Grandmas Scripture Stories Erin Perkins

After years of peace, pride creeps into the church and the progress of the church is stopped.  Alma gives up being chief judge and dedicates his time full time to being prophet.  The preaching of the word had a greater effect than anything else on the minds and hearts of the people.  

A group of Nephites who no longer followed the teachings of the church, followed Amilici and wanted to change the government.  They wanted Amlici to be their king.  When the election results came back and he was not chosen king, they decided to make him their king anyway.  They fled and joined with the Lamanites and came to war against the Nephites.  Even though they outnumbered the Nephites, the Nephites were backed by God and won.  

Nehor used priestcraft to teach the people they didn’t need to repent.  He taught lies and the people paid him to teach what sounded easy, or pleasing to them.  Gideon used the word of God to withstand Nehor’s teachings.  Nehor was so angry he killed Gideon.  Nehor was taken before the chief judge and suffered an “ignomenous” (shameful) death because of the law of the land.  

Gideon may not have fled with Alma and the 450 believers, when they heard the Wicked King Noah was coming for them…but he was not a follower of the King.  He did all he could to help the people. When he was old, Nehor an anti-Christ, was teaching lies about God to the people.  Gideon was able to speak the words of God and defend the church.  Nehor was so angry he hit Gideon and killed him.  Just like Abinadi, Gideon gave his life defending the church.  Gideon was a great man who the scriptures say, did much good among the people.   

King Mosiah’s sons are with Alma the Younger when the Angel comes and tells them they need to repent and stop rebelling against the church, and  god.  After they repent they have a great desire to teach others about the gospel and God’s love!  They ask their father if they can go on a mission to the Lamanites.  Their worst enemies who have come to war against them.  King Mosiah prays and the spirit tells him to let them go.  God will protect them.  They serve for 14 years.  They help convert many Lamanites, including the Anti Nephi Lehis and they no longer see them as enemies.  

Alma the younger (who was not a young man) and the sons of Mosiah rebel against their fathers and against the church.  They go around Zarahemla teaching people not to believe in Christ and not to believe the words of Alma the High Priest.  They are having a lot of success leading people away from the church.  God hears the prayers of the people of the church and the prayers of Alma and an angel comes and speaks with a voice of thunder that shakes the earth!  He commands Alma to stop.  Alma cannot speak or move his arms or legs.  His father rejoices and knows this is an answer to his prayers!  He gathers the people of the church and they and the priest fast and pray for 3 days for God to open Alma’s mouth.  Alma arises after 3 days and teaches the people about Christ.  He and the sons of Mosiah spend the rest of their lives as missionaries “zealously” striving to repair the damage they have done to the church.  They are instruments in the hands of God bringing many to the church!  They do not want any to feel the dark, despair, the burning that Alma felt before he felt God’s forgiveness and redeeming love.