Alma 50 - There Never was a Happier Time

As I pondered the chapter I read, I had to ask myself what I just learned.  Remember, I’m not all that excited about war.  However, I am excited about learning how to be happy.  In verse 23 of this chapter, Moroni tells us that there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi.  Why were they so happy?  They were in the midst of war almost continually.  That would get wearing on a people. 

Let’s examine that question.  In verse 21, we have a bullet list of reasons there were wars:

• Quarreling
• Contentions
• Murderings
• Plunderings
• Idolatry
• Whoredoms
• Abominations

Our modern-day prophets tell us repeatedly that contention is of the devil.  In The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:29 it says:  For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 

Satan does not want there to be peace on the earth.  He does not want us to be happy.  The Lord has commanded us to worship only Him.  Idolatry was being practiced among the Lamanites. 

Murdering and plundering are not going to create peace either.

The Nephites would not engage.  I love the General Conference talk recently by Elder Enrique R. Falabella who quoted his wife’s motto:  “In order to contend, you need two people, and I will never be one of them.”  This is sound advice and can probably explain why “. . . there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, . . .(v23)”.

That said, we need to ask ourselves:  Do I want to be happy?  If the answer is yes, then contention needs to be removed from our lives in any degree.  Even though it can sometimes be a challenge, it can be done.  I have always marveled at my husband that he will not engage in a contentious discussion of any kind – even if I provoke!  This is an amazing quality and very endearing. 

Alma 49 – Peace and Prosperity; Armor of God

I am in awe when I read the war chapters in the Book of Alma now that I’ve done so a few times.  The first many times I read, it was laborious reading because I’m not particularly a war-type person.  That’s what they were to me – all about war.  Well, I’ve been shown the true value of these scriptures, and it is how we too can be victorious over the enemy of righteousness.  The battles we fight today are against evil and they are real.  Here are a few of the bullet points in this chapter worthy of note:

• Moroni prepared his people for battle, eliminating or decreasing their fear.  The Lamanites were astonished when they saw how prepared they really were (v4).
• Moroni had turned their previous areas of weakness into strong places.  He put as the chief captain Lehi, who was a very strong leader.  This made the city of Noah their strongest city. 
• Moroni had high banks built around their cities, the depth of the banks running deep. 
• His people were wearing armor, breastplates, shields and head plates. 

Compare this to our preparation today.  How are we being prepared for the battles we will fight?  General Conference is one critical preparation – not just listening, but re-reading and studying the messages for areas where we can improve individually and as families.

How are previously weak areas being made strong?  Maybe this one is harder for me, but I find it incredible that the very best of our mature brethren holding the priesthood are given assignments in very remote areas of the world to lead the missionary efforts. And of course, we need to examine the strengths of our family and see how we can make the weaker members stronger.  Not an easy assignment.  

How are our banks and depth of them high and running deep?  I believe this is our testimony.  What do we do to strengthen them that no amount of assault can penetrate our testimony and weaken our resolve to keep the enemy of righteousness away?

And of course, our Armor of God, i.e. breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, head plates of salvation, feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace, sword of the spirit (D&C 27:16-18).

I love the last verse of this chapter (v30) – “Yea, and there was continual peace among them and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.” 

In one small verse, we are told how to have this same peace and prosperity:  Heed diligently the counsel of prophets and apostles.  They are the captains of our army!

There you have it folks – plain and simple.  When we hear the brethren speak at conference, we need to spend the next six months studying those talks and see where we need to strengthen ourselves to withstand the battles we will face.  They wont necessarily be battles with real swords, spears, guns, etc.  They will be battles with the author of sin – Satan!  As we read the news daily, we see valiant people who have fallen because they failed to do this one thing.  I am in shock that some very good people do some very stupid things.  Why?  Obviously, it is because they failed to heed the counsel of our prophets. 

So my marching orders this day continue to be – read the conference talks and look for areas I need to improve.

Alma 48 - Protection in Last Days

A couple of things stood out this morning as I was reading my scriptures.

One, Alma 47:36 – yesterday’s last verse that I read.  I reread it this morning with the same awe that I had yesterday, though I pondered a little more.  Talking of the apostates from the Nephites, Mormon tells us how “strange” it is that people who had the same upbringing and information as the Nephites could – after a short period of time after their dissension become more hardened and impenitent, wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites – “drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lascivousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.”  How easy to see that same thing in today’s world.  Many beautiful and righteous young people (and sometimes not-so-young people), are falling away from the Church and the teachings of their youth to embrace worldly traditions.  They become hardened to anything of a religious matter and embrace the most bizarre lifestyles and traditions.  They know they are evil and will create bondage, yet they still continue down that path.  WHY?

Well, if you think I’m really going to answer that question, you’re wrong.  I know what my own failings were.  I was a crowd pleaser and I got in the wrong crowd.  The rest is history.  This is not so much the case with those whom I am acquainted with.  They are strong-minded individuals.  What is another word for strong-minded?  PRIDE!  Oh dear, there’s that word again.  Perhaps this is why President Benson, a few years back, gave a most poignant talk on the dangers of pride and it’s many faces.  You can read it at: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/04/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng&query=pride

The next chapter was my reading for this morning.  There are very sound words of advice on how to avoid falling away from the Church and shoring up our own defenses.  Moroni prepared his people for the time when they would be fighting for their very lives against those who would destroy them and bring them into bondage.

• V7 – Preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God. 
• V8 – Strengthening and erecting “small forts or places of resort”.  Could this mean our homes in today’s circumstances?  I believe so. 
• He taught them that if they did these things, their lives would be preserved, God would prosper them in the land, warn them of danger and guide them in their journey. (V15-16)

This fits in so completely with the thoughts I have been pondering this week.  We had a nice discussion as we home taught this week about the Last Days and what we could expect.  I was reminded that our homes are a place of protection and even though fires and calamities will be surrounding us, our homes will be left standing.  How can this be?  It will be similar to the Israelites.  Our covenants and our determination to keep them will be the “blood” that is painted on the posts of the doors of our homes – the Miracle of the Passover (Exodus 12:21-4). 

This phenomenon in Moses’ time makes the miracle we anticipate in the Second Coming something to look forward to.  It is mentioned in Teachings of the Presidents by Pres. Joseph F. Smith:

… Those who have received the Gospel in the world … will be factors in carrying out God’s purposes. They will be conjoint laborers with Him in bringing to pass not only their own salvation in time and in eternity, but the salvation of all Israel and of the Gentiles who will receive the Gospel. They will be fulfillers of ancient prophecies. Isaiah, in the glow of the inspiration of God, saw them and their labors when he cried aloud: “It shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah ii:2–3). Of them Jeremiah was speaking when he repeated God’s promise to Israel to be fulfilled in the last days: “I will take you, one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, and I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah iii:14–15).

That explains how one home will be left standing in the rubble of homes burned to the ground.  Our covenants and our commitment to keep them will protect us. 

That said, it is a mother’s plea that those of my wandering children will be strong enough to turn their lives around and be spared the calamities of the Last Days.  It is also my own desire to stay strong in keeping my covenants.  

Alma 42 - Water of Life vs Tree of Life

I have written a question in the margin of my scriptures that I chose to pursue this morning:  The waters of life are freely offered; but the tree of life is guarded by Cheribum and the flaming sword.  What’s that all about?

As I searched the “Waters of life”, I learned it is a representation of the love of God (1 Nephi 11:25).  We can feel that love freely at our own will.  This same verse says the “tree of life” was also a representation of the love of God.  Is it the same tree of life being protected in the Garden of Eden?

So how do we freely partake of the waters of life?  In D&C 63:23 we are told “But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.”  This is something I have some experience in.  Prior to my commitment to change my life and live in accordance with the Father’s will, I can’t say I felt anything – love or lack of love.  I was devoid of feeling, but rather just going through life one day at a time doing nothing of any real significance.  However, the very minute I turned my life around, I felt this overwhelming feeling of love.  I didn’t know at the time that I was partaking of the water of life – and I might add “freely”.  I was soaking it up like a dry sponge.  I couldn’t go to enough meetings; I couldn’t read enough scriptures.  I couldn’t talk about the things I was learning to anyone who would engage in a conversation enough!  I was hungry to say the least!  My repentance process was not instantaneous but rather an ongoing thing.  As I learned, there were things I needed to correct.  As I did so, I felt more love.  It was a wonderful time in my life.

I’ve been told that whenever we read the word “mystery” in the scriptures, we can assume they are talking of the things we learn in the temple.  It is in the temple we are taught the mysteries of heaven.  It wasn’t until I received my own endowments in the temple that I began to feel some satisfaction in the learning process.  I was partaking of the waters of life freely – finally!

So where does this leave me with my question of the “tree of life” being protected by Cheribum and the flaming sword?  I will take a stab at it, but I could still be taught on this subject.  Had Adam and Eve partaken of the fruit of the tree of life immediately after partaking of the forbidden fruit, they would have missed out on the process – the process of repentance, learning, correcting and growth.  It is in this process that we are strengthened in our testimonies and eventually become fit for the Kingdom of God.  They would have missed out totally on this process and been as little children in the gospel.  It is our life’s experiences, our mistakes that we correct, and feeling of the Love of God as we do so that will eventually bring us back to our Heavenly Father. This sounds right to me.

I’m so grateful for the gift of repentance and the opportunity of growth it brings in our lives.  It is those painful experiences that are etched eternally in my heart and mind that keep me firmly planted and will eventually lead me to the presence of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I will be forever in debt to my Savior for this marvelous gift! 

Alma 41 - Law of Attraction or Meet Your Future!

Alma 41 – Law of Attraction

Okay, I believe I’ve mentioned in earlier posts that the Law of Spiritual Attraction comes from D&C 88:40 “For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.”  But this law of attraction is a little different – maybe not even being an attraction but a consequence.  We cannot do evil and expect to be resurrected to a life of good. 

Alma 41 is filled with doctrine of what to expect when we are resurrected.  For one, we will be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts (v3).  If they were good, we will be restored unto that which is good.

If our works are evil, we will be restored to evil (v4).  How can that be if we are to be happy and wickedness never was happiness?  That explains the eternal state of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth as spoken in Matthew 8:12, I guess. 

I find of interest the fact that Alma tells his son, Corianton, that we will judge ourselves.  We will know if we have done good or evil (v7).

I chose my title for this post from the last verse 15:  “For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.”

It would seem to be that living a righteous life that brings joy through service to our Heavenly Father and because of the good we do in this life would be the better choice.  I know people who are not making righteous choices in this life and I don’t see a lot of happiness in their lives.  Please look up and see that this is your future if you don’t change it!  Maybe I should change my title line to:  Meet Your Future