Reading Notes

Engaging Gospel Doctrine (Episode 2)

Lesson 25: Alma 17-22

Chapter 17

2: which scriptures?
3: look at models of authority in the Book of Mormon
“altar of God”, only Ps. 43:4 and here
6: we easily forget the significance of their past (Mos. 29:8-9)
7: history of weapons? Look at Biblical parallels
Note literary complexity of these chapters
10: theodicy: The comforting God (weeping God of Moses 7)
14-16: Mormon and his lessons
23: understated humor
25: a dangerous refusal
26: What’s up with “Lamantitish”? (only 2x, chaps 17, 19)
26: *all* the Lamanites watered their flocks in one area? (or Mormon is overgeneralizing?)
29: sees benefit of hardship, but motivations?
33: Note Ammon’s disproportionate role
Repetition “not a few”
36: repetition of “astonished”
What animals could these have been? Of course in both Hebrew and Greek there are words for “small grazing animals”

Chapter 18

2: Great Spirit: High God, Native American, but also widespread
5: No taboos? Highly unusual. Narrator prejudices again showing?
8: LOVE this verse. Understatement, but also POWERFUL personal application.
9: horses and chariots: anachronism?
10: how does this fit into the history of political organization?
10: again, amazing personal application. Truly listening to what people ask and say, then do it, reliability, etc.
11: bad grammar which has implications on nature of translation (durst is past tense)
12: Rabbanah, Hebrew/Aramaic, variation of “Rabouni”? (John 20)
14: time reckoning?
16-20: Exemplary teaching. Listen, responsive, preparation, meet people where they are
17 & 21, contrast what willing to do
22: wise + harmless: cf. Matt. 10:16
23: guile?
31: worldview
34: speaks carefully to prevent misunderstanding
36-39: Plan of redemption, parallel with Aaron, also note biblical presuppositions
Carefully note the queen’s primary, protagonist role

Chapter 19

1. Sepulchre?
2: Queen main character
5: “he doth not stink” Funny, but also intimate and touching
6: Notice the powerful repetition of light & dark; Ammon knows from personal experience (Mosiah 27:29)
8: not dead…sleepeth, cf. Mark 5:39 (Jarius’ daughter)
10: great faith.. cf. Luke 7:9 (healing centurion’s servant)
12: “woman” NT parallels,
13: “born of a woman” Job 3x; cf. Gal. 4:4
14: overpowered with joy
16: Abish, another key character. One of only *six* named women in the Book of Mormon (three from Bible: Eve, Sarah, Mary; three from BoM: Sariah, Abish, Isabel)
Vision of her father. Brief reference to fuller story. Is this subjective or objective genitive? Parallels suggest subjective, would be unique if it were a vision of her father rather than had by her father.
17: KEY POINT. Our expectations in sharing, we need to be sensitive how others will react, etc (cf. vs. 28)
18: behold he was a Nephite. Humor
22: Discussion point: Miracles, theology, problematic
29: Queen first, prophesies
30: glossolalia
31: interesting usage of “heard” (like “listened to”)
33: KEY POINT: Theme, hearts changed, desires changed, transformation
35: Word studies: Church, synagogue, Hebrew and Greek equivalents
36: Mormon’s theme; “pour out his spirit” only in BoM, only in Mos/Alma/Helaman

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

4: Nehor: See Alma 1, but seems disproportionate influence
6: “God will save all men” historically out of place? History of idea?
8: don’t know things to come.. BoM apostate theme and foil (Jacob 4:4) Sherem, Jacob 7:7
Only Zoramite and Lamanites have “synagogues”; Nephites have churches
19: he tried J

Chapter 22

3: Power of personal example. Also a dangerous question here.
Note parallels and differences
13-14: Plan of Redemption: 1 Cor 15, Mosiah 16, Mormon 7; Rom. 5:2; Col. 1:27
15ff: Note the progression of dad Lamoni’s offers, transformation, conversion, key passage
15: Aaron DID forsake his kingdom
17ff: Agnostic prayer! Love it, validates lack of complete knowing
18: Give away all my sins. Yup, that is the price
25-26: Was the queen not pacified?
Cf. geography studies