Alma 24

(October 4, 2015)

                I loved beyond measure the king’s speech to his people.  At the time this speech was given, the people (and the king) faced death.  Almost certainly (assuming a Mesoamerican tradition) the king was looking at not only being killed but being tortured to death is exceptionally grisly ways.  I have faced difficult times in my life, but I don’t think any of them are nearly as dire as those the Ammonites faced at this moment.

                So what does the king do?  He gives a speech, and the entire first half of it is focused on gratitude.  He expresses his gratitude for the deliverance they have been given spiritually even as they face destruction temporally.  What a wonderful example to each of us, as we face our own challenges, to remain focused on gratitude rather than mired in concerns.

                The other thought I had was on the prayers of the Ammonites as they were being cut down.  Surely, as people willing to die rather than defend themselves or risk taking the lives of others, they were righteous.  The scriptures all but say they received Exaltation, so the Lord must have heard their prayers.  And yet, they were cut down all the same.  What lesson is there for us in this?  Just because we are worthy, and just because we are seeking a worthy goal (and something greatly important to us), does not mean that our prayers will necessarily be answered…at least, not in mortality.

Doctrine and Covenants 35-37

(October 3, 2015)

                The closing of Section 37 is fascinating.  Here we have the commandment of Jesus Christ to His people, and yet despite who He is and what He knows, He continues to respect their agency.  “[L]et every man choose for himself until I come.”

                There is profound guidance in this to us who are in any position of stewardship – whether Bishop or Stake President or Elder’s Quorum President or father.  We may think we know exactly what needs to be done, and we might be right.  We may think we know exactly what mistakes those under our stewardship are making, and we may be right.  We may think we know the tragic consequences if our counsel isn’t followed, and we may be right.  But none of these justify our overstepping of our stewardship and failing to respect another’s agency.

                If Jesus Christ can give a commandment to His people and close with a reminder that their agency permits disobedience (unwise though that is), then I had better do likewise in any situation where I am acting in His place.

Alma 23

(October 3, 2015)

                Behind the scenes, throughout the Book of Mormon, there is an undercurrent of discord between the Nephites and the Mulekites.  Alma, to be honest, is a book about these disputes (with the Lamanites serving a side role even as they are the bulk of the antagonist combatants).  If the Book of Mormon matches the idea that books are written to enshrine the narrative of the ruling class (and why they should rule), then this book certainly fulfills the model.

                Of course, it takes some effort to see it – most noticeably because the Mulekites are almost entirely absent from the book (at least explicitly).  There are reasons for this, of course – primarily that as a Nephite (and a pure-blood one at that), Mormon was focused on his lineage and their history and right of rulership.  Additionally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mulekites didn’t have a major role in one or both sides of the final battle that Mormon was witnessing.

                It is all there, just behind the curtain.  The Lamanites converted to the Gospel – after all, they were only kept from it because of their unrighteous ancestors.  Meanwhile, the Amalekites (almost certainly Mulekites) and Amulonites (of which there is some textual indication they may also be Mulekites) refused to convert.  Even the one Amalekite that did convert (and you can bet there is a good story behind that conversion, and Mormon likely had record of his name, or else why would it be mentioned) was mentioned in passing rather than being given detailed description.

Doctrine and Covenants 33-34

(October 2, 2015)

                Time and time again, through the scriptures, we are given commandments and examples that seem perfectly crafted to test what we really prioritize.  Do we love money or God?  Do we crave pleasure or association with God? Do we want popularity or a close relationship to God?  So many times, our willingness to keep the commandments is a good indication of what we truly want – we may tell ourselves we want what is good and right but if our decisions demonstrate otherwise it is illuminating.  To paraphrase Bill Parcels, you ultimately are what your record says you are – the you want the decisions you actually make rather than what you say you want.

                I was thinking about that as I read through the times the Lord reiterated the instruction to “open your mouths.”  If our priority is the Lord, then we testify – it really is that easy.  We may be shy, but we have the most important truth that ever existed so we find a way past our shyness and we testify.  We may feel inadequate, but we have the most important truth that ever existed and so we study and put for the effort to share the message with power.  We may feel unworthy, but we have the most important truth that ever existed so we get our lives in order so that we can share the message with the Spirit.  We may not want to offend, but we have the most important truth that ever existed and so we recognize that an offense now from an inartful presentation is nothing compared to an eternal damnation.

                In all such cases, though, if our priority truly is God then we open our mouths.  If we are not opening our mouths, our problem is not with our mouths but with our hearts.  We need to look at our hearts and find out what about our priorities are out of line and ask for the Lord’s help through the Atonement to bring our hearts back into alignment with Him.

Alma 22

(October 2, 2015)

                We see an important truth in our relationship with Deity in this chapter.  We are, each of us, called to become willing to give up all that we possess to the Lord.  We are not, however, always called to actually give up all that we possess.  The king offered, but instead of being obligated to give up all that he possessed, he continued to live and serve as king until his death shortly thereafter.  All of the losses of power and prestige happened under the reign of his son.

                Likewise, we need to each be willing to give absolutely everything to the Lord.  Our wealth, our time, our hobbies, our relationships, our good name – anything, whether good or bad, we must be prepared to sacrifice to Him.  When we reach that point, the Lord may choose to take some or all of what we offer or He may choose not to, but that is ultimately irrelevant to our eternal progress (King Lamoni did not need to give up everything and yet we can presume he was save – while Anti-Nephi-Lehi was called upon to give up everything and yet in the end we presume he was also saved).

Doctrine and Covenants 30-32

(October 1, 2015)

                Once again we are given difficult counsel from the Lord, but it is important to examine just what we are being told.  The Lord instruction is to revile not against those who revile.  Notice some key elements here.  First, the instruction to revile not is given against people who are, themselves, engaging in the exact behavior that is counseled against.  It is not an excuse to say that they acted first – they reviled first – but rather even when they revile the Lord’s instruction is not to revile in kind.

                The second thought is that this instruction is given to those on an errand from the Lord.  So not only are they being reviled, but they are being reviled for doing what the Lord told them to do.  Surely there could be no more unjust reviling than this one.  And yet, even then, the Lord’s instruction is to revile not.

Alma 21

(October 1, 2015)

                Here we have another perfect example that suffering is not always tied into unrighteousness.  I have heard that belief espoused from time to time (ordinarily by those who are living comfortable lives and wish that to be evidence of their righteousness), but there is no evidence from the scriptures that adversity and suffering are solely self-generated.

                The best example, of course, is that of Christ.  He suffered all things and yet He lived a perfect life.  But we have another example in Aaron, who was righteous and converted to the Gospel, and yet he suffered greatly at the hands of the Nehorites.

                When we face suffering, there are times when that suffering is our fault.  There are times when it is the fault of others.  And there are times when it simply seems to be the naturalistic consequences of living in mortality.  We do not have a promise that if we dedicate ourselves fully to the Lord He will take away all of our suffering (in fact, walking the path of discipleship often seems to bring with it greater challenges than the comfortable path of religious apathy).  But what we are promised is that if we turn ourselves fully over to the Lord He will use our suffering to help us to progress and none of our tears will be wasted.