Part 3 - Allegories in the Book of Alma

Christ's mortal and post-mortal ministries

Alma 4:

• Alma (Christ) hands over governing role and "condescends" to focus on his duties as High Priest
• (chapter 5 preface)
• The words which Alma, the High Priest according to the holy order of God, delivered to the people in their cities and villages throughout the land.
• 18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah.
• 19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

Alma 5-6:

• Christ's mortal ministry among the Jews, as well as Jacob 5:16-18
• Alma (Christ) consecrated (anointed) by his father to be a high priest
• 3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things…
• 50 Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men.
• Atonement of Christ
• 9 And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved.
• 34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye         shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
• Division between followers of Christ and followers of Satan
• 38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.
• 39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.
• Temple imagery reminds readers of the endowment ceremony and the Fall
• 7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.
• 24 Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
• 34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye         shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
• 44 For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus;
• Alma preaches the same things Christ taught
• Alma teaches the way to reverse the effects of the Fall and bring the new Millennium

Alma 7-15:

• Christ's post-mortal ministries among the lost Tribes (Jacob 5:20-25)
• Alma 7:
• Alma preaches in Gideon/Christ preaches in second location (Jacob 5:20-22)
• Alma 8:3-5
• Alma preaches in Melek/Christ preaches in third location (Jacob 5:23)
• Alma 8:6-Alma 15:17:
• Alma (and Amulek) preach in Ammonihah and Sidom/Christ (and someone?) preach to the Nephites and Lamanites in the fourth location
• Jacob 5:24-27
• Two main groups -
• One rejects and the other receives
• Jacob 5:25: Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit;