Comments on Alma 25 v1 "those Lamanites", i.e., the group from 24:28 which is composed mostly of apostate Nephites. v2 The events of this verse coincide with those of 16:1-3. Ironically, these apostate Nephites attack and kill another group of apostate Nephites, those at Ammonihah. According to 16:1 this occurs in 81 B.C. v3 Verse 16:12 says there was about 3 years of peace in between the sack of Ammonihah and the subsequent wars. The next big wars between the Lamanites and Nephites are in 27:1-2 and 28:1-9. In between those the events of v. 5-9 and v. 13-14 are what give the Nephites some 3 years of peace. v4-12 Mormon now takes some time out to editorialize the destruction of the descendants of Amulon according to the prediction of Abinadi. The descendants of the wicked priests of Noah, called Amulonites, are largely destroyed in the conflict over Ammonihah and the subsequent retributive attack by the Nephites (v. 4). Those Amulonites who are not killed in the battle flee to the east and usurp power over the Lamanites there. Once they do they cause the believers among the Lamanites to die by fire (v. 5). Mormon then inserts a parenthesis explaining that the tribulations suffered has caused many of the Lamanites to repent and believe the words which they had previously rejected, which words were those the sons of Mosiah had preached among them. They were thus converted to the Lord and rejected the traditions of their fathers (v. 6). These are the believers in v. 5 whom the Amulonites martyr by fire (v. 7). This martyrdom causes many of the Lamanites to be angry with the Amulonites and hunt them down and kill them (v. 8). And they are hunted even to that present time. Thus is the prediction by Abiniadi fulfilled concerning the children of the wicked priests of Noah (v. 9), because he said whatever the wicked priests do to him will be a type of things to come (v. 10, cp. Mosiah 13:10). Even as Abinadi died from fire, so did many other believers die by fire (v. 11) at the hands of the children of these wicked priests. Then, the children of these wicked priests would be scattered, driven, and smitten (v. 12, cp. Mosiah 12:2). v4 The annihilation of your lineage is a classic OT covenant curse, Ps. 109:13-15. It is precisely the opposite of the blessings offered to Abraham and Lehi and all the patriarchs. v8 "many of their brethren", i.e., the relatives of those who were martyred by the Amulonites. v12 Mormon's recounting of Abinadi's curses is similar to the earlier account in Mosiah 12, but in the Mosiah 12 account there are no references to being like sheep. Either Mormon is interpolating the curses from the latter half of Mosiah 12:2 or there is material Mormon had access to which we do not have. It is probably the latter as it is noted in the last line of Mosiah 12:8 that many more things were spoken which were not documented in this particular record. v13-16 Having expunged the apostate Nephites from amongst themselves, some of the Lamanites join the people of Anti-Nephi- Lehi (v. 13) following their example of burying their weapons and keeping the commandments (v. 14). All of these converted Lamanites keep the Law of Moses and understand it is a type of Christ (v. 15). They understand the purpose of the Law is to strengthen their faith and teach them by the Spirit (v. 16). v13 As the apostate Nephites were instigators of hatred among the Lamanites (cf. 21:3, 23:14, 24:1-2), once the groups separate and polarize the Lamanites change for the better. v15-16 can be arrange in an antithetical inverted parallelism, as follows: A - 15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. B - But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, C - and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them. C - 16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; B - but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, A - relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come. The A's indicate they kept the physical performances of the Law of Moses because it was not yet fulfilled, but they relied upon the Spirit and not the works because it taught them about the things which should come. The B's indicate they recognized the Law of Moses was a type of Christ, and so it strengthened their faith in him. And, the C's indicate they knew they need to do these outward performances to be obedient, but that salvation did not come by doing them alone. Overall, v. 15 addresses the physical performances of the Law and v. 16 address the spiritual intent of the Law. v17 The sons of Mosiah are very pleased with the second wave of Lamanites repenting and abandoning the false traditions of their fathers. It is obvious why they would be so pleased about it since initially a number of the sons of Mosiah had been rejected by these very same people, cf. 20:30 and 21:10-13. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.