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.

Alma - Chapter 30

I think of Korihor often when I consider my recovery from addiction.  I made every attempt to recover according to the management of the creature.  I used my genius to study and learn about ways to escape my problems.  I tried repeated times to conquer my compulsion to sin using my own strength.  In every case I failed, that is until I applied the precious blood of Christ.  The Atonement is the only hope for sinners like me.

Now, I'm struggling to find employment and a means to care for my family.  I just realized that I've returned to Korihor's methods and for quite some time, those methods have failed me.  Once again, in another facet of my life, it is time to apply the Atonement.  It is after all an infinite Atonement and therefore, covers every aspect of our lives.  How slow I have been to understand this.  Colleen Harrison calls my backwards approach Spiritual Dyslexia.  Putting our strength and efforts before the application of the Atonement rather than after.  It's like refusing to go to the doctor until after we've healed ourselves.

Alma - Chapter 29

"Oh that I were an angel."  I have had to deal with this same plea for the past couple of weeks.  I worked as a Wilderness Counselor for troubled youth.  I became very attached to them.  Circumstances developed that forced me to quit that job.  I felt like I was abandoning my young friends.  I had feelings that embarrass me to reveal.  Feelings of indispensability.  I allowed myself to suppose that without me, they wouldn't be able to progress.  I most certainly sinned in this wish that I could bless everyone and not just those allotted to me my a wise and loving Father.  I don't know about Alma but for me these feelings were a mixed bag.  I genuinely hope for the recovery and blessing of each of these youth.  Still, the supposition that I am a necessary part of that process, discounts the power of God and his myriad other servants.  It presupposes that it is me who changes people, that it is my light, my effort and sacrifice.  That is wrong.  It is Christ who changes people.  I can be nothing more than a tiny mirror which, if I am humble and worthy, can reflect the light of Christ into someone else's life.  I must let God decide who, when, how and how much.  It reminded me of that great missionary song:  I'll go where YOU want me to go, dear Lord... I be...say...do...what YOU want me to be....say....do.

Alma - Chapter 28

I often wonder about the thoughts of those Nephite families who lost loved ones as they defended the People of Ammon.  It would be so easy for them to become bitter and full of blame.

Similarly, how do we react to losses in our own lives?  Is it easy for us to become bitter and place blame?  Things like:  "If that Scoutmaster had done his job, my son wouldn't be in this predicament."  If those Sisters would just do their visiting teaching, we could be the best Relief Society in the Church."  The list could go on and on.

I remember hearing Stephen R. Covey referring to missionaries as midwives in the rebirth process.  That was startling to me.  Midwifery, from my perspective is a difficult, thankless, inconvenient job.  Yet at that moment of delivery, after all the travail, literally blood sweat and tears, there is little more rewarding.  It helped me this morning to think of that when I thought of those who gave their lives for the sake of the reborn Lamanites and also thought of their widows and orphans.  They were also midwives in the rebirth of the People of Ammon.  It wasn't convenient, easy or glorifying.  Rather is was grimy, difficult sacrifice with a different kind of reward.

When I am wont to criticize others in the kingdom, which usually comes in the form of blame, perhaps it is because they have in some way made my life inconvenient.  Perhaps I need to remember that the Scoutmaster may have been called for his own growth and progress as much as that of my son and that I need to defend him rather than condemn him.  Maybe I can midwife his rebirth - even if it is a sacrifice.  There are other factors in my son's difficulties and perhaps even with a perfect Scoutmaster he might have wandered off course, just as the Lamanites may have come upon the Nephites regardless of the presence of the Ammonites.

Note:  I have departed from the employment that kept me away and hope to be consistently proceeding through The Book of Mormon again.  You have all been so understanding and supportive.  I may have lost you all, who've probably moved on in my absence.  That's okay, who could blame you.  Still, I need this commitment and will carry on.

Note:  My Scoutmaster example is only that.  I don't even have a son.