1 AND it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe [ Many believed, but most did not vs 2. ] on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures. [ What would they have found as they searched the scriptures? Their testimonies would have grown as they were taught by the spirit. What would they have been searching the scriptures for? Have you ever wondered what you are supposed to be searching for in the scriptures? What do you think? May I suggest that it is more than the knowledge that comes from them - it is in searching that we must learn to listen to the spirit that comes when we take the time to listen, when we ask questions in our study and let the spirit teach us. The searching is searching then for the spirit, looking in a place, putting ourselves in the right frame of mind for the spirit to teach us (Alma 17:2). see also John 5:39; Jacob 7:23; Acts 17:11; Alma 33:2; 3 Ne 10:14. President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95): “I commend to you the revelations of God as the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed. Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets” (“Fear Not, Little Flock,” in 1988–89 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1989], 112). ]

2 But the more part of them [ The majority. ] were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, [ Why do some people become angry when they are called to repentance? (See 1 Nephi 16:1–3.) Why does calling someone to repentance cause such emotion? ] because of the plainness [ If you look up the word "plainness" in the Webster 1828 dictionary (the language of Joseph Smith's day), as well as the Greek definition (in Bible hub). A more correct definition would be "boldness". Here are a few highlights that are helpful: From Webster's 1828 definition: 2. Openness; rough, blunt or unrefined frankness. 3. Artlessness; simplicity; candor; as unthinking plainness 4. Clearness; openness; sincerity. Seeing then we have such hope, we use great plainness (or boldness in other translations) of speech . 2 Corinthians 3:12. (From Bible Hub) GREEK: parrésia: freedom of speech, confidence Usage: freedom, openness, especially in speech; boldness, confidence. HELPS Word-studies 3954 parrhēsía (from 3956 /pás, "all" and rhēsis, "a proverb or statement quoted with resolve," L-S) – properly, confidence (bold resolve), leaving a witness that something deserves to be remembered (taken seriously). ] of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges.

3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to put them away privily. [ A secret combination to just get rid of them - do them in. ]

4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land.

5 And the people went forth and witnessed against them—testifying that they had reviled against the law, [ What law? The land of the land - secular? or the laws of God? ] and their lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his son among the people, but he should not save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the land. [ Or the land of Ammonihah vs 23 - The chief Judge over all the land was still back in Zarahemla Alma 4:16-17. it is important to note who they are appearing before. The chief judge of the land , yet the case against Alma and Amulek appears to be religious in nature. Could we conclude that the division between church and state was lost? What is the message here? Note in vs 16 that the judgment was rendered after the order and faith of Nehor - hence the people could employ such arguments to the wicked judges as them testifying of Christ in an effort designed to incite anger against Alma and Amulek. ]

6 And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell.

7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, [ Fulfillment of the prophecy of Alma in Alma 10:22-23 - Alma also warned them at that time what would happen to the people when they started to act like this. ] and sent men to cast stones at them.

8 And they brought their wives and children together, [ Pretty cowardly - run the men off then attack and kill the helpless children and women. ] and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.

9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.

10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames. [ Amulek most likely had immediate family vs 10:11 in this group being burned to death. We know that he ends up leaving Ammonihah altogether, he is rejected by his father and extended family and friends (cf. 15:16, contrast the family list here in v, 10 with that in 15:16 and note the lack of reference to wife and children there), but there is no mention of his wife and children rejecting him. It seems unlikely Amulek would abandon his wife and children in Ammonihah if they were alive. So we might safely conclude his wife and children were among the martyrs. Also, in Alma 15:18. Do you think he had an ulterior motive? ]

11 But Alma said unto him:[ Amulek ] The Spirit constraineth me[ Can you image Amulek saying whoa dude - I don't know if I signed up for this. "Why would God allow these things to happen?" Why does the Lord allow this to happen? (see also 60:13.) Why does the Lord allow painful things to happen to his saints? How do your trials compare? What purpose do we find in the telling of this story? How hard would that be to know you had the power of the priesthood to save them and not do anything? What would have happened if he had exercised his priesthood after the spirit constrained Alma? How in tune do we have to be when giving a priesthood blessing? What are other examples of letting ones suffer being constrained by the spirit? My best answer the Savior on the cross - how hard it must have been for Heavenly Father to watch him suffer. Joseph Smith had similar experiences with his family and was told he would just have to endure that the actons might bear witness against them (the persecutors). ] that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also. [ Do you get the feeling that Amulek starts to feel like well we might be next; this is the end - which would be a pretty chilling thought to know that you had the power to stop this - or did they have the power since Alma had been commanded not to? So Amulek faces the reality of the situation - that they are most likely next. How would your testimony stand up to that? .]

13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not. [ Or rather even if they burn us it will not hurt us - Alma is teaching Amulek a great lesson - one of the confidence that Alma has in his mission - he knows what it is, he knows that it is not finished and that the Lord will protect them until their mission is completed. ]

14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, [ The mobs run off the men, and then burn the women and children alive. What does this message imply? That because they have been able to execute this mass murder without an intervention from God above that God is really on their side - otherwise if he was on the side of the women and children he would most certainly have saved them. What is wrong with that logic? Do we hear that logic anywhere today? Can/do we use logic to justify our sins? ] will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?

15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; [ Again shows how little he really knows - it was the angel that said that he should not save them - It was not that they did not have the power to do so, but they were commanded not to do so. ] neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith. [ The judge is implying that since God did not save them they were really not on the true Gods side in the first place. What is wrong with that logic?] And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves?

16 Now this judge was after the order and faith of Nehor, [ Nehor formed a church in the first year of the reign of the judges - his church was founded on the idea of universal salvation - all were saved. ] who slew Gideon.

17 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered him nothing; [Why do you suppose that they answered nothing? 1) He had not been listening before and was not going to listen now, 2) They we secure in their mission and knew that their work was not done 3) When people are irrational there is little point in discussion is there. ] and he smote them again, and delivered them to the officers to be cast into prison.

18 And when they had been cast into prison three days, there came many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who were of the profession of Nehor; [ Or they made their money from teaching the principals of Nehor. ] and they came in unto the prison to see them, and they questioned them about many words; but they answered them nothing.

19 And it came to pass that the judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.

20 And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again on the morrow; [ So they have been in prison 3 days then they were questions, but answered nothing, then the judges came again an questioned them, again no answer. So around 4 or five days of being silent after they saw the saints burned. ] and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves? [ So who is starting to get the upper hand here? With the fact that Alma and Amulek stay silent and withstand his blows the judge is getting a little irritated here, he cannot get to them to shake them up. Even the treat of death does not phase them. ]

21 And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, [ 1. To grind or strike (the teeth, for example) together. 2. To bite (something) by grinding the teeth. ] and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned? [ Most likely making faces at Alma and Amulek as they are accusing them. This verse suggests to me that the judges and lawyers are laughting and having a good time, so it is as if they are saying do you think that these faces look like the faces of someone who is damned by God? ]

22 And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did they say unto them; and thus they did mock them for many days. [ The events Ammonihah all happened within the tenth year of the reign of the judges. Alma and Amulek were in jail for “many days,” and Alma had stayed with Amulek’s family for “many days.” Alma cannot have been with Amulek for more than three or four months, and they cannot have been in jail for more than two or three months, because there were only about six months for those events to occur, since this episode began at the beginning of the seventh month (10:6) and finished before the end of that year (15:19). so, all this happened fairly quickly, even though it takes several chapters to cover this agonizing scene. ] And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with strong cords, and confined in prison.

23 And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for many days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, *in the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) that the chief judge over the land of Ammonihah and many of their teachers and their lawyers [ Referring to the land which includes the city of Ammonihah, it lay between the river Sidon and the ocean. It sounds like at this point that we have the top leadership of the people here. Remember the chief judge is an elected official, and as such represents the voice of the people - we don't know if the other judges were appointed by the chief judges or not, but we do know that the chief judge was elected. So the judgement rendered by the chief judge could in Gods eyes basically be a judgement by the entire group of people - See why it is important to elect good men to office. ] went in unto the prison where Alma and Amulek were bound with cords.

24 And the chief judge stood before them, and smote them again, and said unto them: If ye have the power of God [ Is this not the old show us a sign argument? sounds like an argument used directly by Satan himself on the Savior - If thou be the sons of God - turn rocks into bread, cast yourself from the pinacle of the Temple... Do we ever have to be careful what we ask for? What happen to these sign seekers almost immediately? see vs 27 ] deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe [ Yeah right - I don't believe that and neither do they - they do not want to change, they do not want a reason, and even if they saw a sign they would explain it away. ] that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words.

25 And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last had spoken unto them the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet.

26 And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions , [ sounds like Joseph Smith D&C 121:1-6] O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them. [ How do you think that the silence of Alma and Amulek for the past days have contributed to the great fear of the people. The first words that Alma utters frees himself suggesting that he could have done so before this time. So every word uttered, every slap, every spit every evil committed upon them was a witnes against the judges and the lawyers and the people. Gos knew it , Alma knew it and Amulek knew it. Now they were freed by some unknown power standing before them in power. The silence of before only suggested that they could have done the same thing at any time but did not. ]

27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof. [ What reason is there for the Lord to seemingly deal so quickly with people and governments in the Book Of Mormon and today punishment does not even come to governments? Consider that these were covenant Israel and as such they were under stringent requirements and the violation of such had explicit covenant curses associated with them. They Lord brought them here for a purpose - and his works were going to be accomplished. What light does that place on our responsibilities as members of the church today? ]

28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city.

29 Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, [ I think that is probably an understatement. How do they respond to that fear? In the next few chapters they do not repent and are annihilated by the Laminites 16:1-3 thus fulfilling the prophecy of Alma in 9:18] and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek.