The Book of Mormon

Alma 11:34

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~82 BC

1830 Edition

And Zeezrom saith again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him, I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.

Influences

Mark 9:41 (KJV)
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Hebrews 6:4 (KJV)
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Changes

And Zeezrom saithd again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him,: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.

Simple English

Zeezrom asked again: 'Will he save his people while they are still sinning?' Amulek answered: 'I tell you he will not. It is impossible for him to go back on his word.'

Paraphrase

Zeezrom asked, 'Will he save his people while they’re still in their sins?' Amulek answered, 'No, he won’t. It’s impossible for him to break his word.'

Notes

11:27-39

The Book of Mormon declares that there is only one Eternal God (see also 2 Nephi 31:21), yet the Doctrine and Covenants teaches there are many gods (D&C 121:32; 132:18-20,37). As does Abraham 4:1 in the Pearl of Great Price.

In June 16, 1844, Joseph Smith gave a public doctrinal address, usually labeled the "Sermon in the Grove." He is recorded as saying, "I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have selected this text for that express purpose. I wish to declare I have always, and in all congregations, when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been preached by the Elders for fifteen years.

The sermon survives through the notes of four contemporaneous recorders: Thomas Bullock, William McIntire, George Laub, and Alexander Neibaur.

It was later printed in History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 6, pp. 473–479, and in The Words of Joseph Smith, ed. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook.