The P-words

Alma 4 – The church grows by thousands and are blessed abundantly.  The Lord does that.  In a short period of time, their blessings become a stumbling block as pride and persecution abound once more among the people.  This wickedness slowed the growth of the church.  Those who remained firm in their testimonies became even stronger as they proceeded to help and serve others.  These circumstances saddened Alma to the point of being inspired to give up his political position to another righteous man so that he could be solely a religious leader and devote his time to preaching.

Do we see similar situations today?  We do.  Is it epidemic?  I believe it is not, but that the church as a whole takes care of each other and those around us.  We are a charitable people.  This is a standard set by the church which causes the believer to be even more giving.  It thrills me to read the stats on the Humanitarian efforts of the church. 

On the other hand, it is a very sad thing to see how pride can destroy a man and his family.  I’ve seen this as well, and I know it happens.  It causes a ripple effect on those closest to it. 

Curses, rewards, masters and wages

Alma 3 – Talks about the curse the Lord put on the Lamanites so the Nephites would know not to mix with them.  Why?  Because in doing so, they and their seed would be cursed as well.  Then the Amlicites made it easy to identify themselves as well by marking themselves with a red mark in the forehead.  

It is very hard to read this and not draw some similarity in today’s world.  This makes me sad because so many of our youth are being sucked into the idea that tattoos are cool when, in fact, they are declaring their allegiance to a master – he who he “listeth to obey” (Alma 3:27).  I believe in the power of the Atonement and its healing power, but that “mark” remains after the repentance process.  This is all for the Lord to figure out, fortunately.  Our commandment is to love all men.  Sometimes the messages are confusing, which is why we are so blessed to have the Holy Ghost and the instruction of Moroni 7:16-17

Instrument in God's Hands

Alma 2 – This is one violent and bloody chapter.  Two things stand out as strengths in any conflict though. 

1. Alma, who was the leader of the Nephites (the good guys at this point in history), fought at the front of the line; whereas the Lamanite King sent his guards to contend with Alma as he hid behind them.  
2. The second was Alma’s prayer to be an instrument in God’s hands to save and preserve his people. 

 I need to learn to be more active in my defense of truth and righteousness and continually pray to be an instrument in God’s hands.  The Lord makes it quite obvious that he will qualify, protect and provide for us for those things we are willing to do in righteousness.

Good people can make a difference

Alma 1 – The church is prospering and helping others even outside the faith.  Those not of the church are seeking power and Nehor seeks to enforce his ideas by killing Gideon.  Not good.  Nehor was put to death on a hill – an “ignominious death” – aka shameful.  He admits before dying that he was lying to get gain.   I wonder if that one act – although he was compelled to humility – will count for good for him at the judgment?

Although our laws today are made by men of the world to a large degree, we as a people believe in obeying, honoring and sustaining the laws of the land (Article of Faith 12).  As individuals and as a people we need to be watchful that laws are not to give advantage to the evil designs of people.  I’ve been quite impressed with the State of Utah and how HB477, a law which would allow the lawmakers to work behind closed doors, has been rejected by the people.  Enough pressure was applied that legislature repealed that law Saturday.  When good people combine their efforts, they can make a difference!  We need to remember this.

Now let us be wise. . .

As I picked up my scriptures, I noticed Carli’s Patriarchal blessing and decided to read it again.  It’s little bitter sweet.  She has more blessings promised her than I’ve ever seen in a blessing – all contingent on her faith and love for her Savior.  These are two things she really struggles with and are her current challenge.

As I ponder her blessing, I remembered when I was turning my life around.  I mentioned I wanted a new Patriarchal blessing as I felt my lack of faith and the things I had done had changed the game plan.  I was told that is not true; that all the promises were still in effect.  I have proven that to be 100% correct!  That said, Carli can look forward to the same thing once she has concluded that living without faith is a miserable existence.

Then I read Mosiah 29.  Verse 10 really popped out at me.  Oh the heartache we could save ourselves if we followed this council in all aspects of our lives: “Now let us be wise and look forward to these things. . . “

Tools

Mosiah 27 is a chapter all LDS parents love to read and pray their own children might have a similar awakening to Alma's. One thing I noticed was Satan has tools and Heavenly Father followers have access to tools of righteousness as wekk:

Satan's followers are:	Heavenly Father's Followers:
Idolatrous	Prayer
Men of many words	Faith
Flatter	Serve God
Do things in secret	Fast and Pray

The one thing that brings me comfort and I have learned for myself is that when a person has been “born again” (v25) that “from this time forward” (v32) they choose righteousness – to serve and use every opportunity to bear witness of Heavenly Father's love for all his children.

Pray Without Ceasing

Mosiah 26 - Makes it sound pretty simple.  All we're asked to do is believe, repent, take on the name of Christ and he will freely forgive (v22).  Why is this so hard for so many of our young people to grasp?  Maybe one reason could be found in V6.  Our older youth seem to run in packs - also known as wards - that seem to go nowhere.  They don't date and they deceive each other (v6) in that they are cynical about their station in life to the point they have lost faith, wonder if their prayers are heard, stop praying and fall deeper into their selfish behavior.  They "flatter" each other in the fact they attend church, but it is nothing more than a social gathering.  Alma was troubled (v13).  According to Elder Snow, Pres. Monson is very troubled as well.  Our prophet seems to be bearing down on our young people to change this trend.  Perhaps praying w/o ceasing; giving thanks in all things is a good start (v39).

Bondage

Mosiah 22 - The people are in bondage and they recognize it.  They counsel.  We counsel as parents:  "What to do for a child in bondage?"  Maybe this post is just a bit too personal to really complete and I'll go to my musings of the next day.

Mosiah 23 and 24 - These are phrases that caught my attention:

• Alma has been made an instrument to bring the people out of bondage (v10)
• Have been oppressed
• People were in bonds of iniquity
• Stand fast in liberty
• Trust only men of God who walk in his ways.  (Everybody has an opinion.)
• Lord chastens his people; tries their patience and their faith
• None could deliver but the Lord
• Remember
• Hushed their fears and began to pray

I could go on and on, but the real theme to me is the power of God to free us from bondage.  How can this happen?  I think Chapter 24:10 is a key to what will happen first: ". . . so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God."  This is true of my own bondage.  There seemed no other way.  I did not have the strength on my own and the afflictions were great - painful and made me miserable.  I had to turn to my Heavenly Father.  When I did, it was instantaneous.  I felt his angels help me.  I started to remember and I moved forward.  Was it easy?  No! Was it fixed immediately?  Absolutely not.  There were many trials and setbacks ahead.  But I learned something very valuable through this experience.  Heavenly Father is there.  He loves us.  He forgives us and is eager to bless us.  But he also expects us to love him and remember the covenants we have made with him (v13).  As we do, the burdens become more bearable; we're made stronger (v14) and the day comes when we submit cheerfully and with patience to our trials, recognizing that it is the will of the Lord that allowed us these trials to make us stronger.  Our faith increases (v16), and we are comforted in this knowledge.  Bit by bit, we are delivered from bondage.

The Word of the Lord Might be Fulfilled

Mosiah 21:4  -  The rest of the chapter has words like: afflictions, bondage, driven to and fro, burdened.  All these things brought them into humility and they called upon God, who wasn't in a hurry to take away their problems (v15).  Is it not the same today?  When I see a nation going through some extreme problems, I can't help but think that these are the sorrows we were promised by the Lord through his prophets. (Haggi 2:6, 22 and many others). 

This can be boiled down to us as individuals as well.  Whenever I see someone blatantly breaking their covenants with the Lord, trouble brews in that person's life.  Does that mean that all trouble is a result of sin?  Of course not!  Again, the Lord has said that he would try His people.  I'll never forget Holly Clegg's testimony when they were moving their family from the east coast back to her parents.  Her husband's job suffered when the economy tanked.  They had car problems on their way and just about anything else that could go wrong did, it seemed.  She asked her Dad why, when they really were trying to keep their covenants.  His reply: Sometimes the Lord wants to know if we'll love him even when things aren't going as we'd like.  A test.  A righteous people will see trouble as an opportunity to love the Lord even more.

They Shall Sing

Mosiah 18:30  - I believe it must be quite natural to have a fond affection for the place where we are taught and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Even still, I think on my days when I worked with some pretty amazing member missionaries as a miracle and a divine gift.  I came to know and trust my Heavenly Father and could see His hand in my life.  For me personally, this is when I learned to sing and all the music I've written has been in praise of Him.

Remember

Mosiah 15:5    Numerous times we’ve been told that “remember” is one of the most oft-used words in the scriptures.  Here we are told that if we persist in carnal behavior, we are an enemy to God, then the last sentence “. . . and also is the devil an enemy to God.”  This is a very frightening thought to be lumped in with the devil!  What are carnal behaviors?  A definition I found that rings true is:  activities we engage in to serve our flesh.  That is a pretty broad brush.

Christ came to earth to redeem us from our sins, if we will only repent.  He is the light and life of the world – one that is endless, meaning even beyond this earthly existence.  What will keep us from following that light and being in endless darkness?  Not remembering.  By following our own carnal wills and desires, and refusing to pray (v12).  Then Abinadi gives his “parting shot” so to speak.  “Teach them that redemption cometh through Jesus Christ. . . ”    If we teach this to our children and others, hopefully they will remember.  And when, after following their carnal desires, they realize that there is no way to adequately satisfy those desires, they might remember that the “arms of mercy [are] extended towards them”, and they will repent and be redeemed.  What is redemption?  It is another chance at happiness – eternal happiness; endless happiness.  I would suspect this is the prayer in the heart of every righteous parent.