Alma 37:21-35

I got to the word Gazelem and paused. Who was Gazelem that the Lord gave the stone to? Was it something I had forgotten about? But I have never really looked at it before. So I did a bunch of searches and found that most LDS scholars believe it refers to Joseph Smith. In the Doctrine and Covenants they even used that as his code name so their enemies did not know what they were up to. I kept looking, and I am so glad I did. I found this article which explains about how Hebrew letters have specific meanings, and GZLM when taken together describe the duties of a prophet. It was really cool. It doesn’t change my testimony of the Book of Mormon, which has come through spiritual witnesses, but it is just cool.

Verse 23 also makes me think about what I have been telling the boys about how the Holy Ghost keeps us from being tricked by revealing hidden truth. I feel like the world is very corrupt, and there are all kind of hidden evil works happening all the time. But I am grateful for this promise that the Lord will reveal those things to His people. If I stay close to Him, if I can but listen to the Holy Ghost, I can be protected from being deceived. That is really comforting to my lack of trust and my anxiety. If I could rely on that promise more maybe I could be more trusting and open to people. If I could trust myself to listen better.

In verse 27 Alma warns Helaman to keep the details of the secret combinations private. It seems like an important warning for me as a parent, or teacher, that I can warn of evil without going into details. That I need to keep those details private, because they only lead to curiosity and experimentation. I have a tendency to want to overshare, so I have been very hesitant to share anything in the last few years, and I think that isn’t really a bad thing.

Then Alma tells Helaman what he should teach the people. It was an amazing list, and one that I feel like I should memorize.

• teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.
• Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ;
•  teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart;
•  teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

Alma 37:21-35

Alma 37:18-20

Because the Nephite prophets were diligent in following the word of God, the Lord was able to use their work to convert the Lamenites, and also bless their posterity. Not to mention all the people who the Book of Mormon have brought to a knowledge of the truth.

If what I want is for the Lord to be able to work miracles through me, especially in teaching my children, then, as Alma tells his son Helaman, I need to be diligent in fulfilling the commandments of God. I can’t not read scriptures and not pray and not serve, and then expect the Lord to use me in His work. Alma tells Helaman he needs to be diligent in fulfilling ALL his words, not just some of them. It was a wherefore, like because the prophets had listened God could use them, so you listen and God will use you. That is what I need to do better, and what I needed to hear today. I will be more diligent.

Alma 37:18-20

Alma 37:17

Verse 17 makes me realize the scriptures are a record of God keeping his promises. It is a record of evidence to help us trust the promises he makes to us. Promises that if we rely on Him, and do things His way, that we truly can become like Him and gain all that He has. That if we are obedient, we will be happy. That if we turn to Christ and trust His mercy we really are forgiven when we repent. Is this why reading the scriptures constantly is so important? It reminds us to trust Him. Trust Him that He loves us.

This is what I want for my kids. I want them to know they can trust Him, and have the faith to obey and get the blessings and the joy. What promises has the Lord kept in my life? I need to tell them about it, so they have evidence and can trust that he will fulfill all his promises.

I keep thinking about needing to tell Isaiah about the atonement, and how you can repent when you mess up after being baptized. When I got baptized I remember fighting with my brothers over teeth brushing that night, and my dad telling me I had already blown my perfection. In the September Ensign there was a story about that same thing, but then how he repented and felt just as clean and pure again. Forgiveness is a promise God has definitely kept in my life, and want I need to share with my children.

Alma 37:17