The Zoramites and the Rameumptom

Alma 31, 35

A man named Zoram led his people east of Zarahemla to the land of Antionum so they could practice their own form of religion. Alma received word that Zoram and his followers, the Zoramites, bowed down to idols and had changed from the true way of worshipping God to their own way. They no longer kept the commandments.

When Alma heard about the Zoramites, he felt very sorrowful. But he knew that preaching the word of God would have a more powerful effect upon the Zoramites than fighting with the sword, so Alma organized a mission to the Zoramites. He took Ammon, Aaron, Omner, (the sons of Mosiah), Amulek, Zeezrom, and two of his three sons, Shiblon and Corianton.

Alma and the other missionaries were surprised when they arrived in Antionum and saw that the Zoramites had already built synagogues, where they gathered one day of the week. They worshipped in a way that Alma and his brethren had never before seen. In the center of the synagogue, the Zoramites had built a platform that was high above the head, and only one person at a time could stand on the top of it to pray. Whoever wanted to worship would stand on the top of the tower, called the Rameumptom, stretch his hands toward heaven, and with a loud voice repeat the same prayer. The prayer included several false and evil ideas. It said that God was a spirit and always would be. It said that the Zoramites were God’s chosen children, and that only they would be saved while everyone else went to hell. And it said that they did not believe in Christ. After the Zoramites repeated the deceitful prayer, they did not speak of God or pray the rest of the week.

Alma and the other missionaries were astonished and deeply saddened by what they saw and heard. They also noticed that the Zoramites set their hearts on gold, silver, and all kinds of precious things. They wore expensive clothes and jewelry and thought they were better than other people.

 

 

After praying for strength that they would be able to teach the Zoramites, Alma blessed the other missionaries, and they separated from one other. The missionaries tried to teach the Zoramites to believe in Jesus Christ, to have faith and repent, and to follow the teachings of the prophets in the scriptures.

Many of the Zoramites listened to the missionaries and were converted to the truth. They left to live with the people of Ammon in the land of Jershon. The remaining Zoramites became angry when they saw how many of their people were joining with the people of Ammon. The Zoramite leaders began to mix with the Lamanites on their borders and stir them up to anger. Together they made preparations for war, and the Nephites prepared to defend the people of Ammon and the Zoramite converts. Alma and the other missionaries returned to Zarahemla, grateful that they could help bring so many Zoramites to repentance but also sorrowful that the Lamanites were threatening war.

 

_____________________

 

Shiblon

Shiblon was the second son of Alma the Younger. Like his older brother, Helaman, he remained a faithful missionary. Even when imprisoned and stoned by the Zoramites, he stayed true.

 

_____________________

 

Corianton

Corianton was a younger son of Alma the Younger. He did not remain faithful on his mission. He committed serious sins. His father rebuked him. He sincerely repented and returned to the ministry.

 

_____________________

 

Rameumptom

These Mesoamerican ruins show how the Rameumptom might have looked.

 

_____________________