Be ready to listen

Alma 18

Ammon returns from caring for the king's horses and preparing them as he had been asked. The king is totally in awe of what his servants had told him about Ammom saving his flocks and cutting off the arms of the Lamanites who were causing troubles. Ammon realizes this is his opportunity to teach the king because he is ready to listen.

What is it that makes a person ready to listen? In my case, it was a miserable existence and I wanted to be happy again. In Lamoni's case, he wasn't all that miserable. I suspect he had a good life. In his case I think it was fear of what was about to happen to him. He knew in his heart that killing his servants wasn't right, even though the tradition passed down from his father was that whatever he did was right (v5).

I've always been fascinated at this chapter/story. Once Lamoni is ready to listen, what is it that Alma tells him? Basically, it is what we learn in the temple, i.e. the creation, Fall and Atonement or rather the Plan of Redemption that was laid from before the foundation of the world (v39).

This chapter tells me that this information is critically important to each of us – even a king who does not have the gospel. This is information I was raised with, and it wasn't all that new when I heard it in the temple setting. But as I've gotten older, I've realized there is something the Lord wants us to know about it that is deeper than the actual story itself. And this is why we return to the temple over and over – to perhaps gain an understanding of what it is the Lord wants us to know. As I attended a teaching moment with the YSA Stake a few weeks ago, we were told we are to learn about the teacher, and his patterns.

So as I read this chapter, it reminded me of this. This earth life is the Lord's university for learning about his kingdom. He is the teacher, and we need to know His ways. The test will be at judgment day when we stand before our maker and give an accounting of our lives. Did we learn enough about Him to desire to be like Him? Did that desire work in us enough that we are like Him? That is the real question. Are we becoming more like our Savior every day? If that is the direction we are moving, then I believe we'll be able to answer yes.

My action item for this day? Keep moving forward. Be like Lamoni and say, “. . .I will believe all thy words.” And let that belief be unto doing. Where are those words? Conference talks, scriptures, and Temple. Is it the words alone? No! I must be ready to listen by asking the Lord to increase my understanding.