Alma 14

“Be It According to the Will of the Lord”

Because we live in a fallen world, many people are treated harshly and unfairly. As Alma and Amulek taught the gospel of Jesus Christ in the city of Ammonihah, wicked people tormented the believers and put them to death by fire. Alma and Amulek were then imprisoned and severely persecuted. The purpose of this lesson is to help you trust in the Lord when facing hardship, suffering, and unfairness.

Teaching by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost testifies of all truth and bears witness of the Father and the Son. President Henry B. Eyring taught, “Our students cannot know of God, and so love as they must love, unless they are taught by the Holy Spirit” (“To Know and to Love God” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 26, 2010], 2).

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on any trials they have endured. Encourage them to think about how their trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ helped them or could have helped them endure their trials.

Possible Learning Activities

Mortal challenges

Read the following statement by Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the Seventy:

Regardless of where you live, physical or emotional suffering from a variety of trials and mortal weaknesses has been, is now, or will someday be part of your life. (Anthony D. Perkins, “Remember Thy Suffering Saints, O Our God,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 103)

Encourage students to think of as many answers to the following question as possible, and consider listing them on the board.

• What are some different ways we can respond to trials?

Alma 14 is an account of righteous people who experienced severe trials. Most of these trials were forced upon them by people who misused their agency. As you study, consider how the truths you discover from the examples of Alma, Amulek, and other righteous people can help you respond to trials now and in the future.

Consider writing the following names on the board. Invite students to come to the board and write what each suffered as described in Alma 14:1–9. If you use the video “Zeezrom Believes, and the Righteous Are Persecuted” (3:51), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, consider pausing at time code 2:03.

• Alma and Amulek

• Zeezrom

• Believers in the word of God

Read Alma 14:1–9, looking for examples of the suffering different people experienced. You may also want to watch the video “Zeezrom Believes, and the Righteous Are Persecuted” (3:51), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• What questions might you have if you experienced trials like some of these people’s?

Consider using the supplemental learning activity titled “Alma 14:11. Eternal perspective” to help students review how to examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

Trusting in the Lord

We can respond in many ways when we experience suffering or witness the suffering of others. Read Alma 14:10–11, looking for how Amulek and Alma responded to the suffering of the believers.

• Have you ever wanted to save yourself or others from the pain of a trial, as Amulek did? Why?

• What do you learn about God from Alma’s response in verse 11?

Read Alma 14:12–13, looking for a truth Alma taught about how to respond when we experience suffering.

• How did Alma’s words show trust in the Lord?

• What principle can we learn from Alma’s example?

One principle we can learn is when we experience trials and suffering, we can choose to trust in the Lord no matter the outcome. Consider recording this principle in your study journal and marking the phrase “Be it according to the will of the Lord” in your scriptures.

• In what ways do you think trusting in the Lord is a choice?

• How might you apply the phrase “Be it according to the will of the Lord” to something you are currently experiencing?

Think of how you could help students evaluate their ability to trust in the Lord during their trials. Consider listing the following statements on the board, and allow students time to quietly self-evaluate.

Think about your life and circumstances. What do you do when you or those you love experience persecution, trials, or unfairness? Respond to the following statements with always, sometimes, or never.

1. I trust in the Lord’s will and timing when praying for relief from my trials.

2. I faithfully seek patience and understanding when life seems unfair.

3. I center my faith in Jesus Christ and His eternal promises rather than in a particular outcome I hope for.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a perspective that can help us trust the Lord during our trials. Watch the video “Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness” from time code 9:02 to 9:33, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the following:

We all participated in the councils of heaven that provided for moral agency, knowing that there would be mortal pain and even unspeakable tragedy because of the abuse of agency. We understood that this could leave us angry, bewildered, defenseless, and vulnerable. But we also knew that the Savior’s Atonement would overcome and compensate for all of the unfairness of mortal life and bring us peace. (Quentin L. Cook, “Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 33–34)

• What have you learned that can help you when you experience suffering or become aware of the suffering of others?

Ensure that students understand the following information as part of the discussion.

It is important to remember that if you are being hurt or abused in any way, you should seek assistance from a parent or Church leader so they can help you resolve the problem. The Lord loves you and wants you to feel peace and happiness.

Continuing with faith and trust in the Lord

After Alma and Amulek were forced to witness the burning of the righteous believers, they were mocked, beaten, and imprisoned by the rulers of Ammonihah (see Alma 14:14–17).

Decide how best to engage students in your class as they study the following verses. Students may enjoy reading together or listening to an audio version and following along.

If students could benefit from comparing this account to the life of the Savior, consider using the supplemental teaching activity “Alma 14:14–24. Following the example of Jesus Christ.”

Read Alma 14:18–29, looking for how Alma and Amulek trusted in the Lord during their suffering. You may also want to watch the video “Alma and Amulek Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison” (2:45), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• How did Alma and Amulek continue to trust in the Lord during their afflictions?

Who do you know?

Consider dividing students into pairs and inviting them to share about people they know who are good examples of trusting the Lord during trials. Students could also share ideas about how they can better trust in the Lord during their trials.

Think of someone in your life who strives to trust the Lord during trials and afflictions. What can you learn from his or her example? What similarities do you see between this person’s response and how Alma and Amulek responded to adversity?

Write one or two specific things you can do to better trust in the Lord when life is difficult or seems unfair. Consider placing what you write somewhere you will see it often.

Commentary and Background Information

How can Jesus Christ help me when life is unfair?

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

Because Jesus Christ endured the infinite atoning sacrifice, He empathizes perfectly with us. He is always aware of us and our circumstances.

In mortality, we can “come boldly” to the Savior and receive compassion, healing, and help [see Hebrews 4:16]. Even while we suffer inexplicably, God can bless us in simple, ordinary, and significant ways. As we learn to recognize these blessings, our trust in God will increase. In the eternities, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will resolve all unfairness. We understandably want to know how and when. How are They going to do that? When are They going to do it? To my knowledge, They have not revealed how or when. What I do know is that They will.

In unfair situations, one of our tasks is to trust that “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” [Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2018), 52]. Jesus Christ overcame the world and “absorbed” all unfairness. Because of Him, we can have peace in this world and be of good cheer. (Dale G. Renlund, “Infuriating Unfairness,” Liahona, May 2021, 43)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alma 14:11. Eternal perspective

It may be beneficial for students to review the second principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge, examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective. For example, you could invite students to imagine that someone close to them has experienced a tragedy and asks, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Students could then use the truths and principles from Alma 14:11 to help their friend reframe the question with an eternal perspective.

Alma 14:13. “Be it according to the will of the Lord.”

If students could benefit from analyzing the meaning and significance of this phrase further, consider inviting them to search the scriptures for similar statements and ideas. For example, you could list the following references on the board and divide them among students. You could invite students to share what they learned and how it relates to Alma’s statement of faith in Alma 14:13.

• Daniel 3:12–18

• Matthew 26:36–39

• 1 Nephi 18:11–16

• Joseph Smith—History 1:22–25

• The tarring and feathering of Edward Partridge (see Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 179–80)

Alma 14:14–24. Following the example of Jesus Christ

Alma 14:14–24 contains a powerful story of Alma and Amulek following the example of Jesus Christ. You could invite students to read 1 Nephi 19:9 and link it to Alma 14:14–24 in their scriptures. Students could then analyze Alma 14:14–24, looking for similarities between the Savior’s response to suffering (see Matthew 26:57–67; 27:26–31) and Alma and Amulek’s response. Consider identifying the following principle and then inviting students to think of people they know who strive to live that way: When we experience suffering and afflictions, we can choose to humbly follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Journalists

After students complete the reading assignment in Alma 14:18–29, consider inviting them to imagine they are journalists with an opportunity to interview Alma and Amulek about their experiences in the city of Ammonihah. Encourage students to think of questions they might ask Amulek and Alma concerning what they learned about the Lord and how to better trust Him during trials. List those questions on the board. You could then divide students into groups of four to role-play, with two students playing the role of journalists and two students playing the role of Alma and Amulek. Students acting as journalists could use the questions on the board for the interview. You could encourage students acting as Alma and Amulek to use principles and ideas from Alma 14 to help them respond.