The Order of God vs the Order of Nehor (Alma 13-16)

The Book of Mormon was written for our day.

The Book of Mormon provides a template for how to live after the manner of happiness.

The Book of Mormon also exposes fraud, deceit, and the pernicious ways of the devil that inhabit the hearts of men in every age.

All we need to do is apply the lenses of the Book of Mormon to our day to clearly see the paths of righteousness in contrast to the alluring but destructive paths of pride, greed, corruption, anger, and spiritual death.

Lenses to See the Truth

Mormon constructed the Book of Mormon carefully and thoughtfully to reinforce principles and ideas that benefit us in our day. Consider that Alma 13 and Alma 14 are a study in contrasts.

Alma 13 focuses on the qualities and characteristics of the Order of God.

Alma 14 focuses on the qualities and characteristics of the Order of Nehor (the order of the devil).

A powerful way to compare and contrast these two chapters is by identifying key words in each chapter. I’ve provided a start, though by no means exhaustive list of comparative words between these two chapters.

Take a moment to review and ponder the words in each list under each chapter heading: What emotions do you feel? What memories are evoked? What desires are nurtured? What does your spirit tell you?

• Commandments
• Remember
• Ordain
• Priesthood
• Holy
• Order
• His Son
• Teach
• Redemption
• Called
• Prepared
• Foreknowledge of God
• Exceeding faith
• Good works
• Chosen good
• Holy calling
• Preparatory redemption
• Great privilege
• Atonement of the Only Begotten Son
• Enter into His rest
• Eternity to all eternity
• Without beginning or end
• High priests forever
• Grace
• Equity
• Truth
• Repentance
• Righteousness
• Work righteousness
• Sanctified
• Garments washed white in the blood of the Lamb
• Holy Ghost
• White
• Pure
• Spotless
• Rest of the Lord their God
• Humble
• Fruit meet for repentance
• Melchizedek (King of Righteousness)
• Paid tithes
• Ordinances
• Remission of sins
• Salem (City of Peace)
• Holy Order of God
• Peace
• Prince of peace
• Angels
• Glad tidings
• Great joy
• Highly favored
• Preparing hearts
• Joyful news
• His coming
• I will rejoice
• Just men
• Holy men
• Spirit of prophecy
• Hearken
• Cast off your sins
• Do not procrastinate repentance
• Humble
• Call upon His name
• Watch
• Pray continually
• Led by the Holy Spirit
• Humble
• Meek
• Submissive
• Patience
• Full of love
• Long-suffering
• Having faith on the Lord
• Having hope to receive eternal life
• Having the Love of God in your hearts

• Destroy
• Angry
• Lied
• Reviled
• Wickedness
• Put them away
• Bound with strong cords
• Witnessed against them
• Testify against
• Blindness
• Harrowed up
• Guilt
• Pains of hell
• Possessed with the devil
• Spit upon
• Cast out
• Cast stones
• Cast into the fire
• Destroy the scriptures
• Fire
• Pain
• Hardness of hearts
• Judgments
• Wrath
• Witness against them
• Burn
• Smite
• Cast into prison
• Gnashing teeth
• Damned
• Mock
• Withhold food
• Withhold water
• Withhold clothing
• Destruction

I invite you to review these two chapters carefully. What additional words, phrases, or ideas do you find that fill out the comparative lists further?

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Come Follow Me Insights Alma 13 – Alma 16 (June 15 – June 21)