Alma 13:14-19, LeGrand Baker, conclusion of the sermon
Alma now brings his instructions full circle. Earlier he had said, “Thus they become high priests forever (v.9).” He now gives the perfect example—not of one person—but of a whole society of people who succeeded in taking upon themselves “the high priesthood forever.” He said,
14 Yea, humble [same humility as above: acknowledging one’s own reality – that acknowledgment must of necessity require one’s having the tenacity to fulfill one’s assignment here.] yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken [first at the Council, but later also in this world], who also took upon him the high priesthood forever [The first “forever” happened at (or again at) the Council, so this is apparently a reference to his taking upon him the high priesthood again in this world – that is, of his having fulfilled his assignment while he was in this world].
9 Thus [operative word, thereby or by this means] they become high priests forever [forever is a long way into the future if one begins at the Council], after the order of the Son [covenant king name], the Only Begotten [designation of heirship] of the Father, who [The Father] is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.
15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
16 Now these ordinances [He has just walked us through a whole series of ordinances as administered in a whole series of times] were given after this manner, that thereby the people [“man” in 93] might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they [“man”] might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they [“man”] might enter into the rest of the Lord. [One gets the same idea in Abraham: “We will go down…and we will prove them, to see it they will….” the Lord’s intent is to save everyone who will be saved, not, as Satan seems to have recommended, to create a system that only saves the members of the Council.]
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith [acting according to the covenants and in the tokens of the covenants], and received [on this earth] the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace [“peace” is the quality of love (Moroni 7). Melchizedek’s name/title was changed from “melchi-zeded” (king of temple things (Melchizedek priesthood is priesthood of sacral kingship and temple things) to a new name which is “prince of peace” – That same name is implied in the Beatitudes and in Moroni 7] for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father [Melchizedek was Shem, who reigned under his father Noah; or, in the Beatitudes, he is a man of peace, and peacemakers are called the “children of God.”].
19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.