Alma 14:20-22

20 And it came to pass that they departed and went their ways, but came again on the morrow; and the judge also smote them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves?

21 And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned?

22 And many such things, yea, all manner of such things did they say unto them; and thus they did mock them for many days. And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with strong cords, and confined in prison.

I can't help but wonder if 'smote' means slap, or punch?

A deeper question would be - where was God? If I allowed myself to really ponder that question, which I must, I believe I would find Him in that prison with them.

I believe He would be the pillow on the stone floor beneath their weary, bruised heads. I believe He would be the warm blanket around their shivering hearts. I believe He would have been in the peaceful words of comfort they must have shared with each other. I believe He would have felt every blow and suffered every trauma- with them. I also believe He did not allow them to suffer one moment more than was needful, and that the healing balm of Gilead was applied in the aftermath, because of the power of the loving Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Alma and Amulek, if I could meet you one day, what would I say?

Pondering.