Pure logic to me

Alma 9

Alma and Amulek begin their mission among the Nephites, the people of Ammonihah. Alma is very direct and tells the people of their gross errors and that they can expect to reap a reward of their works (v28) whether for good or for bad.

This is not news to them. They've been taught this before. We have been taught this as well all our lives. If our works are good and righteous, we will be blessed. If we are evil, our souls will belong to the devil. The work used in v28 is “captivation” of the devil.

Who are the people of Ammonihah? They had the gospel in their lives once. In fact, Alma says they had once been highly favored people of the Lord (v20). At one time they knew ALL things past, present and future. Today, who would that be? People who have received their endowment in the temple. What Alma is saying is they know the Plan of Salvation, yet they have chosen to go against it. At one time they had been visitied by the Spirit of God and heard his voice. They had many gifts of the spirit. Yet they turned against this knowledge and these gifts.

This chapter shows me a consistency in those who have turned away from the light. They don't like to be told they have done exactly what they have done. Why is that? When they knowingly have chosen evil over good, why are they angered when told that's what they've done? It is the same today. This behavior can be rolled into one word: apostasy. Yet, if you call someone an apostate, they are angry. The Webster dictionary calls an apostate “renunciation of a religious faith” and “abandonment of a previous loyalty”. What is the word “renunciation”? “To give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration”. So why the offense if you fit in this category. The people of Ammonihah were furious enough to kill Alma.

I don't know where I'm going with this. But this I do know and the spirit testifies to me it is truth. Not only the Spirit, but experience. When we keep the commandments, we are blessed as to things pertaining to righteousness. When we turn our lives away from truth and righteousness and follow the desires of the natural man, we are without the Lord; we go it alone. The Lord is not there to protect us from the effects of our poor choices. We can change, and he is quick to come to our aid when we do. It isn't easy, but it is doable.