Amulek was a Nephite of the city of Ammonihah and the missionary companion of Alma². He identified himself as the son of Giddonah, son of Ishmael, a descendant of Aminadi — the Aminadi who interpreted the writing on the wall of the temple — and through Aminadi a descendant of Nephi, Lehi, and Manasseh (Alma 10:2-3). He described himself as a man of reputation with many kindred and friends, who had acquired much wealth by his own industry (Alma 10:4).
Amulek said he had long known of the ways of the Lord but had hardened his heart and rebelled until an angel met him as he journeyed to visit a kinsman, directing him to return home and receive a prophet (Alma 10:7-9; 8:20). He took Alma² into his house and fed him, and Alma² blessed Amulek and his household (Alma 10:11). The word of the Lord then commanded Alma² to send Amulek with him to preach repentance to Ammonihah (Alma 8:29).
Standing with Alma² before the people, Amulek testified as a second witness to Alma’s words, and the people were astonished that more than one witness spoke (Alma 10:12). When the lawyer Zeezrom questioned him and offered him silver to deny the existence of God, Amulek perceived his designs and refused (Alma 10:17). In answering Zeezrom he taught the resurrection of the body and the judgment of all before God (Alma 11:21-46).
Believers in the city were burned, and Amulek, pained at the sight, asked Alma² to use the power of God to save them from the fire; Alma² answered that the Spirit constrained him not to act (Alma 14:10-11). Amulek and Alma² were then imprisoned, struck, mocked, stripped, and deprived of food and water for many days. When their persecutors smote them a final time, the power of God came upon them, they broke their bonds, and the prison walls collapsed and killed all within except the two of them, who walked out unhurt (Alma 14:17-28).
Amulek had forsaken his gold, silver, and possessions in Ammonihah and was rejected by his former friends, his father, and his kindred (Alma 15:16). Alma² took him to Zarahemla and ministered to him there (Alma 15:18). The two went on preaching repentance among the Nephites, building up the church throughout the land (Alma 16:13-15).
Alma² later took Amulek — together with Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Zeezrom, and two of his own sons — among the Zoramites to preach (Alma 31:6-7). There Amulek rose after Alma² and testified of Christ and the necessity of the atonement for salvation (Alma 34:1-41). His sermon is also the source of the Book of Mormon’s clearest statement on the urgency of repentance within mortality: “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God,” and “if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed” (Alma 34:32-33). After this preaching he and the others withdrew into the land of Jershon (Alma 35:1).