Alma - Chapter 18

 

It had never occurred to me before that at that time Jehovah was a spirit having not yet received a body.  It seems significant that He had progressed to Godhood in his first estate.

I like the statement describing Ammon as "wise, yet harmless."  After what happened at the waters of Sebus, I suppose there are those who'd disagree.  I don't, those others only dashed themselves upon the rocks of their own wickedness.   I think we can agree from our perspective that being powerful and wise, yet harmless was a wonderful characteristic of this great missionary.  I think wise and powerful, yet harmless is a pretty good definition of meekness.  Ammon was successful because he was Christlike.

I love how Ammon had the courage to teach difficult doctrine.  I remember on my mission I had a hard time teaching tithing.  I had always paid my tithing, but I can't say I was fully converted to the principle.  In my mind, this could be a deal breaker.  I would think, "These people are poor and they're going to have a hard time parting with 10% of their income!"  Still, many did accept the law of tithing and some of those strengthened my testimony of tithing and also of faith, trust and commitment.  Being that weak, I'd have had a hard time telling Lamoni of Laman and Lemuel's departure from the truth.  The other stuff would have been easy, but getting right down to the elephant in the room, takes courage and conviction.  I'd like to think now, I that I'd be more like Ammon.  Clearly, we need to give investigators a little more credit than my "natural man instincts" would.  His sheep truly hear His voice and the truth resonates in honest hearts.  Even "difficult" truth.

Alma - Chapter 17

Isn't this the most wonderful story.  I love the expample of faith, courage, service and integrity Ammon displays.  While his desire is to share the gospel, it is clear that Ammon's service wasn't tainted by ulterior motives.  He would do right by the King regardless of the outcome.  How often do we step up to the plate with a non-member friend, only to dump him if he doesn't immediately respond.  How many Amway salesmen have you known, who made out to be your best buddy, but because you rejected his business opportunity, quickly became the same mere acquaintance he was before he set his greedy sights on you.  I've known member missionaries like that.  A state that is entirely opposite the spirit and approach Ammon showed us.

Part of what made Ammon set such a fine example is explained in these verses:

5 Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit.

9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

I like the expression "labor in the Spirit."  These brethren were Missionary Olympians.  If you or I were bound for the Olympics this week we would have spent hours and hours in preparation.  We'd have focused our lives, in training and skill development.  We would have worked hard to be ready for our competetive mission.  Ammon and his brethren took their mission just that seriously.  They wanted to be fully in Spiritual Shape for the big event.  I have to admit that I have not prepared for much of anything with that kind of earnestness - and it shows.  It shows in the kind of results I've experienced.  It is obvious that we must develop, nourish and train our physical selves, why would it not be so with our spiritual selves as well.

It's time to get in shape.

Alma - Chapter 16

I remember, while on my Mission in the Philippines, we experienced a pretty large earth quake.  Folks accosted us on the streets asking if it was the end of the world.  The same thing happened after an especially devastating typhoon.  I think they wanted to know if it was time to repent yet, or if they still had time to mess around some more.  I think it is funny how we tend to fear big disasters and seem to overlook the fact that "the end" is happening all around us all the time.  Every day the paper lists those who've recently met their demise.  The message of Alma and Amulek is a message to all - Repent before it is too late.  It doesn't matter one whit whether we die in Hurricane Katrina or the Haitain Earth Quake or in our sleep in bed tonight; the end of our mortality is coming and now is the time to prepare.

Alma - Chapter 15

 

I was literally taught as a youth, that though you might repent and improve your results at the final judgment, the scars would always remain and you would not be able to achieve the Celestial Kingdom because of the damage you'd done to yourself.  Yes, at Sunday School in LDS Meetings.  It all seemed so hopeless.  I wonder how those teachers views Zeezrom.  I love this story.  I love the hope it brings.  Sherem, Nehor and Korihor might have had the same results if they'd been honest with themselves and humble enough to admit their great error.  Repentance can be very painful and difficult, but if in the end it results in the healing gift of forgiveness and remission of our sins, what joy and opportunity can be had.

 18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.

Amulek's tribulations were, in my opinion, indeed tremendous.  It is very likely that he and Alma were forced to watch his wife(s) and children burned to death.  If that was not the case, they were numbered among his kin who rejected the teachings and pushed him away.  I wonder what would be worse.  While it would be so difficult to watch your family suffer for their faith, it would be somewhat tempered by the promise of heavenly blessings for their commitment to God.  On the other hand, to have your family flatly reject the truth and go on to destruction might be even worse.  I love Amulek and Zeezrom for the strength of the integrity.  I'm sure the Lord has fully healed their wounds and mitigated their sorrow.

Alma - Chapter 14

 

It is interesting how God, at enormous cost, is willing to give us enough rope to hang ourselves with.  It is also interesting how persistently some of us are determined to use that rope.

Alma - Chapter 13

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

I think it is utterly amazing to find myself in the position I am in.  According to this verse I, who hold the Melchizedek Priestood, qualified in the pre-mortal life for this privilege.  Couple that with the blessing of being born in this dispensation and the thought is overwhelming. 

If you count the number of people in the history of the world who've even had a pair of shoes the odds against having such a blessing are astronomical.  Add to that all of the other miracles of our age and we are litterally all jackpot winners.  We take so much for granted.  The other day a friend told me that she reads a bedtime story to her distant grandchildren every evening over the internet using Skype.  Generations and generations of grandmothers never had such an opportunity.  How is it that we are so blessed to be able to do such things now?

Do we also take for granted that every worthy male among us may enjoy the blessing of the Holy Priesthood and share that gift with his family.  Never in history has that blessing been so abundantly available.  If I read this verse correctly, all of these brethren were called and prepared from before the foundation of the world.  I wonder if we appreciate the valiant choices we made before we came here.  It is interesting though that being given that fore-ordination could only happen if there was a preparatory redemption made.  Having qualified there did, in no way mean that we would qualify here without the benefit of the Atonement.