i need a Book of Mormon scriptorian?

Question

in Mosiah 18:12 (you'll have to read it for your self)
it says that Alma took Helam and baptized Helam and himself at the same time, being filled with the spirit. (these are not the exact words) my question is did Alma recieve the laying on of hands from an angel? is there any scripture that shows how Alma recieved the preisthood?

thank you for all your input.
i do not doubt that Alma had the authority from god. most of you answered my question but i am going to take this answer. thank you all. please look on my other questions, i love learning about the book of mormon. thank you again.

also special thanks to trollwzd

Answer 1

From the following verses, you can see that Alma was one of the priest in the priest council of King Noah, which was against the prophet Abinadi. Alma was already a priest before he believed in the words of Abinadi and then Alma repented and truelly take upon his duty as a priest of God.

5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 11:5)

17 And it came to pass that king Noah caused that Abinadi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the priests should gather themselves together that he might hold a council with them what he should do with him.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 12:17)

2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 17:2)

Answer 2

I haven't read any of the other answers, but to my knowledge there isn't a scripture that talks about Alma recieving the priesthood or the laying on of hands.

My thought - and this comes purely from me, is that he was visited by an angel who confirmed him and gave him the priesthood - if he didn't already have it. Remember that King Noah's father was - for the most part righteous, and so it is entirely possible that Alma's father was also righteous and held the priesthood - possibly even one of the righteous priests that was replaced with King Noah's wicked ones. If this is true then it's also possible that Alma was given the priesthood prior to becoming one of Noah's priests. Although there is absolutely NO scripture reference to back it up, I think maybe Abinadi was known to Alma - maybe even his father. But this paragraph is pure speculation from me.

Answer 3

Well, I am no scriptorian but I can at least give you my two cents...

If you read in verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

So from that we know at some point Alma received the authority from God, which is the Priesthood. I don't know of a time in the scriptures where it is shown the person was ordained or by whom...but then again, I am no scriptorian. I just have faith that it is true and correct!

Answer 4

Mosiah 18:18

Answer 5

I am called a scriptorian by family members, the scriptures do not make clear when Alma was given authority of God, but it does say that he has the authority..

Answer 6

This verse shows how he got his authority.

Mosiah 18:18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Mosiah 28:20 And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Here are the exact scriptures that you are talking about. It doesn't say that Alma Baptized himself. It means that Alma Baptized Helam and after the Baptism they BOTH came up out of the water and rejoiced. Just like any other Baptism, they would both come up out of the water of the Baptismal font.

Mosiah 18:12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.

Mosiah 26:7 And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought them before Alma, who was the high priest.

Answer 7

There is no scripture to say that Alma ever received the priesthood. This is one of the many problems and contradictions found in the book of Mormon.

Answer 8

Joseph Smith was probably so busy while creating, I mean divining, those scriptures, that he just forgot that part. I mean God must have forgotten to inspire him to write that part.