Description

Ammonihahite Agency

The city of Ammonihah, about 81 B.C. Alma and Amulek stood bound with strong cords and were forced to watch as innocent women and children of faith were cast into a veritable lake of fire. Amulek was so moved by the agonies of the women and children that he cried out in the pain of
his own soul to Alma, his companion.

“How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore, let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.” (Alma 14:10).

The spectacle of suffering must have been unbearable, yet Alma said:

“The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold, the Lord receiveth them up unto Himself in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in His wrath may be just and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against
them at the last day.” (Alma 14: 11).

After that Alma and Amulek were smitten and returned in bonds to the prison where they were stripped, tormented, tortured, and starved for many days. Repeatedly they were smitten and taunted by the leading officers of Ammonihah. Then on the twelfth day in the tenth month of the tenth year of the reign of the judges, the chief judge over the land of Ammonihah and many of their teachers and lawyers went in to the prison where Alma and Amulek were kept. (Alma 14:23). And once again, one by one, they took turns abusing and tormenting them. And then this:

“They all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last had spoken unto them the power of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet. And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is on Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.” (Alma 14:25-26).

The walls of the prison began to tremble violently. The officers of Ammonihah fell to the earth in terror. The walls collapsed and all were killed, except Alma and Amulek. Who, when they came forth out of the prison, the people fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek. A short time later, an army of the Lamanites attacked the city, and before defenses could be rallied “every living soul…was destroyed.” (Alma 16:9).

What does this critical story tell us about the agency of wicked people? Notice how the Savior would not let Alma stop the wicked from burning the righteous, and notice how God would not let Alma and Amulek stop the wicked from abusing them until the very last man had spoken and acted out the full intentions of his heart. Once they had fulfilled the eternal law and proven themselves, the Lord came forth and destroyed them down to the last man.

How many times has the misuse of agency hurt you or those you love or caused nations and families to suffer and even die? This story is a case-study in the extreme limits of personal agency. It shows how much reverence and respect Almighty God has for this eternal principle. It demonstrates what happens to those who persist in wickedness, but it also shows that we have a Savior who is watching and will intervene on behalf of the faithful at the right moment to make all right and just again.

We can and must patiently trust Him. He knows what He’s doing.