Seminary
Alma 30–31: Overview

“Alma 30–31: Overview,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Alma 30–31,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Alma 30–31

Overview

A wicked man named Korihor came among the Nephites. He preached against the prophecies about Jesus Christ and led many people’s hearts away from God. He was taken before Alma, and Alma testified that “all things denote there is a God” (Alma 30:44). Korihor denied the existence of God until he was struck dumb by God’s power. Meanwhile, the Zoramites, who had once belonged to the true Church of God, began to believe in false teachings. Their corrupt form of worship drew their hearts away from God and led them to mistreat others. After hearing that the Zoramites had “fallen into great errors” (Alma 31:9), Alma made plans to use the power of the word of God to invite them to return to Jesus Christ.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Alma 30:1–29

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students recognize and reject teachings that could lead them away from Jesus Christ.

  • Student preparation: Students could talk with a family member or Church leader about ways to recognize false teachings.

  • Videos: “True to the Faith” (20:17; watch from time code 00:00 to 2:30); “The Divine Gift of Repentance” (15:22; watch from time code 2:08 to 2:40)

  • Image: A maka-feke

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using breakout rooms to allow students to work in pairs or small groups as they discuss anti-Christ messages they have encountered. Each group could select a spokesperson to share with the class what their group discussed.

Alma 30:30–60

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students recognize evidence that God exists and choose to believe in Him.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read Alma 30:40–41 or Moses 6:63. Ask them to look for evidence of God in their surroundings and maybe take a picture to show in class.

  • Images: Images that provide evidence of God’s existence

  • Videos: “All Things Denote There Is a God” (11:16; watch from time codes 3:22 to 5:16, 5:23 to 7:13, and 7:13 to 11:16); “Come, Follow Me” (17:50; watch from time code 14:24 to 14:56)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to display a picture or item that testifies of God and to explain why they chose it.

Alma 31:1–11

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students rely on the power of the word of God to remain faithful to Jesus Christ.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to talk to someone about how the word of God has helped them remain faithful in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • Video: “Daily Restoration” (13:43; watch from time code 1:40 to 3:25)

  • Handout: “Alma’s Plan to Teach the Zoramites”

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: For Alma’s goal to help the Zoramites return to the Lord, students are invited to create a vision board: a visual representation of the goal, the motivation for it, and the details about accomplishing it. Consider looking up examples of vision boards on the internet and sharing these with students.

Alma 31:12–38

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students improve their relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they evaluate how pride and humility influence their relationship with Them and with others.

  • Student preparation: In preparation to study Alma 31, invite students to pray, focusing on the needs of others.

  • Image: Images of students worshipping; an image of the Rameumptom

  • Content to display: The chart about prayer, either displayed or copied on the board

  • Video: “Alma and His Brethren Preach the Word of God among the Zoramites” (6:07; watch from time codes 0:22 to 3:58 and 4:03 to 5:55)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using the whiteboard function to display the chart about prayer. Invite students to add to the chart throughout the lesson and to copy it into their study journals.

Doctrinal Mastery Review 14

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students memorize multiple scripture references and key scripture phrases from the final 12 doctrinal mastery passages in the Book of Mormon.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to select and memorize a doctrinal mastery passage that could help them feel close to the Savior or help them with a current need.

  • Handout: “Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery: Alma–Moroni”

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider displaying content from the Doctrinal Mastery app and working through the activities as a class.