1 AND again, [ Again? What is he referencing here? carrying forward the thoughts from chapter 12 - the discussion of Adam and the fall, and the plan of redemption. ] my brethren, [ Why does Alma specifically call attention to the brethren? Because he is contending with the lawyers of Ammonihah who are proposing that the divinity of Christ is not logically possible. ] I would cite your minds forward to the time [ His use of the word forward is unusual, especially in light of the fact that he will speak of people in the past; we would normally say back-wards. But actually forward also means toward the beginning, toward the front, "near or at the forepart"(Webster's). so when are we talking about here? forward in time from the fall to the time when he give these commandments. So sometime before the fall of Adam. If we go back to Chapter 12 we can see that he was plainly talking about Adam and Eve in the Garden, so here he is implying lets go back - forward in time a little before the Garden of Eden and use that as our reference point. In other words, think backward to the time when the Lord called those who would be the Patriarchs and the Prophets to teach the Gospel to the children of men. They were fore-ordained in the Council of Heaven before this world was. ] when the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] gave these commandments [And what were the commandments given? A: “they should not do evil” see chapter 12:30-36 and when did he give these commandments? A: Right after Adam and Eve partook of the fruit and they were cast out of the garden. Alma 12:31-32. ] unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God [ "the Lord God" or the Father. Who we will all agree for the sake of this discussion is the ultimate source of power. Why is it that when we hear some things by the power of the spirit we go - I know that? Because we are remembering that we knew these things earlier, our minds are being awakened to that life before this life - Hence Alma is using the spirit to connect the dots for them. Using the spirit of those things which they know deep down but may have forgotten. ] ordained priests, [Who are these Priests? the Patriarchs from Adam to Moses - They also include you and I. A priest after the holy order of God after the order of His son is what we are anointed to become in the temple. It is not what we are given there, but we are pointed to it. Alma here is discussing a fulness of the priesthood. It is not the same thing as a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood or a high priest today. Those are offices in the Church. This can be confusing because of the term high priest. From Moses to Christ, there was only one high priest in Israel and he was the head of the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood. Today, we associate the office of high priest with the Melchizedek Priesthood and we have many high priests in the Church. But that is not what Alma is referring to in his discourse. Alma is teaching about the fulness of the priesthood or a priest in the temple sense of the word. And he tells us how the fulness is obtained. The Lord God (or Heavenly Father) ordained these priests himself and in verse 10 we are taught why he ordained some and not all. Hebrew word "kahunnah" is translated to mean Priesthood and is derived from the root "kahan" meaning priest or even more literal "Mediator" . So we can say from Hebrew that a priest is set to act as a mediator between God and Israel. The word used by the Greeks was "Hierateuma" which when translated means Priesthood - and a more literal meaning would be "sacred effect" and "its root "Priest" means "sacred act" - So if we apply the meanings of the word "Priesthood" it is to have a sanctifying effect and the specific job of the priests are to perform sacred acts - to bring about the sanctifying of Israel. "All of the ancient patriarchs were high priests," Joseph Fielding Smith explained, "but the direction of the Church in those days was by patriarchs" (Doctrines 3:104). In those early ages,the presiding high priest was "God's chief representative on earth, the one who holds the highest spiritual position in (theLord's) kingdom in any age.... This special designation of the chief spiritual officer of the Church has reference to the administrative position which he holds rather than to the office to which he is ordained in the priesthood" (McConkie, Mormon 355-56).so why is it important for the Lord to bind them to his holy order through ordination? By doing so we commit to the work - out of all of our fathers children, a few distinguished themselves by exceeding faith in Jesus Christ by wanting to become involved in the work of redemption through the great atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I as members of the literal house of Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ were called in the premortal world to this very work..everything else being trivial. Remember in the movie City Slickers where Curly says "That one thing"...It would appear that he knew what most of us don't. You see Redemption is not just one of the things going on in the universe, IT IS THE THING. It would appear that simply being ordained a priest has little meaning if that person merely bears that title and doesn’t actually function as a king or priest—by God’s definition, that is, not man’s. Anciently, the priest’s role was to make atonement for his people’s transgressions by sacrificing an animal without blemish on their behalf. If we were to translate these things into our role as a priest, we would have come to consecrate our life in God’s service on behalf of loved ones and for those causes that unite me with my Savior who gave himself for me. While we can never fully repay our Savior’s sacrifice on our behalf, we can by God’s grace go a long way toward emulating him. ] after his holy order, [ What is the holy order that is spoken of here? President Benson said "To enter into the holy order of the son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord. Because Adam and Eve had complied with these requirements, God said unto them 'Thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity"

Bruce R. McConkie wrote "The work of the redemption is the work to which the premortal covenant people, the house of Israel were called, and it was to take precedence over all other work and to subordinate all other work to itself. Israel is an eternal people. She came into being as a chosen and separate congregation before the foundations of the earth were laid; she was a distinct and a peculiar people in the preexistence, even as she is in this sphere. Her numbers were known before their mortal birth"

Paul teaches that those who in the premortal world elected to become gods elected to come to earth and learn the work of redemption for themselves in apprenticeship to the lord Jesus Christ. Read Romans 8:29 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.' ] which was after the order of his son, to teach these things [ What are these things that they are supposed to teach? They are to teach about our pre-mortal life - and more importantly the ordinances of God. that they might know how to be saved.(1 Ne 15:14)

Why did Alma in (Alma 13) think that knowledge of the premortal world was so important to teach that it was one of the first things that he taught to the people of Ammonihah? The fact is that the Nephites even though they were rebellious and hard hearted at this time -- they were like all the members of the house of Israel, foreordained in the premortal world and they had fallen very far from what they were foreordained to do. So they have as their very core nature from the pre-existence that knowledge and Alma is trying to tap into it through the spirit.

Why is it important to the Lord to reveal the knowledge of the premortal world? Elder David B. Haight explains the reason "We should be acquainted with the truth that knowledge of the premortal life was restored that we might fulfill our responsibilities as children of God..."

John A Widtsoe provides additional insight into the contractual agreement that we made concerning the welfare of all the sons & daughters of our Eternal Father. "Since the plan is intended for all men, we (the covenant people) became parties to the salvation of every person under that plan. We agreed, right then and there, to be not only saviors for ourselves but...saviors for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord... The least of us, the humblest, is in a partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation". ] unto the people. [ See also Matt 5:19 "whosoever shall do and teach them , (teach others of the ways of God - missionary work) the same shall be called great (called great by our Father because of their work, called great by those that they have saved) in the kingdom of heaven. ]

2 And those priests [ Who are those priests? We find that answer in (Abraham 3:22) where Abraham described them as "the noble and great ones" , whom the Gods would prove "to see if they [would] do all things whatsoever the Lord their God [should] command them" (Abraham 3:25). They had kept their first premortal estate; if they kept their second estate, their earthly probation, they would "have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever" (Abraham 3:26). These are the ones for whom the earth was created (Abraham 3:24) and for whom the scriptures were written (D&C 35:20). ] were ordained [ Or invested with his authority. ] after the order of his son, [ D&C 107:3 "the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the son of God" - all things in Gods plan are done in order hence they are called ordinances after the latin root "Ordinaire" meaning order. What is another name for the Temple? A: “Mine house is a house of order” (D&C 132:8)

We have generally understood that we enter into the holy order of God through receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, in as much as the full name of this sacred authority is "the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the son of God' (D&C 107:3). At another level, we encounter the holy order of God through receiving the ordinances of the temple, through receiving the endowment and the blessings of eternal marriage.I would suggest the possibility that the scriptures speak of an additional and ultimate way of entering the holy order through receiving the promise and seal of eternal life, through receiving what the scriptures and the prophets call the "fulness of the priesthood" (see D&C 124:28). In the book of Moses, the Prophet Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the early chapters of Genesis, he recorded the revelation of the gospel to Adam. We read there of Adam's baptism and spiritual rebirth."And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the son, from henceforth and forever." And now note the language of the scripture: "And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity. Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen" (Moses 6:66-68; emphasis added). Adam was born again and became through adoption a son of Christ. But there was more. He became,through the powers of the holy priesthood and the ordinances associated therewith, a son of God, meaning the Father. Of this matter Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written: As men [and women] pursue the goal of eternal life, they first enter in at the gate of repentance and baptism, thereby taking upon themselves the name of Christ. They then gain power to become his sons and daughters, to be adopted into his family, to be brethren and sisters in his kingdom. Baptism standing alone does not transform them into family members, but it opens the door to such a blessed relationship; and if men so live as to obtain the Spirit and are in fact born again, then they become members of the Holy Family. Then, if they press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, keeping the commandments and living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, they qualify for celestial marriage, and this gives them power to become the sons [and daughters] of God, meaning the Father. They thus become joint-heirs with Christ who is his natural heir.Those who become sons [and daughters] of God in this sense are the ones who become gods in the world to come (D&C 76:54-60). They have exaltation and godhood because the family unit continues in eternity (D&C 132:19-24). (Doctrinal 2:414) Again, in referring to the experience of our first parent, President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "To Adam, after he was driven from the Garden of Eden, the plan of salvation was revealed, and upon him the fulness of the priesthood was conferred." (Doctrines 3:81; emphasis in original). President Ezra Taft Benson, in an address delivered at the Logan Temple Centennial in May of 1984, spoke the following about this order of God: The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren Robert L. Millet As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into. I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple. This understanding, I believe, will foster within them a desire to seek their priesthood blessings just as Abraham sought his. When our Heavenly Father placed Adam and Eve on this earth, He did so with the purpose in mind of teaching them how to regain His presence. Our Father promised a Savior to redeem them from their fallen condition. He gave to them the plan of salvation and told them to teach their children faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. Further, Adam and his posterity were commanded by God to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to enter into the order of the son of God. To enter into the order of the son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord. Because Adam and Eve had complied with these requirements, God said to them, "Thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity" (Moses 6:67) (8).The Prophet Joseph Smith stated in June 1843: "If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord" (TPJS 308). In the latter part of August in that same year, he said: "Those holding the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood are kings and priests of the Most High God, holding the keys of power and blessings" (TPJS 323).Thus it may be that in the ultimate sense we enter the holy order of God when we enter that ultimate rest of the Lord, when we receive the fulness of the priesthood, when we gain membership in the Church of the Firstborn. Such a blessing may come here or hereafter, for as the Lord declared in a modern revelation: "blessed are they who are faithful and endure,whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life"(D&C 50:5; emphasis added). It is in this light that the meaning of a number of related scriptures begins to surface. For example,the order into which Enoch and his people were received (and that which was later conferred upon Melchizedek) is described as follows: "For God having sworn unto Enoch and his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;... to stand in the presence of God." Then, in somecases, people were even taken from the earth because of the un-righteousness: "And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven" (JST,Genesis 14:30-32; emphasis added). After the children of Israel rejected their spiritual privileges at the base of Sinai and after Moses had broken the first set of tablets, Jehovah said to the Lawgiver: "Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in their midst, lest I destroy them."(JST, Exodus 34:1; emphasis added). In speaking of this "last law," the higher priesthood privilege which Israel lost, Joseph Smith observed: "God cursed the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses." Or, stated another way, "The law revealed to Moses in Horeb never was revealed to the children of Israel as a nation" (TPJS 322,323). Similarly, the group of 144,000 seen by John the Revelator in vision—those who in a future day will have the seal of God in their foreheads (see Revelation 7:4-8; D&C 133:18)—"are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God... who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn" (D&C 77:11; emphasis added). ] in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look [ Suggesting that their responsibility is to do what? To be examples, teachers and types for Christ. ] forward to his son for redemption. [ Redemption means what? 1. Repurchase of captured goods or prisoners; the act of procuring the deliverance of persons or things from the possession and power of captors by the payment of an equivalent; ransom; release; as the redemption of prisoners taken in war; the redemption of a ship and cargo. 2. Deliverance from bondage, distress, or from liability to any evil or forfeiture, either by money, labor or other means. So then the preeminent responsibility of these priests is to bear witness of the Savior, "for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). He speaks the truth. So do they. He offers the words of life. So do they. He preaches as one having authority. So do they. Let's take Alma the younger here as an example. Not only is Alma the younger one of those priests that were chosen in the pre-mortal existence, but what had to happen to get him to that point here on earth? His father Alma had to be a good example, teach him the truth and then finally pray for him. Remember that Alma the Older is trying to solve the problems of the church - praying pretty hard for answers and it is during this process that his relationship with God is changed - Mosiah 26:15-20 It was maybe at that time that his confidence had grown enough in the Lord that his prayer for Alma the Younger was answered as well as Alma the Younger was not so much Alma the younger at the time he saw an angel. 40-60 yrs old most likely.

How do we find that knowledge? Finally; It is in the ordinances of the temple - D&C 43:16; 105:11-12 - It is through the ordinances that we get power and understanding of how to become like our Father in Heaven. ]

3 And this is the manner [ What is Alma suggesting here- what does it mean after this manner? Manner = a characteristic or customary mode of acting, the standard procedure - So then the standard procedure for all of us was we just like Jesus Christ, and every prophet from Alma to Enoch, From Joseph to President Nelson we were called and prepared. ] after which they were ordained—being called and prepared [ What does this suggest about these individuals? Just as Jesus Christ was prepared and given his mission in the premortal world - So were we called and prepared. President Spencer Kimball who said "Remember, in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to. You are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of you just as those we sustain as prophets and apostles!" Ensign; - The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council" (TPJS 365). In referring to this statement by the Prophet, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. said: "I do not know whether we have a right to interpret the Prophet's statement..., but I like to think that it does include those of us of lesser calling and lesser stature I like to think that perhaps in that grand council something at least was said to us indicating what would be expected of us, and empowering us, subject to the reconfirmation here, to do certain things in building up the kingdom of God on earth" (170-71).

In light of that statement do you know what you are foreordained to do here on earth?
What are you doing to find out?
What can you do to find out?
Will the lord really tell you, do you think that he really wants you to know?
Joseph Smith said "God is good & all his acts are for the benefit of inferior intelligences"

All of those who entered into the premortal house of Israel to participate in the work of redemption where, as the apostle Paul teaches, foreordained to be conformed to the image of the son of God (Romans 8:29); that is, those in the premortal world who elected to become Gods elected also to come to earth and learn the work of redemption in apprenticeship to the Lord Jesus Christ, a work that would qualify them to live with the Gods in the eternal worlds. You see that even at that time we wanted to be like our Father in Heaven so bad that were where starting to be like him already. Our desire to became to bless the other intelligences just like our Father. THAT WAS THE PLAN the greater lights would bless the lesser lights. He knew that we would all progress at different rates and that was OK but we would all be eternal... READ Abraham 3:18 ] from the foundation of the world [ When was the foundation of the world? our pre-existence. Interesting to note that in the Hebrew Bible, the Sôd of God was a council of celestial beings who consulted with God, learned His sôd/secret plan, and then fulfilled that plan. some suggest that the LDS endowment is, in part, a ritual reenactment of the sôd, where the participants observe the sôd/council of God, learn the sôd/secret plan of God, and covenant to fulfill that plan. In its broader sense the Hebrew term sôd (סוד) means a confidential discussion, a secret or plan, a circle of confidants, or council. source http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/the-sod-of-yhwh-and-the-endowment/ ] according to the foreknowledge of God, [ What does this suggest about our callings here on earth? That God looked upon us; knew what our strengths were and then has put us in places to exercise that strength for the benefit of his work. Do you suppose that some of our trials are to prepare us for this service? ] on account of their [ Who's faith? all of us in this room - certainly every member of the church - who has been granted the opportunity to be part of the gospel. ] exceeding faith [ Exceeding great Faith in what at this point? Don’t you think it took a lot of faith our part to trust that this was all going to work? What are the parts of the plan that could go wrong?

It is not a simple plan when you think of all that could go wrong.

Faith in the plan that our Heavenly Father had put forth, faith that Jesus Christ our elder brother would be able to come to earth and live a perfect life - without sin, and thus provide a path for us to gain forgiveness of our sins and return and live with our father in heaven. ] and good works; in the first place [ Can be translated as in the beginning; or the pre-existence..referring to premortal world. Abraham 3:26. That first estate that Abraham talked about. Those who keep their first estate will be added upon, and those who did not keep their first estate will not be added upon, whereas those who do keep their first estate will be added upon forever and ever. Abraham explains to us in Abr. 3:23 that according to His foreknowledge, God, “standing in the midst of those spirits,” saw that they were good, and said, “These I will make my rulers.” ] being left to choose good or evil; [ When did we first choose good and evil - or right and wrong? Maybe not so much good and evil but to follow the plan that our Heavenly Father put forth - or to rebell against the great plan for happiness. ] therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, [ In the pre-earth life. so what has set this group apart? We exercised our agency 1st to chose the plan that God outlined (choosing good) and exercising faith in that plan that it would work - In the creation the elements had already chosen to be subject to the plan. ] are called with a holy calling, [ so why are they (we) so called? Because we chose his plan he called or assigned us specific and additional duties while in the pre-mortal world And what is that holy calling we were called to do? - vs 6 to teach the rest of his children the way back to our father in heaven. ] yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, [ What does that mean? The Priesthood was prepared with the purpose of the plan of redemption in mind - makes sense that the Lord had a plan and the priesthood is part of it. ] and according to, [ According to what? according to the plan of redemption. ] a preparatory redemption for such. [ What is a preparatory redemption? One way to look at this statement is to say that in a sense we are to be John The Baptists among our fellow men - to help them see, prepare and take hold of the power of the atonement (which provides their individual redemption). Men are called to the priesthood to assist in the redemption of souls. They are called to preach and make available what Paul described as "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). They are called to bless lives—to lighten burdens, to strengthen the feeble knees and lift up the hands that hang down—just as their Master, the great High Priest, is called upon to do. Priesthood bearers who lived before and after Christ are and have been involved in the work of His ministry; their work is preparatory. They, like the preeminent forerunner, John the Baptist, prepare the way of the Lord. Those prophets and priests who labored before the meridian of time sought to prepare the people for the coming of the Redeemer. In the words of Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "They could preach redemption; they could foretell its coming; but their work was preparatory only. Redemption itself would come through the ministry of Him of whom they were but types and shadows" (Promised 451). Those who have lived since that time seek to instruct and warn and exhort the people—all in preparation for his second advent, that final redemption of the earth and its inhabitants. ]

4 And thus they [ Who? These priests who were ordained in the Grand Council of Heaven (vs 3). ] have been called to this [ Suggesting that it is our mission so to speak. Specific calling. Christ was called to his specific calling as redeemer, Savior, like wise this is our duty in the plan.] holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God [ What do those that were called possess? the willingness to follow the spirit - we are talking about opposites here - these noble ones do not reject the spirit but embrace it - they seek for it, they follow it. ] on account of the hardness of their hearts [ Who hardened their hearts? These spirits did so in the presence of our Heavenly Father - they already had a less than accepting nature about their spirit, one that did not really accept the plan, they thought there were other options - the plan was given by the spirit as well - some heard it some did not. Then to this life the simple truth is that men and women may fall from grace and depart from the living God through sin; in short, many live beneath their privileges. They qualify in the first estate for transcendent earthly blessings, but then come into this life, fail to hearken to the voice of the Spirit, and thus traverse the broad roads of the world as natural beings, existing in an uninspired and unregenerate state. ] and blindness of their minds, [ What does a blinded mind suggest? Just because someone is blind does not mean that something does not happen. So a car can go in front of a blind person and the blind person does not see it - but the car still went in front of that person. ] while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. [ In other words, had they demonstrated the same propensity to seek for, receive, and obey further light and truth, they might have had the same privilege as their brethren. What does that suggest about the idea of predestination? That it is not true that while we might be foreordained to do something we can still make decisions along the way and loose those promised blessings. You do not really know the spiritual strength that your friend or even you had in the pre-existence. As all of that can be forfeited by bad decisions while here. Nephi spoke of such earlier in 2 Nephi 28:27, 29 "We have received, and we need no more!... We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough". ]

5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; [ Dual meaning here. We were all created as equals to begin with; the same standing but thru choice some set themselves apart from others. Just like this life the Ammonihahites were originally on the same standing as the Nephites. They were part of the Nephite lineage, and had the opportunity to receive these blessings of the true priesthood. They are descendants of those promised these blessings - but they are not acting like they should and hence the calling of repentance from Alma. ] thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world [ Why was it that God prepared the Priesthood and those who would hold it at the very beginning in the council in heaven? Since God knows all things he knew that there would be many who would need to be lifted up from time to time that even the very elect would need help. As a result he prepared the Priesthood so that those who held it could use it to lift those who were in need. It was not an after thought; but was there from the start. It did not come because the plan was not working, but was there as part of the plan. see vs 7. ] for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten son, [ What does it mean being in and through the atonement? The word "in" is suggesting that we are under the law of the atonement, or in the law of the atonement. To be in such a position we must belive in Jesus Christ as the Savior, and repent of our sins, humble ourselves and apply the graces of the atonement in our lives. What must we do in order to be covered with and through the atonement? We have to accept that Jesus is the Christ and worked out the atonement for us. Russell M. Nelson said: “In the English language, the components are at-one-meant, suggesting that a person is at one with another. Other languages employ words that connote either expiation or reconciliation. Expiation means ‘to atone for.’ Reconciliation comes from Latin roots re, meaning ‘again’; con, meaning ‘with’; and sella, meaning ‘seat.’ Reconciliation, therefore, literally means ‘to sit again with.’…In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means ‘to cover’ or ‘to forgive.’ Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning ‘a close embrace’—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace….While the words atone or atonement, in any of their forms, appear only once in the King James translation of the New Testament, they appear 35 times in the Book of Mormon. As another testament of Jesus Christ, it sheds precious light on His Atonement.” (Ensign, Nov. 1996, pp.34-5 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 85))] who was prepared— [ Who was prepared? The Savior What was he prepared to do? The mission of the Savior was outlined and prepared in the beginning that he alone would atone for our sins and provide a way back. Because to punish us for our sins would not have brought us back to the Father - we had to be freed from those sins and there was only one way that could happen - with an atonement of the Savior. How was the Savior prepared? The Savior himself had to be prepared by learning grace for grace D&C 93:11-14 ]

6 And thus being called [ so who is called as part of this group? All of us - we do not vie for office or position, here were were called by God and given specific assignments - the clues to our specific assignments can be found in the blessing our Heavenly Father gave us when we last left his presence - our patriarchal blessings. The Gifts that we received are to help us based on 2 things - 1) those gifts that we need personally as aids to help us return to our Father, 2nd those gifts that we need or that we can us to help others return to our Father ] by this holy calling, [ let's look and see who gave us these assignments in the first place - our Father in Heaven - "Man of Holiness" ] and ordained [ Invested with authority. ] unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, [ President Ezra Taft Benson explained the holy order of God: "To enter into the order of the son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord." (Ezra Taft Benson, "What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children about the Temple," Ensign 15 (August 1985): 6.) ] , to teach his commandments unto the children of men, [ What are we called to do? To teach the commandments unto our brothers and sisters - All of us who have calls to minister in the holy priesthood were foreordained to be ministers of Christ, and to come here in our appointed days, and to labor on his errand. If we look at Abraham we seek this was his desired as well. He wanted to become a high priest, even a prince of peace, holding the right belonging to the fathers or that right to administer the Gospel to the children of men. ] that they [ Who? Those who are not aware of what they need to do in order to return to Heavenly Father. ] also might enter into his rest— [ What does this mean to enter his rest? the fullness of his glory - we can inherit jointly with the Savior all that our Father has, not as Tenants in Common but as joint heirs which means that each one of us inherits that posses the totality of all that the Father has, all of the title is vested to us, we inherit everything that every other heir inherits. - see D&C 84:24 Think about that blessing - The same as Joseph Smith and all of the prophets - there is no division we can inherit the same. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “The rest of the Lord, where mortals are concerned, is to gain a perfect knowledge of the divinity of the great latter-day work. [President Joseph F. Smith said,] ‘It means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else; we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive.’ It is ‘rest from the religious turmoil of the world; from the cry that is going forth, here and there—lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ.’ (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 58, 125–126.) The rest of the Lord, in eternity, is to inherit eternal life, to gain the fulness of the Lord’s glory (D. & C. 84:24.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 633). Anciently "rest" did not equate to inactivity, to leisure, to doing nothing and has more to do with trust that God is in charge that he has done the work and that all things are under his control. When he finished the creation we are taught that he rested. During that resting period he however watched things and made sure thet they were good. In a way to see if they were trusting in him, in his plan. It is the same for us as well. (Gen 2:15; )]

7 This high priesthood being after the order of his son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, [ What does this suggest about the power appointed to this order? That if it goes from eternity to eternity then it has power beyond the bounds of death, it is never ending. ] according to his foreknowledge of all things— [What did our heavenly Father know about his plan and what we would need to make it here? Heavenly Father knew that if we did not have his power on earth we would 1) not be able to overcome the overwhelming influence of Satan - we would be overcome 2) We would not have the knowledge of these ordinances which teach us the way that we may teach others. 3) That we might be sealed as family's strengthen the bonds not only in this life but the next]

8 Now they [ Who? Those that were called. ] were ordained after this manner [ After what manner? after the order of his son verse 7 this same order that existed from the foundation of the earth. ] —being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, [ What is the ordinance that brings us into this Holy order? "It is that we can enter an order of the priesthood named the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (see D&C 131:2), named also the patriarchal order, because of which order we can create for ourselves eternal family units of our own, patterned after the family of God our Heavenly Father. It is that we have power, by faith, to govern and control all things, both temporal and spiritual; to work miracles and perfect lives; to stand in the presence of God and be like him because we have gained his faith, his perfections, and his power, or in other words the fulness of his priesthood." Bruce R. McConkie Priesthood Session April 3, 1982. These ordinances were give that the people might have the trust and faith to look forward on the son of God since this is a ty[e pf his order. see verse 16. ] and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, [ Which is? The new and everlasting covenant of marriage. ] which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end— [ because it is the power of God, is of necessity without beginning of days or end of years - God is Eternal ]

9 Thus they become high priests forever, [ so how do we become high priests and high priestesses forever? eternal nature of the priesthood - which binds on earth and in heaven the order of families. compare Hebrews 5 & 7 As the Lord lives, it is his holy order, and all those priesthood holders of every nation and kindred and tongue and people and race and color who will keep the covenant shall abide as priests forever, ruling and reigning everlastingly with the great High Priest of our profession, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. ] after the order of the son, [ They obtained the same responsibilities as Christ, i.e., the Right of the Firstborn, to teach the commandments and administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. This is what Abraham sought for. Suggesting what? that we can therefore exercise all of the power that the son has - as we learn to exercise the priesthood as he does we become like him - The son is then the Type for the Father ] the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen. [ They obtained the same responsibilities as Christ, i.e., the Right of the Firstborn, to teach the commandments and administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. This is what Abraham sought for. Christ's authority is inherent within Himself. His responsibility as the Firstborn and birthright son is to provide for the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of His Father's posterity, not just on this earth but on worlds without number. On this earth Abraham is seeking for the right of the Firstborn and to administer the same. He loved God so much that he wanted to take upon himself the same responsibilities as Christ. He wanted to provide and administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation to all of his father's posterity on earth. God loved Abraham so much that He told Abraham that this right would continue in him and in his posterity. This right of the Firstborn(Jesus Christ) was also called after the Order of Enoch. Before it was called the Order of Melchizedek, it was called the Order of Enoch. The Lord promised Enoch, because he was also righteous, that his seed would be on the earth until the very end. Noah receives the same blessing. Abraham gets the same blessing. Abraham was one of the noble and great ones. Here Alma subtly reveals something about himself. He understands this doctrine because he has lived it. He is one of these priests after the Holy Order of God. Period - the end hence the Amen. While Alma received his original ordination and calling from his father, but then went on to eventually receive “power in his priesthood” or a fulness of priesthood by also obtaining this final ordination and covenant directly from the Father. Alma is a high priest in our temple sense of that word. Having concluded that - that is the way that it is let's try to bring this discussion to a more personal level. Since we all are part of the premortal house of Israel , and as such have been so arranged in saving relationships here on earth - we must look at all of our relationships and ask, What are my covenants with respect to the redemption of these people, and how can I fulfill them? What do I need to do now? What am I now doing that I should not be doing? What am i not doing that I should be doing? The question asked with an honest heart will bring not only answers, but power, from the great Redeemer himself. Answers will extend not only to family members, but to the Laurels in one's Young Women's class, to those one home teaches, to a business associate, and so on. Think about every relationship that you have - you should now understand that no one in our lives is there by accident. ]

10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many [ Did some choose otherwise? notice it does not say all and from the scripture we know it was not all who were foreordained received the priesthood because they did not choose good in mortality see vs 3 ] who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, [ What is the difference between the two groups? Since repentance is something that is accomplished while we are on the earth we can see that Alma is has brought the discussion from the premortal life to right now for the people he is addressing. ] and their righteousness before God, [ These are the same qualities that are mentioned for Melchizedek 8 verses from now (vs 18). Faith and repentance and Melchizedek is inserted instead of righteousness. Why? Because Melchizedek is “by interpretation King of righteousness.” Hebrews 7:1–2. ] they choosing to repent and work righteousness [ What does this suggest that we must do as individuals? It only comes by work, getting the proper ordinances, making covenants and enduring to the end in righteousness. ] rather than to perish;

11 Therefore [ As a result of repenting, righteous works and ordinances received. ] they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, [ What does sanctify mean? 1) set apart as or declare holy; consecrate. 2) make legitimate or binding by religious sanction or ordinance 3) free from sin; purify. JST, Romans 8:30 30 Moreover, him whom he did predestinate, him he also called; and him whom he called, him he also sanctified; and him whom he sanctified, him he also glorified. ] and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. [ I Haven Barlow - 2nd anointing? follows on to vs 16 were they enter into the rest of the Lord. Probably the best description of this process is this: We have to be justified by the Spirit before we can be sanctified. It is our own choices and character development that will bring us to that point. Once you have prepared yourself, the Spirit will then bear witness to you and to God that you have done all within your power. You can then be washed in the blood of the Lamb, or become “sanctified,” having no more disposition to do evil and being unable look upon sin save it be with abhorrence. ]

12 Now they, after being sanctified [ Or justified. To make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.to purify or free from sin ] by the Holy Ghost, [ What does that mean? Moses 6:60 "by the Spirit ye are justified", to be made just, or free from guilt and sin. The Holy Ghost is the member of the Godhead whose power acts as a cleansing agent that removes guilt and sin from our lives 2 Ne 31:17. "I’ve struggled with that statement, and I have found a definition that seems to indicate to me what I’m sure the Lord intended to convey. The definition that I think is significant says: “Justify means to pronounce free from guilt or blame, or to absolve.” Now if the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, is to pronounce one free from guilt or blame, or to absolve, then we begin to see something of the office of the Holy Ghost that relates to the subject about which we are talking: what it means to be born of the Spirit." Born Of The Spirit Harold B. Lee - Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings of President Harold B. Lee. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975), p. p.47-65] having their garments made white, [ Suggesting that we are transformed how? the stains of sin were removed or they were purified ] being pure and spotless before God, [ How do we become pure and spotless? Repent, repent and repent, ] could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; [ How does ones heart change toward sin as they sanctify themselves? a change of heart; a change happens as ones calling and election is made sure, 1st the desire to sin is lost, 2nd it also creates a hatred toward sin and the evils that it produces "We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him." Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 51 ] and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord [ Which is defined as what? defined as "gaining the fulness "D&C 84:24. Where do we gain a fullness or God? In the temple, and Alma is inviting everyone in his audience to receive the same blessings for themselves. ] their God.

13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, [ How and what do we do to bring forth fruit meet for repentance? Confessing sin is not enough, exercising faith in the plan is not enough - we must also labor to bring the work forward, help others see the light and repent. ] that ye may also enter into that rest. [ That we too may gain the fullness of the gospel. ]

14 Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, [ What did the people do in the days of Melchizedek? The people under the leadership of Melchizedek wrought righteousness and obtained heaven - were taken to heaven as the city of Enoch JST Gen 14:25-40 "JST, Genesis 14:25–40. Compare JST Genesis 14:25-33 https://gregpsargent.com/scriptureNotes/jst/GENESIS_14_25-40.html

15 And it was this same Melchizedek [ His name comes from two Hebrew roots, melekh (king), and tzedek (righteousness), Melchitzedek meaning literally "king of righteousness" or "my king is righteousness." An old tradition among the Jews states that "Melchizedek, the king of righteousness, priest of God Most High,and king of Jerusalem, came forth to meet [Abraham]," as Abraham was returning from the war "with bread and wine. And this high priest instructed Abraham in the laws of the priesthood and in the Torah" (Ginzberg 1:233; emphasis added). More specifically, a modern revelation informs us that "Esaias...lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him—which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah" (D&C 84:13-14). It appears that Abraham sought for the same power and authority as Melchizedek, the power to administer endless lives, the fulness of the powers of the priesthood. ] to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham [ And Why did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedek? 1) He had covenanted with the Lord that he would and in his own words because - "I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers. It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father, through the fathers unto me. (Abraham 1:2–3; emphasis added).What are the blessings of the Fathers that he sought? The sealing blessings of the priesthood see vs 16. Whenever you see the following phrases in scripture: the “Blessings of the Fathers,” the “Rights of the Fathers,” or the “Covenants of the Fathers” – they all mean the same thing. It is what we call today an “endowment of power.” The ancients fathers sought for the reality of those blessings, not a representation of a future reality. The Brother of Jared was not looking for an ordinance, and neither was Abraham, read their story. They both were seeking for the reality that we are promised today, or powers that the ordinance represents. Today when we receive an ordinance it is the power to become such “to become such through your faithfulness”. In ancient times it was not so, it was the reality of that power given to them at the time that it was administered, now we are only anointed to become such. It was always described as a reality in the scriptures. Today the ordinances provide a hope of a future reality. (Alma 13:16) ] paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed. [ Why was it important that Abraham pays his tithes to Melchizedek? If he is going to receive the blessings of the fathers he had to fulfill his part of the covenant that was to pay his tithes to the proper priesthood authority. ]

16 Now these ordinances [ Or as indicated in the Book of Abraham, Abraham received the remaining temple ordinances from Melchizedek. ( Book Of Abraham Facsimile 2, explanation to figure 3 ) When Melchizedek "brings out" bread and wine, according to Claus Westermann, the Genesis text implies that he brings it out "from his city and temple."(Westermann, Genesis 12-36, 205) A midrash identifies Salem with a temple, (Kasher, Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation, 2:162, citing Midrash T'hillim 76) while Josephus expressly states that Melchizedek had a temple. (Josephus, The Jewish War 6.438, in Josephus 3, 503. Josephus maintains that Melchizedek and his temple were at the site of Jerusalem.) Pseudo-Eupolemus tells that Abraham was actually ushered into a temple in Melchizedek's city.( Eupolemus, as quoted by Eusebius, in Preparatio Evangelica 9:17.5-6. See translations in Charlesworth, Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, 2:880; and Buchanan, To the Hebrews, 118.) Jewish tradition tells of "a secret sign" that God "communicated to Abraham, the secret of the mystery of the Redeemer." (Schwartz, Tree of Souls, 378) Early Christian sources state that Melchizedek taught Abraham about "the holy mysteries" (Combat of Adam and Eve with Satan 4:1, in Malan, Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, 180) and even "made him to participate in the Holy Mysteries . . . of redemption." (Budge, Cave of Treasures, 148) These mysteries, or ordinances of the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God,What ordinances did Abraham go to get? Priesthood ordinances the blessings of the Fathers or the sealing endowment - his Temple ordinances. The those days the ordinances where pronounced directly on the individual with the promises attached, now they are administered through our faithfulness. We are only anointed to become or recieve them based on faithfulness. Abraham as he now received what he had so long sought: the priesthood after the order of the Son of God, that order of priesthood that in times past allowed mortals to be translated to Enoch's city of Zion. And what joy must have been Abraham's to learn that Melchizedek was seeking that very blessing of translation. According to the Joseph Smith Translation, Melchizedek and his people of Salem "sought for the city of Enoch, which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world" (JST Gen. 14:34). What are the purposes of ordinances? They are designed to teach and testify of our need to be one with him. ] were given after this manner, [What is this manner? in person by the Father teaching them individually. ] that thereby the people might look forward [ That they might have a belief or hope in the future reality, and they look to God for this. There are two uses of the "look forward" in this verse and they both point toward looking to Christ for a remission of sins, the atonement. It being a type of his order or it being his order that they might look forward to a remission of their sins telling us that ordinances have a future blessing. So ordinances are a hope of a future reality and without a hope you're not going to want to make a change. ] on the son of God, [ That they can understand the role the Savior played for and in their behalf - when people understand the atonement then they have a hope in the future - all is not lost, there is life after this life, life with God. He is not the son of Joseph. He is not the son of a man. This title the son Of God means that his Father is literally God our Father in Heaven it is very closely related to the title to the "son Of Man" (Moses refers to Heavenly Father in the language of Adam as "Man of Holiness" so Jesus is referred to as "son of Man" as short for "son of Man of Holiness"). ] it [ Referring to what? the priesthood or we could also substitute endowment here . ] being a type of his order, [ One of the endowment’s purposes is to give us a type of the fulness of the priesthood. There can be no fulness of the priesthood outside of this order (see D&C 131:2). A fulness of priesthood necessarily involves a man and a woman joined as one in an everlasting covenant (see 1 Corinthians 11:11). When Adam was found alone in the Garden of Eden it was not good in the sight of God (see Genesis 2:18). He was finite, limited, and incomplete. ] or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, [ so why does this order exist then? the phrase "remission of sins" is one not found in the KJV OT, it is only found in theAlma 5 NT, cf. Matt 26:28; Luke 1:77. The same general concept is found in the OT but the wording is phrased as "forgiveness of sins", "atonement for sins" or something to that effect. It is only mentioned 8 times in the Book Of Mormon. The First mention is in 2 Ne 25:26 & then again in Mosiah during King Benjamins address. Remission is defined as "Discharge from that which is due; relinquishment of a claim, right, or obligation; pardon of transgression; release from forfeiture, penalty, debt". In other words a Savior that will discharge us from the punishment that is due.. Notice here that he is specifically speaking of the Savior here and his role in forgiveness of our sin - and why they should look forward to his coming in the flesh. The principal taught here may come from the tradition of the Jews and further demonstrates the need for a Savior to atone for our sins. To understand Jewish culture is to understand that forgiveness is between God and the individual. If one confesses his sins to God then they are gone, they disappear, they did not happen (kish-kish). Therefore they have no need for a Savior to remit their sins for them - since if they will only confess they are in simple legal terms acquitted of the sin. In their view only God himself can "forgive sin", only God himself can "atone for sin". ] that they might enter into the rest of the Lord. [ So the ordinances then are there to provide a hope in a future reality. Which is? that we might know how to prepare to meet him "gaining the fulness of his Glory" D&C 84:24. It is not the actual thing but teaches you about the real thing. Alma teaches that there are ordinances that are the actual induction into the Holy Order after the son of God and there are ordinances that are only a type of that order but are not the actual order. A type would be given as instruction and preparation for the real thing, which could potentially follow. This is what we are being given in the temple. The ordinances thereof are a type designed to prepare us to one day receive actual power and a fulness of priesthood directly from the Lord. The conclusion of the endowment ceremony at the veil plainly teaches us that receiving the real thing will involve the Lord directly. Joseph Smith said “If a man gets the fulness of God he has to get [it] in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it & that was by keeping all the ordinances of the house of the Lord.” “The Father Teacheth . . . The Covenant”. In it Joseph Smiths states: “Fulness of the Endowment (Gospel Covenant 17)]

17 Now this Melchizedek [ Melchizedek can be rendered as follows: melchi (king) zedek (righteousness). ] was a king over the land of Salem; [ Note it is a land of Salem, so it is more than just a city. Or the area around the city Jerusalem as we know it today. Abraham came to the city that was then called Shalem to pay tithes and get his priesthood ordinances. This encounter between Melchizedek and Abraham was commemorated by renaming the city in their honor: the name Yeru (derived from Yireh, the name Abraham gave to the Temple Mount) was combined with Shalem, producing Yeru-Shalem, meaning the "city of Shalem," or "founded by Shalem." If shalem means "complete," or "without defect, " Yerushalayim would mean the "perfect city," or "the city of he who is perfect".] and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; [ So it was not always a righteous city. ] yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;

18 But Melchizedek [ King Melchizedek is a well-known ancient figure, all while very little is actually known about him. And indeed in this case, it’s actually his name and what he represents that is important to the symbol. “Melchizedek” comes from the Hebrew Malki Tzedik which means “My King (is) Righteous(ness).” Melchizedek also known as “Prince of Salem,” again from Hebrew meaning Prince of Peace. The name Melchizedek is therefore a foreshadowing or Christ. The Chaldean word for city is Ur. Thus the city of peace is Uru-salem. And from the Hebrew it becomes Jerusalem. Melchizedek was the King of Peace. It was his title, not his name. Likely, this Hebrew tradition was to avoid the too-frequent mention of the Lord’s name—a function that carries through to modern times as well. Therefore, in text, Hebrew and Christian tradition use of the name Melchizedek almost always indicates Christ, not the man Melchizedek. For example, the Melchizedek Priesthood is not the priesthood of the ancient king, but is actually the Priesthood of Christ. Therefore the Seal of Melchizedek can be interpreted as the Seal of Christ. ] having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; [ Suggesting what? That Melchizedek was successful. ] and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, [ So it would appear that this is the point that he was given the title "prince of peace". ] for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father. [ His father appears to still be alive as he is reigning under him. Means that he was a patriarch. A patriarch reigns under his father because he is responsible for his father's posterity. According to Biblical chronology, Melchizedek died 35 years after Abraham, making him Abraham's Priesthood leader. “Reigning under his father” (Noah) means that he came through the flood. ]

19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; [ This is the reason why the priesthood was named the Melchizedek priesthood. ] therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.

20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; [ What is Alma implying here? That they should already know theses things - What is the message here for us? ] what I have said may suffice. [ How does that act as a warning to us? ] Behold, the scriptures are before you; you [ Suggesting what? they must have been able to read them for themselves, whether they had their own copies or they were available in public library we don’t know, but they did have access. ] if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. [ What does it mean to wrest? Wrest = to take away by force, to twist or distort. Alma is aware of their plans and is prophesying to them that if they destroy the scriptures that they have it shall be to their own destruction. Prophecy is fulfilled in Alma 14:8 the unrepentant end up burning the scriptures in the fire. Guilty of wresting the scriptures, or distorting their true meanings and thus doing violence to that which was intended by the inspired writers.]

21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh; [ Underlining the importance that today is the day to prepare for death - because shortly will come that "night of darkness wherein no labor can be performed" Alma 34:33 ]

22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, [ Purposes of Angels see Moroni 7:30-31 One of the ways in which the gospel is preached - some angels are what we may call mere mortal men but to those that they save they are angels] doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, [ Who are his people? Israel ] yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; [ What does this mean? I suppose that this world is new to us, strange in some ways as we have forgotten all that we knew in the pre-mortal life. The gospel is a means that gives us direction but even then we still wander trying to find the best way for ourselves.] therefore, we are thus highly favored,[ How are they favored? because they have the gospel truth. ] for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.

26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, [Who are the fathers spoken of here? Elder McConkie identifies 'the fathers' as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of the house of Israel on the earth. The promises have to do with the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the premortal covenant of godhood, named after Abraham because he would be one of the fathers of that great lineage. But perhaps the term fathers also refers to those fathers who reach far back into the premortal past where they were prepared to come forth, saying in effect to their Heavenly Father, "I will go down and keep thy commandments and bring these others with me into thy rest."] according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, [ Why would Alma have so much anxiety? ] that ye would hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate [ What does procrastinating do? ] the day of your repentance;

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, [This is not a blanket statement that the Lord will not let use be tempted beyond our capacity as may us it, but rather he is warning us to be careful as we can be tempted beyond our capacity when we through choice put ourselves in compromising situations see Matt 6:34] and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; [ After Alma has delivered one of the most doctrinal profond sermons in all of the scriptures - he has outlined our profound eternal opportunities then like any good coach he finishes it with the basics - those things that we need to do every day. ]

29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; [Why is it important to have a hope that we will receive eternal life? If we don't think we will live after this life does it change how we will live in this life?] having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. [ What is the rest of the Lord? The word rest is mentioned in each of the final four verses of the preceding chapter. It is mentioned five times in chapter 13. It would appear that Alma is trying to point out that it is through the atoning blood of Christ and by the power of the holy priesthood that individuals and congregations are prepared and made ready to enter the rest of God. In one sense, a person enters the rest of God when he or she gains a testimony of the gospel, and is brought out of worldly confusion into the peace and security that comes only from God.In this sense, the rest of God is "the spiritual rest and peace which are born from a settled conviction of the truth in the minds of (individuals)." (Smith, Gospel 126; see also 58). It is to know the peace of the Spirit, to enjoy the blessing of the Comforter. It is what Jesus promised to disciples when he said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). Second, spirits enter the rest of God when they enter paradise, the home of the righteous in the postmortal spirit world at the time of death (Alma 40:11-12; 60:13). A third dimension of the rest of the Lord is that which follows the resurrection and judgment, as we enter the celestial kingdom and receive exaltation. It is interesting that Mormon, speaking to the members of the Church in his day, uses rest in at least two ways. "Wherefore," he said, "I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord,"—meaning here in mortality—"from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven" (Moroni7:3).There is yet another sense in which the word rest is used in scripture, particularly in the Book of Mormon. This is also the sense in which a modern revelation uses the word: And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;For without this (the power of godliness) no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also. (D&C 84:19-25; emphasis added) This is a significant scriptural statement, especially as we consider Alma's remarks to the people in Ammonihah. His invitation for them to enter into the rest of the Lord is built upon the notion that ancient Israel provoked God and proved unworthy of this blessing (see Alma 12:36-37). Moses desired to make available the highest privilege of the priesthood toIsrael—the privilege of seeing the face of God, of coming The Holy Order of God directly into the divine presence. Of the Israelites, Jehovah said: "I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage" (JST,Ex 34:2; emphasis added). Here the rest of the Lord is equated with being in the personal presence of the Lord while the recipients are still mortal.It appears that the concept of the "rest of the Lord" is used occasionally in terms of what other scriptures call the Church of the Firstborn (see Heb 12:23; D&C 76:54). The Church of the Firstborn is the church of the exalted, an organization of saved souls, a body of believers who have passed the tests of mortality and received the approval of God. They qualify for life in the celestial kingdom, and because they have been true to all their trusts, are worthy to be joint heirs with Christ,co-inheritors with him to all of the blessings of the firstborn (seeSmith, Doctrines 2:42; Man 272; The Way 208; McConkie,Mormon 139-40; The Promised 47). The phrase "Church of theFirstborn" is not found in the Book of Mormon, but it may be that to enter the rest of the Lord is to enter the Church of theFirstborn. In speaking of the ancient worthies, Alma said: "They were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God,could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God" (13:11-12). From one point of view we can grasp and apply this vital lesson from the past: those of us who magnify our callings in the priesthood are sanctified—made pure and holy—by the renovating powers of the Spirit (see D&C 84:33). We come in time to hate sin and to love and cherish righteousness. We are at peace in a troubled and turbulent world. We enter the rest of the Lord. From another perspective, these qualify, through the atonement of Christ, for the highest of priesthood blessings spoken of in the revelations."These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of theFirstborn." Further, "They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn" (D&C 76:67,94). Indeed, the ultimate privileges of God's holy authority are spoken of as follows:"The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priest-hood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" (D&C107:18-19). ]

30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, [those bound by the power of Satan because they have hardened their hearts, they are given a lesser part of the word, which causes them to harden their hearts even more - receiving even less... see Alma 12: 11 ] that ye may not suffer the second death.

31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book. [ Mormon adds a footnote to the text that there was more that Alma said but it was not recorded here. ]