2024 Come, Follow Me
Book of Mormon Lesson 28:
July 8 — July 14
They “Never Did Fall Away”
Do you sometimes wonder whether people can really change? Maybe you worry about whether you can overcome poor choices you’ve made or bad habits you’ve developed, or you may have similar worries about loved ones. If so, the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies can help you. These people were the sworn enemies of the Nephites. When the sons of Mosiah decided to preach the gospel to them, the Nephites “laughed [them] to scorn.” Killing the Lamanites seemed like a more plausible solution than converting them. (See Alma 26:23–25.)
But the Lamanites did change—through the converting power of Jesus Christ. They were once known as “a hardened and a ferocious people” (Alma 17:14), but they became “distinguished for their zeal towards God” (Alma 27:27). In fact, they “never did fall away” (Alma 23:6).
Maybe you have some thoughts or actions to change or “weapons of … rebellion” to lay down (Alma 23:7). Or maybe you just need to be a little more zealous toward God. No matter what changes you need, Alma 23–29 can give you hope that through the atoning power of Jesus Christ, long-lasting change is possible.
Alma 23: Religious freedom is proclaimed—The Lamanites in seven lands and cities are converted—They call themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies and are freed from the curse—The Amalekites and the Amulonites reject the truth. About 90–77 B.C.
Alma 24: The Lamanites come against the people of God—The Anti-Nephi-Lehies rejoice in Christ and are visited by angels—They choose to suffer death rather than to defend themselves—More Lamanites are converted. About 90–77 B.C.
Alma 25: Lamanite aggressions spread—The seed of the priests of Noah perish as Abinadi prophesied—Many Lamanites are converted and join the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi—They believe in Christ and keep the law of Moses. About 90–77 B.C.
Alma 26: Ammon glories in the Lord—The faithful are strengthened by the Lord and are given knowledge—By faith men may bring thousands of souls unto repentance—God has all power and comprehends all things. About 90–77 B.C.
Alma 27: The Lord commands Ammon to lead the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi to safety—Upon meeting Alma, Ammon’s joy exhausts his strength—The Nephites give the Anti-Nephi-Lehies the land of Jershon—They are called the people of Ammon. About 90–77 B.C.
Alma 28: The Lamanites are defeated in a tremendous battle—Tens of thousands are slain—The wicked are consigned to a state of endless woe; the righteous attain a never-ending happiness. About 77–76 B.C.
Alma 29: Alma desires to cry repentance with angelic zeal—The Lord grants teachers for all nations—Alma glories in the Lord’s work and in the success of Ammon and his brethren. About 76 B.C.
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps 2024 — Lesson 28, Jonn Claybaugh
- Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 28
- Nibley Book of Mormon Lectures: Come, Follow Me Lesson 28
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 26: Alma 23-29 (2020), Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 26 (Alma 23-29)
- All We Can/Could Do Is Repentance (Alma 24), Hales Swift
- Stained Swords: A Psalm of Redemption, by Loren Blake Spendlove, Dec 30, 2022
- Now If This Is Boasting, Even So Will I Boast!, by Loren Blake Spendlove, Apr 3, 2020
- Labor Diligently to Write: The Ancient Making of a Modern Scripture — Chapter 14: Alma Chapters XIV-XV (23–29), Brant A. Gardner
- Compassion as the Heart of the Gospel, Daniel C. Peterson, July 5, 2019
- Too Little or Too Much Like the Bible? A Novel Critique of the Book of Mormon Involving David and the Psalms, Jeff Lindsay, May 25, 2018
- “He Did Go About Secretly”: Additional Thoughts on the Literary Use of Alma’s Name, Matthew L. Bowen, November 24, 2017
- The Small Voice, Daniel C. Peterson, November 25, 2016
- The Ammonites Were Not Pacifists, Duane Boyce, June 17, 2016
- “They Were Moved with Compassion” (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon, Matthew L. Bowen, February 19, 2016
- A Nickname and a Slam Dunk: Notes on the Book of Mormon Names Zeezrom and Jershon, Stephen D. Ricks, January 31, 2014
- Nephite insights into Israelite Worship Practices before the Babylonian Captivity, A. Keith Thompson, February 1, 2013
- In His Footsteps: Ammon₁ and Ammon₂, Val Larsen, January 11, 2013
- Interpreting Interpreter: An Assyrian “Great Church”, by Kyler Rasmussen, Jan 27, 2023
- Interpreting Interpreter: Stained Swords, by Kyler Rasmussen, Dec 30, 2022
- Scripture Roundtable: Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26, “Converted unto the Lord”, July 11, 2016
- What Is the Importance of a Name? (Ensign Weekly Book of Mormon Insights)
- Alma 23-29 (Ensign Support Articles and Activities)
- For Health and Strength, Children’s Songbook, 21
- Alma 23 to 29 – They “Never Did Fall Away”, BYU Studies
- The Book of Alma as a Prototype for Teaching the Word of God, BYU Religious Studies Center
- Church Discipline in the Book of Mosiah, BYU Religious Studies Center
- Alma 23-29, John W. Welch Notes
- Why did the Ammonites Covenant Not to Take Up Arms?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #567
- The Wish of My Heart, Book of Mormon Central
- Why Did Converted Lamanites Call Themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #131
- What is the Symbolism of the Stained Swords of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #132
- Why Does God Sometimes Send Angels to Help People?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #360
- Where Can You Best Learn about God’s Plan of Salvation?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #272
- Why Did Ammon Borrow So Much from Tradition in Alma 26?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #133
- Why Was Jershon Called a Land of Inheritance?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #134
- Why were the People of Ammon Exempted from Military Duty?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #274
- Why Is David Whitmer’s Witness of the Book of Mormon So Compelling?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #395
- Why Did Fasting and Prayer Accompany Nephite Mourning?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #135
- Why Did Alma Wish to Speak "with the Trump of God"?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #136
- Why Was Alma’s Wish Sinful? , Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #137
- Was Chiasmus Known to Ancient American Writers?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #346
- Discussions on the Book of Mormon – Alma 20-24
- Discussions on the Book of Mormon – Alma 25-29