Alma 14

Son of God

And the people went forth and witnessed against them—testifying that they had reviled against the law, and their lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should not save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land. Alma 14:5

Even the false witnesses repeat Amulek's testimony that God would send His Son. They twist it, since Amulek taught that Christ cannot save people in their sins, not that He would save no one, but the core witness of the coming Son still stands in their mouths.

• alludes to Alma 11:34-37 — Amulek's actual words: the Son will come, but will not save people in their sins; the accusers distort this.

The Lord who receives the martyrs and judges

But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day. Alma 14:11

The Lord receives the faithful martyrs into His glory and will judge their murderers justly at the last day. In the Book of Mormon the Lord who receives the righteous and judges the wicked is the Lord Jesus Christ, though this verse does not name Him.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Echo of the Savior's mockery and Passion

And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again on the morrow; and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves? Alma 14:20–22

Alma and Amulek are struck on the cheek, spit upon, stripped, and taunted to save themselves if they have power, just as Jesus was mocked before and on the cross. Their suffering follows the pattern of the Master they testify of.

• alludes to Matthew 27:40-42 — The mockers tell Jesus to save Himself if He is the Son of God.
• alludes to Matthew 26:67 — They spit in His face and smote Him with the palms of their hands.
• alludes to Matthew 27:28 — The soldiers stripped Him.

Faith in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them. Alma 14:26

Alma prays for strength explicitly according to their faith in Christ. Their power to break the cords comes through faith centered in Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

Echo of the earthquake and rending at Christ's death and rising

And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof. Alma 14:27

After many days of suffering, the earth shakes and the walls are 'rent in twain,' the same words used when the veil of the temple tore at Jesus' death. The servants rise out of bondage the way their Lord broke the bands of death.

• alludes to Matthew 27:51 — The veil of the temple was rent in twain and the earth did quake.

Faith in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city. Alma 14:28

Mormon states plainly that the deliverance came because of their faith in Christ. Moroni later points to this very miracle as proof of what faith can do.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in Ether 12:13 — Moroni: it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.