Seminary
Alma 32–35: Overview

“Alma 32–35: Overview,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Alma 32–35,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Alma 32–35

Overview

As Alma taught the Zoramites, he compared the word of God to a seed we can plant in our hearts that can eventually become “a tree springing up unto everlasting life” (Alma 32:41). The poor among the Zoramites asked him how “they should begin to exercise their faith” (Alma 33:1), and he taught them that they could pray and worship in all places. He and Amulek testified of Jesus Christ, and Amulek taught that all people are hardened, fallen, and lost without Christ’s infinite and eternal sacrifice. Amulek pleaded with the Zoramites to not procrastinate the day of their repentance.

Prepare to Teach

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

Alma 32

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students plant the word of God in their hearts and nourish their testimony of it.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to ask a loved one who has a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ what has helped him or her receive or strengthen it.

  • Content to display: The three statements with blanks at the beginning of the lesson

  • Handout: “Planting and Nourishing the Word of God in Our Hearts”

  • Image: The growth stages of a tree

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: After students read Alma 32:28, let them observe you planting several seeds in a pot of dry dirt. Then as students read verses 37–43, invite them to list things that will help those seeds grow. To begin each videoconference lesson over the next few weeks, invite two or three students to briefly share something they have recently done to nourish their testimony of the word of God. When each student shares, do something that will help nourish the seeds you planted, such as adding a little water or moving the pot to a place with more light.

Alma 33

Lesson purpose: This lesson can deepen students’ understanding of steps they can take to exercise more faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read Alma 33 at home and choose a verse or group of verses they would like to understand better.

  • Content to display: The three options for lesson preparation, either displayed or copied on the board

  • Handout: “Lesson Preparation Ideas”

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Invite students to turn their sound and cameras off as they prepare their lessons. After the allotted time, ask them to turn their cameras and sound back on and place them in breakout rooms. Invite one or two willing students in each breakout room to teach their lessons.

Alma 34:1–17

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students understand how Jesus Christ can bless them through His infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice.

  • Student preparation: Invite the students to find and study scriptures that help them better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Topical Guide and Guide to the Scriptures could be useful resources.

  • Image: Jesus Christ in Gethsemane

  • Content to display: Diagram about the Atonement of Jesus Christ

  • Videos: “The Atonement of Jesus Christ Is Infinite and Eternal” (1:09); “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” (11:46; watch from time code 3:59 to 4:27)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider adjusting the study activity at the end of the lesson to include different scriptures or more recent statements from Church leaders.

Doctrinal Mastery: Alma 34:9–10

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for Alma 34:9–10, explain the doctrine taught in these verses, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to realistic scenarios using this scripture passage.

  • Student preparation: Consider inviting students to think of how the truths taught in Alma 34:9–10 and the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge could help people who feel they cannot be forgiven for their sins.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: During the practice application activity, consider dividing students into three breakout rooms and assigning each group to focus on one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Students from each group could list all the ways they think this principle could help Olive in her situation. Then invite members of each group to report what they discussed with the rest of the class.

Alma 34:17–41

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students in their efforts to prepare to meet God.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read Alma 34:32 and think of ways they can follow the counsel in the verse. They could write down some of the ways they are preparing to return to the presence of God and the changes they could make that would help them be better prepared.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: As students identify principles from Alma 34:17–41, consider using the whiteboard function to allow them to write the principles they found.