Guest post by Mike Winder<\/p>\n
As a\u00a0<\/i>Times and Seasons\u00a0exclusive, author Mike Winder is sharing a couple chapters of his new book\u00a0<\/i>Gold from the Plates: Greatest Hits Sermons from the Book of Mormon<\/a>,\u00a0published this summer from Cedar Fort Publishing & Media. Winder took 25 sermons from the book and gives a fresh look at each. Enjoy this one, Chapter 9:<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sacred small plates of Nephi were passed down from Enos for generations, each descendant obediently writing at least a little something before handing the record on to a son or a younger brother. These men, however, were not necessarily holy men like their forefathers. Jarom, the son of Enos, did not count himself among the prophets, priests, and teachers of his day, but took pride in himself as an artisan.[1]<\/a> His son, Omni, was a secular soldier who proclaimed that he \u201cfought much with the sword\u201d and confessed, \u201cI of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n This family did know one indisputable truth, however, one we all would be wise to remember: wickedness does not lead to happiness. This is true for our lives, and also for society at large. Omni\u2019s father, Jarom\u2014at a time when things were going well\u2014testified of the truth of the Lord\u2019s statement: \u201cInasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.\u201d[3]<\/a> In contrast, Omni\u2019s son Amaron\u2014in a season of destruction and loss\u2014testified that the inverse is also true when God said: \u201cInasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.\u201d[4]<\/a> Amaron delivered the plates to his brother Chemish, who then handed them down to his son Abinadom, who eventually passed the plates to his son Amaleki. Although Amaleki only covers 17 verses of scripture, his 919 words seem verbose in contrast to his recent forebearers and included important history and doctrine.<\/p>\n Notably, the brief record of Amaleki, written sometime in the second century before Christ, explained the confluence of all major Book of Mormon groups. He wrote of King Mosiah fleeing the Lamanite wars in the Land of Nephi and merging with the Mulekites in the Land of Zarahemla. Amaleki was the first writer in the book to mention the Jaredite civilization and how they came to be known by the Mulekites and then the Nephites. He also told of the group led by Zeniff (which included his brother) that attempted to return to the Land of Nephi. But despite his important historical contributions, the sweet two-verse sermon of faithful Amaleki in verses 26 and 27 of Omni is worthy of further exploration here.<\/p>\n Amaleki read his scriptures and knew well his family record on the small plates. \u201cAmaleki brings the Small Plates to an end by incorporating some key phrases from the Nephite founders into his last words,\u201d observed University of North Carolina Professor Grant Hardy.[5]<\/a> Amaleki echoed Father Lehi when he encouraged \u201call men to come unto God\u201d (see 2 Nephi 2:10). He repeated Nephi when he said to \u201ccome unto Christ\u201d and to \u201cpartake\u201d of Him (2 Nephi 26:24, 27, 33); and if ye \u201cendure to the end\u201d ye shall \u201cbe saved\u201d (1 Nephi 22:31 and 2 Nephi 31:5). Amaleki used the words of Jacob and Enos when he said \u201cI began to be old\u201d (Jacob 7:26 and Enos 1:25). And he channeled more Jacob when he wrote \u201ccome unto the Holy One of Israel\u201d (2 Nephi 9:51) and about \u201cthe power of his redemption\u201d (Jacob 6:9). The testimonies of his ancestors permeated his soul.<\/p>\n Amaleki wrote \u201cexhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel,\u201d and to specifically believe in six things: First, \u201cbelieve in prophesying,\u201d he said. Amaleki knew firsthand that it was \u201cmany preachings and prophesyings\u201d that saved Mosiah\u2019s people as they fled the Land of Nephi and journeyed through the wilderness, and that the words of the prophets can also save us. Second, believe \u201cin revelations,\u201d which Amaleki also knew of because Mosiah had been \u201cwarned of the Lord that he should flee\u201d and was blessed because of it. Revelations, and our believing them, can likewise lead us to spiritual safety. Third, believe \u201cin the ministering of angels.\u201d While there is no record in Amaleki\u2019s time of angelic visitors, divine messengers were a significant part of his family lore.<\/p>\n Fourth, Amaleki said we must believe \u201cin the gift of speaking with tongues.\u201d Without some spiritual gift in linguistics, the Nephites could have never built the trust to combine with the Mulekite nation and become one. After all, \u201ctheir language had become corrupted,\u201d Amaleki wrote, implying that the Mulekites had abandoned their Hebrew and picked up the local Native American languages once they began to integrate into the New World. Fifth, Amaleki said we must believe \u201cin the gift of interpreting languages.\u201d This he also saw firsthand when a large stone was brought to King Mosiah and \u201che did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, Amaleki preached that we should believe \u201cin all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil cometh from the devil.\u201d This doctrine is in harmony with the admonition of Paul and the Thirteenth Article of Faith taught by Joseph Smith. Moroni later patterned his conclusion of the large plates after Amaleki\u2019s final testimony on the small plates\u2014listing the importance of spiritual gifts and declaring that every good gift comes from Christ.<\/p>\n Most importantly, Amaleki exhorted us to give our whole souls to the Lord. \u201cJesus taught that our offering may be large or it may be small, but either way, it must be our heartfelt all,\u201d said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. \u201cThis principle is echoed in the plea of the Book of Mormon prophet Amaleki,\u201d he said.[6]<\/a> Amaleki invited us to \u201ccome unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him.\u201d After all, we cannot offer just a portion of our devotion to God\u2014it must be all or nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cOf such determined, steadfast devotion,\u201d said President Jeffrey R. Holland, \u201cI testify with obscure\u00a0Amaleki\u00a0of old.\u201d[7]<\/a> In an age of divided attention\u2014work, screens, obligations\u2014Amaleki\u2019s plea challenges us to give Christ our full focus, not just leftover moments. President Holland most recently insisted that we \u201cgive the Lord equal time\u201d with all of the other distractions competing for our attention.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n Amaleki also taught us to \u201ccontinue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.\u201d Gary R. Whiting, an elder with the Community of Christ, once wrote for Brigham Young University\u2019s Religious Studies Center of these two verses. \u201cA testimony like this strikes right to our hearts. As we read it, Amaleki seems to be standing before us, looking into our eyes and asking, \u2018How deep is your love for the Christ? How close are you walking with Jesus?\u2019\u201d He said, \u201cIt is relevant and timeless. Amaleki has given us an eternal testimony of the living Christ.\u201d[9]<\/a> This two-verse sermon from an inspired descendant of Jacob is as powerful as it is brief.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Jarom 1:8, 11.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Omni 1:2.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Jarom 1:9.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Omni 1:6.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Grant Hardy, ed., The Annotated Book of Mormon<\/em> (Oxford University Press, 2023), 212.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Dieter F. Uchtdorf, \u201cOur Heartfelt All,\u201d April 2022 General Conference.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Jeffrey R. Holland, \u201cThe Greatest Possession,\u201d October 2021 General Conference.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Jeffrey R. Holland, \u201cAs a Little Child,\u201d April 2025 General Conference.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOffer Your Whole Souls\u201d <\/em><\/h1>\n
by Amaleki, son of Abinadom (Omni 1)<\/h2>\n
\nQuestions to ponder and discuss:<\/h3>\n
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\nFootnotes<\/h3>\n