# Alma 31

*Simple English*

### Alma Hears About the Zoramites

After Korihor died, Alma heard that the Zoramites were turning away from the Lord’s ways. Zoram was their leader. He was leading the people to bow down to idols. Alma’s heart became sick because of the sin of the people. It made Alma very sad to know about the sin among his people. He was very sad because the Zoramites had left the Nephites.

The Zoramites had come together in a land they called Antionum. It was east of the land of Zarahemla. It was near the seashore. It was south of the land of Jershon. That land was also near the wilderness to the south. That wilderness was full of Lamanites. The Nephites were very scared that the Zoramites would join with the Lamanites. That would cause big trouble for the Nephites.

Teaching the word of God helped lead people to do what was right. It had a stronger effect on people’s minds than fighting with swords or anything else that happened to them. So Alma thought they should try using the word of God. He took Ammon, Aaron, and Omner with him. He left Himni in the church in Zarahemla. He also took Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek. He also took two of his sons. He did not take his oldest son with him. His name was Helaman. The names of those he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton. These are the names of those who went with him to the Zoramites to teach them the word.

The Zoramites had left the Nephites. So they had heard the word of God taught to them before. But they had made big mistakes. They would not keep God’s commandments and rules according to the law of Moses. They would not do the practices of the church. They did not pray to God every day. They did not ask God to keep them away from temptation. They had turned away from the Lord’s ways in many cases. Because of this, Alma and his brothers went into the land to teach the word to them.

### The Zoramites’ Strange Worship

When they came into the land, they were very surprised. They found that the Zoramites had built synagogues. The Zoramites came together on one day of the week. They called that day the Lord’s day. They worshiped in a way that Alma and his brothers had never seen before. They had built a place in the center of their synagogue. It was a place for standing that was high above everyone’s head. The top of it only had room for one person. So whoever wanted to worship had to go up and stand on top of it. They stretched out their hands toward heaven and cried with a loud voice, saying:

“Holy, holy God. We believe that you are God. We believe that you are holy. We believe that you were a spirit and that you are a spirit and that you will be a spirit forever. Holy God, we believe that you have set us apart from our brothers. We do not believe in the tradition of our brothers. That tradition was passed down to them by their childish fathers. But we believe that you have chosen us to be your holy children. You have told us that there will be no Christ. But you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You have chosen us to be saved. All around us, other people are chosen to be thrown down to hell by your anger. Because you are holy, O God, we thank you. We also thank you that you have chosen us. This way we will not be led away by the foolish traditions of our brothers. Those traditions tie them to believing in Christ. That belief leads their hearts to wander far from you, our God. And again, we thank you, O God, that we are a chosen and holy people. Amen.“

After Alma, his brothers, and his sons heard these prayers, they were shocked. Every man went up and said the same prayers. They called the place Rameumptom. That means the Holy Stand. From this stand, every man said the same prayer to God. They thanked their God that they were chosen by him. They thanked him that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brothers. Their hearts were not tricked into believing in things to come. They knew nothing about those things. After the people all gave thanks this way, they went home. They never spoke of their God again until they came together again at the holy stand to give thanks in their way.

### Alma’s Prayer for Help

When Alma saw this, his heart was sad. He saw that they were a wicked and twisted people. He saw that their hearts were set on gold and silver and all kinds of fine goods. He also saw that their hearts were lifted up with great bragging in their pride.

He lifted up his voice to Heaven and cried out, saying: “O how long, O Lord, will you let your servants live here on earth to see such terrible sin among the people? O God, they cry to you, but their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. O God, they cry to you with their mouths, but they are puffed up with the empty things of the world. Look, O my God, at their costly clothes and their curled hair and their bracelets and their gold jewelry and all their treasures which they wear. Their hearts are set on them, but they cry to you and say: ‘We thank you, O God, because we are a chosen people to you while others will die.’ And they say that you have told them that there will be no Christ. O Lord God, how long will you let such sin and wickedness be among these people? O Lord, will you give me strength so that I can handle my weaknesses? I am weak, and such wickedness among these people hurts my soul. O Lord, my heart is very sad. Will you comfort my soul in Christ? O Lord, will you give me strength so that I can handle these hard times with patience? These hard times will come to me because of the sin of these people. O Lord, will you comfort my soul and give me success? Will you also help my fellow workers who are with me? Help Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, and also my two sons. Will you comfort all these, O Lord? Will you comfort their souls in Christ? Will you give them strength so they can handle their hard times? These hard times will come to them because of the sins of these people. O Lord, will you help us bring them back to you in Christ? O Lord, their souls are precious. Many of them are our close brothers. So give us, O Lord, power and wisdom so we can bring these brothers back to you.“

### God Answers Alma’s Prayer

When Alma finished saying these words, he placed his hands on all who were with him. As he placed his hands on them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. After that, they split up from each other. They did not worry about what they would eat or drink or wear. The Lord made sure they did not go hungry or thirsty. He also gave them strength so they did not suffer any hard times except they were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. This happened because of Alma’s prayer. This happened because he prayed with faith.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/simple/alma/31)*
