According to the Book of Mormon, Alma (c. 173 BC – c. 91 BC) was a Nephite prophet who established the Church of Jesus Christ in the Americas during the reign of the wicked King Noah. One of the Book of Mormon's greatest figures, he is sometimes referred to as "Alma the Elder" to avoid confusion with his son, also named Alma, who is often called "Alma the Younger." In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites are a people descended from or associated with Nephi, a prophet who traveled with his family from Jerusalem to the Western Hemisphere circa 600 B.C. at the urging of God. ... Jesus (8-2 BC/BCE– 29-36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... This page is about the title. ... King Noah (BoM Arabic ملك نوح Maliku Nūḥ) was a wicked monarch according to the Book of Mormon, best known for burning the prophet Abinadi at the stake. ... Alma the Younger (BoM Arabic الما بن الما Almā ibn Almā) was the son of Alma the Elder in the Book of Mormon. ...

Alma's Conversion

Alma was born about 173 BC. While a young man, Alma was one of several corrupt priests who served King Noah in the land of Nephi. About 148 BC, a prophet named Abinadi was arrested for preaching repentance and condemning the wickedness of Noah and his people. Brought before the king and his priests, Abinadi emphatically urged them to repent and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of all who heard him, only Alma was touched by Abinadi's words. When Alma began to defend Abinadi the king had Alma cast out and had Abinadi killed. Alma went into hiding and wrote down Abinadi's words. Alma began to teach Abinidai's words in secret, emphasizing repentance and faith in Christ. In the Book of Mormon, Abinadi (BoM Arabic ابينادي Abīnādī) is a prophet who visits the court of King Noah at Lehi-Nephi, and pleads for them to repent of their iniquity. ...

Alma's Followers

At a hidden retreat in the wilderness called the waters of Mormon, Alma baptized his listeners and organized the church of Christ among them. In time, King Noah found out where Alma's congregation was meeting, and sent his army to destroy them. Being warned by God of the army's coming, Alma quickly led his band of approximately 450 converts into the wilderness for eight days, stopping in an uninhabited area which they named the land of Helam. The people of Alma established the city of Helam there and prospered for many years, remaining faithful to God's commandments.

Return to Zarahemla

As the years passed, the Lamanites invaded the land of Helam and placed Alma's people under their jurisdiction, taxing them heavily. Finally, in about 120 BC, Alma's people escaped the Lamanites and were led by God through the wilderness for twelve days until they arrived in the land of Zarahemla, then the chief Nephite population center. The people of Alma joyfully united with the Nephites and helped to strengthen the church of Christ in Zarahemla. Zarahemla's King Mosiah soon authorized Alma to serve as the first high priest over the Church in Zarahemla. Alma continued in this capacity for many years. In The Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of one of four main groups described in the book. ... According to the Book of Mormon, the Land of Zarahemla (popularly attributed to Biblical Hebrew זֶרַע־חֶמְלָה seed of compassion) was the Nephite capital for many years, and it was discovered by Mosiah sometime between 323 and 130 B.C. Its original inhabitants were Jews who went out from Jerusalem at the... Mosiah was the king of the Nephite nation from about 124 BC to 91 BC according to the Book of Mormon. ...

When Alma's son, Alma the Younger, and the four sons of King Mosiah came of age they rebelled against the church and "were numbered among the unbelievers" (Mosiah 27:8) However, as they went about to destroy the church an angel appeared and, in an experience similar to that of Saul on the road to Damascus, they were all converted. Like Saul, their subsequent efforts on behalf of the church overshadowed their previous efforts to destroy the church. Shortly before his death, Alma conferred the office of high priest upon his son. Alma the Younger (BoM Arabic الما بن الما Almā ibn Almā) was the son of Alma the Elder in the Book of Mormon. ... The sons of Mosiah is the collective name used in the Book of Mormon for four of King Mosiahs sons who were notable for their initial opposition to the church, their miraculous conversion and subsequent missionary work among the Lamanites. ...

The Book of Mormon states that Alma the Elder "lived to fulfil the commandments of God" (Mosiah 29:45). He died in about 91 BC.

See also

• Abinadi
• King Noah
• The Record of Zeniff

In the Book of Mormon, Abinadi (BoM Arabic ابينادي Abīnādī) is a prophet who visits the court of King Noah at Lehi-Nephi, and pleads for them to repent of their iniquity. ... King Noah (BoM Arabic ملك نوح Maliku Nūḥ) was a wicked monarch according to the Book of Mormon, best known for burning the prophet Abinadi at the stake. ... In the Book of Mormon, chapters 9 through 22 of the Book of Mosiah are identified as The Record of Zeniff. ...

External links

• Alma the Elder - The "Alma the Elder" entry in the Guide to the Scriptures at LDS.org