Alma 15

Chapter Overview

What happens in Alma 15

After their miraculous deliverance from prison, Alma and Amulek leave Ammonihah and come to the land of Sidom, where they find the exiled believers. There, Alma heals the afflicted Zeezrom, whose burning fever is the physical manifestation of his spiritual anguish. Zeezrom is baptized, the church is established, and Amulek sacrifices everything for the gospel.

Scripture

The exiled believers and Zeezrom's anguish

Study note

Alma and Amulek arrive in Sidom and find the believers who were cast out and stoned. Zeezrom lies sick with a burning fever, tormented not by disease but by the weight of his own guilt -- he believes his sins have caused the destruction of the faithful. His anguish is so great that it manifests as physical illness. When he hears that Alma and Amulek are in Sidom, he sends for them immediately, desperate for relief.

1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma.

2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance.

3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.

4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.

5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.

The healing and baptism of Zeezrom

Study note

Alma asks Zeezrom whether he believes in the power of Christ unto salvation. Zeezrom affirms that he does. Alma then prays, 'O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.' Zeezrom leaps up, healed. He is baptized, and from that point forward becomes a powerful preacher of the gospel. Zeezrom's transformation from cunning deceiver to faithful disciple is one of the most remarkable conversion stories in scripture.

6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.

10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.

11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.

12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.

Establishing the church and Amulek's sacrifice

Study note

Alma establishes a church in Sidom, consecrating priests and teachers to baptize and teach the people. Many come forward for baptism, but the people of Ammonihah remain hardened. Amulek, having been rejected by his own family and friends and having forsaken all his gold, silver, and precious things for the word of God, accompanies Alma to Zarahemla. Alma receives Amulek into his own home, ministers to his needs, and strengthens him in the Lord. The chapter closes with this tender image of one disciple caring for another.

13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.

14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized.

15 But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins.

16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;

17 Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction—

18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.

19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Key Themes

Themes in Alma 15

The healing power of faith in ChristConversion as a journey from guilt to graceThe cost of discipleship and forsaking worldly securityThe ministry of compassion between believersThe church as a community of refuge for the persecuted

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Alma 15:6-11 James 5:14-15

Alma's healing of Zeezrom through prayer and faith mirrors James's instruction that the elders of the church should pray over the sick, and the prayer of faith will save the one who is ill, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Alma 15:16 Mark 10:28-30

Amulek's sacrifice of family, wealth, and reputation for the sake of the gospel parallels Jesus' promise to those who leave everything to follow Him -- that they will receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

Apply This Today

Living Alma 15

Zeezrom's story is profoundly hopeful. Here was a man who used his gifts to fight against God and who bore the crushing weight of knowing his actions had contributed to suffering. Yet Christ's healing power reached even him. No past is too dark for the Savior to redeem. This chapter also shows the price Amulek paid for following God -- he lost his wealth, his family relationships, and his social standing. True discipleship is costly, but God provides companions and communities to sustain us through the loss.

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