The Climax of Conversion: Alma the Younger

The Book of Mormon covers around a thousand years of the familial and spiritual history of the Nephite people. That is an incredible amount of information! The Book of Mormon has so many little stories all throughout the book that contribute to a larger overall message of bringing people to Christ.

One of my favorite little stories in the Book of Mormon is the story of Alma the Younger, the son of Alma, the former priest to the wicked King Noah. The beginning of Mosiah 27 explains how the people finally began to experience peace for a short time again. Laws and regulations were enforced in order to protect the people of the church from the persecutors. But then the very children of the righteous leaders and protectors of the people begin to create contention and problems among the people. Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah are dead set on destroying the church and the more people that they brought down with them, the better.

Then in the very moment of absolute rebellion, their dark world of lies and sins and filth is shattered by the blinding pure light of God. An angel of God “descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder” (Mosiah 27:11). This appearance of the angel was the culminating moment, the climax, of the conversion of Alma the Younger. His whole previous life was leading up to this one moment in time, hurtling him towards the light and goodness of God, even though he probably didn’t realize what it was until it was right in front of his face.

The Book of Mormon is full of little moments of climax and resolution; each one contributing something new as a confirming witness of Jesus Christ.