My joy is full

Alma 29 – One of my favorite chapters.  Alma’s famous words:  O that I were an angel and could have the wish of my heart.”   His desire is to share the gospel among all people and nations.  I love how he responds to that thought in verse 3:  “. . . I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.”

My favorite verse is 11.  This is so easily applied to me and the biggest reason I think I’m able to cope with the  choices others make that cause them to be in bondage.  It is a process.  I change some of the words when I read it:  “Yea, and I also remember [my] captivity . . . for I do know that the Lord did deliver [me] out of bondage and by this did establish his church [in my life].”  And verse 13 “. . . my joy is full.”  The gospel brings true joy into our lives.  There is rarely a day go by I don’t remember how truly blessed I have been to break the bondage I was in that brought me to the amazing life I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.  The more I serve, the more I enjoy life.

And thus we see. . .

Alma 28 – The Lamanites are killed in battle against the Nephites and the mourning on both sides is great.

I’m always drawn to verses that say “And thus we see . . . “  These are teaching verses.  Verse 13 – There is great inequality of men because of sin and transgression.  Then in Verse 14 – Those who labor in the vineyard sorrow as well, but have hope and rejoice in the light of Christ.

The difference between the troubles that beset us all is the hope we have in Christ to overcome it.  Can he bring back our loved ones who have died?  No!  That is not the plan.  But we know his Atonement will make it right in the next life.

How does this apply to me?  As I see my children and others go through struggles that are self induced through their own lack of faith in the gospel plan, I grieve over their choices.  But I do have hope and faith that when this life is completed they will see with an understanding they refused to nurture in this life.  Yes, it will be a rough road filled with challenges.  But, I know for myself that when it gets hard enough, we begin to long for the peace we see others enjoy and find the courage and faith to dig ourselves out.

Brethren in the Gospel

Alma 27 – Ammon petitions the Lord to take the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s to a safer place, as they refused to break their oath to God to take up arms against the Lamanites.  They were being slaughtered because they chose to honor their oath.  The Lord told Ammon to take the people to Zarahemla where they met up with Alma and the Sons of Mosiah.  Ammon’s joy was such that it exceeds his strength.

As I ponder this meeting between men who have been through so much together, I can imagine what is was that Ammon might have been feeling - relief as well as joy.  Here these people he loved were being persecuted and killed.  He had to have felt some responsibility.  Alma was there for him to help shoulder some of the burden.  Of course, that would be a most joyous meeting.

How does this apply to me?  I doubt I will ever be responsible for a group of people like that of Ammon, but as I serve in a presidency, there are heavy responsibilities at times.  How grateful I am for a presidency that works and shoulders the burden together.  It is lighter because of it and the blessings of service are multiplied.  We become close friends – much as was Ammon and his brethren.

Faith and Hope

Alma 25 – Lamanites are either killed or put down their weapons of war and joined with Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s.  Ammon and brethren rejoiced at their success.

In verse 16 it mentions they kept the Law of Moses.  By keeping this law they were strengthened in their faith in Christ and retained a hope through their faith – a hope in eternal salvation and they relied on the spirit of prophecy.

Today we don’t practice the Law of Moses, but Christ’s law - his commandments.  To what end?  Why?  In doing so our faith is strengthened as well and we have hope.  What is that hope?  What do I truly hope will come of my faith in Christ?  That I will someday be worthy of returning to my Heavenly Father and being in Christ's presence surrounded by all my family – not one person missing!  That is huge and I choke up every time I repeat the word “posterity” in the temple.  They are my joy and everything I do is with the hope they will grasp the gospel in their own lives.  I know it is a process and I cling to this hope.

Conversion - a Process

Alma 22 – Conversion – It is a process that is very well defined in this chapter.

• Curiosity – that leads to asking questions (v5)
• Faith – At first it is faith in the messenger that he is sincere (v11)

At this point, the messenger – or missionary starts at the beginning, i.e. creation, fall, plan of redemption (v12-14)

• Desire – to have eternal life
• Faith  – in the message sufficient to humble the listener enough to kneel in prayer and ask the Lord for confirmation (v18)
• Pass it forward – when one is truly converted, there is a desire to share and minister to others. 

How do I apply this?  This is a check list to measure the progress of someone investigating.  It is a process.

Do Not Contend

Alma 21 – Aaron and his brethren were not received so well by the Lamanites.  There is a valuable lesson taught in verse 11 that applies to all and is a key to remember when preaching the gospl.  The Sirit of contention is of the devil.  DO NOT CONTEND when having religious discussion.  It can lead nowhere.