyone, with a powerful voice, to repent and follow God’s plan of redemption so that we won’t have more sorrow on the earth. |
| Alma 29:3 | But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me. | But look, I’m just a person and I make mistakes in what I wish for. I should be satisfied with what the Lord has given me. |
| Alma 29:4 | I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. | I shouldn’t challenge the firm decisions of a just God, because I know He grants people what they desire, whether it leads to death or life. I understand that He gives people set decrees based on their choices, whether they lead to salvation or destruction. |
| Alma 29:5 | Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. | Yes, I know that everyone has been given the chance to know good and evil. If someone can’t tell the difference between good and evil, they are not at fault. But if someone knows the difference, they will receive outcomes based on what they choose—whether it’s good or evil, life or death, happiness or guilt. |
| Alma 29:6 | Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? | Now that I know these things, why would I want anything more than to do the work I was called to do? |
| Alma 29:7 | Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? | Why would I want to be an angel so I could speak to everyone on earth? |
| Alma 29:8 | For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. | Look, the Lord lets every nation, in their own language, teach His word with wisdom, giving them what He thinks they should have. So, we can see that the Lord gives wise and fair guidance. |
| Alma 29:9 | I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. | I know what the Lord has commanded me, and I take pride in it. I don’t take pride in myself, but I take pride in what the Lord has commanded me. My joy comes from the hope that I could be a tool in God’s hands to help someone repent; this is my joy. |
| Alma 29:10 | And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. | When I see many of my brothers truly repent and turn to the Lord their God, my heart is filled with joy. I remember what the Lord has done for me and how He has listened to my prayers. I recall His merciful arm extended towards me. |
| Alma 29:11 | Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage. | I also remember how my ancestors were taken captive, but I know for sure that the Lord saved them from slavery and established His church. Yes, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, freed them from bondage. |
| Alma 29:12 | Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage. | I’ve always remembered the captivity of my ancestors. The same God who freed them from the Egyptians also freed them from bondage. |
| Alma 29:13 | Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full. | Yes, and that same God set up His church among them; and that same God has called me to preach to these people, and He has given me great success, which fills me with joy. |
| Alma 29:14 | But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi. | But I’m not just happy about my own success—my joy is even greater because of the success of my brothers who went up to the land of Nephi. |
| Alma 29:15 | Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward! | Look, they have worked really hard and achieved a lot; and their reward will be great! |
| Alma 29:16 | Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy. | When I think about how successful my brothers have been, I feel so happy it feels like my soul is almost leaving my body. |
| Alma 29:17 | And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen. | I pray that God will grant my brothers to sit in His kingdom. I pray that all those who benefit from their work will stay with God and praise Him forever. May God make this happen according to my words. Amen. |
Alma 30
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 30:1 | Behold, now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, yea, and also after the Lamanites were driven out of the land, and their dead were buried by the people of the land— | After the people of Ammon settled in the land of Jershon and the Lamanites were driven out, the locals buried the dead. |
| Alma 30:2 | Now their dead were not numbered because of the greatness of their numbers; neither were the dead of the Nephites numbered—but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and also after the days of fasting, and mourning, and prayer, (and it was in the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) there began to be continual peace throughout all the land. | There were so many dead that they couldn’t be counted, neither the Nephites nor the others. But after they had buried their dead and finished their days of fasting, mourning, and prayer (this happened in the sixteenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites), continuous peace began throughout the land. |
| Alma 30:3 | Yea, and the people did observe to keep the commandments of the Lord; and they were strict in observing the ordinances of God, according to the law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the law of Moses until it should be fulfilled. | Yes, the people followed the Lord’s commandments and were careful to follow God’s rules according to the law of Moses, as they were taught to do until it was completely fulfilled. |
| Alma 30:4 | And thus the people did have no disturbance in all the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | So, in the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges, the people of Nephi had a year without any disturbances. |
| Alma 30:5 | And it came to pass that in the commencement of the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace. | At the start of the seventeenth year of the judges’ rule, there was constant peace. |
| Alma 30:6 | But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ. | At the end of the seventeenth year, a man came to the land of Zarahemla, and he was an Anti-Christ. He started preaching against the prophecies that the prophets had made about the coming of Christ. |
| Alma 30:7 | Now there was no law against a man—s belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. | There was no law against a person’s beliefs because it was against God’s commands to have a law that made people unequal. |
| Alma 30:8 | For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve. | For the scriptures say: Decide today whom you will serve. |
| Alma 30:9 | Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him. | If someone wanted to serve God, it was their right. If they believed in God, it was their privilege to serve Him. But if they didn’t believe in Him, there was no law to punish them. |
| Alma 30:10 | But if he murdered he was punished unto death; and if he robbed he was also punished; and if he stole he was also punished; and if he committed adultery he was also punished; yea, for all this wickedness they were punished. | If someone committed murder, they were put to death. If someone robbed, they were punished. If someone stole, they were punished. If someone committed adultery, they were punished. They were punished for all their wickedness. |
| Alma 30:11 | For there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a man—s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds. | There was a law that people should be judged based on their crimes. However, there was no law against personal beliefs; therefore, a person was only punished for the crimes they committed, making everyone equal. |
| Alma 30:12 | And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying: | Korihor was an Anti-Christ, and since the law couldn’t touch him, he began telling people that there would be no Christ. Here’s what he preached. |
| Alma 30:13 | O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come. | Why are you weighed down by foolish and empty hopes? Why do you tie yourselves to such pointless things? Why are you looking for a Christ? No one can know what the future holds. |
| Alma 30:14 | Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers. | Look, the things you call prophecies, which you claim came from holy prophets, are just foolish traditions from your ancestors. |
| Alma 30:15 | How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. | How do you know it’s true? Look, you can’t know about things you haven’t seen; so you can’t know that there will be a Christ. |
| Alma 30:16 | Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so. | You look ahead and say you see your sins forgiven. But really, that’s the result of a confused mind; this confusion comes from the beliefs passed down by your ancestors, leading you to believe in things that aren’t true. |
| Alma 30:17 | And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime. | He told them a lot more things like this, saying that there couldn’t be any atonement for people’s sins, but everyone did as well as they managed to on their own; so, everyone succeeded based on their own talents, and everyone won based on their own strength; and whatever anyone did wasn’t considered a crime. |
| Alma 30:18 | And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof. | He preached to them, leading many away and encouraging them to embrace their wickedness. He led many women and men to commit adultery, telling them that when a person dies, that’s the end of everything. |
| Alma 30:19 | Now this man went over to the land of Jershon also, to preach these things among the people of Ammon, who were once the people of the Lamanites. | This man went to the land of Jershon to preach to the people of Ammon, who used to be Lamanites. |
| Alma 30:20 | But behold they were more wise than many of the Nephites; for they took him, and bound him, and carried him before Ammon, who was a high priest over that people. | But look, they were smarter than many of the Nephites. They captured him, tied him up, and brought him to Ammon, who was the high priest over that group. |
| Alma 30:21 | And it came to pass that he caused that he should be carried out of the land. And he came over into the land of Gideon, and began to preach unto them also; and here he did not have much success, for he was taken and bound and carried before the high priest, and also the chief judge over the land. | He had himself carried out of the land and went to the land of Gideon. He started preaching there too, but he didn’t have much success. He was captured, tied up, and brought before the high priest and the chief judge of the land. |
| Alma 30:22 | And it came to pass that the high priest said unto him: Why do ye go about perverting the ways of the Lord? Why do ye teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their rejoicings? Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets? | The high priest asked him, âWhy are you leading people away from the ways of the Lord? Why are you telling everyone there won’t be a Christ and ruining their happiness? Why are you going against all the prophecies made by the holy prophets?â |
| Alma 30:23 | Now the high priest—s name was Giddonah. And Korihor said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish traditions of your fathers, and because I do not teach this people to bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words. | The high priest’s name was Giddonah. Korihor said to him, “I don’t teach the foolish traditions of your ancestors. I don’t teach people to follow the silly rituals and rules set by ancient priests, which only serve to control them and keep them ignorant. This prevents them from rising up and makes them submit to your words.” |
| Alma 30:24 | Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true. | You say that these people are free, but I say they are in bondage. You claim that the ancient prophecies are true, but I say you don’t actually know if they are. |
| Alma 30:25 | Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say that a child is not guilty because of its parents. | You say these people are guilty and fallen because of a parent’s wrongdoing. But I tell you, a child is not guilty because of their parents. |
| Alma 30:26 | And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say also that he shall be slain for the sins of the world— | You say that Christ will come, but I tell you that you don’t know there will be a Christ. And you also say that he will be killed for the sins of the world. |
| Alma 30:27 | And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges. | You lead these people by following the foolish traditions of your ancestors and pursuing your own desires. You keep them oppressed, almost like they are in bondage, so you can indulge in the fruits of their labor. They don’t have the courage to stand up for themselves or enjoy their rights and privileges. |
| Alma 30:28 | Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God—a being who never has been seen or known, who never was nor ever will be. | They don’t dare use their own resources because they’re afraid of offending their priests, who control them to suit their own desires. The priests have convinced them through traditions, dreams, whims, visions, and fake mysteries that if they don’t follow their commands, they’ll offend some unknown being they call God—someone who’s never been seen, known, or even existed, and never will. |
| Alma 30:29 | Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge who was governor over all the land. | When the high priest and the chief judge saw how stubborn he was, and that he would speak against God, they didn’t respond to him. Instead, they had him tied up and handed over to the officers, who sent him to the land of Zarahemla to be brought before Alma and the chief judge, who was in charge of all the land. |
| Alma 30:30 | And it came to pass that when he was brought before Alma and the chief judge, he did go on in the same manner as he did in the land of Gideon; yea, he went on to blaspheme. | When he was brought before Alma and the chief judge, he continued to act just as he did in the land of Gideon; yes, he kept blaspheming. |
| Alma 30:31 | And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people. | He stood up and spoke arrogantly to Alma, insulting the priests and teachers and accusing them of misleading the people with foolish traditions from their ancestors just to take advantage of their labor. |
| Alma 30:32 | Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people. | Alma said to him: You know that we don’t live off the hard work of others. I’ve worked with my own hands to support myself from the beginning of the judges’ rule until now, even though I’ve traveled all around the land to teach God’s word to the people. |
| Alma 30:33 | And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time. | Even though I’ve worked a lot for the church, I’ve never been paid a single coin for my work; neither has any of my brothers, except when we served as judges, and then we only got paid according to the law for our time. |
| Alma 30:34 | And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren? | Now, if we don’t get anything for our work in the church, what good is it to work in the church unless it’s to share the truth so we can celebrate the happiness of our brothers and sisters? |
| Alma 30:35 | Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain? And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, that causes such joy in their hearts? | So why do you say that we’re preaching to these people just to make money when you know we don’t get paid? And now, do you really think we’re tricking these people when it makes them so happy? |
| Alma 30:36 | And Korihor answered him, Yea. | Korihor replied, “Yes.” |
| Alma 30:37 | And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? | Then Alma asked him, “Do you believe in God?” |
| Alma 30:38 | And he answered, Nay. | But he said, No. |
| Alma 30:39 | Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. | Alma said to him, “Are you going to deny again that there is a God and also deny Christ? Listen, I am telling you, I know there is a God, and that Christ will come.” |
| Alma 30:40 | And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. | So, what proof do you have that there is no God or that Christ isn’t coming? I say you have none, except just your word. |
| Alma 30:41 | But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true? | But look, I have everything as proof that these things are true, and you also have everything as proof that they are true. Will you deny them? Do you believe that these things are true? |
| Alma 30:42 | Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God. | Look, I know you believe, but you are controlled by a lying spirit. You’ve pushed away the Spirit of God so that it has no place in you. Instead, the devil has power over you and manipulates you to try to destroy the children of God. |
| Alma 30:43 | And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. | Korihor said to Alma, “If you show me a sign that proves there is a God and that He has power, then I’ll believe what you’re saying.” |
| Alma 30:44 | But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. | But Alma said to him: You’ve had enough signs; are you going to test God? Are you really going to ask for a sign when you have the testimonies of all these people and all the holy prophets? The scriptures are right in front of you, and everything shows that there is a God. Yes, the earth and everything on it, its movement, and even the planets with their regular motions all show that there is a Supreme Creator. |
| Alma 30:45 | And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign. | Are you leading these people astray by telling them there is no God? Will you deny all the evidence? And he replied, Yes, I will deny it unless you show me a sign. |
| Alma 30:46 | And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed. | Alma said to him, “Look, it makes me sad that you have such a hard heart and that you still resist the spirit of truth, which could lead to your soul’s destruction.” |
| Alma 30:47 | But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more. | But look, it’s better for your soul to be lost than to be responsible for leading many others to destruction with your lies and flattery. So if you deny it again, God will strike you down, making you mute, so you can’t deceive these people anymore. |
| Alma 30:48 | Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe. | Korihor said to him, “I don’t deny that a God might exist, but I don’t believe there is one. And I say that you don’t know there’s a God either. Unless you show me a sign, I won’t believe.” |
| Alma 30:49 | Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance. | Alma told him, “I’ll give you a sign: you’ll be struck dumb, just as I say. In the name of God, you won’t be able to speak anymore.” |
| Alma 30:50 | Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma. | After Alma spoke, Korihor was struck mute and couldn’t speak anymore, just as Alma had said. |
| Alma 30:51 | And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced of the power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth his sign? Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee a sign? Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye dispute more? | When the chief judge saw this, he wrote to Korihor, saying: Are you convinced of God’s power now? Who did you want Alma to show a sign to? Did you want him to afflict others just to prove something to you? Look, he has shown you a sign, so will you still argue? |
| Alma 30:52 | And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God. | Korihor reached out his hand and wrote, saying: I know I’m mute because I can’t speak; and I know that only God’s power could do this to me. Yes, I always knew there was a God. |
| Alma 30:53 | But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me. | But look, the devil tricked me. He came to me looking like an angel and said, “Go and bring these people back because they’ve all started following a god they don’t know.” He also said, “There is no God,” and told me what to say. I taught his words because they sounded good to the human mind, and I kept teaching them until I was really successful. I actually started to believe they were true. Because of this, I rejected the real truth and brought this great curse upon myself. |
| Alma 30:54 | Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the curse might be taken from him. | After he said this, he begged Alma to pray to God to remove the curse from him. |
| Alma 30:55 | But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will. | Alma said to him, “If this curse were removed, you would once again lead the people astray; therefore, it will be as the Lord wills.” |
| Alma 30:56 | And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food. | The curse on Korihor wasn’t lifted, so he was kicked out and went begging for food from house to house. |
| Alma 30:57 | Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor was immediately published throughout all the land; yea, the proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in the land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of Korihor that they must speedily repent, lest the same judgments would come unto them. | The news about what happened to Korihor spread quickly across the land. The chief judge sent out a proclamation to everyone, telling those who believed Korihor’s words that they must repent quickly or face the same consequences. |
| Alma 30:58 | And it came to pass that they were all convinced of the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they were all converted again unto the Lord; and this put an end to the iniquity after the manner of Korihor. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging food for his support. | Everyone realized that Korihor was wicked, so they all turned back to the Lord, putting an end to Korihor’s influence. After that, Korihor went from house to house, begging for food. |
| Alma 30:59 | And it came to pass that as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a man whose name was Zoram—and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead. | As he went among the people who had left the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, following a leader named Zoram, he was attacked and trampled to death. |
| Alma 30:60 | And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell. | This is how it ends for those who twist the ways of the Lord. The devil won’t support his followers in the end but will quickly drag them down to hell. |
Alma 31
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 31:1 | Now it came to pass that after the end of Korihor, Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols, his heart again began to sicken because of the iniquity of the people. | After Korihor was done away with, Alma heard that the Zoramites were twisting the teachings of the Lord. Their leader, Zoram, was causing the people to worship useless idols, and Alma’s heart began to ache again because of the people’s wickedness. |
| Alma 31:2 | For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to know of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly sorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from the Nephites. | Alma was really saddened to see the wickedness among his people; his heart was heavy because the Zoramites had separated from the Nephites. |
| Alma 31:3 | Now the Zoramites had gathered themselves together in a land which they called Antionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites. | The Zoramites had gathered together in a place they called Antionum, which was east of Zarahemla, near the seashore, and south of Jershon, which was close to a wilderness full of Lamanites. |
| Alma 31:4 | Now the Nephites greatly feared that the Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites, and that it would be the means of great loss on the part of the Nephites. | The Nephites were really worried that the Zoramites would ally with the Lamanites, and this could cause the Nephites to suffer great losses. |
| Alma 31:5 | And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. | As people listened to the word of God, it motivated them to do what was right. It had a more significant impact on their minds than any war or event they had experienced. So, Alma thought it was wise to rely on the power of God’s word. |
| Alma 31:6 | Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and he also took two of his sons. | So he took Ammon, Aaron, and Omner with him, but he left Himni at the church in Zarahemla. He also took two of his sons, along with Amulek and Zeezrom, who were in Melek. |
| Alma 31:7 | Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton; and these are the names of those who went with him among the Zoramites, to preach unto them the word. | He didn’t take his oldest son, Helaman, with him, but he took Shiblon and Corianton. These are the ones who went with him to preach to the Zoramites. |
| Alma 31:8 | Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. | The Zoramites had left the Nephites, so they had already heard the word of God. |
| Alma 31:9 | But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes, according to the law of Moses. | But they had made big mistakes because they wouldn’t follow God’s commandments and the laws of Moses. |
| Alma 31:10 | Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation. | They stopped following the practices of the church and didn’t pray to God daily, which led them into temptation. |
| Alma 31:11 | Yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord in very many instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them. | Yes, they really did stray from the Lord’s path in many ways. So, Alma and his brothers went to their land to preach to them. |
| Alma 31:12 | Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never beheld; | When they arrived in the land, they were shocked to find that the Zoramites had built synagogues and gathered together on one day of the week, which they called the Lord’s day, to worship in a way Alma and his friends had never seen before. |
| Alma 31:13 | For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head, and the top thereof would only admit one person. | They had a raised platform in the middle of their synagogue that was higher than everyone’s head and only one person could stand on it at a time. |
| Alma 31:14 | Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying: | So, anyone who wanted to worship had to go up there, raise their hands toward the sky, and shout: |
| Alma 31:15 | Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever. | Holy, holy God; we believe you are God, and we believe you are holy, and that you were a spirit, and you are a spirit, and you will be a spirit forever. |
| Alma 31:16 | Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ. | Holy God, we believe that you have separated us from our brothers. We don’t believe in their traditions, which came from the foolishness of their fathers. We believe that you have chosen us to be your holy children, and you have told us that there will be no Christ. |
| Alma 31:17 | But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God. | But you are the same always—yesterday, today, and forever; and you have chosen us to be saved, while those around us are destined to face your wrath in hell. For your holiness, God, we thank you; and we also thank you for choosing us, so we aren’t misled by the foolish traditions of our brethren, which lead them to believe in Christ and stray far from you, our God. |
| Alma 31:18 | And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen. | Thank you, God, for making us a special and holy people. Amen. |
| Alma 31:19 | Now it came to pass that after Alma and his brethren and his sons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond all measure. | After Alma, his brothers, and his sons heard these prayers, they were completely astonished. |
| Alma 31:20 | For behold, every man did go forth and offer up these same prayers. | Every person went and said the same prayers. |
| Alma 31:21 | Now the place was called by them Rameumptom, which, being interpreted, is the holy stand. | They called the place Rameumptom, which means the holy stand. |
| Alma 31:22 | Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about. | Now, from this place, each person offered the same prayer to God, thanking Him for choosing them and not leading them astray like their brethren, and for keeping their hearts from being deceived by unknown future events. |
| Alma 31:23 | Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner. | After everyone had given thanks, they went back to their homes and didn’t talk about God again until they gathered together at the holy place to give thanks in their own way. |
| Alma 31:24 | Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods. | When Alma saw this, he was very upset because he realized these people were wicked and twisted. He could see their hearts were focused on gold, silver, and all kinds of fine goods. |
| Alma 31:25 | Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride. | Yes, he noticed that they were full of pride and bragging. |
| Alma 31:26 | And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men? | He looked up to heaven and cried out, “Oh Lord, how long will you let your servants live here and see such terrible wickedness among people?” |
| Alma 31:27 | Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world. | Look, God, they call out to you, but they are consumed by their pride. God, they call out to you with their words, while they’re full of themselves with the empty things of the world. |
| Alma 31:28 | Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say—We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish. | Look at their expensive clothes, their rings, their bracelets, their gold, and all their fancy things they wear. Their hearts are set on these things, but they still say to you, “Thank you, God, for we are your chosen people, while others will perish.” |
| Alma 31:29 | Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto them that there shall be no Christ. | Yes, and they say that you told them there will be no Christ. |
| Alma 31:30 | O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul. | Oh Lord, how long will you allow such wickedness and unfaithfulness among these people? Lord, will you give me strength to endure my weaknesses? Because I am weak, and this wickedness pains my soul. |
| Alma 31:31 | O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. | Lord, my heart is really sad; please comfort me through Christ. Lord, please give me the strength to endure these troubles that will come my way because of the wickedness of this people. |
| Alma 31:32 | O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom and also my two sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ. | Lord, please comfort my soul and bless me with success, along with my fellow workers, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, and my two sons. Comfort all of them, Lord. Please comfort their souls in Christ. |
| Alma 31:33 | Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people. | Will you give them the strength they need to endure the hardships that will come because of the sins of these people? |
| Alma 31:34 | O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. | Lord, please help us succeed in bringing them back to You through Christ. |
| Alma 31:35 | Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee. | Look, Lord, these people are valuable, and many of them are our brothers and sisters. So, please give us the power and wisdom to bring them back to you. |
| Alma 31:36 | Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. | When Alma finished speaking, he laid his hands on everyone with him. As soon as he did, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| Alma 31:37 | And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on. | After that, they went their separate ways, not worrying about what they would eat, drink, or wear. |
| Alma 31:38 | And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. | The Lord took care of them so they wouldn’t get hungry or thirsty, and he also gave them strength so they wouldn’t suffer any afflictions, except those which could be swallowed up in the joy of Christ. This happened because of Alma’s prayer, who prayed with faith. |
Alma 32
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 32:1 | And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets. | They went out and began to preach the word of God to the people. They preached in the synagogues, in people’s houses, and even in the streets. |
| Alma 32:2 | And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel— | After a lot of hard work among the people, they started to have success with the poorer folks, because they were thrown out of the synagogues due to their rough clothing. |
| Alma 32:3 | Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart. | They weren’t allowed to enter their synagogues to worship God because they were considered unclean. They were poor and seen as worthless by their own people. They were not only poor in material things but also in spirit. |
| Alma 32:4 | Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world. | While Alma was teaching and talking to the people on the hill Onidah, a large group came to him. These were the people we mentioned earlier, who were feeling down because they were poor in worldly things. |
| Alma 32:5 | And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do? | They came to Alma, and the one leading them said, “Look, what should my brothers do? They are hated by everyone because they are poor, especially by our priests. We’ve been thrown out of the synagogues we’ve worked so hard to build with our own hands because we’re so poor, and now we have nowhere to worship God. So, what should we do?” |
| Alma 32:6 | And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word. | When Alma heard this, he turned around, saw him, and was filled with joy because he saw that their hardships had truly humbled them and they were ready to hear the word. |
| Alma 32:7 | Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them: | So he stopped talking to the others, but he reached out his hand and called out to those he saw who were truly sorry, and said to them: |
| Alma 32:8 | I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye. | I see that you are humble; if that’s the case, you are blessed. |
| Alma 32:9 | Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God. | Look, your brother said, “What should we do? We’ve been cast out of our synagogues and can’t worship our God.” |
| Alma 32:10 | Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? | Listen, do you think you can only worship God in your churches? |
| Alma 32:11 | Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week? | I want to ask you, do you think you only need to worship God once a week? |
| Alma 32:12 | 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. | I’m telling you, it’s actually good that you’ve been kicked out of your synagogues because it’s making you humble, and you’re learning wisdom from it. You need to learn this wisdom. Being cast out and looked down on by your brothers because you’re very poor has brought you to a humble state of mind. So, you’re being made humble as a necessary part of this process. |
| Alma 32:13 | 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. | Now, since you are forced to be humble, you are blessed; because sometimes, when a person is forced to be humble, they seek repentance. And anyone who repents will find mercy, and those who find mercy and stay strong until the end will be saved. |
| Alma 32:14 | 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? | As I mentioned, because you were forced to be humble, you were blessed. But don’t you think those who humble themselves because of the word are even more blessed? |
| Alma 32:15 | 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. | Those who truly humble themselves, repent of their sins, and endure to the end will be blessed—much more blessed than those who are forced to be humble because of their extreme poverty. |
| Alma 32:16 | 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. | So, blessed are those who humble themselves without being forced to; in other words, blessed is the one who believes in God’s word and gets baptized willingly, without being stubborn or needing to be compelled to believe. |
| Alma 32:17 | 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. | Yes, many people say, “If you show us a sign from heaven, then we’ll know for sure and we will believe.” |
| Alma 32:18 | 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. | So, let me ask you, is this faith? No, because if a person knows something for sure, they don’t need to believe it—they already know it. |
| Alma 32:19 | 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, imagine how much worse it is for someone who knows God’s will and doesn’t do it, compared to someone who just believes, or has reason to believe, and then sins? |
| Alma 32:20 | 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. | You need to judge this matter. Look, I’m telling you, it’s the same on both sides; everyone will receive according to their deeds. |
| Alma 32:21 | And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. | And now, as I mentioned about faith—faith isn’t having a perfect knowledge of everything; so, if you have faith, you hope for things you can’t see but are true. |
| Alma 32:22 | And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word. | Now listen, I want you to remember that God is merciful to everyone who believes in Him. So the first thing He wants is for you to believe in Him, even in His word. |
| Alma 32:23 | And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned. | Now, he shares his word through angels with people — not just men, but women too. And that’s not all; many times, little children are given words that amaze even the wise and learned. |
| Alma 32:24 | And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true— | My dear friends, since you’ve asked me what to do because you’re suffering and rejected, I want to be clear that I don’t intend to judge you, but to speak only the truth. |
| Alma 32:25 | For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might. | I don’t mean that all of you have been forced to humble yourselves. I actually believe that some of you would humble yourselves no matter what situation you were in. |
| Alma 32:26 | Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. | Just as I mentioned about faith—it isn’t perfect knowledge—so it is with my words. You can’t be completely certain about them right away, just like faith isn’t perfect knowledge. |
| Alma 32:27 | But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. | But look, if you wake up and give my words a chance, and have even a tiny bit of faith—yes, even if all you can do is want to believe—let that desire grow in you until you believe enough to make room for some of my words. |
| Alma 32:28 | Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. | Let’s compare the word to a seed. If you make room for it and plant it in your heart, and it’s a good seed, and you don’t reject it because of doubt, resisting the Spirit of the Lord, it will start to grow inside you. When you feel it growing, you’ll realize it’s a good seed or that the word is good because it begins to expand your soul and enlighten your mind. It starts to feel really good to you. |
| Alma 32:29 | Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge. | Now look, wouldn’t this boost your faith? I’m telling you, yes; but it hasn’t yet become perfect knowledge. |
| Alma 32:30 | But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow. | But look, as the seed swells, sprouts, and starts to grow, you’ll have to say the seed is good, because it’s swelling, sprouting, and growing. And now, doesn’t this strengthen your faith? Yes, it will strengthen your faith, because you’ll say, “I know this is a good seed,” as it’s sprouting and starting to grow. |
| Alma 32:31 | And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness. | So, do you think this is a good seed? I say yes, because every seed produces something like itself. |
| Alma 32:32 | Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. | So, if a seed grows, it’s good; but if it doesn’t grow, then it’s not good, and it gets thrown away. |
| Alma 32:33 | And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. | Now, look, since you’ve tried it out and planted the seed, and it’s starting to sprout and grow, you must know that the seed is good. |
| Alma 32:34 | And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. | So now, do you have perfect knowledge? Yes, your knowledge is perfect about this thing, and your faith is inactive because you know that the word has filled your soul. You also know that it has started to grow, your understanding is becoming clearer, and your mind is starting to open up. |
| Alma 32:35 | O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? | So, isn’t this real? I tell you, yes, because it’s light; and anything that’s light is good because you can recognize it. So, you must know it’s good. And now, after experiencing this light, is your knowledge perfect? |
| Alma 32:36 | Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good. | I tell you, no; don’t give up your faith, because you’ve just used your faith to plant the seed to see if it was good. |
| Alma 32:37 | And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. | And look, as the tree begins to grow, you’ll say: Let’s take great care of it so it can take root, grow, and produce fruit for us. And now look, if you take good care of it, it will take root, grow, and produce fruit. |
| Alma 32:38 | But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out. | But if you neglect the tree and don’t take care of it, it won’t develop any roots. When the sun comes out and scorches it, it will wither away because it doesn’t have roots. You’ll end up pulling it out and throwing it away. |
| Alma 32:39 | Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof. | It’s not that the seed isn’t good or that the fruit wouldn’t be desirable. It’s because your soil is barren and you won’t nurture the tree, so you can’t have the fruit. |
| Alma 32:40 | And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. | So, if you don’t nurture the word, and look forward with faith to its outcome, you can never enjoy the fruit of the tree of life. |
| Alma 32:41 | But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. | If you care for the word like a tree, nurturing it with your faith, diligence, and patience as it begins to grow, and looking forward to its fruit, it will take root and grow into a tree that leads to eternal life. |
| Alma 32:42 | And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. | Because you have been diligent, faithful, and patient in nurturing the word so it can take root in you, eventually you will enjoy its fruit, which is incredibly precious, sweeter than anything sweet, and purer than anything white. You will feast on this fruit until you are full and no longer feel hunger or thirst. |
| Alma 32:43 | Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. | So, my friends, you will receive the benefits of your faith, diligence, patience, and endurance, as you wait for the tree to bear fruit for you. |
Alma 33
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 33:1 | Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith. | After Alma finished speaking, the people asked him if they should believe in one God to obtain the fruit he talked about, how to plant the seed or word he mentioned in their hearts, and how to start exercising their faith. |
| Alma 33:2 | And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them. | Alma said to them, “Look, you said you can’t worship God because you’re kicked out of your synagogues. But I’m telling you, if you think you can’t worship God because of this, you’re wrong. You should read the scriptures; if you think they say you can’t worship God, then you don’t understand them.” |
| Alma 33:3 | Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship? | Do you remember reading what the old prophet Zenos said about prayer and worship? |
| Alma 33:4 | For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me. | He said: God, you are merciful because you heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness. You were merciful when I prayed about my enemies, and you turned them to me. |
| Alma 33:5 | Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me. | God, you were merciful to me when I cried out to you in my field; when I prayed to you, you heard me. |
| Alma 33:6 | And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer. | And once again, God, when I returned home, you listened to my prayer. |
| Alma 33:7 | And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me. | Lord, when I went to a private place and prayed to You, You heard me. |
| Alma 33:8 | Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. | Yes, you are merciful to your children when they cry out to you, wanting you to hear them and not seeking attention from others, and you will listen to them. |
| Alma 33:9 | Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations. | Yes, God, You’ve been merciful to me, and listened to my cries in the middle of Your congregations. |
| Alma 33:10 | Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction. | Yes, and you also heard me when I was thrown out and hated by my enemies; yes, you heard my cries and were angry with my enemies, and you quickly destroyed them in your anger. |
| Alma 33:11 | And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son. | You listened to me because I was suffering and sincere; and it’s because of your Son that you’ve been so merciful to me. So, I’ll always call out to you when I’m in trouble, because you bring me joy. You’ve held back your judgments because of your Son. |
| Alma 33:12 | And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old? | Then Alma asked them, “Do you believe in the scriptures that were written long ago?” |
| Alma 33:13 | Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son. | Look, if you do, you need to believe what Zenos said. He said that you turned away your judgments because of your Son. |
| Alma 33:14 | Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God? | Listen, my friends, have you read the scriptures? If you have, how can you not believe in the Son of God? |
| Alma 33:15 | For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things— | It’s not just Zenos who talked about these things; Zenock talked about them too. |
| Alma 33:16 | For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son. | He said, “Lord, you’re angry with these people because they don’t understand the mercy you’ve shown them through your Son.” |
| Alma 33:17 | And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death. | And now, my brothers, you see that another ancient prophet testified about the Son of God, and because the people couldn’t understand his words, they stoned him to death. |
| Alma 33:18 | But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God. | But listen, there’s more; these aren’t the only ones who have talked about the Son of God. |
| Alma 33:19 | Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. | Look, Moses talked about him; and remember how a symbol was set up in the wilderness so that anyone who looked at it could live. And many people did look and were healed. |
| Alma 33:20 | But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. | Most people didn’t understand what was happening because their hearts were too hardened. Some were so stubborn they refused to look, and they died because of it. The reason they didn’t look was that they didn’t believe it would heal them. |
| Alma 33:21 | O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish? | My brothers, if you could be healed just by looking around, wouldn’t you do it quickly? Or would you rather harden your hearts in disbelief and be lazy, refusing to look around even if it meant you might perish? |
| Alma 33:22 | If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works. | If so, woe will come upon you. But if not, look around and start to believe in the Son of God. Believe that he will come to save his people, that he will suffer and die to take away their sins, and that he will rise from the dead, bringing about the resurrection. Because of this, everyone will stand before him to be judged at the last day, according to their deeds. |
| Alma 33:23 | And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen. | Listen, my friends, I want you to take this message to heart. As it starts to grow within you, nurture it with your faith. Watch, it will become like a tree giving you everlasting life. May God then help lighten your burdens through the joy of His Son. You can do all this if you choose to. Amen. |
Alma 34
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 34:1 | And now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying: | After Alma finished speaking to them, he sat down on the ground. Then Amulek stood up and began to teach them, saying: |
| Alma 34:2 | My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us. | My brothers, I don’t think you could be unaware of what has been said about the coming of Christ, who we teach is the Son of God. Yes, I know this has been taught to you abundantly before you separated from us. |
| Alma 34:3 | And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience— | Since you asked my beloved brother to tell you what to do because of your problems, and he has given you some advice to prepare your minds, he has also encouraged you to have faith and be patient. |
| Alma 34:4 | Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness. | Yes, I hope you can have enough faith to plant the word in your hearts and see for yourself if it’s good. |
| Alma 34:5 | And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ. | We’ve noticed that the big question on your minds is whether the word is in the Son of God or if there is no Christ at all. |
| Alma 34:6 | And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation. | You have seen that my brother has shown you many times that salvation comes through Christ. |
| Alma 34:7 | My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true. | My brother has quoted Zenos, who said that redemption comes through the Son of God. He also cited Zenock and appealed to Moses to show that these things are true. |
| Alma 34:8 | And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. | Now, let me tell you that I know this is true. Christ will come to the people to take on their sins and atone for the world’s mistakes, because God has declared it. |
| Alma 34:9 | For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. | It’s necessary for an atonement to happen. According to God’s great plan, an atonement must take place, or all humanity would perish. Everyone is hardened, fallen, and lost. We would all perish without the atonement. |
| Alma 34:10 | For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. | There needs to be a great and final sacrifice—not a sacrifice of a man, an animal, or any kind of bird; it won’t be a human sacrifice. It has to be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. |
| Alma 34:11 | Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay. | Nobody can sacrifice their own blood to atone for someone else’s sins. If a person commits murder, would our just law take the life of his brother? No, it wouldn’t. |
| Alma 34:12 | But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world. | But the law requires that a person who has committed murder must lose their life; because of this, only an infinite atonement can cover the sins of the world. |
| Alma 34:13 | Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. | So, it’s necessary to have one final big sacrifice. After that, there should be an end to bloodshed. Then the law of Moses will be completely fulfilled, every single part of it. Nothing will be left out. |
| Alma 34:14 | And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. | And look, this is the whole point of the law, everything pointing to that great and final sacrifice; and that great and final sacrifice will be the Son of God, infinite and eternal. |
| Alma 34:15 | And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. | Jesus will bring salvation to all who believe in Him. This is the purpose of His final sacrifice: to show mercy that surpasses justice and to make it possible for people to have faith and repent. |
| Alma 34:16 | And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. | Mercy meets the demands of justice and keeps them safe, while those who don’t have faith and repent are subject to the full force of the law. So, only those who have faith and repent can be part of the great and eternal plan of redemption. |
| Alma 34:17 | Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; | I hope God helps you, my brothers and sisters, to start using your faith to repent. Call on His holy name so He can show you mercy. |
| Alma 34:18 | Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. | Yes, ask Him for mercy, because He has the power to save you. |
| Alma 34:19 | Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. | Be humble, and keep praying to Him. |
| Alma 34:20 | Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. | Pray to Him while you are working in your fields, yes, even over all your animals. |
| Alma 34:21 | Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. | Pray to Him in your homes, yes, over your entire household, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. |
| Alma 34:22 | Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. | Yes, pray to Him for help against your enemies. |
| Alma 34:23 | Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. | Yes, pray to Him for help against the devil, who opposes all that is good. |
| Alma 34:24 | Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. | Pray to God about your crops so they will grow well and you will be successful with them. |
| Alma 34:25 | Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. | Pray for your crops and livestock so they will multiply. |
| Alma 34:26 | But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. | But that’s not all; you need to pour out your hearts in your private spaces, your secret places, and in your quiet moments. |
| Alma 34:27 | Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. | Yes, and when you’re not directly praying to the Lord, keep your hearts full and constantly think of Him for your wellbeing, and also for the wellbeing of those around you. |
| Alma 34:28 | And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith. | And now, my dear friends, let me tell you, don’t think that’s all; because after doing all these things, if you ignore the needy, the naked, don’t visit the sick and troubled, and don’t share what you have with those in need—I’m telling you, if you don’t do these things, your prayer is useless, and it means nothing, and you’re like hypocrites who deny the faith. |
| Alma 34:29 | Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men. | So, if you don’t remember to be charitable, you’re like worthless waste that refiners throw away, and people walk all over it because it has no value. |
| Alma 34:30 | And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance. | Now, my brothers, after having received so many witnesses and seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, I want you to come forward and show the fruits of your repentance. |
| Alma 34:31 | Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. | I want you to come forward and stop being stubborn; because right now is the time for your salvation. So, if you repent and stop being stubborn, the great plan of redemption will come to you immediately. |
| Alma 34:32 | For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. | This life is the time for people to get ready to meet God. Today is the day for everyone to do their work. |
| Alma 34:33 | And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. | As I said before, since you have had so many witnesses, I urge you not to put off your repentance until it’s too late. This life is given to us to prepare for eternity. If we don’t use our time wisely now, there will come a time when it’s too late to do anything about it. |
| Alma 34:34 | Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. | You can’t say, when you reach that terrible moment, that you’ll repent and return to God. No, you can’t say that; because the same spirit that controls your body when you leave this life will still have power over your body in the eternal world. |
| Alma 34:35 | For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. | If you keep putting off your repentance until you die, you’ll end up controlled by the devil, and he will claim you as his own. At that point, the Spirit of the Lord will have left you, having no place in you, and the devil will have full power over you. This is the final state of the wicked. |
| Alma 34:36 | And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb. | I know this because the Lord has said that he does not live in unholy places, but in the hearts of good people. He also said that the righteous will sit in his kingdom and never leave again; their clothes will be made white through the blood of the Lamb. |
| Alma 34:37 | And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ; | Now, my dear brothers and sisters, I want you to remember these things, and work on your salvation with respect before God, and stop denying the coming of Christ. |
| Alma 34:38 | That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you. | Stop resisting the Holy Ghost. Accept it and take on the name of Christ. Be truly humble and worship God no matter where you are, in spirit and truth. Live each day with gratitude for the many mercies and blessings he gives you. |
| Alma 34:39 | Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing. | I also urge you, my friends, to always be watchful and pray continually so that you won’t be led away by the devil’s temptations. Don’t let him overpower you and make you his subjects in the end, because he doesn’t offer you anything good. |
| Alma 34:40 | And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them; | Now, my dear brothers and sisters, I urge you to be patient and endure all kinds of hardships. Don’t retaliate against those who reject you because of your deep poverty, otherwise you might end up being like them. |
| Alma 34:41 | But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions. | But have patience and endure your hardships, knowing that one day you will find relief from all your troubles. |
Alma 35
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 35:1 | Now it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon. | After Amulek finished speaking, they left the crowd and went to the land of Jershon. |
| Alma 35:2 | Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon. | Yes, and the rest of the brothers, after they preached to the Zoramites, also came to the land of Jershon. |
| Alma 35:3 | And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words. | After the more popular Zoramites talked together about the words preached to them, they got angry because those words mess up their plans. So, they refused to listen. |
| Alma 35:4 | And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken. | They gathered everyone from all around the land and talked with them about what had been said. |
| Alma 35:5 | Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people. | Their leaders, priests, and teachers didn’t openly share their plans with the people. Instead, they secretly found out what everyone was thinking. |
| Alma 35:6 | And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of Jershon. | After they had figured out what everyone thought, those who agreed with what Alma and his brothers had said were kicked out of the land. There were a lot of them, and they went to the land of Jershon. |
| Alma 35:7 | And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them. | Alma and his brothers ministered to the people. |
| Alma 35:8 | Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land. | The Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon in Jershon. The chief ruler of the Zoramites, who was a very wicked man, sent a message to the people of Ammon asking them to kick out everyone who had come from their land. |
| Alma 35:9 | And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants. | He made a lot of threats against them. But the people of Ammon weren’t scared by their words. Instead of kicking them out, they welcomed all the poor Zoramites who came to them. They took care of them by feeding them, clothing them, and giving them land to live on and inherit. They helped them with whatever they needed. |
| Alma 35:10 | Now this did stir up the Zoramites to anger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them. | This made the Zoramites angry at the people of Ammon, and they started to mingle with the Lamanites and got them angry too. |
| Alma 35:11 | And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites. | So, the Zoramites and the Lamanites started getting ready for war against the people of Ammon and the Nephites. |
| Alma 35:12 | And thus ended the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | And that’s how the seventeenth year of the judges ruling over the people of Nephi ended. |
| Alma 35:13 | And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an account shall be given of their wars hereafter. | The people of Ammon left Jershon and went to Melek, making space in Jershon for the Nephite armies to fight against the Lamanites and the Zoramites. This started a war between the Lamanites and the Nephites in the eighteenth year of the judges’ rule. More details about their wars will be given later. |
| Alma 35:14 | And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands. | Alma, Ammon, their brothers, and Alma’s two sons went back to Zarahemla. They had helped many Zoramites repent. These Zoramites were kicked out of their land but given land in Jershon. There, they took up arms to protect themselves, their families, and their land. |
| Alma 35:15 | Now Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful. | Alma was really sad about the wickedness of his people, the wars, the killings, and the arguments among them. He had been sent to teach the word of God to all the people in every city. When he saw that their hearts were becoming hard and that they were getting upset because the message was so strict, he felt incredibly sorrowful. |
| Alma 35:16 | Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record. | So, he brought his sons together to give each of them specific instructions about living righteously. We also have a record of the commandments he gave them. |
Alma 36
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 36:1 | My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land. | My son, listen to me. I promise you that if you follow God’s commandments, you will do well in this land. |
| Alma 36:2 | I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions. | I want you to remember what I’ve done by recalling the captivity of our ancestors. They were enslaved, and only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could free them; and He certainly did rescue them from their sufferings. |
| Alma 36:3 | And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. | And now, my son Helaman, you are still young, so I beg you to listen to my words and learn from me. I know that anyone who trusts in God will be supported through their trials, troubles, and afflictions, and will be lifted up in the end. |
| Alma 36:4 | And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God. | I don’t want you to think that I know these things on my own, but rather from God—not coming from worldly understanding but from a spiritual perspective, not from a physical mind but from God. |
| Alma 36:5 | Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself. | Now, listen, if I hadn’t been born of God, I wouldn’t have known these things. But God, through His holy angel, has revealed these things to me, not because of any worthiness on my part. |
| Alma 36:6 | For I went about with the sons of Mosiah, seeking to destroy the church of God; but behold, God sent his holy angel to stop us by the way. | I was with the sons of Mosiah, trying to destroy the church of God, but then God sent his holy angel to stop us. |
| Alma 36:7 | And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us. | And then he spoke to us, and it was like the voice of thunder. The whole earth shook under our feet, and we all fell down because we were so afraid of the Lord. |
| Alma 36:8 | But behold, the voice said unto me: Arise. And I arose and stood up, and beheld the angel. | But then I heard a voice say: “Get up.” So I got up, stood, and saw the angel. |
| Alma 36:9 | And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God. | He said to me: If you want to destroy yourself, then don’t try to destroy the church of God anymore. |
| Alma 36:10 | And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs. | I collapsed to the ground and stayed there for three days and nights, unable to speak or move. |
| Alma 36:11 | And the angel spake more things unto me, which were heard by my brethren, but I did not hear them; for when I heard the words—If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God—I was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more. | The angel spoke more things to me, which my brothers heard, but I didn’t hear them. When I heard the words, “If you want to destroy yourself, keep trying to destroy the church of God,” I was so afraid and amazed that I might be destroyed that I fell to the ground and heard no more. |
| Alma 36:12 | But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. | But I was in extreme agony, my soul was deeply troubled, and I was tormented by all my sins. |
| Alma 36:13 | Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. | I remembered all my sins and wrongdoings, which caused me great suffering. I realized that I had gone against God and hadn’t followed His commandments. |
| Alma 36:14 | Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. | Yes, and I had led many of His children astray, or rather led them to ruin; yes, and in the end, my sins were so great that just thinking about coming into God’s presence filled my soul with indescribable horror. |
| Alma 36:15 | Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds. | I wished I could just disappear and cease to exist, both soul and body, so I wouldn’t have to stand before God to be judged for what I’ve done. |
| Alma 36:16 | And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul. | For three days and nights, I suffered horribly, like a soul damned. |
| Alma 36:17 | And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. | While I was suffering and overwhelmed by the memory of my many sins, I remembered hearing my father prophesy to the people about the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would atone for the sins of the world. |
| Alma 36:18 | Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. | As this thought took hold in my mind, I cried out in my heart: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me. I’m in deep bitterness and wrapped in the unending chains of death. |
| Alma 36:19 | And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. | When I thought this, I couldn’t remember my pains anymore; I wasn’t tormented by the memory of my sins anymore. |
| Alma 36:20 | And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! | Oh, what joy and amazing light I experienced; my soul was filled with a joy as intense as my pain had been! |
| Alma 36:21 | Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. | Yes, I tell you, my son, that there was nothing as intense and bitter as my suffering. And again I tell you, my son, that on the other hand, there is nothing as intense and sweet as my joy. |
| Alma 36:22 | Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there. | I thought I saw, just like our father Lehi saw, God sitting on His throne, surrounded by countless angels singing and praising Him. My soul longed to be there. |
| Alma 36:23 | But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God. | But then, my strength came back, and I stood up and showed the people that I had been changed by God. |
| Alma 36:24 | Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. | I’ve worked tirelessly from then until now to help people repent and experience the incredible joy I felt, so they too can be born of God and filled with the Holy Ghost. |
| Alma 36:25 | Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors; | Yes, and now listen, my son. The Lord gives me great joy in the results of my efforts. |
| Alma 36:26 | For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God. | Because of the message he has given me, many people have come to know God and have experienced what I have. They’ve seen things as I have and understand these things because of that. The knowledge I have is from God. |
| Alma 36:27 | And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me. | I have been supported through all kinds of trials and troubles. God has freed me from prison, from chains, and even from death. I trust Him, and He will keep delivering me. |
| Alma 36:28 | And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time. | I know that he will bring me back to life at the end, so I can live with him in glory. And I will praise him forever because he brought our ancestors out of Egypt, defeated the Egyptians in the Red Sea, and led them by his power to the promised land. He has repeatedly freed them from slavery and captivity. |
| Alma 36:29 | Yea, and he has also brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem; and he has also, by his everlasting power, delivered them out of bondage and captivity, from time to time even down to the present day; and I have always retained in remembrance their captivity; yea, and ye also ought to retain in remembrance, as I have done, their captivity. | God led our ancestors out of Jerusalem and, with His everlasting power, repeatedly freed them from slavery and captivity up to this day. I’ve always remembered their struggles, and you should remember them too. |
| Alma 36:30 | But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his word. | But look, my child, that’s not the whole story; you need to understand, just as I do, that if you keep God’s commandments, you will be successful in the land. And you should also know that if you don’t keep God’s commandments, you’ll be separated from His presence. This is what He has said. |
Alma 37
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 37:1 | And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me; | Now, my son Helaman, I’m telling you to take the records that have been given to me. |
| Alma 37:2 | And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept. | I also want you to keep a record of this people, like I have done, on the plates of Nephi. Make sure to keep everything sacred that I have kept sacred, just like I have done; we are keeping them for a wise purpose. |
| Alma 37:3 | And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning— | These brass plates have engravings that include the holy scriptures and the genealogy of our ancestors from the very start. |
| Alma 37:4 | Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon. | Look, our ancestors prophesied that these records should be kept and passed down through the generations, preserved by the Lord until they are shared with every nation, family, language, and people so that everyone can learn about the mysteries they contain. |
| Alma 37:5 | And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ. | So now, here’s the deal: if they’re kept, they have to stay bright; and they will stay bright, just like all the plates that have holy writings on them. |
| Alma 37:6 | Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. | You might think this is silly, but I’m telling you, big things happen because of small and simple actions; often, small things can even confuse the wise. |
| Alma 37:7 | And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. | The Lord works in different ways to achieve His great and eternal purposes. Sometimes, He uses very small things to surprise the wise and bring salvation to many souls. |
| Alma 37:8 | And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls. | Now, it has been wise for God to keep these records because they have helped this people remember important things, showed many their mistakes, and helped them come to know God and find salvation. |
| Alma 37:9 | Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer. | If it weren’t for the things these records contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brothers wouldn’t have been able to convince so many thousands of the Lamanites that the traditions of their ancestors were wrong. These records and their words led them to repent and brought them to know the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer. |
| Alma 37:10 | And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer? | And who knows, maybe they will help bring many thousands of people, including a lot of our stubborn Nephite brothers who are currently sinning, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. |
| Alma 37:11 | Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear. | I don’t fully understand these mysteries yet, so I’ll wait. |
| Alma 37:12 | And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. | I think it’s enough to say that they are kept for a wise purpose, which only God knows; for He guides all His works with wisdom, and everything He does is just and perfect. |
| Alma 37:13 | O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence. | Helaman, remember how important God’s commandments are. He said if you follow them, you’ll do well in the land, but if you don’t, you’ll be separated from His presence. |
| Alma 37:14 | And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations. | Remember, my son, God has given you these sacred things. He has always kept them sacred and will continue to preserve them for a wise purpose, so He can show His power to future generations. |
| Alma 37:15 | And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind. | Listen, I’m telling you through the spirit of prophecy that if you break God’s commandments, all these sacred things will be taken from you by God’s power, and you’ll end up in Satan’s hands, where he’ll toss you around like chaff in the wind. |
| Alma 37:16 | But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words. | But if you keep God’s commandments and handle these sacred things as the Lord commands you (you must seek guidance from the Lord in all matters concerning them), then no power on earth or in hell can take them from you, for God is powerful enough to fulfill all His promises. |
| Alma 37:17 | For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers. | He will keep all the promises he makes to you, just like he kept the promises he made to our ancestors. |
| Alma 37:18 | For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations. | He promised them that he would keep these things safe for a wise purpose, so that he could show his power to future generations. |
| Alma 37:19 | And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved. | Now look, he has already achieved one of his goals by helping many thousands of the Lamanites come to know the truth. He has shown his power in them and will continue to show his power to future generations, so they will be protected. |
| Alma 37:20 | Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written. | So, Helaman, I want you to work hard to do everything I’ve told you and to be diligent in following God’s commandments as they are written. |
| Alma 37:21 | And now, I will speak unto you concerning those twenty-four plates, that ye keep them, that the mysteries and the works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, and that ye preserve these interpreters. | Now, I’ll talk about those twenty-four plates and how you should keep them so that the mysteries, the dark deeds, and the secret acts of the people who were destroyed can be revealed to us. This includes their murders, robberies, lootings, and all their evil deeds and abominations. You also need to preserve these interpreters. |
| Alma 37:22 | For behold, the Lord saw that his people began to work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations; therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth. | The Lord saw that His people started doing evil things in secret, including murders and other terrible acts. So, He said if they didn’t repent, they would be wiped off the face of the earth. |
| Alma 37:23 | And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations. | And the Lord said, âI will give my servant Gazelem a stone that will shine in the darkness and bring things to light. This way, I can show my people, who serve me, the hidden works, the secret actions, and the wickedness and abominations of their brothers.â |
| Alma 37:24 | And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake, saying: | Now, son, these tools were made so that what God promised could come true. |
| Alma 37:25 | I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land. | I will expose all their secret works and evil deeds, and if they don’t change their ways, I will wipe them off the face of the earth. I will reveal all their secrets and evil deeds to every nation that will live on this land in the future. |
| Alma 37:26 | And now, my son, we see that they did not repent; therefore they have been destroyed, and thus far the word of God has been fulfilled; yea, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known unto us. | And now, my son, we see that they didn’t repent, so they have been destroyed. This shows that God’s word has come true so far. Yes, their secret sins have been exposed and made known to us. |
| Alma 37:27 | And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed. | Now, my son, I want you to keep all their oaths, covenants, and secret agreements hidden. Keep all their signs and wonders from the people so they don’t learn about them and risk falling into darkness and being destroyed. |
| Alma 37:28 | For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed. | Listen, there’s a curse on this land, and destruction will come to those who do evil, by the power of God, when they’re completely wicked. That’s why I hope these people won’t be destroyed. |
| Alma 37:29 | Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations and their murders. | So, keep these secret plans of their oaths and agreements from the people. Only tell them about their wickedness, murders, and terrible actions. Teach them to hate such evil deeds, and let them know that these people were destroyed because of their wickedness, terrible actions, and murders. |
| Alma 37:30 | For behold, they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these workers of darkness and secret combinations. | They killed all the Lord’s prophets who came to tell them about their sins, and the blood of those killed cried out to God for revenge. Because of this, God brought judgment upon these evil people and their secret plots. |
| Alma 37:31 | Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe. | Yes, and cursed will the land be forever for those who do evil and work in secret, until they are destroyed, unless they repent before it’s too late. |
| Alma 37:32 | And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity. | Now, son, remember what I’ve told you. Don’t trust this people with those secret plans. Instead, teach them to have a constant hatred for sin and wrongdoing. |
| Alma 37:33 | Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. | Tell them to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ. Show them how to be humble and gentle. Teach them to resist every temptation from the devil by trusting in Jesus Christ. |
| Alma 37:34 | Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls. | Teach them to always keep doing good things and to be humble and gentle; those who do will find peace for their souls. |
| Alma 37:35 | O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. | Remember, my son, and gain wisdom while you’re young; learn while you’re young to follow God’s commandments. |
| Alma 37:36 | Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. | Pray to God for all your help. Let everything you do be for Him, and wherever you go, be with Him. Let all your thoughts be about Him, and let your heart’s love be focused on Him forever. |
| Alma 37:37 | Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. | Talk to the Lord about everything you do, and he will guide you for good. When you go to bed at night, turn to the Lord so he can watch over you while you sleep. And when you get up in the morning, be full of thanks to God. If you do this, you will be uplifted in the end. |
| Alma 37:38 | And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it. | Now, my son, I want to talk about the item our ancestors called a ball or director, but they named it Liahona, which means a compass. The Lord made it. |
| Alma 37:39 | And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness. | No one can make something as intricate as this. It was created to show our ancestors the path they should take in the wilderness. |
| Alma 37:40 | And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. | Their faith in God made it work for them. If they believed that God could make the spindles show the way they needed to go, it happened. So, they experienced this miracle and many other miracles by God’s power, day by day. |
| Alma 37:41 | Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; | Even though those miracles were done through simple means, they showed amazing results. But the people became lazy, forgot to use their faith and work hard, so the miracles stopped, and they didn’t move forward in their journey. |
| Alma 37:42 | Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. | So, they stayed in the wilderness and didn’t take a straight path. They suffered from hunger and thirst because they disobeyed. |
| Alma 37:43 | And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual. | Now, my son, I want you to understand that these things have meaning; just as our ancestors didn’t do well when they ignored this compass (even though it was only for physical things), they also didn’t do well in spiritual matters. |
| Alma 37:44 | For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. | Listen, following Christ’s teachings, which will guide you directly to eternal happiness, is as easy as it was for our ancestors to follow their compass to the promised land. |
| Alma 37:45 | And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. | So now I ask, isn’t there a lesson in this? Just like how this guide led our ancestors to the promised land when they followed it, the words of Christ will take us to a much better place beyond this sorrowful life if we follow them. |
| Alma 37:46 | O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. | Son, let’s not be lazy just because things are easy; it was the same for our ancestors. It was set up so that if they looked, they could live; the same goes for us. The way is prepared, and if we pay attention, we can live forever. |
| Alma 37:47 | And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell. | Now, my son, make sure you take care of these sacred items. Look to God and live. Go to the people, share the word, and be serious. Goodbye, my son. |
Alma 38
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 38:1 | My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. | Son, listen to me. Just like I told Helaman, if you follow God’s commandments, you’ll do well in this land. But if you don’t, you’ll be separated from Him. |
| Alma 38:2 | And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. | Son, I trust I will have great joy in you because of your steadiness and faithfulness to God. You began looking to the Lord when you were young, and I hope you continue to keep His commandments, because those who endure to the end are blessed. |
| Alma 38:3 | I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites. | I want to tell you, my son, that I’ve already had great joy because of your faithfulness, hard work, patience, and endurance among the Zoramites. |
| Alma 38:4 | For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word—s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee. | I know you were imprisoned, and I also know you were stoned because of your faith. Despite all this, you endured patiently because the Lord was with you, and now you know that the Lord delivered you. |
| Alma 38:5 | And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. | Now, my son Shiblon, I want you to remember that if you put your trust in God, you’ll find relief from your trials, troubles, and hardships, and you’ll be uplifted in the end. |
| Alma 38:6 | Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things. | Listen, my son, I don’t want you to think that I know these things on my own. It’s the Spirit of God in me that reveals these things to me. If I hadn’t been born of God, I wouldn’t know these things. |
| Alma 38:7 | But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth. | But you know what? The Lord, in His great mercy, sent an angel to tell me I had to stop destroying His people. I saw the angel face to face, and when he spoke, his voice was like thunder, shaking the whole earth. |
| Alma 38:8 | And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul. | I was in the most intense pain and anguish for three days and nights. It was only when I cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy that I was forgiven of my sins. When I cried out to Him, I found peace for my soul. |
| Alma 38:9 | And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. | Now, my son, I’m telling you this so you can gain wisdom and understand from me that there’s no other way for people to be saved except through Christ. Look, He is the life and the light of the world. See, He is the embodiment of truth and righteousness. |
| Alma 38:10 | And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things. | Now that you’ve started teaching the word, keep doing it. Be dedicated and balanced in everything you do. |
| Alma 38:11 | See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength. | Make sure you stay humble; don’t brag about how wise or strong you are. |
| Alma 38:12 | Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness. | Be confident but not pushy, make sure to control your emotions so you can be filled with love, and avoid being lazy. |
| Alma 38:13 | Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom. | Don’t pray like the Zoramites do. You’ve seen that they pray just to get attention from others and to be praised for their wisdom. |
| Alma 38:14 | Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. | Don’t say: “God, thank you that we’re better than others,” but instead say: “Lord, forgive my flaws and have mercy on my brothers.” Always recognize your unworthiness before God. |
| Alma 38:15 | And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell. | May the Lord bless you and welcome you into His kingdom on the last day, to rest in peace. Now go, my son, and teach these people. Be serious. Farewell, my son. |
Alma 39
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 39:1 | And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee? | Now, my son, I have a bit more to say to you than I did to your brother. Have you noticed how steady, faithful, and diligent your brother is in keeping God’s commandments? He has set a good example for you, hasn’t he? |
| Alma 39:2 | For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites. Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom. | You didn’t listen to me as well as your brother did among the Zoramites. This is my issue with you: you started boasting about your strength and wisdom. |
| Alma 39:3 | And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron, among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel. | And that’s not all, my son. You did something that really upset me; you abandoned the ministry and went to the land of Siron, near the borders of the Lamanites, and followed the harlot Isabel. |
| Alma 39:4 | Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted. | Yes, she did win over the hearts of many, but that doesn’t excuse you, my son. You should have focused on the ministry you were given. |
| Alma 39:5 | Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? | Don’t you know, my son, that these things are terrible to the Lord; yes, they’re the worst sins, except for killing innocent people or denying the Holy Ghost? |
| Alma 39:6 | For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness. | If you deny the Holy Ghost after it has been with you and you know you are denying it, this is an unforgivable sin. Also, if someone murders with the knowledge and light of God, it is not easy for them to be forgiven. I’m telling you, my son, that it is very hard for them to receive forgiveness. |
| Alma 39:7 | And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. | My son, I really wish you hadn’t committed such a serious crime. I don’t want to remind you of your mistakes to hurt you, but for your own good, I must. |
| Alma 39:8 | But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day. | But listen, you can’t hide your sins from God. If you don’t repent, they will be used as evidence against you on the last day. |
| Alma 39:9 | Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things. | Son, I want you to repent and turn away from your sins. Stop following the desires you see, and control yourself in all these things; because if you don’t, you won’t be able to enter the kingdom of God. Remember this, and work hard to control yourself in these matters. |
| Alma 39:10 | And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel. | I want you to talk with your older brothers about what you’re doing, because you’re still young and you need their support. Listen to what they say. |
| Alma 39:11 | Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words. | Don’t let yourself be led astray by any silly or foolish thing; don’t let the devil take your heart back to those sinful women. Look, my son, at the great sin you brought upon the Zoramites; when they saw how you behaved, they didn’t believe my words. |
| Alma 39:12 | And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities; | Now the Spirit of the Lord tells me: Tell your children to do good so they don’t lead many people to ruin. So, I tell you, my son, with respect for God, to stop your sins. |
| Alma 39:13 | That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly; but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults and that wrong which ye have done. | Turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; don’t lead others to do wrong anymore. Instead, go back to them, admit your mistakes, and make things right. |
| Alma 39:14 | Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you. | Don’t chase after money or the superficial things of this world, because you can’t take them with you. |
| Alma 39:15 | And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people. | Now, my son, I want to tell you something about the coming of Christ. He will surely come to take away the sins of the world; yes, He is coming to bring the good news of salvation to His people. |
| Alma 39:16 | And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming. | Now, my son, you were called to this ministry to share these good news with the people to prepare their minds; so that salvation might come to them, and that they can prepare their children to listen to the word when He comes. |
| Alma 39:17 | And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming? | I’ll help clear up things a bit for you. You’re wondering why these things were revealed so far in advance. Well, isn’t a soul right now just as precious to God as a soul will be when He comes? |
| Alma 39:18 | Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children? | Isn’t it just as important for this people to understand the plan of redemption as it is for their children? |
| Alma 39:19 | Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming? | Isn’t it just as easy now for the Lord to send an angel to tell us this good news as it was for our ancestors or will be after He comes? |
Alma 40
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 40:1 | Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead. | Now my son, there’s more I want to talk to you about. I can see that you’re worried about what happens after we die. |
| Alma 40:2 | Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ. | Listen, I’m telling you that there is no resurrection—or to put it another way, we don’t become immortal and free from decay—until after Christ comes. |
| Alma 40:3 | Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection. | Look, he will bring about the resurrection of the dead. But, my son, the resurrection hasn’t happened yet. Now, I’m going to explain a mystery to you; although, there are many mysteries that only God knows. But I’ll share with you something I’ve asked God about a lot, which is about the resurrection. |
| Alma 40:4 | Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed. | There is a set time when everyone will rise from the dead. No one knows when that time will be, but God knows the exact time. |
| Alma 40:5 | Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead. | Whether it happens once, twice, or three times that people come back from the dead, it doesn’t matter; God knows everything. It’s enough for me to know that all people will eventually rise from the dead. |
| Alma 40:6 | Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection. | There has to be a period between when we die and when we are resurrected. |
| Alma 40:7 | And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection? | So, what happens to people’s souls from the time they die until the time they’re resurrected? |
| Alma 40:8 | Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men. | It doesn’t matter if there’s more than one time set for people to rise, because not everyone dies at the same time anyway. To God, it’s all like one day, and time is only measured for humans. |
| Alma 40:9 | Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know. | There’s a set time for people to rise from the dead, and a period of time between death and the resurrection. I’ve asked the Lord diligently about what happens to people’s souls during this time, and here’s what I know. |
| Alma 40:10 | And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man. | When the time comes for everyone to rise, they’ll understand that God knows all the times set for humanity. |
| Alma 40:11 | Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. | Now, about what happens to the soul between death and the resurrection—An angel informed me that as soon as people leave their mortal bodies, all spirits, whether good or bad, return to the God who gave them life. |
| Alma 40:12 | And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. | And then it will happen that the spirits of the righteous will be taken to a state of happiness called paradise, where they will experience rest, peace, and relief from all their troubles, cares, and sorrows. |
| Alma 40:13 | And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. | And then it will happen that the spirits of the wicked, those who are evil—they have no part of the Spirit of the Lord because they chose to do evil instead of good. As a result, the spirit of the devil entered them and took over. These people will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be crying and despair, all because of their own wickedness and being controlled by the devil. |
| Alma 40:14 | Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. | This is what happens to the souls of the wicked: they’re in darkness and filled with terrible fear, anticipating God’s fiery wrath upon them. They stay in this state, just as the righteous stay in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. |
| Alma 40:15 | Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken. | Some people think that the happiness or misery the soul experiences before the resurrection is the first resurrection. I admit you could call it a kind of resurrection, as it’s when the spirit or soul goes to either happiness or misery, according to what has been said. |
| Alma 40:16 | And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. | And look, it’s been said again that there’s a first resurrection, a resurrection for everyone who has lived, is living, or will live up until Christ’s resurrection. |
| Alma 40:17 | Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth. | We don’t think that the first resurrection mentioned here means the resurrection of souls and their assignment to happiness or misery. You can’t think that’s what it means. |
| Alma 40:18 | Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ. | No, it means the soul being reunited with the body, from the time of Adam to the resurrection of Christ. |
| Alma 40:19 | Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice; that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ. | I’m not sure if all the souls and bodies of the people mentioned, both the wicked and the righteous, will be reunited at the same time. But what I can say is that they will all come forth, meaning their resurrection will happen before the resurrection of those who die after Christ’s resurrection. |
| Alma 40:20 | Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven. | My son, I’m not saying that their resurrection happens at the time of Christ’s resurrection. But I think that the souls and bodies of the righteous come together again around the time of Christ’s resurrection and his ascension into heaven. |
| Alma 40:21 | But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works. | I’m not sure if it will be at the time of resurrection or later; but I do know this: there’s a period between death and when the body is resurrected. During that time, souls exist in either happiness or misery until God has decided they will come forth, be reunited with their bodies, stand before God, and be judged based on their actions. |
| Alma 40:22 | Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. | This brings about the return of those things the prophets talked about. |
| Alma 40:23 | The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame. | The soul will be reunited with the body, and the body with the soul. Every limb and joint will be put back in place. Not even a single hair will be lost. Everything will be restored to its perfect form. |
| Alma 40:24 | And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets— | Now, my son, this is the restoration the prophets have talked about. |
| Alma 40:25 | And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God. | And then the righteous will shine brightly in God’s kingdom. |
| Alma 40:26 | But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. | But look, a terrible fate awaits the wicked; they lose all righteousness and become impure. No impure thing can enter God’s kingdom; instead, they are cast out and must face the consequences of their evil deeds, drinking the bitter results of their actions. |
Alma 41
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 41:1 | And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee. | Now, my son, I need to talk to you about the restoration that we’ve mentioned before. Some people have twisted the scriptures and have gone way off course because of it. I can see that you are worried about this too. But don’t worry, I’ll explain it to you. |
| Alma 41:2 | I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself. | Listen, my son, the plan to restore everything is necessary for God’s justice. It’s crucial that everything returns to its proper state. Because of Christ’s power and resurrection, it’s just and required that our souls return to our bodies, and every part of our body is restored to its rightful place. |
| Alma 41:3 | And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. | It is just and fair in God’s eyes that people are judged based on their actions. If they did good things in this life and had good intentions, they will be rewarded with good things in the end. |
| Alma 41:4 | And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other— | If their actions are evil, they will face the consequences of those actions. So, everything will be put in its rightful place: mortality to immortality, corruption to incorruption. They’ll either experience endless happiness in God’s kingdom or endless misery in the devil’s kingdom, one in one place and the other in the opposite. |
| Alma 41:5 | The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh. | Those who want to be happy will find happiness, and those who seek good will find good; but those who desire evil will encounter evil. If someone has wanted to do evil all day, they will face the consequences of that evil when the night comes. |
| Alma 41:6 | And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness. | Likewise, if someone has truly repented of their sins and sought righteousness throughout their life, they will be rewarded with righteousness. |
| Alma 41:7 | These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil. | These are the people redeemed by the Lord; they are the ones rescued from the endless night of darkness. They decide their own fate, whether to do good or evil. |
| Alma 41:8 | Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved. | God’s rules can’t be changed; so the path is ready for anyone who wants to follow it and be saved. |
| Alma 41:9 | And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin. | And now listen, my son, don’t risk offending God any further by committing sins related to those doctrines you’ve struggled with before. |
| Alma 41:10 | Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. | Just because we’ve talked about restoration, don’t think that you can go from sinning to being happy. I’m telling you, wickedness never leads to happiness. |
| Alma 41:11 | And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness. | Now, my son, all people who are living in a natural or carnal state are filled with bitterness and trapped in sin; they are without God in their lives and are living against His nature, which means they are also living against the nature of happiness. |
| Alma 41:12 | And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature? | So, ask yourself, does “restoration” mean changing something from its natural state to an unnatural one, or to something completely opposite to its nature? |
| Alma 41:13 | O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful. | Oh my son, that’s not how it is. The real meaning of ‘restoration’ is to bring back the same things: evil for evil, carnal for carnal, devilish for devilish—good for good, righteous for righteous, just for just, and merciful for merciful. |
| Alma 41:14 | Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. | So, my son, make sure you’re kind to others, treat people fairly, judge rightly, and always do good. If you do all these things, you’ll get your reward: kindness will come back to you, fairness will come back to you, right judgment will come back to you, and good things will come back to you. |
| Alma 41:15 | For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. | What you do will come back to you and be restored. That’s why the idea of restoration condemns the sinner completely and doesn’t justify them at all. |
Alma 42
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 42:1 | And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand—which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. | I can see that something else is bothering you, my son. You’re struggling to understand why God punishes sinners with suffering, and you think it might be unfair for sinners to end up in misery. |
| Alma 42:2 | Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee. For behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence they were taken—yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life— | Now listen, my son, I’ll explain this to you. After the Lord God sent our first parents out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground they came from, he placed cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way at the east end of the garden to guard the tree of life. |
| Alma 42:3 | Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit— | Now, we see that the man had become like God, knowing good and evil. To prevent him from reaching out, taking from the tree of life, eating, and living forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way so he couldn’t eat the fruit. |
| Alma 42:4 | And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God. | So we can see that people were given time to repent, a chance to change and serve God. |
| Alma 42:5 | For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he would have lived forever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated. | Look, if Adam had reached out right away to eat from the tree of life, he would have lived forever without a chance to repent, just like God said. In that case, God’s word would have been broken and His plan for our salvation would have been ruined. |
| Alma 42:6 | But behold, it was appointed unto man to die—therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth—and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man. | But look, everyone has to die. So, since they were removed from the tree of life, they were also removed from the world. People became lost forever; they became fallen humans. |
| Alma 42:7 | And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will. | Now you can see that our first parents were separated from the Lord both physically and spiritually. Because of this, they had to start following their own will. |
| Alma 42:8 | Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness. | Now, listen, it wasn’t right for people to be saved from physical death because that would ruin the whole plan of happiness. |
| Alma 42:9 | Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death. | Since the soul can never die, and the fall caused all of humanity to experience both spiritual and physical death, meaning they were separated from the presence of the Lord, it was necessary to save humanity from this spiritual death. |
| Alma 42:10 | Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. | Because they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature, this life became a time for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. |
| Alma 42:11 | And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord. | Remember, my son, that without the plan of redemption, once people died, their souls would have been miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord. |
| Alma 42:12 | And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience; | There was no way to help people come back from the fallen state they put themselves in because of their own disobedience. |
| Alma 42:13 | Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. | So, according to justice, the plan of redemption can only happen if people repent during this life. If these conditions weren’t in place, mercy wouldn’t work without overthrowing justice. And justice can’t be overthrown; if it could, God would stop being God. |
| Alma 42:14 | And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. | So we see that everyone was fallen and under the grasp of justice—the justice of God—which meant they were forever cut off from His presence. |
| Alma 42:15 | And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. | The plan of mercy couldn’t happen without an atonement being made. So, God himself atoned for the sins of the world to bring about this plan of mercy and satisfy the demands of justice, allowing God to be perfectly just and merciful at the same time. |
| Alma 42:16 | Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul. | Repentance couldn’t come to people unless there was a punishment, which was eternal, just like the soul’s life is. This punishment was set opposite to the plan of happiness, which is also as eternal as the life of the soul. |
| Alma 42:17 | Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment? | How can someone repent if they haven’t sinned? And how can they sin if there’s no law? How can there be a law without a punishment? |
| Alma 42:18 | Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. | There was a punishment set and a fair law given, which made people feel guilty. |
| Alma 42:19 | Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder? | If no law said a murderer should die, would a person be afraid of dying if they murdered someone? |
| Alma 42:20 | And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin. | And also, if there were no laws against sin, people wouldn’t be afraid to sin. |
| Alma 42:21 | And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature? | If there was no law given, what could justice or mercy do if people sinned? They wouldn’t have any claim on the person. |
| Alma 42:22 | But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. | There is a law with a punishment attached and a chance to repent; mercy takes claim of this repentance. If not, justice claims and enforces the law, which brings the punishment. Without this, justice would be destroyed, and God wouldn’t be God. |
| Alma 42:23 | But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. | But God never stops being God. Mercy is for those who repent, and it comes because of the atonement. The atonement causes the resurrection of the dead, which bring people back into God’s presence. They are then judged according to their deeds, by law and justice. |
| Alma 42:24 | For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. | Justice fulfills all its requirements, and mercy takes care of those who belong to it, so only those who truly repent are saved. |
| Alma 42:25 | What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. | Do you think mercy can take away justice? I tell you, no, not at all. If it could, God would stop being God. |
| Alma 42:26 | And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery. | God carries out His grand and eternal plans, which have been in place since the beginning of time. This leads to the salvation and redemption of people, but also to their destruction and suffering. |
| Alma 42:27 | Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. | So, my son, anyone who wants to can come and take the water of life freely. Anyone who doesn’t want to come won’t be forced to. But in the end, everyone will get what they deserve based on their actions. |
| Alma 42:28 | If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God. | If someone has wanted to do bad things and hasn’t repented during their life, then bad things will happen to them as a result, according to God’s principles. |
| Alma 42:29 | And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance. | Now, my son, I want you to stop letting these things bother you. Let your sins be the only thing that troubles you, but let that lead you to repentance. |
| Alma 42:30 | O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility. | My son, I want you to stop denying God’s justice. Don’t try to make excuses for your sins by ignoring His justice. Instead, let God’s justice, mercy, and patience fully touch your heart, and let it humble you completely. |
| Alma 42:31 | And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen. | Now, my son, you are called by God to preach to these people. So, my son, go and share the message with honesty and seriousness, so you can help bring people to repentance and allow the plan of mercy to help them. May God support you as I’ve said. Amen. |
Alma 43
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 43:1 | And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth. | Alma’s sons went out to share the word with the people, and Alma himself couldn’t rest either, so he went out too. |
| Alma 43:2 | Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called. | We’re not going to talk anymore about their preaching, other than to say they preached the truth and the word of God, guided by prophecy and revelation; they preached following the holy order of God that called them. |
| Alma 43:3 | And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges. | So now I’ll get back to talking about the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites during the eighteenth year of the judges’ rule. |
| Alma 43:4 | For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of Jershon. | The Zoramites joined the Lamanites. So, at the start of the eighteenth year, the Nephites saw the Lamanites were coming to attack them. They prepared for war, gathering their armies in the land of Jershon. |
| Alma 43:5 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader. | The Lamanites came with thousands of their people into the land of Antionum, which belonged to the Zoramites. Their leader was a man named Zerahemnah. |
| Alma 43:6 | And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites. | The Amalekites were more wicked and murderous than the Lamanites, so Zerahemnah made them the chief captains over the Lamanites. All the captains were Amalekites and Zoramites. |
| Alma 43:7 | Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. | He did this to keep their hatred for the Nephites strong, so he could control them and achieve his own goals. |
| Alma 43:8 | For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage. | His goal was to make the Lamanites angry at the Nephites so he could take control over them and also gain power over the Nephites by making them his captives. |
| Alma 43:9 | And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires. | The Nephites wanted to protect their land, homes, families, and freedoms. They aimed to defend themselves from their enemies and maintain their rights and liberty, so they could worship God as they wished. |
| Alma 43:10 | For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would destroy. | They knew that if they fell into the hands of the Lamanites, anyone who worshipped the true and living God sincerely would be killed. |
| Alma 43:11 | Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon—and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a covenant and they would not break it—therefore, if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed. | Yes, and they also knew how much the Lamanites hated their brothers, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who were called the people of Ammon. The people of Ammon had vowed never to fight again and wouldn’t break that promise. So, if the Lamanites captured them, they would be killed. |
| Alma 43:12 | And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance. | The Nephites wouldn’t let them be destroyed, so they gave them lands to live on. |
| Alma 43:13 | And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah. | The people of Ammon gave the Nephites a lot of their resources to support their armies. So, the Nephites had to stand alone against the Lamanites, who were made up of Laman and Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had left the Nephites, like the Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah. |
| Alma 43:14 | Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed. | The descendants were almost as numerous as the Nephites, so the Nephites had to fight their relatives, even to the point of bloodshed. |
| Alma 43:15 | And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites were prepared to meet them in the land of Jershon. | As the Lamanite armies gathered in Antionum, the Nephite armies were ready to face them in Jershon. |
| Alma 43:16 | Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moroni; | The leader of the Nephites, who was appointed as the chief captain of all their armies, was named Moroni. |
| Alma 43:17 | And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites. | Moroni took charge of all the military operations and the leadership of their wars. He was only twenty-five years old when he was appointed as chief captain over the Nephite armies. |
| Alma 43:18 | And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war. | He met the Lamanites on the outskirts of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, scimitars, and various other weapons. |
| Alma 43:19 | And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing— | When the Lamanite armies saw that the Nephites, led by Moroni, had equipped themselves with breastplates, arm-shields, helmets, and thick clothing, they were well-prepared for battle. |
| Alma 43:20 | Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites; | Zerahemnah’s army wasn’t equipped like that; they only had swords, scimitars, bows, arrows, stones, and slings. They wore nothing except for a loincloth made of skin. Yes, everyone was naked except for the Zoramites and the Amalekites. |
| Alma 43:21 | But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites. | But they didn’t have breastplates or shields, so they were really scared of the Nephite armies because of their armor, even though their own numbers were much greater. |
| Alma 43:22 | Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land of Antionum into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land; for they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone. | The enemy didn’t dare to attack the Nephites along the border of Jershon, so they left Antionum and went into the wilderness. They traveled around by the head of the river Sidon, hoping to reach the land of Manti and take it over, thinking that Moroni’s armies wouldn’t know where they had gone. |
| Alma 43:23 | But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites. | When they moved into the wilderness, Moroni sent spies to keep an eye on their camp. Knowing about Alma’s prophecies, he also sent some men to ask Alma to check with the Lord on where the Nephite armies should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites. |
| Alma 43:24 | And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni. | Alma received a message from the Lord and told Moroni’s messengers that the Lamanite armies were moving through the wilderness to attack the weaker part of the people in the land of Manti. The messengers then delivered this news to Moroni. |
| Alma 43:25 | Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti. | Moroni left part of his army in Jershon to make sure the Lamanites couldn’t come in and take over the city. Then he took the rest of his army and marched to Manti. |
| Alma 43:26 | And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites. | He gathered all the people in that area to fight against the Lamanites, to protect their land, country, rights, and freedoms. So they were ready when the Lamanites came. |
| Alma 43:27 | And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the wilderness. | Moroni had his army hide in the valley near the west bank of the river Sidon, which was in the wilderness. |
| Alma 43:28 | And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come. | Moroni stationed spies around so he could know when the Lamanite camp moved. |
| Alma 43:29 | And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land; | Now, Moroni knew that the Lamanites wanted to destroy their brothers, or make them slaves and take over the land to set up their own kingdom. |
| Alma 43:30 | And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take. | He knew the Nephites just wanted to protect their land, freedom, and church, so he figured it was okay to use strategy to defend them. He found out from his spies which way the Lamanites were going to go. |
| Alma 43:31 | Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah; | So, he split his army and took a group into the valley, hiding them to the east and south of the hill Riplah. |
| Alma 43:32 | And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti. | He hid the rest in the west valley, to the west of the Sidon River, and then down into the borders of the land of Manti. |
| Alma 43:33 | And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them. | Once he had positioned his army the way he wanted, he was ready to face them. |
| Alma 43:34 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed. | The Lamanites came up from the north side of the hill, where part of Moroni’s army was hidden. |
| Alma 43:35 | And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear. | As the Lamanites passed the hill Riplah and entered the valley to cross the river Sidon, Lehi’s army, hidden south of the hill, moved out and surrounded the Lamanites from the east and behind them. |
| Alma 43:36 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi. | When the Lamanites saw the Nephites coming up behind them, they turned around and started fighting Lehi’s army. |
| Alma 43:37 | And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke. | The battle began on both sides, but it was much worse for the Lamanites because their lack of clothing left them vulnerable to the heavy blows from the Nephites’ swords and cimeters, which killed almost every time they struck. |
| Alma 43:38 | While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their arm-shields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites. | Sometimes, a Nephite would fall by the swords of the Lamanites and lose blood. However, they were protected in the most vital parts by their breastplates, arm-shields, and head-plates. Because of this, the Nephites were able to continue fighting and kill many Lamanites. |
| Alma 43:39 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, because of the great destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon. | The Lamanites got scared because so many of them had been killed, and they started running toward the river Sidon. |
| Alma 43:40 | And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross. | Lehi and his men chased them and drove them into the waters of Sidon. They crossed the river, but Lehi kept his army on the riverbank to make sure they didn’t follow. |
| Alma 43:41 | And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them. | Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley on the other side of the river Sidon and started attacking and killing them. |
| Alma 43:42 | And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni. | The Lamanites ran away again towards the land of Manti, but Moroni’s armies met them there. |
| Alma 43:43 | Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning. | In this fight, the Lamanites fought harder than ever before. They showed tremendous strength and courage, more than they ever had from the beginning. |
| Alma 43:44 | And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger. | The Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their main captains and leaders, along with Zerahemnah, their chief commander, motivated them. They fought fiercely, like dragons, and they killed many Nephites. They broke a lot of Nephite head-plates, pierced many breastplates, and even cut off many arms. This is how the Lamanites fought in their intense anger. |
| Alma 43:45 | Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church. | Even so, the Nephites had a better reason to fight. They weren’t fighting for kingship or power; they were fighting for their homes, their freedom, their wives and children, and everything they had, including their right to worship and their church. |
| Alma 43:46 | And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. | They were doing what they felt was their duty to God. The Lord had told them and their ancestors that if they were not guilty of the first or second offense, they should not let themselves be killed by their enemies. |
| Alma 43:47 | And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion. | The Lord has said we must protect our families, even if it means going to battle. That is why the Nephites were fighting the Lamanites, to defend themselves, their families, their land, their country, their rights, and their religion. |
| Alma 43:48 | And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage. | When Moroni’s men saw how fierce and angry the Lamanites were, they were about to run away. Moroni realized what they were thinking and encouraged them, reminding them of their lands, their liberty, and their freedom from bondage. |
| Alma 43:49 | And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage. | And they turned against the Lamanites, and they all cried out to the Lord for their freedom and deliverance from bondage. |
| Alma 43:50 | And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon. | They began to fight the Lamanites with strength, and at the same moment they prayed to the Lord for freedom, the Lamanites started to run away from them and kept running until they reached the waters of Sidon. |
| Alma 43:51 | Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the bank by the river Sidon. | The Lamanites outnumbered the Nephites by more than double, but they were still pushed back and gathered together in a group in the valley by the river Sidon. |
| Alma 43:52 | Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi. | So, Moroni’s armies surrounded their enemies, even on both sides of the river. On the east side were Lehi’s men. |
| Alma 43:53 | Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites, they were struck with terror. | When Zerahemnah saw Lehi’s men on the east side of the river Sidon and Moroni’s troops on the west side, realizing they were surrounded by the Nephites, he was terrified. |
| Alma 43:54 | Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood. | When Moroni saw how terrified they were, he ordered his men to stop killing them. |
Alma 44
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 44:1 | And it came to pass that they did stop and withdrew a pace from them. And Moroni said unto Zerahemnah: Behold, Zerahemnah, that we do not desire to be men of blood. Ye know that ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you. | They stopped and stepped back from them. Moroni said to Zerahemnah, “Look, Zerahemnah, we don’t want to be men of blood. You know you’re in our hands, but we don’t want to kill you.” |
| Alma 44:2 | Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might shed your blood for power; neither do we desire to bring any one to the yoke of bondage. But this is the very cause for which ye have come against us; yea, and ye are angry with us because of our religion. | Look, we didn’t come to fight you to gain power or shed blood, and we don’t want to make anyone our slaves. But these are the reasons you came to fight us, and you’re upset with us because of our religion. |
| Alma 44:3 | But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith. | But now you see that the Lord is with us, and you see that he has delivered you into our hands. I want you to understand that this happened to us because of our religion and faith in Christ. Now you see that you cannot destroy our faith. |
| Alma 44:4 | Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith. | You can see that this is the true faith in God. You see that God will support, keep, and preserve us as long as we stay faithful to Him, our faith, and our religion. The Lord will never let us be destroyed unless we fall into wrongdoing and deny our faith. |
| Alma 44:5 | And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us— | Now, Zerahemnah, I order you, in the name of the all-powerful God, who has given us strength and helped us overpower you, through our faith, our religion, our worship practices, our church, and our duty to our wives and children, and by the freedom that ties us to our land and country, and by maintaining the sacred word of God, which brings us all our happiness, and by everything that is most dear to us… |
| Alma 44:6 | Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that ye deliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will spare your lives, if ye will go your way and come not again to war against us. | If you want to live, give us your weapons of war. We don’t want to shed your blood, but we’ll let you live if you leave and never come back to fight us again. |
| Alma 44:7 | And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you, and inflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become extinct; and then we will see who shall have power over this people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage. | And now, if you don’t do this, remember, you’re in our hands. I’ll command my men to attack and kill you so you go extinct. Then we’ll see who really has power over these people; we’ll see who gets taken as prisoners. |
| Alma 44:8 | And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer. | When Zerahemnah heard these words, he came forward and handed his sword, scimitar, and bow to Moroni. He said, “Look, here are our weapons of war; we’re giving them up to you. But we won’t make an oath to you that we know we’ll break, and neither will our children. Take our weapons and let us go into the wilderness. Otherwise, we’ll keep our swords and either die or win the battle.” |
| Alma 44:9 | Behold, we are not of your faith; we do not believe that it is God that has delivered us into your hands; but we believe that it is your cunning that has preserved you from our swords. Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have preserved you. | Look, we don’t share your beliefs; we don’t think it was God who let you capture us. We believe it was your cleverness that kept you safe from our weapons. It’s your breastplates and shields that protected you. |
| Alma 44:10 | And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end the conflict. | After Zerahemnah finished talking, Moroni handed back the sword and weapons of war to Zerahemnah and said, “Let’s end this conflict.” |
| Alma 44:11 | Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken, therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war. Now as ye are in our hands we will spill your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions which I have proposed. | I can’t remember the exact words I said, but as surely as the Lord lives, you won’t leave unless you swear an oath that you won’t come back to fight us again. Now that you’re in our hands, we’ll either spill your blood on the ground or you’ll agree to the terms I’ve set. |
| Alma 44:12 | And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni—s soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers. | After Moroni finished speaking, Zerahemnah kept his sword and got really mad at Moroni. He charged at Moroni to kill him, but as he lifted his sword, one of Moroni’s soldiers struck it, breaking it by the hilt. The soldier also struck Zerahemnah, cutting off his scalp, which fell to the ground. Zerahemnah then retreated back into the middle of his troops. |
| Alma 44:13 | And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice: | The soldier who was nearby and cut off Zerahemnah’s scalp picked it up by the hair, put it on the tip of his sword, and held it out to them, shouting:. |
| Alma 44:14 | Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace. | Just like this scalp from your leader has fallen to the ground, you will also fall unless you give up your weapons and leave, promising peace. |
| Alma 44:15 | Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a covenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to depart into the wilderness. | When many people heard these words and saw the scalp on the sword, they were terrified; and many came forward, dropped their weapons at Moroni’s feet, and promised to make peace. Those who made this promise were allowed to leave and go into the wilderness. |
| Alma 44:16 | Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites. | Zerahemnah was very angry and he incited the rest of his soldiers to fury, urging them to fight harder against the Nephites. |
| Alma 44:17 | And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might. | Moroni was mad at the Lamanites for being so stubborn, so he told his people to attack and kill them. They started to kill them, and the Lamanites fought back with their swords and all their strength. |
| Alma 44:18 | But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed to the sharp swords of the Nephites; yea, behold they were pierced and smitten, yea, and did fall exceedingly fast before the swords of the Nephites; and they began to be swept down, even as the soldier of Moroni had prophesied. | But their bare skin and heads were vulnerable to the sharp swords of the Nephites. They were struck down quickly, just as Moroni’s soldier had predicted. |
| Alma 44:19 | Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they never would come to war again against them. | When Zerahemnah saw that they were about to be destroyed, he pleaded intensely with Moroni, promising that he and his people would make a pact with them, if they spared their lives, that they would never go to war against them again. |
| Alma 44:20 | And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death should cease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a covenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness. | Moroni made sure that the fighting stopped amongst the people. He took the Lamanites’ weapons; and after they made a peace agreement with him, he let them go into the wilderness. |
| Alma 44:21 | Now the number of their dead was not numbered because of the greatness of the number; yea, the number of their dead was exceedingly great, both on the Nephites and on the Lamanites. | The number of dead was so high that they couldn’t count them. There were a huge number of dead on both the Nephite and Lamanite sides. |
| Alma 44:22 | And it came to pass that they did cast their dead into the waters of Sidon, and they have gone forth and are buried in the depths of the sea. | They threw their dead into the Sidon River, and they were carried away and buried in the sea. |
| Alma 44:23 | And the armies of the Nephites, or of Moroni, returned and came to their houses and their lands. | The Nephite armies, led by Moroni, went back to their homes and lands. |
| Alma 44:24 | And thus ended the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus ended the record of Alma, which was written upon the plates of Nephi. | And that’s how the eighteenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended. This also marked the end of Alma’s record, which was written on the plates of Nephi. |
Alma 45
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 45:1 | Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy. | The Nephite people were really happy because the Lord saved them from their enemies again. They thanked the Lord their God, fasted a lot, prayed a lot, and worshipped God with great joy. |
| Alma 45:2 | And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept? | In the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma came to his son Helaman and asked, “Do you believe the things I told you about the records that have been kept?” |
| Alma 45:3 | And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe. | And Helaman said to him, “Yes, I believe.” |
| Alma 45:4 | And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come? | And Alma asked again, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, who is to come?” |
| Alma 45:5 | And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken. | And he said: Yes, I believe everything you have said. |
| Alma 45:6 | And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments? | Alma asked him again, “Will you follow my commandments?” |
| Alma 45:7 | And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart. | And he said, “Yes, I will follow your commandments with all my heart.” |
| Alma 45:8 | Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land. | Then Alma said to him: You are blessed, and the Lord will help you succeed in this land. |
| Alma 45:9 | But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say. | But listen, I have something to prophesy to you. But what I prophesy to you, you must not reveal to anyone. Yes, what I prophesy to you must not be revealed until it is fulfilled. So write down what I will say. |
| Alma 45:10 | And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief. | I can see that this very people, the Nephites, as revealed to me by the spirit of revelation, in four hundred years after Jesus Christ appears to them, will fall into unbelief. |
| Alma 45:11 | Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct— | Yes, they will witness wars, diseases, famines, and bloodshed, until the Nephite people are completely gone. |
| Alma 45:12 | Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come. | Yes, because they will lose their faith and start doing dark, immoral, and sinful things. I tell you, because they will sin despite having so much knowledge and light, I tell you, within four generations, this great evil will come. |
| Alma 45:13 | And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi. | When that great day comes, it won’t be long before those who are now, or the descendants of those who are now counted among the Nephites, will no longer be counted among them. |
| Alma 45:14 | But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled. | But whoever survives and isn’t destroyed on that great and dreadful day will be counted among the Lamanites and become like them, except for a few who will be called the disciples of the Lord. The Lamanites will pursue those disciples until they are completely wiped out. This prophecy will come true because of wickedness. |
| Alma 45:15 | And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed the earth for the righteous— sake. | After Alma finished speaking to Helaman, he blessed him and his other sons. He also blessed the earth for the righteous’ sake. |
| Alma 45:16 | And he said: Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. | And he said: This is what the Lord says—this land will be cursed and face destruction for every nation, tribe, language, and people who do wickedly when they reach their full measure of evil. As I have said, so it will be; for this is both the cursing and the blessing of God on the land, as the Lord cannot tolerate even the smallest sin. |
| Alma 45:17 | And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed the church, yea, all those who should stand fast in the faith from that time henceforth. | After Alma said these things, he blessed the church, especially everyone who would stay strong in their faith from then on. |
| Alma 45:18 | And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of. | After Alma did this, he left Zarahemla, headed towards the land of Melek. He was never heard from again; we don’t know what happened to him or where he was buried. |
| Alma 45:19 | Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial. | We know that he was a good man. People in the church said that he was taken up by the Spirit or buried by the Lord, like Moses. But the scriptures say that the Lord took Moses to Himself. So we think the Lord took Alma in the Spirit, too. Because of this, we don’t know anything about his death and burial. |
| Alma 45:20 | And now it came to pass in the commencement of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Helaman went forth among the people to declare the word unto them. | At the beginning of the nineteenth year of the judges’ reign over the Nephites, Helaman went out among the people to preach to them. |
| Alma 45:21 | For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church. | Because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many small disagreements and troubles among the people, it became necessary for the word of God to be preached to them, and for the church to be organized. |
| Alma 45:22 | Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches. | Helaman and his brothers went out to reestablish the church across the entire land, in every city where the people of Nephi lived. They appointed priests and teachers over all the churches throughout the land. |
| Alma 45:23 | And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his brethren had appointed priests and teachers over the churches that there arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman and his brethren; | After Helaman and his brothers appointed priests and teachers over the churches, a disagreement arose among the people, and they refused to listen to Helaman and his brothers. |
| Alma 45:24 | But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God. | They became arrogant and full of themselves because of their huge wealth. They became proud in their own eyes and ignored the words, refusing to live righteously before God. |
Alma 46
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 46:1 | And it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren. | Anyone who refused to listen to Helaman and his brothers gathered together against their fellow brothers. |
| Alma 46:2 | And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them. | They were really angry and decided they wanted to kill them. |
| Alma 46:3 | Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah. | The leader of those angry at their brothers was a big, strong man named Amalickiah. |
| Alma 46:4 | And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power. | Amalickiah wanted to be king. The people who were angry also wanted him to be their king. Most of these people were the lower judges of the land, and they were looking for more power. |
| Alma 46:5 | And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people. | They were persuaded by Amalickiah’s smooth talking, believing that if they helped him become king, he would make them leaders over the people. |
| Alma 46:6 | Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church. | Amalickiah led them into disagreements despite the teachings of Helaman and his brothers, and even with the great care they had for the church, since they were high priests over it. |
| Alma 46:7 | And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord. | Many people in the church believed Amalickiah’s flattering words, so they left the church. Because of this, the Nephites’ situation became very unstable and dangerous, even though they had just had a great victory over the Lamanites and had rejoiced greatly because the Lord had delivered them. |
| Alma 46:8 | Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one. | This shows how quickly people forget the Lord their God, and how quickly they turn to doing wrong and are led away by the evil one. |
| Alma 46:9 | Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men. | Yes, and we can also see how much harm just one very wicked person can cause among people. |
| Alma 46:10 | Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous— sake. | Amalickiah was a clever and persuasive man who led many people astray, convincing them to do evil and try to destroy the church of God, as well as the foundation of liberty that God had given them for the sake of the righteous. |
| Alma 46:11 | And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah. | When Moroni, the chief commander of the Nephite armies, heard about these disagreements, he got angry with Amalickiah. |
| Alma 46:12 | And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. | He tore his coat and wrote on a piece of it: “Remember our God, our religion, our freedom, our peace, our wives, and our children.” Then he attached it to the end of a pole. |
| Alma 46:13 | And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land— | He put on his helmet, breastplate, and shields, and strapped his armor around his waist. Then he took the pole with his torn coat at the end, which he called the title of liberty. He knelt down and prayed fervently to God for the blessings of liberty for his people, as long as there were Christians living in the land. |
| Alma 46:14 | For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church. | All the real followers of Christ who were part of God’s church were called this by those who weren’t part of the church. |
| Alma 46:15 | And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come. | The members of the church were faithful. Those who truly believed in Christ gladly took His name and were called Christians because of their belief in the coming of Christ. |
| Alma 46:16 | And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored. | So now, Moroni prayed that the Christians’ cause and the land’s freedom would be blessed. |
| Alma 46:17 | And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty. | When he had poured out his heart to God, he named the entire land south of the land Desolation, and in fact, all the land, both north and south—a chosen land and a land of freedom. |
| Alma 46:18 | And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions. | And he said: Surely God will not let us, who are looked down on because we follow Christ, be crushed and destroyed—unless we bring it upon ourselves by our own sins. |
| Alma 46:19 | And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying: | After Moroni said these words, he went among the people, waving the torn part of his garment in the air so everyone could see the writing on it, shouting loudly: |
| Alma 46:20 | Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them. | If you want to uphold this title on the land, come forward with the Lord’s strength and make a promise to protect your rights and your religion so that God may bless you. |
| Alma 46:21 | And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments. | When Moroni proclaimed these words, the people came running together with their armor on, tearing their clothes as a sign, or a promise, that they would not abandon the Lord their God. In other words, if they broke God’s commandments or fell into sin and were ashamed to call themselves Christians, the Lord would tear them apart just as they had torn their clothes. |
| Alma 46:22 | Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression. | This is the promise we made: we threw our clothes at Moroni’s feet and said, “We promise to God that we will be destroyed like our brothers in the north if we sin. If we mess up, He can let our enemies trample us, just like we have thrown our clothes at your feet to be trampled.” |
| Alma 46:23 | Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. | Moroni said to them, “Look, we are descendants of Jacob; yes, we are descendants of Joseph, whose coat was torn by his brothers into many pieces. Now, let’s remember to keep God’s commandments, or our clothes will be torn by our own people, and we might end up in prison, be sold, or even killed.” |
| Alma 46:24 | Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment. | Let’s protect our freedom like the descendants of Joseph did. Let’s remember what Jacob said before he died. He saw that part of Joseph’s coat was still intact and not decayed. He said, “Just like this piece of my son’s coat has been preserved, so will a part of my son’s descendants be preserved by God and taken in by Him, while the rest of Joseph’s descendants will perish, just like the rest of his coat.” |
| Alma 46:25 | Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God. | Now this makes me sad; but still, I feel joy in my son because some of his descendants will be brought to God. |
| Alma 46:26 | Now behold, this was the language of Jacob. | This is how Jacob spoke. |
| Alma 46:27 | And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ. | Who knows, maybe the remaining descendants of Joseph, who will disappear like his garment, are the ones who have left us? Yes, it could even be us if we don’t stay strong in our faith in Christ. |
| Alma 46:28 | And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites. | After Moroni said these words, he went out and sent messages all over the land to places where there were disagreements. He gathered everyone who wanted to defend their freedom and stand against Amalickiah and his followers, who were called Amalickiahites. |
| Alma 46:29 | And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites—and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken—therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi. | When Amalickiah saw that Moroni’s people outnumbered his own and that his people were starting to doubt the justice of their cause, he worried he wouldn’t succeed. So, he took those who were willing and left for the land of Nephi. |
| Alma 46:30 | Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes. | Moroni thought it wasn’t a good idea for the Lamanites to get any stronger, so he decided to either defeat the people of Amalickiah or capture them and bring them back to kill Amalickiah. He knew Amalickiah would provoke the Lamanites to anger and lead them to fight against them to achieve his goals. |
| Alma 46:31 | Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace—and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness. | So, Moroni decided it was a good idea to gather his armies, arm them, and make a promise to keep the peace. Then, he led his army with their tents into the wilderness to intercept Amalickiah. |
| Alma 46:32 | And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah. | He did what he wanted, marched into the wilderness, and led Amalickiah’s armies. |
| Alma 46:33 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla. | Amalickiah fled with a few of his men, and the rest were captured by Moroni and taken back to Zarahemla. |
| Alma 46:34 | Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them. | Moroni was chosen by the chief judges and the people, so he had the power to lead and command the Nephite armies as he saw fit. |
| Alma 46:35 | And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom. | Anyone among the Amalickiahites who refused to agree to support the cause of freedom and maintain a free government was put to death. However, very few people refused to accept this covenant of freedom. |
| Alma 46:36 | And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. | Moroni made sure the title of liberty was raised on every tower throughout the land the Nephites controlled, establishing the standard of liberty among them. |
| Alma 46:37 | And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges. | They began to have peace again in the land, and they kept this peace until almost the end of the nineteenth year of the judges’ rule. |
| Alma 46:38 | And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church. | Helaman and the high priests kept things orderly in the church, and for four years, there was much peace and happiness in the church. |
| Alma 46:39 | And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing. | Many people died, firmly believing that the Lord Jesus Christ had saved their souls; so they left this world rejoicing. |
| Alma 46:40 | And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate— | Some people died from fevers, which were common at certain times of the year. But thanks to the many plants and roots that God provided, which were great at getting rid of diseases caused by the climate, the fevers were not as bad. |
| Alma 46:41 | But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose. | Some people lived to an old age and died. Those who died with faith in Christ are happy with Him, or so we might think. |
Alma 47
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 47:1 | Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites. | Now, let’s get back to Amalickiah and his followers who escaped into the wilderness. They went up to the land of Nephi among the Lamanites. Amalickiah stirred up the Lamanites to be angry at the Nephites. This angered the king of the Lamanites so much that he issued a proclamation across all his land, telling his people to gather together to fight against the Nephites again. |
| Alma 47:2 | And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king. | When the announcement was made, they were really scared. They didn’t want to displease the king, and they were also afraid to fight the Nephites and risk dying. So most of them decided not to obey the king’s orders. |
| Alma 47:3 | And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms. | The king was very angry because they disobeyed him. So, he put Amalickiah in charge of the part of the army that listened to him and ordered him to go force the others to take up arms. |
| Alma 47:4 | Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites. | This was Amalickiah’s plan. He was a very crafty man who wanted to do evil, so he decided in his heart to overthrow the king of the Lamanites. |
| Alma 47:5 | And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. | Now he had taken control of the Lamanites who supported the king, and he wanted to win over those who were not obedient. So he went to the place called Onidah. All the Lamanites had fled there because they saw the army coming and thought they were going to destroy them. So they ran to Onidah, where their weapons were stored. |
| Alma 47:6 | And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites. | They chose a man to be their king and leader because they were determined not to fight against the Nephites. |
| Alma 47:7 | And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle. | They gathered together on the top of Mount Antipas, getting ready for battle. |
| Alma 47:8 | Now it was not Amalickiah—s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom. | Amalickiah didn’t plan to fight according to the king’s orders; instead, he wanted to gain favor with the Lamanite armies so he could lead them, overthrow the king, and take control of the kingdom. |
| Alma 47:9 | And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas. | And look, his army set up their tents in the valley near Mount Antipas. |
| Alma 47:10 | And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him. | At night, he sent a secret message to Mount Antipas, asking the leader there, Lehonti, to come down to the foot of the mountain because he wanted to talk to him. |
| Alma 47:11 | And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time. | When Lehonti got the message, he was too afraid to come down to the bottom of the mountain. Amalickiah sent another message asking him to come down, but Lehonti still wouldn’t go. He sent a third message. |
| Alma 47:12 | And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti—s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him. | When Amalickiah realized he couldn’t get Lehonti to come down from the mountain, he went up near Lehonti’s camp and sent a fourth message, asking him to come down and bring his guards. |
| Alma 47:13 | And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti—s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army. | When Lehonti came down with his guards to meet Amalickiah, Amalickiah suggested that he should come back with his army at night and surround the men in their camps, who were under his command from the king. Amalickiah promised he would hand them over to Lehonti if Lehonti would make him the second leader of the whole army. |
| Alma 47:14 | And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti. | Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded Amalickiah’s camp. Before Amalickiah’s men woke up at dawn, they were completely surrounded by Lehonti’s armies. |
| Alma 47:15 | And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired. | When they saw that they were surrounded, they begged Amalickiah to let them join their brothers so they wouldn’t be destroyed. This was exactly what Amalickiah wanted. |
| Alma 47:16 | And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king. | He helped his men escape, against the king’s orders. This was exactly what Amalickiah wanted, so he could move forward with his plan to overthrow the king. |
| Alma 47:17 | Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader. | The Lamanites had a custom: if their main leader was killed, they would make the second leader their new chief. |
| Alma 47:18 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. | Amalickiah had one of his servants slowly poison Lehonti until he died. |
| Alma 47:19 | Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander. | After Lehonti died, the Lamanites made Amalickiah their leader and main commander. |
| Alma 47:20 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was the chief city. | Amalickiah led his armies to the land and city of Nephi, the main city, because he had achieved his goals. |
| Alma 47:21 | And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle. | The king went out to meet him with his guards, thinking that Amalickiah had carried out his orders and gathered a large army to fight the Nephites. |
| Alma 47:22 | But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. | When the king came out to meet him, Amalickiah had his servants go out to greet the king. They approached and bowed before the king, pretending to honor him because of his greatness. |
| Alma 47:23 | And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites. | The king stretched out his hand to help them up, as was the custom among the Lamanites to show peace, a tradition they adopted from the Nephites. |
| Alma 47:24 | And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth. | After he lifted the first person from the ground, he stabbed the king in the heart, and the king fell to the ground. |
| Alma 47:25 | Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying: | The king’s servants ran away, and Amalickiah’s servants started yelling. |
| Alma 47:26 | Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see. | Look, the king’s servants have stabbed him in the heart. He’s fallen, and they’ve run away. Come and see. |
| Alma 47:27 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain. | Amalickiah ordered his armies to go and see what had happened to the king. When they found the king dead and covered in blood, Amalickiah pretended to be angry and said, “Anyone who loved the king, go and chase down his servants and kill them.” |
| Alma 47:28 | And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king. | When the people who loved the king heard what was said, they came forward and chased after the king’s servants. |
| Alma 47:29 | Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon. | When the king’s servants saw an army coming after them, they got scared again and ran into the wilderness. They eventually made it to the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon. |
| Alma 47:30 | And the army which pursued after them returned, having pursued after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his fraud, gained the hearts of the people. | The army that chased them came back, having chased them for nothing. And so Amalickiah, through his deceit, won over the hearts of the people. |
| Alma 47:31 | And it came to pass on the morrow he entered the city Nephi with his armies, and took possession of the city. | The next day, he entered the city of Nephi with his armies and took control of the city. |
| Alma 47:32 | And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had heard that the king was slain—for Amalickiah had sent an embassy to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape— | When the queen heard that the king had been killed, Amalickiah sent a message to her saying the king’s servants had killed him, and though he had chased them with his army, they got away. |
| Alma 47:33 | Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring witnesses with him to testify concerning the death of the king. | When the queen got the message, she asked Amalickiah to spare the people in the city. She also asked him to come to her and bring witnesses to testify about the king’s death. |
| Alma 47:34 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king. | Amalickiah took the same servant who killed the king, along with everyone who was with him, and went to the queen where she was sitting. They all told her that the king had been killed by his own servants, and they added, “They have run away; doesn’t this prove their guilt?” This convinced the queen about how the king died. |
| Alma 47:35 | And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time. | Amalickiah tried to win over the queen and married her. By deceiving and using his crafty servants, he seized control of the kingdom. He was recognized as king throughout the land, ruling over the Lamanites, which included the Lamanites, Lemuelites, Ishmaelites, and all the Nephite dissenters from Nephi’s reign to the present time. |
| Alma 47:36 | Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God. | These dissenters, who had the same teachings and knowledge as the Nephites about the Lord, quickly became more stubborn, unrepentant, and wild than the Lamanites after their dissent. They adopted the Lamanites’ traditions, became lazy and indulged in all kinds of immoral behavior, and totally forgot the Lord their God. |
Alma 48
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 48:1 | And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites. | As soon as Amalickiah took over the kingdom, he started stirring up the Lamanites against the Nephites by appointing men to speak against the Nephites from their towers. |
| Alma 48:2 | And thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites, insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, he having accomplished his designs thus far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites. | So, he influenced the Lamanites against the Nephites so much that by the end of the nineteenth year of the judges’ rule, having achieved his goals and being made king of the Lamanites, he tried to rule over all the land and all the people in it, both Nephites and Lamanites. |
| Alma 48:3 | Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites. | He had succeeded in his plan because he had made the Lamanites stubborn and clouded their minds, making them so angry that he was able to gather a big army to go to war against the Nephites. |
| Alma 48:4 | For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage. | He was determined to overpower the Nephites and enslave them because of the large number of his people. |
| Alma 48:5 | And thus he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of their cities; therefore he appointed them to be chief captains over his armies. | So he made the Zoramites the main commanders because they knew the Nephites’ strengths, hangouts, and weakest city spots the best; that’s why he put them in charge of his armies. |
| Alma 48:6 | And it came to pass that they took their camp, and moved forth toward the land of Zarahemla in the wilderness. | They packed up their camp and moved toward the land of Zarahemla through the wilderness. |
| Alma 48:7 | Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God. | While Amalickiah was gaining power through lies and deceit, Moroni was preparing the people to stay faithful to their God. |
| Alma 48:8 | Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land. | Yes, he had been strengthening the Nephite armies, building small forts or secure places for them; constructing earth banks around them to protect the armies, and also building stone walls to enclose them, around their cities and the borders of their lands; yes, all around the land. |
| Alma 48:9 | And in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the land which was possessed by the Nephites. | In the weakest spots, he placed more troops, and in this way, he fortified and strengthened the land held by the Nephites. |
| Alma 48:10 | And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians. | He was getting ready to defend their freedom, their land, their families, and their peace, so they could live for God and uphold what their enemies called the cause of Christians. |
| Alma 48:11 | And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; | Moroni was a strong and mighty man with a perfect understanding. He didn’t enjoy bloodshed; his soul rejoiced in the liberty and freedom of his country and freeing his people from bondage and slavery. |
| Alma 48:12 | Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. | A man whose heart was full of gratitude to God for all the privileges and blessings given to his people; a man who worked very hard for the well-being and safety of his people. |
| Alma 48:13 | Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood. | He was a man who was strong in his faith in Christ. He had sworn to defend his people, their rights, their country, and their religion, even if it meant losing his life. |
| Alma 48:14 | Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives. | The Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even if it meant fighting to the death if necessary. They were also taught never to cause trouble, and only to fight with swords against their enemies if their lives depended on it. |
| Alma 48:15 | And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger; | Their belief was that by doing this, God would help them succeed in the land. In other words, if they were faithful in keeping God’s commandments, He would help them prosper in the land. Yes, He would also warn them when they needed to flee or prepare for war, based on the dangers they faced. |
| Alma 48:16 | And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity. | Also, that God would let them know where to go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by doing so, the Lord would save them; and this was Moroni’s faith, and he gloried in it; not in shedding blood but in doing good, in protecting his people, and in keeping God’s commandments and resisting evil. |
| Alma 48:17 | Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. | Yes, truly I tell you, if everyone were like Moroni, the powers of hell would be shaken forever; the devil would never have power over people’s hearts. |
| Alma 48:18 | Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God. | He was a man like Ammon, the son of Mosiah, and like the other sons of Mosiah, and also like Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God. |
| Alma 48:19 | Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words. | Helaman and his brothers helped the people just as much as Moroni did because they preached the word of God and baptized anyone who listened and wanted to repent. |
| Alma 48:20 | And thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words, insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord, and thus they were free from wars and contentions among themselves, yea, even for the space of four years. | So they continued on, and the people humbled themselves because of their words, so much so that they were greatly blessed by the Lord. Because of this, they had peace without wars and arguments among themselves for four whole years. |
| Alma 48:21 | But, as I have said, in the latter end of the nineteenth year, yea, notwithstanding their peace amongst themselves, they were compelled reluctantly to contend with their brethren, the Lamanites. | But as I said, by the end of the nineteenth year, despite having peace among themselves, they were reluctantly forced to fight against the Lamanites. |
| Alma 48:22 | Yea, and in fine, their wars never did cease for the space of many years with the Lamanites, notwithstanding their much reluctance. | Yes, and to sum it up, their wars with the Lamanites went on for many years, even though they really didn’t want to fight. |
| Alma 48:23 | Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood; yea, and this was not all—they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God. | They were sad to fight against the Lamanites because they didn’t like killing. They were also upset about sending so many of their brothers into the next life unprepared to meet God. |
| Alma 48:24 | Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down their lives, that their wives and their children should be massacred by the barbarous cruelty of those who were once their brethren, yea, and had dissented from their church, and had left them and had gone to destroy them by joining the Lamanites. | Even though they didn’t want to die, they couldn’t stand the idea of their wives and children being killed by the cruel acts of those who were once their friends. These people had left their church and joined the Lamanites to destroy them. |
| Alma 48:25 | Yea, they could not bear that their brethren should rejoice over the blood of the Nephites, so long as there were any who should keep the commandments of God, for the promise of the Lord was, if they should keep his commandments they should prosper in the land. | They couldn’t stand to see their brothers celebrating the deaths of the Nephites, as long as there were any who followed God’s commandments. Because the Lord’s promise was that if they kept His commandments, they would thrive in the land. |
Alma 49
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 49:1 | And now it came to pass in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year, on the tenth day of the month, the armies of the Lamanites were seen approaching towards the land of Ammonihah. | And now, in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year, on the tenth day, the armies of the Lamanites were seen approaching the land of Ammonihah. |
| Alma 49:2 | And behold, the city had been rebuilt, and Moroni had stationed an army by the borders of the city, and they had cast up dirt around about to shield them from the arrows and the stones of the Lamanites; for behold, they fought with stones and with arrows. | The city had been rebuilt, and Moroni had stationed an army around its borders. They built up dirt barriers to protect themselves from the Lamanites’ arrows and stones, as the Lamanites fought with stones and arrows. |
| Alma 49:3 | Behold, I said that the city of Ammonihah had been rebuilt. I say unto you, yea, that it was in part rebuilt; and because the Lamanites had destroyed it once because of the iniquity of the people, they supposed that it would again become an easy prey for them. | Look, I said that the city of Ammonihah had been rebuilt. I tell you, yes, it was partly rebuilt; and because the Lamanites had destroyed it once due to the wickedness of the people, they thought it would be an easy target for them again. |
| Alma 49:4 | But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance. | But you can imagine how disappointed they were when they saw the Nephites had built a high ridge of earth around their camp. The ridge was so high that the Lamanites couldn’t hit them with their stones and arrows, and the only way they could get in was through the entrance. |
| Alma 49:5 | Now at this time the chief captains of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security. | At this time, the Lamanite captains were really surprised by how smart the Nephites were in setting up their defenses. |
| Alma 49:6 | Now the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed, because of the greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done; yea, and they had also prepared themselves with shields, and with breastplates; and they had also prepared themselves with garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their nakedness. | The leaders of the Lamanites assumed that because they had so many people, they could attack just like they had before. They had also gotten ready with shields and breastplates and had made thick clothing from animal skins to cover themselves. |
| Alma 49:7 | And being thus prepared they supposed that they should easily overpower and subject their brethren to the yoke of bondage, or slay and massacre them according to their pleasure. | Having prepared themselves, they thought it would be easy to overpower and enslave their brothers, or kill and massacre them as they pleased. |
| Alma 49:8 | But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared for the Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni. | But to their complete surprise, they were ready for them in a way that no one had ever seen among the children of Lehi. They were prepared for the Lamanites to fight based on Moroni’s instructions. |
| Alma 49:9 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites, or the Amalickiahites, were exceedingly astonished at their manner of preparation for war. | The Lamanites, also known as the Amalickiahites, were really surprised by how well-prepared the other side was for war. |
| Alma 49:10 | Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the land of Nephi, at the head of his army, perhaps he would have caused the Lamanites to have attacked the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah; for behold, he did care not for the blood of his people. | If King Amalickiah had come down from the land of Nephi leading his army, he might have made the Lamanites attack the Nephites in the city of Ammonihah. He didn’t care at all about the lives of his people. |
| Alma 49:11 | But behold, Amalickiah did not come down himself to battle. And behold, his chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites, insomuch that the Lamanites were disappointed in their places of retreat and they could not come upon them. | But listen, Amalickiah didn’t come down to fight himself. And his top commanders were too scared to attack the Nephites in Ammonihah because Moroni had changed things up so much that the Lamanites were thrown off and couldn’t find a way to attack them. |
| Alma 49:12 | Therefore they retreated into the wilderness, and took their camp and marched towards the land of Noah, supposing that to be the next best place for them to come against the Nephites. | So they went back into the wilderness, set up camp, and headed towards the land of Noah, thinking it would be their next best chance to confront the Nephites. |
| Alma 49:13 | For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of that city. | The enemy didn’t know that Moroni had fortified and built secure forts in every city around the land. So, they marched to the land of Noah with strong determination. Their chief captains even swore an oath to destroy the people of that city. |
| Alma 49:14 | But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah. | But look, to their surprise, the city of Noah, which used to be weak, had now become strong because of Moroni, even stronger than the city Ammonihah. |
| Alma 49:15 | And now, behold, this was wisdom in Moroni; for he had supposed that they would be frightened at the city Ammonihah; and as the city of Noah had hitherto been the weakest part of the land, therefore they would march thither to battle; and thus it was according to his desires. | Here’s the modern version of the verse: So, Moroni was wise in thinking the enemy would be scared of the city Ammonihah. Since the city of Noah had always been the weakest spot in the land, he figured they would go there to fight, and things happened just as he had hoped. |
| Alma 49:16 | And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief captain over the men of that city; and it was that same Lehi who fought with the Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river Sidon. | Moroni appointed Lehi as the chief captain over the men of that city. This is the same Lehi who fought the Lamanites in the valley east of the Sidon River. |
| Alma 49:17 | And now behold it came to pass, that when the Lamanites had found that Lehi commanded the city they were again disappointed, for they feared Lehi exceedingly; nevertheless their chief captains had sworn with an oath to attack the city; therefore, they brought up their armies. | When the Lamanites found out that Lehi was in charge of the city, they were disappointed again because they were really afraid of him. But their captains had sworn to attack the city, so they brought their armies. |
| Alma 49:18 | Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness of the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch which had been dug round about, save it were by the entrance. | The Lamanites couldn’t get into their secure forts in any way except through the entrance, because the bank was too high and the ditch was too deep all around. |
| Alma 49:19 | And thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should attempt to climb up to enter the fort by any other way, by casting over stones and arrows at them. | The Nephites were ready to take out anyone who tried to climb into the fort another way by throwing stones and shooting arrows at them. |
| Alma 49:20 | Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of entrance; and thus were they prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites. | They were ready, with their strongest men armed with swords and slings, to strike down anyone who tried to enter their safe place. They were prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites. |
| Alma 49:21 | And it came to pass that the captains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and began to contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold, they were driven back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain with an immense slaughter. | The captains of the Lamanites led their armies to the entrance and tried to fight the Nephites to get into their secure place; but they were repeatedly driven back and suffered heavy losses. |
| Alma 49:22 | Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies. | When the attackers realized they couldn’t overpower the Nephites through the pass, they started digging down the Nephites’ earth banks to create a path for their armies so they could have a fair fight. But as they tried this, they were hit by stones and arrows. Instead of breaking down the earth banks, the ditches ended up being filled with their own dead and wounded. |
| Alma 49:23 | Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain. | The Nephites had complete power over their enemies. The Lamanites tried to destroy the Nephites until all their chief captains were killed. Over a thousand Lamanites were killed, but not a single Nephite was lost. |
| Alma 49:24 | There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe. | About fifty men were injured by Lamanite arrows that got through the pass, but their shields, breastplates, and head-plates protected them. So, most of their injuries were on their legs, and many of these injuries were very severe. |
| Alma 49:25 | And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief captains were all slain they fled into the wilderness. And it came to pass that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a Nephite by birth, concerning their great loss. | When the Lamanites saw that all their chief captains were killed, they ran into the wilderness. Then they went back to the land of Nephi to tell their king, Amalickiah, who was originally a Nephite, about their huge loss. |
| Alma 49:26 | And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people, because he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites; he had not subjected them to the yoke of bondage. | He was really angry with his people because he hadn’t been able to defeat the Nephites and make them his slaves. |
| Alma 49:27 | Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people. | He was really angry and cursed both God and Moroni, swearing he would drink Moroni’s blood, all because Moroni had followed God’s commandments to protect his people. |
| Alma 49:28 | And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies. | On the other hand, the Nephite people thanked the Lord their God for His incredible power in saving them from their enemies. |
| Alma 49:29 | And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | And that’s how the nineteenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended. |
| Alma 49:30 | Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people. | There was ongoing peace among them, and the church prospered greatly because they were diligent and paid attention to the word of God, which was taught to them by Helaman, Shiblon, Corianton, Ammon and his brothers, and all those ordained by God’s holy order who had been baptized and sent to preach to the people. |
Alma 50
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 50:1 | And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. | Moroni kept preparing for war to protect his people from the Lamanites. He had his armies start, at the beginning of the twentieth year of the judges’ reign, to dig up heaps of earth around all the cities throughout all the Nephite lands. |
| Alma 50:2 | And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities. | He made sure there were wooden structures built on top of these mounds of earth around the cities, standing as tall as a person. |
| Alma 50:3 | And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high. | He had them build a frame of strong, high pickets all around the wooden structures. |
| Alma 50:4 | And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. | He had towers built to overlook the fences, and made sure they were fortified so the Lamanites’ stones and arrows couldn’t reach them. |
| Alma 50:5 | And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city. | They were ready to throw stones from the top whenever they wanted and with all their strength, to kill anyone who tried to get close to the city walls. |
| Alma 50:6 | Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land. | Moroni set up strong defenses around every city to prepare for the arrival of their enemies. |
| Alma 50:7 | And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. | Moroni commanded his armies to move into the eastern wilderness. They went in, drove out all the Lamanites who were there, and pushed them back to their own lands, which were south of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 50:8 | And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. | The land of Nephi stretched straight from the east sea to the west. |
| Alma 50:9 | And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the seashore, and possess the land. | When Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of their own lands, he instructed the people of Zarahemla and the surrounding areas to move into the east wilderness, all the way to the seashore, and take possession of the land. |
| Alma 50:10 | And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies. | He also stationed armies in the south, at the edges of their lands, and had them build fortifications to protect their armies and people from their enemies. |
| Alma 50:11 | And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi, from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon—the Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure. | He took over all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the eastern wilderness and also in the west, strengthening the border between the Nephites and the Lamanites, from the land of Zarahemla to the land of Nephi, and from the western sea up to the head of the river Sidon. The Nephites controlled all the land to the north, including everything north of the land Bountiful, as they wanted. |
| Alma 50:12 | Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of their possession. | Moroni’s army grew every day because people felt safe due to his actions. He aimed to weaken the Lamanites so they wouldn’t have any control over their lands. |
| Alma 50:13 | And it came to pass that the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites. | The Nephites started building a city and named it Moroni. It was by the east sea and bordered the Lamanite lands to the south. |
| Alma 50:14 | And they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah. | They started building a new city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, right where the borders of Aaron and Moroni met. They named this new city, or land, Nephihah. |
| Alma 50:15 | And they also began in that same year to build many cities on the north, one in a particular manner which they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore. | In that same year, they started building many cities in the north. One of these cities, which they named Lehi, was located by the seashore. |
| Alma 50:16 | And thus ended the twentieth year. | So, the twentieth year came to an end. |
| Alma 50:17 | And in these prosperous circumstances were the people of Nephi in the commencement of the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | At the start of the twenty-first year under the judges’ rule, the Nephites were experiencing great prosperity. |
| Alma 50:18 | And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land. | They did very well and got very rich. They also grew in number and became strong in the land. |
| Alma 50:19 | And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi, saying: | This shows us how merciful and fair the Lord is in everything He does, fulfilling all His promises to us. We can see that His words are true, even now, just as He told Lehi. |
| Alma 50:20 | Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. | You and your children are blessed. As long as they follow my commandments, they will do well in the land. But remember, if they do not keep my commandments, they will be cut off from the Lord’s presence. |
| Alma 50:21 | And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions. | We see that these promises came true for the Nephites because it was their own fighting, arguing, murders, thefts, idolatry, immorality, and other wicked behavior that led to their wars and destructions. |
| Alma 50:22 | And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites. | Those who were faithful in keeping the Lord’s commandments were always rescued, while thousands of their wicked brothers were taken into bondage, killed by the sword, or lost their faith and joined the Lamanites. |
| Alma 50:23 | But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges. | But look, there hasn’t been a happier time for the Nephites since Nephi’s days than during Moroni’s time, especially now, in the twenty-first year of the judges’ reign. |
| Alma 50:24 | And it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty and third year. | The twenty-second year of the judges’ rule ended in peace, and so did the twenty-third year. |
| Alma 50:25 | And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges, there would also have been peace among the people of Nephi had it not been for a contention which took place among them concerning the land of Lehi, and the land of Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi; both of which were on the borders by the seashore. | At the beginning of the 24th year of the judges’ rule, the Nephites would have had peace if it weren’t for a dispute about the lands of Lehi and Morianton, which bordered each other near the seashore. |
| Alma 50:26 | For behold, the people who possessed the land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of Lehi; therefore there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of Morianton took up arms against their brethren, and they were determined by the sword to slay them. | The people who lived in Morianton claimed a part of the land of Lehi, so they started having a big argument. It got so bad that the people of Morianton took up weapons against their brothers, determined to fight and kill them. |
| Alma 50:27 | But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong. | The people who lived in Lehi ran to Moroni’s camp and asked for help because they hadn’t done anything wrong. |
| Alma 50:28 | And it came to pass that when the people of Morianton, who were led by a man whose name was Morianton, found that the people of Lehi had fled to the camp of Moroni, they were exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moroni should come upon them and destroy them. | When the people of Morianton, led by a man named Morianton, found out that the people of Lehi had fled to Moroni’s camp, they were very afraid that Moroni’s army would come and destroy them. |
| Alma 50:29 | Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward. | So, Morianton convinced them to run away to the land up north, which had big lakes and rivers, and take over the land up there. |
| Alma 50:30 | And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, (which would have been a cause to have been lamented) but behold, Morianton being a man of much passion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat her much. | They almost carried out their plan, which would have been something to regret, but Morianton, being a very passionate man, got angry with one of his maidservants and beat her badly. |
| Alma 50:31 | And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward. | She ran away and went to Moroni’s camp. She told Moroni everything about the situation and their plans to escape to the land up north. |
| Alma 50:32 | Now behold, the people who were in the land Bountiful, or rather Moroni, feared that they would hearken to the words of Morianton and unite with his people, and thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the land, which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephi, yea, which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their liberty. | The people in the land of Bountiful, or rather Moroni, were worried that they might listen to Morianton and join his group. If that happened, Morianton could take control of those areas, which would cause big problems for the Nephites and could lead to the loss of their freedom. |
| Alma 50:33 | Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward. | So Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to intercept the people of Morianton and stop them from fleeing to the land in the north. |
| Alma 50:34 | And it came to pass that they did not head them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east. | They didn’t stop them until they reached the edges of the land of Desolation. There, they blocked them at the narrow pass that led by the sea into the land to the north, with the sea on both the west and the east. |
| Alma 50:35 | And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the people of Morianton; and so stubborn were the people of Morianton, (being inspired by his wickedness and his flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in the which Teancum did slay Morianton and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni. And thus ended the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | Moroni sent an army led by Teancum to meet the people of Morianton. The people of Morianton were so stubborn, driven by Morianton’s wickedness and flattering words, that a battle broke out. Teancum killed Morianton, defeated his army, took them as prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni. And that was the end of the twenty-fourth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi. |
| Alma 50:36 | And thus were the people of Morianton brought back. And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi; and they were also restored to their lands. | So the people of Morianton were brought back. They promised to keep the peace and were allowed to return to their land, forming a union with the people of Lehi. Both groups were also restored to their lands. |
| Alma 50:37 | And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment-seat with perfect uprightness before God. | In the same year that the people of Nephi found peace, Nephihah, the second chief judge, passed away. He had served as a judge with perfect honesty before God. |
| Alma 50:38 | Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman. | But he had refused to let Alma have those records and other sacred items that were very important to Alma and his ancestors. So, Alma decided to pass them on to his son Helaman. |
| Alma 50:39 | Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father; yea, he was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime. | The son of Nephihah was chosen to take his father’s place as chief judge and governor. He took an oath to judge fairly, maintain peace and freedom, allow people to worship God, support God’s cause throughout his life, and ensure justice for those who do wrong. |
| Alma 50:40 | Now behold, his name was Pahoran. And Pahoran did fill the seat of his father, and did commence his reign in the end of the twenty and fourth year, over the people of Nephi. | Now, his name was Pahoran. Pahoran took his father’s position and began his rule at the end of the twenty-fourth year over the people of Nephi. |
Alma 51
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 51:1 | And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, they having established peace between the people of Lehi and the people of Morianton concerning their lands, and having commenced the twenty and fifth year in peace; | At the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, they had made peace between the people of Lehi and the people of Morianton about their lands and started the year in peace. |
| Alma 51:2 | Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered. | Even though there was peace in the land for a while, it didn’t last long. A disagreement started among the people about Chief Judge Pahoran because some of them wanted to change a few specific laws. |
| Alma 51:3 | But behold, Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law. | However, Pahoran refused to change the law or let it be changed, so he ignored the petitions from those requesting the law to be altered. |
| Alma 51:4 | Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed. | Those who wanted the law to change were angry with him and wanted him out as chief judge. So, there was a heated argument about it, but it didn’t get violent. |
| Alma 51:5 | And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land. | Some people wanted Pahoran to be removed from his position as chief judge. These people were called king-men because they wanted to change the laws to get rid of the free government and set up a king instead. |
| Alma 51:6 | And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government. | Those who wanted Pahoran to stay as the chief judge called themselves freemen. This caused a division because the freemen had promised to uphold their rights and the privileges of their religion through a free government. |
| Alma 51:7 | And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom. | So the people voted to settle their argument, and they chose the freemen’s side. Pahoran kept his position as chief judge, which made Pahoran’s supporters and many freedom-loving people very happy. They silenced the king-men, who didn’t dare oppose and had to support the cause of freedom. |
| Alma 51:8 | Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people. | The people who wanted a king were usually from noble families and they wanted to become kings themselves. They were backed by those who wanted power and control over the people. |
| Alma 51:9 | But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence; for he had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni. | But look, this was a critical time for these arguments to be happening among the Nephites. Amalickiah had stirred up the Lamanites against the Nephites again, and he was gathering soldiers from all over his land, arming them, and preparing for war with all his effort. He had vowed to kill Moroni. |
| Alma 51:10 | But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was rash; nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to come to battle against the Nephites. | But look, we’ll see that the promise he made was reckless; still, he got himself and his armies ready to fight the Nephites. |
| Alma 51:11 | Now his armies were not so great as they had hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the Nephites; but notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla. | Amalickiah’s armies weren’t as big as before because many had been killed by the Nephites. Even with such great losses, Amalickiah managed to gather a very large army, so he wasn’t afraid to come down to the land of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 51:12 | Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges; and it was at the same time that they had begun to settle the affairs of their contentions concerning the chief judge, Pahoran. | Yes, even Amalickiah came down himself, leading the Lamanites. This was during the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ reign, the same time they began to resolve their disputes about the chief judge, Pahoran. |
| Alma 51:13 | And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them, they were glad in their hearts; and they refused to take up arms, for they were so wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country. | When the men called king-men heard that the Lamanites were coming to fight against them, they were happy. They were so angry with the chief judge and the people of liberty that they refused to fight to defend their country. |
| Alma 51:14 | And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceedingly wroth; his soul was filled with anger against them. | When Moroni saw this and saw the Lamanites coming into the land, he was very angry because of how stubborn the people he had worked so hard to protect were. Yes, he was extremely angry; his soul was filled with rage against them. |
| Alma 51:15 | And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and give him (Moroni) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death. | Moroni sent a petition from the people to the governor, asking him to read it and give Moroni the authority to either force the dissenters to defend their country or put them to death. |
| Alma 51:16 | For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to the voice of the people. | His first priority was to stop the arguments and disagreements among the people, because they had been the cause of all their problems. And it happened as the people wanted. |
| Alma 51:17 | And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty. | Moroni ordered his army to go against the king-men, to break their pride and nobility and bring them down to the ground, or to take up arms and fight for freedom. |
| Alma 51:18 | And it came to pass that the armies did march forth against them; and they did pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their weapons of war to fight against the men of Moroni they were hewn down and leveled to the earth. | The armies marched against them and brought down their pride and nobility. When they raised their weapons to fight Moroni’s men, they were struck down and defeated. |
| Alma 51:19 | And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period. | There were four thousand dissenters who were killed by the sword. The leaders who weren’t killed in battle were captured and thrown into prison because there wasn’t time for their trials at that moment. |
| Alma 51:20 | And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country. | The remaining dissenters, rather than being struck down by the sword, submitted to the cause of freedom. They were forced to raise the flag of liberty on their towers and cities and to take up arms to defend their country. |
| Alma 51:21 | And thus Moroni put an end to those king-men, that there were not any known by the appellation of king-men; and thus he put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage. | So Moroni got rid of the king-men, and no one was known as a king-man anymore. He ended the stubbornness and pride of those who claimed noble blood; they had to humble themselves like everyone else and fight bravely for their freedom. |
| Alma 51:22 | Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people, and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore. | While Moroni was working on ending the conflicts and bringing peace and order among his people, and making preparations for war against the Lamanites, the Lamanites had already invaded the land of Moroni, which was by the seashore. |
| Alma 51:23 | And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications. | The Nephites didn’t have enough strength to hold the city of Moroni, so Amalickiah drove them out and killed many of them. Amalickiah then took over the city and all its fortifications. |
| Alma 51:24 | And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together, and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle. | The people who escaped from Moroni went to Nephihah, and the people of Lehi joined together and got ready to fight the Lamanites. |
| Alma 51:25 | But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it. | But Amalickiah wouldn’t let the Lamanites attack the city of Nephihah. Instead, he kept them by the seashore and left men in every city to defend them. |
| Alma 51:26 | And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore. | He kept going, taking over many cities: Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek, all of which were on the eastern coast by the sea. |
| Alma 51:27 | And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning of Amalickiah, so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of which were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moroni; all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites. | The Lamanites, thanks to Amalickiah’s cunning, had taken over many cities with their huge armies. These cities were all well-fortified like Moroni’s fortifications, providing strongholds for the Lamanites. |
| Alma 51:28 | And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many. | They marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites ahead of them and killing many. |
| Alma 51:29 | But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight. | Teancum met them, having killed Morianton and led his people during their escape. |
| Alma 51:30 | And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also, as he was marching forth with his numerous army that he might take possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land northward. | Amalickiah, with his large army, was on his way to take over the land Bountiful and the land to the north. |
| Alma 51:31 | But behold he met with a disappointment by being repulsed by Teancum and his men, for they were great warriors; for every man of Teancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites. | But he was disappointed because Teancum and his men, who were great warriors, pushed him back. Teancum’s men were stronger and more skilled in war than the Lamanites, giving them the upper hand. |
| Alma 51:32 | And it came to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they did slay them even until it was dark. And it came to pass that Teancum and his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore, and after this manner were they driven. | They kept attacking them until it got dark and killed many of them. Teancum and his men set up camp on the borders of Bountiful, and Amalickiah set up his camp by the beach. This is how they ended up being driven. |
| Alma 51:33 | And it came to pass that when the night had come, Teancum and his servant stole forth and went out by night, and went into the camp of Amalickiah; and behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day. | When night fell, Teancum and his servant snuck out and entered Amalickiah’s camp. They found everyone asleep, exhausted from the day’s work and heat. |
| Alma 51:34 | And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into the tent of the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his servants. | Teancum sneaked into the king’s tent and killed him with a javelin, making sure he died instantly so he couldn’t wake his servants. |
| Alma 51:35 | And he returned again privily to his own camp, and behold, his men were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all the things that he had done. | He went back secretly to his camp, found his men asleep, woke them up, and told them everything he had done. |
| Alma 51:36 | And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them. | He made sure his armies were ready in case the Lamanites woke up and attacked them. |
| Alma 51:37 | And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of Amalickiah. | This is the end of the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ reign over the Nephites, and also the end of Amalickiah’s life. |
Alma 52
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 52:1 | And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day. | In the 26th year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi, the Lamanites woke up on the first morning of the first month to find that Amalickiah was dead in his tent. They also saw that Teancum was ready to fight them that day. |
| Alma 52:2 | And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought protection in their fortifications. | When the Lamanites saw this, they got scared and gave up on their plan to move north. They retreated with their whole army to the city of Mulek and looked for safety in their fortifications. |
| Alma 52:3 | And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead. | Amalickiah’s brother, Ammoron, was made king over the people, so now King Ammoron reigned in place of his brother Amalickiah. |
| Alma 52:4 | And it came to pass that he did command that his people should maintain those cities, which they had taken by the shedding of blood; for they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood. | He commanded his people to maintain the cities they had taken with much bloodshed; they hadn’t captured any city without a lot of loss on their side. |
| Alma 52:5 | And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken, and those parts of the land which they had obtained possession of; and also seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum thought it was not expedient that he should attempt to attack them in their forts. | Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to keep the cities and lands they had taken. Seeing how many there were, he decided it wasn’t a good idea to try to attack them in their forts. |
| Alma 52:6 | But he kept his men round about, as if making preparations for war; yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them, by casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort. | He kept his men around him, looking like they were getting ready for war. And he was really getting ready to defend himself, by building walls around them and setting up places to fall back to. |
| Alma 52:7 | And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war until Moroni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army. | He kept getting ready for war until Moroni sent a lot of men to strengthen his army. |
| Alma 52:8 | And Moroni also sent orders unto him that he should retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken. | Moroni also sent orders to retain all the prisoners he captured, since the Lamanites had taken many prisoners. He wanted to hold onto the Lamanite prisoners to use them as leverage to get back those the Lamanites had taken. |
| Alma 52:9 | And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side. | He also sent orders to make the land Bountiful stronger and secure the narrow pass leading to the northern land, so the Lamanites wouldn’t capture it and attack them from all sides. |
| Alma 52:10 | And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that he would seek every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in his power, that perhaps he might take again by stratagem or some other way those cities which had been taken out of their hands; and that he also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about, which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites. | Moroni also sent him a message asking him to stay strong in defending that part of the land and to take every chance he could to fight the Lamanites there. He hoped that by strategy or some other means, he might be able to reclaim the cities that had been taken from them. He also asked him to fortify and strengthen the cities nearby that were still under their control. |
| Alma 52:11 | And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you. | He said to him, “I would come to you, but the Lamanites are attacking us at the western border. I need to go against them, so I can’t come to you.” |
| Alma 52:12 | Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of his brother, and had gathered together a large number of men, and had marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea. | The king, Ammoron, had left Zarahemla and informed the queen about his brother’s death. He gathered a large army and marched towards the Nephites by the western sea. |
| Alma 52:13 | And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites, and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while he had commanded those whom he had left to possess the cities which he had taken, that they should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea, and should take possession of their lands as much as it was in their power, according to the power of their armies. | He was trying to bother the Nephites and draw some of their forces away to another part of the land. Meanwhile, he had commanded those he left to keep control of the cities they had taken and to also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea, taking as much land as they could according to the strength of their armies. |
| Alma 52:14 | And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | So, by the end of the twenty-sixth year of the judges ruling over the people of Nephi, the Nephites were in a very risky situation. |
| Alma 52:15 | But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the command of Moroni—who had established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land, and had begun his march towards the land Bountiful, that he might assist Teancum with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost— | In the twenty-seventh year of the judges’ rule, Teancum, following the orders of Moroni, who had set up armies to protect the southern and western borders and was marching towards Bountiful to help Teancum retake the cities they had lost. |
| Alma 52:16 | And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible. | Teancum got orders to attack the city of Mulek and take it back if he could. |
| Alma 52:17 | And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moroni, that he might receive strength to his army. | Teancum was getting ready to attack the city of Mulek and advance with his army against the Lamanites, but he realized he couldn’t defeat them while they were protected in their fortifications. So, he gave up on his plan and went back to the city of Bountiful to wait for Moroni, hoping to strengthen his army. |
| Alma 52:18 | And it came to pass that Moroni did arrive with his army at the land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | Moroni arrived with his army at the land of Bountiful towards the end of the 27th year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi. |
| Alma 52:19 | And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war—what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle; or that they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds, that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek. | At the start of the 28th year, Moroni, Teancum, and many of the top military leaders held a war council to figure out how to get the Lamanites to come out and fight them. They also discussed ways to lure the Lamanites out of their strongholds to gain an advantage and retake the city of Mulek. |
| Alma 52:20 | And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose name was Jacob, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities. But behold, Jacob, who was a Zoramite, would not come out with his army to meet them upon the plains. | They sent messengers to the Lamanite army, which was guarding the city of Mulek, asking their leader Jacob to come out with his armies and meet them on the plains between the two cities. But Jacob, a Zoramite, refused to come out with his army. |
| Alma 52:21 | And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds. | Moroni, realizing he couldn’t fight the Lamanites fairly, decided to come up with a plan to lure them out of their fortifications. |
| Alma 52:22 | Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek; and thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader. | So, Teancum took a small group of men and marched down near the seashore. Meanwhile, Moroni and his army moved through the wilderness west of the city of Mulek during the night. The next morning, when the Lamanite guards saw Teancum, they ran and told their leader, Jacob. |
| Alma 52:23 | And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the seashore, northward. | The Lamanite armies marched against Teancum, thinking their large numbers would overpower him because his forces were small. When Teancum saw them coming, he started retreating north along the seashore. |
| Alma 52:24 | And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancum was thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain, behold, Moroni commanded that a part of his army who were with him should march forth into the city, and take possession of it. | When the Lamanites saw that he started to run away, they got their courage back and chased after them with energy. Meanwhile, Teancum was leading the Lamanites on a futile chase. Seeing this, Moroni ordered part of his army to go into the city and take control. |
| Alma 52:25 | And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city, yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war. | And so they did, killing everyone left to defend the city—everyone who refused to give up their weapons. |
| Alma 52:26 | And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city Mulek with a part of his army, while he marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum. | Moroni took control of the city Mulek with part of his army, while he marched with the rest to meet the Lamanites when they came back from chasing Teancum. |
| Alma 52:27 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancum until they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Lehi and a small army, which had been left to protect the city Bountiful. | The Lamanites chased Teancum until they got close to the city of Bountiful, where they were met by Lehi and a small army that had been left to protect the city. |
| Alma 52:28 | And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had beheld Lehi with his army coming against them, they fled in much confusion, lest perhaps they should not obtain the city Mulek before Lehi should overtake them; for they were wearied because of their march, and the men of Lehi were fresh. | When the chief captains of the Lamanites saw Lehi and his army approaching, they fled in confusion, worried they wouldn’t reach the city of Mulek before Lehi caught up with them. They were tired from marching, but Lehi’s men were still fresh. |
| Alma 52:29 | Now the Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been in their rear with his army; and all they feared was Lehi and his men. | The Lamanites didn’t know that Moroni and his army were behind them; they were only worried about Lehi and his men. |
| Alma 52:30 | Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet Moroni and his army. | Lehi didn’t want to catch up to them until they joined up with Moroni and his army. |
| Alma 52:31 | And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the men of Moroni on one hand, and the men of Lehi on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of strength; but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march. | Before the Lamanites could retreat far, they were surrounded by the Nephites. Moroni’s men were on one side and Lehi’s men were on the other, all fresh and full of strength, while the Lamanites were tired from their long march. |
| Alma 52:32 | And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war. | Moroni ordered his men to attack until their enemies surrendered their weapons. |
| Alma 52:33 | And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moroni. | Jacob, a Zoramite and their leader, had an unbreakable spirit. He led the Lamanites into battle against Moroni with great fury. |
| Alma 52:34 | Moroni being in their course of march, therefore Jacob was determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek. But behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful; therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites. | Since Moroni was in their path, Jacob was determined to kill them and force his way through to the city of Mulek. But Moroni and his men were stronger, so they didn’t back down from the Lamanites. |
| Alma 52:35 | And it came to pass that they fought on both hands with exceeding fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea, and Moroni was wounded and Jacob was killed. | They fought fiercely on both sides, killing many. Moroni got wounded and Jacob was killed. |
| Alma 52:36 | And Lehi pressed upon their rear with such fury with his strong men, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war; and the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whither to go or to strike. | Lehi and his strong men attacked the rear of the Lamanites so aggressively that the soldiers at the back gave up their weapons. The rest of the Lamanites were so confused that they didn’t know where to go or whom to fight. |
| Alma 52:37 | Now Moroni seeing their confusion, he said unto them: If ye will bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold we will forbear shedding your blood. | Seeing their confusion, Moroni said to them, “If you hand over your weapons and surrender, we will refrain from killing you.” |
| Alma 52:38 | And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these words, their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do the same. | When the Lamanites heard these words, their captains who survived came forward, dropped their weapons at Moroni’s feet, and ordered their men to do the same. |
| Alma 52:39 | But behold, there were many that would not; and those who would not deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of war were taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their brethren forth into the land Bountiful. | But look, there were many who refused; those who wouldn’t give up their swords were tied up, their weapons taken from them, and they were forced to march with their brethren to the land of Bountiful. |
| Alma 52:40 | And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain, yea, more than those who had been slain on both sides. | Now there were more prisoners taken than those who had been killed, even more than those killed on both sides. |
Alma 53
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 53:1 | And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were slain; and Moroni placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors. | The guards watched over the captured Lamanites and forced them to bury their dead, as well as the dead Nephites. Moroni assigned men to oversee them while they worked. |
| Alma 53:2 | And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other—s safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi. | Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, took control of the city, and gave it to Lehi. Lehi had been with Moroni in most of his battles and was similar to him. They were happy that they were both safe and loved each other, just as all the people of Nephi loved them. |
| Alma 53:3 | And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful. | After the Lamanites finished burying their dead and the dead of the Nephites, they were taken back to the land of Bountiful. Following Moroni’s orders, Teancum made them start digging a ditch around the land or city of Bountiful. |
| Alma 53:4 | And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height. | He made them build a wooden wall on the inner side of the ditch, and they piled dirt from the ditch against the wooden wall. This way, he made the Lamanites work until they had surrounded the city of Bountiful with a strong, tall wall of wood and earth. |
| Alma 53:5 | And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites. | The city became a really strong fortress from then on. They kept the Lamanite prisoners there, even making them build a wall with their own hands to hold them in. Moroni made the Lamanites work because it was easier to guard them while they were working, and he wanted all his troops available when attacking the Lamanites. |
| Alma 53:6 | And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to retain his prisoners. | Moroni won a big victory over one of the Lamanites’ strongest armies and took control of the city of Mulek, which was one of their strongest fortresses in the land of Nephi. He also built a stronghold to keep his prisoners. |
| Alma 53:7 | And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a battle with the Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men in preparing for war, yea, and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, yea, and also delivering their women and their children from famine and affliction, and providing food for their armies. | He didn’t try to fight the Lamanites anymore that year. Instead, he used his men to get ready for war by building fortifications to protect against the Lamanites. He also made sure their women and children were safe from hunger and suffering and provided food for their armies. |
| Alma 53:8 | And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land. | While Moroni was away dealing with some internal issues among the Nephites, the Lamanite armies took advantage of the situation. They managed to gain ground and take control of several Nephite cities along the west sea in the southern part of the land. |
| Alma 53:9 | And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances. | Because of their own wickedness, and because they were constantly fighting and scheming against each other, they ended up in very dangerous situations. |
| Alma 53:10 | And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites. | Listen, I have something to say about the people of Ammon. They were originally Lamanites, but Ammon and his brothers, or rather the power and word of God, converted them to the Lord. They were brought to the land of Zarahemla and have been protected by the Nephites ever since. |
| Alma 53:11 | And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them. | Because of their promise, they couldn’t take up weapons against their own people. They had vowed never to shed blood again, so they would have let themselves be captured by their own people, if it weren’t for the compassion and immense love that Ammon and his brothers had for them. |
| Alma 53:12 | And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites. | They were brought to the land of Zarahemla for this reason, and the Nephites had always protected them. |
| Alma 53:13 | But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country. | When they saw the danger and the many hardships the Nephites endured for them, they felt compassion and wanted to help defend their country. |
| Alma 53:14 | But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made. | But as they were about to pick up their weapons for war, Helaman and his brothers persuaded them not to, reminding them of the oath they had made. |
| Alma 53:15 | And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time. | Helaman was worried that they might lose their souls if they did that, so everyone who had made the promise had to watch their brothers go through their troubles in these dangerous times. |
| Alma 53:16 | But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites. | But listen, it happened that they had many sons who hadn’t promised not to use weapons to defend themselves against their enemies; so they all gathered together, everyone who could take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites. |
| Alma 53:17 | And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage. | They made a pact to fight for the freedom of the Nephites, to defend the land even if it meant giving their lives. They promised they would never surrender their liberty and would always battle to protect the Nephites and themselves from slavery. |
| Alma 53:18 | Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country. | So, there were two thousand young men who made this promise and took up arms to defend their country. |
| Alma 53:19 | And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader. | Now look, even though they had never been a disadvantage to the Nephites before, at this time they became a great support. They took up their weapons of war and wanted Helaman to be their leader. |
| Alma 53:20 | And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. | They were all young men, incredibly brave, strong, and active. But that’s not all—they were always trustworthy, no matter what they were asked to do. |
| Alma 53:21 | Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him. | Yes, they were truthful and serious people because they were taught to follow God’s commandments and live righteously. |
| Alma 53:22 | And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea. | So Helaman led his 2,000 young warriors to help the people at the southern border by the western sea. |
| Alma 53:23 | And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | And that’s how the twenty-eighth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi ended. |
Alma 54
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 54:1 | And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year of the judges, that Ammoron sent unto Moroni desiring that he would exchange prisoners. | At the beginning of the twenty-ninth year of the judges, Ammoron sent a message to Moroni asking to exchange prisoners. |
| Alma 54:2 | And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice exceedingly at this request, for he desired the provisions which were imparted for the support of the Lamanite prisoners for the support of his own people; and he also desired his own people for the strengthening of his army. | Moroni was really happy about this request because he wanted to use the provisions meant for the Lamanite prisoners to support his own people. He also wanted to use his own people to strengthen his army. |
| Alma 54:3 | Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children, and there was not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of Moroni, or the prisoners whom Moroni had taken; therefore Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible. | The Lamanites had taken many women and children, and none of Moroni’s prisoners were women or children. So, Moroni came up with a plan to get as many Nephite prisoners as possible from the Lamanites. |
| Alma 54:4 | Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the servant of Ammoron, the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni. Now these are the words which he wrote unto Ammoron, saying: | He wrote a letter and sent it with Ammoron’s servant, the same one who had delivered a letter to Moroni. Here’s what he wrote to Ammoron: |
| Alma 54:5 | Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death. | Ammoron, I wrote to you about this war you’ve started against my people, or rather the one your brother started and that you’re determined to continue even after his death. |
| Alma 54:6 | Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands, or the land of your possessions, which is the land of Nephi. | Listen, I want to talk to you about God’s justice and His mighty wrath. It’s hanging over you unless you repent and pull back your armies to your own land, which is the land of Nephi. |
| Alma 54:7 | Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent and withdraw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands. | I would tell you these things if you could listen; I would tell you about the terrible hell that awaits murderers like you and your brother unless you repent, abandon your plans to kill, and go back to your own lands with your armies. |
| Alma 54:8 | But as ye have once rejected these things, and have fought against the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you will do it again. | But because you once rejected these things and fought against the Lord’s people, I expect you might do it again. |
| Alma 54:9 | And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the wrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction. | Now look, we’re ready for you; and if you don’t back off from your plans, you’re going to bring down the wrath of the God you rejected, leading to your complete destruction. |
| Alma 54:10 | But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death, for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God. | But as surely as the Lord lives, our armies will come upon you unless you retreat, and you will soon face death. We will keep our cities and our lands, and we will uphold our religion and the cause of our God. |
| Alma 54:11 | But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell; therefore I will close my epistle by telling you that I will not exchange prisoners, save it be on conditions that ye will deliver up a man and his wife and his children, for one prisoner; if this be the case that ye will do it, I will exchange. | But look, I feel like talking to you about this is pointless; either that or you’re just evil. So, I’ll end my letter by saying I won’t trade prisoners unless you give up one man, his wife, and his children for one prisoner. If you’re willing to do that, I’ll make the exchange. |
| Alma 54:12 | And behold, if you do not this, I will come against you with my armies; yea, even I will arm my women and my children, and I will come against you, and I will follow you even into your own land, which is the land of our first inheritance; yea, and it shall be blood for blood, yea, life for life; and I will give you battle even until you are destroyed from off the face of the earth. | If you don’t do this, I’ll come after you with my armies. Yes, I’ll even arm my women and children and come after you, chasing you into your own land, the land we first inherited. It will be blood for blood and life for life. I’ll fight you until you are completely destroyed. |
| Alma 54:13 | Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land, the land of our first inheritance. | I am angry, and so are my people. You tried to kill us, and we only tried to defend ourselves. But if you keep trying to destroy us, we will fight back and try to destroy you. We will take back our land, the land that was ours first. |
| Alma 54:14 | Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni; I am a leader of the people of the Nephites. | I’m finished with my letter now. I’m Moroni, the leader of the Nephites. |
| Alma 54:15 | Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had received this epistle, was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto Moroni, and these are the words which he wrote, saying: | When Ammoron got this letter, he was angry. He wrote another letter back to Moroni, and this is what he said. |
| Alma 54:16 | I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your threatenings. | I am Ammoron, king of the Lamanites. You killed my brother Amalickiah, and I will avenge his death. I will come after you with my armies, and I do not fear your threats. |
| Alma 54:17 | For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged unto them. | Your ancestors wronged their relatives by taking the government from them, even though they were the rightful rulers. |
| Alma 54:18 | And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, and subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly belong, then will I cause that my people shall lay down their weapons and shall be at war no more. | Now listen, if you put down your weapons and agree to be ruled by the rightful leaders, I’ll make sure my people also put down their weapons and stop fighting. |
| Alma 54:19 | Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your threatenings. | You have made many threats against me and my people, but we are not afraid of your threats. |
| Alma 54:20 | Nevertheless, I will grant to exchange prisoners according to your request, gladly, that I may preserve my food for my men of war; and we will wage a war which shall be eternal, either to the subjecting the Nephites to our authority or to their eternal extinction. | Alright, I’ll trade prisoners as you requested so I can save food for my soldiers. We’re going to fight forever until we either bring the Nephites under our control or wipe them out completely. |
| Alma 54:21 | And as concerning that God whom ye say we have rejected, behold, we know not such a being; neither do ye; but if it so be that there is such a thing, we know not but that he hath made us as well as you. | As for this God you say we’ve rejected, we don’t know of such a being, and neither do you. But if there is such a God, we don’t know that he didn’t create us just like he did you. |
| Alma 54:22 | And if it so be that there is a devil and a hell, behold will he not send you there to dwell with my brother whom ye have murdered, whom ye have hinted that he hath gone to such a place? But behold these things matter not. | And if there is a devil and a hell, won’t he send you there to be with my brother, whom you killed and hinted is in such a place? But these things don’t matter⦠|
| Alma 54:23 | I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem. | I am Ammoron, a descendant of Zoram, whom your ancestors took with them out of Jerusalem. |
| Alma 54:24 | And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni. | I am a bold Lamanite. This war has been fought to avenge their wrongs and to secure their rights to the government. This is the end of my letter to Moroni. |
Alma 55
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 55:1 | Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi. | When Moroni got this letter, he became even angrier because he knew Ammoron was fully aware of his deceit. Moroni knew Ammoron understood that the war against the Nephites was not justified. |
| Alma 55:2 | And he said: Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron save he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any more power than what he hath got. | He said, “Listen, I won’t exchange prisoners with Ammoron unless he abandons his plan, like I said in my letter. I’m not going to let him gain any more power than he already has.” |
| Alma 55:3 | Behold, I know the place where the Lamanites do guard my people whom they have taken prisoners; and as Ammoron would not grant unto me mine epistle, behold, I will give unto him according to my words; yea, I will seek death among them until they shall sue for peace. | I know where the Lamanites are keeping my people as prisoners. Since Ammoron won’t agree to my terms, I will confront him according to my words. I will fight them until they beg for peace. |
| Alma 55:4 | And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words, he caused that a search should be made among his men, that perhaps he might find a man who was a descendant of Laman among them. | After Moroni said this, he ordered his men to search for someone who might be a descendant of Laman. |
| Alma 55:5 | And it came to pass that they found one, whose name was Laman; and he was one of the servants of the king who was murdered by Amalickiah. | They found a man named Laman, who was one of the servants of the king that Amalickiah had killed. |
| Alma 55:6 | Now Moroni caused that Laman and a small number of his men should go forth unto the guards who were over the Nephites. | Moroni sent Laman and a few of his men to approach the guards watching over the Nephites. |
| Alma 55:7 | Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of Gid; therefore Moroni appointed Laman and caused that a small number of men should go with him. | The Nephites were keeping watch in the city of Gid, so Moroni picked Laman and sent a few men with him. |
| Alma 55:8 | And when it was evening Laman went to the guards who were over the Nephites, and behold, they saw him coming and they hailed him; but he saith unto them: Fear not; behold, I am a Lamanite. Behold, we have escaped from the Nephites, and they sleep; and behold we have taken of their wine and brought with us. | When it was evening, Laman went to the Nephite guards. They saw him coming and called out to him. He said, “Don’t worry; I’m a Lamanite. We’ve escaped from the Nephites. They’re asleep, and we took some of their wine and brought it with us.” |
| Alma 55:9 | Now when the Lamanites heard these words they received him with joy; and they said unto him: Give us of your wine, that we may drink; we are glad that ye have thus taken wine with you for we are weary. | When the Lamanites heard this, they joyfully welcomed him and said, “Give us some of your wine so we can drink. We’re glad you brought wine with you because we are tired.” |
| Alma 55:10 | But Laman said unto them: Let us keep of our wine till we go against the Nephites to battle. But this saying only made them more desirous to drink of the wine; | But Laman said to them, “Let’s save our wine until we go to battle against the Nephites.” But this only made them want to drink the wine even more. |
| Alma 55:11 | For, said they: We are weary, therefore let us take of the wine, and by and by we shall receive wine for our rations, which will strengthen us to go against the Nephites. | They said, “We’re tired, so let’s drink some wine. Soon we’ll get more wine for our supply, which will give us strength to fight the Nephites.” |
| Alma 55:12 | And Laman said unto them: You may do according to your desires. | Laman said to them, “Do whatever you want.” |
| Alma 55:13 | And it came to pass that they did take of the wine freely; and it was pleasant to their taste, therefore they took of it more freely; and it was strong, having been prepared in its strength. | They took the wine freely because it tasted good to them, so they drank more. It was strong because it was made to be strong. |
| Alma 55:14 | And it came to pass they did drink and were merry, and by and by they were all drunken. | They drank and partied, and soon they were all drunk. |
| Alma 55:15 | And now when Laman and his men saw that they were all drunken, and were in a deep sleep, they returned to Moroni and told him all the things that had happened. | When Laman and his men saw that everyone was drunk and fast asleep, they went back to Moroni and told him everything that had happened. |
| Alma 55:16 | And now this was according to the design of Moroni. And Moroni had prepared his men with weapons of war; and he went to the city Gid, while the Lamanites were in a deep sleep and drunken, and cast in weapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that they were all armed; | Moroni had a plan. He armed his men and went to the city of Gid while the Lamanites were fast asleep and drunk. He gave the prisoners weapons, so they were all armed. |
| Alma 55:17 | Yea, even to their women, and all those of their children, as many as were able to use a weapon of war, when Moroni had armed all those prisoners; and all those things were done in a profound silence. | Even the women and all their children who could use a weapon were armed by Moroni among the prisoners; and all of this was done in complete silence. |
| Alma 55:18 | But had they awakened the Lamanites, behold they were drunken and the Nephites could have slain them. | But if they had woken up the Lamanites, the Lamanites were drunk, and the Nephites could have killed them. |
| Alma 55:19 | But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness. | But Moroni didn’t want that; he didn’t enjoy killing or causing bloodshed. He took pleasure in saving his people from destruction. Because of this, to avoid being unjust, he wouldn’t attack and destroy the Lamanites while they were drunk. |
| Alma 55:20 | But he had obtained his desires; for he had armed those prisoners of the Nephites who were within the wall of the city, and had given them power to gain possession of those parts which were within the walls. | But he got what he wanted because he armed the Nephite prisoners inside the city walls and gave them the power to take control of those areas within the walls. |
| Alma 55:21 | And then he caused the men who were with him to withdraw a pace from them, and surround the armies of the Lamanites. | Then he had his men take a step back and surround the Lamanite armies. |
| Alma 55:22 | Now behold this was done in the night-time, so that when the Lamanites awoke in the morning they beheld that they were surrounded by the Nephites without, and that their prisoners were armed within. | This happened during the night, so when the Lamanites woke up in the morning, they saw that the Nephites had surrounded them, and their prisoners inside were armed. |
| Alma 55:23 | And thus they saw that the Nephites had power over them; and in these circumstances they found that it was not expedient that they should fight with the Nephites; therefore their chief captains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them forth and cast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for mercy. | The Nephites had clearly overpowered them, and seeing this, they realized it wasn’t wise to fight the Nephites. So, their leaders asked them to hand over their weapons, which they did, laying them at the Nephites’ feet and begging for mercy. |
| Alma 55:24 | Now behold, this was the desire of Moroni. He took them prisoners of war, and took possession of the city, and caused that all the prisoners should be liberated, who were Nephites; and they did join the army of Moroni, and were a great strength to his army. | Here is what Moroni wanted. He captured the enemy soldiers, took control of the city, and freed all the Nephite prisoners. They joined Moroni’s army and greatly strengthened it. |
| Alma 55:25 | And it came to pass that he did cause the Lamanites, whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid. | He had the Lamanites, whom he had captured, start working on strengthening the fortifications around the city of Gid. |
| Alma 55:26 | And it came to pass that when he had fortified the city Gid, according to his desires, he caused that his prisoners should be taken to the city Bountiful; and he also guarded that city with an exceedingly strong force. | After he fortified the city of Gid the way he wanted, he had his prisoners taken to the city of Bountiful. He also placed a very strong force to guard that city. |
| Alma 55:27 | And it came to pass that they did, notwithstanding all the intrigues of the Lamanites, keep and protect all the prisoners whom they had taken, and also maintain all the ground and the advantage which they had retaken. | Despite all the schemes of the Lamanites, they managed to keep and protect all the prisoners they had taken and also hold onto all the land and advantages they had regained. |
| Alma 55:28 | And it came to pass that the Nephites began again to be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their privileges. | The Nephites started winning again and restoring their rights and privileges. |
| Alma 55:29 | Many time did the Lamanites attempt to encircle them about by night, but in these attempts they did lose many prisoners. | The Lamanites tried many times to surround them at night, but they ended up losing many prisoners in these attempts. |
| Alma 55:30 | And many times did they attempt to administer of their wine to the Nephites, that they might destroy them with poison or with drunkenness. | They often tried to give their wine to the Nephites to destroy them with poison or make them drunk. |
| Alma 55:31 | But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine, save they had first given to some of the Lamanite prisoners. | But the Nephites didn’t forget the Lord their God during their tough times. They couldn’t be caught in traps; and they wouldn’t drink the wine until they had given some to the Lamanite prisoners first. |
| Alma 55:32 | And they were thus cautious that no poison should be administered among them; for if their wine would poison a Lamanite it would also poison a Nephite; and thus they did try all their liquors. | They were careful to make sure no poison got into their drinks, because if their wine could poison a Lamanite, it could also poison a Nephite. So, they tested all their drinks. |
| Alma 55:33 | And now it came to pass that it was expedient for Moroni to make preparations to attack the city Morianton; for behold, the Lamanites had, by their labors, fortified the city Morianton until it had become an exceeding stronghold. | Now, Moroni realized it was necessary to prepare to attack Morianton, because the Lamanites had worked hard to fortify the city, turning it into a very strong stronghold. |
| Alma 55:34 | And they were continually bringing new forces into that city, and also new supplies of provisions. | They kept bringing reinforcements and fresh supplies into the city. |
| Alma 55:35 | And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | And that’s how the twenty-ninth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi ended. |
Alma 56
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 56:1 | And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land. | At the start of the thirtieth year of the judges’ reign, on the second day of the first month, Moroni got a letter from Helaman about how things were going with the people in that part of the land. |
| Alma 56:2 | And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the land. | These are the words he wrote: My dear brother Moroni, in the Lord and through our struggles; I have something to tell you about our battles here. |
| Alma 56:3 | Behold, two thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi—now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi; | Look, two thousand of the sons of those men Ammon brought down from the land of Nephi. You know these were descendants of Laman, the eldest son of our father Lehi. |
| Alma 56:4 | Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things— | I don’t need to go over their traditions or disbelief, because you already know about all that. |
| Alma 56:5 | Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country. | So, I’ll just say that two thousand of these young men have picked up their weapons and want me to lead them. We’ve stepped forward to defend our country. |
| Alma 56:6 | And now ye also know concerning the covenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood. | You also know about the promise their fathers made: they wouldn’t take up weapons and fight their brothers. |
| Alma 56:7 | But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence. | In the twenty-sixth year, when they saw how much we were suffering because of them, they were about to break their promise and take up arms to defend us. |
| Alma 56:8 | But I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken. | But I wouldn’t let them break this promise they had made. I believed that God would strengthen us, so we wouldn’t suffer more because of keeping the oath they had taken. |
| Alma 56:9 | But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these two thousand young men to the city of Judea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land. | But look, there is something that brings us great joy. In the twenty-sixth year, I, Helaman, led these two thousand young men to the city of Judea to help Antipus, who you had appointed as the leader of that part of the land. |
| Alma 56:10 | And I did join my two thousand sons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn. | I joined my two thousand sons (since they deserve to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, which made Antipus very happy because his army had been weakened by the Lamanites who had killed many of our men, giving us much reason to mourn. |
| Alma 56:11 | Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their God, yea, and they are happy. | But we can take comfort in knowing that they died fighting for their country and their God. Yes, they are happy. |
| Alma 56:12 | And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners, all of whom are chief captains, for none other have they spared alive. And we suppose that they are now at this time in the land of Nephi; it is so if they are not slain. | The Lamanites also took many prisoners, all of whom were chief captains; they spared no one else. We think they are now in the land of Nephi, assuming they haven’t been killed. |
| Alma 56:13 | And now these are the cities of which the Lamanites have obtained possession by the shedding of the blood of so many of our valiant men: | These are the cities that the Lamanites have taken over by killing many of our brave men. |
| Alma 56:14 | The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of Cumeni, and the city of Antiparah. | The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of Cumeni, and the city of Antiparah. |
| Alma 56:15 | And these are the cities which they possessed when I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their might to fortify the city. | These are the cities they controlled when I got to Judea; I saw Antipus and his men working hard to strengthen the city. |
| Alma 56:16 | Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in spirit, for they had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind. | Yes, they were exhausted both physically and mentally. They fought bravely during the day and worked hard at night to protect their cities, enduring all kinds of hardships. |
| Alma 56:17 | And now they were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy. | They were determined to win here or die trying. So you can imagine that the small group I brought with me, including my sons, gave everyone a lot of hope and joy. |
| Alma 56:18 | And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were compelled by the orders of Ammoron to not come against the city of Judea, or against us, to battle. | When the Lamanites saw that Antipus had strengthened his army, Ammoron ordered them not to attack the city of Judea or us in battle. |
| Alma 56:19 | And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were we preserved. | We were blessed by the Lord because if they had attacked us while we were weak, they might have destroyed our small army. But instead, we were protected. |
| Alma 56:20 | They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those cities which they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth year. And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year we had prepared our city and ourselves for defence. | Ammoron ordered them to hold onto the cities they had taken. That’s how the twenty-sixth year ended. As the twenty-seventh year began, we were readying our city and ourselves for defense. |
| Alma 56:21 | Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in their strongholds. | We wanted the Lamanites to come to us because we didn’t want to attack them in their strongholds. |
| Alma 56:22 | And it came to pass that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward. | We kept watch on the Lamanites with spies all around, so they couldn’t sneak past us day or night to attack our other cities to the north. |
| Alma 56:23 | For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the front. We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we were disappointed in this our desire. | We realized those cities weren’t strong enough to defend against them. So, we planned to ambush them from behind if they passed by us, while they were also being confronted head-on. We thought we could overpower them, but we were disappointed when things didn’t go as we hoped. |
| Alma 56:24 | They durst not pass by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall. | They didn’t dare pass by us with their whole army, and they didn’t dare with just part of it either, because they were afraid they wouldn’t be strong enough and would be defeated. |
| Alma 56:25 | Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah. | They didn’t dare march down against the city of Zarahemla; they didn’t dare cross the head of Sidon to the city of Nephihah. |
| Alma 56:26 | And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken. | So, with their forces, they were determined to hold onto the cities they had captured. |
| Alma 56:27 | And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons. | In the second month of this year, many supplies were brought to us by the fathers of my two thousand sons. |
| Alma 56:28 | And also there were sent two thousand men unto us from the land of Zarahemla. And thus we were prepared with ten thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and their children. | We also received two thousand men from Zarahemla, making us ready with ten thousand men, along with supplies for them and their families. |
| Alma 56:29 | And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength. | The Lamanites saw our forces and supplies growing daily and started to get scared. They started making attempts to stop our supplies and reinforcements from reaching us. |
| Alma 56:30 | Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, as if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city. | When we noticed that the Lamanites were starting to get worried, we wanted to trick them. So, Antipus ordered me to march with my young soldiers to a nearby city, pretending like we were delivering supplies. |
| Alma 56:31 | And we were to march near the city of Antiparah, as if we were going to the city beyond, in the borders by the seashore. | We were going to march near the city of Antiparah, pretending we were heading to the city beyond it by the seashore. |
| Alma 56:32 | And it came to pass that we did march forth, as if with our provisions, to go to that city. | So we marched forward, pretending to have our supplies, heading toward the city. |
| Alma 56:33 | And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to maintain the city. But he did not march forth until I had gone forth with my little army, and came near the city Antiparah. | Antipus took part of his army and marched out, leaving some soldiers to defend the city. But he didn’t leave until I had gone ahead with my small army and gotten close to the city of Antiparah. |
| Alma 56:34 | And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous. | Now, in the city of Antiparah, the strongest and largest army of the Lamanites was stationed. |
| Alma 56:35 | And it came to pass that when they had been informed by their spies, they came forth with their army and marched against us. | When their spies told them, they came with their army and marched against us. |
| Alma 56:36 | And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites; | We fled north, leading away the strongest army of the Lamanites. |
| Alma 56:37 | Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that when they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them, with their might, they did not turn to the right nor to the left, but pursued their march in a straight course after us; and, as we suppose, it was their intent to slay us before Antipus should overtake them, and this that they might not be surrounded by our people. | Yes, we traveled quite a distance. When they saw Antipus’s army chasing them with full force, they kept moving straight ahead without turning. We think they planned to kill us before Antipus could catch up to surround them. |
| Alma 56:38 | And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night. | Seeing the danger we were in, Antipus quickened the pace of his army. But since it was night, they couldn’t catch up to us, nor could Antipus catch up to them; so, we all set up camp for the night. |
| Alma 56:39 | And it came to pass that before the dawn of the morning, behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us. Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did continue our march, and we took our march into the wilderness. | Before dawn, we realized the Lamanites were chasing us. We weren’t strong enough to fight them, and I didn’t want my young sons to be captured. So, we kept moving and went into the wilderness. |
| Alma 56:40 | Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark. | We didn’t dare turn right or left because we might get surrounded. I also didn’t turn either way because they might catch up to us, and we wouldn’t be able to fight them off, and they’d escape. So we kept running all day into the wilderness until it was dark. |
| Alma 56:41 | And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them. | When morning came again, we saw the Lamanites approaching, so we ran away from them. |
| Alma 56:42 | But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month. | But they didn’t chase us for long before they stopped; it was the morning of the third day of the seventh month. |
| Alma 56:43 | And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare; | We didn’t know if Antipus had caught up with them or not, but I told my men, “Look, we don’t know if they’ve stopped just to trap us when we come after them.” |
| Alma 56:44 | Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? | So, what do you say, my sons? Will you go fight them in battle? |
| Alma 56:45 | And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. | Moroni, my dear brother, I’ve never seen such great courage—not even among all the Nephites. |
| Alma 56:46 | For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. | Since I always called them my sons (they were all quite young), they said to me, “Father, our God is with us, and he won’t let us fall. Let’s go forward; we wouldn’t harm our brothers if they would leave us alone. So let’s go before they overpower Antipus’s army.” |
| Alma 56:47 | Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. | They had never fought before, but they weren’t afraid of dying. They cared more about the freedom of their ancestors than their own lives. Their mothers had taught them that if they didn’t doubt, God would save them. |
| Alma 56:48 | And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. | They told me what their mothers had said: “We don’t doubt that our mothers knew it.” |
| Alma 56:49 | And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced. | So, I returned with my two thousand soldiers to face the Lamanites who were chasing us. Then, we saw that the armies of Antipus had caught up with them, and a fierce battle had started. |
| Alma 56:50 | The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose. | Antipus’ army was exhausted from their rapid march and were on the verge of falling into the Lamanites’ hands. If I hadn’t come back with my two thousand warriors, the Lamanites would have succeeded in their plan. |
| Alma 56:51 | For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the speed of their march—therefore the men of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the Lamanites. | Antipus had been killed in battle, along with many of his leaders because they were exhausted from marching so quickly. Because their leaders had fallen, Antipus’s men became confused and started to lose ground to the Lamanites. |
| Alma 56:52 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when Helaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman. | The Lamanites got brave and started chasing them. While the Lamanites were chasing with great energy, Helaman and his two thousand came up from behind and started killing them. This made the whole Lamanite army stop and turn to fight Helaman. |
| Alma 56:53 | Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites. | When Antipus’ people saw that the Lamanites had turned around, they gathered their men and attacked the rear of the Lamanites again. |
| Alma 56:54 | And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war. | So we, the Nephites, Antipus’s people, and my two thousand warriors surrounded the Lamanites and defeated them, forcing them to give up their weapons and surrender as prisoners of war. |
| Alma 56:55 | And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain. | When they surrendered, I counted the young men who had fought with me, worried that many of them might have been killed. |
| Alma 56:56 | But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. | But look, to my great joy, not a single one of them had fallen; they fought with the strength of God. No one had ever fought with such miraculous power before. They fell upon the Lamanites so mightily that they terrified them, and that’s why the Lamanites surrendered as prisoners of war. |
| Alma 56:57 | And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling Ammonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea. | Since we didn’t have a place to hold our prisoners and keep them away from the Lamanite armies, we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, along with the surviving men from Antipus’ group. I took the rest and joined them with my young Ammonite warriors, and we marched back to the city of Judea. |
Alma 57
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 57:1 | And now it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us. | I got a letter from King Ammoron saying that if I handed over our prisoners of war, he would give us the city of Antiparah. |
| Alma 57:2 | But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange. | I sent a letter to the king saying that we were confident our forces were strong enough to take the city of Antiparah by ourselves. If we gave up our prisoners for that city, we would consider it foolish. We would only exchange our prisoners. |
| Alma 57:3 | And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the city of Antiparah. | Ammoron rejected my letter because he didn’t want to trade prisoners, so we started preparing to attack the city of Antiparah. |
| Alma 57:4 | But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled to their other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell into our hands. | The people of Antiparah left the city and ran to their other cities to strengthen them, so the city of Antiparah fell into our hands. |
| Alma 57:5 | And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges. | And that’s how the twenty-eighth year of the judges’ rule ended. |
| Alma 57:6 | And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us. | At the start of the twenty-ninth year, we got more supplies and reinforcements—6,000 men from Zarahemla and surrounding areas, plus 60 Ammonite sons joining our group of 2,000. Now, we were strong and had plenty of provisions. |
| Alma 57:7 | And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect the city Cumeni. | We wanted to fight the army that was protecting the city of Cumeni. |
| Alma 57:8 | And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were to receive a supply of provisions. | Now listen, I will show you that we quickly achieved our goal. With either all or part of our strong force, we surrounded the city of Cumeni by night, just before they were about to receive a supply of provisions. |
| Alma 57:9 | And it came to pass that we did camp round about the city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which they attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their blood was spilt. | We camped around the city for many nights, sleeping with our swords and keeping guards so the Lamanites couldn’t attack us at night and kill us. They tried many times, but we killed them each time. |
| Alma 57:10 | At length their provisions did arrive, and they were about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of being Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions. | Eventually, their supplies arrived, and they were about to sneak into the city at night. But, since we were Nephites pretending to be Lamanites, we captured them and their provisions. |
| Alma 57:11 | And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from their support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those provisions and send them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla. | Even though the Lamanites were cut off from their support, they were still determined to hold on to the city. So, we decided it was necessary to take those provisions and send them to Judea and send our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 57:12 | And it came to pass that not many days had passed away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor; therefore they yielded up the city unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in obtaining the city Cumeni. | Not long after, the Lamanites started losing hope for any help; so they surrendered the city to us. That’s how we managed to capture the city of Cumeni. |
| Alma 57:13 | But it came to pass that our prisoners were so numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were obliged to employ all our force to keep them, or to put them to death. | Even though we had a huge number of people, we had so many prisoners that we had to use all our strength to keep them under control or kill them. |
| Alma 57:14 | For behold, they would break out in great numbers, and would fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of them after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war. | They would come at us in large numbers and fight us with stones, clubs, or whatever they could grab. We ended up killing over two thousand of them even after they had surrendered as prisoners of war. |
| Alma 57:15 | Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more than sufficient for our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from the Lamanites. | It became necessary for us to either kill them or guard them with our swords all the way to the land of Zarahemla. Also, our supplies were just enough for our own people, even with what we took from the Lamanites. |
| Alma 57:16 | And now, in those critical circumstances, it became a very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war; nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla. | Given the critical situation, deciding what to do with these prisoners of war became a serious matter. However, we decided to send them to the land of Zarahemla. So, we chose some of our men and put them in charge of escorting the prisoners to Zarahemla. |
| Alma 57:17 | But it came to pass that on the morrow they did return. And now behold, we did not inquire of them concerning the prisoners; for behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned in season to save us from falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support a new supply of provisions and also a numerous army of men. | “But the next day, they came back. We didn’t ask them about the prisoners because the Lamanites were attacking us. They returned just in time to stop us from falling into enemy hands. Ammoron had sent them new supplies and a large army to help.” |
| Alma 57:18 | And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were about to overpower us. | The men we sent with the prisoners arrived just in time to stop them as they were about to overpower us. |
| Alma 57:19 | But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death unto all those who opposed them. | But look, my small group of 2,060 fought with incredible determination. They stood strong against the Lamanites and defeated all who opposed them. |
| Alma 57:20 | And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. | As the rest of our army was on the verge of retreating from the Lamanites, those two thousand and sixty stood strong and unshaken. |
| Alma 57:21 | Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them. | Yes, they followed and carried out every command exactly. Because of their faith, things happened as they believed they would. I remembered what they told me—that their mothers had taught them. |
| Alma 57:22 | And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti. | Now, it was my sons and the men chosen to escort the prisoners who made this great victory possible; they defeated the Lamanites and pushed them back to the city of Manti. |
| Alma 57:23 | And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss. | We kept control of our city Cumeni and weren’t completely wiped out by the sword, but we still suffered heavy losses. |
| Alma 57:24 | And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had fled, I immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded should be taken from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should be dressed. | After the Lamanites ran away, I quickly ordered for my wounded men to be taken from among the dead and have their wounds treated. |
| Alma 57:25 | And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds. | Two hundred out of my two thousand and sixty soldiers fainted from blood loss. But, thanks to God’s goodness and to our great surprise and joy, none of them died, though all of them were badly wounded. |
| Alma 57:26 | And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. | Our whole army was amazed at how they were kept safe, especially since a thousand of our soldiers were killed. We totally credit this to the miraculous power of God because of their strong faith in what they had been taught to believe—that there is a just God, and anyone who doesn’t doubt will be protected by His incredible power. |
| Alma 57:27 | Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually. | This is the faith of those I’ve talked about; they are young, strong-minded, and always trust in God. |
| Alma 57:28 | And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead of the Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the prisoners whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with. | After we treated our wounded men and buried our dead, as well as the many dead Lamanites, we asked Gid about the prisoners they had been taking to Zarahemla. |
| Alma 57:29 | Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to guard them down to the land. | Gid was the leader of the group that was assigned to escort them to the land. |
| Alma 57:30 | And now, these are the words which Gid said unto me: Behold, we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners. And it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites. | These are the words Gid said to me: We started heading down to Zarahemla with our prisoners. On the way, we met the spies from our armies who had been sent to watch the Lamanites’ camp. |
| Alma 57:31 | And they cried unto us, saying—Behold, the armies of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of Cumeni; and behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people. | They called out to us, saying, “Look, the Lamanite armies are marching toward the city of Cumeni, and they will attack and destroy our people.” |
| Alma 57:32 | And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear their cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion against us. | Our prisoners heard them crying out, which gave them the courage to rebel against us. |
| Alma 57:33 | And it came to pass because of their rebellion we did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that they did in a body run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of them were slain; and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us. | Because they rebelled, we had to fight them with our swords. They charged at us, and most of them were killed. The rest managed to break through and escape. |
| Alma 57:34 | And behold, when they had fled and we could not overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the city Cumeni; and behold, we did arrive in time that we might assist our brethren in preserving the city. | When they ran away and we couldn’t catch them, we quickly marched to the city of Cumeni and got there in time to help our brothers defend the city. |
| Alma 57:35 | And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of our enemies. And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it is he that has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing for us. | We are saved from our enemies again. Praise the name of our God, for He is the one who saved us and did this great thing for us. |
| Alma 57:36 | Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had heard these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the goodness of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish; yea, and I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have entered into the rest of their God. | When I, Helaman, heard what Gid said, I was overjoyed because God had been so good to us by keeping us safe so we wouldn’t all die. And I believe that those who were killed are now at peace with God. |
Alma 58
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 58:1 | And behold, now it came to pass that our next object was to obtain the city of Manti; but behold, there was no way that we could lead them out of the city by our small bands. For behold, they remembered that which we had hitherto done; therefore we could not decoy them away from their strongholds. | Now, our next goal was to take over the city of Manti; but there was no way we could lure them out of the city with our small groups. They remembered what we had done before, so we couldn’t trick them into leaving their strongholds. |
| Alma 58:2 | And they were so much more numerous than was our army that we durst not go forth and attack them in their strongholds. | Their army was so much bigger than ours that we didn’t dare go out and attack them in their strongholds. |
| Alma 58:3 | Yea, and it became expedient that we should employ our men to the maintaining those parts of the land which we had regained of our possessions; therefore it became expedient that we should wait, that we might receive more strength from the land of Zarahemla and also a new supply of provisions. | Yes, and we had to employ our men to maintain the parts of the land we had regained. So, it was necessary to wait until we could get more strength from Zarahemla along with a new supply of provisions. |
| Alma 58:4 | And it came to pass that I thus did send an embassy to the governor of our land, to acquaint him concerning the affairs of our people. And it came to pass that we did wait to receive provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla. | I sent a message to the governor to inform him about our situation. We waited for supplies and reinforcements from Zarahemla. |
| Alma 58:5 | But behold, this did profit us but little; for the Lamanites were also receiving great strength from day to day, and also many provisions; and thus were our circumstances at this period of time. | But this didn’t help us much because the Lamanites were also getting stronger every day and receiving many supplies. This was our situation at that time. |
| Alma 58:6 | And the Lamanites were sallying forth against us from time to time, resolving by stratagem to destroy us; nevertheless we could not come to battle with them, because of their retreats and their strongholds. | The Lamanites kept attacking us at different times, trying to trick us and destroy us. But we couldn’t fight them because they kept pulling back and hiding in their strongholds. |
| Alma 58:7 | And it came to pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food. | We waited in these tough conditions for many months, almost to the point of starving. |
| Alma 58:8 | But it came to pass that we did receive food, which was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to our assistance; and this is all the assistance which we did receive, to defend ourselves and our country from falling into the hands of our enemies, yea, to contend with an enemy which was innumerable. | We received food, guarded by an army of two thousand men sent to help us. This was the only assistance we got to defend ourselves and our country from being taken by our enemies, who were seemingly countless. |
| Alma 58:9 | And now the cause of these our embarrassments, or the cause why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not; therefore we were grieved and also filled with fear, lest by any means the judgments of God should come upon our land, to our overthrow and utter destruction. | And now we didn’t know why they didn’t send more reinforcements to help us, so we were worried and afraid that God’s judgments might come upon our land, leading to our downfall and complete destruction. |
| Alma 58:10 | Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people. | So we prayed earnestly to God, asking him to give us strength and save us from our enemies, and also to help us keep our cities, lands, and possessions to support our people. |
| Alma 58:11 | Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him. | Yes, the Lord our God visited us and assured us that He would deliver us. He brought peace to our souls, gave us great faith, and made us hope for our deliverance through Him. |
| Alma 58:12 | And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty. | We took courage with the small force we had, determined to defeat our enemies and protect our lands, possessions, wives, children, and our liberty. |
| Alma 58:13 | And thus we did go forth with all our might against the Lamanites, who were in the city of Manti; and we did pitch our tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city. | We went forward with all our strength against the Lamanites in the city of Manti, and set up our tents by the edge of the wilderness, close to the city. |
| Alma 58:14 | And it came to pass that on the morrow, that when the Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the wilderness which was near the city, that they sent out their spies round about us that they might discover the number and the strength of our army. | The next day, when the Lamanites saw that we were near the wilderness by the city, they sent out spies to find out the number and strength of our army. |
| Alma 58:15 | And it came to pass that when they saw that we were not strong, according to our numbers, and fearing that we should cut them off from their support except they should come out to battle against us and kill us, and also supposing that they could easily destroy us with their numerous hosts, therefore they began to make preparations to come out against us to battle. | When they saw that we weren’t strong because of our numbers and were afraid that we’d cut them off from their support unless they came out to fight us and kill us, and since they thought they could easily destroy us with their large army, they started getting ready to come out and battle us. |
| Alma 58:16 | And when we saw that they were making preparations to come out against us, behold, I caused that Gid, with a small number of men, should secrete himself in the wilderness, and also that Teomner and a small number of men should secrete themselves also in the wilderness. | When we saw they were getting ready to attack us, I had Gid and a few men hide in the wilderness, and I did the same with Teomner and a few other men. |
| Alma 58:17 | Now Gid and his men were on the right and the others on the left; and when they had thus secreted themselves, behold, I remained, with the remainder of my army, in that same place where we had first pitched our tents against the time that the Lamanites should come out to battle. | Gid and his men were on the right and the others on the left. They hid themselves, and I stayed with the rest of my army in the same place where we had set up our tents, waiting for the Lamanites to come out to battle. |
| Alma 58:18 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come out with their numerous army against us. And when they had come and were about to fall upon us with the sword, I caused that my men, those who were with me, should retreat into the wilderness. | The Lamanites came at us with their large army. Just as they were about to attack us with their swords, I had my men retreat into the wilderness. |
| Alma 58:19 | And it came to pass that the Lamanites did follow after us with great speed, for they were exceedingly desirous to overtake us that they might slay us; therefore they did follow us into the wilderness; and we did pass by in the midst of Gid and Teomner, insomuch that they were not discovered by the Lamanites. | The Lamanites chased us quickly because they really wanted to catch and kill us. So they followed us into the wilderness. We passed through the middle of where Gid and Teomner were hiding without the Lamanites noticing them. |
| Alma 58:20 | And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had passed by, or when the army had passed by, Gid and Teomner did rise up from their secret places, and did cut off the spies of the Lamanites that they should not return to the city. | When the Lamanites, or their army, had passed by, Gid and Teomner came out of their hiding spots and cut off the Lamanite spies so they couldn’t go back to the city. |
| Alma 58:21 | And it came to pass that when they had cut them off, they ran to the city and fell upon the guards who were left to guard the city, insomuch that they did destroy them and did take possession of the city. | After cutting them off, they ran to the city, attacked the remaining guards, destroyed them, and took over the city. |
| Alma 58:22 | Now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer their whole army, save a few guards only, to be led away into the wilderness. | This happened because the Lamanites allowed their entire army, except for a few guards, to be led away into the wilderness. |
| Alma 58:23 | And it came to pass that Gid and Teomner by this means had obtained possession of their strongholds. And it came to pass that we took our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness towards the land of Zarahemla. | Gid and Teomner took control of the strongholds this way. Then, after traveling a long time in the wilderness, we headed towards the land of Zarahemla. |
| Alma 58:24 | And when the Lamanites saw that they were marching towards the land of Zarahemla, they were exceedingly afraid, lest there was a plan laid to lead them on to destruction; therefore they began to retreat into the wilderness again, yea, even back by the same way which they had come. | When the Lamanites saw that they were heading toward the land of Zarahemla, they got really scared, thinking it was a trap to destroy them. So, they started to retreat back into the wilderness, taking the same path they had come. |
| Alma 58:25 | And behold, it was night and they did pitch their tents, for the chief captains of the Lamanites had supposed that the Nephites were weary because of their march; and supposing that they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought concerning the city of Manti. | It was night, and they set up their tents because the Lamanite leaders thought the Nephites were tired from their march. Thinking they had the whole Nephite army with them, they didn’t worry about the city of Manti. |
| Alma 58:26 | Now it came to pass that when it was night, I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by another way towards the land of Manti. | When night came, I made sure my men stayed awake and led them on a different route toward the land of Manti. |
| Alma 58:27 | And because of this our march in the night-time, behold, on the morrow we were beyond the Lamanites, insomuch that we did arrive before them at the city of Manti. | Because we marched during the night, we got ahead of the Lamanites and arrived at the city of Manti before they did. |
| Alma 58:28 | And thus it came to pass, that by this stratagem we did take possession of the city of Manti without the shedding of blood. | So, we took over the city of Manti without any bloodshed by using this strategy. |
| Alma 58:29 | And it came to pass that when the armies of the Lamanites did arrive near the city, and saw that we were prepared to meet them, they were astonished exceedingly and struck with great fear, insomuch that they did flee into the wilderness. | When the Lamanite armies arrived near the city and saw that we were ready for them, they were extremely surprised and very scared, so much that they ran into the wilderness. |
| Alma 58:30 | Yea, and it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did flee out of all this quarter of the land. But behold, they have carried with them many women and children out of the land. | Yes, the Lamanite armies ran away from this part of the land, but they took many women and children with them. |
| Alma 58:31 | And those cities which had been taken by the Lamanites, all of them are at this period of time in our possession; and our fathers and our women and our children are returning to their homes, all save it be those who have been taken prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites. | The Lamanite-held cities are now under our control, and our fathers, women, and children are going back to their homes, except for those taken prisoner by the Lamanites. |
| Alma 58:32 | But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions. | But look, our armies are too small to defend so many cities and so much land. |
| Alma 58:33 | But behold, we trust in our God who has given us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities and those lands, which were our own. | But look, we have faith in our God who has given us victory over these lands, so we’ve gained possession of those cities and lands that were originally ours. |
| Alma 58:34 | Now we do not know the cause that the government does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength. | We don’t know why the government isn’t giving us more support. The men who came to us also don’t know why we haven’t received more help. |
| Alma 58:35 | Behold, we do not know but what ye are unsuccessful, and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of the land; if so, we do not desire to murmur. | Look, we’re not sure if you were unsuccessful, and you might have led the troops to that part of the land. If that’s the case, we don’t want to complain. |
| Alma 58:36 | And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is some faction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent. | And if that’s not the case, we fear there’s a group in the government that’s not sending us more men to help, because we know they have more people than what they’ve sent. |
| Alma 58:37 | But, behold, it mattereth not—we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. | But you know what, it doesn’t matter—we trust that God will save us, even though our armies are weak, and rescue us from our enemies. |
| Alma 58:38 | Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in the latter end, and we are in the possession of our lands; and the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi. | It’s the end of the twenty-ninth year, and we’re still in control of our lands while the Lamanites have retreated to the land of Nephi. |
| Alma 58:39 | And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord had supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain. | Those sons of the people of Ammon, that I’ve talked about so highly, are with me in the city of Manti. The Lord has supported them and kept them from being killed, so much so that not a single one of them has died. |
| Alma 58:40 | But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come. | But look, they’ve gotten a lot of wounds; still, they stand strong in the freedom that God has given them. Every day, they make sure to remember the Lord their God; yes, they carefully follow His laws, decisions, and commandments all the time. Their faith is solid in the prophecies about the future. |
| Alma 58:41 | And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma. | My dear brother Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has saved us and given us freedom, always keep you close to Him. May He also bless our people and help us succeed in reclaiming everything the Lamanites took from us that we needed. Now, I conclude my letter. I am Helaman, the son of Alma. |
Alma 59
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 59:1 | Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had read Helaman—s epistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining those lands which were lost. | In the 30th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, after Moroni received and read Helaman’s letter, he was very happy because Helaman had been very successful in reclaiming the lost lands. |
| Alma 59:2 | Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also. | Yes, he made sure everyone in his region knew about it so they could share in the joy too. |
| Alma 59:3 | And it came to pass that he immediately sent an epistle to Pahoran, desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman, insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining. | He immediately sent a letter to Pahoran, asking him to gather men to support Helaman and his army so that they could easily hold onto the land they had just regained. |
| Alma 59:4 | And it came to pass when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them. | After Moroni sent the letter to Zarahemla, he started planning again to reclaim the rest of the land and cities that the Lamanites had taken from them. |
| Alma 59:5 | And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites. | While Moroni was getting ready to fight the Lamanites, the people of Nephihah, who had gathered from the cities of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites. |
| Alma 59:6 | Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land. | Even the people who had to run away from Manti and the surrounding areas came over and joined the Lamanites here. |
| Alma 59:7 | And thus being exceedingly numerous, yea, and receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron they came forth against the people of Nephihah, and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter. | With their numbers growing rapidly and getting stronger each day, Ammoron gave the order for them to attack the people of Nephihah, and they began to kill them in great numbers. |
| Alma 59:8 | And their armies were so numerous that the remainder of the people of Nephihah were obliged to flee before them; and they came even and joined the army of Moroni. | Their armies were so big that the remaining people of Nephihah had to run away. They joined up with Moroni’s army. |
| Alma 59:9 | And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city. | Moroni thought that men would be sent to the city of Nephihah to help the people defend it. He knew it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to take it back from them, so he figured they would be able to defend the city. |
| Alma 59:10 | Therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered. | So he kept all his troops to defend the places he had retaken. |
| Alma 59:11 | And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren. | When Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost, he was very sad and began to doubt. He wondered if, because of the people’s wickedness, they might end up in the hands of their enemies. |
| Alma 59:12 | Now this was the case with all his chief captains. They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them. | All the top captains were troubled and amazed because of how wicked the people had become, especially since the Lamanites were beating them so badly. |
| Alma 59:13 | And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country. | Moroni was mad at the government because they didn’t seem to care about their country’s freedom. |
Alma 60
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 60:1 | And it came to pass that he wrote again to the governor of the land, who was Pahoran, and these are the words which he wrote, saying: Behold, I direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who is the chief judge and the governor over the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war. | He wrote again to Pahoran, the governor of the land, saying: “I’m writing this letter to you, Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla. You are the chief judge and the governor over the land, and this message is also for all those chosen by the people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.” |
| Alma 60:2 | For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation; for behold, ye yourselves know that ye have been appointed to gather together men, and arm them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every kind, and send forth against the Lamanites, in whatsoever parts they should come into our land. | Listen up, I’ve got a message of rebuke for you. You’re well aware that you were assigned to gather men, arm them with swords, scimitars, and all kinds of weapons, and send them out against the Lamanites whenever they enter our land. |
| Alma 60:3 | And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered exceedingly great sufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind. | Listen, I want to tell you that my men, Helaman’s men, and I have suffered a lot. We’ve faced hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and all kinds of hardships. |
| Alma 60:4 | But behold, were this all we had suffered we would not murmur nor complain. | But look, if this was all we had gone through, we wouldn’t complain or grumble. |
| Alma 60:5 | But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people; yea, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect towards us. | But look, there has been a huge slaughter among our people; thousands have died in battle, which could have been avoided if you had given our armies enough support and help. Yes, you have seriously neglected us. |
| Alma 60:6 | And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state. | We want to understand why you’ve neglected things so much and why you seem so careless. |
| Alma 60:7 | Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren— | Do you think you can just sit there doing nothing, while your enemies are causing death all around you? Yes, while they are killing thousands of your brothers? |
| Alma 60:8 | Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword. | People have looked up to you for protection and put you in a position where you could have helped them. You could have sent armies to support them and saved thousands from being killed. |
| Alma 60:9 | But behold, this is not all—ye have withheld your provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled out their lives because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people; yea, and this they have done when they were about to perish with hunger, because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them. | But this isn’t the only issue—you’ve also kept food from them. Many have fought and died because they deeply cared about the well-being of this people. They were on the brink of starving because you neglected them so much. |
| Alma 60:10 | And now, my beloved brethren—for ye ought to be beloved; yea, and ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but behold, ye have neglected them insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for known unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings— | Now, my dear brothers and sisters, you should have been more diligent for the welfare and freedom of the people. But you neglected them, and because of that, the blood of thousands will be on your heads for vengeance. God heard all their cries and saw all their sufferings. |
| Alma 60:11 | Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain. | Do you think you can just sit on your thrones and do nothing, expecting that because God is so good, He will rescue you? If you think that, you are wrong. |
| Alma 60:12 | Do ye suppose that, because so many of your brethren have been killed it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain; for I say unto you, there are many who have fallen by the sword; and behold it is to your condemnation; | Do you think that so many of our brothers died because they were wicked? I tell you, if you think this, you’re wrong; because many have died in battle, and it is to your condemnation. |
| Alma 60:13 | For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God. | The Lord allows good people to be killed so that His justice and judgment can be fulfilled against the wicked. But don’t think that good people are lost because they’re killed; they actually enter into the rest of the Lord their God. |
| Alma 60:14 | And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of their exceeding slothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain. | I’m really worried that God’s judgments will come upon us because of our extreme laziness, including the laziness of our government, and their huge neglect of our fellow beings, especially those who have been killed. |
| Alma 60:15 | For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies that they could have gained no power over us. | If it hadn’t been for the wickedness that started at the top, we could have stood against our enemies, and they wouldn’t have been able to overpower us. |
| Alma 60:16 | Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done; yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to the fulfilling of his word. | If it hadn’t been for the war that started among us and the king-men who caused so much bloodshed, if we had united our strength like we used to, if the king-men hadn’t desired power and authority over us and had stayed true to our cause of freedom, joining us against our enemies instead of fighting us, if we had gone out against them with the strength of the Lord, we would have scattered our enemies as He promised. |
| Alma 60:17 | But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us, taking possession of our lands, and they are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those king-men. | But look, the Lamanites are coming at us, taking over our lands, killing our people, even our women and children, and taking some of them captive, making them suffer all kinds of hardships. And all of this is happening because of the great wickedness of those who seek power and authority, the king-men. |
| Alma 60:18 | But why should I say much concerning this matter? For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority. We know not but what ye are also traitors to your country. | But why should I talk much about this? We don’t know if you’re just looking for power. We also don’t know if you might be betraying your country. |
| Alma 60:19 | Or is it that ye have neglected us because ye are in the heart of our country and ye are surrounded by security, that ye do not cause food to be sent unto us, and also men to strengthen our armies? | Are you ignoring us because you’re safe and secure in the heart of our land, so you don’t send us food or men to reinforce our armies? |
| Alma 60:20 | Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies? | Have you forgotten the Lord’s commandments? Have you forgotten the captivity of our ancestors? Have you forgotten how many times we’ve been saved from our enemies? |
| Alma 60:21 | Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? | Do you think the Lord will save us if we just sit around and don’t use the resources He has given us? |
| Alma 60:22 | Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and bleeding? | Are you just going to sit around doing nothing while you’re surrounded by thousands, even tens of thousands, who are also doing nothing, even though there are thousands around the borders of our land who are dying and getting injured? |
| Alma 60:23 | Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also. | Do you think that God will see you as innocent while you just sit and watch these things happen? No, He won’t. Remember, God has said that the inside must be cleaned first, and then the outside will also be clean. |
| Alma 60:24 | And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men unto us, and also unto Helaman, that he may support those parts of our country which he has regained, and that we may also recover the remainder of our possessions in these parts, behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel, yea, even the great head of our government. | Now, unless you repent for what you’ve done, get moving, and send us food and men, and also send some to Helaman so he can hold the parts of our country he has reclaimed, and we can recover the rest of our possessions in these areas, it will be best not to fight the Lamanites anymore until we’ve cleaned up our own government. |
| Alma 60:25 | And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and show unto me a true spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support, behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them— | Unless you acknowledge my letter, come forward with a true spirit of freedom, and work to support and reinforce our armies with food and supplies, then I’ll leave part of my people here to defend our land. I’ll also leave them with God’s strength and blessings so no other power can overcome them. |
| Alma 60:26 | And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations— | This was because of their great faith and their patience during their struggles. |
| Alma 60:27 | And I will come unto you, and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct. | I will come to you, and if there’s anyone among you who still desires freedom, even if it’s just a tiny spark, I’ll inspire uprisings among you until those who want to seize power are completely gone. |
| Alma 60:28 | Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss. | Look, I don’t fear your power or authority; I fear my God. It’s because of His commandments that I take up my sword to defend my country. And it’s because of your wickedness that we’ve suffered so much loss. |
| Alma 60:29 | Behold it is time, yea, the time is now at hand, that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones, the sword of justice doth hang over you; yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter destruction. | Listen, the time has come. If you don’t take action now to defend your country and your loved ones, you will face severe consequences; the sword of justice is hanging over you, and it will bring about your complete destruction. |
| Alma 60:30 | Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and, except ye do administer unto our relief, behold, I come unto you, even in the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the sword, insomuch that ye can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom. | Listen, I’m waiting for your help. If you don’t come to our aid, I’ll come to you in Zarahemla and fight you with the sword to the point where you can’t stop us from fighting for our freedom. |
| Alma 60:31 | For behold, the Lord will not suffer that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people. | Listen, the Lord isn’t going to let you get away with living in sin and growing stronger to harm His righteous people. |
| Alma 60:32 | Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you and come out in judgment against the Lamanites, when it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred, yea, and it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us, while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory and the vain things of the world? | Can you really believe the Lord will spare you and judge the Lamanites, when it’s their ancestors’ traditions that caused their hatred, and it’s been intensified by those who left us, while your sins are because you love glory and material things? |
| Alma 60:33 | Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God, and ye do know that ye do trample them under your feet. Behold, the Lord saith unto me: If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them. | You know that you break God’s laws, and you also know that you completely disregard them. Listen, the Lord told me: If the leaders you chose don’t repent of their sins and wrongdoings, you will have to go to battle against them. |
| Alma 60:34 | And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained, according to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God, and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Helaman. | I am Moroni. I’m obligated by my covenant to keep God’s commandments. So, I ask you to follow God’s word and quickly send me your provisions and men, and also to Helaman. |
| Alma 60:35 | And behold, if ye will not do this I come unto you speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must be by the sword. Now see that ye fulfil the word of God. | Listen, if you don’t do this, I’ll come to you quickly. God won’t let us starve; He’ll make sure we get your food, even if we have to take it by force. So make sure you do what God says. |
| Alma 60:36 | Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle. | I am Moroni, your chief captain. I don’t seek power, but to overthrow it. I don’t seek worldly honor, but the glory of God and the freedom and welfare of my country. And so I close this letter. |
Alma 61
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 61:1 | Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from Pahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received: | Not long after Moroni sent a letter to the chief governor, he got a letter back from Pahoran, the chief governor. This is what the letter said:. |
| Alma 61:2 | I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. | I am Pahoran, the chief governor of this land. I am sending these words to Moroni, the chief captain of the army. Look, Moroni, I don’t take joy in your suffering; it saddens my soul. |
| Alma 61:3 | But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me, and also those of my people who are freemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous. | But look, there are people who take joy in your hardships. In fact, they’ve rebelled against me and also against my people who are free citizens. And those who have risen up are very many. |
| Alma 61:4 | And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great flattery, and they have led away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our freemen that they have not come unto you. | The people who tried to take my position have caused this mess. They used smooth talk to win over many people, which will bring us much trouble. They’ve kept back our supplies and intimidated our free citizens so they haven’t come to help you. |
| Alma 61:5 | And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I could get. | They forced me to leave, and I escaped to the land of Gideon with as many men as I could gather. |
| Alma 61:6 | And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are flocking to us daily, to their arms, in the defence of their country and their freedom, and to avenge our wrongs. | I’ve sent out an announcement across this region, and people are joining us every day, ready to defend our country and our freedom and to seek justice for the wrongs done to us. |
| Alma 61:7 | And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle. | They have joined us to the point that those who rebelled against us are now scared and don’t dare to come out and fight us. |
| Alma 61:8 | They have got possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla; they have appointed a king over them, and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered under the Lamanites. | They have taken over the land or city of Zarahemla. They have appointed a king who has written to the king of the Lamanites, forming an alliance. In this alliance, he has agreed to maintain control of the city of Zarahemla, thinking this will help the Lamanites conquer the rest of the land. He believes he will be made king over the people once they are defeated by the Lamanites. |
| Alma 61:9 | And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free. | Now, in your letter you criticized me, but it doesn’t matter; I’m not angry, and I appreciate your good heart. I, Pahoran, don’t seek power, except to keep my position so I can protect the rights and freedom of my people. My soul is steadfast in the liberty that God has given us. |
| Alma 61:10 | And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed. We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land. | We will fight against evil, even if it means shedding blood. We wouldn’t attack the Lamanites if they stayed in their own land. |
| Alma 61:11 | We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us. | We wouldn’t kill our brothers if they didn’t rebel and attack us. |
| Alma 61:12 | We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do. | We would put ourselves in bondage if it was required by God’s justice, or if He commanded us to do so. |
| Alma 61:13 | But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us. | But listen, he doesn’t tell us to surrender to our enemies. Instead, he asks us to trust in him, and he promises to rescue us. |
| Alma 61:14 | Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. | So, my dear brother Moroni, let’s stand against evil. If we can’t stop certain evils with our words, like rebellions and disputes, then let’s fight them with our weapons. This way, we can keep our freedom and enjoy the great blessings of our church, and stay true to the cause of our Savior and God. |
| Alma 61:15 | Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them power to conduct the war in that part of the land, according to the Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of freedom which is in them. | Come to me quickly with a few of your men, and leave the rest under Lehi and Teancum’s command. Let them be in charge of the war in that region, following the Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of freedom within them. |
| Alma 61:16 | Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me. | I’ve sent some supplies to them so they won’t starve before you can come to me. |
| Alma 61:17 | Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us. | Gather all the forces you can while you come here, and we’ll quickly go against those who have turned away, with the strength of our God, according to our faith. |
| Alma 61:18 | And we will take possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord, and we will put an end to this great iniquity. | We will take over the city of Zarahemla so we can get more food to send to Lehi and Teancum. Yes, we will go against them with the Lord’s strength and stop this great wickedness. |
| Alma 61:19 | And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren. | Hey Moroni, I’m really happy to get your letter because I was kind of worried about what we should do and if it’s right for us to go against our own people. |
| Alma 61:20 | But ye have said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against them. | But you’ve said that unless they repent, the Lord has commanded you to go against them. |
| Alma 61:21 | See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni. | Support Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them not to be afraid because God will save them and everyone who stays true to the freedom God gave them. Now I end my letter to my dear brother, Moroni. |
Alma 62
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 62:1 | And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his country. | When Moroni received this letter, he felt encouraged and was extremely happy because Pahoran was still loyal to the freedom and cause of their country, and not a traitor. |
| Alma 62:2 | But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their God. | But he was also very sad because of the wickedness of those who had forced Pahoran off the judgment seat, and in short, because of those who had rebelled against their country and their God. |
| Alma 62:3 | And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon. | Moroni took a small group of men, as Pahoran wanted, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the rest of his army. Then he started marching towards the land of Gideon. |
| Alma 62:4 | And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon. | He raised the banner of liberty wherever he went and gathered as many troops as he could on his way to the land of Gideon. |
| Alma 62:5 | And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage. | Thousands of people gathered under his banner and picked up their swords to defend their freedom so they wouldn’t be enslaved. |
| Alma 62:6 | And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the king of those dissenters who had driven the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land. | When Moroni gathered as many men as he could along his journey, he arrived in the land of Gideon. He joined his forces with Pahoran, making their army even stronger than the men of Pachus, the leader of those who had driven the freemen out of Zarahemla and taken over the land. |
| Alma 62:7 | And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle. | Moroni and Pahoran led their armies into Zarahemla to confront the city. They met Pachus’s men, which led to a battle. |
| Alma 62:8 | And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat. | Pachus was killed, his men were captured, and Pahoran got his position back. |
| Alma 62:9 | And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death. | The men who followed Pachus were put on trial according to the law, along with the king-men who were imprisoned. They were all executed as per the law. Anyone from Pachus’s group or the king-men who refused to defend their country and fought against it was put to death. |
| Alma 62:10 | And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law. | It was necessary for this law to be strictly followed for the safety of their country. Anyone found denying their freedom was quickly executed according to the law. |
| Alma 62:11 | And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom. | And that was the end of the 30th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites. Moroni and Pahoran had brought peace back to Zarahemla and their own people by killing everyone who wasn’t loyal to the cause of freedom. |
| Alma 62:12 | And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in preserving that part of the land. | At the beginning of the thirty-first year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, Moroni quickly ordered that supplies be sent and also an army of six thousand men to assist Helaman in defending that part of the land. |
| Alma 62:13 | And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites. | He also sent an army of six thousand men with enough food to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. This was done to strengthen the land against the Lamanites. |
| Alma 62:14 | And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to overthrow the Lamanites in that city. | Moroni and Pahoran left a large group of men in Zarahemla and set out with a big force towards Nephihah. They were determined to defeat the Lamanites in that city. |
| Alma 62:15 | And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war. | While they were marching towards the land, they captured a large group of Lamanites. They killed many of them and took their supplies and weapons. |
| Alma 62:16 | And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. | After they captured them, they made them promise to never use their weapons against the Nephites again. |
| Alma 62:17 | And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain. | After they made this agreement, they sent the survivors, about four thousand, to live with the people of Ammon. |
| Alma 62:18 | And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah. | After they sent them away, they continued their march towards Nephihah. When they reached the city of Nephihah, they set up their tents in the plains nearby. |
| Alma 62:19 | Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day. | Moroni wanted the Lamanites to come out to fight them on the plains, but the Lamanites knew how brave and numerous Moroni’s army was, so they were too afraid to come out and fight that day. |
| Alma 62:20 | And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army. | When night fell, Moroni sneaked out under the cover of darkness. He climbed up the wall to see where the Lamanites had set up camp with their army. |
| Alma 62:21 | And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall. | They were all asleep at the entrance on the east side. Moroni went back to his army and had them quickly prepare strong ropes and ladders to lower down from the top of the wall into the inside. |
| Alma 62:22 | And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies. | Moroni had his men march up, climb over the wall, and enter the city at the west side, where the Lamanite armies were not stationed. |
| Alma 62:23 | And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city. | They all sneaked into the city at night using strong ropes and ladders. By morning, they were already inside the city walls. |
| Alma 62:24 | And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. | When the Lamanites woke up and saw Moroni’s armies inside the walls, they were extremely frightened and fled through the pass. |
| Alma 62:25 | And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore. | When Moroni saw that they were running away from him, he ordered his men to chase them down. They killed many, captured a lot of others, and the rest ran into the land of Moroni by the seashore. |
| Alma 62:26 | Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain. | Moroni and Pahoran took back control of the city of Nephihah without losing a single person; however, many of the Lamanites were killed. |
| Alma 62:27 | Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become a free people. | Many of the captured Lamanites wanted to join the people of Ammon and become free. |
| Alma 62:28 | And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires. | Anyone who wanted it was given what they desired. |
| Alma 62:29 | Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites. | All the Lamanite prisoners joined the Ammonites and started working hard, farming, and raising all kinds of grains, flocks, and herds. This greatly relieved the Nephites of a significant burden, as they no longer had to deal with the Lamanite prisoners. |
| Alma 62:30 | Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of Lehi. | After Moroni took control of the city of Nephihah and captured many prisoners, which greatly weakened the Lamanite army, he also freed many Nephites who had been taken prisoner, which greatly strengthened his own army. So, Moroni left Nephihah and moved toward the land of Lehi. |
| Alma 62:31 | And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moroni. | When the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming for them, they got scared again and ran away from his army. |
| Alma 62:32 | And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni. | Moroni and his army chased the Lamanites from city to city until they ran into Lehi and Teancum. The Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum down to the seashore, finally reaching the land of Moroni. |
| Alma 62:33 | And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now, Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them. | All the Lamanite armies gathered together, forming one large force in the land of Moroni. Their king, Ammoron, was also with them. |
| Alma 62:34 | And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east. | Moroni, Lehi, and Teancum set up their armies around the borders of the land of Moroni, trapping the Lamanites by the wilderness on the south and east. |
| Alma 62:35 | And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine. | So, they set up camp for the night. Both the Nephites and the Lamanites were exhausted from the long march, so they didn’t plan any strategies during the night, except for Teancum. He was very angry with Ammoron, thinking that Ammoron and his brother Amalickiah were the reason for the ongoing war with the Lamanites, which had caused so much death and famine. |
| Alma 62:36 | And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him. | In his anger, Teancum went into the Lamanite camp and climbed over the city walls. He moved stealthily with a rope until he found the king. He then threw a javelin at him, hitting him near the heart. But before the king died, he woke his servants, who then chased after Teancum and killed him. |
| Alma 62:37 | Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions. But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth. | When Lehi and Moroni found out that Teancum was dead, they were very sad. Teancum had been a brave man who fought hard for his country, a true friend to freedom, and had gone through many terrible hardships. But now he was gone, just like everyone eventually is. |
| Alma 62:38 | Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites. | The next day, Moroni led his troops and attacked the Lamanites. They killed many of them and drove the rest out of the land. The Lamanites fled and did not return to fight the Nephites at that time. |
| Alma 62:39 | And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years. | That’s how the thirty-first year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended, after many years of wars, bloodshed, famine, and suffering. |
| Alma 62:40 | And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous— sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared. | There were murders, conflicts, and all kinds of wickedness among the Nephites. But because of the prayers of the righteous people, they were spared. |
| Alma 62:41 | But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility. | But listen, because the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites lasted so long, many people became hardened and indifferent. At the same time, many others were softened by their suffering and became truly humble before God. |
| Alma 62:42 | And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi. | After Moroni strengthened the parts of the land most vulnerable to the Lamanites until they were strong enough, he went back to the city of Zarahemla. Helaman also returned to his homeland, and peace was restored among the Nephites. |
| Alma 62:43 | And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace. | Moroni handed over the command of his armies to his son, Moronihah, and went home to spend the rest of his life in peace. |
| Alma 62:44 | And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a regulation should be made again in the church. | Pahoran went back to his duties as chief judge, and Helaman resumed preaching God’s word to the people. Because there had been so many wars and conflicts, it became necessary to once again establish order within the church. |
| Alma 62:45 | Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God. | So, Helaman and his brothers went out and preached the word of God powerfully, convincing many people of their wrongdoings, which led them to repent and be baptized to follow the Lord their God. |
| Alma 62:46 | And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land. | They reestablished the Church of God throughout the land. |
| Alma 62:47 | Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen. | Yes, they made rules about the law. They chose their judges and chief judges. |
| Alma 62:48 | And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich. | The Nephites started thriving again in their land, growing in numbers and becoming very strong. They also became really wealthy. |
| Alma 62:49 | But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him. | Even though they had wealth, strength, and prosperity, they didn’t become prideful or forget about the Lord. Instead, they remained very humble before Him. |
| Alma 62:50 | Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies. | Yes, they remembered the great things the Lord had done for them—how He saved them from death, and from being captured, and from prisons, and from all kinds of hardships, and how He had rescued them from their enemies. |
| Alma 62:51 | And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land. | They prayed to the Lord their God all the time, and the Lord blessed them as He had promised, so they grew strong and prospered in the land. |
| Alma 62:52 | And it came to pass that all these things were done. And Helaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | Everything happened as planned. Helaman died in the thirty-fifth year of the judges ruling over the Nephites. |
Alma 63
| Verse | Original | 7th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Alma 63:1 | And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Shiblon took possession of those sacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma. | In the beginning of the thirty-sixth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, Shiblon took over the sacred items that Helaman had received from Alma. |
| Alma 63:2 | And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother. | He was a fair man who lived righteously before God. He always tried to do good and obey the Lord’s commandments. His brother did the same. |
| Alma 63:3 | And it came to pass that Moroni died also. And thus ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges. | Moroni also died. And thus ended the thirty-sixth year of the judges’ rule. |
| Alma 63:4 | And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was northward. | In the thirty-seventh year of the rule of the judges, a large group of people—around 5,400 men, plus their wives and kids—left Zarahemla and moved to land up north. |
| Alma 63:5 | And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward. | Hagoth was a very curious man, so he decided to build a huge ship on the edge of the land Bountiful, next to the land Desolation. He launched it into the west sea, near the narrow neck that led to the land northward. |
| Alma 63:6 | And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and seventh year. | Many of the Nephites set out with a lot of supplies, along with many women and children. They headed north. And that was the end of the thirty-seventh year. |
| Alma 63:7 | And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward. | In the 38th year, this man built more ships. The first ship came back and many more people got on it. They also took a lot of supplies and headed out again to the land in the north. |
| Alma 63:8 | And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not. | They were never heard from again. We think they might have drowned in the sea. Another ship sailed away too, but we have no idea where it went. |
| Alma 63:9 | And it came to pass that in this year there were many people who went forth into the land northward. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year. | In that year, many people moved north. That was the end of the thirty-eighth year. |
| Alma 63:10 | And it came to pass in the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, Shiblon died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land. | In the thirty-ninth year of the judges’ rule, Shiblon died. Corianton left on a ship to the northern land to bring supplies to the people who had already settled there. |
| Alma 63:11 | Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman, who was called Helaman, being called after the name of his father. | So, before Shiblon died, he needed to pass on those sacred things to Helaman, the son of Helaman, who was named after his father. |
| Alma 63:12 | Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth. | All the writings that Helaman had were shared with everyone across the land, except for the parts that Alma had commanded not to share. |
| Alma 63:13 | Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon. | These things were kept sacred and passed down from one generation to another. This year, they were given to Helaman before Shiblon’s death. |
| Alma 63:14 | And it came to pass also in this year that there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and they were stirred up again to anger against the Nephites. | In the same year, some dissenters went to the Lamanites and stirred them up to anger against the Nephites. |
| Alma 63:15 | And also in this same year they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of Moronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss. | This same year, a large army came to fight against the people of Moronihah, or Moronihah’s army. They were defeated and driven back to their own lands, with many losses. |
| Alma 63:16 | And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. | So, the thirty-ninth year of the judges’ rule over the people of Nephi came to an end. |
| Alma 63:17 | And thus ended the account of Alma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son. | And that’s the end of the record of Alma, his son Helaman, and also Shiblon, Helaman’s son. |
Book of Mormon Simplified 