"Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true."

And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?      

-Alma 5:45

Alma-2 teaches many things in his sermon to the people at Zarahemla, found in Alma chapter 5.  In verses 43-51, Alma gives us a pretty succinct explanation why he knows the things he is teaching are true. In this same passage He describes Christ as "full of grace, and mercy, and truth."

I'd like to dive into these verses to outline a few things we can learn from this passage.

I noticed this passage in a new light as I recently studied the connections between mercy and grace. Verse 48 is one of four verses which reference both "grace" and "mercy." Each of these four verses occur in the context of covenants. I realize this is another topic of study which ultimately points to becoming one with God. (See this study on the connections between the Father and the Son for similar findings, part 1 and part 2.)

The grace of Jesus Christ is the only means of becoming one with God the Father. Covenants are the only way to fully access that grace. Covenants are made as we lay down our old ways (repentance) and take His name upon us. The ministry of angels is all about making these things known and available in our lives (not to mention calling us to assist in the work of angels in the process). This work is therefore a key component of God's mercy.  He sends angels (heavenly and earthly) to testify of these things in order to help His children come to know of these truths by the power of revelation through the Holy Spirit of God. Part of coming to know is developing a desire to join in the covenant and then keeping the commandment to declare the glad tidings.

What does this have to do with the witness given by Alma-2 in Alma 5:43-51? Let's look at the passage and I'll highlight the components described above:

43 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to the commandments of God.
44 For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come.
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.
47 And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God.
48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, 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, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.
49 And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and 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, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.
50 Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: 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.
51 And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people—Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven.

There is so much repetition here I am confident a pattern was intended, using principles of Hebrew rhetoric that I haven't been able to make sense of yet.  This much is clear -- these basic principles of the ministering of angels -- the preparatory gospel -- are very central to Alma's message here. This can be contrasted with Alma's next sermon in Gideon, where the people were already keeping their covenants, More about that in a future post.

Grace, Mercy, and the "holy order of God"

My last few posts have centered on the concepts of mercy (here and here) and grace (here). In this post, I'll begin to connect the two concepts.

We find "mercy" and "grace" in the same Book of Mormon sentence 4 times:

53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel. (2 Nephi 9)

5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. (2 Nephi 11)

48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, 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, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. (Alma 5)

25 And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord has sent his angel to visit many of his people, declaring unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto this people, saying: Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand;
26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers. (Alma 9)

There is a clear covenant context in each of these passages -- Jacob's praise of "the covenants of the Lord" and "Christ's condescensions" as well as His promise to "preserve them" as a "righteous branch unto the House of Israel" in 2 Nephi 9; Nephi's delight in the covenants of the Lord in 2 Nephi 11; Alma-2's mention of ministering angels in Alma 9 (see this post for more details about how that connects to covenants -- Mormon explains it in Moroni 7:29-32.)


A few important points jump out at me as I study these passages:

1. God would not be a merciful God, nor would we have access to grace, were it not for the "great and eternal plan of deliverance from death."
2. That plan includes Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection, but also includes other features of the Gospel: "covenants" and divinely appointed messengers declaring repentance and providing access to the ordinances through which we bind ourselves to God.
3. The "holy order" spoken of by Alma-2 is a key component of bringing about the mercy of God through grace.

My next post will go into more detail about this holy order, using Alma-2 as a great example of how the "great and eternal plan of deliverance from death" brings about mercy and grace.

"Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you"

In a landmark address in 2007, Elder Bednar encouraged "searching in the scriptures for connections, patterns, and themes." He offered a few examples of connections we can study.  I previously posted on my study of the relationship between the Father and the Son, here and here. This was the first example given by Elder Bednar.  This post will cover the second example he gave -- the connection between mercy and grace.

I first began my study by reading about mercy and then about grace.  I then focused on passages which discuss both concepts together.

Elder Bednar encourages us to study without "sophisticated study aids." We should not "rely extensively upon the spiritual knowledge of others."

We simply need to have a sincere desire to learn, the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the holy scriptures, and an active and inquiring mind.

The arm of mercy

This post will cover one topic which immediately caught my attention as I studied Book of Mormon references about mercy -- the symbol of Christ's "arm of mercy" extended towards us.  This wording appears five times in the Book of Mormon. One variant appears in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is not found in the other standard works.

• Doctrine and Covenants 29:1
• 3 Nephi 9:14
• Mosiah 16:12
• Alma 5:33
• Mosiah 29:20
• Jacob 6:5

In studying these six passages (the verses listed above plus the surrounding verses for additional context), I've drawn the following conclusions about the arm of mercy:

1. Like hands, "arms" are a symbol of strength to bring something about. Thus, the arm of mercy is a symbol of God's strength to bring about mercy and is all about Jesus Christ.
2. Christ Himself makes it clear that those who come unto Him will find mercy, as I previously pointed out in an example of this scriptural pattern.
• "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." (3 Nephi 9)
3. Christ's atoning sacrifice makes mercy possible, whereby He gained "victory over death" and was given "power to make intercession." With "bowels of mercy," He stands "betwixt [us] and justice." (Mosiah 15:8)
• "Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;" (D&C 29:1)
4. Mercy is the means by which we are "sealed His," "brought to heaven, [to] have everlasting salvation and eternal life." (Mosiah 5:15) "...Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men..." (Moroni 7:27)
5. A vital component of "the arm of mercy" involves divinely authorized messengers proclaiming the "word of God" and "call[ing] men to repentance."  Referring to ministering angels, Moroni calls this "the office of their ministry." Covenants are a crucial part of this ministry. (Moroni 7:29-32) This work of "angels" is a manifestation of the Lord's "great mercy." (Alma 38:7)

What is asked of us?

In the five Book of Mormon passages listed above, we are given specific information about what is required of us in order to access this mercy:

• "come unto me" -- 3 Nephi 9:14
• (Contrasting negative example) "Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires," "having never called upon the Lord," "they would not depart from [their iniquities]," "they would not repent" -- Mosiah 16:12
• "repent" -- Alma 5:33
• "they did humble themselves before him," "they cried mightily unto him," "put their trust in him" -- Mosiah 29:20
• "repent," "come with full purpose of heart," "cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you," "harden not your hearts" -- Jacob 6:5

"He remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches"

It's probably worthwhile to spend a little more time discussing the passage in Jacob 6. "Remember" is a term frequently connected to covenants.  In Jacob 5, Zenos' allegory clearly connects "nourishing the roots" with temple covenants.  Thus, the passage in Jacob 6 clearly connects the "arm of mercy" with the words of the prophets encouraging us to make and keep covenants with God. Notice a three-fold repetition of this injunction to repent "today" and "harden not your hearts":

4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die? (Jacob 6)