Alma 6

Verse 8 is talking about teaching with the Holy Ghost without actually calling it that. Alma preached according to the “revelation of the truth of the words of his father’s,” which revelation comes by the power of the Holy Ghost, and “according to the Spirit of prophecy,” which is the Holy Ghost, and according to the “testimony of Jesus Christ,” which also comes by the Holy Ghost. It also mentions that it was by the holy order by which he was called—being the priesthood in this case.

As a teacher, I have been called by the priesthood, and so by God to teach. What does it mean to me to teach by the revelation of the truth? I think it is to bear testimony of the truth I know. 

Can I teach according to the spirit of prophecy? In the scriptures the spirit of prophecy is usually mentioned with the spirit of revelation. I know that means teaching by the Holy Ghost. As I look at this in other scriptures with this phrase, it really is talking about things to come. At first thought that seems overwhelming, but as I think about teaching about the plan of salvation, that really is what I am doing. Or when I am teaching about the second coming, or repentance, or temple marriage, or any future blessings or consequences. It seems like God is telling us that teaching the truth with the whole plan and good and bad consequences is what we need to do. And when I teach these things by the Spirit’s promptings, I am teaching with the spirit of prophecy. That is kind of amazing!

I also think it is really important that he specifically mentions according to the “testimony of Jesus Christ.” I think about that a lot, how it all really needs to come back to Christ. I am grateful for that reminder.

This verse definitely gives me a lot to think about how to teach more effectively by the Spirit. I am grateful for the prompting to think about it more specifically. 

Alma 6

Alma 5

I feel like it is important that Alma starts by remind them of things they know are true. It gives you something solid to build your faith on when things are less clear. He talks about how the people were saved because they had faith, put their trust in God and then endured faithfully to the end. This is a pattern that keeps repeating lately. Patience and endurance are things that are very difficult for me, but I feel like God is telling me I need to work on that.

It seems like Alma is saying that a change of heart is a change to eternal perspective in your daily life. He talks about looking forward with faith to yourself resurrected and standing before God. If that is what you think about and make decisions based on then you have changed to being concerned about things of eternal significance. When I read things like this, it fills me with hope, because I know that is where I am now. I am trusting God’s redemption, and trying (super imperfectly) to follow Him faithfully.  I am grateful that God gives me feelings of rejoicing and praise along with his gentle course corrections. 

And then Alma starts listing all of my sins, and I feel less happy with myself. I struggle constantly with pride and mocking people and know I need to repent.  My heart aches because of my imperfections. I am so grateful for the atonement that gives me the option and ability to do better and repent. 

The verse about the shepherd still calling on the sheep that won’t hear is so tender. It makes me think about the things I learned and felt as I read The God Who Weeps. I feel how much he loves me, and all of his children and it makes me want to help more and love others better. 

I love how black and white Alma is. That whatever is good comes from God and whatever is evil comes from the devil. I always want everything to be that simple, and really it is. I suppose the difficulty comes in not be tricked about which is which. I also love that he just boldly says what is true, not worrying about offending anyone by calling their sins sins. That is difficult, and I am impressed with his faith unto boldness.

At the end of the chapter he is talking about teaching with the Spirit. That is what gives him the surety to be bold. I felt that when I taught the lesson on Joseph Smith. The Spirit gave me power to more boldly testify of his being a true prophet than I have ever before felt on my own. It is so important to teach by the Spirit so that they can feel the truth of it.

There it is again. The constant cry in the Book of Mormon about not worrying about worldly riches and helping the poor and needy. I feel like it means something specific in my life, but what is it?

Alma 5

Alma 4

The beginning of this chapter is a good example of how God loving us is sometimes allowing us to suffer. Because the people were having such a hard time, they were humbled and turned to Him again. Trials seem so overwhelming and horrible when they are happening, and don’t feel like love. But God is worrying about who we will become eternally, like when we put our kids in timeout to try and teach them. The wonderful thing about being perfect is He knows exactly what to do that will best reach us. That’s the hard part for me as a parent. I guess that is why it is so important to partner with Him in this, and try to rely on the Spirit more. Sometimes I get so distracted and so frustrated that I forget to stop and listen. If I can just calm down, slow down, and parent with more purpose instead of just trying to control everything all the time, it would give the Spirit, and by extension, Heavenly Father, more of an opportunity to help when I need it.

I can also see how our trials lately have been a blessing. As this move from Ridgecrest has been so difficult, both Omar and I have had to learn again that we do have testimonies, and that God is involved in our lives and loves us. But I think the difficulty make it that much stronger in the end. We’ve both gotten to a place where we cannot deny. Everything still feels so hard and fragile, I hope this wasn’t all just to prepare us for something harder coming. It feels like we both need a time of peace. But I guess that is part of trusting the Lord’s parenting; He knows best.

If the Book of Mormon is a warning for our day, it seems like it is important that the Church became prideful over and over again right before they got wicked. The problem was worrying about worldly things, trying to get rich, treating each other unkindly, and thinking they were better than those who were not in the church. I don’t think I am very worried about riches, although I just may not realize it, but I do have a hard time being nice to everyone all that time. I think about the Zion people with one heart and one mind and I know I am not there. I can be really negative and critical. And as for the pride compared to those who don’t belong to the church, I can see that more in how I feel about people who don’t understand everything from an eternal perspective and how when I’m affected by it I can feel bitter and angry and want to fight. I know that is not the Lord’s way. It is not what Christ ever did when He was here, and not what he asked us to do. The turn the other cheek idea is very difficult for me. I guess in both cases when I am feeling critical of people I need to remember to check my pride. This is apparently very difficult for me.

The Book of Mormon talks a lot about not turning our back on the needy. There is so much neediness around me, so many people begging, and I see the homeless camps. I just don’t know how to handle it. I don’t want to turn my back on the needy, but I also have no idea how to help. I feel worried about this a lot.

When Alma gave up the judgment seat to Nephiha it is a good example of what we keep hearing about at general conference with the good better best. He was doing wonderful things and helping people, but it wasn’t his “best” use of his life and time. This is something important to think about in my own life. It seems like an easy thing to get tricked about.

Alma 4

Alma 3

It seems like today we “mark” ourselves, too. The way we choose to look and dress usually shows our allegiance to God or not. It’s interesting that then and now no one is trying to be sneaky, to look like the people of God when they are not. It didn’t make the Nephites hate the Lamenties, or want to withhold the gospel from them, but it did make it clear who believed correct traditions or not, so they wouldn’t be deceived.  It should be the same way for us.

When I worry about my kids not being obedient lately, I feel like I am not allowing them their agency. Not that it’s okay to not obey, but in God’s system you just reap the rewards of your choices. He doesn’t fight with us to try and get us to listen, which is what I’ve been doing lately. Not that not going to take a shower when I ask should reap eternal misery, but if God is perfect, and our family is microcosm of His, then I should be better at patterning what I am doing after Him. I also need to figure out how to reward obedience, and pay more attention to it. His rewards aren’t just negative consequences, but real good feelings for doing right, and promise of eternal glory. 

Alma 3