Courage

This scripture story is heartbreaking to me. Alma and Amulek were testifying, and there were people who believed their words. Unfortunately, there were people who were so wicked, and angry with Alma and Amulek for testifying against their wickedness, that they gathered all the believers, and their scriptures, and cast them into the fire. They burned a bunch of people alive, and made Alma and Amulek watch. THEY MADE THEM WATCH WHILE THEY BURNED PEOPLE ALIVE! How wicked do people have to be to get to that point?

Anyway, Amulek asks Alma if they could maybe use the power of God to save the people from the flames. Alma replies: 

"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." (Alma 14:11)

First off, you've got to be pretty aware of how the Spirit works in your life to be able to confidently say that in that situation. Can you imagine the potential weight on your shoulders if you weren't 100% certain that you had indeed been constrained by the Spirit? Would you always think to yourself, "Am I SURE that was the Spirit talking and not my own mind?", knowing that you watched innocent people be burned alive right in front of you? You have to be very firm and courageous to follow that particular prompting.

One thing that I love about that verse, though, is what happens to those people who were killed. It says that the Lord receives them up unto himself, in glory. While it was I'm sure a painful way to go for them, if you think about these people, and the city they lived in, it was probably a blessing to get removed from that situation. I'm sure the persecution that would have followed had they been saved from the flames would have been terrible.

After that small exchange between Alma and Amulek, we see some of the character of Amulek.

"Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also." (Alma 14: 12)

This is exactly the thought that would have been going through my mind. I'm not 100% certain, however, that my first thought would have been to save the other people. I think I would be more likely to be looking out for ways to avoid getting burned myself. The fact that this comment came second and not first says a lot about Amulek.

"And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not." (Alma 14:13)

First off, "Be it according to the will of the Lord". What a bold, courageous statement. To just stand there and be willing to die if that was Lord's will. I would like to think that I would react the same way, but when it came down to it, standing there watching other people be burned alive for believing the very things I had been teaching, I'm not sure that I would be as confident and willing. That's definitely something to work on: being more willing to accept the will of the Lord, whatever it may be.

Second, "But behold, our work is not finished;" Alma and Amulek found themselves in this predicament because of the work they were doing: preaching the Gospel. I wonder if I would be as willing to continue on with that work if I were in that very situation they were in.

There is a lot to be learned from Alma and Amulek in this chapter. They were some great examples and great missionaries!

Some day, I hope that I can be as courageous and willing to accept and follow the will of the Lord.