The Word More Powerful Than the Sword

Not long after the days of Korihor, Alma’s heart grew sick again, for he heard that the Zoramites were distorting the Lord’s ways, and that their leader, Zoram, was leading his people to bow down to dumb idols. Alma’s heart was very sorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from the Nephites. The Zoramites had gathered in a land they called Antionum. It was east of Zarahemla, close to the east sea, and south of Jershon. Their land bordered the southern wilderness, which was full of Lamanites. The Nephites were afraid that the Zoramites would form an alliance with the Lamanites and cause a great loss among them. And since preaching had a more powerful effect on the minds of the people than the sword, Alma felt that he and his brethren should use the virtue of God’s word in behalf of the Zoramites. So he took Ammon, Aaron, and Omner, leaving Himni in charge of the affairs of the church in Zarahemla. From the land of Melek, Alma also took Amulek and Zeezrom. Alma left his oldest son, Helaman, but took his two younger sons, Shiblon and Corianton.

Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites, for at one time they had been taught God’s true words. They had fallen into great error, for they would not keep God’s commandments and statutes, according to the law of Moses. Nor would they observe the performances of the church—to always ask God each day to protect them from the devil’s temptations. They had distorted the Lord’s ways. This is why Alma and his brethren went to Zoram to preach the word to them.

One day a week, which they called the Lord’s day, the Zoramites met in their synagogues. To their astonishment, Alma and his brethren saw the Zoramites worshipping in a way they had never seen before. The Zoramites had built a high platform in the center of their synagogue. At the top of this platform there was only room for one person to stand. Anyone who wanted to worship had to stand on top of the platform, hold up his arms toward heaven, and cry with a loud voice: “Holy, holy God, we believe that thou are God, and we believe that thou are holy, and that thou was a spirit, and that thou are a spirit, and that thou will be a spirit forever.

“Holy God, we believe that thou has separated us from our brethren. We do not believe in the traditions of our brethren, which were handed down to them by the childishness of their forefathers. We believe that thou has elected us to be thy holy children, and has made it known to us that there will be no Christ. But thou are the same yesterday, today, and forever. And thou has elected us to be saved, while all those around us have been elected to be thrown by thy anger down to hell. For this holiness, oh God, we thank thee. We also thank thee for saving us from the foolish traditions of our brethren, which bind them down to a belief of Christ, leading their hearts to wander far from thee, our God. And again we thank thee, oh God, that we are a chosen and holy people. Amen.”

After hearing this prayer, Alma, his brethren and his sons were astonished beyond measure, for every man went and offered up this same exact prayer. They called this high stand Rameumptom, which means, “holy stand.” From the top of the stand, they offered this same prayer, thanking their God that they were chosen by Him, for not leading them away after their brethren’s traditions, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which no one knew of anyway. After all the people had offered up thanks in this way, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they gathered to the holy stand the next week to offer up this same prayer.

When Alma saw this, his heart was grieved, knowing they had become a wicked, perverse people. He realized that their hearts were set upon gold, silver, and all types of fine things. He saw their great pride as they lifted up their hearts to boast. And Alma lifted up his voice to heaven, crying, “Oh Lord, how long will Thou let Thy servants live here below in the flesh, to see such great wickedness among the people?

“Oh God, they cry to Thee, and yet their hearts are consumed with pride. Oh God, they cry to Thee with their mouths, while lifting themselves up in great pride because of their love of the vain things of the world. Oh my God, their hearts are set on their fine clothing, jewelry, and ornaments made of gold and precious things, with which they adorn themselves. Yet they cry to Thee, ‘We thank Thee, oh God, for we are a chosen people unto Thee, while others will perish.’ They say that Thou has made it known to them that there will be no Christ. Oh Lord God, how long will Thou suffer such wickedness and unfaithfulness to be among this people? Oh Lord, give me strength to bear my pain, for seeing such wickedness among this people pains my soul.

“Oh Lord, my heart is very sorrowful. Will Thou comfort my soul in Christ? Oh Lord, will Thou give me strength to patiently suffer the afflictions that will come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people? Oh Lord, will Thou comfort my soul and give me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me, Ammon, Aaron, and Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, and my two sons? Oh Lord, comfort their souls in Christ. Will Thou also give them the strength to bear the afflictions that will come upon them because of the iniquity of this people? Oh Lord, will Thou give us success in bringing them back to Thee in Christ? Their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren. So give us, oh Lord, power and wisdom to bring our brethren to Thee again.”

After Alma said this, he laid his hands upon all those who were with him, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they separated, and were not concerned about what they would eat, drink, or wear. The Lord provided their food and drink. He also gave them strength, so that any of their physical afflictions would be consumed in the joy of Christ. This was done according to Alma’s prayer because he prayed in faith.