Alma 43-45

Alma 43-45 Study Guide – to be discussed May 1

Day 1: Read Alma 43:1-15; Alma 31:3

1. Why did Zarahemna appoint Amalekites and Zoramites as chief captains? What was his ultimate goal? How is Zarahemna a “type” of Satan?









2. Review Alma 31:3, 27:21-25, 35:8-13. In what city were the people of Ammon located in the 18th year of the reign of the judges? Where had the Lamanites gathered to prepare for war? Where were the Nephite armies gathered?







3. What do you think the phrase in verse 14, "obliged to contend" means?







Day 2: Read Alma 43:16-36; Ephesians 6:13-17

4. How old was Moroni when he was given command of all the Nephite armies? From Alma 43:19, what was the first strategy Moroni employed? Can you give an example of a modern application in our battles with Satan? (See also Ephesians 6:13-17.)







5. List further strategies employed by Moroni from Alma 43:23-26. Give modern applications.







6. On the back of this paper, or on a separate sheet, draw a simple diagram of the battle described in Alma 43:27-36. Include the river Sidon, the hill Riplah, and the locations and movements of all armies.





Day 3: Read Alma 43:37-54

7. What motivated the Lamanites to “fight like dragons”?







8. How did Moroni inspire his armies? What was the result of their united prayer?







9. Why did Moroni command his men to stop shedding blood?







Day 4: Read Alma 44:1-11

10. What evidence did Moroni cite regarding “the true faith of God”? What evidence do we have today?







11. What were the terms of Moroni’s proposed peace treaty?





12. Why did Zarahemna refuse to swear an oath of peace?





Day 5: Read Alma 44:12-24

13. What emotion moved Zarahemna to attack Moroni? Did his subsequent de-scalping and loss of forces change or intensify that emotion?







14. What eventually motivated Zarahemna and his followers to enter into a covenant of peace?







15. How did Moroni sow both justice and mercy in dealing with the Lamanites and dissenters?







Day 6: Read Alma 45:1-14

16. List the questions Alma asked Helaman in his personal priesthood interview.







17. What prophecies regarding the future of the Nephite kingdom did Alma command Helaman to record, but not make public? Why do you think these prophecies were not to be made known at that time?







18. From Alma 45:12, what was to be the cause of the Nephites’ eventual downfall?







Day 7: Read Alma 45:15-24

19. What did Alma do before he left Zarahemla? Do you think he knew he wasn’t coming back?







20. Why was it necessary for Helaman and his brethren to travel throughout the land, reestablishing the church and preaching the gospel?







21. In spite of their efforts, what symptoms of the “Nephite Disease” were evident as described at the end of Alma 45?









BONUS: Choose one verse from Alma’s writings (Alma 1-44) that especially touched you in this reading.