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Mosiah 29–Alma 4
Scripture Central Videos
Watch videos from Gospel scholars and teachers to learn more about these Book of Mormon passages.
Other Creator Videos
KnoWhys
Evidences
Commentary
Book of Mormon Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from Book of Mormon scholar Brant A. Gardner. John W. Welch's notes for Come, Follow Me are also available for free.
John W. Welch, General Editor
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, 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. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.
Monday
- Scripture: Mosiah 29:1–36
- Commentary: Mosiah 29:25
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: What is the Purpose of Democracy in the Book of Mormon?
- Commentary: Transition from "Reign of Kings" to "Reign of Judges"
- Commentary: Mosiah Desires to End the Kingship
- Commentary: Mosiah's Reliance on Earlier Records
- Commentary: Mosiah 29:25
- Commentary: Mosiah 29:11-13
- Commentary: Mosiah 29:30-32
- Evidence: Mesoamerican Judges in Pre-Columbian Times
Tuesday
- Scripture: Mosiah 29:37–47
- Commentary: Mosiah 29:45-47
- Evidence: System of Judges
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Additional Study
- Commentary: "Equality" among the Nephites
Wednesday
- Scripture: Alma 1:1–33
- Commentary: Alma Works to Build Equality in the Church
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: How Do the Blessings in the Scriptures Apply to us Today?
- Commentary: Nehor Introduces Priestcraft among the Nephites
- Commentary: Nehor Contends with and Slays Gideon
- Commentary: Alma: Book Header
- Commentary: Alma 1:26-28
- Commentary: Alma 1:29-31
- Commentary: Alma 1:32-33
- Evidence: Nehor’s Trial
Thursday
- Scripture: Alma 2:1–22
- Commentary: Alma 2:3-6
- KnoWhy: How Were the Amlicites and Amalekites Related?
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Succession - A Primary Cause of Warfare in the Book of Mormon
- Commentary: Amlici Seeks to Be King
- Commentary: Are the Amlicites and Amalekites Related?
- Commentary: Alma 2:1-2
- Commentary: Alma 2:12-14
- Commentary: Alma 2:15-18
- KnoWhy: What Was One of the Main Causes of Warfare in the Book of Mormon?
Friday
- Scripture: Alma 2:23–38
- Evidence: Army Sizes
- Commentary: The Amlicites and Lamanites War against the Nephites
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Additional Study
- Commentary: Alma 2:30-33
- Commentary: Alma 2:34-38
- KnoWhy: Why are There So Many War Chapters in the Book of Mormon?
Saturday
- Scripture: Alma 3:1–27
- Evidence: Mosiah-First Translation Sequence
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Additional Study
- KnoWhy: Why Did Book of Mormon Prophets Discourage Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage?
- Commentary: Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage Discouraged
- Commentary: Alma 3:4-5
- Commentary: Alma 3:6-10
- Commentary: Alma 3:18-19
- Commentary: Alma 3:20-24
Sunday
- Scripture: Alma 4:1–20
- Commentary: Examples of Righteous Missionaries
- Commentary: Alma 4:7-10
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Additional Study
- Evidence: Silk
- Commentary: Alma 4:1-4
- Commentary: Alma 4:5-6
- Commentary: Alma 4:11-14
- Commentary: Alma 4:15-17
- Commentary: Alma 4:18-20
Additional Resources
Explore art, charts, and more.
Images
Charts
- Life Spans of Mosiah's Lineage
- The Nephite Judges
- Alma as Chief Judge: Years 1–8 of the Reign of the Judges
- Nephihah as Chief Judge: Years 9–24 of the Reign of the Judges
- Key Doctrinal Chapters: Mosiah–Alma
- Missionary Work
- Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon
- Three Diverse Opponents of the Nephites
- A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists
- Wars in the Book of Mormon
- Data on Wars Involving the Nephites
- Nephite Cycles: Years 1–49 of the Reign of the Judges (90–40 B.C.)
- Proposed Details around Zarahemla
- Metals in the Book of Mormon
- Whose Words Are Found in the Book of Mormon?
- Number of Pages in Books of the Book of Mormon
- Average Number of Pages Covering One Nephite Year
- Nephite Books Compared by Length and Years Covered
- Nephite Books Listed Chronologically
- Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Names and Concepts Associated with Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names Used for Christ by Major Book of Mormon Authors
- Number of Names for Christ Used Exclusively by Individual Authors
- Ten Essential Features of Book of Mormon Geography
- Geographical Names Listed Alphabetically
- Geographical Names Listed by Scripture Reference
Bibliography
Mosiah 29
Bowen, Matthew L. “’This Son Shall Comfort Us’: An Onomastic Tale of Two Noahs.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 23 (2017): 263–298.
Bushman, Richard L. “The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution.” BYU Studies Quarterly 17, no. 1 (1976): 3–16.
Bushman, Richard L. “The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution.” In Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 189–211. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1982.
Dundas, Gregory. "Kingship, Democracy, and the Message of the Book of Mormon." BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 2 (2017): 7–58.
Halverson, Taylor. “Deuteronomy 17:14–20 as Criteria for Book of Mormon Kingship.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 24 (2017): 1–10.
Merrill, Byron R. “Government by the Voice of the People: A Witness and a Warning.” In The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 113–137. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1991.
Welch, John W. “Democratizing Forces in King Benjamin’s Speech.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 110–126. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Mosiah 29:1–6
Tvedtnes, John A. “King Mosiah and Judgeship.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 20, no. 11 (2000): 2.
Mosiah 29:10
Davis, Ryan W. “For the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 17, no. 1 (2007): 42–55, 85–86.
Mosiah 29:11
Tvedtnes, John A. “Kings and Judges in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.” In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 194–197. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.
Welch, John W. “The Law of Mosiah.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 158–161. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Mosiah 29:13, 16–17
Donaldson, Lee L. “Benjamin and Noah: The Principle of Dominion.” In The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 49–58. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1991.
Mosiah 29:20
Calabro, David. “’Stretch Forth Thy Hand and Prophesy’: Hand Gestures in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21, no. 1 (2012): 46–59.
Mosiah 29:25–29
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 121.
Mosiah 29:27
Book of Mormon Central. “What is the Purpose of Democracy in the Book of Mormon? (Mosiah 29:27).” KnoWhy 380 (November 9, 2017).
Mosiah 29:32
Book of Mormon Central. “How Did King Benjamin’s Speech Lead to Nephite Democracy? (Mosiah 29:32).” KnoWhy 301 (April 17, 2017).
Mosiah 29:39
Book of Mormon Central. “How Were Judges Elected in the Book of Mormon? (Mosiah 29:39).” KnoWhy 107 (May 25, 2016).
Mosiah 29:42
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Alma as Chief Judge: Years 1–8 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 34.
Alma Overview
Welch, John W. “The Testimony of Alma: ‘Give Ear to My Words.’” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 11, no. 2 (2010): 66–87.
The Book of Mormon: Alma, the Testimony of the Word. In The Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Alma’s Name
Bowen, Matthew L. “’And He Was a Young Man’: The Literary Preservation of Alma’s Autobiographical Wordplay.” Insights: A Window to the Ancient World 30, no. 4 (2010): 2–3.
Hoskisson, Paul Y. “What’s in a Name? Alma as a Hebrew Name.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7, no. 1 (1998): 72–73.
Berrett, LaMar C., S. Kent Brown, and Terrence L. Szink. “New Light: Further Evidence of a Semitic Alma.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 1 (1999): 64–70, 79.
Szink, Terrence L. “The Personal Name ‘Alma’ at Ebla.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 1, no. 1 (2000): 53–56.
Alma 1
Reeve, Jr., Rex C. “Dealing with Opposition to the Church.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 15–25. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Stenson, Matthew Scott. “Answering for His Order: Alma’s Clash with the Nehors.” BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 2 (2016): 127–153.
Welch, John W. “The Trial of Nehor.” In The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon, 211–236. Provo, UT: BYU Press/Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2008.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Three Diverse Opponents of the Nephites.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 122.
Wright, Mark Alan, and Brant A. Gardner. “The Cultural Context of Nephite Apostasy.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 25–55.
Alma 1:1
Welch, John W. “The Law of Mosiah.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 158–161. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 1:15
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Nehor Suffer an “Ignominious” Death? (Alma 1:15).” KnoWhy 108 (May 26, 2016).
Bokovoy, David E., and John A. Tvedtnes. “Confession of Sins Before Execution.” In Testaments: Links between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible, 157–160. Toelle, UT: Heritage Press, 2003.
Tvedtnes, John A. “Confession of Sins before Execution.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 23, no. 5 (2003): 2–3.
Alma 1:16
Richins, David. “Priesthood vs. Priestcraft in the Book of Mormon.” The Lunch is Free, 2016.
Alma 1:29
Book of Mormon Central. “How Do the Blessings in the Scriptures Apply to us Today? (Alma 1:29).” KnoWhy 373 (October 17, 2017).
Sorenson, John L. “Possible ‘Silk’ and ‘Linen’ in the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 162–164. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Sorenson, John L. “Silk and Linen in the Book of Mormon.” Ensign 22, no. 4 (1992): 62.
Alma 1:32
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 127.
Alma 2
Andersen, Joe V. Book of Mormon Objective Geographic Standard No. 1: Relationships among Zarahemla, Minon, Gideon, and River Sidon. 2016.
Reeve, Jr., Rex C. “Dealing with Opposition to the Church.” In The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 15–25. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Proposed Details around Zarahemla.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 156.
Wright, Mark Alan, and Brant A. Gardner. “The Cultural Context of Nephite Apostasy.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 25–55.
Alma 2:2
Book of Mormon Central. “What Was One of the Main Causes of Warfare in the Book of Mormon? (Alma 2:2).” KnoWhy 523 (July 5, 2019).
Alma 2:11
Book of Mormon Central. “How Were the Amlicites and Amalekites Related? (Alma 2:11).” KnoWhy 109 (May 27, 2016).
Conkling, J. Christopher. “Alma’s Enemies: The Case of the Lamanites, Amlicites, and Mysterious Amalekites.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14, no. 1 (2005): 108–117, 130–132.
Alma 2:16
Childs, Larry G. “Present Participle Adjuncts in the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 6, no. 1 (1997): 24–38.
Alma 2:20
Sorenson, John L. “Evidence for Tents in the Book of Mormon.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 135–138. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Alma 2:37
Magleby, Kirk. “Hermounts.” Book of Mormon Resources, (March 23, 2012).
Alma 3
Alma 3:1
Childs, Larry G. “Epanalepsis in the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 165–166. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Alma 3:6
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Charge of ‘Racism’ in the Book of Mormon.” The FARMS Review 15, no. 2 (2003): 183–197.
Tvedtnes, John A. “The Charge of ‘Racism’ in the Book of Mormon.” In 2003 FAIR Conference. Orem, UT: FairMormon, 2003.
Alma 3:8
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Book of Mormon Prophets Discourage Nephite-Lamanite Intermarriage? (Alma 3:8).” KnoWhy 110 (May 30, 2016).
Alma 4
Alma 4:11–17
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Learn from Alma and Amulek.” In The One-Hundredth and Eighty-Sixth Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2016.
Alma 4:20
Book of Mormon Central. “How Does the Book of Mormon Prepare Missionaries to Sacrifice, Serve, and Preach? (Alma 4:20).” KnoWhy 333 (Jun 30, 2017).
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephihah as Chief Judge: Years 9–24 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 36.