A Scripture Picture Book– Alma 32

Children love a good story. The Book of Mormon has some of the best stories I know. It's full of suspense, marvelous manifestations, family challenges, secret plots, miracles, war, life lessons, and a walk with God. It will change your life.

Sometimes we feel like we need to simplify the original words for children, but much of the rich content is lost when we do this.

Children love to look at the pictures when we read together, so we created a simple picture book using the words from Alma 32 and some Google images.

If you want to use this book, here's how to put it together:

• First copy page 2 on the back of page 1, page 3 on the back of page 4, page 5 on the back of page 6, page 7 on the back of page 8, and page 9 on the back of page 10. The pictures are formatted to fit on an 8.5"x 11" sheet of paper.

• Make sure the papers are stacked in the correct order.

• While stacked fold the 8.5”x 11” papers in half.

• Open up your book and put a couple staples down the middle crease.

• Your book is ready to read.

• Note: The mastery scriptures are written inside the front cover.

Take time to stop and talk about what you've read to make sure your child understands the passage. Have them tell the story back to you in their own words. Talk about words they might not understand. It's okay to paraphrase parts of the story to help them understand the story line, but eventually you'll want to read the words as printed in the book.

Reading the Book of Mormon also helps develop the reading skills of young readers.

Children Reenactment of Amalickiah Uses Treachery, Murder, and Intrigue to Become King of the Lamanites

Each month we invite friends over to our home to enjoy a potluck dinner and join us in a gospel discussion. It has worked well to plan something for the children while the adults have their discussion. Last month the children had a great time Reenacting Ammon Protects Lamoni's Flocks. This month we decided to learn another exciting story.

First we told them the story found in Alma 47 where Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become King of the Lamanites. None of the children knew the story when we started.

Gratefully we had a lot of children show up on Sunday. We needed Amalickiah, the king and queen, Lehonti, Amalickiah's servants, the king's guards, an obedient Lamanite army, and a rebel Lamanite army. After hearing the story, everyone decided which role they wanted to play.

We read a few verses out of the scriptures and then filmed the children while they acted out the story. It works well to read the scripture while they are acting so we have enough footage for the video. We only film a small section at a time. Most of the footage is their first run through. The idea is to have a lot of fun and learn the story. We have children of all ages, so keeping it fast paced helps keep everyone's attention. It's fun to see how the little ones follow along as the older ones lead out in the show.

This is proving to be a successful means of teaching the scriptures to young children. They learn the story, act out the story, and watch the story over and over because children love watching themselves. We included the original text from the Book of Mormon, so they learn the scriptures while watching the video.

Enjoy the show!

Picture Scripture Chase – Alma 47

If each week you introduce one new Picture Scripture Chase and practice the ones you've already introduced, in less than five years, your children will have mastered the basic stories of the Book of Mormon and know where those stories can be found in scripture. If it takes you a little longer because you're Memorizing a Passage from each chapter, answering all the Book of Mormon Trivia
 and/or Teenage Challenge Questions, doing the activities, and pursuing the Scripture Chains, you might only introduce two new pictures a month. At this pace, it will take less than 10 years to thoroughly study the Book of Mormon with your children; and in their adult years, they will have a solid foundation upon which to build.

This is the third picture scripture chase we've added to our Book of Mormon Scrapbook. Read a verse off the back of one of the three scripture chase pictures. Have your children show you the picture that goes along with the verse you read. You can start your scripture study each day with a couple minutes of scripture picture chase. Kids love doing this.

Print the words from Alma 47 on the back of this picture. Change the margins and font size so all the words fit on the back side of the picture. Have your children color the picture before putting it in their Book of Mormon scrapbook.

Alma 47 Picture

Words From Alma 47

Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites. And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.

And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms. Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites. And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites. And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.

Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom. And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas. And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him. And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him. And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.

And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti. And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired. And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king. Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader. And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.

And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was the chief city. And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle. But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites. And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.

Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying: Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see. And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain. And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king. Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon. And the army which pursued after them returned, having pursued after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his fraud, gained the hearts of the people.

And it came to pass on the morrow he entered the city Nephi with his armies, and took possession of the city. And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had heard that the king was slain—for Amalickiah had sent an embassy to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape—Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring witnesses with him to testify concerning the death of the king. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king.

And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time. Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.

Scripture Mastery – Alma 47:22-28

Things aren't always as they appear. The following scripture was chosen because it demonstrates part of Amalickiah's subtlety in becoming king of the Lamanites. How can you distinguish between truth and fraud?

Read scripture in context:

Amalickiah seeks to be king over all the land. This chapter shows how he uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites. Having failed to obtain his desires among the Nephites, he fled with a small number of his men, before the armies of Moroni, and came over to the Land of Nephi. He stirred up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi until the king of the Lamanites desired to go to battle against the Nephites. Most of the Lamanites would not obey the king because they feared for their lives to go to battle with the Nephites. They fled to Onidah and gathered together on the top of mount Antipas. At the king's command, Amalickiah took the obedient part of the king's army to compel the rebels to arms. But instead of obeying the king, he laid a plan to dethrone the king. Amalickiah persuades Lehonti to agree to come down and surround the king's army during the night. Lehonti is given command over the entire army. Amalickiah is placed under Lehonti and is second in command. Amalickiah's servant poisons Lehonti, kills the king, and blames it on the king's guards. Amalickiah marries the queen and becomes king of the Lamanites.

Scripture to Memorize:

But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites. And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth. Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying: Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see. And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain. And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king. Alma 47:22-28

The Meaning of Words:

reverence: regard or treat with deep respect

greatness: High rank or place; elevation; dignity; distinction; eminence; power; command.

token: A sign; something intended to represent or indicate another thing or an event.

cry: To utter a loud voice; to speak, call or exclaim with vehemence; in a very general sense; To proclaim: to utter a loud voice, in giving public notice.

gore: Blood; but generally, thick or clotted blood; blood that after effusion becomes inspissated.

Questions to Discuss:

Can you see the The Law of the Boomerang working in this chapter? Did Amalickiah trust his servants? Why might he not be able to totally trust his servants? If the king had not allowed himself to be stirred up to anger by Amalickiah, would have Amalickiah been able to dethrone him as king? How did Amalickiah use anger to his advantage? Why wasn't the king content to be king of the Lamanites? Why did he also need to rule over Nephites? How did Amalickiah uses lust for control and power to his advantage? Why did the Lamanites choose to adopt this custom of peace from the Nephites and not other customs? After the king was killed, why did the king's guards run with fear? How did Amalickiah use fear to his advantage? Why did the army believe the king's servants/guards were the ones who killed the king? Is this reasonable? The guards are with the king most of the time, if it was their intention to kill the king, wouldn't they have done it in more private setting? Would you have been able to see the obvious? How does hypocrisy and the pretense of leaders fool most people? When the army chased and pursued the king's guards, did they become more invested in Amalickiah's story? Did all of the army love the king? How did Amalickiah use revenge and love of the king to his advantage? How does anger, lust for control and power, revenge, and fear cloud our thinking? What governs your actions? 

Marking the Scripture:

You can use a different color to mark each item.

1. Circle each “And it came to pass that”.
2. Remember behold means to look and see. Circle each “behold”. The first “behold” has a “but” before it.
3. How many times do you see “Amalickiah”? Underline each “Amalickiah” followed by Amalickiah's action: Amalickiah caused, Amalickiah raised, Amalickiah commanded, Amalickiah pretended.
4. Underline each phrase that has “king” in it: as the king came out to meet him, that his servants should go forth to meet the king, And they went and bowed themselves before the king, the king put forth his hand to raise them, he stabbed the king to the heart, Now the servants of the king fled, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and see what had happened to the king, and found the king lying in his gore, Whosoever loved the king, all they who loved the king, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king.
5. Circle all “servants”.

Scrapbook Copy of Scripture:

After the children memorize the verse, they can put this colored copy in their Book of Mormon Scrapbook

Here is a smaller section to memorize that comes from this same passage. My younger children do better memorizing a smaller passage.

If you want to memorize it for life, you can use the chart at the end of the Memorize For Life post.  

Other Helpful Hints are posted at the end of - Remember and Hear God's Voice

Book of Mormon Trivia – Alma 47

In addition to making movies and creating picture books, we play Book of Mormon Trivia to help our children become familiar with the stories in the Book of Mormon. We've been playing Book of Mormon Beanbag Toss and Book of Mormon Puzzler using these questions.

Have the children read the verse aloud from the scriptures. This will help them in their ability to read scriptures. Then have them answer the questions. They get game privileges for reading the verse and for answering questions. Help them understand the question and/or verse if they need help.

We usually do this before school with three of our children who are five, seven, and nine. This is Emma's (age 5) first week joining us for scripture game time.

Alma Chapter 47 Questions

Verse 1

Who is this chapter about?

Why did Amalickiah flee into the wilderness? (Alma 46:29-33)

Where did Amalickiah and his small group go after leaving the Nephites?

What did Amalickiah do when he came to live among the Lamanites?

What did the king send throughout all his land?

Why did the king want to go to battle against the Nephites?

Verse 2

How did the Lamanites feel about the proclamation of the king?

What are the two things they were afraid of?

Why didn't the Lamanites want to go to battle against the Nephites?

Did most of them choose to displease the king or go to battle?

Verse 3

How did the king feel about the Lamanites disobedience?

What did the king command Amalickiah to accomplish with the obedient Lamanites?

Verse 4

Who gave the king the idea to use the obedient part of the army to compel the disobedient Lamanites to arms?

What was Amalickiah's plan?

Verse 5

After gaining command of the king's obedient army, what did Amalickiah plan to do with those who weren't obedient to the king?

Where did the disobedient Lamanites flee to?

Why did the disobedient Lamanites flee to Onidah?

What was another name for Onidah?

Verse 6

Who was led the Lamanites who would not fight?

What was their determined resolution?

Verse 7

Where did the disobedient Lamanite armies go to escape the king wrath?

What were these Lamanites prepared to do?

Verse 8

Did Amalickiah plan to obey the commands of the king?

What did Amalickiah want to gain with the armies of the Lamanites?

Why did Amalickiah want to gain favor with the armies?

What did Amalickiah plan to do with the king?

Verse 9

Which mount did the rebel Lamanites flee to?

Where did Amalickiah have the army pitch their tents?

Verse 10

During the night, who did Amalickiah send into the mount?

What was the name of the leader of disobedient Lamanites?

What did Amalickiah want Lehonit to do?

Verse 11

When Lehonti received Amalickiah's message, did he go down the mount to meet Amalickiah?

How many times did Amalickiah send a message to Lehonti asking him to come down to the foot of the mount to speak to him?

Verse 12

What did Amalickiah do when he found that he could not get Lehonit to come down from off the mount?

Where did Amalickiah go?

How many total times did Amalickiah send for Lehonti?

Who did Amalickiah tell Lehonti to bring with him so he felt safe?

Verse 13

Did Lehonti finally come down to speak with Amalickiah?

What did Amalickiah want to tell Lehonti?

What did Amalickiah give Lehonti?

What position did Amalickiah want?

Verse 14

What did Lehonti and his men do in the night while Amalickiah's army slept?

Verse 15

What did the king's army do when they saw that they were surrounded?

What did they plead with Amalickiah to do?

What were they afraid of?

How did Amalickiah feel about this situation?

Verse 16

What did Amalickiah do with the obedient part of the king's army?

What did the king want Amalickiah to do with the obedient army?

Why did Amalickiah want to deliver up the obedient part of the king's army to Lehonti?

What was Amalickiah's plan?

Verse 17

If the chief leader was killed, who became the new chief leader?

Why do you think Amalickiah wanted to be the second leader over the armies?

Verse 18

Who killed Lehonti?

How did Amalickiah's servant kill Lehonti?

Verse 19

Who did the Lamanites appoint as their leader and chief commander after Lehonti died?

Verse 20

Was Amalickiah's plan working for him?

What did Amalickiah do after he became the leader of the Lamanite armies?

What was the name of the chief city of the Lamanites?

What was the name of the land of the Lamanites?

Verse 21

Who did the king bring with him when he went out to meet Amalickiah?

When the king saw Amalickiah and the armies, what did he suppose?

Did the king have any reason not to trust Amalickiah? Explain

What was the king planning to do with so great an army?

Verse 22

Who did Amalickiah send forth to meet the king?

What did the servants do when they came before the king?

Why did the servants bow before the king?

Verse 23

Why did the king put forth his hand?

Where did the Lamanites get this custom?

What did this gesture mean?

Verse 24

What happened when the king raised Amalickiah's servant from the ground?

What happened to the king?

Verse 25

What did the king's servants do after the king was killed?

Verse 26

What did Amalickiah do after the king was killed?

Who did Amalickiah blame for the death of the king?

Verse 27

What did Amalickiah have the army do after the king was killed?

What did the armies see?

What did Amalickiah pretend?

What did Amalickiah say to the army after they saw the king lying dead?

What did Amalickiah want the army to do with the kings' servants?

Verse 28

When those who loved the king heard Amalickiah, what did they do?

Why were they pursuing the servants of the king?

Verse 29

What did the king's servants do when they saw the army pursuing them?

Where did they go?

Verse 30

Did the armies catch the king's guards?

Why did the Lamanites trust Amalickiah?

Verse 31

After Amalickiah had the king killed, what did he do?

What does it mean to take possession of the city?

Verse 32

Who told the Queen that the king was dead?

What lies did Amalickiah tell the Queen about the king's death?

Verse 33

When the queen received the message from Amalickiah,what did she do?

Why was the queen asking Amalickiah to spare the people of the city?

What three things did the queen desire of Amalickiah?

Why did the queen want Amalickiah to bring witnesses with him?

Verse 34

Who did Amalickiah take as his witnesses?

What did these witnesses tell the queen?

How did these witnesses use the king's servants escape into the wilderness to witness against them?

Did the queen think everyone was telling the truth?

Verse 35

What did Amalickiah do with the queen?

How did Amalickiah obtain the kingdom of the Lamanites?

Which peoples are considered part of the Lamanites?

Verse 36

What did the Nephite dissenters have that the Lamanites did not?

After the Nephite dissenters left the Nephites, how did their wickedness compare with the Lamanite's wickedness?

What happens when someone forgets the Lord after having knowledge of the Lord?

How are the Nephite dissenters described in this verse?