15:1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were
commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed,
and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold,
there they found all the people who had departed out of
the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned,
because they believed in the words of Alma. |
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15:2 And they related unto them all that had
happened unto their wives and children, and also
concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance.
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15:3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a
burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations
of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed
that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that
they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this
great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his
mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no
deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a
burning heat. |
This rather curious
description of the onset of a fever is a reflection of
the times in which Smith lived. We now know that a fever
is an indication of a viral or baterial infection.
Although severe stress can result in poor health, it is
unlikely to cause fever as is here described. |
15:4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in
the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and
he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to
come unto him. |
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15:5 And it came to pass that they went immediately,
obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they
went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him
upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever;
and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his
iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his
hand, and besought them that they would heal him. |
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15:6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him,
taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation? |
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15:7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all
the words that thou hast taught. |
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15:8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the
redemption of Christ thou canst be
healed. |
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15:9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy
words. |
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15:10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O
Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him
according to his faith which is in Christ. |
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15:11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom
leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was
done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the
knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of
Sidom. |
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15:12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto
the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach
unto the people. |
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15:13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests
and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be
baptized. |
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15:14 And it came to pass that they were many; for
they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom,
and were baptized. |
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15:15 But as to the people that were in the land of
Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a
stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins,
ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and
did not believe in the repentance of their sins. |
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15:16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek,
Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his
precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for
the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once
his friends and also by his father and his kindred; |
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15:17 Therefore, after Alma having established the church at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing
that the people were checked as to the pride of their
hearts, and began to humble themselves before God, and
began to assemble themselves together at their
sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and
praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and from death, and from destruction-- |
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15:18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these
things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the
land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did
administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened
him in the Lord. |
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15:19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi. |
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