Unit 60

God

79 occurrences in 65 verses

Alma 30:3, 7, 9, 28, 29, 32, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54,

Alma 31:5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30,

Alma 32:1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 22,

Alma 33:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23,

Alma 34:2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 14, 17, 32, 34, 37, 38,

Alma 35:14

Alma 30:3

Yea, and the people did observe to keep the commandments of the Lord;

and they were strict in observing the ordinances of God,

according to the law of Moses;

for they were taught to keep the law of Moses until it should be fulfilled.

Alma 30:7

Now there was no law against a man's belief;

for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God

that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds.

Alma 30:9

Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege;

or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him;

but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him.

Alma 30:28

Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own

lest they should offend their priests,

who do yoke them according to their desires,

and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams

and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries,

that they should, if they did not do according to their words,

offend some unknown being, who they say is God —

a being who never has been seen or known,

who never was nor ever will be.

Alma 30:29

Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart,

yea, when they saw that he would revile even against God,

they would not make any reply to his words;

but they caused that he should be bound;

and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers,

and sent him to the land of Zarahemla,

that he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge

who was governor over all the land.

Alma 30:32

Now Alma said unto him:

Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people;

for behold I have labored

even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now,

with mine own hands for my support,

notwithstanding my many travels round about the land

to declare the word of God unto my people.

Alma 30:37

And then Alma said unto him:

Believest thou that there is a God?

Alma 30:39

Now Alma said unto him:

Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ?

For behold, I say unto you,

I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.

Alma 30:40

And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not?

I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

Alma 30:42

Behold, I know that thou believest,

but thou art possessed with a lying spirit,

and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you;

but the devil has power over you,

and he doth carry you about,

working devices that he may destroy the children of God.

Alma 30:43

And now Korihor said unto Alma:

If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God,

yea, show unto me that he hath power,

and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

Alma 30:44

But Alma said unto him:

Thou hast had signs enough;

will ye tempt your God?

Will ye say,

Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren,

and also all the holy prophets?

The scriptures are laid before thee,

yea, and all things denote there is a God;

yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it,

yea, and its motion,

yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form

do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

Alma 30:45

And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people,

testifying unto them there is no God?

And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses?

And he said:

Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

Alma 30:47

But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost

than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction,

by thy lying and by thy flattering words;

therefore if thou shalt deny again,

behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb,

that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more,

that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.

Alma 30:48

Now Korihor said unto him:

I do not deny the existence of a God,

but I do not believe that there is a God;

and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God;

and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe.

Alma 30:49

Now Alma said unto him:

This will I give unto thee for a sign,

that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words;

and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb,

that ye shall no more have utterance.

Alma 30:51

And now when the chief judge saw this,

he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying:

Art thou convinced of the power of God?

In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth his sign?

Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee a sign?

Behold, he has showed unto you a sign;

and now will ye dispute more?

Alma 30:52

And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying:

I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak;

and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me;

yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

Alma 30:53

But behold, the devil hath deceived me;

for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me:

Go and reclaim this people,

for they have all gone astray after an unknown God.

And he said unto me:

There is no God;

yea, and he taught me that which I should say.

And I have taught his words;

and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind;

and I taught them, even until I had much success,

insomuch that I verily believed that they were true;

and for this cause I withstood the truth,

even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

Alma 30:54

Now when he had said this,

he besought that Alma should pray unto God,

that the curse might be taken from him.

Alma 31:5

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency

to lead the people to do that which was just —

yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people

than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them —

therefore Alma thought it was expedient

that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

Alma 31:8

Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites;

therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them.

Alma 31:9

But they had fallen into great errors,

for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes,

according to the law of Moses.

Alma 31:10

Neither would they observe the performances of the church,

to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily,

that they might not enter into temptation.

Alma 31:15

Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God,

and we believe that thou art holy,

and that thou wast a spirit,

and that thou art a spirit,

and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

Alma 31:16

Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren;

and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren,

which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers;

but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children;

and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.

Alma 31:17

But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever;

and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved,

whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell;

for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee;

and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us,

that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren,

which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ,

which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.

Alma 31:18

And again we thank thee, O God,

that we are a chosen and a holy people.

Amen.

Alma 31:22

Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto God,

thanking their God that they were chosen of him,

and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren,

and that their hearts were not stolen away

to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about.

Alma 31:23

Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner,

they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again

until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand,

to offer up thanks after their manner.

Alma 31:27

Behold, O God, they cry unto thee,

and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride.

Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths,

while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world.

Alma 31:28

Behold, O my God, their costly apparel,

and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold,

and all their precious things which they are ornamented with;

and behold, their hearts are set upon them,

and yet they cry unto thee and say —

We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee,

while others shall perish.

Alma 31:30

O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer

that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people?

O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities.

For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.

Alma 32:1

And it came to pass that they did go forth,

and began to preach the word of God unto the people,

entering into their synagogues, and into their houses;

yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

Alma 32:3

Therefore they were not permitted

to enter into their synagogues to worship God,

being esteemed as filthiness;

therefore they were poor;

yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross;

therefore they were poor as to things of the world;

and also they were poor in heart.

Alma 32:5

And they came unto Alma;

and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him:

Behold, what shall these my brethren do,

for they are despised of all men because of their poverty,

yea, and more especially by our priests;

for they have cast us out of our synagogues

which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands;

and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty;

and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?

Alma 32:9

Behold thy brother hath said,

What shall we do? —

for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.

Alma 32:10

Behold I say unto you,

do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

Alma 32:11

And moreover, I would ask,

do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?

Alma 32:16

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves

without being compelled to be humble;

or rather, in other words, blessed is he

that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart,

yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know,

before they will believe.

Alma 32:19

And now, how much more cursed is he

that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not,

than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe,

and falleth into transgression?

Alma 32:22

And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember,

that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name;

therefore he desireth, in the first place,

that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

Alma 33:1

Now after Alma had spoken these words,

they sent forth unto him desiring to know

whether they should believe in one God,

that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken,

or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken,

which he said must be planted in their hearts;

or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

Alma 33:2

And Alma said unto them:

Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God

because ye are cast out of your synagogues.

But behold, I say unto you,

if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err,

and ye ought to search the scriptures;

if ye suppose that they have taught you this,

ye do not understand them.

Alma 33:4

For he said:

Thou art merciful, O God,

for thou hast heard my prayer,

even when I was in the wilderness;

yea, thou wast merciful

when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies,

and thou didst turn them to me.

Alma 33:5

Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me

when I did cry unto thee in my field;

when I did cry unto thee in my prayer,

and thou didst hear me.

Alma 33:6

And again, O God, when I did turn to my house

thou didst hear me in my prayer.

Alma 33:9

Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me,

and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.

Alma 33:14

Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures?

If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

Alma 33:17

And now, my brethren, ye see

that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God,

and because the people would not understand his words

they stoned him to death.

Alma 33:18

But behold, this is not all;

these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

Alma 33:22

If so, wo shall come upon you;

but if not so, then cast about your eyes

and begin to believe in the Son of God,

that he will come to redeem his people,

and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins;

and that he shall rise again from the dead,

which shall bring to pass the resurrection,

that all men shall stand before him,

to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

Alma 33:23

And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts,

and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith.

And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life.

And then may God grant unto you

that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.

And even all this can ye do if ye will.

Amen.

Alma 34:2

My brethren, I think that it is impossible

that ye should be ignorant of the things

which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ,

who is taught by us to be the Son of God;

yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully

before your dissension from among us.

Alma 34:5

And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds

is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.

Alma 34:7

My brother has called upon the words of Zenos,

that redemption cometh through the Son of God,

and also upon the words of Zenock;

and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.

Alma 34:8

And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true.

Behold, I say unto you, that I do know

that Christ shall come among the children of men,

to take upon him the transgressions of his people,

and that he shall atone for the sins of the world;

for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Alma 34:9

For it is expedient that an atonement should be made;

for according to the great plan of the Eternal God

there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish;

yea, all are hardened;

yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish

except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

Alma 34:14

And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law,

every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice;

and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God,

yea, infinite and eternal.

Alma 34:17

Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren,

that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance,

that ye begin to call upon his holy name,

that he would have mercy upon you;

Alma 34:32

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;

yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Alma 34:34

Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis,

that I will repent,

that I will return to my God.

Nay, ye cannot say this;

for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies

at the time that ye go out of this life,

that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

Alma 34:37

And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things,

and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God,

and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;

Alma 34:38

That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost,

but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ;

that ye humble yourselves even to the dust,

and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in,

in spirit and in truth;

and that ye live in thanksgiving daily,

for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

Alma 35:14

And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma

returned to the land of Zarahemla,

after having been instruments in the hands of God

of bringing many of the Zoramites 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.