Alma 3:4 the Amlicites…had marked themselves with red in their
foreheads
The Amlicites had no
interest in being associated with the Nephites. They wanted to set themselves
apart from their blood relatives because they disagreed so vigorously on
politics and religion. This may seem strange to us but it shouldn’t. We often
see youth or wayward adults mark themselves with certain hairstyles, clothing,
tattoos, etc. with the intent to set themselves apart. Their appearance alone
becomes an immediate reminder that they do not subscribe to the mainstream
institutions. They immediately become defensive if anyone is critical of the
“mark” they have placed on themselves. They declare that it just represents
freedom of expression and their personal individuality. What is concerning is
the underlying motive not the green hair or the tattoo. The individual who
feels strongly that they need green hair, like the Amlicites, may be trying to
set himself or herself apart from church and family.
Paul H. Dunn
“It
is not an unusual thing for young people to rebel. Every new generation has its rebels. But a rebellion of sad young people with little confidence in
their own rebellion is something quite unique.
One needs only to have a brief exposure to a university environment to
witness the demonstrations of rejection against proven values. Beards, long
hair, grubby clothes, sit-ins, and the lack of restraint in matters of alcohol,
chastity, and drugs are merely the symptoms of the problem that is, at its
deepest level, a spiritual problem.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1967, p.
124)
Alma 3:6 the Lamanites were dark…which was a curse upon them
In a today’s racially
sensitive society, this may seem like an unpleasant doctrine. It may be that in
Book of Mormon times that the dark skin was a curse, but today the descendants
of the Lamanites can be proud of their dark skin. It is no longer a curse but a
mark of distinction because it signifies that they are of the house of Israel
and specifically from the tribe of Joseph through Manasseh. It signifies that
they will be the recipients of the great promises given specifically to them in
the Book of Mormon and also all the great promises given to the house of Israel
in the last days. On the other hand, the “white Anglo-Saxons” of the Americas
are usually not of the house of Israel. This is demonstrated in many Book of
Mormon scriptures which speak of them as Gentiles.
Alma 3:8 that they might not mix and believe in incorrect
traditions
If God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man
(Moses 1:39), it is in this context that we must examine his reasons for
separating the Lamanites from the Nephites. To any serious student of the Old
Testament this doctrine will not be surprising. The Old Testament is filled
with instances in which the advice of the prophets or the commandments from the
Lord are to not intermarry with the heathen nations around them. The reason for
this is not to engender racism but to keep these interfaith marriages from
destroying the religion of the children of Israel.
Therefore, as the Israelites
were settling in the land of Canaan, they were commanded to drive out the
nations which were already in the land. This is because of the great wickedness
of these nations (see commentary for 2 Ne 5:21). Had the Israelites made a
regular practice of marrying with these peoples it would have proved their
destruction. The typical pattern is that the heathen and idol worship practices
of the one partner overcome the faith and good intentions of the worshiper of
the Lord. This is why the Lord commanded them to drive them out of Canaan, with
the warning:
if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto
the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and
shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive
out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and
traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye
perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. (Josh 23:12-3)
The
Lord understands the great influence a wicked and idolatrous spouse can have on
a righteous individual. With all the wisdom Solomon had, he was not wise enough
to stay faithful to the Lord when his many idolatrous wives began to influence
him, when Solomon was old…his wives turned away his
heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God (1 Kings 11:4). It
would have been just the same if the Nephites had not been physically separated
from the Lamanites. The Lamanites would have turned away their hearts after
their incorrect traditions.
Alma
3:9 whosoever did mingle his seed…did bring the same
curse upon his seed
Genetically
speaking, this means that the dark skin was a dominant trait.
Alma
3:10-11 whosoever…believed those records…and also in
the tradition of their fathers…were called the Nephites
These verses redefine who
are Lamanites and Nephites. Previously in the Book of Mormon, the division was
a racial one. With the experience of the followers of Amlici, it became clear
to the Nephites that their enemies could come from within. Therefore, the
definition of Lamanites and Nephites changed. The distinction now becomes
primarily religious. Those who believe in Lamanite traditions, whether of
Nephite or Lamanite descent, are called Lamanites. Those who believe in the God
of the Nephites, whether light skinned or dark skinned, are considered
Nephites. This remains the pattern for the rest of the Book of Mormon. This
religious definition can be seen again after the Savior’s ministry and the
peace which followed. About 194 AD, a small part of
the people…had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of
Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the land
(4 Ne 1:20, italics added).
“Originally,
the Lamanites were the children of Laman, Lemuel, and some of the family of
Ishmael; but as the centuries passed there were many defections in both
nations, when the dissatisfied would join the opposing race and affiliate and
intermix with them, so that the two names at last became more an indication of
religion and civilization than of birth.” (George Reynolds, A Complete
Concordance of the Book of Mormon, p. 395 as taken from Latter-day
Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 248)
Alma 3:14 these are the words which he said to Nephi
Verses 14-17 contain the
word of the Lord as given to Nephi. What is remarkable is that these words are
not found in either 1 Nephi or 2 Nephi. Apparently, Nephi must have recorded
this prophecy somewhere else, possibly on the large plates. At any rate, it is
important to notice this pattern because it is such a rarity in the Book of
Mormon.
In the Bible, this happens
all the time. The apostles make reference to all sorts of prophecies that are
not extant in our Old Testament. One of the most important is spoken of in
Acts, the times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts
3:21). Certainly, a doctrine as important as the restitution of all things is
important enough to be found in the Old Testament, but a specific Old Testament
prophecy which approximates the words of Acts 3 cannot be found. For more
examples, see Lu 1:1, Jn 13:18; 15:25 and Topical Guide, Scriptures, Lost.
Alma 3:19 they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth
every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation
The curse upon the Amlicites
was not the curse of dark skin. Therefore, we are to understand that the curse
is more a spiritual curse than a curse of skin color. The Amlicites had brought
this upon themselves by willingly rejecting the Lord and his good mercy so that
they could have a red mark in their foreheads and a wicked king.
So it is with the wicked.
They are forced to admit to their everlasting shame
that all his judgments are just (Alma 12:15). They will know this of
themselves because in the resurrection they will have
a bright recollection of all [their] guilt
(Alma 11:43). It is then that they will fully understand that every man that is cursed [brings] upon himself his own condemnation.
Neal A. Maxwell
“On
Judgment Day, not only will every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus
is the Christ but also, as elaborating Book of Mormon prophets tell us,
everyone, including those who have lived without God in the world, will also
openly acknowledge that God is God and will confess before God that His
judgments are just and merciful (see Mosiah 16:1; 27:31; Alma 12:15). Part of
the basis for demonstrating the perfection of God’s justice and mercy will thus
be the cumulative record which we ourselves will have made (see Alma 41:7). Out
of this we can be justly judged.” (Lord, Increase Our Faith, p. 75)
Alma 3:26-27 every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey
Elder John H. Vandenberg
“We
are, in a very real way, our own creators. We reap that which we have sown, and
we receive our wages of ‘eternal happiness or
eternal misery, according to the spirit which [we] listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.
For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey. . . .’
(Al. 3:26-27.) In other words, we decide by our day-to-day actions what our
harvest will be. As with the farms I saw in the Magic Valley of Idaho, it can
be a bounteous harvest or it can be a patch of weeds.
“May
we sow only righteousness, while continuing to rid our lives of the weeds of
evil, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Conference Report,
Oct. 1968, p. 34)
Elder Milton R. Hunter
“Alma,
one of the great Book of Mormon prophets, taught: ‘For
every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey.’ (Alma 3:27.)
If we list to obey Jesus Christ, as our Master, we walk in the light: we
receive peace, happiness, prosperity and the other good blessings of this life,
and in the world to come, eternal life in our Father's kingdom. If we choose to
follow Lucifer as our master, we shall receive the wages which are his to
bestow upon us. On certain occasions those who obey Satan receive as their
wages misery, unhappiness, sorrow, and disappointment in this life; and, one
might say, on all occasions, they experience the loss of their eternal rewards
in the world to come.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1952, p. 123)