Alma 5 Chiasm in Script

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The word of God which Alma delivered: first in the land of Zarahemla, speaking these words by way of command unto the people that belonged to the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land, speaking by way of invitation unto those who do not belong to the church;

This account being according to the commandment of God through Alma, according to the language contained in his own record, saying:

I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God (he having power and authority from God to do these things), therefore received I right to command you that ye observe to do the words which I have spoken unto you.

Behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; the intent of this church being to bring men that they might be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.

Yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon, inviting all men to come and be baptized unto repentance.

And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.

For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock?

And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity; and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word;

Thus fulfilling his word that if a wolf enter his flock he will drive him out; yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him, even by the power of his word.

And we (I now being among them) were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also.

And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you, that ye may be brought into this land of promise; yea, if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, that you may be numbered with the church of God, that ye may be his sheep;

And he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, you that belong to this church, Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?

Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? Yea, and were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not.

Therefore, in like manner as your fathers, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, loose yourselves from the bands of your neck,⁽¹⁾ and touch not the unclean things;

And behold, the names of the wicked shall be blotted out, that according to the mercy and longsuffering of God their names shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous,

That the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people, to encircle them about.

And again I ask, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered your fathers' souls from hell?

And moreover, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed?

Behold, I say unto you, Verily the bands of death were broken, and the chains of hell were loosed--

For behold, he changed their hearts, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love;

Yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God; and I say unto you that they are saved;

And because they were righteous, their names are written in the book of life. Behold, my brethren, I would that ye should remember that these are the same who had been in the midst of darkness.

Therefore, now I ask of you, On what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation?

Yea, these who were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and moreover, an everlasting destruction did await them--what is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell?

Behold, I can tell you, for thus saith the word of God: Unto them, whose souls are illuminated by the light of the everlasting word, will I grant an inheritance at my right hand.

And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled, which saith:

He that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.⁽²⁾

And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings? Know ye not that in that day, those who withstand these sayings are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent?⁽³⁾

Therefore, wo be unto him that will not hearken unto the words of Jesus, and also to them whom he hath chosen and sent among them; for whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus and the words of those whom he hath sent receiveth not him; and therefore he will not receive them at the last day;

And it would be better them if they had not been born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come?⁽⁴⁾

Yea, all ye that persist in laying these things aside, do by your wickedness trample the Holy One under your feet.

Yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel, even while withholding your substance from the needy, setting your hearts instead upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?

Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another, in turning your backs upon the poor?

Yea, and will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves whereby they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance?

And they do walk after the holy order of God, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, wherewith they have been brought into this church.

For behold, having been persecuted by many of their brethren who were lifted up in pride, the more humble part of the people were caused to wade through much affliction.⁽⁵⁾

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.⁽⁶⁾

Therefore, behold, I can tell you on what conditions our fathers were saved, that according to their faith a mighty change was wrought in their hearts.⁽⁷⁾

Did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi, who spoke the words of God? I say unto you, Yea, he did believe them, for which he and his brethren were persecuted;

And was not Abinadi a holy prophet, called after the holy order of God, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit? I say unto you, Yea he was.

Yea, it was according to this faith of my father, Alma, that there was a mighty change wrought in his heart also.

Behold, I say unto you that this is all true. Yea, behold, and remember, the Holy one of Israel hath spoken it.

Therefore, behold, thus saith the Spirit unto me, as one also called to preach the word, yea the Spirit crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people, even as was said unto your fathers, yea, verily this voice is unto all--

Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for except ye repent, and a mighty change be wrought in your hearts, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Yea, humble yourselves and put your trust in the true and living God, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand.

And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Be ye faithful unto the end, for behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree--yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion--

Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire.

Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Be faithful unto the end, for behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men, that you may be saved.

Behold, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, therefore I know these things of myself, and this is the order after which I am called;⁽⁸⁾

Yea, and whatsoever I shall say unto you, according to the words which have been spoken by our fathers concerning that which is to come, is true;

And these are the words I am called to preach, according to the holy order, unto my beloved brethren, yea, and to every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free;

Yea, I say unto you, the aged, and also the middle aged; and the rising generation, yea I cry unto every soul that they must repent and be born again, even as our fathers, yea and it will be so forevermore.

Yea, thus saith the Spirit, Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand.

Wherefore, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?

For behold, according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, I know that Jesus Christ shall come, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, yea, the Son of God cometh, who is the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth.

And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, by the reception of the Holy Ghost,⁽⁹⁾ yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name by the manifestations of the Spirit of God.

Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, it is he that cometh again the second time;

Yea, the Spirit saith: Behold, the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth by the manifestations of the Spirit of God among all the children of men.

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, Have ye received his image in your countenances?

Behold, have I not set a pattern for you in this? Verily, I say unto, yea, and I would that ye should hear me, for I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people, yea I speak in the energy of my soul the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come.⁽¹⁰⁾

For behold, I have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, for I am called to speak after this manner, yea I have spoken according to the commandments of God, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus. And this is the pattern that is set before you.

And this is not all, for again I ask of you, my brethren of the church, Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

And again there a pattern for this: for do ye suppose that I know of myself the surety of these things? For behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true.

Behold, I say unto you the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

And even as I fasted and prayed many days in order that I might know, of myself, that these things are true; so also doth this gift of a new heart come, only by the Holy Spirit of God, only after ye do offer a broken heart and contrite spirit before God.

Therefore, come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.⁽¹¹⁾

For whosoever doeth this, exercising faith in the redemption of that God who created him, shall receive these wages of him.

Then may you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged, receiving for your wages, eternal life, according to things pertaining to his righteousness which have been done through you in the mortal body, having been made alive unto all good works.

On the other hand, whosoever doth not exercise faith in this redemption, must receive his wages from the destroyer.

Therefore, he shall look forward with horror at the thought of his mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged, for for his wages he receiveth death according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body, having been dead unto all good works--

For good cometh of none save it be of God. He is the same that leadeth men to all good.⁽¹²⁾

Therefore, hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, hear the voice of the Lord, that you may be able to look forward to his tribunal with joy.

And because ye have followed the good shepherd, in that day shall ye hear the voice of the Lord say unto you: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, ye have brought forth good works, even my works of righteousness upon the face of the earth; therefore have I saved you.

Or, on the other hand, do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say--Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth--when ye have brought forth evil works?

Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him; for he receiveth not the salvation of God.

For whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.

Behold, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

Or, on the other hand, would ye not much rather look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?

Therefore, I say unto you again that whatsoever is good cometh from God; yea, it is a gift; and in order that you might look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances, will you not receive this gift?

Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this salvation is a liar and a child of the devil, having yielded himself to become subject to the devil.

Yea, he cannot think of being saved, though he can think of his own learning, and wisdom, and riches by which he reasons to deny the Lord.

I say unto you, he will know at that day of judgment that he cannot be saved--when none can deny this, even when every knee shall bow at the name of Jesus Christ, and every tongue shall confess to God.⁽¹³⁾

For there can no man be saved, being numbered with the fold of God, except his garments are washed white;

Yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

Otherwise, the devil is their shepherd.

And now I ask of you, my brethren, Of what fold are ye? How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God?

And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness, because ye will not hearken unto his voice; behold, what will these things testify against you?

Behold, will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?

Yea, in fine, they will testify that ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

Therefore behold, my brethren, I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call you, that ye might have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, even with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets;

Yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ, even that same name by which the garments of all the holy prophets are cleansed and are made spotless, pure and white.

Why, then will ye not hearken unto his voice!

Behold, I say unto you, ye cannot suppose that such as who will not hearken can have place in the kingdom of heaven, except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning.

But except ye repent ye shall be cast out, having gone astray as sheep having no shepherd, for ye are the children of the kingdom of the devil--notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you.

Therefore, behold, I say unto you, my brethren, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness, but who nevertheless have gone astray:

If ye have experienced a change of heart, as you profess, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love; I would ask--O ye workers of iniquity, ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world--Can ye feel so now?

Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? for behold, he sendeth this invitation unto all men.

Yea, could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble that your garments are cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ--that his arms of mercy may be extended toward you?

For he who cometh to redeem his people from their sins saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not, ye are not prepared to meet God.

Behold ye must prepare quickly, by coming unto him, as he saith, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life, even eternal life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely.

Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? Let him come unto me, saith the Lord, for otherwise, such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, bringing forth works of righteousness;

For the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless, and he shall be hew down and cast into the fire.

And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? Behold, the time is at hand, and still he bringeth not forth good fruit:

Wo unto such an one, yea wo unto whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! Yea, the same shall have cause to wail and mourn.

Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!

by Sterling D. Allan; Manti, Utah; August 14, 1995

Notes:

1. Isaiah 55:2.

2. Alma 12:10,11.

3. According to chiasm of Alma 5:53-56.

4. 3 Nephi 28:34,35.

5. Helaman 3:34.

6. Helaman 3:35.

7. According to chiasm of Alma 5:11-12a.

8. According to the triple parallel substructure of Alma 5:47-50.

9. 3 Nephi 27:20.

10. From substructure chiasms of Alma 5:43-46.

11. 2 Nephi 9:50,51.

12. Ether 4:12.

13. Romans 14:11; Phil. 2:10.