Alma 31

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ. Alma 31:16–17

The Zoramite set prayer denies Christ outright and calls belief in Him a foolish tradition. Ironically they call God 'the same yesterday, today, and forever', words scripture uses of Jesus Christ Himself.

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

• alludes to Alma 30:12 — The same denial Korihor preached: there should be no Christ.
• alludes to Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Christ (the coming Messiah)

Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about. Alma 31:22

The 'things to come' the Zoramites refuse to believe are the prophecies of Christ's coming, the same belief they named and rejected in their prayer.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 30:13 — Korihor: why do ye look for a Christ? No man can know of anything which is to come.

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto them that there shall be no Christ. Alma 31:29

Alma lays the Zoramites' denial of Christ before the Lord as the deepest part of their wickedness.

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

Comfort in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. Alma 31:31–32

Facing people who deny Christ, Alma asks that his own soul and his companions' souls be comforted in Christ. Comfort for a missionary's sorrow comes through the Savior.

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

• alludes to Alma 7:11-12 — Christ takes upon Him our pains and infirmities that He may know how to succor His people.

Brought unto God in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Alma 31:34

Alma's goal is to bring the Zoramites back to God, and the only way back to the Father is in Christ. The phrase shows Christ as the one through whom people return to God.

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

• alludes to John 14:6 — No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joy of Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. Alma 31:38

The prayer is answered: the missionaries' afflictions are swallowed up in the joy of Christ. The same phrase Alma later uses for the burdens of the poor Zoramites (Alma 33:23).

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

• alluded to by Alma 33:23 — Burdens made light through the joy of his Son.
• alludes to Mosiah 24:14-15 — The Lord eases the burdens of Alma's people so they bear them with ease.