Alma 14

When you trust in the Lord, he strengthens you during your trials. If you call on the Lord in faith, he will strengthen you in your afflictions and deliver you in His way and in His own time. As you trust in the Lord's will, He will increase your strength and power to endure difficulties.

1-29. What do you learn in these verses about how to endure trials inflicted by others? What are the sources of the trials in your life?

"Adversity comes from different sources. You may at times face trials as a consequence of your own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and make him at times when you are living righteously. For example, you may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others poor choices and hurtful words and actions. Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life." – True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 8-9

1. In what way does studying the scriptures assist one in the desire to and the process of repentance? In what way does repentance become more complete and full through scripture study? Why do repentance and scripture study compliment one another?

1-4. Who had more people in their group, the believers or the destroyers? Why were the wicked angry with Alma and Amulek? Why are the wicked often angry when they hear the truth? Have you ever been corrected for doing something wrong? Do you remember how you reacted to the correction? Who are you listening to when you get angry when you are called to repentance? What can you do to accept correction more humbly?

1-10. What did these people suffer?

6-7. How did Zeezrom feel when he realized his lies blinded the minds of the people? How did Zeezrom show he was sorry for what he did? How did the people treat him? Do you think Zeezrom felt better or worse after his efforts to correct his wrong? Did his actions please God or man? Why do you think Zeezrom was so anxious to correct his lies? What does this teach you about how damaging your actions can be to others?

10. Have you ever had an adversity, a trial, or an affliction that you wanted to be relieved of any yet even with prayer it was not taken from you? What might you learn from this experience? How can suffering and hardship help you grow and become more like your Father in Heaven?

11. What did Amulek suggest that he and Alma do? Why did Alma refuse to stop the destruction? Why did the Lord permits these women and children to be burned? According to Alma, help with the women and children be blessed for their trust in the Lord? How are you blessed when you place your trust in the Lord during times of trial and hardship? What are some reasons the Lord my permit you to suffer? How can the lessons gained from adversity enrich and bless your life?  How did Alma's words show his trust in the Lord? What have you learned about why the Lord allows innocent people to suffer at the hands of the wicked?

"The example of Alma and Amulek is enlightening. While striving to do good among the people of Ammonihah, they were taken captive. Amulek trusted his more seasoned companion, Alma, who led him to greater confidence in the Lord. Forced to observe women and children consumed by fire, Amulkek said, 'Perhaps they will burn us also.', Alma answered: 'Be it according to the will of the Lord' – a vital principal. 'But ... Our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.' This life is an experience in profound trust – trust in Jesus Christ… To trust means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning. To produce fruit, your trust in the Lord must be more powerful and enduring than your confidence in your own personal feelings and experience." – Richard G Scott, GC, April 1994

"Could the Lord have prevented these tragedies? The answer is, yes. The Lord is omnipotent, with all power to control our lives, save us a pain, prevent all accidents, drive all planes and cars, feed us, protect us, save us from labor, effort, sickness, even from death, if he will. But he will not… If we look at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the pre-mortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings maybe put in proper perspective… If all the sick for whom we pre-were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the father would be in the old and the basic principle of the gospel, agency, would be ended… Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and are limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death, and if these were not, there would also be no joy, success, resurrection, nor eternal life and godhood." – Spencer W Kimball, Faith Precedes  the Miracle, 96-97

14-25. What did Alma and Amulek suffer at the hands of the wicked leaders of Ammonihah? Which of these trials would have been most difficult for you? Why? When have you seen people suffer trials even though they were striving to be righteous?

25-29. Why were Alma and Amulek able to receive power and strength from the Lord? What principles can you learn from Alma and Amulek's experience in prison? What are some ways that you can exercise faith in Jesus Christ during difficult times?