The Help You Need to Study Mosiah 29- Alma 4 "They Were Steadfast and Immovable" (May 25-31)
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In Come, Follow Me Mosiah 29- Alma 4 "They Were Steadfast and Immovable" (May 25-31) we start a whole new section of the Book of Mormon. While the book of Alma is the longest book in the Book of Mormon, it also covers a very short timeframe comparatively. Refer to Charts 23 and 24 from BYU Studies for a visual comparison of book lengths and years they cover.
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In Mosiah 29, the government changes from kings to elected judges. The way the Nephites mark years changes with this government shift as well. Instead of saying x amount of years since Lehi left Jerusalem, it becomes x year of the reign of the judges. The first year of the reign of the judges begins about 91 BC. Alma the Younger is a high priest at this time (Alma the Elder and King Mosiah die). He is also elected chief judge. Enter Nehor. Nehor teaches priestcraft. Gideon, having endured wicked teachings with King Noah’s reign speaks out against Nehor. Nehor in his anger slays Gideon and thus is put to death for his crimes. Amlici seeks to be king starting in Alma 2. Since Amlici is rejected, he takes his followers and makes war against the Nephites (they also mark themselves). They lose and join the Lamanites. You’ll see as we read future chapters that the Amlicites are one of the meanest groups of Lamanites. Some principles you can learn from these chapters:
We have a duty to uphold righteous laws and leaders. We can be a positive influence (Mosiah 29, Alma 2).
We need to recognize false doctrines and priestcrafts for what they are and reject them (Alma 1).
We should love and serve one another (Alma 1).
God strengthens us as we resist wickedness. He answers our prayers (Alma 2).
Pure testimony combats pride and changes hearts. We should not set our hearts on riches (Alma 4).
A lot of our scripture heroes come from the book of Alma. It’s the longest book in the Book of Mormon but it goes over such a short time frame (about 40 years). Download my Book of Alma overview to see some of the things you can look forward to and fill in the rest as you go along.
Videos
Alma and Nehor (about 2 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
The Amlicites (about 2 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
Apostle Testimony Montage (about 2 minutes)
Safeguard Sacred Freedoms (about 2 1/2 minutes)- clip from Elder Robert D. Hales
Nehor Taught that a “Teacher Ought to Become Popular” (about 1 minute)- clip from President Dallin H. Oaks
Tattoos (about 1 1/2 minutes)- clip from President Gordon B. Hinckley
Additional Study Suggestions
“Recognizing Satan’s Counterfeits” by Dennis C. Gaunt (Liahona April 2016)
“Nehor’s Narcissism: The Influence of a Popular Renegade” by Benjamin Hyrum White (Digital Article Ensign April 2020)
“Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom” by Elder Robert D. Hales
“Recognizing Satan’s Counterfeits” by Dennis C. Gaunt (Ensign April 2016)
“Six Nephite Judges: A Study in Integrity” by James R. Moss (Ensign September 1977)- also includes a chart of all the judges
“I, the Lord God, Make You Free” by Elder Shirley D. Christensen
“Our Divine Constitution” by President Ezra Taft Benson
“Pure Testimony” by President M. Russell Ballard
“The Power of a Personal Testimony” by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Where Your Treasure Is” by Elder Michael John U. Teh
We have a duty to uphold righteous laws and leaders. We can be a positive influence. (Mosiah 29, Alma 2)
Remember to print out the Book of Alma overview in the Key Events section of this page. Review some things your family can look forward to as you move into this next book of scripture. Point out how not only the government but also the way they marked time changes in Mosiah 29. How do we mark time today? Why? How would you choose to mark time?
What other governments were mentioned in Mosiah 29? What were the dangers with those forms of government? Why did King Mosiah recommend judges? What is good about the type of government you have today? What are some of the dangers of it? How can you support your government in a positive way? How can you use your voice to defend your standards and rights?
Get a quick overview of the judges mentioned in the Book of Mormon with a chart in this Ensign article. Do you recognize any of the names? What can we learn from these judges and this system of government?
Alma 2-3 is also a good example of how we need to be positive influences and make our voices known. Explain the voting process to your family or how your government works.
I love studying about Gideon. We first encounter him in Mosiah 19 as he fights against King Noah. Then in Mosiah 20, he sticks up for the people of King Limhi by asking the king not to search the people but to remember the wicked priests. A couple of chapters later, it’s Gideon who proposes a plan to escape from the Lamanites. Now in Alma 1, Gideon is a gospel teacher. In each of these instances, Gideon is being an instrument in God’s hands. Sometimes that instrument is to fight against wickedness, sometimes it’s being a teacher, and sometimes it’s teaching. We can all help and be a tool in God’s hands in different ways at different times. Print my pocketknife printable to demonstrate this. On each piece of the pocketknife, write one way Gideon was an instrument. How can we be ready to be an instrument in God’s hands?
On the other side of each pocketknife tool, write down ways you have been an instrument in God’s hands. Our different talents and skills allow us to be helpful in different ways. Why were you able to be an instrument at that time? What helped you serve in the best way? What are some other talents that you are striving to develop now? How might they be helpful in the future?
This is also a great time to bring in the children and youth’s program goals- spiritual, physical, social, and intellectual. How can developing in these different areas allow us to be a better instrument for God? You’ll notice there are four tools in your printable pocketknife. You can use them to write your goals or track your progress right now. Then brainstorm a way the goals you have set may be useful in furthering God’s work.
P.S. You can assemble the paper pocketknife by sticking a brad through the tools. It’s easier to use if you put two tools on each side. There is a black and white as well as a colored version.
We need to recognize false doctrines and priestcrafts for what they are and reject them (Alma 1)
Read 2 Nephi 26:29 and discuss the definition of priestcraft. How can we sometimes fall into the trap of priestcraft as we go about doing our callings in the church? What can help us avoid priestcraft? See Potential of Priestcraft section in President Dallin H. Oaks’ talk “Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall” for an example.
Print out my chart above and fill it in as you discuss some of the teachings Nehor taught. Even though Nehor only lived for this short time, his teachings are continually taught from this time forward. You’ll see reference to them throughout the book of Alma- “after the order of Nehor” and “the profession of Nehor.” What makes Nehor’s teachings priestcrafts? What does Christ teach instead? How do you see Nehor’s teachings today? Why do you think Nehor’s teachings had such an influence? Why did Gideon fight back against Nehor’s teachings?
Compare Nehor’s false light to Christ’s true light. Imagine a firework. It’s big, beautiful, fun to see, and definitely calls attention to itself. However, it doesn’t last. You need a whole lot of fireworks to put on a big show and they are still gone by the next morning. However, if you look at the sun, it’s always there- even when we can’t see it. It lasts and can be relied upon. Even the name of the sun helps us remember the son of God.
Pure testimony combats pride and changes hearts (Alma 4)
By the time we reach Alma 4, the church members have changed quite a bit. Compare Alma 1 :25-31 to Alma 4:6-12. What did Alma decide to do about the new problems in Alma 4? See Alma 4:15-19. In what ways do you think bearing pure testimony can help with the problems Alma saw?
Discuss what it means to bear your testimony using my bear tower- it’s more than just words! Refer to “Five Ways to Bear Testimony” by Kenneth L. Higbee for further explanation of each “bear.” As you go over each way to bear your testimony, stack your bears to make a tall tower (or use my preassembled one). How does your testimony help you? How does bearing your testimony in these different ways help strengthen you? How can testimony combat pride? How does testimony change us? How can we continually strengthen our testimony? What is the danger if we are not proactive about our testimony?
You can also go over five key things to include in your testimony. Write each thing on the backside of each bear. Then take turns picking a bear and bearing your testimony of the key principle in the way indicated on the bear.
- To dive into more parts of this week's scriptures, head to The Red Headed Hostess. You'll find additional activities, scripture marking helps, bedtime stories, and more.
- I also highly recommend Meck Mom's weekly subscription. She has some great object lessons and activities that help bring the principles home plus a weekly insights video to help you be preapred to teach.
- More fun activities and lesson ideas can be found in Love Pray Teach's packet for families. She also has one for youth Sunday School and Primary.
