Alma 34:17-27

In verse 17 Amulek prays that God will grant people faith to begin to repent. I have thought a lot lately about faith as a choice, but not about faith as a gift. Is the relationship really that faith is a gift we choose to accept? When I look it up, lds.org says faith is a gift that we must then choose to nourish. I can’t really get my head around it this morning.  I haven’t read scriptures in a week now—and truthfully that often leads me to forget to pray. Not really forget, my heart is constantly drawn out to God during the day as things happen. But the conversation and seeking of morning and evening prayers is what I tend to let go when I don’t read. And the longer I go without reading, the harder it is to start again. It is really easy to be too busy or too tired. Today I am exercising my faith and doing it. I am turning to Him and reading with a prayer in my heart.

Cry unto Him for mercy, for He is mighty to save—I need His mercy and His saving. Have mercy on me in my impatience, my laziness and selfishness. Have mercy on me for my distance. He can change me, and will forgive me.

And I do need to humble myself and continue in prayer to Him. Who am I to not come to Him when he asks me to?

Again, the call to repentance on morning and evening prayers.

When Amulek says to pray for an increase of your flocks, or monetary help—sometimes I feel weird praying for increase. It is still such a hard line for me to know what is being worldly and wanting money, and what is right. I suppose it all has to do with my intent. But is wanting nice stuff bad? I really don’t know the answer to that question. But it isn’t something I really pray about. I feel like we have to take care of that ourselves, but that clearly isn’t right.

Verse 27 reminds me of our covenant to always remember Him. If our soul is truly always drawn out in prayers, we would always be remembering Him. I don’t feel like I am very good at always, but I am trying, and getting better.

Alma 34:17-27

Alma 34:15-16

There is so much doctrine in this one verse!  First, I love the testimony that Savior brings salvation to all those that believe on His name. I feel anxious and stressed this morning, and reading that was an instant shot of peace. I just need to trust Him and move forward and HE brings salvation.

I also noticed how clarifying this verse is. Many people get the saved for believing, but don’t really know the entire principle. Believing on His name gives us faith to repentance. When we believe that change is possible through Him, that we are not destined to wallow in our depravity, it gives us the faith to repent, to change, to do, and become. Believing in Him isn’t enough unless we also believe Him, and do what He told us to do and believe that we can become like Him.

It’s interesting because I was just thinking about this as I said my prayers this morning—that the Holy Ghost sanctifies us by leading us to Him and helping us know what to do, and what to do better. It isn’t some magic instant thing like sometimes the church vocabulary makes it sound to me. It’s all a process of becoming, made possible by the Savior.

I love the feeling that comes in verse 16 when Amulek describes mercy satisfying justice and encircling us in the arms of safety. Sometimes I am so tortured by my sins and guilt, and sometimes the world feels so scary and out of control. It is a beautiful reminder that we are safe with Him.

The rest of the verse talks about how those who won’t turn to the Savior and repent is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice. Sometimes in my life I haven’t understood this, and felt like God was an angry parent, punishing us. But I have come to understand if there is no consequence for breaking the law, there is no point having the law. God’s laws help us become like Him, help us change our nature. It is a natural consequence that if we don’t do those things that we can’t become like Him and have His joy that is a result of who He is. We are then left to the pain and disconnect that comes from our own bad choices, and can only be overcome through the “great and last sacrifice” of the Savior.

So today, instead of feeling stressed I will move forward with faith. I will focus on following Him, and loving people around me. I will listen to the Holy Ghost to learn how to do that better. And I will trust that He will lead me, and change me.

Alma 34:56-16

Alma 34:14

The law had another part, and I think this is what verse 14 is talking about, the ritual part of the law. It was the ceremonial part of the law that pointed to the atonement, and it was fulfilled in the way I was confusedly thinking the other parts of the law, or the moral guidelines were fulfilled. What the ceremonial parts of the law were anticipating happened when Christ came. Now we have new rituals to help us remember instead of anticipate. I am specifically thinking of the Sacrament. But even baptism is symbolic of resurrection. Some of the temple rituals also very clearly point to remembering the Savior’s atonement. I am sure the other’s do as well, but I am still learning. It reminds me of the lesson I taught on Sunday and the article about understanding symbolism in the scriptures. The main point is, that ALL things testify of Him. That was really eye opening to me. I guess what the scripture tells me is that all things always have testified of Him—including what happens in the Old Testament. I need to be better about seeking Christ in the scriptures. He is always the point of everything.

Alma 34:14

Alma 34:13

The law of Moses before the coming of Christ and then not after is still a confusing point to me. I know He fulfilled the law, and it all pointed to His coming, but what Him fulfilling the law actually means I don’t understand. I can’t think of another context to compare it to that helps, either.

So, I paused here, and have done more research. The problem comes from thinking about it with the wrong definition of fulfill. Thisarticle, helped clarify more than anything else I found. The Law of Moses was leading to a higher law, where we are changed to not desire sin. No hatred, not murder, no lust, no adultery. By giving us the higher law, the requirements of the lower remain, that is why they haven’t passed away, but the higher law encompasses them. They have become part of something larger and greater. As we keep Christ’s higher law, we naturally keep the lower law because those sins can’t exist within the higher law. I really hope this makes sense to myself later. Whew!

Alma 34:13

Alma 34:11-12

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around Amulek’s explanation of why the atonement had to be infinite. In his example you can’t kill a murderer’s brother to pay for his sin—the law requires that you suffer your own consequences. Why does an infinite atonement relate? The only thing I can think it that it allows the same mercy for every sinner. Okay, now this is making sense. Every person who has sinned can turn to the same redemption—it is only just mercy if it is available to every criminal.

Alma 34:11-12

Alma 34:6-10

It feels important that Amulek reviews the words of the prophets, and then bears his own testimony of the son of God. My witness, born of by the power of the Holy Ghost is prophecy, too.  And he even repeats the plan that he knows, and the details that he knows. I feel impressed that it is important to testify of our own truth boldly and patiently. Patiently seems funny, but I mean, not just rushing through it, not being afraid to repeat what has been said before—but just following the Holy Ghost without being in a hurry. And then the real power comes from the Holy Ghost testifying in the listeners’ hearts. It doesn't matter if they have heard it before, it matters that they hear it when they are ready to feel the Spirit testify about it—which could be in a year, or five seconds after they heard it the first time.

Amulek says all are hardened and fallen and lost and can only be saved through the atonement. I need to remember that I am still hardened, and fallen, and lost—it isn't just the state I was in before accepting the gospel, it is where I am now. Dependent on His atonement to daily save me from myself. To me, this morning, hardened is my pride, which I am constantly made more aware of in new ways. And fallen is my selfishness, and laziness, and fear—all the things that keep me from being like God. And lost is when I am trying to do things on my own, instead of following Him. Lost is when I don’t always remember Him, but get busy in the day going about life. Lost is when I don’t know what is right, and can’t know what is right without Divine intervention. I am hard, and lost, and fallen, and would perish without His atoning sacrifice. I am daily dependent on the mercy of my Savior. And I am so grateful to know that it is daily and constantly available. His hand is stretched out still.

Alma 34:6-10