Alma - Chapter 36

This chapter is a wonderful example of Chaismus in The Book of Mormon.  Chaismus is a Hebrew literary form that is further evidence the book is of ancient origin.  Here is the layout of this chapter based on Chaiasmus:

I borrowed this from Grant at To Be Or Not To Be.  Let me encourage you to go there to learn more about the this marvelous art form and it's prevalence in The Book of Mormon.

"O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death."

One of the most powerful statements in all of scripture.  It is clean, honest, desperate and sincere.  When Alma begins speaking to Helaman at the beginning of the chapter he invites Helaman to "learn of me."  He doesn't say, learn what I'm about to teach you, but rather, I think, learn from my experience.

His experience was one of rescue and liberation.  Alma had been captive in the bonds of sin.  Chains of his own creation as he had been lead by the enticings of Satan.  Thus bound Alma finally realized there is only one WAY out and that is Jesus Christ.  Only He can burst our chains.  Only he can make us clean so we can return to live with Father.  Only He can deliver us from the pain and torment of the consequences of our choices.  Only He.

Alma - Chapter 35

The machinery of arrogance and wealth feeds on the poor and under privileged.  The haves tend to maintain the existence of the have nots.  The wealth of the rich is often built upon the backs of the poor.  I suspect the Zoramites sought to discipline the converted poor by threatening to kick them out.  It looks like that backfired, because with their new found faith, the poor actually left.  To save face, the wealthy let them go, but sought to get them rejected wherever they went.  They didn't want to actually lose them.  They needed them in order to maintain their life style.  They threatened anyone who offered them a home.  Their intention?  To force them to come back with their tails between their legs, willing to compliantly go back into servitude.

The recent recession has hurt the average worker in America, but recent reports show that since the Wall Street fiasco, the rich have only grown richer.  A careful look at government policies on immigration, taxation, education, agriculture and economics all make it clear that the wealthy and powerful are determined to establish, maintain and grow a population of poor among us.  Not only have the poor become fodder for the engines of wealth, they've become fodder for the political machinery of the powerful.

The Book of Mormon is a quiet reminder that faith, conviction, courage and compassion will prevail in such a societal climate.  It probably won't be easy, but those who make right choices can overcome the dominance of those who would rule over us in wickedness.

Alma - Chapter 34

I look back on my life this morning and wonder how well I've done at praying.  How often have I gone to work and failed to requeste the blessing of the Lord upon my endeavors.  How often have I trusted in the arm of the flesh instead of seeking God's divine assistance with my efforts.  '

I have always loved this chapter and Amulek's admonition to pray.  I think sometimes I didn't see beyond the words.  When I think of his encouragement to cry unto God in your fields, I wonder if I considered all of my fields.  I'm sure I cried unto him in the mission field.  Not so much in the oil field.  They say even atheists tend to pray on the battle field.  How about the banking field, the welding field, the teaching field...?  Perhaps I should have spent less time seeking to outstanding in my field and more time out kneeling in my field.  Perhaps that's why I no longer have much of a field.

Alma - Chapter 33

So the Zoramites asked Alma how to the nourish the tree and this chapter is his answer.  So simple.  Pray and put your trust in Christ who will come to redeem them.

Implied in this simple answer are a couple of things.  First, the act of prayer implies an answer.  Examples are given.  God answers prayers.  Often the answer comes by God doing something.  I think the entire Book of Mormon teaches that more often, God requires something of us.  In this case this comes in instruction and commandment and requires obedience (the second implication) of us before it can be efficacious.  This obedience represents the 'good works' Alma speaks of.

Sometimes obedience requires something difficult like Nephi returning to Jerusalem for the Brass Plates.  Other times it requires merely trusting in the Lord as in Moses's requirement that the Israelites look upon the Brazen Serpent.

My experience has been that most of us would rather go fetch the plates of brass than gaze upon the brazen serpent.  We want to be doing because we have ourselves convinced that we can influence the outcome with the interjection of the 'arm of the flesh'.  Somehow we think that going and doing are better than becoming and being.  We want to be in the driver's seat, in charge.  It was that mistaken notion that kept me in the bonds of addiction for 45 years, even as an active church member.  It was not until I let God drive and put my absolute trust in Him that I was rescued from my bondage.

Every time I tell my story someone complains, "That can't be right?"  "Are you telling me that God will save me without keeping the commandments?"  "We are expected to keep the commandments!"  Some how they think that those who looked upon Moses' serpent got off easy while the others who busied themselves opening wounds and sucking out poisons were doing the right and expedient thing.  Some how they can't understand that looking upon the brazen serpent represented putting your trust in the Lord which is among the foremost of commandments.  Besides those who pray in faith more typically ask the Lord what he would have them do, rather than directing Him around the Heavens and the universe.  They do this because they no longer fear what He would have them do.  And then they go out and do that which He reveals.  Guess what, that means they go out and go Home Teaching, paying tithing, serving their neighbors and so on.  They are obedient, but they credit God instead of themselves not only with the blessing of forgiveness and remission of sins, but with the good that permeates what they do.  When people come to this point their tree is fully grown and bearing fruit in abundance.

Alma - Chapter 32

I've been feeling sorry for myself lately because of my inability to find adequate employment fo support my family.  Consequently, I read this chapter quite differently today, than I ever have before.  For the first time I viewed this scripture from the point of view of the poor.  That in and of itself is a great blessing.

For the first time I can relate a little to the despair, frustration, resentment and bitterness that can accompany poverty.  It is interesting that Alma and Amulek didn't address their poverty.  They didn't teach them about how to prepare a resume' or encourage them to get an education.  The record doesn't show that they delivered food or clothing to the impoverished Zoramites.  Theirs was a message of faith.  Trust in God, they were taught.  Even if you can only desire to trust Him, let that be a beginning point.  Additionally, these brethren didn't encourage them to blame their circumstances on those who were rich, powerful, discriminating and (no doubt) withholding.

The tree of life belongs to you and you must plant and nourish it.  Then it will grow up and bear fruit unto you.  No matter what our circumstances, the gospel is one of personal responsibility, personal integrity, personal faith.  For many of us, myself included apparently, poverty is a blessing.  That is, if it humbles us sufficiently to bring us to a place where we can learn to place our trust, our faith, in God.  The result being that we shall never hunger or thirst, regardless of what the Plutocrats around us may do.

Alma - Chapter 31

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

This is one of my favorite verses in The Book of Mormon.  It has been my experience that it is true.  While the issue of agency precludes the assumption that the word will always work, it is certain that the word is more effective than any other influence in our lives.

Now, I think we generally have a pretty restricted view of that term - the word.  Christ is referred to in John as the Word.  He is also referred to as Love.  I believe that the word Alma is referring to connotes a conveying of Christ's message of love and redemption.  Most of us here in mortality desire an answer and solution to our plight.  The word, properly preached should provide such answers and solutions.  When they do, people grasp hold.  Too often though our preaching doesn't provide that.

I think you'll agree that Alma's message to the Zoramites, was one of hope, love, possibility and solution.  As we read his words over the next few days look for that.