Alma 34 verses 2-5

Amulek says that what the people wanted from Alma was what they should do because of their afflictions. Their afflictions were people being unkind to them, and not associating with them because of their poverty—and also not allowing them to worship in the way they thought they were supposed to. They really came with the questions about what to do about not being allowed in the synagogues. But it was the wrong question. Amulek says the answer Alma gave them was to exhort them to faith and patience, and specifically faith to plant the word in their hearts and experiment to see if it was good. In simpler terms, he told them to learn the gospel and live it, then have patience.

I think sometimes we want the answer to be more complicated when we have afflictions. We want some miraculous deliverance—but, as Amulek said, we already know where to look for miraculous deliverance. We look beyond the mark, which is always the Savior. If we have faith, live the gospel, and are patience, we know that the miracle is already ours. That is what He already did for us. The Savior is always the answer to our afflictions. He has already saved us.

It’s like my experience with the temple. For a long time I tried to look for complicated symbolism there. Trying to uncover some deep hidden doctrine that I didn't already know that was found only there. Then somewhere I read or heard to look for the Savior in the temple, and the experience was transformed for me. It wasn't anything new that I was learning, but I understood Him in deeper ways, and felt His love more clearly. I was looking beyond the mark, but the answer is always know Him, and love Him, and follow Him.

In verse 5 Amulek states the questions the people has is really whether or not Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, he calls it whether the word be in the Son of God, or if there is no Christ. I think about this a lot when people are questioning their testimonies and leaving the church and becoming agnostic. I think it is often really easy for people to get caught in specific details, but forget that they are also giving up the simple beauty of His salvation. 

When someone I love was struggling, as we talked he was getting deeper and farther away from God because of his afflictions, and things he couldn't explain. As I prayed to know how to help him, I was inspired to ask him if that meant that he also didn't believe that Jesus had died for him and saved him. And that put a break on the downward spiral we had been in to that point. He couldn't just dismiss it, and it gave him something to hold onto.

Really, when I think about it, when we take the Sacrament what we promise is to always remember Him and keep His commandments. It isn't “always remember” anything else, just Him. Everything is focused on Him—and everything else falls away. If we can really keep that focus, with patient faith, all is really well.

Alma 34 verses 2-5

Alma 34 verse 1

In the first verse Alma sits down on the ground and gives times to Amulek to speak. It is good leadership, and, I recognize, hard for me, to trust others to teach and fulfill their assignments. Alma had been teaching Amulek in his home for a while now. I wonder if he partly did it to allow Amulek to grow in the gospel, and take the next step from believing to knowing and testifying. But he also must have been following the Spirit, because it ends up being really important to the audience to hear Amulek speak. So there are three lessons there:

1. follow the Spirit
2. trust others to do their part
3. the power of multiple witnesses.

I’m thinking about family night, and how Omar and I need to do better at working together to testify of truth to our children. I need to listen for the Spirit to tell me when it is his turn to teach, and not try to do it all alone. These three principles could really make a difference for our family and the power of our gospel teaching.

And then from Amulek’s side, wouldn’t it be intimidating to be asked to speak in a meeting following the actual prophet. But he did, and he testified of truth. And because what He said was true, the people could feel the Spirit testify of what he was saying. There is a lesson there for me, too, about trusting God to magnify my efforts, and get my pride out of the way. If I am doing what He wants, I shouldn’t be comparing myself to anyone else, even if it is the prophet. His way is right, and it isn’t about me. That is often really difficult. I want things to be all or nothing, black and white, but often for me, and I am sure everyone else, my intentions are both a mix of holy and pride. It is hard for me to get my pride out of the way. (It reminds me of my experience singing One Sheep in Ridgecrest. There was no pride left when it was awful because I was crying, but He made it something great through His Spirit. And I was so grateful for that experience, but it was really hard too, because of my pride.)

I find the Savior in this verse as well. Alma sat down, and allowed Amulek to teach—and it was powerful for Amulek and those that listened. In the same way, the Savior gives us, gives me, opportunities to help in His work. God, is all powerful, and could do anything in this world that He needs to have done. He doesn’t need us to serve each other because He needs our help, but because He wants to help us by teaching us to love and teach and serve each other. It’s like letting my kids do chores. Some families really need the help, but we only have two kids, and I don’t work—and I do a better job myself. Sometimes letting them help is slower and harder. But I want them to grow from it. Alma didn’t stick Amulek out there to preach until he had thoroughly taught him the gospel. But then he let him do the work. I need to be careful about both of those things. Making sure I am thoroughly teaching them what they need to know before I expect them to do it, but then also trusting them to do what they know and can do.

But it’s not just about them. It’s also making sure that I am trustworthy when the Lord gives me opportunities to help. That I open my mouth when he asks me to, that I stand up when it’s time, and press forward when it’s hard. I need to love and serve even when it is hard to want to do either of those things. This wasn’t a comfortable situation for Amulek, but on his cue, he stood and began to teach anyway. I need to be better about always remembering Him—and always serving anyway. My life is His, and I want it to not be about my pride and selfishness.

This was all from Alma chapter 34 verse 1. The lesson I am teaching in Sunday School this week is about the temple. One of the symbols in this section of the old testament is Ezekiel repeatedly wading into the river that flows from the temple , and it gets deeper each time. It is amazing what God can teach me, by the Spirit, in a few words in one short verse. His wisdom and power truly are infinite!

Alma 34 verse 1