Mosiah 26-27 – Rebellious Years
Mosiah 3:19 “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,”
Nephite Timeline
Now that everyone is back in the land of Zarahemla with the church established one would think everything would be hunky-dory. The next major event in the timeline however details just the opposite. We’re told “that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers… And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.” (Mosiah 26:1-3)
Alma receives the word of the Lord on how to regulate the church and begins the process of calling people to repentance. If they repent they are numbered “among the people of the church”, if not “their names were blotted out” (Mosiah 26:35-36). Easier said than done when the transgressor ends up being your own child. Enter Alma the Younger, and his group of friends, the sons of Mosiah, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni.
These are the children of the current prophet of the church and the great seer-king. Believably they were brought up being taught the doctrine extensively. Yet, somehow, like Laman and Lemuel, they had hardened their heart against it and would not come to the tree of life when called. We’re not told where or how they ended up taking the wrong path, only that they were “very wicked” and dealt with pride and idolatry (Mosiah 27:8). Not only that, but they went about trying to pull others from the church, “stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.” (Mosiah 27:9)
While they went about “to destroy the church of God… and to lead astray the people of the Lord” (Mosiah 27:10) a miraculous event occurs. These 5 rebellious sons are visited by an angel of the Lord to call them to repentance. We are told that the angel came in response to the prayers and pleading of the Lord’s people. In particular to “the prayers of his servant, Alma” who had “prayed with much faith” concerning them that they might be “brought to the knowledge of the truth” (Mosiah 27:14). The angel commands them to repent, to remember “the captivity of thy fathers”, and stop persecuting the church unless they desire to “be cast off” (Mosiah 27:16). Alma the Younger is so astonished that he falls to the ground as if he were dead, is brought back to his father, and they pray and fast over him for 2 days as he remains in his spiritual coma.
Individual Timeline
The inevitable rebellious period has arrived. For every one of us, to one degree or another, this period comes (and hopefully goes). These are the “natural man” years that we all have. Again, to one degree or another, we all inherit this fallen state, becoming natural men and women, marred and tainted by the filth of the world. As strange as it may sound this was the plan all along.
Natural Man
As soon as Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, ushering in the understanding of good and evil, mankind, by having this knowledge and using their agency against their inner light, introduced sin into the world. As the Brother of Jared once lamented, “because of the fall our natures have become evil continually” (Ether 3:2). The divine natures of our spirits are thus ever at odds with the “natural man” natures of our bodies, perpetuating the internal war fought for the souls of mankind.
The dichotomy of the soul, the godly spirit encased within the natural fallen body, deserves further discussion. The spirit naturally yearns for love, peace, truth, and light. The body’s natural cravings are for pleasure, power, lust, and idleness. The Spirit of God prompts and speaks truth to our spirit. The Devil tempts and speaks lies to the natural cravings of our bodies. Which do you learn to listen to and follow? You cannot follow both, there is no middle ground. “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Inevitably, sometimes daily, we all listen to the other master and set aside our divine mandate to rise above such tendencies and embrace them instead.
This sentiment about the ubiquitous and extensive nature of the fall on us all and the absolute need of a Redeemer to save us is echoed by Amulek. He said: “it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made” (Alma 34:9). We are all natural men and women to a degree, and to that degree we are enemies to God and His plan. “O (then) how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster”! (2 Nephi 9:10)
As sobering a thought as this, especially knowing that “the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (D&C 1:31), it’s all part of the plan; how else are we to learn? As we grow and learn by trial and error to master the bodies the Lord has given us, subjecting the flesh to the will of the spirit, mistakes will be made along the way. To the degree we sin and lack self mastery over the body, the natural man within us becomes more and more entrenched, gaining precious real estate within our heart and soul.
It should come at no surprise then that the individual starts exhibiting some of these natural man tendencies as their core is compromised. This tendency of developing a spirit of rebellion is quite natural and to a degree we all go through it. Yes there is daily repentance and the grace of Christ that covers us while we’re feeling out this process, thank goodness for that; but true repentance, that changes the heart and “(puts) off the natural man”, requires one to break that now stony heart and rebellious spirit. More on this to come in the next chapter.
Rising Generation
Our own conversion therefore has no salvific value to our children; it may help them desire to walk the path of salvation themselves, it can help point them in the right direction, but salvation is obtained on an individual level, and the internal battle for the soul must repeat each subsequent generation. This is where we find ourselves in the Nephite timeline. Despite the deep and profound conversion and miraculous deliverance of the previous generation, “there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers… And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.” (Mosiah 26:1,3)
This has been an ongoing process throughout the Nephite narrative, as such this period of rebellion can come at any time during our own timeline, lasting anywhere from months to years; but I find it instructive that it is emphasized here at this time. Usually it will begin sometime in the teenage years, but often, as found here, it comes after one leaves home and out on their own. With all this newfound freedom our children often explore and may stretch their wings a little too far.
While this is understandable, we are told, perhaps surprisingly, that some of the worst among them were the sons of Mosiah, grandchildren to the mighty King Benjamin, and Alma the younger, the son of Alma the priest and prophet of the church. Having not understood the words of their grandfather, or the deliverance of their fathers from the bondage of sin and/or Lamanites, they became very “wicked” and “idolatrous”, leading away “many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.” (Mosiah 27:8)
The sins of this Generation
Idolatry and pride, as identified being one of the main pitfalls for these young men, are also among one of the main traps that may ensnare our children at this time too. Focusing too much on the glory of the world, like Noah and his priests, captures so many promising young adults here. Whether we’re on a nontraditional route like Zeniff et al. or following a more classic, defined route, like Mosiah in Zarahemla, this is a flaxen cord that can become chains for us all.
The other major sin that derails so many at this point is sexual sin. While this isn’t highlighted here with Alma the Younger, it is highlighted later in the narrative with his son Corianton. Alma gets a taste of his own medicine so to speak as he deals with the rebellion of his own son. Corianton was following a very traditional route of going on a mission, but “didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel” (Alma 39:3). For such sin there is “no excuse” he counsels, “these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord” (Alma 39:4-5). He pleads to “repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things” (Alma 39:9).
Perhaps worse still is when one’s actions cause others to falter and follow their own “strange roads” (1 Ne 8:32). In effect, one can spiritually “(murder) many of (God’s) children, by leading “them away unto destruction” (Alma 36:14). Often the damages done to others cannot be reclaimed, despite future repentance and attempts at reconciliation. Knowing that the Father’s work and glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39), following the course of the natural man in furthering the work of spiritual death certainly puts one in the “enemy to God” category.
Our Rebellion
Now if you’re reading this and can relate to being in your own phase of rebellion, or perhaps if your rebellious period was more prolonged or deeper than some, you too can breathe a sigh of relief. First of all, if you’re in this chapter of life and are actually reading this chapter, then your rebellious stage isn’t too bad at all, or at least you’re obviously seeking a way out. To such I applaud your efforts and commend you to continue on to the next/best chapter. We’ve all been there and there is a way out, no matter how deep or long your rebellious chapter may be.
However, there is still “no excuse” like Alma taught. In other words, despite this being a very “natural” phase of life there’s no excuse to stay there. We don’t want natural, natural is in direct opposition to God. We are called to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9) by putting off this natural man. This is a very unnatural state in this fallen Telestial world. We are told that “wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (3 Ne 14:13-14). Find the way that leads to eternal life; there are no natural, broad, paths of rebellion out there that are as exciting, fulfilling, or joyful.
Our Parenting
While the revelation that the children of prophets and kings could go down such dark paths may be a shock to some, it may come as a consolation to others depending on your situation. These boys had been taught about Christ from the very best, most holy, most experienced men the Nephite civilization could produce at the time. Yet they became “the very vilest of sinners” (Mosiah 28:4). On one hand we may throw up our hands and wonder if there is any hope for our kids with our less than optimal parenting ourselves. On the other, for those that have kids going through their own rebellious stages currently, this may be consoling. If these children of prophets ended up going off the deep end, then maybe we don’t need to keep beating ourselves up over the rebellions of our own children.
Yes we do influence them, and yes our poor examples and bad decisions may lead them to go deeper into this rebellious stage than had we been such optimal parents, but the fact is that they need to, and will, choose their own path. Often, despite trying our hardest to raise our children well, to do the best we can, to teach them all we know, they still choose to rebel; to a degree they all do, and that’s ok, trust the process and God’s hand of grace. As the merciful story of the parenting of Mosiah and Alma portrays, or even the great patriarch Lehi, even if we do everything perfect, chances are we’ll have some go through some major rebellion.
Key is in doing the best we can, repent when our parenting is less than optimal, reconcile with our children where/when needed, and move on in faith. Remember, they were God’s children first before they were yours and he is able to overcome any parental weakness we may have perpetuated. I find solace in the Lord’s promise to Thomas on account of his “faith in (His) work (and His glory). Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.” (D&C 31:1-2)
Along these lines Elder Orson F. Whitney taught: “The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”
We’re all on this path of perfection together but it’s a process of refinement; nowhere else are we better refined in becoming like our own Heavenly Parent than in being parents ourselves. Trust in the power of your sealing and the love of our Father. Expect there will be bumps in the road, be humble in the program of smoothing them out, and enjoy the journey. No other is as grand or rewarding.
Intervention
So, other than keeping our sealing covenant, what else can we do to help our children through this phase? Like the Prophet Joseph taught we hope on, we pray on, and we hold on to them with our faith. That’s exactly what Alma did for his wayward son. We are told that “as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood” (Mosiah 27:11)
You’ll remember the reason the angel gives in why he has been sent to them saying: “Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.” (Mosiah 27:14)
An angel came to shake these young men and the very ground they stood on, calling them to repentance, on account of a Father’s prayer of faith. Now, not every prayer will be answered so dramatically. In fact this is by far the exception rather than the rule. Still, there are great lessons to be learned from this exchange.
The first and most obvious is to never stop praying for your wayward sons and daughters. Never give up hope. God is a God of miracles and reach after our children and give them every opportunity to return home to the fold. Like the shepherd going after the lost sheep in those instances where they are lost on account of some failing on our or anothers part; or like the father patiently waiting for the prodigal son to return after the divinely sent famines and trials turn him back, they will have divine intervention. Perhaps more so on account of our faith and prayers, perhaps sooner or more miraculous, but if this account teaches us anything it is that our prayers do matter.
This brings us to the second point, praying in faith. It isn’t just any prayer that can open the windows of heaven and call down such divine help. We must pray “with much faith”, like Alma, knowing, not merely believing, that the Lord will intercede. In His own timeline yes, but I find that His timeline can often be sped up on account of our actions. Perhaps you have been given this child as a divinely appointed refiner’s fire, the greatest blessing you could ask for in helping you develop your love, faith, and patience. Perhaps both your and their divine intervention and release from said trials depends as much on the lessons you need to learn and your development as a parent as it does on theirs. If the Lord blesses you with such an opportunity, to parent and love one of His wayward children, see it with His eyes and look to change yourself instead of trying to change them. As you do so and your faith deepens it can become that principle of power that can, yes, even call down angels to help your family. They usually are not seen, sometimes angels even come in the form of other individuals, like Ammon with the people of Limhi, but they are available and anxious to intercede.
The third point is what happens to Alma the Younger as a result of the Divine intervention. His whole world was rocked to the core, literally. We, and our own “younger”s, may need such shaking to finally wake us up. We likely will have to hit some form of rock bottom where everything seems to be falling apart. Something that strikes us “dumb” and “weak” so we’re in a position to actually hear that still small voice. We end up surrounded in the darkness of our own making, being “racked with eternal torment” having our souls “harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all (our) sins” (Alma 36:12). This is the fruit of the Natural Man, of our fallen natures, and it is so bitter. When doing things “our way” finally becomes too painful we sincerely look for someone who can set things right. When that stony heart is crushed and our spirit contrite, only then can we adequately approach Him in humility, and beg for deliverance. It’s my testimony that such deliverance will come.
Global Timeline
Just as our individual period of rebellion may come at various stages in life the same spirit of rebellion has been exhibited many times throughout the church’s history. In Kirtland with the failure of the bank, in Missouri and Nauvoo with apostasy and subsequent persecutions, after the saints reached the valley with various growing pains, fundamentalists etc. Still, this is probably best represented in the succession crisis and subsequent splintering of the church that followed the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, right where it is supposed to be in the narrative.
After Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered, a spirit of rebellion, confusion, and power seeking overtook the church. The keys to bear off the church rested with Brigham Young and the rest of the 12 apostles as declared in the Doctrine and Covenants which states: “three Presiding High Priests…form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church….the Twelve Apostles…form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned” (D&C 107:22-24). Joseph told the Twelve the same after giving them the keys of the Kingdom just before his martyrdom saying: “I roll the burden and responsibility of leading this church off from my shoulders on to yours,” he declared. “Now, round up your shoulders and stand under it like men; for the Lord is going to let me rest awhile.” (Quoted in declaration of the Twelve Apostles (undated draft), reporting Mar. 1844 meeting; in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832–78, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.)
Despite this, many in the church rose up in rebellion declaring their right to lead and succeed the prophet in the governance of the Kingdom. Many felt that Joseph’s oldest son, Joseph Smith III should succeed when he came of age, starting the Reorganized Church. Still others like Alpheus Cutler, Granville Hedrick, and James Strang vied for leadership and to win converts to their cause. Perhaps most confusing and believable was Sidney Rigdon, the only surviving member of the first presidency.
Sidney, in the prior year, “had begun taking a course contrary to the counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith and had become estranged [separated] from the Church.” (Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1996], 66). He emphatically declared that he had seen a vision and that it was his responsibility to “see that the church is governed in a proper manner” because he had been ordained as the spokesman for Joseph. He also claimed that he should “be a guardian to the people” as commanded by God (see History of the Church, 7:229-230). He addressed the saints again the next day and spoke at length for 90 minutes which most felt was uninspiring. After he addressed the crowd Brigham stood and spoke briefly. As he spoke many witnessed hearing not Brigham’s but the voice of Joseph Smith! Even “his person, in look, attitude, dress and appearance was Joseph himself, personified; and I knew in a moment the spirit and mantle of Joseph was upon him” (My Life’s Review [1947], 103–4).
As he spoke later in the day the miracle continued. George Q. Cannon, who was 17 years old in 1844, remembered, “If Joseph had arisen from the dead and again spoken in their hearing, the effect could not have been more startling that it was to many present at that meeting; it was the voice of Joseph himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard, but it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very person of Joseph which stood before them. … The Lord gave his people a testimony that left no room for doubt as to who was the man chosen to lead them” (in History of the Church, 7:236).
Brigham was literally given the tongue of an angel, the recently departed Joseph Smith. As the angel came to rebellious Alma the Younger, it was as if Joseph as an angel returned to silence the rebellious voices and give direction to the floundering body of Christ. It also highlights the tongue of an angel that follows this process of conversion as Nephi described in 2 Ne 32:2; “Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?” A good segway into one of the most important chapters and events in our life.
Personal Timeline
Well, like most I definitely had my rebellious years. As hinted at earlier, they probably started earlier and lasted longer than many that traverse the Lord’s path. “The Boys” and I were more akin to Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah than I’d like to admit. We never strayed too far or actively tried to pull others from the church, but I know some of our (my) actions did cause some to follow similar paths of rebellion.
Not to air dirty laundry but one, now almost humorous, story I think would suffice. As mentioned we were a band of hunters, always looking for entertainment, fun, food, and girls (though most of us were too shy to say anything to them if they were found). Riding around in rusted, beat up, chariots of steel. Most nights we’d end up at Harmons for 25 cent sodas, racking our brains for something to do, but once a year the party came to us, Spring Break!
For those that don’t know, St. George UT is (was?) the place to be on spring break. A perfect meeting place for those that are too cold up in SLC/Provo area and those that want to avoid the crime/alcohol/drugs of Vegas and just have a good time. Everyone would congregate on a street called the Boulevard. There would be teenagers lined up, walking the streets en masse, for miles. It was like our Christmas, prime hunting season. Usually we’d just drive around and honk at people, for hours, yep, good times.
Towards the end of one spring break I was getting off a difficult shift at the pool where I was a lifeguard. I had been heckled, splashed, and had to clean/shock the pool on more than one occasion, ugh. I called my buddies to come pick me up, feeling dejected about the night ahead. As I hung up the phone my eyes alighted upon a bottle of Robitussin we had there next to the phone. Robitussin was making the rounds at school as a street drug of sorts, kids were drinking it up by the bottle. But my buddies and I had sworn to never touch it or anything else, we were “straight-edge”. Just then a little devil on my shoulder started whispering to me and I tentatively reached for it. There was a brief internal struggle but I took off the cap and looking around, took a little swig. Ugh, cherry flavored.
All in all I think I probably took a double dose (maybe) of what’s prescribed but the placebo effect was all I needed, that night the shy reserved Levi was gone and I was completely off the wall, crazy town. Of course my friends wanted to know what made the difference but I wouldn’t tell. After some good pestering I finally disclosed “Well, I uh, drank a little Robitussin…” “What! You! No way!”. The next night a bunch of them were hammered on the stuff much to my chagrin and guilt.
That night started a couple of friends down some pretty dark paths with substance abuse. I felt so guilty, still do, I never went back to anything like it and became an advocate against it, but my words were hollow and filled with hypocrisy. Often I felt like Alma, “racked” because of that one sin, feeling like “I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction” (Alma 36: 12-14). Eventually I believe everyone cleaned their act up but what a toll that mistake had in “giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.” (Mosiah 27:9)
Even after our little movie theater call to higher things and moving away to college my spirit of rebellion was deeply ingrained. That first year of college was full of video games, music, and dancing. My new roomates and I really got into clubbing for some reason (now it seems so reprehensible, yuck!). Still that familiar spirit of emptiness and longing for more would almost suffocate me after such nights spent seeking joy in the world. It was as if I kept looking for happiness in wickedness only to be surprised again and again by Alma’s timeless declaration that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).
Luckily, after a year of college 19 came and I received my mission call. I always wanted to go, or at least felt the need/duty to do so. But it wasn’t until the MTC and the Lord bringing me very low in sorrow and repentance, that my true conversion came.
The Way 