Alma 13

“That Ye May Enter into That Rest”

In this life, we have many cares and troubles. The Lord is there to help us and desires that we enter into His rest. Alma explained that the Lord ordained high priests to teach the commandments and perform ordinances so the people could enter into the rest of the Lord. This lesson can help you understand what it means to enter into the rest of the Lord and how you can do so.

Helping students understand symbols that point to Jesus Christ. The scriptures are full of symbols that point to Jesus Christ. Ask questions to help students recognize these symbols, and refer to prophetic commentary when available. Discuss what the symbols teach about the Savior.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to think about how they have been blessed through a Church leader or by participating in an ordinance of the gospel.

Possible Learning Activities

The rest of the Lord

The purpose of the following activity is to prepare students to understand the rest of the Lord. You and students could share experiences of benefiting from rest.

• When is a time you have benefited from rest?

The scriptures often speak of the Lord’s rest. The Lord’s rest refers to “the fulness of his glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:24). The Lord’s rest also refers to “the enjoyment of peace and freedom from worry and turmoil. The Lord has promised such rest to His faithful followers during this life. He has also prepared a place of rest for them in the next life” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Rest,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

To have peace and freedom from worry and turmoil does not mean life will be free of trials. Read Matthew 11:28–30, looking for what the Lord teaches about His rest during the difficulties of life.

Provide students some time to reflect on how they could benefit from the Lord’s rest right now in their lives. They might even record some of their thoughts in their study journal.

Think about your current circumstances.

• How could you benefit from experiencing the Lord’s rest?

Alma invited the people of Ammonihah to repent and not harden their hearts so they could be forgiven and enter into the rest of the Lord (see Alma 12:33–37). As you study Alma 13, look for what the Lord has provided to help you enter into His rest in this life and in the life to come.

Consider dividing the class in half, assigning one half to study Alma 13:1–2, 6 about priesthood leaders and the other half to study Alma 13:16 about priesthood ordinances. This could help students quickly identify the two principles and list them on the board before you discuss them as a class. Another approach is to prepare content from each principle for students to study in pairs or groups before reporting their learning to other students. This may allow time to discuss Alma 13:27–30 later in the lesson.

Priesthood leaders help us enter into the Lord’s rest

The people of Ammonihah considered themselves to be “after the order and faith of Nehor” (Alma 14:16). Because of this, they believed they could be saved without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and they replaced the priesthood with a false order Alma called “priestcraft” (see Alma 1:3–4, 12, 16). To correct their false beliefs, Alma taught them how “the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order” (Alma 13:1).

Read Alma 13:1–2, 6, looking for why the Lord ordains priesthood leaders.

• What are some reasons why the Lord calls priesthood leaders?

From these verses, we learn that the Savior calls priesthood leaders to help us look to Him for redemption and to teach His commandments so we can enter into His rest.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Because of His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ has the power and authority to redeem all mankind. To make His atoning power accessible, He has delegated a portion of His power and authority to men on earth. This delegated power and authority is called priesthood. (Dale G. Renlund, “The Priesthood and the Savior’s Atoning Power,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 64)

• What does this quote help you understand about why God continues to call people to hold the priesthood in our day?

The high priests Alma spoke of were “called and prepared from the foundation of the world … on account of their exceeding faith and good works” (Alma 13:3). At the same time, others “would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts” (Alma 13:4).

Other Church leaders, such as Relief Society, Young Women, and Sunday School leaders, serve with delegated priesthood authority. Serving alongside priesthood leaders, they help guide individuals and families to come unto Christ.

To answer the following question, students could create a list as a class or answer in small groups. You may also consider inviting a local Church leader to come to class and share what he or she does to help others look to Jesus Christ.

• What are some ways Church leaders help us look to Jesus Christ and enter into His rest?

Priesthood ordinances help us enter into the Lord’s rest

Alma referenced the righteous examples of the high priests and how they “were sanctified” (Alma 13:11) and “made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God” (Alma 13:12). Alma then specifically referenced Melchizedek as an example of a righteous priesthood leader. Note that Melchizedek’s people initially were wicked like the people of Ammonihah (see Alma 8:9; 13:17).

Read Alma 13:14–19, looking for how Melchizedek served his people.

• What similarities do you notice between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ?

• According to verse 16, what is one purpose of priesthood ordinances?

From verse 16 we learn that priesthood ordinances help us look to Jesus Christ for a remission of sins so we can enter into His rest.

It may be helpful to display pictures of various priesthood ordinances being performed and discuss how they help us “look forward on the Son of God” (Alma 13:16). Help students reflect on their participation in ordinances and how they have felt the Savior’s rest.

President Russell M. Nelson taught how some priesthood ordinances help us look to Jesus Christ. Watch the video “The Atonement” from time code 13:22 to 13:51, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the text below.

Essential ordinances of the gospel symbolize the Atonement. Baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Redeemer. Partaking of the sacrament renews baptismal covenants and also renews our memory of the Savior’s broken flesh and of the blood He shed for us. Ordinances of the temple symbolize our reconciliation with the Lord and seal families together forever. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 35)

• What did you learn from President Nelson about priesthood ordinances?

• When have you felt close to the Savior by participating in a priesthood ordinance?

That ye may enter into His rest

Like the priests described in Alma 13:1–19, Alma diligently sought to help the people prepare to enter into the Lord’s rest. He reminded them that the Lord would soon come (see Alma 13:21–26). Alma desired with “great anxiety even unto pain, that they would hearken unto [his] words” (Alma 13:27).

Read Alma 13:27–30, looking for what Alma invited the people to do.

• Which of Alma’s invitations (pick a specific invitation) do you think can help us enter into the Lord’s rest?

  You could also invite students to ask any questions they may have about Alma’s teachings and work together as a class to answer them.

  The following question is intended for personal reflection. Invite students to act on the invitation they feel could help them most and to look for how doing so will help them to receive the Lord’s rest.

• What have you learned from Alma 13 that could help you in your life right now?

Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to know what you can do to apply what you have learned to enter into the rest of the Lord.

Imagine you are talking with a friend who is worried about a problem he or she is facing. What would you share with your friend from your study of Alma 13 to help them enter into the Lord’s rest? Include at least one verse from Alma 13 in your response.

Commentary and Background Information

How can I enter into God’s rest?

President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) taught how we can enter God’s rest while in mortality:

The ancient prophets speak of “entering into God’s rest” [see Alma 12:34; Doctrine and Covenants 84:23–24]; what does it mean? To my mind, 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. … The man who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has entered into “God’s rest.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 56)

What is the purpose of the priesthood?

You could watch the video “How the Priesthood Works” (3:45), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to learn more about the purpose of the priesthood.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alma 13:3–5. Foreordination

Invite students to share what they know about the premortal life and the doctrine of foreordination. Consider inviting them to study Alma 13:3–5, looking for how the doctrine of the priesthood relates to the doctrine of foreordination and why some individuals were not called or foreordained. Help students to understand that the doctrine of foreordination applies to both men and women (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 215–16).

Alma 13:28. “Not be tempted above that which ye can bear”

Consider displaying the phrase “we will not be tempted above what we are able to bear” and asking students to share what they think of when they read this statement. Invite them to read Alma 13:28, looking for what we must do for this statement to be true. Students may also benefit from reading or cross-referencing this passage in their scriptures with 1 Corinthians 10:13; 3 Nephi 18:15; or Doctrine and Covenants 10:5.

You could use some of the following questions to help students increase their understanding: What do you think it means to “watch and pray continually”? Why do you think we need to humble ourselves and watch and pray continually to be able to resist any temptation that comes to us? How can understanding this truth change your view and response to trials and temptations?

Alma’s example as a priesthood leader

Students may benefit from discussing how Alma was an example of the following principle: the Savior calls priesthood leaders to help us look to Him for redemption and to teach His commandments so we can enter into His rest.

Read Alma 8:9–10, 30–32; 12:34–37; 13:27, looking for words and phrases that illustrate how Alma exemplified the principle.

Students could also talk about Church leaders they know who exemplify the principle.