Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 30-31

In 2016, I first wrote about the scriptures found in Alma 30 and 31. If you would like to read this post, click on: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-of-mormon-27-all-things-denote.html

In this post, I discussed the anti-Christ Korihor and how his teaching paralleled the modern philosophical movement called Naturalism, defined by Google as, “the philosophical belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted”. In the Bible dictionary an anti-Christ is defined as “anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ”. I can think of many anti-Christs in my own environment. I have interviewed the leader of a large local church, who decided to start the church because of a bet with his brothers about who could become a millionaire before the age of 25 years. He is a charismatic man who has a large following, but he scares me. He has taken many of the doctrines of the church and changed them to suit his own purposes. Although he professes to believe in Christ, it is something to which he pays lip-service. Many members have been led away by his lies.

The Anti-Christ Korihor (painting by James Fullmer)

I have a friend who is another Korihor. That sounds awful but it is true. We worked on the same team when we received government funding for a virtual world research project. Although he treats me well and is kind and caring, he professes knowledge that there is no God, no life after death, and no purpose to this life. He has a lot of influence as a retired journalist with a large following on social media. He mocks religion and people who believe in God. I do not try to argue with him. He knows what I believe, and we do not discuss religion (or lack of). I feel quite sorry for him. He has been deceived and will receive a huge shock when he dies and finds things have not really ended but are just beginning!

First moments in heaven (painting by Karen Gunnell)

There are so many things in today’s world that are anti-Christ. I know the power of Satan’s influence. We see it all around us in politics, entertainment, and the media. I am stunned by some of the leaders in the world today who are themselves anti-Christs, who profess to believe and live Christian lives but do everything in opposition to the truth and the will of God. It is no wonder that there is so much dissatisfaction, hatred, and evil in the world. I have spent time thinking about how I can protect myself and my family. There is no protection outside of the influence of the Holy Ghost. I worry for my children who are not active in the church.

I loved the scripture in Alma 30:22 when the high priest Giddonah asked Korihor, “Why do ye teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their rejoicings?” This made me realise that rejoicing is something we should be doing as members. We have the gospel, we know the truth, we have our own testimonies, we have a prophet who leads and guides us, we receive personal revelation according to our worthiness, we have knowledge of the Atonement, and for these blessings we should be rejoicing. Satan does not want us to be happy. Anything anti-Christ will pull us away from the source of rejoicing.

The source of rejoicing

Korihor asked Alma for a sign to prove that God exists (Alma 30:43). We know that this is a wicked request. In Matthew 16:4 we read, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” He was given a sign and was struck dumb. He then recognised the power of God (Alma 30:52). He claimed that the devil, in the guise of an angel, had deceived him and taught him what to preach to the people. He had repeated lies so often that he had started to believe them himself. This was well described in a chapter heading in a book by Sheri Dews called No one can take your place (2004). The chapter is called ‘Sin makes you stupid and it costs a lot too’.

Sheri Dews

Here is a delightful story told by President Boyd K. Packer, in his talk, The quest for spiritual knowledge (1982). The full talk has been linked below.

I will tell you of an experience I had before I was a General Authority that affected me profoundly. I sat on a plane next to a professed atheist who pressed his disbelief in God so urgently that I bore my testimony to him. “You are wrong,” I said. “There is a God. I know He lives!”

He protested, “You don’t know. Nobody knows that! You can’t know it!” When I would not yield, the atheist, who was an attorney, asked perhaps the ultimate question on the subject of testimony. “All right,” he said in a sneering, condescending way, “you say you know. Tell me how you know.”

When I attempted to answer, even though I held advanced academic degrees, I was helpless to communicate.

When I used the words Spirit and witness, the atheist responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The words prayer, discernment, and faith were equally meaningless to him. “You see,” he said, “you don’t really know. If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know.”

I felt, perhaps, that I had borne my testimony to him unwisely and was at a loss as to what to do. Then came the experience! Something came into my mind. And I mention here a statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas … and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”¹

Such an idea came into my mind, and I said to the atheist, “Let me ask if you know what salt tastes like.”

“Of course I do,” was his reply.

“Then,” I said, “assuming that I have never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like.”

After some thought, he said, “Well, I, uh, it is not sweet and it is not sour.”

“You’ve told me what it isn’t, not what it is.”

After several attempts, of course, he could not do it. He could not convey, in words alone, so ordinary an experience as tasting salt. I bore testimony to him once again and said, “I know there is a God. You ridiculed that testimony and said that if I did know, I would be able to tell you exactly how I know. My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt. I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like. But I say to you again, there is a God! He does live! And just because you don’t know, don’t try to tell me that I don’t know, for I do!”

As we parted, I heard him mutter, “I don’t need your religion for a crutch! I don’t need it.”

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In chapter 31, Alma leads a group of missionaries to the Zoramites. In verse 1 we read, “The Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols”. We have a living, breathing, powerful God. Idols do not have any of the attributes of a God. There is a delightful scripture in Psalm 115:4-8 that reads, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” It makes you realise the huge waste of time and energy spent by those who worship idols!

There is a very famous Seminary scripture in Alma 31:5, “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God”. The word of truth found in the gospel is more powerful than the sword.

 As seen in the quote below, President Boyd K. Packer stated that “The doctrines of the gospel will improve behaviour quicker than a study of behaviour”.  

Even though Alma and his companion missionaries knew beforehand that the Zoramites were corrupting the truth, they were still shocked to witness the prayers offered on the Rameumptom. This was a tall podium in the synagogue from which the Zoramites would pray every Sabbath. The prayer was full of corrupted doctrine (a God of spirit, the doctrine of election, no belief in a Messiah) and delivered with self-pride and aggrandisement. After visiting the synagogue, the Zoramites would forget their worship until the following Sabbath.

Prayer from the Rameumpton

In complete contrast to this prayer is the humble, powerful prayer of Alma (verse 26 onwards). Alma calls out to the Lord ten times. The reason for this is well explained in the little Knowhy video below (Book of Mormon Central). His prayer is on behalf of the Zoramites and a desire for the mission to be successful. He prays for all the missionaries and they receive the full strength of the spirit with the laying on of hands (verse 36). The last verse reads, “And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith” (verse 38). There could be no more powerful contrast then that between the vain, foolish, prideful prayers from the Rameumptom and the humble, powerful prayer of Alma filled with faith and strength.

Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 23-29

My original post on these scriptures was written in 2016. This can be accessed at: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-of-mormon-26-converted-unto-lord.html. This post was written from the heart. I mention several things that are important to me: firstly, the amazing way people can be prepared to receive the truth. This was demonstrated by wonderful stories from the work of Elder Dale LeBaron for the Department of International Studies at Brigham Young University. Elder LeBaron was a friend of my parents in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was loved and respected by our family. Elder LeBaron interviewed converts in Ghana, Nigeria, Zaire, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ciskei, Transkei, Swaziland, and the Mauritius and Réunion Islands. Many of these personal experiences were included in Gospel pioneers in Africa (Ensign, Aug, 1990), and also in the Living Scriptures Church History Docudrama called A Legacy of Faith. Secondly, I wrote about the baptism of my father. And, thirdly, I wrote about depression and how the light of the gospel can help with depression.

Elder L. Dale LeBaron with Saints in Africa

Conversion changes lives. I saw this with my father. I have seen it in many people I love dearly who accepted the gospel or returned to the gospel. If you would like to read an amazing story of change and conversion, there is a book by Mario Facione called Mafia to Mormon: My conversion story (2004). Mario’s story is also available on DVD. My path was a little different. I have never had a time where I can say I did not believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. My mother was a pioneer in the church in Zambia, Central Africa, and the first meetings were with mum and the two missionaries. Later, a friend of my mother’s joined the church and there were four people in attendance at meetings! By the time I came along, there were approximately 24 members and we used to meet in an office block in the centre of Kitwe, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia). I paid tithing for the first time when I was two years old. I knew the power of prayer by the time I was four years old. I held my first ward calling when I was eight years of age and my first stake calling when I was 12 years of age. Perhaps when I was very little I relied, in part, on the testimony of my mother. I remember clearly an incident that occurred when I was a Seminary student and our class had a marathon session reading the Book of Mormon aloud. I remember my reading and feeling the power of conversion. At that point, I knew that my testimony was MINE. I was so full of light and joy.

The Anti-Nephi-Lehis made dramatic changes in their lives due to their conversion. In Alma 23:6 it records, “as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away”. This is impressive! Imagine a large group where no single person falls away! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say this about all our converts? 

I wondered about the name these converted Lamanites selected. To me the prefix anti- always means someone opposed to something. In this case it does not mean they were against, but that they were ever with Nephi and Lehi and their teachings. Brother Daniel Ludlow stated, “the term 'Anti-Nephi-Lehis' might refer to those who imitate the teachings of the descendants of Nephi and Lehi” (A companion to your study of the Book of Mormon, 1976, p. 210) This is explained in the Knowhy video (Book of Mormon Central) below. 

The Anti-Nephi-Lehis sought refuge with the Nephites. The Lamanites, stirred to anger by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites who were apostate Nephites, gathered to attack the people of God. In Alma 24:17 we read, “and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth” and, in verse 19 that they, “would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace”.

Over a thousand died when they refused to fight against their brethren, the unconverted Lamanites. Many of the Lamanites could not go on killing and joined the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. In fact, “the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain” (Alma 24:26). President L. Tom Perry stated, “It was the Anti-Nephi-Lehis’ unique history that caused them to make a unique covenant with the Lord that they felt an obligation to honour. When they honoured their covenant they were blessed, and their brethren, the Lamanites, were also blessed.  While the message of the story is not to insist on universal pacifism, we do learn that by not returning aggressions from others we can have a profound effect on them. Literally, we can change their hearts when we follow Christ’s example and turn the other cheek. Our examples as peaceable followers of Christ inspire others to follow him. (Living with enthusiasm, 1996, p. 128.) The following Knowhy video (Book of Mormon Central) deals with the importance of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s covenant and the need to keep our covenants today.

I read a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball that said, “I remember that, without being pressured by anyone, I made up my mind while still a little boy that I would never break the Word of Wisdom…Having made up my mind fully and unequivocally, I found it not too difficult to keep the promise to myself and to my Heavenly Father” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 2006, p. 205). This was my experience too. I can say, with all honesty, that I have never smoked a cigarette, never taken an illegal drug, never drank a cup of coffee or tea, and never had a single sip of alcohol in my 63 years on earth. I made up mind when I was a child and I never wavered. There are many who struggle. My father joined the church after being a whisky drinker and a heavy smoker for years. He took the path of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. He figuratively buried these temptations in the ground and never looked back. 

In Alma 26 we find the Psalm of Ammon and in Alma 29 we find the Psalm of Alma. In Alma 26:3-4 we read Ammon’s words, “but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work…thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God”. In verse 10, Aaron rebukes his brother for boasting, but Ammon replies, “I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God…I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things”. This is such a joyous yet humble declaration.

Young missionaries may feel deflated when they are not able to baptise a great number of people. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a talk at the October 2003 General Conference called Timing addresses this issue. He counsels missionaries to set their goals according to what they can do – their activities controlled by their agencies. No missionary can control the activities and agencies of other people. The full talk can be seen below. This principle should always guide our goal setting. There is no point in setting a goal that all your students will graduate. Your goal should be that you will teach your best and encourage as many students as possible to reach their potential. Whether the students graduate will be determined by their own activities and free agencies.

In Alma’s Psalm he proclaims,” O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!...I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption” (Alma 29:1-2). He sees himself as a sinner for not being content with the role the Lord has given him. “Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?” (Alma 29:7). In verse 10 he continues, “when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer”. Alma’s sin is indeed a tiny sin! He rejoices in the missionary success of his brethren. As we work towards bringing souls to the gospel, we are rewarded for our efforts. The quotes below from Elder Bruce R. McConkie and President Spencer W. Kimball testify of this truth.

The two psalms are uplifting and inspiring. The opening words of Alma’s Psalm are the words that inspired the beautiful song below. May it provide peace and upliftment to you as it does to me.

Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 17-22

I wrote about Alma 17 to 22 in 2016. This post can be found at: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-of-mormon-25-they-taught-with.html

The scriptures in Alma 17 to 22 narrate the experiences of the four sons of King Mosiah, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni. These four brothers crossed paths with Alma when he was journeying south from Gideon. It was a joyful reunion as all five were still stalwart and zealous in the gospel. The four sons of King Mosiah told Alma of their experiences in the mission field. What amazing stories they told. These scriptures are some of the most well-known from the Book of Mormon.

Brother John Bytheway wrote a delightful book called How to be an extraordinary missionary. He outlined ten steps to missionary preparation, and these are well illustrated by the missionary stories of these brothers.

Brother John Bytheway wrote a delightful book called How to be an extraordinary missionary. He

outlined ten steps to missionary preparation, and these are well illustrated by the missionary stories of these brothers.

Step One: Search the scriptures

In Alma 17:2 we read, “for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God”. The basic premise is that you cannot teach what you do not know.

Step Two: Fast and pray

The sons of King Mosiah had, “given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God” (Alma 17:3). This made me think of my own experience over the past Sunday. I had to teach the Gospel Doctrine class over Ward Conference weekend. I often feel insecure teaching on a Sunday and the thought of visitors from the Stake made me exceptionally nervous. I always prepare and pray about my lessons, but more was needed for last Sunday! I fasted as well. In fact, I was fasting while I was teaching. I managed to get through, and I felt the Spirit with me. I am sure I was not alone.

Step Three: Be patient in trials – be good examples

The Spirit of the Lord testified to the brothers that they needed to, “be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me” (Alma 17:11). They were promised that if they did this, “I [The Lord] will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls”. What a wonderful promise for any missionary.

When I was young, I was a very enthusiastic missionary. I never experienced the trials, but I did recognise the importance of setting a good example. In my first job I worked in Central Sterile Supplies at Auckland Hospital. I made friends with a grumpy, old man called Fred. Colleagues warned me not to worry about Fred, to stay away from him, and to just ‘leave him be’. It took a while before we became friends. To me he was ‘Freddy-Fred-Fred-Fred’ and to him I was ‘Beep-beep’ (that is another long story!) One day Fred asked me about the Church. I had never mentioned I was a member, but he had been watching me. He had seen me with my little container of milo in the lunchroom. He told me he had seen that I was kind and caring. He had assumed that I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Imagine if I had done something that was not in keeping with the gospel. Would Fred still have wanted to talk to me about religion and to discover what my membership meant to me?

Step Four: Have a ‘Called to Serve’ attitude

Ammon was bound and brought before King Lamoni. King Lamoni was interested in why this Nephite would be entering Lamanite land. Ammon stated, “I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die” (Alma 17:23). The king offered Ammon one of his daughters as a wife. He refused, saying that he wanted to be the king’s servant. It may have been that King Lamoni recognised Ammon was from a kingly line. Offering one of his daughters, a princess, to Ammon, a Nephite prince, was very much in keeping with ancient practices, not just in the ancient Americas but even in New Zealand. The daughter of one tribal ariki (leader) would often be offered in marriage to the son of a different tribal ariki, to forge an alliance between the two tribes. Perhaps this is what King Lamoni had in mind. However, Ammon was firm in his desire to serve the king.

This lovely missionary song, A Missionary Prayer, shows this ‘Called to Serve’ attitude.

Step Five: Win hearts, then lead them to believe

The story of Ammon and the defense of the king’s flocks is one of the most well-known stories from the Book of Mormon. In Alma 17:29, Ammon described his heart “swollen with joy”. This seemed a strange reaction to the threat of death over the king’s flock being scattered by enemies. However, he knew that the power of the Lord would be with him and he would be able to restore the flocks and “win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words”. Stephen R. Covey wrote, “People to a degree must first be converted to the messenger before they will become converted to the message” (Spiritual Roots of Human Relations, 1970, p. 266). I remember some of the most effective missionaries I have ever met, were friendly and caring and immediately made people feel comfortable.

Step Six: Be a friend

Ammon defended the flocks. In so doing he defeated many enemies of the king and cut off their arms. When the king’s servants returned, they carried the arms into the king and told him what had occurred. I have often wondered about this gruesome scene. Why would the servants carry the arms back to the king? This is answered in the little Knowhy video below.

King Lamoni thought that Ammon might be ‘The Great Spirit’. One thing the other servants knew was that Ammon was “a friend to the king” (Alma 18:3). The best missionaries know the importance of kindness, charity, and love.

Step Seven: Be faithful and obedient

In Alma 18:10 we read, “when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them”. Ammon was called before the king. I can imagine the situation in Alma 18:14. Ammon asked King Lamoni, “What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king? And the king answered him not for the space of an hour, according to their time, for he knew not what he should say unto him”. An hour is a very long time to wait for an answer to a question. It must have seemed like an eternity.

Step Eight: Focus on teaching

 Ammon told the king that he was not the Great Spirit but a man. The king offered Ammon anything he desired. Instead of asking for gold or land, Ammon asked, “Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee” (Alma 18:22). 

Step Nine: Teach the Three Pillars

Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in Church and the Creation, (Ensign, June 1982, pp. 9-15) defined the “three pillars of eternity” (see the diagram below). The three pillars are Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. Ammon taught the three pillars (Alma 18:36, 39; 22:13). “He began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man…But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption”. Missionaries must teach people why we need Christ.

The events that transpired because of Ammon’s teaching are astounding. For two days and two nights King Lamoni was comatose. Ammon described this as “he sleepeth in God” (Alma 19:8). There is a wonderful description of King Lamoni’s wife in Alma 19:10. Ammon stated, “Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites”. The Queen believed Ammon’s words and waited for her husband to awaken.

 Later the King and Queen and all those in the court sunk again to the earth overcome with the Spirit. Here we are introduced to a great member missionary, Abish. The following two Knowhy videos speak about Abish and what we can learn from her as a member-missionary.

After King Lamoni’s conversion, King Lamoni travelled with Ammon to free his brethren from prison in Middoni. On the way, they met Lamoni’s father. Lamoni’s father was angry to see his son in the company of a Nephite. After an altercation with Ammon, who defended Lamoni, the old king came to a realisation. “ When he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever” (Alma 20:26).

In Alma 22, Aaron had the opportunity to teach King Lamoni’s father. He also taught the three pillars mentioned previously. He taught “since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory” (Alma 22:14). King Lamoni’s father pled with God. “I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day” (Alma 22:18). After the king recovered from sinking to the earth, overcome with the Spirit, he ministered to his people “insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord” (Alma 22:23). He then instructed Aaron and his brethren to teach the people.

These stories inspire me and leave me with the challenge to be the missionary I once was, to share the happiness I have in the gospel with others. I have a strong testimony and I know that the gospel is the key to real joy and peace.

Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 13-16

I read back over my first post on the scriptures in Alma 13 to 16. This can be found at: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-of-mormon-24-give-us-strength.html. I wrote a lot about the difference between predestination and foreordination. I had been able to read a remarkable BYU talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, called A More Determined Discipleship (1978). I would recommend this to anyone who wants information on this topic.

In Alma 13 to 16 I learned more about the priesthood and pre-mortal life, why we face tragedy and how we should respond to tragedy, and the fact that the words of a prophet will always be fulfilled.

I love reading about the pre-existence. This is found in: Alma 13, Doctrine & Covenants 138, and the Pearl of Great Price. In Alma 13:3 the pre-existence is called “the foundation of the world” and “the first place”. We could show great faith while we were still in the pre-existence. In The Play and the Plan, a talk given by President Boyd K. Packer in a Church Educational System fireside for young adults on May 7, 1995, we hear about the Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness as a play in three acts. We are currently living through Act Two. We have no memory of Act One, our past (the pre-existence) and little knowledge of Act Three our future (the eternities in the three degrees of glory), but fortunately the script of the play, the gospel of Jesus Christ, puts our mortal life (Act Two) in context. If we follow the principles of the gospel, our play can be glorious. I need to ask, “What will I do on stage?”

In Alma 13:17-19 we read about Melchizedek. “Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness…Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father. Now, there were many before him, and there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.” Alma wanted the men of Ammonihah to humble themselves and repent as they did for Melchizedek. In Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon (p. 175), Elder Jeffrey R. Holland summarised the importance of Melchizedek, “Surely no greater tribute or more generous adulation could be mentioned than to be so much like the Son of God that one’s name could be substituted for his in the title of the most powerful force in the universe—the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God”. That is quite amazing! The following Knowhy video also speaks about the reason for Alma speaking about Melchizedek to the people of Ammonihah.

One of the things I do well is to moan! My children say I am an expert moaner. I am not overly proud of this, but yes, I do moan about quite a few things: my redundancy, the ageism that exists in the NZ tertiary education sector, my inability to get work despite my experience and qualifications, my frequent back and head aches, and my poor house that always seems to need work I cannot do! But I am extremely grateful for my wonderful blessings. I have the best children, a wonderful mother, a challenging calling, a good part-time job, the ability to learn and skills to do a great many things. I have so many people whom I love. I have never known real tragedy in my life. I really don’t want to experience real tragedy. I could not imagine a child dying before I do. I cannot even imagine losing my mother and I know this is something I will have to face (she is already 96 years old). I look at the experiences of Alma and Amulek and know that I could not endure what they endured. It is just as well that the Lord will test us only as far as we are capable of being tested. Alma and Amulek were imprisoned, tortured, smote, spat upon, and reviled. In Alma 14:8-10 they were forced to watch the wives and children of those who had believed in their preaching burn in a huge fire. Amulek wanted to use the power of God to stop the burning of the believers but Alma stopped him and said, “The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day” (Alma 14:11). The following YouTube (from Knowhy: Book of Mormon Central) explains why God sometimes allows the righteous to be martyred.

I cried when I read the following words from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006, pp. 14–17, 20):

“Could the Lord have prevented these tragedies? The answer is, Yes. The Lord is omnipotent, with all power to control our lives, save us pain, prevent all accidents, …even [protect us] from death, if he will. But he will not…If we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery…Had I limitless power, and yet limited vision and understanding, I might have saved Abinadi from the flames of fire when he was burned at the stake, and in doing so I might have irreparably damaged him. He died a martyr and went to a martyr’s reward—exaltation…I fear that had I been in Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, I might have deflected the bullets that pierced the body of the Prophet [Joseph Smith] and the Patriarch [Hyrum Smith]. I might have saved them from the sufferings and agony but lost them to the martyr’s death and reward…With such uncontrolled power, I surely would have felt to protect Christ from the agony in Gethsemane, the insults, the thorny crown, the indignities in the court, the physical injuries… I might have saved him from suffering and death, and lost to the world his atoning sacrifice…In the face of apparent tragedy we must put our trust in God, knowing that despite our limited view his purposes will not fail.”

I understand this. I would have wanted to do the same. I cannot imagine how painful it must have been for Alma and Amulek to watch as these innocent women and children were burned to death.  Brother John Bytheway gave one of his most difficult sermons to the students at Columbine University shortly after a major mass shooting event. He gave an inspiring talk called, Five scriptures that will help you get through almost anything. Alma 14:10-13 was one of these passages of scripture. He recalled pounding the podium and pleading with the youth in attendance, “don’t let this tragedy define your life! You still have a mission and a destiny and a patriarchal blessing that is just yours. If you are still here, it is because your work is not finished! I’m sure that Alma and Amulek had nightmares too. Rely on Jesus Christ who suffered not only for your sins, but for things that you have suffered through no fault of your own” (Gospel Doctrine Preparation). Brother Bytheway, in his podcast on Alma 13-16, mentioned a quote from Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach (see below).

The courage and faith of Alma and Amulek was astounding. I loved the moment when Alma and Amulek, the only survivors of the destruction of the prison in which they had been held, walked free from the rubble. As it stated in Alma 14:28, “And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city”. How astonished the people of Ammonihah must have been!

In Alma 16:1-3 we read about the fate of the people of Ammonihah. The Lamanites attacked the city of Ammonihah and destroyed many people while others were taken captive before the Nephites could raise a sufficient army to defend the city. The people of Ammonihah had ignored the warnings of two prophets of the Lord. This little Knowhy video (Book of Mormon Central) discusses why the city of Ammonihah was destroyed.

We are blessed to hear the words of the Lord’s prophets at General Conference. We need to listen to their words and abide by their counsel. In the April 2018 General Conference, Elder Neil A. Anderson stated, "We live on a planet clamouring with a million voices. The internet, our smartphones, our bloated boxes of entertainment all plead for our attention and thrust their influence upon us, hoping we will buy their products and adopt their standards. The seemingly endless array of information and opinion remind us of the scriptural warnings of being 'tossed to and fro,' 'driven with the wind,' and overcome by the 'cunning craftiness' of those who 'lie in wait to deceive.' Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends. Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day."

Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 8-12

For my 2016 post on Alma 8 to 12, please see: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-of-mormon-23-more-than-one-witness.html

These scriptures start with an account of Alma going to Melek to teach. He had great success. “And they were baptized throughout all the land” (Alma 8:5). He then went on to Ammonihah but did not meet with the same success. The people had “hardened their hearts” (Alma 8: 11) and rejected his authority over them. They “withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city” (Alma 8:13). 

Alma was met by an angel and told to return to Ammonihah. This was the same angel who had appeared to Alma for his conversion. The angel said something which initially sounded odd to me, given the circumstances Alma faced in his first visit to Ammonihah. He said, “lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God” (Alma 8:15). Alma must have been frustrated by his attempt to teach the people of Ammonihah and he must have felt deflated at his lack of success. This has happened to many missionaries. I know how difficult it is serving in parts of Australia and how missionaries have come off the mission field having had no baptisms at all. This is when we need to think of the angel’s words to Alma. The great cause to rejoice is because they have served honourably and done their very best every day. The following short video from Knowhy (Book of Mormon Central) explains why the angel sent Alma back to Ammonihah.

President Dallin H. Oaks gave two remarkable talks, one a devotional at BYU in 2002 and one at the October 2003 General Conference, on Timing. He mentioned how it was better not to plan every event in your life, but to always be ready to accept the Lord’s planning and the Lord’s timetable and acknowledge that the agency of others will inevitably affect you. “Anchor your life to eternal principles, and act upon those principles whatever the circumstances and whatever the actions of others. Then you can await the Lord’s timing and be sure of the outcome in eternity” (President Dallin H. Oaks, 2002). 

I was an eager missionary when I was in the youth and young adult programmes. However, I am not such a good missionary now. In fact, I am rather anti-social. I like to surround myself with family, but I don’t spend time with friends in social events. I found some counsel from President Ezra Taft Benson (‘Ensign’, September, 1990), that will help me improve my missionary skills. He suggested four things: strive to obtain the Spirit; acquire humility; love people; and work diligently. The first one is not too demanding. I love talking to the Lord in prayer. Now, I need to ask Him to guide me to those who may want to hear the truth. The second is easy enough. I am not a proud person and I know I am dependent on the Lord in all things. I love people. I choose to help people when I can, and I find it easy to give love and to care. I am not too good at working diligently. When I must work at my job or work at my studies, yes, I work very, very hard. But I do not work at being a missionary. I will answer questions and speak about the church when I am asked to do so, but I do not seek out people to teach. This is the area where I am weak.

In the Book of Mormon we are reminded frequently to remember the things the Lord has done for us and our ancestors and to never forget Him. Chapter 9 provides an example of this focus. In verse 8 we read, “how have ye forgotten the tradition of your fathers; yea, how soon ye have forgotten the commandments of God.” In verse 9, “Do ye not remember that our father, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem by the hand of God? Do ye not remember that they were all led by him through the wilderness?” In verse 10 we read, “And have ye forgotten so soon how many times he delivered our fathers?” In verse 13 there is a question, “do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi?” and in verse 14 we read, “I would that ye should remember.” The importance of remembering and not forgetting is contained in the Sacrament prayers that we hear regularly. It is remembering that brings us closer to the Spirit.

When Alma taught for the second time in Ammonihah he had a missionary companion, Amulek. Amulek had been “living beneath his spiritual privileges” (Brother John Bytheway) but he was well-known and well-respected in Ammonihah. Amulek spoke of his own ‘hardness of heart’ and his ‘rebellion against God’, until the angel appeared to him. He stated, “for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know” (Alma 10:6). Isn’t this interesting? He decided to turn his back on the things of God. It does not say ‘he could not hear’ or ‘he could not know’. He would not because that was his choice. This verse made me think of the hymn ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let that goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

In Alma 10:12 it states, “And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.” This gives us a reason why missionaries are sent out two-by-two. There is greater power and persuasion when two voices testify of truth rather than a single voice.

Amulek & Alma

In a talk called ‘Ask of God’, Brother John Bytheway defined three types of questions: Gotcha, Google, and Golden. Gotcha questions are not designed to discover information but they are designed to entrap the person being questioned. Google questions need answers quickly and golden questions are asked in faith and need to be understood by the Spirit. In verses 13 and 14, Alma and Amulek are faced with lawyers who asked gotcha questions: “that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them”.

I found it fascinating to read about the monetary system in Alma 11. The first 22 verses provide a description of this system in detail. 

The following Knowhy videos (Book of Mormon Central) provide information on the Nephite monetary system and the reason it is described in detail. 

The information about the monetary system makes it clear how valuable the bribe was that was offered to Amulek by Zeezrom to “deny the existence of a Supreme Being” (Alma 11:22). Amulek’s reaction was delightful. His response to Zeezrom reads, “O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me?” (Alma 11:23). As Zeezrom was motivated by money, he thought Amulek would be tempted by the large bribe he offered. Amulek was motivated by his righteousness. This is well described in the quote below from Anaïs Nin, quoted by Stephen Covey.

Zeezrom’s questions start as gotcha questions but end up as golden questions. His questions lead to a discussion of the Plan of Redemption (the Plan of Salvation/Plan of Happiness/Plan of Mercy).

Two beautiful verses in Alma 11:43-44 talk about the resurrection, “The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame…even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but everything shall be restored to its perfect frame”. This scripture is so special to me. I think of my dear little mum who has trouble standing and walking from one room to another and how she was once one of the best Ballroom and Latin American dance teachers in the world. I also think of my dear friend Thys who lost his legs in an automobile accident when he was in the South African Defence Force. I would love to see him walk to meet me after the resurrection.

The discussion of the Plan of Redemption in Alma 12 covers the resurrection and judgement. There is also a detailed explanation of the “Fall” and why it was so necessary. One of my favourite verses is Alma 12: 24, which states, “Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.” We learn so much from this scripture. God gave the commandments after providing details of the plan. This makes perfect sense. Learning about the Plan of Redemption would have given the commandments a purpose. The rules would have made sense because they were presented after the plan. This scripture also provides us with the assurance that God will provide perfect justice in His supreme goodness.

Amulek was a powerful missionary and a great support for Alma in his teaching in Ammonihah. Before the appearance of the angel, we know he was living beneath his spiritual privileges. I am sure there are many of us who do the same. We have a Plan of Redemption, a Plan of Happiness. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke about our potential and our privileges in the following YouTube video. He mentioned that “We can partake of an abundant feast of spiritual opportunity and universal blessings.” I pray we will all remember this and take advantage of the blessings that the Lord has prepared for those who make the most of every gospel opportunity.

Book of Mormon 2020 - Alma 5-7

I first wrote about these scriptures in a post in July 2016. This post centred on many of the questions from Alma 5. I asked and answered the questions. Reading my answers now is very familiar. I understand what I wrote then and how similar I feel now. This post can be found at: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-of-mormon-22-have-ye-received-his.html

The scriptures from Alma 5 to Alma 7 contain the preaching of Alma to the people in Zarahemla and Gideon. He confronts the people in Zarahemla and asks them questions. Brother John Bytheway, in his weekly podcast (ourturtlehouse.com), refers to Alma 5 as a “perfect checklist” to measure our personal worthiness. In Alma 5:14 it reads, “I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” He challenged members who had been baptised (an event) if they had, indeed, been ‘born again’ (a process). I understand this in my own life. My mother was the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kitwe, Zambia. She was a true pioneer. The earliest meetings held on a Sunday were with my mother and the missionaries. Later, a friend of hers joined as well. By the time I was two years old, there were twenty-to thirty members meeting in an upstairs office in Kitwe. I cannot remember a time, from these earliest memories to now (61 years later), when I have not had my own testimony. I felt the gift of the Spirit when it was given to me following baptism. I have used prayer, fasting, and relied on the Spirit to guide me, throughout my life. I have grown in my testimony but never been without one. I want to get to the point where I have no desire to sin, but I am not there yet. For me, the change of heart is indeed a slow process. But, I know the Lord loves me. I know my prayers are heard and answered. I know I can always rely on the Spirit. I am grateful for the Atonement that gives me hope. I love the quote below from Elder Dallin H. Oaks. I feel that my testimony is my personal miracle. I feel that the love of the Lord is more than I deserve but I accept it with deep gratitude.

In Alma 5: 26 we read, “I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” Isn’t this a delightful question? I remember my baptism. I remember wanting to burst with excitement and pure happiness. I wanted to tell the world that I had just been baptised. I wanted to “sing the song of redeeming love”. I still feel like that. After I was baptised, I used to love sitting down at the piano and playing hymns. My mother would sing the soprano part of a hymn, I would sing the second soprano, and my sister would sing the alto line. We used to sing ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’ and ‘More Holiness Give Me’. The joy of singing was supreme. When I was at high school, I used to play music to cheer myself up and to lift my spirits. I started collecting some wonderful church music. I now have a large collection of music that always enriches my soul. Who can listen to ‘If You Could Hie to Kolob’ without flying with the angels to great heights? The following simple hymn, sung by adults and children, is another such track, ‘Come, Follow Me’.

I found myself reading Alma 6 with tears in my eyes. In Alma 6:6 we are told, “the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft”. The Covid 19 pandemic has prevented meetings in chapels for a couple of months. In our home we do not have active Priesthood holders. I have also had to be extremely careful as I help my 96-year-old mum who is in a very frail state of health. I am not a very sociable person, so I tend not to go to social events at the chapel, but I have really missed Sunday meetings and partaking of the Sacrament every week. This week we could attend a Sacrament meeting (by invitation) but I am still hesitating because of my mum’s health.

Brother John Bytheway made an interesting statement comparing Alma’s comments to the people in Zarahemla (Alma 5) and the people in Gideon (Alma 7). He pointed out how Alma relied on the Spirit to know how to speak to each group and what had to be said. He stated that when you are guided by the Spirit you prepare yourself to speak but you do not prepare your speech. The two groups were different and needed different approaches and different counsel. The same thing was clear when President Nelson toured NZ, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. I listened to his speeches in the different areas. Each was unique and addressed the issues of the people in each area. Isn’t it wonderful to know that we are listening to the counsel the Lord wants us to hear?

President Nelson & Elder Gong on the Pacific Tour

As I mentioned in my post four years ago, one of the most moving and personally poignant scriptures to me is Alma 7: 11-12. This reads, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succour his people according to their infirmities.”

Gethsemane

We know that the Atonement allowed our Saviour to suffer our sins and balance the scales of justice so that we could repent. But the Atonement achieved so much more! Bruce Hafen, has written a book called ‘The Broken Heart’, and an article called, ‘The Atonement is not just for sinners’. The quote below says a lot of what is in his book and article. Christ endured the pain of our sins, our afflictions, our temptations, and our infirmities. He understands us perfectly.

In ‘Come Follow Me’ we were encouraged to follow a set of scriptures that showed how Christ suffered and how this enables Him to succour us. This is summarised in the tables below.

There are three quotes from President Dallin H. Oaks that touch my heart. The first mentions that Christ “succours or helps by giving us the strength or patience to endure our infirmities”. I see this daily with my dear, little mum. I see her suffer day after day, but she has such inner strength and such love for the Lord and the gospel.

The next two quotes are short but deeply moving. I know the Lord understands me. He knows my anguish. He knows my heart, my desires, my troubles, and my imperfections. I can turn to Him through all my trials. He can and He will ‘lift me’. I am so grateful for the Atonement. Alma 7 has given me a deep insight into the power of the Atonement and the extent of the Saviour’s love and sacrifice for me.

The realisation of how important I am as a cherished child of my Father in Heaven and how much my elder brother and Saviour Jesus Christ sacrificed for me, has led me to think about the current riots and marches in America and around the globe regarding the murder of George Floyd. This has brought attention to the ‘Black Lives Matter’/’All Lives Matter’ cries being heard in so many countries. Yes, all lives matter. Black lives should not be in danger because of skin colour. Every person is a beloved daughter or son of heavenly parents. Every person has been given the gift of the Atonement. We need love, charity, kindness, and unity, not division, hatred, and cruelty. I found a delightful little church video that moved me deeply. It is called, ‘To Love Them All’ and is narrated by Patrick Kearon (see below).