Alma 22

Creator

And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? Alma 22:9–10

Aaron identifies the king's 'Great Spirit' as the God who led Lehi's family out of Jerusalem and created heaven and earth. Elsewhere the Book of Mormon names Jesus Christ as the Creator and as the Lord who led Lehi. The verse does not separate Father from Son, so this is a soft reference.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ is 'the Creator of all things from the beginning.'
• the same title in Alma 18:28-29 — Ammon's parallel teaching to Lamoni that the Great Spirit is God, who created all things.

Christ

Christ — Greek Christos, 'the Anointed One' (Hebrew Messiah)

And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. Alma 22:13

Aaron teaches the king that from the beginning, before the world was made, God prepared a plan of redemption, and it works through Christ for everyone who believes on His name.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 12:25 — Alma: 'the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world.'
• alludes to Mosiah 4:6 — 'the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world.'

Atonement of Jesus Christ

And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king. Alma 22:14

Fallen people cannot earn salvation on their own. Christ's sufferings and death pay for their sins, and people receive that gift through faith and repentance. This is grace and the doctrine of Christ in one sentence.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:8 — No one can dwell with God 'save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.'
• the same title in Alma 21:9 — Aaron taught the same doctrine of 'the death and sufferings of Christ' to the Amalekites.

Resurrection

And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king. Alma 22:14

Christ breaks the bands of death, so the grave has no final victory. Because of His Resurrection, death loses its sting and is swallowed up in the hope of glory.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 16:7-8 — Abinadi: 'the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.'
• alludes to 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 — 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?'
• alludes to Mosiah 15:23 — The righteous 'have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.'