Alma 61-63

Alma 61-63 Study Guide – to be discussed June 5
Day 1: Read Alma 61:1-9; D&C 101:1-5
1. What had Nephite dissenters accomplished while their armies were fighting Lamanites on two fronts? Look up the word “daunt” in a dictionary. What does it mean?




2. From what city was Pahoran writing to Moroni? What was he doing there?



3. Read Alma 61:9 with D&C 101:1-5. Why wasn’t Pahoran angry with Moroni? What does this tell you about Pahoran?



Day 2: Read Alma 61:10-21
4. According to Pahoran, what enemy was he really fighting? What part of his epistle indicates he was in tune with God’s will?



5. How did Pahoran describe the Spirit of God in Alma 61:15?



6. How did Moroni’s angry letter actually comfort and strengthen Pahoran?



Day 3: Read Alma 62:1-11
7. In what did Moroni take courage and joy? For what did he mourn?



8. What did Moroni do on his way to Gideon?



9. Who was Pachus? Was capital punishment necessary in this case? Why or why not?



Day 4: Read Alma 62:12-26
10. How many men were sent to assist Helaman in the west? How many were sent to Lehi and Teancum in the east? Where did Moroni and Pahoran go to fight? How many “converts” did they make on their way?



11. Why wouldn’t the Lamanites come out to fight on the plains of Nephihah? How does the adversary avoid a direct confrontation today?


12. How did Moroni get the advantage over his enemies? Where were the Lamanite guards? Were the Lamanites sound sleepers?



Day 5: Read Alma 62:27-38; Isaiah 2:1-4
13. Why do you think the Lamanite prisoners were desirous to stop fighting and start farming? According to Isaiah 2:1-4, how is this a “type” of what will happen in the last days? By what event(s) will it be preceded?



14. In what direction did Moroni’s army march? Where did the Lamanite armies gather?



15. Why was Teancum so angry with Ammoron? What do you think about his final battle - wise or unwise?




Day 6: Read Alma 62:39-52
16. What reason is given for the success of the Nephite armies and the safety of the nation?



17. During times of peace, to what did each of the key players return?



18. How did the Nephites continue in righteousness?



Day 7: Read Alma 63, Review Alma 38:1-3
19. Who succeeded Helaman as prophet? Review Alma 38:1-3 and list leadership qualities of this great spiritual man.



20. Why do you think so many Nephites wanted to explore unknown lands?




BONUS: What did Helaman II cause to be written and dispersed among the people? What was left out?



21. Who received the plates on Shiblon’s death? How long did it take after Moroni’s death for dissenters to arise again?

Alma 57-60

Alma 57-60 Study Guide – to be discussed May 29
Day 1: Read Alma 57:1-18; Ephesians 6:17; review Alma 51:1-2, 52:1, 54:1, 56:1,9
1. Why did Ammoron’s people evacuate the city of Antiparah?


BONUS: Make a simple time line showing the years 70-60BC. Review Alma 51:1-2, 52:1, 54:1, 56:1,9. List on your timeline the rise of the king-men, the death of Amalickiah, Ammoron’s letter to Helaman requesting an exchange of prisoners, Helaman’s letter to Moroni, the first march of the 2,000 stripling warriors to Judea, the evacuation of Antiparah, and the arrival of supplies and reinforcements from Zarahemla (Alma 57:6).

2. Why did Helaman’s army sleep upon their swords? How can we “sleep upon our swords” metaphorically today? (See also Ephesians 6:17.)



3. What problems were associated with taking too many prisoners of war?



Day 2: Read Alma 57:19-36; D&C 59:21; D&C 84:24
4. List qualities of Helaman’s 2,000 warriors you would like to emulate. To what did Helaman ascribe his army’s astonishing preservation?



5. What happened to the Lamanite POW’s? What caused their rebellion?



6. Read Alma 57:35-36 with D&C 59:21. What is one of the great lessons of the war chapters, as exemplified here?



BONUS: According to D&C 84:24, what is the “rest” of the Lord? Do righteous men die in war?


Day 3: Read Alma 58:1-22; 2 Nephi 31:20
7. Why couldn’t Helaman’s forces take Manti? What did they decide to do? How can we apply their strategy from Alma 58:3-10?



8. How did Helaman’s army gain hope and courage in a seemingly impossible situation? (See also 2 Nephi 31:20.)



9. On what did the Lamanites base their decision to go against Helaman’s forces in battle?



10. What can we learn from the foolish over-confidence of the Lamanite army? What can we learn from Helaman about relying on the Spirit and using available resources?
Day 4: Read Alma 58:23-41
11. How does fear sometimes cause us to “flee into the wilderness”? (Alma 58:29)



12. What were Helaman’s concerns after he had retaken all the Nephite cities in the west? Why didn’t he murmur?



13. List further qualities of Helaman’s “sons.”



Day 5: Read Alma 59
14. How did Moroni respond to Helaman’s letter? What was the good news? What was the bad news?



15. Where did the armies fleeing Manti go? Who was their leader?



16.Why did Moroni doubt the righteousness of the Nephite people? What caused his anger?



Day 6: Read Alma 60:1-17
17. What was Moroni’s perception of government support of troops?



18. Do you think Moroni was too severe in his reproach of Pahoran? What does this tell you about the side effects of war?



19. Ultimately, whom did Moroni blame for the Nephites’ losses?



Day 7: Read Alma 60:18-36
20. In Alma 60:20, what word did Moroni use three times? What is the message he wanted to emphasize to his government – and which is equally pertinent today?


BONUS: What word is used four times in verses 21-23?

21. What “inner vessel” did Moroni suggest needed cleansing? How can we cleanse our own inner vessels? Why should we?



22. List what Moroni threatened to do unless Pahoran sent supplies and reinforcements. Was this a selfish request?

Alma 54-56

Alma 54-56 Study Guide – to be discussed May 22
Day 1: Read Alma 54:1-14; 2 Nephi 5:1-7; Omni 1:12-13
1. Why do you think the Lamanites took women and children prisoner?



2. Moroni wrote about God’s justice, the “sword of his almighty wrath,” and the perils of hell in his letter to Ammoron – even though he seems to have assumed Ammoron would not be moved to repentance. Why do you think his epistle lacked diplomacy and political correctness?



3. List Moroni’s terms for exchanging prisoners.



BONUS: Why did Moroni refer to Lamanite lands (the land of Nephi) as “the land of our first inheritance”?


Day 2: Read Alma 54:15-24; 1 Nephi 4:35-37; 2 Nephi 1:30-32
4. Around what year did Ammoron write to Moroni? For about how many years had the Lamanites held a grudge against the Nephites? Was Ammoron a Lamanite?



5. Rephrase Ammoron’s religious philosophy.



6. From whom was Ammoron descended? After reading 1 Nephi 4:35-37 and 2 Nephi 1:30-32, list blessings promised to Ammoron’s family according to their faithfulness.



Day 3: Read Alma 55:1-18
7. Why was Moroni angry after he had received Ammoron’s letter? Why didn’t he just exchange prisoners?



8. Who was Laman and how did he end up in Moroni’s army? What does the search for a descendant of Laman tell you about the ethnicity of Moroni’s army?



9. Did Moroni’s army disable the Lamanites at Gid, or did they disable themselves? How do we disable ourselves?



Day 4: Read Alma 55:19-35
10. Why didn’t Moroni’s army kill all the drunken Lamanites when they had the chance?


11. In freeing the prisoners of war, how was Moroni a “type” of Christ?



12. The Lamanites tried to turn tables on the Nephites by laying “snares” for them. What kept the Nephite army safe? What kinds of “snares” does Satan set for us today?



Day 5: Read Alma 56:1-19
13. What was Helaman’s leadership role among the Nephites? Who is his counterpart today?



14. Why did Helaman refer to his 2000 warriors as his “sons” (see verses 10, 17)?



15. Name the cities taken by Lamanite forces, as listed by Helaman in this chapter. Using your small map of possible Book of Mormon sites, describe the locations of these cities.



Day 6: Read Alma 56:20-40
16. Why didn’t Helaman and Antipus attack the Lamanites directly? What was their first plan? How was it frustrated?



17. How many troops did the Nephites have at Judea, including Helaman’s army and the reinforcements from Zarahemla?



18. Why wouldn’t either army turn to the right or to the left? How could this be a metaphor for staying on the “strait and narrow path”?


BONUS: Make a diagram of the conflict described in these verses, including the city of Judea, the Lamanite army, Antipus’ army, Helaman’s army, Zarahemla, reinforcements from Zarahemla, the city of Antiparah, and the wilderness.


Day 7: Read Alma 56:41-57
19. On what was the courage of the stripling warriors based? In whom did they trust?



20. What caused confusion among Antipus’ army? How did they regain their focus?



21. List keys to the success of Helaman’s army. Was their survival a miracle? How can we use their example in fighting the forces of the adversary today?

Alma 50-53

Alma 50-53 Study Guide – to be discussed May 15
Day 1: Read Alma 50:1-23
1. Why do you think Moroni continued to build “places of security” (v.4) in a time of peace? How can we do this personally?



2. Why did Moroni’s armies increase daily?


3. What does Mormon list as causes of war and destruction? Why were the Nephites so happy in the 21st year of the reign of the judges? (See also Alma 49:30.)



Day 2: Read Alma 50:24-40
4. What was the cause of the “warm contention” between the people of Morianton and the people of Lehi?



5. What kind of a man was Morianton? Why was it so important for Moroni to keep Morianton from establishing his people in the land northward?



6. List the elements of the oath Pahoran took as new chief judge and governor over the Nephites.



Day 3: Read Alma 51:1-16; Alma 1:1
7. According to Alma 1:1, who established the laws governing the Nephites from the first year of the reign of the judges? How was the dispute between freemen and king-men resolved?



8. According to Alma 51:8, what class of people wanted a king and why?



9. What oath had Amalickiah sworn? Why were the king-men happy to hear about Amalickiah and his Lamanite army? What was Moroni’s reaction to the dissenters?



Day 4: Read Alma 51:17-37
10. How did the issues with King-men weaken the Nephites and leave them vulnerable? Can you think of ways internal dissention today might weaken a family? A ward? The Church? The country?



11. List the cities taken by the Lamanites. Where were they? Where did Teancum’s army pitch their tents?

12. Review highlights (lowlights?) of Amalickiah’s life in Alma 46:3-7, 16-19, 21-26, 31-35, Alma 48:1-2, Alma 49:10-11, Alma 51:9. Do you think he met a fitting end?



Day 5: Read Alma 52:1-18; D&C 38:11-12; D&C 109:24-28
13. Why do you think the blood-thirsty, ferocious Lamanite army was “affrighted” (terrified) on finding Amalickiah dead in his tent on New Year’s Day?



14. How did Teancum prepare for war? What additional help and counsel did Moroni send?



15. Where was Moroni’s army? Where was Teancum’s army? Do we ever face enemies on more than one “front” in our own lives? What wisdom can we take from these military leaders in dealing with problems that seem to come from all sides? (See also D&C 38:11-12 and D&C 109:24-28.)



Day 6: Read Alma 52:19-40
16. List ways in which we might follow the example to hold councils of war in our own lives.



BONUS: Draw a diagram of the Battle of Mulek, showing positions and/or movements of the city of Mulek, the army of Teancum, Moroni’s army, Jacob’s army, Lehi’s army, the east seashore, the wilderness on the west, and Bountiful.

17. How did Moroni regain Mulek and defeat the larger Lamanite army? What can we learn from his victory?



18. What happened to the Lamanite army when they were surrounded and lost their leader? What happens to a family when one of the parents loses faith, becomes inactive, or ceases to function in righteousness?



Day 7: Read Alma 53: Review Alma 24:11-16
19. Why did Moroni compel the Lamanite prisoners to bury the dead and build fortifications?



20. What happened because of “intrigue” and “dissentions” among the Nephites?



21. What kind of covenant had Ammon’s people taken at conversion? Why? What covenant did their sons make? Why? What do the Ammonites teach us about the importance of keeping our covenants?