Alma and the Seed
Literary analysis of symbolism in The Book of Mormon
Alma, the Son of Alma, is well known in The Book of Mormon for habitually referencing farming and agriculture in his sermons. Surely the leader attributed as one of the most talented and persuasive speakers of the Book of Mormon wouldn’t casually undermine his word choice. Alma understood that each word carries meaning and transports us to where he guides us to be. His most famous agricultural sermon in Alma 32:28–43 illustrates his deliberate use of botanic language in order to convey his heavenly encounter in the most meaningful way that his audience will understand.
“Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves — It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma 32:28). The opening passage and thesis of Alma’s sermon is powerful and artistic. He uses very descriptive, visual words such as “swell”, “soul”, and “delicious” to confer what a “good word” is. But as a matter of fact, he explicitly uses only the word “seed” to compare to
“the word”.
Each word which refers to agriculture in some way and is used in a metaphorical way is rich and genius. Each verb confers meaning about the process of developing something and every tool serves to show a necessary action or input on the side of the laborer. The word “harrowed” for example is a perfect example of Alma’s gift for both brevity and clarity. He wants to communicate to his subscribers that all of his pains and afflictions were concentrated in in one moment. To harrow is to drag a heavy mechanism to distress and break up the ground. It would be a very painful experience to be harrowed by anything which is why it was a brilliant word for Alma to use to describe the most painful thing he knew his people could imagine.
A seed may seem small and insignificant when compared to the massive stature of an intimidating harrow; however, it is the word he chooses as the framework for the entire comparison. A seed is small, carried within the fruit, long lasting, requires attention to develop, and is full of incredible potential. The experience Alma had before having been stuck dumb by an angle of the Lord similarly was the catalyst that sprouted a dormant seed. If a symbol is defined as a ticket to an event, then perhaps the event “the seed” connects to is Alma’s confrontation. Of course, there was nothing very agricultural of the experience apart from it taking place outside but what is important is what it represents. Growth, change, and turning to the light. This may be why Alma consistently alludes to both plants and his confrontational moment.
“And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.”
“Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away” (Alma 32: 31–32) Assuming the symbol of growth and knowledge is indeed connected with Alma’s repentance, these verses purpose to teach us that is our actions which define our character. If it were not so, Alma would be saying, “only that which is good can be good and nothing bad can ever be good.” Instead, he is claiming that it is the process of growing which defines us. “I am growing, and my actions are good. Therefore, I am good.” The ethos which Alma establishes in this passage is that he is qualified despite his past and internal conflict because he has changed. He does not say that he is without sin but he also makes sure not to discredit himself as the authority on the subject. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. He is claiming that because he has seen the light and tasted the delicious fruits of exercising faith, that he is more qualified.
We should ask, “why Alma the younger was wise enough to speech metaphorically to this people but his father never was?” There may be many elements to this question. It may have never occurred to Alma the Elder to preach using agriculture as a literary tool because he didn’t understand the power of language as deeply. Before his conversion, Alma the younger spoke with a silver tongue to lead many people away from the church whereas his father held a political position and was likely required to explain things exactly as they were.
We could assume that Alma the Elder simply never thought about teaching his people in a more familiar way, but I reject that because from the text Alma the Elder appears to be a rational leader who is interested and invested in the development and gospel understanding of his people. I imagine he cried every time a member of the church went astray and sang praises to God every time somebody returned; just as he did with his son. I think Alma the Elder never taught using the metaphor of agriculture because that was never his background nor way of teaching. He was definitely raised in a very different culture than his son and was probably trained more in executing the law than in caring for the land.
It was crucial that Alma chose botany in this metaphor to ensure that his audience would understand the message as completely as possible. He could have used another known thing that grows when acted upon. For example, if his people were philosophical and subscribed to profound schools of thought, the comparison of the word to “an idea” may have been acceptable. However, because philosophy changes and schools of thought are often disbanded, the significance of “an idea” could be warped or lost. But the language and science of farming hasn’t been lost even after thousands of years of development. The people of Alma and we today understand immediately what Alma wants to get across because of the realness of his visual. “O then, is not this real?” he asks, “I say unto you, yea” (Alma 32:35) Its self-evident and undeniable. The specific use of a very tangible and observable “seed” in place of something more intellectual, such as “an idea”, also suggests that Alma’s people were not very schooled but rather skilled raising crops and harvesting. Their quick ability to comprehend the morals, and Alma’s frequent return to the same type of language is evidence of that.
Although this language offers a quick glimpse into his designed meaning, there is of course a deeper level of understanding which he alludes to. “And now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? Behold I say unto you, yea” (Alma 32:35–36)
Of course, the people of Alma were only a small part of his audience. Alma probably had no idea how much influence his words would have. Nevertheless, God’s hand surely guided the authors to speak in a way that would still be relevant to us. Agriculture is one of the most fundamental answers to our human needs and thus is very inelastic. Raising crops has been an effective practice and means of survival for thousands of years and always will be. What a great concept to utilize in the scriptures to instruct followers and believers until the end of time. There was one follower of the word that was especially key in the instruction of Israel, Namely, Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith needed to understand what Alma was teaching. It was crucial that Joseph Smith and other early leaders of the church understood the doctrine in the Book of Mormon in order to establish the church in the proper way. Joseph Smith and the church today are just as much the audience to Alma’s words as Alma’s people are.
Joseph was an unlearned farm boy by prophecy. He was more familiar with, and literate in, crops and harvests than accident scripture. He is often described by both historians looking back and Prophets looking forward as a humble uneducated young man. Perhaps not only did the Lord require someone humble enough to head His words, but he also searched for someone with farming knowledge to be able to understand perfectly the parables regarding pruning, harvesting, harrowing, and nurturing. Joseph Smith’s relative mastery of one half of the analogy must have accelerated his preparation to master the second spiritual half.
I propose that Alma the younger taught using botanic language metaphorically to masterfully teach the people of his time important doctrinal truths learned at the time of his divine confrontation and to give his audience today a better understanding of who his people were. Alma’s speech is deliberate and poetic; reflective of his culture and history. In the eyes of somebody searching for spiritual guidance, Alma’s sermon may appear as obvious and unnecessary insight on how to nourish a seed when in reality it is a sophisticated lesson taught to him though repentance and intervention from the Creator.
