Alma 7

Faith in Christ who is to come

But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come. Alma 7:6

Before Christ was born, the faithful looked forward to Him for forgiveness. Their remission of sins depended on the Savior who was yet to come.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Jarom 1:11 — Believe in him to come as though he already was.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:13 — Whosoever should believe that Christ should come might receive remission of their sins.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back and frees

For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. Alma 7:7

Of all future events, Alma says the most important is that the Redeemer lives and is coming among His people. Christ's coming is the center of everything.

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

• alludes to Job 19:25 — I know that my redeemer liveth.

Would He come among the Nephites?

Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word. Alma 7:8

Alma honestly says he does not know whether Christ will visit the Nephites during His mortal life. Later He came to them as the resurrected Lord, after His ministry in Jerusalem.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8-10 — The resurrected Christ descends and appears to the Nephites.

Son of God

But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. Alma 7:9

The Spirit testified to Alma that the Son of God would soon come to live on the earth.

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

• the same title in Alma 5:50 — The Son of God cometh in his glory.

The Lord whose way is prepared

But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. Alma 7:9

The Spirit gives Alma the same message Isaiah gave: prepare the way of the Lord. The Lord whose way is prepared is Jesus Christ, as John the Baptist later showed.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 40:3 — Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway.
• alludes to Matthew 3:3 — John the Baptist applies Isaiah's words to Christ.
• the same title in Alma 9:28 — Prepare ye the way of the Lord.

Birth of the Son of God to Mary

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. Alma 7:10

About 83 years before it happened, Alma names Christ's mother, Mary, a virgin who would conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost. 'At Jerusalem' means the land of Jerusalem, the region that includes Bethlehem.

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

• fulfilled by Luke 1:35 — The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee... the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.
• fulfilled by Matthew 1:18-23 — Mary found with child of the Holy Ghost; a virgin shall bring forth a son.
• the same event in Mosiah 3:8 — His mother shall be called Mary.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 11:18-21 — Nephi sees the virgin, the mother of the Son of God.
• alludes to Isaiah 7:14 — A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.

He takes upon Him our pains and sicknesses

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. Alma 7:11

Christ's Atonement is not only for sin. He suffered pains, afflictions, temptations, and sicknesses of every kind, fulfilling the prophecy that He would carry the pains and sicknesses of His people.

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

• alludes to Isaiah 53:4 — Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.
• alludes to Matthew 8:17 — Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
• alludes to Hebrews 4:15 — In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:7 — He shall suffer temptations, and pain of body.

He looses the bands of death

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Alma 7:12

Christ would die so that He could break the bands of death through His Resurrection, freeing all His people from death.

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

• alludes to Mosiah 15:8 — God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death.
• alludes to Alma 11:42 — He shall loose the bands of this temporal death.

He succors His people

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Alma 7:12

Jesus took on our weaknesses in the flesh so that He would know from experience how to help, or 'succor', each of us in ours. His mercy is personal.

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

• alludes to Hebrews 2:18 — Having suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
• alludes to Hebrews 4:15 — Touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

He takes upon Him our sins

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me. Alma 7:13

The Son of God suffered in the flesh to take our sins on Himself and blot them out. Alma calls this the testimony that is in him.

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 Isaiah 43:25 — I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions.
• alludes to Isaiah 53:5-6 — The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God — the sacrifice God provides

Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Alma 7:14

Jesus is the Lamb of God, the true sacrifice every lamb of the law pointed to. He takes away the sins of the world and is mighty to save and cleanse us.

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

• alludes to John 1:29 — Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
• alludes to Isaiah 63:1 — Mighty to save.
• alludes to 1 John 1:9 — To cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Baptism — washed and covenanting

Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Alma 7:14–15

Baptism is how we come to the Lamb of God: it washes us through faith in Him and binds us by covenant to Him. The ordinance itself points to His death, burial, and Resurrection.

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

• alludes to Mosiah 18:10 — Baptism as a witness of a covenant to serve him.
• alludes to Romans 6:3-4 — Buried with him by baptism into death.

Making His paths straight

For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight. Alma 7:19

Alma sees that the people of Gideon are doing what the Spirit commanded in verse 9: making straight the paths of the Lord who is coming.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 7:9 — Prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight.
• alludes to Isaiah 40:3 — Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.