Alma 14:11 - 14:15

Alma 14:11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

Alma really wanted to use the power given him by the Lord, but the spirit told him no. The reasons for allowing these atrocities were first, so that these martyrs might now enter the Lord’s rest. Second that when these perpetrators are brought before God at judgment day, the punishments given to them will be just. All these innocent people will stand as witnesses to their evil disposition and their terrible acts.

Alma 14:12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.

Amulek now wonder if he and Alma would be next.

Alma 14:13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.

Alma said that what would happen to them was up to the Lord in his wisdom, but the Spirit told him that their work was not over just yet and they will walk away from all this.

Alma 14:14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?

After the fires had died down and both the bodies of the people thrown into the fire along with their scriptures were burned up, the chief judge came to Alma and Amulek and slapped them on their cheeks. He asks them if they will continue to preach that the wicked will be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?

Alma 14:15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves?

The chief judge tells them that obviously they did not have the power to save those thrown into the fire and apparently God was not interested in saving them either. Then the judge slaps them again and demands them to respond to his accusations.