Book of Mormon Commentary - Alma 35

by Don R. Hender

It is important to have a perspective concerning the lands of Zarahemla to understand the movements and concerns of the people. The accompanying map is a suggested relationship which explains many things concerning the land. The major features of the the land of Zarahemla are three major mountain ranges running north and south parallel to each other, the Western, Central and Eastern ranges. This forms from left to right four parallel geographic regions. First on the west coast of the land upon the sea west are the coastal lowlands consisting of mangrove swamps and many rivers running down from the western slopes of the western range of mountains. The moisture from the Pacific banks against these mountains dropping vast amounts of rains which fill the rivers and causes the coastal lowlands to be a flood swamp land which forms a natural barrier prohibiting the civilization of the lands and the Lamanites from advancing an army all along its western regions.
Second, between the Western and Central parallel mountain ranges is a river valley which is the home for two major Nephite provincial lands at this juncture in time. They are Melek upon the south and Ammonihah to the north. Similar to the city of Zarahemla which lies upon the west bank of the Sidon River, Ammonihah lies upon the west bank of the river which drains the valley which Melek and Ammonihah are in. The invading Lamanites may have mistaken Ammonihah for the city of Zarahemla when they destoryed it. It is this valley which Lehi's party travels south to the land of first inheritance after landing 'a little south of the Isthmus of Darien. It is also the valley which Limhi's 43 explorers took thinking it to be the Sidon river valley in their search for Zarahemla. Later the knowledge of this valley and its lands will enable a part of Limhi's people to found the city of Ammonihah when they are brought back to the land of Zarahemla being led by Ammon who was a descendant of Zarahemla.
Third, between the Central and Eastern parallel mountain ranges is the Sidon River Valley. It is the major river valley of the land and contains the provincial lands of Manti in the south in the region of the headwaters of the river, and then Minon and Zarahemla in the centeral valley regions.
Fourth, upon the eastern down grade from the eastern mountain range is a gradual sloping land which forms a complex of many rivers draining into the what would have been then the east sea or the Amazon Sea. In the south is found the Lamanite land of Siron in the east wilderness into which the Lamanites where scattered by the army of Zoram. Next to its north is found the land of Antionum. Antionum is a large provincial land which has access to the east sea and which was the land of the Zoramite descenters. North of Antionum is the vast lands of Jershon. Jershon was the land given to the People of Ammon who came from the land of Nephi. These people left seven lands and cities in the national lands of the Lamanites to come to dwell with the Nephites. The Nephites placed them in a land away from the wicked Lamanites and which was similar to their western coastal sea shore lands in the land of Nephi. The vast size of the land of Jershon is such that it spans from Antionum on its south to Bountiful upon its northern reaches around about by the eastern sea coast.
Other notable lands and regions of the nation of Zarahemla are the land, valley and city of the province of Gideon. About midway upon the course of the Sidon River, a major tributary enters from an eastern running canyon into the river sidon just above to the south of Zarahemla. This forms a passage from the eastern land of Jershon into the interior of the land and valley of Sidon which is used by the Nephites as a direct access between these lands. Also upon the north there is the land of Bountiful. The land Bountiful extends up into the narrow neck of land until it borders the land of Desolation.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

             CHAPTER 35
The preaching of the word destroys the craft of the Zoramites—They expel the converts, who then join the people of Ammon in Jershon—Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the people. [About 74 B.C.]

1 NOW it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of ^aJershon^a.
2 Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the ^aZoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon.

1^a they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon Now the highly condensed abridgment of Mormon leaves out much detail for there would be reasons that can only be presumed which did cause the end of the missionary efforts in the great provincial land of Antionum. The entire polictical structure was controlled by those who did oppose the missionary effort and it would seem that for the benefit of the poor, that they might not be more greatly persecuted, that the effort was withdrawn and perhaps also due to the political structure threat to the missionaries also, for they had rejected them. The withdrawal to the land of Jershon was the natural course for them to so withdraw as it was the course by which they would eventually return back by way of the valley of Gideon to the land of Zarahemla. 1^a Alma 28:1
2^a Alma 30:59

3 And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their ^acraft^a; therefore they would not hearken unto the words.
4 And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken.
5 Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.

3^a they were angry because of the word, for it did destory their craft The Zoramites were of the order of priestcraft, as were the Jews at the time of the life of Jesus Christ. And the 'Word' who is Christ was also hated by the Jews for the same reason that thier professions of priestcrafts were so threatens by Christ. And the hierarchy of the Zoramites would not harken unto the 'word', just as the Pharasees and Saducess would not at the time of Christ. And this is also like unto the paid ministries of traditional Christianity today. They will not leave their paid ministries for they love the money and position which their priestcraft does allow them over the people. True Christianity has no paid ministry, but it is by the love of Christ according to one's free will which does govern the members. The Zoramites expelled all who harkened unto the word. The Jews of Jesus day curcified the heir in order to glut themselves upon the people in the supposed name of God. And so do those of traditional Christianity today, they thrive upon their popularity. They live off of the people who pay them their livelihood. They corrupt the true doctrine to make it easy and acceptable unto the more part of the people who do support them in their corruption. 3^a TG Priestcraft

6 And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were ^amany^a; and they came over also into the land of Jershon^b.
7 And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.

6^a those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many Just how many is subdued again by the nature of the abridgment. And one must understand that Antionum was a great provincial land containing a number of sub-lands within it. That is why Alam divided his fellow brethern to spread forth to teach the Zoramites in all of their greater lands. Just how many we must further ascertain by what occured in the next land to which they did go.
6^a they came over also into the land of Jershon Again the course to the land of Jershon was the only logical course given the geography of the land and also the fact that Jershon itself was a great land of much room and distance. Consider that Jershon had housed the Lamanite converts which had come from the land of Nephi and from at least seven lands and major cities of that land, namely Ishmael, Middoni, Nephi, Shilom, Shemlon, Lemuel and Shimnilom. the whole of the land of Jershon bordered round about upon the sea east from the land of Antionun even until the land of Bountiful. It was a great and spaceous land and it was a sea coast land like unto that which the Lamanites were use to in the west in the land of Nephi. And now this great land would also find room in it for the very many Zoramites who had also determined to convert unto the Lord. 6^a Alma 35:14

8 Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the ^apeople of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the ^bchief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land.
9 And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did ^anourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance^a; and they did administer unto them according to their wants.

9^a they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance So large is or was the land of Jershon that the people of Ammon from at least seven lands and cities of the Lamanites did fit well into the land with room to spare, which they now gave unto the many people of the Zoramites for their lands (plural) of inheritance. All these sub-lands of various names are not given but implied according to the numbers of the people of the Ammonites and the Zoramites which needs be considered to be involved. In such a time and space condensed form as in the Book of Mormon, many fail to recognize the great size of the land which is being described in little to no words. 8^a Alma 27:26
   ^b Alma 30:59
9^a Mosiah 4:26; D&C 42:43;
     TG Nourish; TG Welfare

10 Now this did ^astir up the Zoramites to ^banger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them.
11 And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites.
12 And thus ended the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

10^a Alma 47:1; Hel. 1:17
     ^b TG Anger; TG War
12^ [74 B.C.]

13 And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an ^aaccount shall be given of their wars hereafter.
14 And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the ^atwo sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing ^bmany of the ^cZoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands.

13^a Alma 43:3
14^a Alma 31:7
     ^b Alma 35:6
     ^c Alma 30:59

15 Now Alma, being ^agrieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be ^boffended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
16 Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his ^acharge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record.

15^a Alma 31:1
     ^b TG Prophets, Rejection of
16^a TG Stewardship

* Verse 12 [72 B.C.].

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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 35 The preaching of the word destroys the craft of the Zoramites—They expel the converts, who then join the people of Ammon in Jershon—Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the people. [About 74 B.C.]
1 NOW it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of ^aJershon^a. 2 Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the ^aZoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon.	1^a they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon Now the highly condensed abridgment of Mormon leaves out much detail for there would be reasons that can only be presumed which did cause the end of the missionary efforts in the great provincial land of Antionum. The entire polictical structure was controlled by those who did oppose the missionary effort and it would seem that for the benefit of the poor, that they might not be more greatly persecuted, that the effort was withdrawn and perhaps also due to the political structure threat to the missionaries also, for they had rejected them. The withdrawal to the land of Jershon was the natural course for them to so withdraw as it was the course by which they would eventually return back by way of the valley of Gideon to the land of Zarahemla.	1^a Alma 28:1 2^a Alma 30:59
3 And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their ^acraft^a; therefore they would not hearken unto the words. 4 And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken. 5 Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.	3^a they were angry because of the word, for it did destory their craft The Zoramites were of the order of priestcraft, as were the Jews at the time of the life of Jesus Christ. And the 'Word' who is Christ was also hated by the Jews for the same reason that thier professions of priestcrafts were so threatens by Christ. And the hierarchy of the Zoramites would not harken unto the 'word', just as the Pharasees and Saducess would not at the time of Christ. And this is also like unto the paid ministries of traditional Christianity today. They will not leave their paid ministries for they love the money and position which their priestcraft does allow them over the people. True Christianity has no paid ministry, but it is by the love of Christ according to one's free will which does govern the members. The Zoramites expelled all who harkened unto the word. The Jews of Jesus day curcified the heir in order to glut themselves upon the people in the supposed name of God. And so do those of traditional Christianity today, they thrive upon their popularity. They live off of the people who pay them their livelihood. They corrupt the true doctrine to make it easy and acceptable unto the more part of the people who do support them in their corruption.	3^a TG Priestcraft
6 And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were ^amany^a; and they came over also into the land of Jershon^b. 7 And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.	6^a those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many Just how many is subdued again by the nature of the abridgment. And one must understand that Antionum was a great provincial land containing a number of sub-lands within it. That is why Alam divided his fellow brethern to spread forth to teach the Zoramites in all of their greater lands. Just how many we must further ascertain by what occured in the next land to which they did go. 6^a they came over also into the land of Jershon Again the course to the land of Jershon was the only logical course given the geography of the land and also the fact that Jershon itself was a great land of much room and distance. Consider that Jershon had housed the Lamanite converts which had come from the land of Nephi and from at least seven lands and major cities of that land, namely Ishmael, Middoni, Nephi, Shilom, Shemlon, Lemuel and Shimnilom. the whole of the land of Jershon bordered round about upon the sea east from the land of Antionun even until the land of Bountiful. It was a great and spaceous land and it was a sea coast land like unto that which the Lamanites were use to in the west in the land of Nephi. And now this great land would also find room in it for the very many Zoramites who had also determined to convert unto the Lord.	6^a Alma 35:14
8 Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the ^apeople of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the ^bchief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land. 9 And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did ^anourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance^a; and they did administer unto them according to their wants.	9^a they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance So large is or was the land of Jershon that the people of Ammon from at least seven lands and cities of the Lamanites did fit well into the land with room to spare, which they now gave unto the many people of the Zoramites for their lands (plural) of inheritance. All these sub-lands of various names are not given but implied according to the numbers of the people of the Ammonites and the Zoramites which needs be considered to be involved. In such a time and space condensed form as in the Book of Mormon, many fail to recognize the great size of the land which is being described in little to no words.	8^a Alma 27:26 ^b Alma 30:59 9^a Mosiah 4:26; D&C 42:43; TG Nourish; TG Welfare
10 Now this did ^astir up the Zoramites to ^banger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them. 11 And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites. 12 And thus ended the *seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.		10^a Alma 47:1; Hel. 1:17 ^b TG Anger; TG War 12^* [74 B.C.]
13 And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an ^aaccount shall be given of their wars hereafter. 14 And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the ^atwo sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing ^bmany of the ^cZoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands.		13^a Alma 43:3 14^a Alma 31:7 ^b Alma 35:6 ^c Alma 30:59
15 Now Alma, being ^agrieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be ^boffended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful. 16 Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his ^acharge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record.		15^a Alma 31:1 ^b TG Prophets, Rejection of 16^a TG Stewardship
* Verse 12 [72 B.C.].