Alma 10

 
1 Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
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2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was the same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.
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Alma 10:2-3

More than 500 years after the Lehites left Jerusalem, Amulek claims direct descent from Lehi. Since millions of descendants of Lehi and Ishmael are reported to have lived and died in pre-Columbian Americas, we would expect significant DNA evidence to support the claim. Yet, there is no such evidence. This is why many of the verses claiming lineage from the House of Israel are annotated to highlight this issue.

-a-bom
3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.
Lineage-DNA
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1 Ne 5:14 and 2 Ne 3:4 declare Lehi is a descendant of Joseph, and Alma 10:3 specifies that he descended from Manasseh. It is also claimed that Ishmael was of the Tribe of Ephraim. “The Prophet Joseph informed us . . . That Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim” (Apostle Erastus Snow, Journal of Discourses, 23:184). And, “we know that Ishmael, who was the other founder of the colony, was a descendant of Ephraim. This we learn from the Prophet Joseph Smith” (Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 3, 197). This presents a couple of challenges.

Priestly rights and responsibilities in the House of Israel were almost exclusively the responsibility of Levites. “Before Moses died, the Melchizedek Priesthood and the higher law of the gospel were withdrawn from the Israelites because of their disobedience . . . The lesser priesthood was called the Aaronic Priesthood, after Aaron, but is sometimes referred to as the Levitical Priesthood because all those who possessed it in ancient times belonged to the tribe of Levi” (Levitical Priesthood).

However, FairMormon says, “The Old Testament records numerous non-Levitical offerings. Gideon and Samuel were Ephraimites; Saul was a Benjamite; David and Solomon were of Judah” (FairMormon article ). This issue seems complicated, and there is at least some reason to think there is a good defense for non-Levites offering sacrifice.

-a-bom
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Alma 10:2-3 More than 500 years after the Lehites left Jerusalem, Amulek claims direct descent from Lehi. Since millions of descendants of Lehi and Ishmael are reported to have lived and died in pre-Columbian Americas, we would expect significant DNA evidence to support the claim. Yet, there is no such evidence. This is why many of the verses claiming lineage from the House of Israel are annotated to highlight this issue.
4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.
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5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
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6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.
FaithMiracle precedes the faith
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Alma 10:6-7

Notice that in this case, the Miracle precedes the faith. Verse six explains Amulek’s rebellion against God, yet in spite of this rebellion, he receives an angelic visit. This contradicts Ether 12:6, “dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

-a-bom
7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.
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Alma 10:6-7 Notice that in this case, the Miracle precedes the faith. Verse six explains Amulek’s rebellion against God, yet in spite of this rebellion, he receives an angelic visit. This contradicts Ether 12:6, “dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house--and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.
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9 And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.
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10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.
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11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
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12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
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13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.
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This verse contains several parallels to the passages in the KJV New Testament gospels where the religious factions try to entrap and arrest Jesus. Compare this verse with "thought to question them" to Mark 8:11 with "began to question with him". Next compare this verse with "they might catch them in their words" to Mark 12:13 with "to catch him in his words". Lastly compare this verse with "find witness against them" and "that they might be slain" to Mark 14:55 with "sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death".

-auricularis_posterior
14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.
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15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.
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16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.
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17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.
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18 Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.
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19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices--yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.
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20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.
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22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
AnachronismLiteral Noah's Ark
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Alma 10:22-23

The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.

However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón, “The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal). The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.

-a-bom
23 But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.
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Alma 10:22-23 The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword. However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the transition between the **Early and the Late Post-Classic**, probably developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón, “The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, [article from a research journal](http://www.woosterglobalhistory.org/LAcolonial/archive/files/23395812%5F33c717a7fb.pdf)). The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected.
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25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?
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26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
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27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.
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28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.
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The insult "child of the devil", which is in this verse, is unique within the KJV bible, only being found in Acts 13:10. It is strange that this New Testament phrase would be found in the same form across an ocean, but this time it is being used by the wicked people of Ammonihah instead of the righteous Paul.

-auricularis_posterior
29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges.
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30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.
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31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.
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32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ.
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