Alma 31

Alma 31

Alma gathers a team of missionaries to preach to the Zoramites—a group of Nephites who have broken away from the church (these are the same people who trampled and killed Korihor at the end of the last chapter). 

When Alma and team arrive in the land, they find the Zoramites gathered in their synagogues to worship, but they are shocked at what they see inside. They have built a tall stand/tower—called a Rameumptom—that is just big enough for one person at a time. The person on top of the Rameumptom prays out loud, and this is the gist of the prayer:

16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ… and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell;

This is shocking and concerning to Alma and his brethren—both because the people are openly denying the coming of Jesus Christ, but also because of the pride and arrogance of their ridiculous belief that they are better than other people in the eyes of God. Then to top off the irony, after the worship services the people “returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.” (v23) These people exhibit hypocrisy at its finest. 

Alma is very upset by what he sees, and he prays a long and dramatic prayer to the Lord. When we are frustrated or exhausted by the decisions or behavior of other people, we can also pray for help and strength to know how to handle the situation:

31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.