Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Alma 32:1 - 32:5

Alma 32:1 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

Alma and his companions began to proselyte were ever they could. They preached in the synagogues, in private homes and even held street meetings.

Alma 32:2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—

They began to have success among the poor classes of the Zoramites. These folks had been barred from coming to church meetings because they did not comply with the dress standards as set forth by the more affluent among them.

Alma 32:3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.

Because of the coarseness of their dress, they were considered outcasts and not permitted to attend church. This lead to these poor folks as being discouraged and feeling that they were of less personal worth than their rich neighbors.

Alma 32:4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.

One day while Alma was hold an outdoor meeting on the hill Onidah, a large group of these poor Zoramites came to the meeting.

Alma 32:5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?

A spokesman for the group came forward and asked Alma for advice on their situation. They had been thrown out of church services, because they were poorly dress by their own priests. This was especially hard to take when considering they had help to build the synagogues with their own hands. As a result, these poor folks had nowhere to worship and wanted to know from Alma where they could worship.

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