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.
No comments:
Post a Comment