# Alma 10

*Paraphrase*

Now here’s what Amulek preached to the people of Ammonihah:

### Amulek’s Testimony

“I’m Amulek, son of Giddonah, son of Ishmael, descended from Aminadi. Aminadi was the one who read the writing on the temple wall—the writing God himself put there with his finger. Aminadi came from Nephi’s line. Nephi was Lehi’s son—Lehi who left Jerusalem. And Lehi descended from Manasseh, whose father was Joseph, the one his brothers sold into Egypt.

I’m well known and well respected around here. I have plenty of family and friends, and I’ve worked hard to build up wealth. But despite all that, I never paid much attention to the Lord’s ways—his mysteries and his incredible power. Actually, let me take that back. I have seen his mysteries and power at work—I’ve watched him protect this people. But I hardened my heart. God called to me over and over, and I wouldn’t listen. I knew the truth, but I chose to ignore it. I kept rebelling against God, living wickedly, right up until the fourth day of the seventh month, in the tenth year of the judges.

### The Angel’s Message

I was traveling to visit a close relative when an angel appeared to me and said: ‘Amulek, go back home. You’re going to feed one of the Lord’s prophets—a holy man, one of God’s chosen. He’s been fasting for days because of this people’s sins, and he’s starving. Take him in, feed him, and he’ll bless you and your family. The Lord’s blessing will rest on your household.’

I did what the angel said and turned back toward home. On my way, I found the man the angel told me about—the one I was supposed to take in. And this was the same man who’s been speaking to you about the things of God. The angel told me: ‘He’s a holy man.’ So I know he’s holy, because an angel of God said so.

And I also know that what he’s been telling you is true. As surely as the Lord lives, he sent his angel to reveal these things to me. This happened while Alma was staying at my house. He blessed my household—me, my wife, my children, my father, my relatives. He blessed everyone in my family. The Lord’s blessing came to rest on us, just like Alma said it would.“

### The Lawyers’ Trap

When Amulek finished speaking, the crowd was stunned. Now there was more than one witness testifying about what they’d been accused of—and about what was still to come, according to the spirit of prophecy working in them. Still, some in the crowd wanted to interrogate them. They planned to use clever tricks to trap them in their words, to build a case against them. Then they could drag them before the judges, get them convicted under the law, and have them killed or thrown in prison—depending on what charges they could make stick.

The men plotting to destroy them were lawyers—professionals hired by the people to handle legal matters during trials, whether criminal or civil, before the judges. These lawyers were trained in all the tricks and tactics of the trade. That was their expertise.

So they started questioning Amulek, trying to trip him up—hoping to make him contradict himself.

### Amulek Confronts the Lawyers

They didn’t realize Amulek could see right through their schemes. But as they began their questions, he read their thoughts and said to them: “You wicked, twisted generation! You lawyers and hypocrites—you’re laying the groundwork for the devil’s work. You’re setting traps to snare God’s holy people. You’re scheming to twist justice and bring God’s fury down on your own heads—fury that will completely destroy this people.

King Mosiah said it well—our last king, when he gave up the throne because there was no one to pass it to. He let the people govern themselves by their own voice. He said that if the day ever came when this people chose wickedness—if they fell into rebellion—they’d be ripe for destruction. And I’m telling you: the Lord sees your evil clearly. He’s crying out to this people through his angels: ‘Turn back! Change your ways! The Kingdom of Heaven is almost here.’ Through his angels he cries: ‘I will come down among my people with fairness and justice in my hands.’

And I’m telling you—if it weren’t for the prayers of the righteous people still in this land, you’d already be facing complete destruction. Not by flood like in Noah’s day, but by starvation, disease, and war. It’s only the prayers of the righteous that are keeping you alive. So if you drive the righteous out, the Lord won’t hold back. In his fierce anger, he’ll strike you down with famine, disease, and war. And that time is coming soon—unless you turn back.“

### The Crowd Turns Hostile

That made the people even angrier. They shouted: “This man is attacking our laws—our just laws!—and our wise lawyers, the ones we’ve chosen!”

But Amulek raised his hand and shouted back even louder: “You wicked, twisted generation! Why does Satan have such a grip on your hearts? Why do you give yourselves over to him? He’s got power over you now—he’s blinded you so you can’t understand the truth when you hear it. Have I spoken against your law? You don’t get it. You say I’ve attacked your law, but I haven’t. I’ve spoken in favor of your law—to condemn you. Listen: the destruction of this people is already beginning—and it’s being laid by the corruption of your lawyers and judges.“

When Amulek said that, the people turned on him, shouting: “Now we know this man belongs to the devil! He’s lying to us. He just said he spoke against our law. Now he says he didn’t! And he attacked our lawyers and judges!”

The lawyers made a mental note: remember all this. Use it against him later.

### Zeezrom Steps Forward

Among them was a man named Zeezrom. He was the first to accuse Amulek and Alma. He was one of the sharpest lawyers around and had a thriving practice. The whole point for these lawyers was profit. They made money based on how much work they could drum up.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/alma/10)*
