Alma 5

26 witnesses of Christ here.

Jehovah

And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God. Alma 5:4–5

The Lord who delivered Alma's father and his people out of bondage is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, the same God who delivered Israel from Egypt. Alma begins his sermon by remembering His deliverance.

AttestedJehovah — the LORDA divine name

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Mosiah 24:13-14 — The voice of the Lord promised to ease their burdens and deliver them.
the same event in Mosiah 24:21 — The account of that deliverance.

Redeeming love

And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved. Alma 5:9

The 'redeeming love' the converts sang about is the love of the Redeemer, whose Atonement broke the bands of death and loosed the chains of hell described in verses 7-9.

AttestedEchoAn echo of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alluded to by Alma 5:26 — Alma asks if they can still feel to sing the song of redeeming love.

Born of God, His image in our countenances

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Alma 5:14

King Benjamin taught that those whose hearts are changed become the children of Christ, born of Him. Receiving 'his image' means becoming like the Savior through His power.

AttestedEchoAn echo of Himthe Father or the Son

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Mosiah 5:7 — Ye shall be called the children of Christ... born of him.
alludes to Mosiah 27:25 — Alma the Younger was taught he must be born of God.

Redeemer and Creator

Redeemer — one who buys back and frees

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? Alma 5:15

'Him who created you' is Jesus Christ, who is both our Creator and our Redeemer. Alma asks whether we truly have faith in His redemption.

AttestedExplicitA pronoun that refers to Him

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

the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things.

Resurrection

Looking forward with an eye of faith to our own resurrection is looking to what Christ's Resurrection makes possible for everyone.

AttestedProphecy or typeTeaching about Him

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

alludes to Mosiah 16:10 — Abinadi: this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption.
alludes to 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 — Same language of corruption putting on incorruption.

The Lord at the Judgment

I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? Alma 5:16–17

At the final judgment it is the Lord Jesus Christ whose voice says 'Come unto me ye blessed.' Alma asks us to picture standing before Him, the one who alone can save.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Matthew 25:34 — The King says to those on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father.

Garments washed white in His blood

I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. Alma 5:21

No one can be saved unless their garments (their lives) are washed clean through the blood of Christ, the one the prophets said would come to redeem His people from their sins, not in them.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Revelation 7:14 — Washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
alludes to 1 Nephi 12:10 — Garments made white in the blood of the Lamb.
alludes to Helaman 5:10 — He should come to redeem them from their sins, not in their sins.
alluded to by Alma 5:27 — Alma names Him: the blood of Christ.

Our Creator

I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil. Alma 5:25

Alma calls God 'our Creator.' In verse 15 the Creator is the one whose redemption we trust, which points to Christ, by whom all things were made.

AttestedJehovah — the LORDA title of Christthe Father or the Son

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

the same title in Alma 5:15 — The redemption of him who created you.
the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things from the beginning.

Song of redeeming love

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? Alma 5:26

The song of redeeming love is joy in the Savior's redemption. Alma asks whether that joy in Christ is still alive in us today.

AttestedEchoAn echo of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Alma 5:9 — Their fathers sang redeeming love when freed from the chains of hell.

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Alma 5:27

Alma names the Savior plainly: our garments are made clean only through the blood of Christ, who would come to redeem His people from their sins.

AttestedExplicitname

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 Alma 5:21 — Same teaching of garments purified through His blood.
alludes to Ether 13:10 — Those whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb.
alludes to Revelation 7:14 — Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb.

Savior — arms of mercy extended

Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. Alma 5:33–35

Alma quotes the Lord's own invitation to everyone: 'Repent, and I will receive you... Come unto me.' The Savior's arms of mercy are open to all who will come.

AttestedExplicitHe speaks in the first person

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to 3 Nephi 9:14 — The resurrected Christ: mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.
alludes to Matthew 11:28 — Come unto me, all ye that labour.

Tree of Life

Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Alma 5:34

Coming to Christ is how we eat the fruit of the tree of life. In Lehi's dream the tree shows the love of God, made known through the gift of His Son.

AttestedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

interpreted by 1 Nephi 11:21-22 — The Lamb of God is shown with the meaning of the tree: the love of God.
the same title in Alma 5:62 — Partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.
alludes to Revelation 22:14 — Right to the tree of life.

Bread and Waters of Life

Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Alma 5:34

Christ is the Bread of Life and the source of living water. Coming to Him fills the deepest hunger and thirst of the soul, freely.

AttestedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to John 6:35 — I am the bread of life.
alludes to John 4:14 — The water that I shall give him.
alludes to Revelation 22:17 — Let him take the water of life freely.

Good Shepherd

O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice! Alma 5:37–38

The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ. He keeps calling after His lost sheep, and He calls them by His own name, the name of Christ.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

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

the same title in John 10:11 — I am the good shepherd.
alludes to John 10:27 — My sheep hear my voice.
alludes to Mosiah 26:21 — He that will hear my voice shall be my sheep.

Called by the name of Christ

Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. Alma 5:38

Church members are called by the name of Christ. Taking His name means listening to His voice as His sheep.

AttestedExplicitcovenant_name

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 Mosiah 5:8 — Take upon you the name of Christ.
alludes to Mosiah 26:18 — They are called by my name.

Good Shepherd

Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him. Alma 5:41

Following Christ shows in how we live: those who hear the Good Shepherd follow Him and do good.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

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

alludes to John 10:4 — The sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Christ Jesus

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. Alma 5:44

Alma's priesthood authority, the holy order of God, is centered in Christ Jesus. It is His priesthood, after the order of the Son of God.

AttestedExplicitname

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

interpreted by D&C 107:2-4 — The Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.
alluded to by Alma 13:1-2 — Alma explains the holy order, after the order of his Son.

Only Begotten of the Father

Only Begotten — the only Son of God the Father in the flesh

I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. Alma 5:48

Alma's personal testimony, received by fasting and prayer through the Holy Spirit: Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, will come, full of grace, mercy, and truth.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

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

alludes to John 1:14 — The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
the same title in Moses 1:6 — Mine Only Begotten; and he is full of grace and truth.
the same title in Alma 9:26 — The Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth.
the same title in Alma 13:9 — Same title and description.

Takes away the sins of the world

Jesus Christ came to take away the sins of the world, and that power reaches every person who steadfastly believes on His name.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

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

alludes to John 1:29 — The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
the same title in Alma 7:14 — The Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.

Son of God

Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. Alma 5:50

The Spirit tells Alma that the Son of God is coming in glory. Alma speaks of His coming as soon at hand, so it points first to His birth and ministry, and ultimately to His coming in full glory.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Himthe Holy Ghost testifying of the Son

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

the same title in Alma 9:26 — Not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory.

King of all the earth; King of heaven

King of heaven — the rightful ruler of heaven and earth

The Spirit calls the coming Son of God the King of all the earth and the King of heaven. Jesus is the true King, who will shine forth among all people.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christthe Holy Ghost testifying of the Son

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

the same title in Psalm 47:7 — God is the King of all the earth.
the same title in 2 Nephi 10:14 — He that raiseth up a king is the King of heaven.

The Holy One

Holy One — the one set apart and perfectly holy

And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it. Alma 5:52–53

The Holy One is Jesus Christ. To ignore His words and live in pride is to trample the Holy One under our feet.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to 1 Nephi 19:7 — The world will trample under their feet the very God of Israel.
alludes to Hebrews 10:29 — Hath trodden under foot the Son of God.
alludes to Matthew 3:10 — The ax is laid unto the root of the trees.

Good Shepherd

And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people; Alma 5:57

Those who want to follow Christ, the Good Shepherd, separate themselves from wickedness.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

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 John 10:27 — My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.

Inheritance at His right hand

For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled. Alma 5:58

The word of God promises the righteous a place at His right hand. At the judgment the Savior places His sheep on His right hand and gives them the kingdom.

AttestedProphecy or typeHe speaks in the first personthe Father or the Son

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

alludes to Matthew 25:33-34 — He shall set the sheep on his right hand... inherit the kingdom.
alludes to Revelation 3:5 — I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.

Good Shepherd

For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. Alma 5:59–60

Alma uses a shepherd who guards his flock from wolves to picture Christ. If we listen to His voice, He brings us into His fold and protects us.

AttestedExplicitallegory_parable

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

alludes to John 10:11-12 — The good shepherd versus the hireling who flees when the wolf comes.
alludes to John 10:16 — One fold, and one shepherd.

Tree of Life

I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life. Alma 5:62

Alma ends as he invited in verse 34: through baptism and repentance we come to Christ and taste the fruit of the tree of life.

AttestedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

the same title in Alma 5:34 — Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life.
alludes to 1 Nephi 8:10-12 — Lehi partakes of the fruit of the tree.