Amulek was Alma's first convert in the city of Ammonihah and became his close friend. They taught together and endured persecution together. Amulek was a man of means and reputation, all of which he apparently sacrificed for the sake of the truth. His testimony begins with what I have observed in myself and others.
5 . . . I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart
How many times has the Lord called to us, but we refused to hear? We have felt some gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit, but it was to do something hard, and we dismissed the inspiration or rationalized it away.
How many things have we really known but have pretended to ourselves not to know because admitting that we know means that we have to act or be a hypocrite? This subtle rebellion is a hard thing to acknowledge, and it is even more difficult to overcome. The cure is to open our hearts to God. As we face our own shortcomings honestly and admit them, we can ask for and receive his help to conquer them.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Alma 9
When Alma taught the people of Ammonihah, they reacted as follows:
4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day.
5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous works, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people
A lot of people take this approach to God's servants - "I will believe unless the prophet says this." In the recent election in California, when proposition 8 caused such great division among the citizens, the first Presidency and the Quorum and of the Twelve Apostles told the saints that redefining marriage would harm our society and was contrary to the will of the Lord. They encouraged church members to be actively involved in campaigning for proposition 8 by joining groups supporting the proposition, by contributing money, and by voting for it. There were some members who said, "The Church has no business being involved in a political question or in telling members how to vote." They said, in effect, "We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst tell us to support proposition 8." Some seethed with anger and even left the church.
The Lord said of the Prophet of God (D&C 21),
4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
We are on treacherous ground when we make ourselves the arbiters of truth and choose to ignore the teachings of the living prophets and apostles. If we have a question about some teaching or directions given by the brethren, we should ask the Lord in prayer to help us understand and know for ourselves that it is His will.
4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day.
5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous works, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people
A lot of people take this approach to God's servants - "I will believe unless the prophet says this." In the recent election in California, when proposition 8 caused such great division among the citizens, the first Presidency and the Quorum and of the Twelve Apostles told the saints that redefining marriage would harm our society and was contrary to the will of the Lord. They encouraged church members to be actively involved in campaigning for proposition 8 by joining groups supporting the proposition, by contributing money, and by voting for it. There were some members who said, "The Church has no business being involved in a political question or in telling members how to vote." They said, in effect, "We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst tell us to support proposition 8." Some seethed with anger and even left the church.
The Lord said of the Prophet of God (D&C 21),
4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
We are on treacherous ground when we make ourselves the arbiters of truth and choose to ignore the teachings of the living prophets and apostles. If we have a question about some teaching or directions given by the brethren, we should ask the Lord in prayer to help us understand and know for ourselves that it is His will.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Alma 8
Alma's mission to Ammonihah is a lesson in patience and in following the direction of the Holy Spirit in the face of opposition. Sometimes it takes a rebel to teach a rebel. Alma was no stranger to rebellion. He may have been much like the people in the city of Ammonihah before his conversion, so I think he understood them well. He loved them in spite of their animosity toward him.
9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma.
10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city
Even so, he had given up on them when they threw him out. He said when teaching Amulek, "they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever." (v. 24) As he was on his way to another city, having written these people off, an angel appeared to him and directed him to return. What I like is Alma's reaction to the command to go back to the city where the people had spit on him and cast him out.
18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah.
That willingness to hearken and to follow the direction of the Lord is something I have been trying to cultivate for a long time. I'm more like Jonah who fled from the Lord's command to go to Nineveh than I am like Alma who returned speedily to Ammonihah. But I'm working on it.
9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma.
10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city
Even so, he had given up on them when they threw him out. He said when teaching Amulek, "they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this land forever." (v. 24) As he was on his way to another city, having written these people off, an angel appeared to him and directed him to return. What I like is Alma's reaction to the command to go back to the city where the people had spit on him and cast him out.
18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah.
That willingness to hearken and to follow the direction of the Lord is something I have been trying to cultivate for a long time. I'm more like Jonah who fled from the Lord's command to go to Nineveh than I am like Alma who returned speedily to Ammonihah. But I'm working on it.
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