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Alma 39


The commandments of Alma to his son Corianton.

Comprising chapters 39 through 42.

Chapter 39

Sexual sin is an abomination—Corianton’s sins kept the Zoramites from receiving the wordChrist’s redemption is retroactive in saving the faithful who preceded it. About 74 B.C.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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;

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.

14 Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you.

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.

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.

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?

18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?

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?

      • abomination (noun)

        Something that is loathsome, offensive, sinful, or sacrilegious.

      • above (adjective)

        More than.

      • after (preposition)

        To get.

      • Alma, son of Alma (proper noun)

        Prophet, chief judge, high priest, and main author of the book of Alma; sometimes known as Alma the Younger.

      • angel (noun)

        Messenger from God. Some are spirits of people who have lived or will later live on the earth. Others are people who have been resurrected.

      • B.C. (noun)

        Before the birth of Christ.

      • Beforehand (adverb)

        Before; in advance.

      • behold (interjection, archaic)

        Look! See! In fact.

      • border (noun)

        Boundary; division between countries or areas.

      • call (verb)

        To summon; to choose; to give a church responsibility to.

      • Christ (noun)

        A title for Jesus Christ. The titles Christ and Messiah both mean a king or priest sent by God to save the world.

      • come unto (verb)

        Be given to.

      • cometh (verb, archaic)

        Comes.

      • command (verb)

        To give a law, order, or binding instruction.

      • commandment (noun)

        Law; order; binding instruction (especially from God).

      • concerning (preposition)

        About.

      • declare (verb)

        To announce; to state energetically.

      • devil (noun)

        Satan (also called Lucifer), a spiritual being who rebelled against God and opposes Him. Satan deceives people and tempt them to sin.

      • did, didst (verb, archaic)

        A term used before verbs to make them past tense.

      • diligence (noun)

        Consistent effort.

      • doth, doeth (verb, archaic)

        Does.

      • elder (adjective)

        Older.

      • except (conjunction)

        Unless.

      • faithful (noun)

        People who have faith and are loyal to the teachings of the gospel.

      • fear (noun)

        Reverence; respect; awe.

      • for behold (conjunction)

        Therefore; so you see.

      • for behold (conjunction)

        Because you see.

      • for (conjunction)

        Because.

      • for (conjunction)

        Because; because you see.

      • God (proper noun)

        God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. God the Father rules all things with perfect justice, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected. The Father and Son are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • kingdom of God (noun)

        The place where the righteous live in the presence of God in the next life (sometimes called heaven).

      • heart (noun)

        A person’s thoughts, desires, and feelings.

      • hide, hide up (verb)

        Keep from the knowledge of others; keep secret.

      • Holy Ghost (proper noun)

        The Holy Ghost, also known as the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of the Lord. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • inherit (verb)

        To receive as a right.

      • keep (verb)

        To follow; to obey; to live according to.

      • Lamanites (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon, often enemies of the Nephites, who descended from Nephi’s brother Laman and of those who followed him.

      • lead away (verb phrase)

        To guide someone away from the truth; to persuade someone to act or live in a way that is not righteous.

      • Lord (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • make known (verb)

        To teach; to tell; to reveal.

      • marvel (verb)

        To be filled with wonder and surprise.

      • might (noun)

        Strength; powers; ability.

      • ministry (noun)

        Acts in service to God and to other people.

      • necessary (adjective)

        Essential; needed.

      • nourish (verb)

        To feed; to care for (physically or spiritually).

      • in nowise (noun)

        In no way.

      • O (interjection, archaic)

        A word placed before the name of someone being addressed, often to show strong feeling.

      • obtain (verb)

        To get.

      • plan of redemption (noun)

        God’s plan for saving His children from death and the effects of sin and bringing them back to His presence. To redeem means to rescue by paying a ransom.

      • redemption (noun)

        To be rescued or saved, often through the payment of a ransom. Jesus Christ gave His life to free the world from death and the effects of sin.

      • repent (verb)

        To feel sorrow for one’s sins, ask to be forgiven, and change one’s life.

      • salvation (noun)

        Being saved by God from death and the effects of sin; being saved by God from enemies or other physical danger.

      • save it be (adverb phrase)

        Except; other than.

      • send (verb)

        To cause someone to go to someone or someplace or to do something.

      • shall, should (verb)

        Will, would.

      • shall, should (verb)

        Will, would.

      • should (verb)

        May; must; ought to.

      • shedding innocent blood (verb phrase)

        Killing or injuring an innocent person.

      • sin (noun)

        An evil act; disobedience to God’s commandments.

      • sin (noun)

        An evil act; disobedience to God’s commandments.

      • somewhat (adverb)

        Some amount.

      • soul (noun)

        Spirit; the part of us that exists before birth, that continues after death, and that has awareness and the ability to choose.

      • Spirit of the Lord (noun)

        The Holy Ghost. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • stand (noun)

        Endure; last.

      • strength (noun)

        Force; power; vigor.

      • suffer (verb, archaic)

        To allow; to permit.

      • surely (adverb)

        Definitely.

      • testimony (noun)

        A statement by someone with personal knowledge that something is true.

      • that (conjunction)

        In order that; so that.

      • that (conjunction)

        Who.

      • thee (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • therefore (adverb)

        For this reason.

      • thou art (phrase)

        You are.

      • thou (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • thy (pronoun, archaic)

        Your.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        For; to.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • vain (adjective)

        Foolish; empty; worthless; evil.

      • whosoever (pronoun)

        Whoever.

      • would (verb)

        Desire to; want to; would like to.

      • wisdom (noun)

        Knowledge of what is right; ability to make correct decisions.

      • word (noun)

        Message; teachings.

      • word (noun)

        Teachings of the gospel.

      • world (noun)

        All human beings.

      • world (noun)

        The natural, fallen world; riches and superficial pleasures; ignorance of spiritual things.

      • would that ye should (verb)

        Want you to.

      • ye (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • yea (interjection, archaic)

        Indeed; yes. This is pronounced “yay.”

      • youth (noun)

        Period when one is young (older than a child, younger than an adult).