Illustration of Alma and Amulek being delivered from prison, by Andrew Bosley

June 15–21

Alma 13–16

“Enter into the Rest of the Lord”

The inspiration you receive as you ponder the scriptures is precious. You can show that you treasure it by recording and acting on it.

Record Your Impressions

In many ways, life in Ammonihah had been good for both Amulek and Zeezrom. Amulek was “a man of no small reputation,” with “many kindreds and friends” and “much riches” (Alma 10:4). Zeezrom was “one of the most expert” among the lawyers and enjoyed “much business” (Alma 10:31). Then Alma arrived in Ammonihah with a divine invitation to repent and “enter into the rest of the Lord” (Alma 13:16). For Amulek, Zeezrom, and others, accepting this invitation required sacrifice and even led to almost unbearable adversity.

But of course the story doesn’t end there. In Alma 13–16, we learn what ultimately happens to those who believe “in the power of Christ unto salvation” (Alma 15:6). Sometimes there’s deliverance, sometimes healing—and sometimes things don’t get any easier in this life. But always, “the Lord receiveth [His people] up unto himself, in glory” (Alma 14:11). Always, the Lord grants “power, according to [our] faith which [is] in Christ” (Alma 14:28). And always, that “faith on the Lord” gives us “hope that [we] shall receive eternal life” (Alma 13:29). As you read these chapters, you can take comfort in these promises, and you may come to understand better what Alma meant when he spoke of “the rest of the Lord.”

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Alma 13:1–19

Priesthood ordinances help me receive redemption through Jesus Christ.

You might recall that in Alma 12, Alma taught about God’s plan of redemption (see Alma 12:24–27). In chapter 13, he spoke about the priests whom God ordained “to teach these things unto the people” (Alma 13:1). Alma’s words reveal many powerful truths about the priesthood. Perhaps you could try to identify at least one truth per verse in Alma 13:1–9. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Verse 1.The priesthood is also called “the order of [God’s] Son” (see also Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4).

Verse 2.God ordains priests to help people look to His Son for redemption.

Verse 3.Priesthood holders were prepared for their responsibilities “from the foundation of the world.”

What else do you find? How do you feel about the priesthood as you ponder these truths? How have priesthood ordinances helped you look to Christ for redemption?

It’s interesting to note that many of the people in Ammonihah were followers of Nehor (see Alma 14:18; 15:15). How were priests of Nehor’s order (see Alma 1:3–6) different from the priests ordained “after the Order of the Son of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:3), whom Alma described? (see Alma 13:1–19).

See also Dale G. Renlund, “The Priesthood and the Savior’s Atoning Power,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 64–67.

Priesthood ordinances help us look to Jesus Christ for redemption.

Alma 13:3

Are priesthood holders the only people “called and prepared from the foundation of the world”?

Alma’s teachings in Alma 13:3 refer specifically to priesthood holders. However, the principle he taught—that individuals received assignments and prepared to fulfill them “from the foundation of the world”—applies to all of us. President Spencer W. Kimball said: “In the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 215–16; see also Doctrine and Covenants 138:55–56).

Alma 14

Sometimes God allows the righteous to suffer.

Alma 14 tells of righteous people who suffered and even died because of their beliefs. You might wonder, as many do, why terrible things happen to people who are trying to live righteously. You may not find all the answers to this difficult question in Alma 14, but there is much to learn from the way Alma and Amulek responded to the situations they faced. What do their words and actions teach you about why the Lord sometimes allows righteous people to suffer? What do you learn from them about facing persecution?

See also Matthew 5:43–44; Mark 14:55–65; Romans 8:35–39; 1 Peter 4:12–14; Doctrine and Covenants 122:5–9.

Alma 15:16, 18

Discipleship requires sacrifice.

It might be interesting to make a list of the things Amulek gave up to embrace the gospel (see Alma 10:4–5; 15:16) and compare it to a list of what he gained (see Alma 15:18; 16:13–15; 34:8). What are you willing to sacrifice in order to become a more faithful disciple?

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening

As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some ideas.

Alma 13

Your family might benefit from noting every time the word “rest” appears in Alma 13. What other words and ideas appear with it? How does this help us understand what “the rest of the Lord” might mean? How is it different from physical rest?

Alma 13:10–12

To help your family visualize what these verses teach, maybe you could wash something together—like some white clothing. How do we feel when we are dirty? How do we feel when we become clean again? How are these feelings similar to what we feel when we sin and then repent and become clean through the Savior’s Atonement?

Alma 15:1–12

What do we learn from Zeezrom’s experience about the Lord’s power to strengthen and heal us, even when we make mistakes? What role can the priesthood play in our receiving His strength and healing?

Alma 16:1–10

After reading these verses, you might read Alma 9:4. What do we learn by contrasting the way Zoram felt about the prophet’s words with the way the people of Ammonihah felt? What are we doing to be faithful to the words of our living prophet?

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Improving Our Teaching

Be ready always. Teaching moments pass quickly, so take advantage of them when they arise. A tragedy in the world, for example, may be a chance to share principles from Alma 14 about why the Lord sometimes allows the innocent to suffer. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 16.)

Alma and Amulek in Prison, by Gary L. Kapp