KnoWhys

Recommended Resources

Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. Read this week's KnoWhy connected with the Come Follow Me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this week's scripture reading.

John W. Welch Notes

Come Follow Me - Alma 5-7

Come Follow Me (Insights into Alma 5–7, June 1–7)

Book of Mormon Central

KnoWhy 564

Whose “Word” Was Fulfilled by Christ’s Suffering “Pains and Sicknesses”?

Reading Plan

Structure your personal scripture study by following a multimedia, day by day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. To dive deeper, skip down to Additional Resources for a selected bibliography on this week's chapters. If you are looking to dive deep into your study, skip down to "Additional Resources" for a selected bibliography of articles, books, and chapters on Alma 5–7.

Monday

• Scripture: Alma 5:1–13
• Chart: 50 Questions of Alma 5: Overview
• Quote: “Alma intends to draw parallels between this people and his father’s church by the Waters of Mormon. First, those Nephites were in bondage to the Lamanites.... Second, Yahweh’s power delivered Alma’s father’s people from Lamanite bondage. Alma wanted to emphasize the power of faith and [God’s] power to deliver, logically suggesting that [God’s] power will also resolve their current situation. Third, Alma’s father’s converts came to Zarahemla and established ‘the church of God,’ of which his listeners are members. This statement forcefully brings history into the present. Symbolically, the current church will have the same option as that earlier church, and it, too, may be delivered by [God's] word.”
  Gardner, Brant. Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, UT: Greg Kofford Books, 2007, 4:91.
• KnoWhy 112: Why Did Alma Ask Church Members Fifty Probing Questions?

Explore Further

• KnoWhy 111: Why Did Alma Add “Chains of Hell” to Abinadi’s Phrase “Bands of Death”?

Tuesday

• Scripture: Alma 5:14–42
• Quote: “An ‘image’ is not just an outward visual impression but also a vivid representation, a graphic display, or a total likeness of something. It is a person or thing very much like another, a copy or counterpart. Likewise, countenance does not simply mean a facial expression or visual appearance. The word comes from an old French term originally denoting ‘behavior,’ ‘demeanor,’ or ‘conduct.’ In earlier times the word countenance was used with these meanings in mind….
  “According to Alma, the mighty change of heart must be ‘experienced.’ Perhaps that is why the concept of spiritual rebirth, ‘being born again,’ is considered by some to be difficult to talk about. In fact, it was never intended to be merely ‘understood’ intellectually or in a passive sense. It must be personally experienced. Alma wanted his audience to be active participants. Those who experienced it, said Alma, have ‘felt to sing the song of redeeming love.’ Other scripture confirms that it was so in ancient times as well. Alma hoped that his people would retain this blessed and favored state; for only by remaining ‘steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works’ can celestial glory be guaranteed.”
  Skinner, Andrew C. “Alma's 'Pure Testimony.'” Essay. In Studies in Scripture, Volume 7: 1 Nephi to Alma 29, edited by Kent P. Jackson, 301-302. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. Co., 1987.
• KnoWhy 295: Why Did Alma Ask about Having God’s Image Engraven upon One’s Countenance?

Wednesday

• Scripture: Alma 5:43–50
• Quote: “From Adam to Moses and from Moses to Christ, God's prophets and priests offered sacrifices. Such were in the similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father who was to come. When Moses lifted the serpent on the pole in ancient Israel and told the Israelites that those who would look would live when they were bitten by poisonous serpents, it was in similitude of the fact that the Son of God would be lifted up on the cross and that all who would look to him might live eternally. Every ordinance of the gospel is designed to point and center the attention of men in Christ . . . Every prophet that there has been in the world has borne record that he is the Son of God, because in its very nature that is the chief calling of a prophet. The testimony of Jesus is synonymous with the spirit of prophecy.”
  McConkie, Bruce R. “What Think Ye of Christ?” General Conference October 1948.

Thursday

• Scripture: Alma 5:51–62
• Quote: “As with most metaphors in scripture, trees represent people. The root of the tree is the essential core, the source and supplier for the body of the tree, which should bear fruit. The fruit represents ‘works of righteousness.' ‘If the root be holy, so are the branches,' but if the root system becomes corrupted by absorbing poisonous elements from its environment, then ‘the ax is laid at the root of the tree,’ and it will have to be cut down and cast into the fire. The fire into which the wicked ‘trees’ are cast is the fire of hell.... Those who are cast into the fire are described in Alma 5:53–56.”
  Ogden, D. Kelly, and Andrew C. Skinner. Verse by Verse: The Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2011, 1:395.
• Quote: “In an attempt to further prepare the Saints against the inevitable threatening wolves, Paul the Apostle gave his warning: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Where might these wolves get sheep’s clothing that is so authentic as to deceive the Lord’s flock? Could it be they are clothed with exceeding riches and fine clothing as Mormon warned? The vainness and frailties and foolishness of men, the learned that hearken not unto the commandments of God, as Jacob warned? Could it be that sometimes they may clothe themselves to appear as righteous shepherds, that even the very elect might be deceived?”
  Edgley, Richard C. “Keep the Faith.” General Conference April 1993.

Friday

• Scripture: Alma 6:1–8
• KnoWhy 114: Why Did Alma Need to “Establish the Order of the Church” in Zarahemla Again?

Saturday

• Scripture: Alma 7:1–13
• Chart: The Speeches of Alma
• Chart: What Did Alma Reveal about the Savior’s Mission?

Explore Further

• Q&A: Why Does Alma say Jesus would be “born of Mary at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers”?
• KnoWhy 323: What Did Alma Reveal about the Savior’s Mission?

Sunday

• Scripture: Alma 7:14–27
• KnoWhy 114: Why Does Alma Mention Three Kinds of Paths in One Verse?

Additional Resources (Bibliography)