“Alma frequently used a highly significant literary technique, a figure of speech called antithetical parallelism, which presents the teaching in plainest terms possible by contrasting it with an opposite” (Parry, “Teaching in Black and White,” 282).
Why would the Lord be merciful to the Lamanites? (9:14–16) “The promises of the Lord to the Lamanites are sure and certain. Because their sins were so often a result of incorrect traditions (as opposed to the Nephites, who sinned against great light), God will be merciful to them” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary, 3:65).