Alma 22 - What Do I Teach?

Alma 22 – Aaron teaches Plan of Salvation

Again we see the first thing that is taught to the Lamanites is the basic Plan of Salvation.  This is important to know.  Why?  Let’s examine what exactly is taught when Aaron expounds the scriptures:

• Creation of Adam
• Fall of man
• Carnal state of man
• Plan of redemption
• Plan of redemption prepared from the foundation of the world
• Christ’s roll in Plan of Redemption
• Man is powerless to redeem self
• Christ atones for our sins
• Faith and repentance are the key to accessing that atonement
• Christ breaks the bands of death, so grave shall have no victory
• Sting of death swallowed up in hopes of glory

 The fascinating thing to me is all this knowledge is spelled out in two verses, Alma 22:13-14. 

What was King Lamoni’s response to this truckload of information?  Remember this is the same man, the father of Lamoni, who Aaron tried to teach earlier under a hostile encounter.  Now he has asked what needed to be done to root the evil out of his being and have this spirit that would fill him with joy.  Whereas before he was willing to give only half of his kingdom to spare his life, now he is willing to give everything he owns that he might have this spirit.  What a transformation!  (verse 15)

Aaron’s response is simple.  Verse 16 – “. . . bow down before God (pray) if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.”  This is the same instruction given to converts who are searching for truth.  It is not a hard, long list.  What was the result of King Lamoni’s prayer?  He too was overcome by the Spirit of God to the point of being struck as though he were dead.  (v18)   I don’t think we see much of that these days. 

When King Lamoni was revived, what was his next action?  In verse 23 we see he ministered to his people insomuch that his entire household were converted unto the Lord.  In Luke 22:32 Christ tells Simon Peter that “. . . when we are converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  I believe this is a natural tendency of a righteous man anyway.  We want to share the joy that comes to us.  Nobody wants to be happy alone.  At least that is my experience.

This is a chapter we must remember when we’re given the opportunity to “open our mouths” to share the gospel.  It is extremely dense in gospel doctrine. 

Jacob 3 - Pray in Faith

Jacob 3 – How has praying with faith helped you with a trial?

My first experience with "praying with faith" that impacted me was the night I cried mightily to the Lord in my closet in a new home without curtains.  It was my first night alone as a divorced woman and I was scared of two things: One, being in this big home alone, and two, that my ex-husband would return and cause me grief.  I was in my closet for what seemed a very long time praying for help.  When I went to sleep, it was only a short while and I was awakened by the doorbell.  It was my ex-husband of just a few hours.  He had nowhere to go to sleep.  He looked to me as if a stranger who was in need and nothing more.  I had no feelings for him other than pity - maybe appropriate compassion.  He was not inclined to harass me and agreed tot leave in the morning before I awoke, if I would let him sleep on the couch.  Amazingly, that was it.  He did as he said he would and I felt NOTHING for him.  This was truly a miracle and has been the place I go whenever I am troubled with something.  I know the Lord hears our prayers and answers them in His way.  I expected my ex to leave me alone.  Instead, the Lord let me know He has the power to change us from within.  It was a powerful experience.!

3 Nephi 14 - ASK

Jesus is still speaking to the people and teaching them. He teaches them not to judge and to ask God who will not deny them. Salvation is promised to those who do the will of the Father.

In verse 7 it says “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.”

This verse has personal significance to me. My life was pretty messed up and I was miserable. I had been taught by my parents and teachers all my life. I knew how to pray. I had not prayed for years – nine in fact! I don't remember exactly what it was that took me to my knees, but I remember kneeling at the side of my bed in total desperation – very broken. My prayer was not as I was taught as a child, however. I pleaded with the Lord: “Heavenly Father, whatever it is my parents are praying for, I'm ready to do to have it happen.” I cannot even begin to count the miracles that happened from that point on. It was so amazing and life changing.

The Lord has ever been mindful of my righteous prayers. There have been many times since that I have seen immediate results from pleading for help. One in particular was a day I was stewing over the possibility that a sibling was going to hurt my Dad terribly. I was distraught and finally went to my Heavenly Father. I was told to call my older and wiser brother who put me totally at ease. He said, “Connie, every experience we have is for our good and for our experience. Dad is a strong person and he will be fine.” I hung up from that conversation with a song in my heart the rest of the day. It was a real lesson to me that the Lord does answer our prayers. By the way, all was well on the day I feared for my Dad.

How does this apply to me today. Of course, I continue to have faith that the Lord hears and answers my prayers. He will not take the agency of others away from them, and they will make mistakes. However, I know that all things that happen are for our good and our experience – them as well as me. And like Pres. Hinckley so aptly said, “It will be okay.”