Alma teaches the people in secret so they aren't discovered by Noah. He ends up with 450 converts who are baptized and organized into a church with a priesthood leader ordained for every 50 people. Alma has the authority given to him to be able to baptize, teach and ordain others but the scriptures don't say who he received the authority from. I like to think he received his authority from an angel but its possible he received it from someone among the people who had authority to ordain. Since the people were in total apostasy and no organized church was among them, it's possible that an angel was the only way to receive ordination. However, it is possible that being ordained a high priest in King Noah's court was originally a valid ordination. It's also a possibility that he was ordained by Abinadi.
I like verse 26 which says that those who were ordained priests by Alma didn't not relay on the people for their sustenance but instead received the grace of God. To me this means they were sustained and supported by God and as a result they waxed strong in the Spirit, received knowledge from God, as well as power and authority. There is much to be spiritually learned by working with our own hands and making our own way in life if our eyes and hearts are open. It's easy to let the duties of life become mundane and ordinary when great things can be discovered by the Spirit if we're sensitive.
No comments:
Post a Comment