Was Alma a GA or a High Councilor?

[Vision]

I have been pondering the topic of re baptism in the Church and have been thinking about Alma. As you know he was a High Priest with King Noah. Given that King Noah was the King and Chief Priest does that make Alma a General Authority in todays terms, or was he a High Councilor? I'm leaning to GA, but not 100% sure. A close friend whom I confide in says High Councilor. No your not trying to settle a debate with my friend.

[kathyn]

When Alma was called to be the prophet, he certainly qualified to be a GA. Previous to that, I would suppose that while he served in King Noah's court, he would have been a councilor. There were many priests at that time, so it's possible that he wouldn't have even been a councilor. But he received his authority directly from God when he became converted and was then called by the Lord to preach and baptize others. That's my opinion, anyhow.

[Henmasher]

When Alma was called to be the prophet, he certainly qualified to be a GA. Previous to that, I would suppose that while he served in King Noah's court, he would have been a councilor. There were many priests at that time, so it's possible that he wouldn't have even been a councilor. But he received his authority directly from God when he became converted and was then called by the Lord to preach and baptize others. That's my opinion, anyhow.

His authority was given by man. Man gives authority when there is a priesthood line that begins with God. However it is God that gave Alma his priesthood power. An unworthy man can confer priesthood, the man that received the ordinance can then go to God for his power to act within the priesthood. Satan had priesthoods but his power is given Him by Christ.

[NoGreaterLove]

Alma's story is in similitude of the restoration of the gospel. He was a prophet and held the keys necessary to establish the church. When he went to King Mosiah and lived with his people, he re-established the church and was the prophet or high priest of the church.

[Henmasher]

Alma's story is in similitude of the restoration of the gospel. He was a prophet and held the keys necessary to establish the church. When he went to King Mosiah and lived with his people, he re-established the church and was the prophet or high priest of the church.

Just like Joseph, baptising and performing ordinances before the Church was officially recognized. In the words of a smart man, the priesthood is seperate from the Church but the Church requires the priesthood, whereas the priesthood does not require the church.

[sbsion]

neither..he was a high priest, ordained by................. hmmm succeed to the "presidency".......by what authority??? btw, think "the church" was the same then as it is today, remember, that was BC

[HeirofNumenor]

Mosiah 11 speaking of King Noah:

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.

By what authority did Noah consecrate priests? By what authority did his father King Zeniff? Was Zeniff previously consecrated to be a priest before he left Zarahemla to reclaim the Land of Nephi? Or was it simply because Zeniff and Noah were Kings? We don't know...

How did Alma get his priesthood authority then? We don't know (Mormon left out that detail), but Evidentally the Lord accepted Alma:

Mosiah 18
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.

15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.

16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.

17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

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.

In the end we see Mormon writes of Alma having authority from God, just doesn't detail how he got it....unless priesthood ordinations by wicked King Noah were valid after all....

[sbsion]

good points, and could it be any different today?

[creator]

Wasn't King Noah the "President of the Church" (i.e. Chief Priest) at that time?

[HeirofNumenor]

Wasn't King Noah the "President of the Church" (i.e. Chief Priest) at that time?

not necessarily....the closest match to that role was King Mosiah II (prophet, seer, and revelator - Mosiah 8: 12-17) - until Alma the Elder came to Zarahemla... Mosiah II was the successor to King King Benjamin, and King Mosiah I before him (when Zeniff left)

[Vision]

Wasn't King Noah the "President of the Church" (i.e. Chief Priest) at that time?

That's what I thought based upon Mosiah 11:5, 12:17, and 17:6. Each one of those verses mentions Noah gathering his "Priests" together so that they might counsel.

[HeirofNumenor]

I believe most kings in the ancient world had the priests also serve as the advisory council...doesn't mean they were a true priesthood... but hey, just my opinion :-B (<<< Nerd)

[creator]

But we're talking about the book of mormon not lord of the rings.

[HeirofNumenor]

But we're talking about the book of mormon not lord of the rings.

Cute,..... I was thinking more of Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, etc....

[SpeedRacer]

Wasn't King Noah the "President of the Church" (i.e. Chief Priest) at that time?

That's what I thought based upon Mosiah 11:5, 12:17, and 17:6. Each one of those verses mentions Noah gathering his "Priests" together so that they might counsel.

Agreed. He was king and high priest, and changed all the laws and allowed all of the lasciviousness, etc. Wicked, but still held the positions.

[JohnnyL]

I'm with HoN. "Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (DC 121)
I doubt King Noah had any authority.
I believe his priests were false priests. Remember the 10 commandments whip-up because they taught that salvation comes by the law of Moses? "[You haven't lived them yourselves, and you haven't taught them to the people]" (Mosiah 12, 13).
GA? High councilor? Neither, at first. Later: prophet.

Note these verses about his return, and King Mosiah: Mosiah 25:19; Mosiah 26:8.