Thursday, November 14, 2019

Amulek references themes from Jacob on the Small Plates

I consider Alma-2 to have been a diligent student of the small plates. We know he was a record-keeper, and we know he was close to the sons of Mosiah, whose grandfather King Benjamin received the plates from the original Nephite descendants when their line ended.

There are quite a few examples of Alma-2 citing concepts from the small plates. 

It seems that Alma-2 wasn't the only student of the small plates.  Amulek also references ideas found on the small plates.  This makes quite a bit of sense, since Amulek and Alma-2 became very close and spent significant time together.

In Alma 34, we get a sermon of Amulek about the atonement of Jesus Christ.  On three separate occasions, Amulek testifies that this Atonement would be "infinite." (See verses 10, 12, and 14.)

The description of the atonement as "infinite" is found twice on the small plates.  The first reference is from Jacob's sermon found in 2 Nephi 9:7

Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption.

The second reference is 2 Nephi 25:16

16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things.

Hat Tip: Jeff Lindsay and Noel Reynolds