Peace - Something that can be worked for

Alma 6

A short chapter,but some real food for thought. Those who were not members of the church and repented, were baptized. Those who were members but disbelievers and did not repent were removed from the records of the church. This was done through the priests and elders of the church.

Do we do this today? Well, certainly we preach the gospel to those who are not members. Is the effort to remove peoples' names from the records of the church as common? Not to my knowing. There are a lot of people who disbelieve.

The next verse is very interesting. The youth of the church had an assignment. Maybe I am misinterpreting this. It says the children of God, and that could be anyone of any age. But for some reason I saw youth. Their assignment was to gather together oft fast and pray for the nonbeliever and the welfare of their souls. (v6) I know the brethren have counseled us to include that in our fasting each time. I need to make a concerted effort to do so. It's a bit of hit and miss for me.

In chapter 7 Alma is speaking to the people of Gideon. He finds them in a better state than the people of Zarahemla and is able to preach pure gospel principles to them. He counsels them to be humble, submissive, gentle, easy to be entreated; full of patience and long suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive (v23).

In turn they are promised peace of God . .. upon your houses, lands, flocks, herds, and all that they possess. Is this just not so beautiful? Who wouldn't want that kind of peace? To have assurance that all will be well. It is something worth working for. I've seen people without peace in their lives. It is not a pretty thing and definitely something to avoid.