Mosiah 18
Where did Alma get his authority? I don’t think we are ever told specifically. Obviously the spirit was upon him as he baptized but we have no record of him receiving authority by the laying on of hands. His authority came from God and was upheld by the fact that those who joined the church had a testimony of his authority. Why did the people believe Alma but not Abinadi? It may have been a matter of who was listening—that Abinadi spoke among those who were hardened and Alma only spoke to those who were ready to receive. Perhaps some of those who believed Alma had heard and believed Abinadi but felt powerless to do much about it while he preached publicly whereas when Alma came he taught privately where they had the opportunity to voice their acceptance. In any case, Abinadi’s calling was to be a martyr and save Alma in the process.
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