He Could Not Rest

As I read this passage, a phrase jumped out at me.

"And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth." (Alma 43:1)

Alma...could not rest, and he also went forth.  I think this says a lot about the character of Alma. 

Reading this passage, I remembered back on my mission. I was working in the mission office, and often I would finish my work before my companion would, as he had the larger assignment. One of the two assistants to the president, Elder Sutton, would frequently get frustrated with "office work". He wanted to go out and preach the gospel. He would come get me, and we would go talk to people on the street, or go knock on doors. Or I remember one time going with him to a teaching appointment where he translated ASL for a deaf person who was listening to the missionaries. He was always inspirational to me. He could not rest, and he also went forth. He made me want to get out there and spend my time that same way.

I also thought about how recently President Monson passed away, and his daughter, Sister Dibb, talked about how pretty much right up to the end, he wasn't happy unless he was out ministering to people. Even in the late stages of his life, when he was losing his memory, and probably really frustrated by the weaknesses of mortality, he wanted to be out and doing. He could not rest, and he also went forth.

I think about myself. How many times do I do something a little grudgingly. I am willing to go to extra meetings, or do service assignments, but it is not me trying to find things to do because I cannot rest. Often I find myself wishing I could just sit and rest instead.  I hope to one day get to that point, where I cannot rest, and also go forth. That's truly what Christ did, and what his truly committed followers do too.