Amulek

Amulek (/ˈæmjuːlɛk/)[1] is a man referred to in the Book of Alma, a section of the Book of Mormon. After being visited by an angel, he gives the prophet Alma food, listens to his preaching, and becomes his missionary companion.[2] Alma and Amulek preach in Ammonihah and are challenged by lawyers, primarily Zeezrom, who accuses Amulek of lying and teaching against their laws. They are brought before the chief judge of the land. The men who believe their teachings are thrown out of the city and the women and children are burned in a fire, which Alma and Amulek are made to watch. Then, they are imprisoned until Alma's prayer gives them the strength to break free and walls of the prison split in two.[3]

Not to be confused with Amalek.

Scholars have written a number of observations on Amulek. One points out that he and Alma have similar stories of conversion after seeing an angel. Other scholars suggest Amulek lost his family in the burning of the believers and that he might been accused of breaking the Israelite law of false prophecy.

Narrative in Alma

Amulek lived around 80 BCE[4] and is mentioned in Alma 8-16, 31, and 34. His teachings and influence are referenced in Helaman 5:10 and Ether 12:13.[5] He is a descendant of Joseph, son of Jacob.[6] Before connecting with Alma, Amulek says he had seen God's power in his life but generally denied it.[2] He then relates his experience traveling to visit a relative and seeing an angel. The angel tells him to go back to Ammonihah and feed a hungry prophet of God, who would in turn bless him and his home.[6][7]

Alma is returning to the city after previous rejection, meets Amulek, and asks him for something to eat. Amulek recognizes him as the prophet from his vision and reveals himself to be a Nephite,[8][9] then gives Alma food, later listening to Alma's teachings and going out to preach with him.[10]

The people do not believe Alma has the right to call them to repentance, and become angry, but Amulek begins to share his experience with Alma and God's teachings. He reminds the listeners of his high reputation and connections among them and shares his experience with the angel.[2] The lawyers of Ammonihah try to use Alma and Amulek's own words against them, but Amulek is able to perceive their thoughts. A man named Zeezrom questions Amulek, then claims he taught against their laws, but Amulek proposes that Zeezrom is lying and proceeds to teach him doctrine on resurrection and immortality.[6]

Image shows Alma and Amulek standing to the right of the ruins of the prison that had held them.
The Deliverance of Alma and Amulek

Following their teaching, many people believe the words of Alma and Amulek, but they are still captured and brought to the chief judge of the land. After strong accusations are brought against them, Zeezrom begins to feel guilty and confesses he lied and they have done nothing wrong.[11] The men who believe Alma and Amulek's words are thrown out of the city, and the two missionaries must watch as the wives and children who believe are thrown into a fire.[12] They are told by the Spirit not to save the people. Next, they are put in prison, beaten, and starved. Alma prays and they are able to break their bonds before an earthquake collapses the prison, striking many people down but leaving Alma and Amulek uninjured.[11]

Amulek also takes part in the later healing of Zeezrom,[11] and in Alma 31, he goes on a mission with Alma and others to preach to a group called the Zoramites. In Alma 34, he teaches of Christ, prayer, and repentance.[13]

Interpretation

Conversion

Scholar Robert A. Rees points out that Alma and Amulek both had similar conversions in which they rebelled against God, an angel appeared, and they had a change of heart.[14]

Amulek's family and promised blessings

In The Annotated Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy suggests that Amulek's family was burned with the other believers based on his moving into Alma's house[15] despite previous mention of his women and children in Alma 10:11.[16] Kylie Turley mentions in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies that Amulek was rejected by his family, friends, and kindred but his women and children are not mentioned there, again pointing to the idea that they died in the fire. She also points out that Amulek was promised a blessing on his family and home, but he later loses almost everything that was originally blessed. Turley additionally suggests that Amulek had told the people God would be displeased with them if they cast out the righteous and they proceeded to cast out the male believers and stone them, possibly in direct response to Amulek's words. [17]

Possible accusations against Amulek

Zeezrom claims that Alma and Amulek are teaching against the laws of Ammonihah, but the Book of Mormon does not elaborate on the specific charge. Biblical scholars Moses Buttenwieser and Peter C. Craigie say the two missionaries may have been seen as breaking an Israelite law regarding false prophecy, which was punishable by death in the Old Testament.[18] The traditional definition of false prophecy tends to point towards any prophecy incorrectly predicting the future, but Buttenwieser and Craigie looked at a different way of translating the Bible and found false prophecy can also mean teaching something against God's teachings.[19]

David Warby, a lawyer of over ten years, points out that religious standards were included in Israelite laws, which if carried over would mean a death sentence for false prophets in Ammonihah. Warby's suggestion is that Amulek may have been labelled a false prophet for "reviling against the law" by disagreeing with Ammonihah's laws and interpretation of scripture.[20]

Cultural reception

Paintings

Amulek appears in two paintings from the artist Jorge Cocco called Alma and Amulek[21] and Alma and Amulek in glory.[22] The first depicts them preaching together and the second shows them emerging from the fallen prison. Painter Minerva Teichert also depicted the fall of the prison in her painting The Earthquake.[23]

References
  1. churchofjesuschrist.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «ăm´yū-lĕk»
  2. Hardy 2023, p. 338.
  3. Hardy 2023, p. 354-355.
  4. Hardy 2023, p. 884.
  5. "Index to the Book of Mormon - Amulek". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  6. Thomas 2016, p. 92.
  7. Alma 10:7
  8. Hardy 2023, p. 332.
  9. Alma 8:20
  10. Thomas 2016, p. 91.
  11. Thomas 2016, p. 93.
  12. Hardy 2023, p. 353.
  13. Thomas 2016, p. 103.
  14. Rees 2020, p. 85.
  15. Hardy 2023, p. 356.
  16. Alma 10:11
  17. Turley, Kylie (2019). "Alma's Hell: Repentance, Consequence, and the Lake of Fire and Brimstone". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 28 (1): 12 – via ScholarsArchive.
  18. Overholt, Thomas W. (1967). "The Question of False Prophecy". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 35 (3): 247 – via JSTOR.
  19. Warby 2003, p. 108.
  20. Warby 2003, p. 113-114.
  21. Studio, Jorge Cocco (2021-08-18). "Alma and Amulek". Jorge Cocco Santángelo. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  22. Studio, Jorge Cocco (2021-07-12). "Alma and Amulek in glory". Jorge Cocco Santángelo. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  23. "Minerva Teichert's Book of Mormon Paintings: A Come, Follow Me Study Supplement". Museum of Art (MOA). Retrieved 2023-09-18.

Works Cited
  • Hardy, Grant (2023). The Annotated Book of Mormon. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-008220-8.
  • Thomas, John Christopher (2016). A Pentecostal Reads the Book of Mormon: A Literary and Theological Introduction. CPT Press. ISBN 978-1-935931-55-3.
  • Rees, Robert A (2020). A New Witness to the World. Common Consent Press. ISBN 978-1-948218-35-1.
  • Warby, David W. (2003). "The Book of Mormon Sheds Valuable Light on the Ancient Israelite Law of False Prophecy". Studia Antiqua. 3 (2): 107–114 – via ScholarsArchive.
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