Alma, Chapter 14

What’s your reaction?

“And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures (v. 1).  But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges (v. 2).  And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to put them away privily (v. 3).  But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land (v. 4).”  After Alma and Amulek had both borne their testimonies, the people had two reactions.  Some were believers and wanted to repent, while the rest wanted to get rid of them, any way they could because they were angry.  Those who did not believe, were greater in number.  They were angry with them because they said that these people were not living the way they should be.  I’ve commented on this type of reaction before.  People react this way when the truth is spoken and they don’t want to hear it.  When you are sinning, and some one calls you to repentance, Satan quickly uses the raw emotions that are there, to stir up the anger.  Sinners, who like their lifestyles, go on the defensive.

When I was younger and I was called to repentance, I usually rebelled on my own.  I’d do things I new were not the right things because people thought I was being bad anyway, so why shouldn’t I do it.  Now that I have grown up a little and have a clearer perspective on this life, I react differently.  When I am chastised I have sorrow.  It helps me to look for the ways that may help me to change for the better.  When we choose to react in a bad way, such as with anger, we are listening to Satan.  This can only lead to worse thoughts and actions, especially when we know we are wrong for what we have been doing.  Instead, we need to humbly acknowledge our faults.  Everyone has them, because no one is perfect.  Once we acknowledge our faults in our own hearts, we can begin to repair any damage we have done.

Is guilt good or bad?

Zeezrom admitted to the people, as he bore his testimony earlier, that he had been sinning and saw the error of his ways.  He admitted that he needed to repent and do what was right.  He told them of how he changed his ways and then had the awesome experience with an angel and then with the arrival of Alma.  He had been questioned and mocked by Zeezrom, but withstood it and then Alma had borne his testimony as well, which persuaded some to be believers.  ”And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell (v. 6).  And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them (v. 7).”

When Zeezrom realized that he, through his words and lies, had been part of the cause for these people to go after Alma and Amulek, he felt guilty.  So guilty that he confessed this to the people and told them Alma and Amulek were men of God.  He was cast out for his change of heart.  I think this may have been bitter sweet for Zeezrom.  He would have felt better for confessing that he had done wrong and trying to help them, but also he would have felt bad for the reaction of the people to his change.  He was pleasing God, by what he had done there.  In Galatians 1:10 we read, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”  It should not be our goal in life to please others around us.  If we try always to please God, than those who are righteous will be pleased as well.

When we truly believe on the words of God’s chosen, we cannot help but want to correct those things that are wrong in our own lives.  When we truly believe there is nothing that we know should come before our attempts to put our lives right.  It becomes the truly important thing in our lives, because we realize the value in living righteously in this life.  Zeezrom’s actions before the change in his heart, led to these people doing these awful things.  It is an example to us of how our actions affect others.  We can be the cause of others choosing to sin, by our own examples to them.  I would much rather be the reason someone changes for the better, than this.  I hope that I live my life in a way that helps others come unto Christ more fully.

Why does the Lord sometimes allow innocent people to suffer?

“And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire (v. 8 ).  And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire (v. 9).  And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames (v. 10).  But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day (v. 11).  Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also (v. 12).  And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not (v. 13).”

Those who believed were taken and burned along with their families and their scriptures.  I cannot imagine being forced to watch this like Almulek and Alma were.  Amulek wanted to stop it with the power of God, but Alma felt the spirit telling him that they should let it go on so that the wicked would feel be able to be judged for their sin, by God.  Many innocent people of different eras have been made to suffer this way because hearts of others were led away by Satan.  In Alma 60:13 we read, “For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.”  And in D&C 98:13 we read, “And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.”  We need to remember that this life is but a moment.  They suffered horribly then, but because they died righteously, they would be saved in eternity.

We need these types of experiences to happen, so that we can grow from them.  We need to suffer things in our lives so that we are able to progress.  If we always were saved from them, we would never learn and the whole purpose for us living this life, would be taken away.  Even Alma and Amulek needed to witness this act so that they could grow spiritually from it.  They were not killed, because their mission was not finished.  Alma said that if the wicked intended on burning them as well, than that may be, but not before they were done doing what the Lord wanted.  We all have a purpose in this life and some of us will suffer more than others.  We will each be blessed for what we are able to endure.

What is the moral of the story?

There is often a moral to a story.  This is the thing that we are suppose to learn from it.  When we learn of Noah and the ark, we should learn that if we do not repent, the Lord’s work will go forth and we will be destroyed.  When we learn of David and Goliath, we learn that with the Lord’s help anything is possible.  When we learn of Moses parting the Red Sea, we learn that if we have faith, the Lord can work miracles in our lives.

Their are important lessons to learn from this chapter in Alma.  As the verses continue we read that once the burning was finished, the chief judge asked Alma and Amulek “After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone (v. 14)?”  They did not answer him and so he put them in prison (v. 17).  Many men, all who were in line with Nehor, who had killed the good man Gideon, questioned them while they were in prison, but Alma and Amulek did not answer them (v. 18 ).  The judge spoke to them again, but they did not speak to him (v. 19).  They were hit many times in all of this.  The judge asked them, “If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves (v. 20)?”  They were mocked and spit upon (v. 21).  Then they made them go without food and drink and then stripped them of their clothes and bound them in prison (v. 22).  What do we learn from this?  That the righteous will be mocked by the wicked.  We learn that we should not contend with those who ridicule us, but that we should wait for the spirit to guide us in our actions.

The story continues, that after many days the judge and these other wicked men returned to the prison (v. 23).  The chief judge said, “If ye have the power of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words (v. 24).  All of the men repeated this same statement as they beat them and then Alma and Amulek stood up with the power of God (v. 25).  ”And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance.”  And then they broke the cords and the people started to run away in fear (v. 26).  The people were not able to get out of the prison, but fell to the earth.  The walls of the prison fell down and all of the wicked men were killed by them (v. 27).  Alma and Amulek came out of the prison unharmed (v. 28 ).  The other people of the city came to see what had happened and saw Alma and Amulek coming from what was there of the prison.  The people were afraid and ran from Alma and Amulek (v. 29).  What do we learn from this?  The Lord can give us the power to do miracles according to our faith.  We also learn that justice does come to the wicked.

I think the most important moral of this scripture story is that by our faith, we can accomplish great things.  We can withstand the temptations, the suffering, and anything else that Satan uses others to put upon us.  With our faith, we can be instruments in the Lord’s hands.

And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the ascriptures.

2 But the more part of them were desirous that they might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma, because of the aplainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also said that Amulek had blied unto them, and had reviled against their law and also against their lawyers and judges.

3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and because they had atestified so plainly against their wickedness, they sought to bput them away privily.

4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chief judge of the land.

Alma, Chapter 13

When were we called?

“And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people (v. 1).  And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption (v. 2).  And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such (v. 3).”

The men of the priesthood were called in the pre-existence.  I think our patriarchal blessings can help us to see the callings that we received before came to earth.  I am grateful to have my patriarchal blessing and to see little parts from it in place in my life today.

What qualifications are needed to become a high priest?

The characteristics of high priests are those that had “exceeding faith and good works (v. 3)”, they “would not harden their hearts (v. 5)”, “being called by this holy calling (v. 6)”, “being prepared from beternity to all eternity (v. 7)”, they had “exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish (v. 10)”, they “were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb (v. 11)”, they were “sanctified by the Holy Ghost (v. 12)”, and “being pure and spotless before God, [they] could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence (v. 12)”.  The characteristics of those who reject the Spirit of God are having “hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds (v. 4)”.

Part of the qualifications come from what our spirits were called as in the pre-existence.  The rest, we can try to be have them as well by keeping our hearts open to the inspirations of the spirit, exercising faith, and repenting of our sins.  To “look upon sin . . . with abhorrence (see above)” means to be repulsed by evil acts.  When temptations come before us, we need to have the desire to be away from it, not look at it with the desire to try it.

“And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest (v. 13).”  We’ve read this before, to enter into His rest is to have eternal life.  In D&C 84:23-24 we read, “Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God (v. 23); But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory (v. 24).”  We need to be humble and repent as well, in order to have eternal life.

How did Melchizedek get his people to change their behavior?

“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 (v. 19).”  This verse is about Melchizedek, who was apparently a great man in the priesthood, because his name is known well throughout the gospel.

“Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high priesthood forever (v. 14).  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 (v. 15).  Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord (v. 16).  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 (v. 17); But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received 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, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father (v. 18 ).”

Melchizedek was a high priest.  I don’t know why Abraham paid him tithes.  I’ll have to read up on that later.  When he was king, his people were sinning greatly.  Melchizedek taught his people to repent.  When they repented it brought them great peace, so he was called the prince of peace.  In Isaiah 9:6 we read of another who was called this, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  When we exercise faith and repentance in our homes, it brings the spirit there.  The spirit brings with it a peace that no matter what life brings, or what may be going on outside in the world, we can stand strong and we will be blessed.  When we have faith in Christ and the gospel, we are kinder to each other and are happy to serve one another.  This also brings the peace that Melchizedek and his people experienced in their land.  It is interesting to imagine what America would be like today, if more people had faith and repented.  It would be amazing to live in a land of peace.

And

again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God aordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.

2 And those priests were ordained after the aorder of his Son, in a bmanner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being acalled and bprepared from the cfoundation of the world according to the dforeknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to echoose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great ffaith, are gcalled with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

What does it mean to wrest the scriptures?

“Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.”  In the dictionary, wrest is defined as the following “To distort, twist, or pervert”.  Alma is saying that the people are perverting the scriptures, or adjusting them to their lifestyles.  The gospel of the Lord never changes, so to twist the scriptures makes them no longer true and to live by a gospel that is not the true gospel, especially when we know the truth, will ultimately bring personal destruction.  There have been times when I can feel that the scriptures are being adjusted to fit modern day lifestyles or to explain away a sin, because they have been taken out of context.  When the opportunity arises, we need to speak up about the true gospel.  If we allow others to do this without saying what we know is the truth, we are enabling them.  It is our responsibility as members of the true gospel, to teach the truth to others, so that they may choose to enjoy the blessings of the gospel also.

What day is coming?

“And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh (v. 21); Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us (v. 22).  And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard (v. 23).  For behold, aangels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory (v. 24).  And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice (v. 25).  And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them (v. 26).”

I think that the day of salvation that Alma was talking about, referred to the coming of the Savior for his life on the earth.  It was then that he brought about the possibility of salvation for us all with His atonement.  It was then that he was resurrected and visited the Nephites who were being prepared for His coming by many such as Alma.  We also have a day of salvation which is coming.  We believe in the second coming of Christ.  We can prepare by living each day the best we can.  We prepare by repenting and trying to keep the commandments of God.  We have missionaries and church leaders who are telling all the nations about “the day of salvation.”  The angels who are declaring these things can use our help in preparing the people.  We can do this by sharing our testimonies of the Savior and the gospel to those that we come in contact with.

Literal angels have declared great tidings in the latter-days.  Joseph Smith bore testimony of his first vision, when he saw God and Jesus Christ.  Later he had an angel bring him knowledge of the book of Mormon, which he was later given by this same angel, the angel Moroni.  Then later, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey were visited by an angel (John the Baptist), who gave them the Aaronic priesthood.  In D&C 128:20 we read, “And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!”  Visits from angels are sacred moments, and I do not believe that these are the only times angels have come in these latter days.  As the day of Salvation draws closer, I believe the angels will continue to guide God’s chose servants to lead us on the correct path.

Alma wished that this day of salvation could have been in his day, but he was happy for it either way.  In order to have this same excitement and look forward to that day, we need to be living righteously.  We need to repent of the things we do wrong and be sharing our testimony with others through our words and actions.

Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation. / No longer as strangers on earth need we roam. / Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, / And shortly the hour of redemption will come, / When all that was promised the Saints will be given, / And none will molest them from morn until ev’n, / And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden, / And Jesus will say to all Israel, “Come home.”

We’ll love one another and never dissemble / But cease to do evil and ever be one. / And when the ungodly are fearing and tremble, / We’ll watch for the day when the Savior will come, / When all that was promised the Saints will be given, / And none will molest them from morn until ev’n, / And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden, / And Jesus will say to all Israel, “Come home.”

In faith we’ll rely on the arm of Jehovah / To guide thru these last days of trouble and gloom, / And after the scourges and harvest are over, / We’ll rise with the just when the Savior doth come. / Then all that was promised the Saints will be given, / And they will be crown’d with the angels of heav’n, / And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden, / And Christ and his people will ever be one.

I just love to sing this song, especially in General Conference, when you can feel the strength the the church standing together declaring their joy and excitement.

Alma’s admonitions

“And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance (v. 27); But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering (v. 28 );”  Alma truly means this for his people.  He wanted them desperately to repent of their sins and do them no more.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we read, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”  We will never be tempted in any way that with the help of God, we cannot withstand it.  We can withstand it by humbling ourselves and continually praying to God for help.  We need to allow the Spirit to guide our lives, not the other way around, and we do this by watching and praying always.

“Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest (v. 29).  And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death (v. 30).”  Alma wanted nothing more than to see his people saved because they were righteous.  He truly loved them and since he knew what the blessings would be, he wanted his people to experience them.  The Lord wants has these same feelings for all of us.  God and Jesus Christ want us to live in joy forever with them.  I can feel a bit of this as a Mom, when I truly want my daughters to be happy and live without any sadness.  I will allow them to make mistakes and suffer from them, the same way that God does for all of us, but I pray that they do not live in a way that will bring sadness into eternity.  I want my loved ones to have eteranal life with me and I know that the Lord wants this for all of us as well.

Alma, Chapter 12

How secret are our thoughts?

In D&C 6:16 we read, “Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.”  God always knows what we are thinking.  He has given this power to some, to know what others are thinking at times.

In this chapter Alma talks to Zeezrom, “Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit (v. 3);  And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out (v. 4)—Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all (v. 5).  And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity (v. 6).  Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy (v. 7).”  Alma and Amulek had the power to see Zeezrom’s thoughts.

There are many gifts of the spirit and they come and go as we need them to act on behalf of God.  Alma and Amulek did not always have this gift, but the Lord allowed them to see Zeezrom’s thoughts in order to convince him of the power of God.

Who can know the mysteries of God?

“A mystery is a truth that cannot be known except through divine revelation-a sacred secret.” (The Doctrine and Covenants Commentary)

“And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works (v. 8 )?  And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him (v. 9).”  Anyone who is righteously living and willing to make covenants with God, is able to know some of the mysteries of God.  The prophets are definitely able to know these mysteries and are able to share some with us “according to the heed and diligence” that we (the members of the church) give to God.

“And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full (v. 10).”  To have a hard heart is to close ourselves off to God.  Not believing in the words of God or choosing not to obey the words because we think we know better.  To have a hard heart is not allowing the gospel to have a place in our lives.  Those who do not harden their hearts are promised to know the mysteries of God.

“And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell (v. 11).” Those who have a hard heart, lose the knowledge of the mysteries of God, because they are listening instead to Satan.

One of the most amazing things about attending the temple is that I can literally feel my mind open to things about life and eternity.  Common thoughts of gospel principals are connected with each other to make sense of so much more I never would think of otherwise.  It is a blessing that we can all receive as we make those sacred covenants and as we keep them.

How can I purify my thoughts?

“…we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance (v. 15).”  We will some day stand before the Lord to be judged.

“And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works (v. 12).  Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned (v. 13).  For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence (v. 14).”

We will be judged for our words, works and thoughts.  The hardest of the three to control is our thoughts.  Our thoughts have a way of running away with themselves.  They can be influenced in the smallest ways and go places that we would never dare to go physically.  But these can lead to the worst words and actions that we ever say or do.  We need to constantly be trying to purify our thoughts.  Bishop H. Burke Peterson said, “First, we must stop the flow into our minds of . . . vulgar stories, jokes, pictures, conversations, and a myriad of other satanic products. . . .

“Now, assuming we have cut off the flow–not cut it down, but cut it off–the second thing we must do is to develop a filtering system that will cleanse the great reservoir of our mind so that the life-giving thoughts coming from it may again be pure and fit for our use. . . .

“The secret to cleansing our spirit of whatever the impurity is not very complicated.  It begins with prayer every morning and ends with prayer every night.  This is the most important step I know in the cleansing process. . . .

“Secondly, an added refinement will come in the filtering process:  An added measure of spiritual purity, if you please, can be found in a daily study of the scriptures–not long, perhaps but every day. . . .

“Third, feed refreshment to your spirit that comes when you do something good for another that he or she doesn’t expect.  Keep it simple, but do it–daily.  It may only be a cheery hello, a short visit to [someone who is] homebound, a phone call, or a note. . . .

“And finally, pick up a commandment you are still struggling with and give it an honest chance to bless your life.”

I know that as I do these things daily, it becomes harder for my thoughts to go places I do not want them to.  Prayer, scripture study, service, and an honest attempt to be better are truly great ways to protect ourselves from the influences of Satan.  If we can filter the evil out, we can be truly happy and will not feel fear for the day when we will be judged.

Understanding the plan of redemption

“Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken (v. 25).  And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect (v. 26). . . . And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works (v. 30). . . Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God (v. 32).  But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son (v. 33);”  I’ve heard this plan also called the plan of happiness and the plan of salvation.

The plan of redemption includes the fact that, Adam fell “by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and . . . by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people (v. 22).”  The forbidden fruit was from the tree of life (v. 21) and it gave Adam and Eve the ability to choose to do good or bad.  Had Adam or Eve eaten the fruit again, “. . . there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar, for he said:  If thou eat thou shalt surely die (v. 23), so the tree was guarded from them (v. 21).  In order for the plan of redemption to take place, there had to be the ability to die.  Adam and Eve’s transgression was a necessary part to the plan.

The next part of the plan of redemption is the “space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead (v. 24).”  So we have this life to prepare for the resurrection.  We will suffer a “temporal death” or a physical death at the end of this life (v. 25).  Alma says, “it was appointed unto men that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end (v. 27).”  So after death, we will be judged.  God gave us commandments that we will be judged by.  God “. . . gave commandments unto men, [Adam and Eve] having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good (v. 31)—”  The punishment for breaking these commandments is a second death or a spiritual death (v. 32).

In the plan, we needed the ability to repent of our sins through Jesus Christ, our savior (v. 33).  ”Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest (v. 34).”  We have the ability to choose one of two options laid out for us in this plan.  If we “. . . harden [our] hearts [we] shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore [our] iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon [us]  . . . according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of [our] souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first (v. 36).”  We can choose to do evil and not repent, in which case our punishment is a permanent separation from God after this life.  On the other hand we can choose to “. . . harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word (v. 37).”  This rest is the blessing that comes with the glory of the celestial kingdom.  In D&C 84:24 we read, “. . . they should not enter into his rest . . . which rest is the fulness of his glory.”  And in D&C 14:7 we read, “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”

I want to live my life in a way that will allow me to have this blessing.  In order to have that I must accept Alma’s challenge (see verse 37 above).  I must keep my heart soft to the things of God and obey the commandments, so that I can enter into His rest.

Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy athoughts, and thou seest that thy bthoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;

4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very asubtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to brevile us and to cast us out—

5 Now this was a plan of thine aadversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all.

6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a asnare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his bchains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.

7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they aknew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.

Alma, Chapter 11

How did Nephite lawyers get paid?

“Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive wages according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged (v. 1).  Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber (v. 2).  And the judge received for his wages according to his time—a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given (v. 3). . . Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek (v. 20).”

If there was a situation where there was a farmer wrongly accused of taking a cow who was brought before the judge by the court assistant, and he pled his case and after the day in court was not found guilty of the crime, the farmer would pay a silver senum for his day in court and return home.  Then if the next day there was a merchant and a man who owes the merchant money brought before the judge, and the merchant says that the man owes him two silver senums, and the man was found guilty after the day in court, he would have the money taken from his pocket, or he would be humiliated in front of the people by being stripped or cast out.  Then the next day, a wealthy landowner who was caught selling grain for too much money was brought before the judge, and is found guilty after his day in court, but since the landowner knows that the judges are greedy men, he pays the judge directly ten silver senums (because he can afford it) and is set free with no other punishment.  For three days of work, the judge would make 12 silver senums (day 1 = 1, day 2 = 1, and day 3 = 10) for what would usually be 3 silver senums worth of work.

In that day, the judges were working to get gain and so they would get more people to do wicked things so that they could get paid more money.  The lawyers of course would also be paid more, for having more cases to work.  I don’t think that things are this bad today in our legal system.  The Nephite system worked in the favor of those who were working there, so they wanted more people to be doing what was wrong. This is why they stirred the people up against Alma and Amulek.

Would you sell the gospel for money?

• 1/8 day of wages = 1 leah or 1/8 measure of grain (v. 17)
• 1/4 day of wages = 1 shiblum or 1/4 measure of grain (v. 16)
• 1/2 day of wages = 1 shiblon or 1/2 measure of grain (v. 15)
• 1 day of wages = 1 senum of silver, a senine of gold or 1 measure of grain (see above and v. 7)
• 1-1/2 days of wages = 1 antion of gold or 1-1/2 measure of grain (v. 19)
• 2 days of wages = 1 amnor of silver, a seon of gold, or 2 measures of grain (v. 8, 11)
• 4 days of wages = 1 ezrom of silver, a shum of gold, or 4 measures of grain (v. 9, 12)
• 7 days of wages = 1 onti of silver, a limnah of gold, or 7 measures of grain (v. 10, 13)

“And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you (v. 21)?  And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being (v. 22).”  Zeezrom had learned how to deal with people from the devil and his intent was to destroy things that were good. Zeezrom tried to bribe Amulek with six onties, which was equal to 42 days of work.  (Just to think of it in more modern ideas, say I made $1,000 for a week of work.  A typical week of work is for 5 days.  Zeezrom would be offering me over $8,000.)  He offered him so much money to truly appeal to the greed, which I think he thought every man in his day had because he did.  Zeezrom probably never intended to pay this much, because if Amulek chose to take it and deny God, he would be saying that he was a liar and would be punished for it by the courts.

In Alma 15:16 we read, “… Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred …”.  Amulek gave up everything for God and the gospel.  There is no possible way that he would have taken Zeezrom’s bribe.

I know that finances are an issue in our society today.  Worldwide people are suffering because of the lack of money.  This would be a perfect time for Satan to use money to lure people to his side.  I know that no matter what someone offered me, I would not deny God.  I know that denying God is a sin that is worse above all others.  I know that there is a God, and have felt the comfort of the spirit.  To deny it now would take away the eternal blessings that I have been working hard to gain, I could not give that up for money.

“Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations (v. 23)?”  This is the perfect answer and if ever I was put into this situation, I hope that I could be this smart in my reply.  Amulek was a righteous man and therefore would not deny God.

Amulek contends with Zeezrom

Amulek called Zeezrom a child of hell (see above).  ”Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you, Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre more than him (v. 24).  And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou saidst unto me—Behold these six onties, which are of great worth, I will give unto thee—when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me. And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy reward (v. 25).”  Zeezrom offered Amulek the money to trick him.

“And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God (v. 26)?  And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God (v. 27).  Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God (v. 28 )?  And he answered, No (v. 29).  Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things (v. 30)?  And he said: An aangel hath made them known unto me (v. 31).  And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come? Is it the Son of God (v. 32)?  And he said unto him, Yea (v. 33).  And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word (v. 34).  Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people—as though he had authority to command God (v. 35).”  Zeezrom tried to catch Amulek by asking about the Savior saving the people.

“Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins (v. 36).  And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins (v. 37).  Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father (v. 38 )?”  Here he tried to trick him again because Amulek has already said their is only one God and that the Savior was the Son of God.

Amulek answers him by saying, “Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last (v. 39);  And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else (v. 40).”  The Son of God is the Father of the earth because He created it for us.  He will only save those who believe in him and forsake their sins.  They cannot be saved in their sins.  ”Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works (v. 41).”

What doctrine made Zeezrom tremble with fear?

(See verses 40-41 above.) “Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death (v. 42).”  Temporal death will not be forever.  All will be resurrected to stand before God at the judgement seat.  Those who believe will have eternal life. Those who remain wicked with have no redemption.  This would have made Zeezrom nervous because he knew he was not a righteous man.

“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt (v. 43).  Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil (v. 44).”  The resurrection will make our bodies perfect, but we will remember all of our sins (that we have not repented for).  Right after the resurrection, we will be judged.

“Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption (v. 45).”  The resurrected body will be different than the mortal body because not only will it be perfect, but it will be immortal and connected eternally to our spirit, so that we cannot sin from that point on.

“Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written (v. 46).”  These words made Zeezrom tremble because he recognized truth and began to fear for what he had been doing.

As I get older, more of my life is spent thinking of the eternal plan of God.  When I was a youth, I thought about this when I was asked to think about it (at church and during family night).  When you are young you really do tend to think that nothing can effect you and if it does, you really don’t see it in the sense of the big picture.  (At least I didn’t.)  Now that I have grown up a little and have been to the temple, I can’t help but reflect on this often.  Nearly everyday, I am thinking about how the decisions I make right now, may effect me and my family in the future.  The promise of the resurrection was once something I could not imagine and now it is something that I look forward to.  I pray that I can remember to repent, so that I will not live eternally with a heavy heart and a guilty mind.  I want to use the Savior’s atonement because it is a gift that He has given to me.  I want to be the best that I can, so that I can stand without fear in that day.

Now it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges, should receive awages baccording to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged.

2 Now if a man owed another, and he would not apay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out from among the people as a thief and a robber.

3 And the judge received for his wages aaccording to his time—a bsenine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which was given.

20

Now, it was for the sole purpose to get again, because they received their wages according to their bemploy, therefore, they did cstir up the people to driotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might eget fmoney according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.

Alma, Chapter 10

What tribes were the Book of Mormon people from?

In Ezekiel 37:15-17 we read, “The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying (v. 15), Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions (v. 16):  And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand (v. 17).”  Joseph Smith said to Book of Mormon was the, “stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim.”  Then in D&C 27:5 we read, “Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;”

We know from reading the Book of Mormon, that Lehi and his family were from the tribe of Joseph.  In 1 Nephi 5:14 we read, “And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.”  Lehi was a descendant of Joseph.

In this chapter of Alma we read, “Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying (v. 1):  I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God (v. 2).  And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren (v. 3).”  We learn hear that Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh.

How can it also be called the stick of Ephraim, if they were from the tribe of Joseph through Manasseh?  Elder Erastus Snow said, “The Prophet Joseph informed us that . . . the first Book of Nephi, [is a] record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of Manasseh, but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi’s family, and Lehi’s sons married Ishmael’s daughters.”  Meaning that the children of Lehi’s sons were of both lines.

I really enjoy learning this about the scriptures, because I have been working with family history information for a few months now.  It is exactly how things work.  Nephi knew some information about who he was related to, but then later, someone else (Amulek) knows something more and the line can be taken further.  Family history may seem of little importance to some, because it is in the past, but when you do your own you will find that your ancestors are not only your past, but your future.  It is all related and it is an exciting and wonderful thing.

Describe Amulek

Amulek had “seen much of [the Lord's] mysteries and his marvelous power (v. 5).  He had hardened his heart and was “rebelling against God” up until this point (v. 6).  He was visited by an angel who said, “Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house (v. 7).”  He was obedient and went home.  On they way, he met Alma, “whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God (v. 8 ).”  Amulek believes that Alma is a holy man “because it was said by an angel of God (v. 9).  He had faith in the words that Alma had spoken to the people, “for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house (v. 10).  He had witnessed the fulfillment of the words of the Angel, “For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake (v. 11).”

Amulek was just a regular guy, living his comfortable life and having lots of friends and family around.  Then he is blessed by a visit from and angel and blessed by being able to serve Alma and share in his testimony and blessings.  Each of us could also be our own Amulek, if we can be obedient, repent of letting the little things of the world get in the way of the Lord in our lives and try to live more righteously by becoming more obedient to the words of the Lord.

The call of the Lord

“Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges (v. 6).”

Amulek was prompted by the spirit many times.  These promptings were the Lord’s way of telling him what he should do.  He chose not to listen to these promptings.  He chose instead to do what he wanted for himself and was then rebelling against God, because he had already learned what the spirit was and than he should follow these promptings.  In Mosiah 2:36-37 we read, “And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved (v. 36)—I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples (v. 37).”  I think people ignore promptings sometimes because they may go against our immediate desires and wants.  If a prompting goes with what we want we gladly do it and say that we came up with the idea ourselves, but when it is something hard to do, we sometimes ignore it.  There have been many times when I doubt a prompting, thinking it’s my own thoughts and it’s just plain silly.  Then something happens and I think, I should have done that.  I’m trying to be more willing to do these things even when they seem strange and I believe the I have been blessed for it.

Before and After

We read about the blessings that Alma had brought to Amulek and his family (see verse 11 above).  In Alma 15:16 we read, “And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;”  Before preaching to the people, Amulek’s family felt blessed by the words of Alma, but later they reject Amulek himself for following the word of God.  We learn from this that Amulek made real sacrifices for the gospel.  The decisions we make to be followers of the gospel and the persecution that we may get from doing what is right can lead to our families separating from us, but we need to remain strong in the truth.  In Matthew 19:29 we read, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”  Our blessings will be overflowing for our righteous choices.

What do Amulek, Abinadi, and Jesus have in common?

“Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them (v. 13).  Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges (v. 14).  Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession (v. 15).  And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak (v. 16).  Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God (v. 17).”

Abinadi was also questioned in Mosiah 12:18-19 we read, “And it came to pass that they said unto the king: Bring him hither that we may question him; and the king commanded that he should be brought before them (v. 18).  And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words (v. 19).”

We also know of what happened to Jesus in Matthew 22:15-22, “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk (v. 15).  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men (v. 16).  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not (v. 17)?  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites (v. 18 )?  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny (v. 19).  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription (v. 20)?  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s (v. 21).  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way (v. 22).”

People tried to catch all three with their questions and they withstood it.

What are the traps of the devil?

Baits used to make traps work include, cheese on a mouse trap, certain scents on a bug trap, and so on.  These things are exactly what the mice and bugs are looking for.  Satan uses this same technique on us.  He knows us well enough to know what we want the most, and he uses that to lure us.  He knows that for some the lure is food, for others it is alcohol or drugs, and for others it is inappropriate images or other forms of entertainment.

“Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people (v. 18 ) . . . But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth (v. 25)?  For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation (v. 26).  And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges (v. 27).”  Satan was using the lawyers and judges to set traps for Amulek.  They were perverting the laws to condemn Amulek.

We need to use the guidance of the spirit to discern the traps of Satan today.  He is wise even though he is wicked and we must be aware and alert of the tactics that he uses to get to us.  If we continue to go to church, read the scriptures, listen to the prophet and other church leaders, and do our best to follow the commandments, we will be able to protect ourselves (and hopefully our families) from the traps that Satan sets for us.

Does prayer really make a difference?

“Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword (v. 22).  But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent (v. 23).”  Because of prayer the people had been saved up to this point.  The righteous were probably praying for the spirit to guide the leaders of their lands, and for them to be able to worship righteously, and for safety and peace in their lives, just as we pray today.  As a family, we try to remember to pray for the leaders of our city, state and country, but I do not pray enough for them.  I know that the prayers of the righteous can save the people and I will try harder to pray that these leaders will feel the inspirations of God to direct their choices.

(In the remainder of this chapter, we are introduced to Zeezrom, who wants the people to continue to do business with him, so he is trying hard to get the people worked up against Amulek and Alma.)

The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one astick, and bwrite upon it, For cJudah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and dwrite upon it, For eJoseph, the fstick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become aone in thine hand.

Alma, Chapter 9

The divine law of witnesses

There is strength in numbers.  In a lot of situations, ‘two heads are better than one’.  I can study practically anything and get something out of it, but when I talk about what I am studying with my husband, I not only understand better from what I say to him, but he gives me insights or possibilities that I didn’t even think about.  (Note: This is why family scripture study should go hand-in-hand with personal scripture study.)  The Lord knows that two is better than one in some situations.  In Deuteronomy 17:6 we read, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.”  The more witnesses their are to something, the more believable it becomes.  This is one of the reasons why our missionaries go out to share the word of God in companionships, rather than by themselves. Also in Matthew 18:16 we read, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”  And finally in D&C 6:28 we read, “And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

Alma and Amulek were a companionship of missionaries who the Lord sent out to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They separated in the city of Ammonihah to preach the word.  ”And again, I, Alma, having been commanded of God that I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again unto this people, or the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass as I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying (v. 1):  Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away (v. 2)?  Now they understood not the words which they spake; for they knew not that the earth should pass away (v. 3).  And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day (v. 4).  Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous works, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people (v. 5).  And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things (v. 6)?  And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them, yea, I did boldly testify unto them (v. 7)…”  The people would not believe him, because he was just one man.  According to the law of witnesses in the scriptures we read above, they could reject the testimony of just one witness.

Amulek later tells the people the same things as Alma.  In Alma 10:12 we read, “And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.”  I am sure that if the people of Ammonihah reject both the words of Alma and Amulek, they will be judged greatly for it.  They had little faith in the power of God and thought that their city was too great to be destroyed.  We know from history, that even the greatest of cities can be destroyed.

Verse 4 says the prophesy was that the city would be destroyed in one day.  The footnote references Alma 16:10, which reads, “But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the carcases were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness.”  This is when this prophecy was fulfilled, during the eleventh year of the reign of the judges, the year after Alma and Amulek said that it would happen.  The prophecies that are given to us by the scriptures and the words of the prophets can happen tomorrow or many years from now, we don’t know when, which is why we need to listen and be prepared.

“Do ye not remember?”

One of my fondest memories is sitting with my Dad when I was little, after I took a shower, he would brush my hair and tell me how much he loved it.  Those moments stayed with me, and I just love it when he tells me how he loves my hair one way or another.  I have had very few personal moments with him and so this really sticks in my mind now.

The people of Ammonihah should have “remembered” that Lehi was brought out of Jerusalem by the hand of God and He led the people through the wilderness (v. 9), and that he told Lehi “Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord (v. 13).”.

They had forgotten the tradition of their fathers and the commandments of God (v. 8 ), and the many times their ancestors have been saved by God from their enemies even their brothers (v. 10).

The people of Ammonihah should remember fondly that the Lord has blessed their families many times in the past.  If they had remembered their blessings from the Lord, they would not be so quick to forget Him.  Because they have forgotten, they risk being cut off from the Lord’s presence.  I think that we need to remember our blessings as well.  I think that if more of my family realized the sacrifices that our family made for us to live here in the United States where we are free to worship how we want, and where we enjoy so many things that others are not blessed with, they would see that we have been blessed by the hand of God.  They would be able to see that because my ancestors wanted to be near the temple, the Lord made it possible for us to live here.  I hope that I do not forget these things and I am very grateful to be working on family history right now, so that I learn of them.  It gives me a stronger desire to do what is right, so that my family can continue to enjoy these blessings.

Are traditions good or bad?

Our family has mostly holiday traditions, but we have recently the tradition of going to lunch every Saturday.  We go to the cheapest place we know around here, because we can’t afford much, but the real tradition is setting aside that time to spend together, talking about whatever we want, and being a family.  This is a good tradition.  Good traditions are those that are good and lead us to do what is right.  Bad traditions would be those that take us away from God and the gospel.  According to verse 8 (see above), the people had forgotten the tradition of their fathers, which was to keep the commandments.  ”For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land (v. 16).”  The Lamanites were ignorant in the gospel because of their traditions.  The Lord would show mercy because they had not been taught what was right and sinned, where the Nephites had been taught and still sinned.

“And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name (v. 17).”  Many of the Laminites would later hear the gospel, accept it and be saved.  Good family traditions that we should have include family scripture study, family home evening, going to church together on Sunday, and family prayer.  This is one of the reasons that I am so grateful to doing this personal scripture study.  I believe that this has caused me to feel the spirit more and be inspired to get my family on the right track when it comes to these traditions.  We have even gone so far as to have family council every week for a few months now, and although at times it is hard to get everyone on board, we have been blessed for doing them.  They are traditions in our home now, and we feel like we need them to have things go like they should.  I am grateful for good family traditions.

Why would the Lord allow the Lamanites to destroy the Nephites?

If my 5 year old and my 1 year old both did the same thing bad, like took a toy from someone, the punishment would not be the same.  This is because my 1 year old does not understand punishments yet.  She understands that she may want something and she is upset that she doesn’t get to have it, but her attention span is extremely short, so in a minute or two she won’t even remember that she wanted that toy.  My 5 year old has a very good memory and can understand that taking things from someone else is not the good choice.  Therefore she gets a punishment such as a time-out away from all the toys.  Even though we make the same mistakes as others in our lives, our punishments are not always the same, because we are different people.

“But behold, I say unto you that if ye persist in your wickedness that your days shall not be prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you; and if ye repent not they shall come in a time when you know not, and ye shall be visited with utter destruction; and it shall be according to the fierce danger of the Lord (v. 18 ).  For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people who are called the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall into sins and transgressions, after having had so much light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God (v. 19);”  If it means that more good people would live and thrive in the gospel, the Lord will allow those who know what is right, but choose not to obey, to be destroyed.  In D&C 82:3 we read, “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.”  This is why the Lord is so strict with the Nephites.  They know what is right and still choose to sin, while the Lamanites do not know what is right.

“Yea, after having been such a highly favored people of the Lord; yea, after having been favored above every other nation, kindred, tongue, or people; after having had all things made known unto them, according to their desires, and their faith, and prayers, of that which has been, and which is, and which is to come (v. 20); Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation (v. 21); Yea, and after having been delivered of God out of the land of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Lord; having been saved from famine, and from sickness, and all manner of diseases of every kind; and they having waxed strong in battle, that they might not be destroyed; having been brought out of bondage time after time, and having been kept and preserved until now; and they have been prospered until they are rich in all manner of things (v. 22)—”  The Nephites have been truly blessed in times of righteousness.

“And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them (v. 23).”  This warning is the same for us today.  Those of us who have been given the gospel in our lives, will be held more accountable for what we know than those who do not know better.  This warning will be the same always as it was then.

What hope does Christ offer all of us?

In Ezekiel 33:11 we read, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”  The Lord is not happy about the punishments that come upon the wicked.  He just wants us all to live righteously.

“For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed, that if ye will rebel against him that ye shall utterly be destroyed from off the face of the earth (v. 24)?  And now for this cause, that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord has sent his angel to visit many of his people, declaring unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto this people, saying: Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand (v. 25);”  The Lord has sent Alma to call the people to repentance, so that they would be able to escape punishment.

“And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers (v. 26).  And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name (v. 27).”  His message is that they need to repent because the Lord will come soon to redeem the people who chose to repent and be baptized.  Alma taught them that the Lord is merciful and will redeem His people.

“Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil (v. 28 ).”  This was a message of hope, that even though they had sinned, they would be forgiven and saved through Jesus Christ.

“And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen people (v. 30).”  Alma loved these people and wanted them to choose the right.

The people were not happy that he was calling them to repentance and they tried to put him in prison, but they could not.  Then Amulek also began to preach to the people (v. 31-34).

We have this same warning and promise of either salvation or damnation to our souls.  The Savior did come and offered all that He had, so that we could be redeemed.  We need to repent, be baptized, and live as righteously as we can.  We should continually use the atonement in our lives and if we do we will be blessed with more than we could possibly imagine.

And again, I, Alma, having been commanded of God that I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again unto this people, or the people who were in the city of aAmmonihah, it came to pass as I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me, saying:

2 Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the testimony of aone man, although he should preach unto us that the earth should pass away?

3 Now they understood not the words which they spake; for they knew not that the earth should pass away.

4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in aone day.

5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous aworks, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.

6 And they said: aWho is God, that sendeth bno more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things?

7 And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them, yea, I did boldly testify unto them, saying:

Alma, Chapter 8

“And now it came to pass that Alma returned from the land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon many things which cannot be written, having established the order of the church, according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla, yea, he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest himself from the labors which he had performed (v. 1).”  So far Alma has served in two cities as a missionary, Zarahemla and Gideon.  He returned to Zarahemla to rest.  Sometimes if we work to hard without taking a rest, we can “burn-out” and then we are of no use at all.  I think work of a spiritual nature, such as sharing our testimony, is the hardest on our bodies, because our emotions go up and down like a roller-coaster.  It is good to take a rest from this kind of work and be refreshed again.

What were some of the cities Alma preached in?

Currently my brother is serving in Japan.  I have a few missionaries from my ward serving, one in Chicago, Illinois and another in Provo, Utah.  Missionaries serve throughout the world.  In Mark 16:15-16 we read, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (v. 15).  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (v.16).”  Everyone has the need to choose to be saved by hearing the word of God.  They have the right to know that there is a right way to be living, so that they can inherit the kingdom of God.  Those who are called to serve, do not spend their entire mission in one city.  My husband was called stateside and managed to serve in several cities that crossed into two states.  He was able to serve people who were “golden” and ready to hear the word of God, and others who had hard hearts and were not prepared for it.  This was a blessing to him, because he was able to experience both types and learn from both.  My brother served in England, and was transferred to Wales for a portion of his mission.  This was both difficult and a great blessing.  He was exposed to a wide difference of cultures as well as languages.  It gave him the opportunity to see that the gospel is the same no matter what, and the opportunity to grow a lot.  They are both very happy that they were able to serve.

“And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi (v. 2).  And it came to pass in the commencement of the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma departed from thence and took his journey over into the land of Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west by the borders of the wilderness (v. 3).  And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God, by which he had been called; and he began to teach the people throughout all the land of Melek (v. 4).  And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness side. And they were baptized throughout all the land (v. 5); So that when he had finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days’ journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah (v. 6).”  At this point Alma has served in Zarahemla, Gideon, Melek, and Ammonihah.

How did the Lord bless Alma on his mission?

“Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small villages, after the name of him who first possessed them; and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah (v. 7).  And it came to pass that when Alma had come to the city of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of God unto them (v. 8 ).  Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma (v. 9).”  The people of Ammonihah would not listen because they were sinning and had hardened their hearts.

“Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance (v. 10).”  Alma knew this was hard, so he prayed hard to prepare himself to preach to them.  In Enos 1:2 we read, “And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.”  Here the word wrestle means that they both repented to prepare themselves.  Alma needed to feel that he could call these people to repentance, but how could he if he himself had not done just that.

“Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions (v. 11).  And now we know that because we are not of thy church we know that thou hast no power over us; and thou hast delivered up the judgment-seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chief judge over us (v. 12).  Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron (v. 13).”  Even after preparing himself, they refused to hear the word.

“And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah (v. 14)…”  Alma felt so much sorrow that they would not listen to him.  He knew how it was to be a sinner who repents and the happiness this would bring them, but they refused to hear it.

“… it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying (v. 14):  Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you (v. 15).”  How awesome is this.  He was blessed enough to have a visit from an angel, which turned him from a life of sin, to a life of righteousness, but then again to be visited in his time of great sorrow.  What a blessing I’m sure that this would have been.  Plus this time, the Angel told him he was blessed for doing what was right.

“And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them (v. 16).  For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people (v. 17).”  The Angel had come to tell Alma to go back to Ammonihah to preach again and help his people keep their liberty.

“Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah (v. 18).”  We can all take a lesson here from Alma.  He speedily returned.  He was told to do something and he did it, because he was a man of faith.  This reminds me of the story of Jonah in the bible.  He was told to do something that he was not comfortable with and so he did just the opposite and was chastened for it in the belly of a large fish.  Alma, was going back to the city, knowing that the people were not accepting.  He did it because he was told to do it and I am sure he was a man who believed that if God wanted it to happen, He would find a way to make it happen.

“And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat (v. 19)?  And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house (v. 20).  And it came to pass that the man received him into his house; and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and meat and set before Alma (v. 21).”  Alma returned and met Amulek.  This was not an accident, because an Angel had told Amulek this would happen, in a vision.  ”And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was filled; and he blessed Amulek and his house, and he gave thanks unto God (v. 22).”  Amulek made sure that Alma was fed.

“And after he had eaten and was filled he said unto Amulek: I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God throughout the land (v. 23).  And behold, I have been called to preach the word of God among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy; and I was in this land and they would not receive me, but they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever (v. 24).  But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn again and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against them concerning their iniquities (v. 25).  And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken me in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many days (v. 26).”  In serving and preparing, Alma had fasted for many days.  He was very grateful to Amulek and the Lord for giving him food to eat.  Alma blessed Amulek and his family.

We read in Alma 7:12, “… and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”  The Lord knew of Alma’s need and because Alma was faithful and diligent, the Lord succored him and gave him what he needed through Amulek.  We can often be an answer to prayers of another by being an instrument in the Lord’s hands, just as Amulek was.  We will be blessed for these times, just as he was.  And the Lord will bless us with help in times of weakness, either physical or spiritual, if we are faithful.

When will the Lord destroy a people?

When we learned of King Noah and his people, we learned that they were being wicked and not repenting.  The Lord sent Abinadi to them to preach to them that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed.  In this chapter, Alma is sent to do the same (see verses 16-17 above).  In 2 Nephi 1:7 we read, “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.”  The liberty of Alma’s people was based on their righteousness.  The people of Ammonihah were choosing to ignore the word of God and were therefore in danger of destruction.

“And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away (v. 29).  And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost (v. 30).  And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them (v. 31).  And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them (v. 32).”  Alma was told to call Amulek to preach to the people with him.  They preached to the people with the power of God.  They had so much power that no one could put them in prison or kill them.  They chose when to use this power, so that the power of the Lord could be shown to the people.  I think that at times people will only hear when they have had some miraculous thing shown unto them.  These people needed to witness this in order to soften their hearts.  It would be easier for all men to believe if everyone was given a sign of this greatness, but some of us are tested by different tests of our faith.  Most of us are asked to believe off of the words and testimonies of others, not with marvelous signs.

In Ether 2:9 we read, “And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.”  We have been given this warning.  This land we live in is blessed for the liberty of the people of God.  In these latter-days we have had many things to show us the power of God.  For example, the establishment of the United States has been nothing short of a miracle.  There is no way that the militias that fought in the revolutionary war should have won against the British army, which was one of the strongest of it’s day (if not the strongest).  By all logical means, we should still be under the control of the British monarchy, but we are not.  This could only have happened with the support of God on our side.  The people were trying to find God.  They were trying to be righteous and have liberty to choose for themselves, but the king did not want this for them.  The Lord was there to help the people to have the liberty they righteously desired.  As long as we are serving the Lord and praying for our liberty here, we will be blessed for it.  If we choose to disobey the commandments of God, he no longer has a promise to this land.  The righteous need to stand strong in their faith and stand for what is right, especially now that the lines between what is right and wrong is becoming so blurred by man.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and apreach the bgospel to every ccreature.

16 He that abelieveth and is bbaptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be cdamned.

Alma, Chapter 7

Why was Alma’s message in Gideon different from the one in Zarahemla?

When someone looks ready to hear a lesson, I am more willing to get to the meat of a discussion, asking questions and trying to provoke deeper thoughts.  When they look uninterested instead, I feel the need to work to grab their attention and consider more of the basics of it, without getting too deep.  Alma had the opportunity to teach different groups of people with different amounts of interest in what he had to say.  In Zarahemla, he faced a very sinful group of people, who were happy living the lives they were living.  Now he has gone to Gideon to teach the saints.

“And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla (v. 3).  But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness (v. 4).  And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow (v. 5).  But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come (v. 6).”

Alma believes that the people of Gideon more righteous than the people of Zarahemla when he left the judgement seat.  His joy with them is different than the joy for the people of Zarahemla.  He has joy that the pepole of Zarahmela have started to return to God, but he has joy for this people because they have not turned away from God.

“For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people (v. 7).  Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word (v. 8 ).  But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth (v. 9).  And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God (v. 10).”

The birth of the Savior was to come to the Earth.  To prepare for his coming to the Nephites, they need to repent and live righteously.  Alma was able to focus his teaching on the Savior, because the people already understood that they needed to live righteously.  If we want to receive the most important lessons from the prophet today, we need to be living righteously as well.  The more we sin, the less knowledge we can be given, because we have to first focus on fixing our lives.

Is the Atonement just for sinners?

Jesus suffered for all of us, because no one but the Savior himself, was (or would be) perfect.  We are all sinners to some degree.  ”Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh [so] that he might take upon him the sins of his people, [so] that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me (v. 13).”

Does the atonement do anything else, other than “blot out” our sins.  Yes.  ”And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this [so] that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people (v. 11).  And he will take upon him death, [so] that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, [so] that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, [so] that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (v. 12).”

The Savior can help with my pains, because he suffered every pain to know how I would feel.  The Savior suffered death, because I needed to be able to live in immortality through the resurrection and He had to make is so that death was not a permanent state.  He suffered sickness, so that I know that I can get through any health issues my body may have.  He suffered all infirmities, so that I can grow stronger than any weakness that I may have in body or spirit.  There is not trial or problem that I could suffer in my life, that the Savior did not suffer as well.  He did this to truly understand what I may go through.  He did this for me personally, and for also personally for every person that has or will ever live.  ”… His atonement made perfect His empathy and His mercy and His capacity to succor us, for which we can be everlastingly grateful as He tutors us in our trials.” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell)

I have personally felt the comforting power of the Savior’s arms around my shoulders in a time of great sorrow.  When I look back at what I had going on in my life then, I thought my world was ending.  Now I know it was such a trivial and small trial in comparison to others, but my Savior knew that I needed to feel the comfort and he gave it to me.  He knew it, because he knew how I would feel in that moment.  Now I know that if ever I felt that way again, I can get through it, because my Savior will be there for me.  Learning that the atonement is there to remove our sins, is a daily lesson.  I have not mastered it and I am not sure I ever will in this life.  However, I will continue to turn to Him to be a better person, because only He has the power to make me better.  I can only do so much on my own and he must make up the differences for me.  If I repent, He has promised that He will do that for me.  I am so grateful to my Savior and the blessing it is to know I have Him in my life.

How do I get the Atonement to work for me?

“Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness (v. 14).  Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism (v. 15).  And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me (v. 16).”  If we do what we have been asked, we will inherit the kingdom of heaven, be washed from our sins, be saved and cleansed from unrighteousness, and have eternal life.  There is nothing that Satan could offer us, that is greater than this.

What is the path of the righteous?

The path of the righteous is the path that “leads to the kingdom of God (v. 19)”.  It is a straight path that the Lord has walked, which means it cannot be crooked (v. 19-20).  It is eternal (v. 20).  The path is a holy path, where nothing unclean can go (v. 21).  To be on this path, there are several things we can do each day.  There are the ever popular answers (and ever true), pray, read the scriptures, have family prayer, have family home evening, go to church, etc.  We must also be sure to avoid those things that would make us stray.  Things like immodest dress, inappropriate entertainment, drugs, alcohol, and so on.  And finally, we must repent and rely on the Lord to help us stay on the path.

How does it feel to be unclean?

Camping was always something that made me feel incredibly dirty.  Even when there were “showers” at the campgrounds, I still felt dirty.  No matter how tired I was, it was always a fight to be the first one in the bathroom and get cleaned up when we got home.  I can remember how good it felt to get the dirty clothes off and get every last bit of dirt off.  Feeling clean made it so that I could have some peace and rest.

We can become spiritually clean through the atonement (see verse 13 quoted above).  ”And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness (v. 21).”  We must become spiritually clean to make it into the kingdom of God.

“And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received (v. 22).  And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated [others, including the Lord, could easily ask us to do things]; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive (v. 23).  And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works (v. 24).  And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out (v. 25).”

When we choose to keep our bodies and spirits clean, we can truly feel the power and love of God in us.  There is a peace that comes with it, that makes you want to do more.  I love those times when I can tell, I’m becoming a better person than I was before.  These times only come when I am doing these things that make me cleaner.  I have experienced the lifted burdens from dropping my sins at the feet of the Lord.  I have been blessed by the atonement many times in my life already and I pray that I can continue to use it in my life, so that I will be clean.  I hope that I can live my life as an example of becoming and remaining clean, to those that I love.

Behold my beloved brethren, seeing that I have been permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in my language; yea, by my aown mouth, seeing that it is the first time that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been wholly confined to the bjudgment-seat, having had much business that I could not come unto you.

2 And even I could not have come now at this time were it not that the judgment-seat hath been agiven to another, to reign in my stead; and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should come unto you.

3 And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful adilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla.

4 But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness.

5 And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.

6 But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship aidols, but that ye do worship the true and the bliving God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.

Alma, Chapter 6

And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he aordained priests and belders, by laying on his chands according to the order of God, to preside and dwatch over the church.

2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who arepented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church.

3 And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not arepent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the bpride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were cblotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous.

4 And thus they began to establish the order of the church in the acity of Zarahemla.

5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God.

6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in afasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.

7 And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the ariver Sidon, into the bvalley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was cslain by the hand of Nehor with the sword.

8 And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the atestimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen.

What is the purpose of the Church?

The header for this chapter says that , “The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order”.  The members have been chastised, many were removed from the records of the church, new members were baptized, and now Alma is setting things straight, so that the Church can be how it should be again.

“And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church (v. 1).”  Leaders of the Lord’s Church are chosen by God, not by man.  In the fifth Article of Faith we read, “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”  This is the proper order to calling in the church, and it is exactly what Alma was doing at this time.

“And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church (v. 2).”  Anyone who chose to repent was received into the church even those who were not members and chose to repent, could be baptized into the church.

“And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous (v. 3).”  Those who were still proud and refused to repent, were excommunicated from the church.

“And thus they began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla (v. 4).  Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God (v. 5).”  Everyone was allowed to attend church meetings, just as church is for anyone who wants to come today, because we do not have the right to deny anyone the opportunity to hear the gospel.

“Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God (v. 6).”  The main purpose for church was fasting and prayer.  In particular prayer that the gospel could go to all who did not know of God.  Today, the mission is still just that, it is “to invite all of us to come unto Christ through proclaiming the gospel, perfecting our lives, and redeeming our dead.”  Alma established the church in Zarahemla, and helped to fulfill this mission by inviting everyone to repent and come unto Christ.

“And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen (v. 8).”

Alma, Chapter 5

Alma’s model of powerful teaching

I love italian dressing on my salad.  In order to have it, you have to shake or stir it to mix the oil and vinegar together.  In Alma 4:19 we read, “And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.”  Like the oil and vinegar, Alma needed to stir or shake the souls of the Nephites, so that they would remember.  He knew that they needed to be humble and knew the only way that he could help, was to bear “down in pure testimony”.  I’ve thought some more about this since yesterday’s post and of course this could help the people.  Alma (the younger) was blessed with sacred experience of being chastened by an angel.  He must have had one of the strongest testimonies of all men who had ever lived.  People can feel it when someone shares something they truly believe with no doubts, and it effects them.  This is the beauty of our spirits, we cannot hear a true testimony without being effected in some way.  The test for us, is how do we act upon it.

“Now it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land (v. 1).  And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record (v. 2) …”  Alma taught in Zarahemla first and then in all the land.  So many members of the church today (and those who are not members) could benefit from hearing a strong testimony such as Alma’s.  Like the Italian dressing, if we sit for long enough without having our souls stirred, we begin to separate and loose our own flavor.  We all need to have someone or something continually stirring us up, even the best of us, so that our spirits continue to guide our bodies.  Otherwise, we live without both doing its job and we become forgetful of our own “duties”.  This is part of the reason why we are told renew our covenants at church on a weekly basis.  Even weekly, may not be often enough for us, which is why we have been told to have daily scripture study and prayer.  We need our souls to be stirred often.

What is the value of studying history?

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  I truly believe this.  If we cannot learn from the things that have happened to others before us, God will help us to have the opportunity to learn for ourselves.  And we can learn anything there is to learn in the ‘lessons of life’ from those who have lived already.  The examples of those whom I love and trust are usually the ones that stick with me the most in my own life.  It is always nice to be able to learn from the experiences of others, so that we don’t have to deal with the consequences of things.  For example, I have had examples in my life of what doing drugs can to your physical body, spiritual frame of mind and all of the relationships that you have.  I have chosen to learn from these examples and not be involved with drugs myself, because I do not want to deal with the same types of consequences that my loved ones have dealt with.  But sometimes, a lesson is best learned when we experience it for ourselves.  For example, the experience of gaining a testimony of something, can only happen with our own experiences.  We have to be able to feel the spirit, tell us something is true, in order to gain a testimony of it.  We may believe because of another’s words, or we may have to go through an experience that convinces us of it, but either way we have to experience the spirit ourselves.

What was Alma going to help the people remember from their history?   ”I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon (v. 3).”  First, he wanted the people to remember how the their family members were baptized because of his father, Alma.

“And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God (v. 4).”  He wanted them to remember how the people had escaped wicked king Noah.

“And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also (v. 5).”  He wanted them to remember that they had been able to escape the Lamanites and establish Zarahemla as the land of the Nephites.

“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell (v. 6)?  Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them (v. 7).  And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not (v. 8 ).  And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved (v. 9).  And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell (v. 10)?”  Alma wanted them to remember the conversion of their parents and what they had gone through in order to know that they would have salvation.

“Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them (v. 11)?  And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true (v. 12).  And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved (v. 13).”  He also wanted them to remember the experience of his father and the prophecies of Abinadi.  He wanted them to remember that Alma was humbled and he taught the people, their parents, who were also humbled.

As I have read these scriptures, I have continually reviewed my own life and have realized things I am doing right, and things that I need to work on as well.  Some lessons are easier for me to learn than others and I think that is something that we all deal with.  There are some lessons in life that we will need to learn and re-learn because we are constantly changing and our lives/situations are changing as well.  However, I know that the more I study these things that happened to the people of God many years ago, the better I understand the principles of the gospel.  The issue becomes a matter of remembering or forgetting these things as time goes on.  I know that I need to continue to read these scriptures to progress and to constantly have the reminders, because I have benefited so much from learning from them at this point in my life.

Why did Alma ask so many questions?

A ruler measures length, a thermometer measures temperature, a scale measures weight, a teaspoon measures amounts of liquids and dry goods, a clock measures the time, but what does a question mark measure?  The manual I am using says that the questions that our priesthood leaders ask us, for example during an interview for a temple recommend, help us to measure our spiritual strength.

“And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts (v. 14)?  Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body (v. 15)?  … can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth (v. 16)?  Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you (v. 17)?  Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God (v. 18)?  … can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? … can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances (v. 19)?  … can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil (v. 20)?”

There is so much eternal value to asking ourselves these kinds of questions.  This is only eleven of the many questions that Alma asked them as he spoke.  As I am reading this chapter, I am almost tempted to take the questions in the chapter, rephrasing a few to remind myself of how I can measure my spirituality on a more regular basis.  I think these questions were intended to make the people think, not to answer out loud, but to truly take a look at their own lives and see what they need to change.  I’ve made myself a questionnaire from this chapter, because I think that these questions can help give an accurate measurement of my personal spirituality.  They address the things that can either bring us down in sin or help us avoid it, such as pride vs. humility, envy vs. service, faith vs. doubt, obedience vs. wickedness.

His image in your countenance

What does it mean to have Christ’s image in our countenances?  (see verse 14 above)  When we are doing what Christ would do, we have a glow about us.  When we pattern our lives after His, we look like Christ because we stand tall in faith, are clean and pure, and are truly happy people.  We can be more Christlike by serving others and by learning of Him and His ways in the scriptures.  Sometimes the idea of trying to be like someone who was perfect, can be too difficult for us to imagine, so we need to see others and be able to follow their Christ-like attributes.  When I think of people who are Christ-like, I think of my Stake President, who knows each individual in our stake and you can just tell that he has a love for them.  I also think of my Mother-in-law, who drops everything in her own life to serve others, family or friend.  I think of those in my life who have never raised their voice in anger (that I know of).  I think of my brother, who is serving the Lord on his mission right now, and who is constantly striving to live better, even without most of the distractions that I have on a daily basis.  The list could go on and on.

How do you look in white?

On the day I went to the temple to take out my endowments, I was so thrilled to put on my beautiful white dress and look so clean and pure in the temple.  As, I was getting dressed, I poked a finger with a pin and did not realize it.  I touched the tie on my dress and got a single drop of blood on it.  This one drop of blood, unseen by anyone else because it was hidden in my bow, made me feel like my dress was not fit to be inside the temple. It was not clean, it really bothered me until I was able to take care of it.  It was such a small thing, but it continues to remind me how I would feel, standing before my Savior, if I felt unclean.

(see verses 15-20 above) “I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins (v. 21).  And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you (v. 22)?”  It is through the atonement of Christ, that we become clean and pure again.

In Enos 1:27 we read, “And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.”  Then in Mosiah 2:28 we read, “I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together that I might rid my garments of your blood, at this period of time when I am about to go down to my grave, that I might go down in peace, and my immortal spirit may join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God.”  Both Enos and Alma were old in age and new that death would come soon.  They also knew that they wanted to be clean of sin when the time came for them to die, so that they could rejoice and sing praises when they saw the Lord.  This life is really just a small moment in time, and we never know what may happen today.  We need to constantly be striving to repent for those things we have done that would cause us to have shame when the Lord sees us.  We all want to rejoice and be welcomed in with open arms by the Lord.

Have you ever trampled on the Lord?

Would you ever step on this picture?

“And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches (v. 53)?  Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance (v. 54)—Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them (v. 55)?    And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent (v. 56).”  All of these things trample on the Lord, because to do them you take what the Lord has commanded and say with your actions that His words do not matter.  You say that your own way is better than His way.  You treat his gospel like garbage and toss it aside.

In 1 Nephi 19:7 we read, “For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.”  As soon as we choose not to value the words of the Lord, we trample Him under our feet.  I know that there have been times in my life when I have disobeyed my Mom and saw her disappointment afterwards.  This brought me sadness, to know that I had caused her that disappointment.  If I feel this way about my Mother, I can only imagine how I will feel if I realize that I have disobeyed the Lord and I am face-to-face with Him.  I want to remember this always.  I want to remember that I do not want that feeling, but that I want joy with Him.  I pray that my family will want the same thing, so that I can rejoice with them in Heaven.

Share What You Think

Here are some of the great questions found in this chapter  that I plan on reviewing often:

• Have you spiritually been born of God?
• Have you received his image in your countenance?
• Have you experienced this mighty change in your heart?
• Can you look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?
• Could you say, if you were called to die right now, that you have sufficiently been humble?
• Have you had all pride removed from you?
• Have you had all envy removed from you?
• Do you mock your brother, or persecute him?
• Do you trample these things under your feet?

I know that we are always growing and changing, and I am sure that if I asked myself these questions on Sunday morning before I plan on taking the Sacrament, that I would have a different answer to one or more of them each week.  I know that if I reflect on these often, I will better use the atonement in my life.  I want to be better.  I want to be more Christ-like.  I want others to look at me and see someone who is happy and kind.  I hope that others will want this too, especially my loved ones.  With the help of the Savior, and with the Holy Ghost as my companion, I know that I can be able to answer these questions they way that my Heavenly Father wants me to.

Now it came to pass that *Alma began to adeliver the word of bGod unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land.

2 And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record, saying: