Alma and the Rising Generation
Book of Mormon Notes - Wednesday, August 2, 2023, Mosiah 26
If we keep in mind that this is Mormon’s continued abridgment of the large plates of Nephi, and how the large plates of Nephi were different from the small plates of Nephi, then we begin to see how Mormon drew doctrinal and spiritual lessons from the historical and secular events in Nephite history. If we also keep in mind how many records there must have been and that Mormon could not even abridge the hundredth part of those records, then perhaps we can better understand why he chose to record and emphasize certain events.
In his abridgment of the records and account of the growing civilization in Zarahemla, Mormon hones in on Alma and his ministry. Mormon backtracks for a moment to remind us of the teachings of King Benjamin. He notes that the rising generation began to fall away from the Gospel because they did not understand the words of King Benjamin. There were at least two reasons why the rising generation failed to understand King Benjamin’s great teachings. The first is that they were little children when King Benjamin gave his great speech. The second is that they did not believe the tradition of their fathers. Unbelief led to lack of understanding. The opposite is also truth: greater faith in Christ leads to greater understanding. If you want to understand Christ and His Gospel, the first step is to come unto Christ and believe in Him.
It is popular in some circles for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to criticize others in the Church because of “false traditions” or “traditions of the fathers”. But a distinction must be made between good traditions and bad traditions. Of course problems arise when groups of people follow false traditions. But problems also arise when the rising generation chooses to reject the good and righteous traditions of their fathers. Traditions are not evil in and of themselves, and rejection of traditions is not tantamount to righteousness. In this particular instance we learn that the unbelief of the rising generation prevented the rising generation from understanding the teachings of King Benjamin that were so crucial to their peace and prosperity.
Mormon informs us that many of the rising generation became hardened in their hearts because they did not understand the teachings of King Benjamin and because they did not believe the traditions of their fathers. Thus lack of faith in true doctrine and righteous tradition led to the hardening of hearts. These hard hearted youth refused to believe, be baptized, or join the Church of God. During King Mosiah’s reign, these unbelievers were not even half as numerous as the believers, but their numbers grew because of dissensions and deceptions. These unbelievers deceived and flattered many in the Church, leading them into sin and iniquity.
Drawing lessons from Mormon’s lessons, and drawing from Mormon’s own language, thus we see how crucial it is to instill faith in Christ in the rising generation. It’s no accident that Church leaders spend much if not most of their time focusing on the youth of the Church (see here, and here, for example) and on parents (see here). Mormon’s record contains many instructions for creating, maintaining, and growing intergenerational faith. It is also not an accident that so much of the Book of Mormon contains instruction for intergenerational and multigenerational faith as transmitted from fathers to sons. Think of all of the fathers and sons in the Book of Mormon and how faith in Christ and the records were handed down until Mormon, and then his son Moroni received them. Then consider these things in light of what we just recently learned from Abinadi about Jesus Christ as both the Father and the Son. There is a lot to ponder there.
Are these things that Mormon recorded relevant to us today? Did Mormon understand that in the last days there would be difficulties in transmitting faith in Christ from one generation to the next? What is Mormon trying to teach us in this portion of the record about King Mosiah’s people and about Alma’s efforts in the Church?
One thing that comes immediately to mind is that no matter how faithful a leader like Alma may be, and no matter how strong the conversion of leaders and followers within the Church, there is nothing that can replace instruction in the home, education in faith among parents and children. This truth is brought to our attention even more forcefully when we consider the difficulties that King Mosiah and Alma had with their own children. The faithfulness of parents is not immediately and automatically a guarantee that children will receive, embrace, and build upon such faithfulness. Think of the oscillations in faith between the generations of Zeniff, Noah, and Limhi, for example.
This rising generation among the Nephites in Zarahemla did not believe in the resurrection or in the coming of Christ. This is a crucial point. Without believe in Christ and His Resurrection, it makes absolutely no sense to repent, to be baptized, and to join the Church of Jesus Christ. King Benjamin taught his people specifically about the coming of Jesus Christ, His mission and ministry, and His Atonement. This focus on Christ and His doctrine invited the Spirit of the Lord which produced a mighty change in the heart of the people, such that they had no more desire to do evil but to do good continually. Without such faith in and testimony of Christ, King Benjamin’s people would have been hardened in their hearts like many in the rising generation during the reign of King Mosiah.
Those adults who were present and who understood King Benjamin’s teachings received such a mighty conversion to Christ that they could not forget it or set it aside. Those who were children at the time could not remember these things, and for some reason, they didn’t want to listen to their parents. Of course it is natural for children to want to be independent, to refuse to listen to their parents, and to think that they know more than their parents, but what happened in this generation between the parents and the children that led to such a disastrous rupture in generational faith?
I don’t know. Perhaps the converted generation became a bit complacent in their faith. The people who remained at Zarahemla may have enjoyed an era of relative peace and prosperity while Zeniff and his people experienced many trials because of internal and external opposition. Maybe the Zarahemla-ites weren’t well organized enough in their preaching efforts. King Mosiah was a righteous king, and the converted Nephites seem to have been quite faithful. But remember that they were mixed together with the Mulekites who had previously denied the being of their Creator because they brought no records with them and because their language had become corrupted. There were probably other unbelieving people mixed in with their society.
Whatever the case, the rising generation degenerated into doubt. Belief does not necessarily pass in the blood stream from one generation to the next. Each person of each generation must make choices consistent with faith in Christ in order to build that faith. In a letter to Uncle Silas, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught this same principle:
I have no doubt but that the holy prophets and apostles and saints in ancient days were saved in the Kingdom of God. Neither do I doubt but that they held converse and communion with them while in the flesh as Paul said to the corinthian brethren that the Lord Jesus showed himself to above 500 saints at one time after his resuretion [resurrection]. Job said that he knew that his Redeemer lived and that he should see him in the flesh in the latter days. I may believe that Enoch walked with God I may believe that Abraham communed with God and conversed with angels. I may believe that Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord. I may believe that Jacob conversed with holy angels and heard the word of his Maker. that he wrestled with the angel until he prevailed and obtained a blessing I may believe that Elijah was taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire with fiery horses I may believe that the [p. 231] saints saw the Lord and conversed with him face to face aft er his resurection I may believe that the Hebrew Church came to Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an inumerable company of angels. I may believe that they looked into Eternity and saw the Judge of all, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant; but will all this purchase an assurance for me, or waft me to the regions of Eternal day with my garments spotless, pure, and white? Or, must I not rather obtain for myself, by my own faith and dilligence, in keeping the commandments of the Lord, an assurance of salvation for myself And have I not an equal priviledge with the ancient saints? and will not the Lord hear my prayers, and listen to my cries, as soon [as] he ever did to their’s if I come to him in the manner they did or is he a respecter of persons?
It is possible that the rising generation was not adequately taught and prepared. The words of King Benjamin were written and available to the people, but it was not the same thing as being present when King Benjamin spoke them. It is also possible that parents did teach their children, but that much of their teaching was cultural and historical instead of doctrinal and based in testimony. But it looks like the rising generation simply rejected the teachings of the resurrection and the coming of Christ. They lacked faith in Christ and their lack of faith in Christ prevented them from understanding.
The dissenters and the unbelieving rising generation also drew away believing members of the Church. Does this sound familiar? Is this relevant to our day? What is Mormon trying to teach us? The dissenters and the unbelievers deceived faithful members of the Church with flattering words and caused them to commit many sins. This created a new problem for the people of Zarahemla, for King Mosiah, and for Alma in particular.
Mosiah delegated these questions and concerns to Alma to whom he had given authority over all of the Churches. This was a new problem in the Church, and a new problem for Alma. It was something that he had never encountered before. He didn’t know what to do about it, therefore he did what any good leader ought to do: he turned to the Lord:
And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God. (Mosiah 26:13)
Has your spirit ever been troubled about something? Alma sets a great example about what to do on such occasions. He inquired of the Lord.
In response to his inquiry, Alma received one of the greatest revelations that a person can receive personally, as well as instruction and direction for how to manage affairs in the Church:
Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the awaters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding bfaith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi.
And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto them.
And blessed art thou because thou hast established a achurch among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people.
Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my aname; for in my bname shall they be called; and they are mine.
And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed.
Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have aeternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.
And he that will hear my voice shall be my asheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive.
For behold, athis is my bchurch; whosoever is cbaptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall dbelieve in my name; and him will I freely eforgive.
For it is I that taketh upon me the asins of the world; for it is I that hath bcreated them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand.
For behold, in my name are they called; and if they aknow me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
And it shall come to pass that when the asecond trump shall sound then shall they that never bknew me come forth and shall stand before me.
And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.
And then I will confess unto them that I never aknew them; and they shall bdepart into ceverlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not ahear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church, for him I will not receive at the last day.
Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye ajudge baccording to the sins which he has committed; and if he cconfess his sins before thee and me, and drepenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye eforgive, and I will forgive him also.
Yea, and aas often as my people brepent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
And ye shall also aforgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his bneighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.
Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will anot repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward. (Mosiah 26:15-32)
Alma wrote all of these words down and they became the standard for regulating the affairs of the Church and dealing with the aforementioned problems. As a result of Alma’s inquiry and the Lord’s response, peace and prosperity increased in the Church and in the Nephite civilization.
The Church was back in good shape, at least for a time.