Alma Teaches Us as He Teaches Zeezrom

 Exactness. Honor

This is so familiar and the Lord gives us this same counsel today. Stay within the bounds the Lord has set.” In this there is safety. In this there is peace. Might I be so brave as to say this is where joy is as well?

Alma 12:1 – Zezzrom began to “tremble under a consciousness of his guilt. . .”  Really? Does preaching the gospel to someone get them to see where they are guilty? It was such a gradual process for me, although I always knew I was guilty of going against the will of the Lord. 

Alma 13:10-12 — Repent and work righteousness

Enter into the rest of the Lord - AKA At-One-Ment

Enter into that rest — Pres. Joseph F. Smith: "What does it mean? To my mind it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in His purpose and in His plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else. We are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine." Gospel Doc., p58  I watch people I love search for the next thing that will bring them happiness. There is only one thing: The Gospel of Jesus Christ, that will offer true and lasting happiness.

I find comfort in this Pres. Smith's quote. One of the blessings of the Gospel is knowing that the Lord has known this day was coming forever and that there is a Plan. We have no need to fear for the future, as He has it worked. It will be interesting to see what happens next. I feel the same way about all the issues in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren currently. I chant frequently to myself that the Lord has a Plan. I don't need to know what it is (though that would be nice); I only need to have the faith that there is a Plan.

So what is required that we may obtain that “rest”? Humility, faith, repent,  - Alma says it best in v28 “But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering.

• Humility
• Prayer – watch & pray continually
• Repent
• Hear Him (Listen to the Holy Ghost and promptings)
• Meek
• Submissive
• Patient
• Full of love
• Long suffering

I wrote in my scriptures that this is a perfect description of Clyde. I’ve never known anyone like him. This was in 2018, and is even more so four years later.

Just as Alma spoke to the people, I wish I could have the opportunity to speak these things to my children and grandchildren. There is a Plan! There is a better way to find joy in this life and eternal life with our Heavenly Father after this life. This life is a probationary period to overcome the selfish, self-centered natures that we are all ridden with. Don’t fall into the trap the world and Satan have created to snare you and get your off track. If you are off track (and aren’t all of us at one time or another?), then repent now! Humble yourselves and turn to the Lord for guidance and forgiveness. Be meek, which does NOT mean weak, submissive to God’s will (Let Him Prevail), patient and full of love for yourself, God and for all of His children, and be long suffering. Endure to the end those things that you can’t change. They were created to test you to see if you would follow Jesus anyway. Don’t ever forget that!

Yes, and if I ever had the chance, this is how I would speak to my family. 

 

The Natural Man - a Process Worth Pursuing

Mosiah 3

“The natural man is an enemy to God.”

This thought hits me hard today.  I know far too many who have trouble controlling their “natural”.  What does that look like?  To begin with, look at my post yesterday.  It starts by not attending to your duty, aka going to your meetings.  Why is that?  Because it is there we are exposed to others trying hard to overcome the natural man.  They relate experiences we may be having and how they struggled to overcome them.  We gain ideas.  We are strengthened by their courage and gain the courage to conquer the same battles.  We feel of the Spirit in these meetings as we hear testimonies born.  It is a natural process moving toward Heavenly Father – just like not attending our meetings creates within us a natural tendency to live unrighteous lives.  Why am I beating this drum so hard? 

How do I overcome the natural man?  King Benjamin spells it out very clearly:

• Yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit
• Become a saint through the atonement of Christ.
• Become as a child
• Submissive
• Meek
• Humble
• Patient
• Full of love
• Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict

• What does submissive mean? To submit to others, namely our Heavenly Father.  Do those things He has asked us to do. 
• Meek?  Enduring injury with patience and without resentment; mild, not violent or strong, down-to-earth, humble, modest, unassuming, unpretentious.
• Humble?  Not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive
• Patient?  Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. To forbear when being provoked.   Not hasty.  Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. 

These are all very self explanatory.  The bottom line is that we must keep our cool, even when things get hot.  Whether it be a relationship with a loved one, a co-worker or a stranger on our path.  I’ve observed my husband through the years and he seems to have mastered these traits beautifully.  He does not get rattled – ever!  It is not because he doesn’t care either.  As flames in the mountains are threatening our home, he calmly gathers his papers and irreplaceable things and puts them where he feels he can guard them.  He stands at the ready, but isn’t visibly anxious.  He knows the Lord is in charge and is willing to accept whatever that brings.  It is inspiring to see such control.  Even when I create some resistance to those things he is trying to do, he is full of love for me and only calmly tells me his goal is to protect those things that will provide for our needs.  As I look at the traits of the natural man, he has quite beautifully made these traits his own. 

Yes, we must overcome the natural man in order to be worthy of living with our Heavenly Father some day.  It is a process, but one worthy of pursuing.