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.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
God Ceaseth Not to be God
Alma speaks of this interesting concept. He is teaching his son about justice and mercy and how they work together. In explaining this idea, he talks about something that sort of "humanizes" God. I think this is not inappropriate because I think of Him as my Heavenly Father, but it is very different from the way the world thinks of God.
"...Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God." (Alma 42:13)
This idea, as presented by Alma, made me think about how God, as perfect, omnipotent, and omniscient as He is, still has to follow the law. He has to choose to obey the demands of justice. If He doesn't, He will no longer be perfect, and He would indeed cease to be able to function as a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient being.
I love this. We sometimes talk about how we can become like God. This is so far out of my current grasp, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It boggles my mind that sometime in the (distant) future, if I do what I'm supposed to do, I can become like God.
Realizing that He makes choices to be the way He is, and that He is not just some being that is so different from me, and so remote from me, comforts me. It makes me realize that while I've still got a long way to go, I can indeed become like God.
The other comforting thing is realizing, as Alma points out, that there is no need to worry. God is always going to choose the right thing.
"But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice." (Alma 42:23)
"But God ceaseth not to be God". I love and appreciate Him and His plan for me.
"...Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God." (Alma 42:13)
This idea, as presented by Alma, made me think about how God, as perfect, omnipotent, and omniscient as He is, still has to follow the law. He has to choose to obey the demands of justice. If He doesn't, He will no longer be perfect, and He would indeed cease to be able to function as a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient being.
I love this. We sometimes talk about how we can become like God. This is so far out of my current grasp, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It boggles my mind that sometime in the (distant) future, if I do what I'm supposed to do, I can become like God.
Realizing that He makes choices to be the way He is, and that He is not just some being that is so different from me, and so remote from me, comforts me. It makes me realize that while I've still got a long way to go, I can indeed become like God.
The other comforting thing is realizing, as Alma points out, that there is no need to worry. God is always going to choose the right thing.
"But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice." (Alma 42:23)
"But God ceaseth not to be God". I love and appreciate Him and His plan for me.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Wickedness Never Was Happiness
Alma continues to speak to his son, Corianton, who while having gone off the path of righteousness, I guess you could say, also seems to have the most confusion about several religious topics.
As Alma talks to his son, he brings up the topic of "restoration", but he introduces it this way:
"And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee." (Alma 41:1)
Alma, who is a man of God and has been led by the Spirit ever since his miraculous conversion, understands what his son needs to hear.
Anyway, Alma goes on to talk to Corianton about the term "restoration". I think the ultimate misunderstanding of this topic is based on sinners justifying their sin. One justification is that God is a loving, forgiving God and we can do whatever we want, and with maybe a little punishment, we can make it back to heaven to live in Heavenly Father's kingdom.
"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)
Alma wants it very clear that you can't be both wicked and eternally happy. He is trying to point out that things are restored to the natural state of their being. He basically says "you get what you dish out". So he says it very clearly here--wickedness never was happiness.
In the context of his conversation with his son, this is a great phrase. I'm sure he doesn't want to disappoint his son, or make him lose hope. But it needs to be clear that as Amulek taught, we can't be saved in our sins. Only if we repent can we be saved FROM our sins. To say wickedness NEVER was happiness kind of sounds a little hopeless, but the point is true. In the grand scheme of things, you can't be wicked and eternally happy. They just don't go together.
Luckily for us, we have the opportunity to repent and be happy, because once we've repented, we are no longer wicked. We are in a state of righteousness, which definitely leads to happiness in this life and also in the eternities.
So my takeaway from this conversation between Alma and Corianton is that I need to be as much the kind of person I hope to be in the eternities. Only then can I be restored to that same thing in the eternities.
On a quick side-note, it seems like those two things could be related (sin and misunderstanding the gospel), but that is a discussion for another day.
As Alma talks to his son, he brings up the topic of "restoration", but he introduces it this way:
"And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee." (Alma 41:1)
Alma, who is a man of God and has been led by the Spirit ever since his miraculous conversion, understands what his son needs to hear.
On another quick side note, there is a whole potential topic for discussion here to say that parents are entitled to revelation about what their kids need to be taught or are struggling with. God is on the side of loving parents who want their kids to understand correct Gospel principles!
Anyway, Alma goes on to talk to Corianton about the term "restoration". I think the ultimate misunderstanding of this topic is based on sinners justifying their sin. One justification is that God is a loving, forgiving God and we can do whatever we want, and with maybe a little punishment, we can make it back to heaven to live in Heavenly Father's kingdom.
"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)
Alma wants it very clear that you can't be both wicked and eternally happy. He is trying to point out that things are restored to the natural state of their being. He basically says "you get what you dish out". So he says it very clearly here--wickedness never was happiness.
In the context of his conversation with his son, this is a great phrase. I'm sure he doesn't want to disappoint his son, or make him lose hope. But it needs to be clear that as Amulek taught, we can't be saved in our sins. Only if we repent can we be saved FROM our sins. To say wickedness NEVER was happiness kind of sounds a little hopeless, but the point is true. In the grand scheme of things, you can't be wicked and eternally happy. They just don't go together.
Luckily for us, we have the opportunity to repent and be happy, because once we've repented, we are no longer wicked. We are in a state of righteousness, which definitely leads to happiness in this life and also in the eternities.
So my takeaway from this conversation between Alma and Corianton is that I need to be as much the kind of person I hope to be in the eternities. Only then can I be restored to that same thing in the eternities.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
How To Find Answers To Questions
Everyone has questions.
There are so many trivia questions out there that there are games and books dedicated to passing on trivial knowledge. These kinds of questions can frequently be answered by a quick internet search, which will return thousands of results relating to that topic. You will usually find more information about that topic than you ever wanted to know.
Then there are more scientific questions. Questions about the universe and how and why things work the way they do. These questions are often more difficult than a quick internet search because first, we don't quite even know what to ask, and second, because we humans might not understand those things at all and we might need to figure it out. This takes an understanding of as much of that topic as we can get, and then applying the scientific method to make hypotheses and experiments and report our findings.
Finally there are more spiritual questions. People look all over for the answers to spiritual questions. There is really only one source for answers to spiritual questions--straight from God. Revelation is alive and well, and everyone can receive it.
Alma was explaining to his son about a principle of the Gospel: resurrection of the dead. He didn't know everything about it, but he knew that it existed and was going to happen. he wanted to find out more about it, and so here is what he did:
"Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know." (Alma 40:9)
It's pretty simple on the surface. He inquired of the Lord. Alma goes on to admit that he still didn't know everything about the resurrection, but he knew enough to teach his son some of those things.
Nowadays, the world is full of information that is literally at our fingertips. I can find almost anything out simply by googling it. However, when I have spiritual questions, I need to seek out spiritual answers, which is not what the internet supplies. Sure, I can look for information about spiritual topics, but testimony only comes from the spiritual answers, provided by the Spirit.
The best part is that the Spirit will help me to have a sure knowledge about topics that are otherwise unknowable. I know that God lives, and that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I know that I am loved, and part of an eternal family. I know these things through spiritual answers to spiritual questions.
And all I have to do is "inquire diligently of the Lord".
There are so many trivia questions out there that there are games and books dedicated to passing on trivial knowledge. These kinds of questions can frequently be answered by a quick internet search, which will return thousands of results relating to that topic. You will usually find more information about that topic than you ever wanted to know.
Then there are more scientific questions. Questions about the universe and how and why things work the way they do. These questions are often more difficult than a quick internet search because first, we don't quite even know what to ask, and second, because we humans might not understand those things at all and we might need to figure it out. This takes an understanding of as much of that topic as we can get, and then applying the scientific method to make hypotheses and experiments and report our findings.
Finally there are more spiritual questions. People look all over for the answers to spiritual questions. There is really only one source for answers to spiritual questions--straight from God. Revelation is alive and well, and everyone can receive it.
Alma was explaining to his son about a principle of the Gospel: resurrection of the dead. He didn't know everything about it, but he knew that it existed and was going to happen. he wanted to find out more about it, and so here is what he did:
"Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know." (Alma 40:9)
It's pretty simple on the surface. He inquired of the Lord. Alma goes on to admit that he still didn't know everything about the resurrection, but he knew enough to teach his son some of those things.
Nowadays, the world is full of information that is literally at our fingertips. I can find almost anything out simply by googling it. However, when I have spiritual questions, I need to seek out spiritual answers, which is not what the internet supplies. Sure, I can look for information about spiritual topics, but testimony only comes from the spiritual answers, provided by the Spirit.
The best part is that the Spirit will help me to have a sure knowledge about topics that are otherwise unknowable. I know that God lives, and that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I know that I am loved, and part of an eternal family. I know these things through spiritual answers to spiritual questions.
And all I have to do is "inquire diligently of the Lord".
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
When They Saw Your Conduct
Every time I read this section of the Book of Mormon, this phrase stands out to me.
Alma is now talking to his other son, Corianton, who has made some not-so-great choices. Alma is hoping to help him understand the gravity of his sin, so he talks about that for a while.
It turns out that they were preaching among the Zoramites, and they saw the actions of Corianton. This is how Alma described what happened:
"...for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." (Alma 39:11)
I think sometimes we categorize sin as a very personal thing. Some sin we justify because it "only hurts ourselves". This is a false belief, though, because sin always affects other people. It could be, as in the case of Corianton, that people saw his sin and didn't want to learn any more or did not believe. Sometimes sin is more visible, and it tends to have more of this kind of affect, either the people being taught don't believe the message, because of your example, or maybe it leads people away because they justify behavior because of someone else.
Probably the more dangerous sin is the kind where nobody knows (except you and God). You feel like this doesn't affect other people, but the reality is, when you sin, you lose the Spirit. And when you lose the Spirit, you are a different person. You are more irritable. You are prone to sin more because you don't have the guidance from the Spirit to help you avoid it. You start to lose faith. This affects families, friends, and loved ones. This affects more than just you.
At the end of the day, the thing to remember is that while we will all make mistakes and sin, we should stop ourselves from sinning. It has potential to ruin both your spiritual and your physical life. People get hurt. People don't believe because of your example. These kinds of things really are painful, especially if you have the presence of mind to understand the pain and hurt that YOU caused because of your sin.
I think Alma does a great job explaining what the problems were with his sons actions, and I hope that Corianton went on to repent and work to improve his life.
I hope that I can always be aware that my actions affect other people and that I need to do better not just for me but for those around me.
Alma is now talking to his other son, Corianton, who has made some not-so-great choices. Alma is hoping to help him understand the gravity of his sin, so he talks about that for a while.
It turns out that they were preaching among the Zoramites, and they saw the actions of Corianton. This is how Alma described what happened:
"...for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." (Alma 39:11)
I think sometimes we categorize sin as a very personal thing. Some sin we justify because it "only hurts ourselves". This is a false belief, though, because sin always affects other people. It could be, as in the case of Corianton, that people saw his sin and didn't want to learn any more or did not believe. Sometimes sin is more visible, and it tends to have more of this kind of affect, either the people being taught don't believe the message, because of your example, or maybe it leads people away because they justify behavior because of someone else.
Probably the more dangerous sin is the kind where nobody knows (except you and God). You feel like this doesn't affect other people, but the reality is, when you sin, you lose the Spirit. And when you lose the Spirit, you are a different person. You are more irritable. You are prone to sin more because you don't have the guidance from the Spirit to help you avoid it. You start to lose faith. This affects families, friends, and loved ones. This affects more than just you.
At the end of the day, the thing to remember is that while we will all make mistakes and sin, we should stop ourselves from sinning. It has potential to ruin both your spiritual and your physical life. People get hurt. People don't believe because of your example. These kinds of things really are painful, especially if you have the presence of mind to understand the pain and hurt that YOU caused because of your sin.
I think Alma does a great job explaining what the problems were with his sons actions, and I hope that Corianton went on to repent and work to improve his life.
I hope that I can always be aware that my actions affect other people and that I need to do better not just for me but for those around me.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Boldness But Not Overbearance
Alma goes on to speak to his son Shiblon, who has been a good son. He has for the most part been a faithful diligent person. Alma just has a little advice for him, like any father would.
He talks a good amount to Shiblon about teaching/preaching the word, and one of the pieces of advice relates to his interactions with others.
"Use boldness, but not overbearance; ..." (Alma 38:12)
I think honestly if the whole world would use this motto, "Use boldness, but not overbearance", we would all be better off. How many feelings could be spared, or how many agreements could be reached by this simple reminder.
We are to stand up for what we believe in, but not bully people. We should share the truth with love, as the Savior did. He went about teaching people, sometimes very difficult things for them to learn, yet so many people followed Him and became His disciples. He was not mean. He didn't put people down or force them to do what He wanted them to. He was just bold. He was not afraid to tell people the truth, or to correct people when they were wrong.
I think the biggest difference is the demeanor and purpose behind the message. If you are desiring to assert that you are right and they are wrong, you might be overbearing. If you show the love you have for someone by sharing something with them that is special to you, then I think your purpose is good and right.
He talks a good amount to Shiblon about teaching/preaching the word, and one of the pieces of advice relates to his interactions with others.
"Use boldness, but not overbearance; ..." (Alma 38:12)
I think honestly if the whole world would use this motto, "Use boldness, but not overbearance", we would all be better off. How many feelings could be spared, or how many agreements could be reached by this simple reminder.
We are to stand up for what we believe in, but not bully people. We should share the truth with love, as the Savior did. He went about teaching people, sometimes very difficult things for them to learn, yet so many people followed Him and became His disciples. He was not mean. He didn't put people down or force them to do what He wanted them to. He was just bold. He was not afraid to tell people the truth, or to correct people when they were wrong.
I think the biggest difference is the demeanor and purpose behind the message. If you are desiring to assert that you are right and they are wrong, you might be overbearing. If you show the love you have for someone by sharing something with them that is special to you, then I think your purpose is good and right.
Monday, January 1, 2018
The Easiness of the Way
Sometimes it seems like there are so many things that need to be done to return back to live forever with our Heavenly Father forever. There is always a bunch of stuff that I can look at and evaluate that I know I should be doing better at.
Sometimes it just seems hard.
The Lord has given us several "lessons" about what it takes to obtain eternal life. One of the most poignant ones to me is Moses with the brazen serpent on his staff. The Israelites were getting bitten by poisonous serpents, and they would die, but the Lord told Moses to make a brass serpent on the end of a staff and hold it up, and people that would look were healed. Some people, though, would not look. They were not healed.
I've often thought about this story and thought "What the heck? Why didn't they look? Wasn't it at least worth LOOKING to try it out? I mean, it just didn't make sense. For sure, if I got bit by a poisonous snake, and there was even a slight chance that I could just look at a stick and be healed, I would totally do it! I mean, it takes so little effort to look at a stick, why wouldn't you try it?
Alma is teaching his son Helaman some things that he wants him to know. He teaches him of the importance of keeping and preserving a record (which would one day be abridged and translated by God's servants, resulting in the Book of Mormon that we have today), as well as the importance of doing everything with a prayer. He goes on to tell him this:
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (Alma 37:46)
I think that the things we're asked to do, are mostly easy. Sure, there's a lot of them, and sure, we have a lot of other things competing for attention in our lives, but at the end of the day, doing what the Lord wants us to do is easy. We just have to be willing to do it. I mean, is it hard to pray? It might be at first, but once you get used to it, praying is not hard. Is it hard to read scriptures? Obviously everyone is at their own level, but even at the most basic level, reading a few paragraphs is not difficult. Is it hard to go to church? It's not, especially here in Utah, where you have to decide if you want to drive or walk, even though the Church is only a few blocks away.
While I think the things we've been asked to do are each easy, I think what's hard is doing EVERYTHING, and doing everything at the level that we feel we should. One example might be scripture study. I mean, there is a very big difference between skimming a few verses compared to sitting down for 30 minutes and really studying a topic. There's a big difference between just showing up for church compared with arriving prepared, having studied that week's lessons and spiritually really being prepared to be there.
We all have things we can be doing better. President Eyring at the last conference talked about how he redoubled his efforts and studied the Book of Mormon more in depth after President Monson admonished us to do so in the previous conference. I'm always hearing lessons and talks that lead to thoughts such as "I need to do that better" or "I should be more consistent with that thing".
The best news of all is that I am a work in progress. I am where I am, and I can't change my starting point. If I thought that I needed to go from where I am now to being perfect, I might as well give up. I might as well not look at the brass serpent. But because of the nature of eternal progression, I think the truth is that all I need to do is go for continuous improvement. If I am always doing better, always changing things, even ever-so-slightly, I am headed towards what I hope is my eventual destination. And the truth is, small changes are easy.
I think this is what Alma is telling Helaman here. He says don't get complacent. Don't fall back into old habits. Don't stop trying to improve. If we do that, as Alma says, "The way is prepared, and if we will [continuously work towards improving ourselves little by little] we may live forever".
Sometimes it just seems hard.
The Lord has given us several "lessons" about what it takes to obtain eternal life. One of the most poignant ones to me is Moses with the brazen serpent on his staff. The Israelites were getting bitten by poisonous serpents, and they would die, but the Lord told Moses to make a brass serpent on the end of a staff and hold it up, and people that would look were healed. Some people, though, would not look. They were not healed.
I've often thought about this story and thought "What the heck? Why didn't they look? Wasn't it at least worth LOOKING to try it out? I mean, it just didn't make sense. For sure, if I got bit by a poisonous snake, and there was even a slight chance that I could just look at a stick and be healed, I would totally do it! I mean, it takes so little effort to look at a stick, why wouldn't you try it?
Alma is teaching his son Helaman some things that he wants him to know. He teaches him of the importance of keeping and preserving a record (which would one day be abridged and translated by God's servants, resulting in the Book of Mormon that we have today), as well as the importance of doing everything with a prayer. He goes on to tell him this:
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (Alma 37:46)
I think that the things we're asked to do, are mostly easy. Sure, there's a lot of them, and sure, we have a lot of other things competing for attention in our lives, but at the end of the day, doing what the Lord wants us to do is easy. We just have to be willing to do it. I mean, is it hard to pray? It might be at first, but once you get used to it, praying is not hard. Is it hard to read scriptures? Obviously everyone is at their own level, but even at the most basic level, reading a few paragraphs is not difficult. Is it hard to go to church? It's not, especially here in Utah, where you have to decide if you want to drive or walk, even though the Church is only a few blocks away.
While I think the things we've been asked to do are each easy, I think what's hard is doing EVERYTHING, and doing everything at the level that we feel we should. One example might be scripture study. I mean, there is a very big difference between skimming a few verses compared to sitting down for 30 minutes and really studying a topic. There's a big difference between just showing up for church compared with arriving prepared, having studied that week's lessons and spiritually really being prepared to be there.
We all have things we can be doing better. President Eyring at the last conference talked about how he redoubled his efforts and studied the Book of Mormon more in depth after President Monson admonished us to do so in the previous conference. I'm always hearing lessons and talks that lead to thoughts such as "I need to do that better" or "I should be more consistent with that thing".
The best news of all is that I am a work in progress. I am where I am, and I can't change my starting point. If I thought that I needed to go from where I am now to being perfect, I might as well give up. I might as well not look at the brass serpent. But because of the nature of eternal progression, I think the truth is that all I need to do is go for continuous improvement. If I am always doing better, always changing things, even ever-so-slightly, I am headed towards what I hope is my eventual destination. And the truth is, small changes are easy.
I think this is what Alma is telling Helaman here. He says don't get complacent. Don't fall back into old habits. Don't stop trying to improve. If we do that, as Alma says, "The way is prepared, and if we will [continuously work towards improving ourselves little by little] we may live forever".
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