Alma 2

Amlici was very wise as to the wisdom of the world. I feel like this is something I am fooled by. Things that make sense are so alluring to me. I am grateful that when I turn to the Lord to find His way, even when I am confused by worldly wisdom, he answers and lets me know the right way.

The Amlicites and the Lamenites together had to be a much larger army than the army of the Nephites. But they prayed for help and then exercised their faith and went to battle. I wonder if it was hard to overcome their fear, or if the desire to protect their families would have moved them onward anyway. It’s amazing what we will do love. It surely is God’s way. Even Alma, when he prayed for help it wasn’t because he was afraid, but because he wanted to be able to preserve and help his people. 

Sometimes when we say family prayer, as I pray for everyone, and then that I will know how to take care of everyone I hear the feminists voice in my head asking what my needs are, what about me. It’s a hard balance to know when it is okay to focus on your own needs without being selfish. But that is really the way I feel, that I want my life to be about supporting my family and helping people. And when I listen to the Spirit, I know that is okay. For me to really become like Christ I do need to let go of myself and focus on becoming a servant.  Not that I can’t take care of myself, too. I can’t take care of anyone if I don’t do that. 

Alma 2

Alma 1

I wonder what it means that Nehor taught the priests should become popular? Hired? Like you choose who to preach to you because you like what they say? Interestingly that is the way most protestant churches work. I don’t think people do it on purpose to be bad, they argue that you should be comfortable where you go to worship. I hear that a lot. Sometimes it is hard in the church when you don’t agree with your leaders, or like them, even. I guess that is why it is important to remember that they are called by God and to have faith in Him. If you gave me the choice of us picking or God picking, that is what I would choose. Maybe that is why not sustaining your leaders is such a big deal. Because if you don’t do that you are saying you don’t believe God is really at the head of this church, working through its priesthood holders. And if you don’t think that, nothing else can really be true.

It is crazy to me that I just read a blog about a girl who had named her baby Gideon after this Gideon yesterday, and I am reading his story today. I feel like I should really pay attention.

Omar and I were just talking last night about how it is hard to see how someone gets to the point where they kill another person. The murder of Gideon seems so obviously wicked. He was killed for disagreeing, and that’s it. Yet, how often do I get angry when someone doesn’t agree with me? Isn’t that just a first step to ending up there? I can see, again, how my anger is so spiritually detrimental and un-
Christ-like, and wrong! I need to check myself and not respond with anger. It happens so quickly, and so unthinkingly that I know I need the Lord’s help to overcome.

It also strikes me as important that Gideon was able to contend using the word of God. I noticed that last night when we were watching Legacy, too. When Eliza’s father in on a mission in England and responds with, “…and Matthew also says…” I want to be a scriptorian, someone who is familiar with the scriptures, and knows where to find the answers. I haven’t been very consistent in my study, but have felt strongly the last couple of days I need to change that. If the world really is going to get crazier, I need to have the answers available when my family or any of God’s family needs them. Or myself for that matter. That has come up a lot lately. Like the story of Cain and Abel in the temple at Christopher’s sealing answering my questions about women and the priesthood. It is really so amazing that the inspired word of God, the scriptures, can answer our questions, so many different questions, just as He needs them to. There are so many levels of lesson in every story and verse, to speak to us just what we need to hear when we need to hear it. I am so grateful to live in a time with access to the scriptures! What a blessing!

The priestcraft, or false teachings that continued among the people were because they loved money. I can see that now with justification for not helping people, or for not working for your own support, or those crazy evangelical rich preacher guys that steal money from old ladies. Sometimes it seems so obvious, but the philosophy of men mingled with scripture can get really tricky.

It seems really important that it was the pride of the people of the church that caused them to fight back. It isn’t described as justifiable because they couldn’t take it any more. This is the same lesson that seems to keep coming up for me over and over, the turning the other cheek, forgiving, patience.

I love that the people in the church prospered by being generous. There was a quote I saw in relief society once about how no one has ever been poorer by giving something away. I wish I could remember it exactly. I wonder if that works because that is part of the law we are obedient to to receive that blessing of abundance.

Alma 2

Mosiah 29

King Mosiah is worried that if he appoints someone other than his oldest son to be the king it would cause contention among the people. It is interesting that he wasn’t worried about such fighting if the people voted for their leaders. What makes the losers in that case not fight? In other countries there are often riots after elections, but that is usually if people felt the election was unfair, not just because they lost. What makes us willing to accept the will of the people if we have a voice, too? Is it just our inherent valuation of agency?

It also seems important that King Mosiah wanted to appoint judges, not rulers. People to make sure laws were followed, that affairs were fair, but not to impose their own will on the people. King Mosiah must have been an amazing man to not be corrupted by the power of being king, but to see his role in this light instead. Am I a dictator as a mother? Sometimes I think I definitely just impose my will, rather than just making sure rules are being followed and things are fair. I feel like I need to think about the things I do or am frustrated about, and try to make sure I am not just abusing my position of authority. I think about that a lot, leading through persuasion and love and long suffering. It’s hard to do—probably mostly out of selfishness. I don’t want to suffer for long. I keep feeling prompted that I need to be more patient and kind.

I wonder how much of an impact it had on King Mosiah to learn about wicked King Noah and the problems that it caused. Did that change his view and inform his decision about kings? I also feel his stress when he talks about not having a king so the people have responsibility for their own actions. It’s not fair to the people or the king that way. What does that mean for me as a leader in my home? How can I make the kids responsible for their own actions more?

I love how the people loved Mosiah so much because he had protected their freedom, and given them more freedom, delivering them from every type of bondage. It is such a beautiful type of the Savior, and why we love Him so much. Because he makes us free.

I appreciate the Alma stayed home and did the Lord’s work while the sons of Mosiah were on their missions. It reminds me that we are called to serve in different ways. Sometimes I feel guilty for not having a bigger family, or an important job, or a million different things I see other people doing to build the kingdom. But as I read this I am reminded that the Lord has different ways He needs us to serve, and I am trying to follow what He has told me about how I should serve. If I keep my eyes on Him, instead of looking at what others are doing, I will be okay.

I never noticed before how much older Alma was than Mosiah. I have always imagined him as a young man as a priest of king Noah, but he couldn’t have been, as Mosiah was already king when all of that happened. I wonder if Alma the younger then had lived under King Noah? Was that part of what was difficult for him later?

Mosiah 29

Mosiah 21

The people of Limhi were suffering, and I understand their response to want to fight. They really were suffering injustice at the hands of the Lamenites. And some things are worth fighting for. The lesson for me here, is that you pick your battles not based on the injustice but on the inspiration and will of the Lord. If he had told them to fight, they would have had a very different outcome. It is easy for me to get riled up, and want to fight. The lesson I gave the Beehives and Mia Maids on forgiveness, and being meek and turning the other cheek keeps coming back to me. I find myself failing at that time and again, but I am grateful to recognize the failure. It’s progress to notice and desire to change.

And then they went to fight again because their hearts were broken for the crying widows, and then they wanted revenge. I think that was part of the problem, they weren’t fighting to defend the widows, it was out of anger and revenge. That’s a point I need to ask myself about when I am feeling the need to fight.

In the end they were compelled to be humble, and just accept the burden because they had no choice. If they had chosen that, instead of being angry and fighting, would their hearts have been different? Would they have been happier? They certainly wouldn’t have lost so many of their people. What do I lose when I give into my pride instead of being humble and forgiving? I usually get their eventually, but what do I lose in the mean time?

I am grateful of the reminder that though the Lord was slow to hear their cries, he did hear their cries and forgive them and help them. I also appreciate that their horrible afflictions could change their hearts eventually, and make them ready to become converted. He really does know best how to lead us and help us in an eternally important way.

It is interesting that King Limhi commanded the people to impart of their substance to support the widows. When I read it, I am glad he did. But in the Conservative talking points of this country, the government shouldn’t have been involved and let people choose to help through personal charity.  It seems like an over simplification of the issue. I wish people would talk about things in all their real complications instead of sound bites.

I always find it interesting that Ammon declined baptizing King Limhi and his people. He had been sent on an important expedition, and must have been a strong man and leader. It reminds me that we all have our different talents and strengths. And to look for the good and appreciate it in all people, even those not necessarily living worthily. I wonder if not being worthy for this important job change Ammon at all? Did it humble him and make him want to repent?

I loved that the people had a desire to be baptized and wanted to witness to God that they would follow Him. Sometimes I have a hard time feeling the meaning attached to symbolic things. I am excited for other people when they are moved by and can feel it.

Mosiah 21