32:5 - "...what shall we do?"
This is a profound question that we see often in the scriptures when people have become humble enough to receive teachings from the Lord.
What we can do - is be humble, and be grateful. Gratefulness leads to humility, and humility opens us up to being taught.
32:14-15 - "...and now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?..."
Those who truly humble themselves are more blessed than those who are forced to be humble. There really are good things and good choices - some that are better than other good choices.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks talked about this in the November 2007 Ensign, pg. 104-108.
"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all."
We must prioritize and put greater value and emphasis on the best choices. This will keep us motivated in making those best choices.
32:27 - "...if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words..."
We need to start with the desire, then let it work within us.
(Mosiah 26:3; 1 Nephi 10:17; 11:1; 15:1-3; Alma 32:5; Acts 2:38; Alma 22:15; Helaman 5:40).
32:39-40 - "...and thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life..."
If you want the fruit, you have to want it.
Go forward in faith. That is how we get the fruit - by living the commandments, which opens us up to receiving more of the gift of faith, and the fruit of the tree of life.
31:5 - "...the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else..."
This relates to Helaman - where one missionary effort by 2 men made a greater difference than a huge military campaign.
31:38 - "...the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith..."
What a great blessing - and they received this blessing through faith.
You see the request in vs. 32-35 - and since it was a righteous desire, the Lord granted it to them. This helps us have faith that our own righteous desires will be answered.
30:17-18 - "...and many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime..."
If we buy into this idea that everybody fares according to "the creature," then nothing really matters. Law doesn't matter, so we can do whatever we want. We see a lot of people who have subscribed to this philosophy today.
With the gospel comes understanding of responsibility - that what we do really does matter, and that we will have to account for what we do before God.
We need to watch out for false teaching and take responsibility for our own actions.
30:44 - "...yea, and all things denote there is a God..."
We don't need to prove to anyone that He exists. Everything around us testifies that He does exist (Moses 6:63).
However, we also do stand as witnesses of God, so even though we don't need to prove that God is there, we do need to prove that we are there for God (Acts 10:42-43).
We show through our actions, words, and thoughts that we believe in Christ, and that we believe Him.
30:44 - "...yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator..."
While we don't need to prove to others that God exists, we need to continually keep the commandments, which opens us up to more of the gift of faith in Him. This does not come through signs, except to confirm the faith that we have. This comes through consistent righteous living of Gospel Principles.
If we live the commandments, we open ourselves up to receive more faith as we do.
29:1-2 - "...O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!"
I imagine that Alma wishes this partly because that's what made such a difference in his life! He had been called to repentance by an angel. This is probably why I would like to teach like a General Authority, program like Steven Hansen, compose like my father, Hans Zimmer, and other fantastic composers, play the piano like William Joseph and John Schmidt, etc.
These things have made such a difference in my life, and I would love to share with others this same difference. Some times that is the Lord's will as well, but sometimes not.
We need to follow the Spirit to be effective instruments in His hands.
29:1-9 - "...yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy..."
This is another form of faith. We desire to make a difference, but we show our faith by being content with where we have been placed.
We are supposed to help where we are planted.
29:9 - "...O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God...I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me..."
We all have a work and glory - just as the Lord has His work and glory.
His work is to bring to pass the immortality of man.
His glory is to bring to pass the eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).
His work is completed. He accomplished this through the resurrection. However, his glory continues. We are a part of that.
Our work is to keep the commandments (D&C 11:20).
Our glory is to be instruments in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance (Alma 29:9).
And this is our joy.
Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25). Men are that they might (or exist in order to) have joy.
We gain joy through the salvation of souls (D&C 18:10, 15-16).
This is how Jesus Christ accomplishes his glory. We all work together to gain eternal life, and pure joy!
Elder L. Tom Perry talked about our responsibility as missionaries and church members in the November 2007 Ensign, Pg. 46-49, teaching us how to be more effective missionaries by raising the bar on our own personal preparation.
"Once you reach those minimum standards, shouldn't you try to keep raising the bar? I ask you the same question I asked my son many years ago: 'If you don't raise the bar, how will you ever know your potential?'...The greatest generation of missionaries will not reach its full potential unless it keeps raising the bar."
We need to keep raising the bar - even if we fail - because it stretches us and makes us better instruments in God's hands.
28:6 - "...and now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer..."
These people could have just been sorrowful and mopey, and been ineffective, but they had faith that fasting and prayer would bring comfort during their time of grief.
28:13 - "...and thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men..."
We truly are unequal, but that is only a result of sin and transgression. The more we work to be righteous, the more understanding we gain, and the more we realize that we are all equal. Inequality comes from pride.
We must humble ourselves to avoid this.
28:14 - "...and thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord..."
We see how much joy comes as more souls are saved, and we see how much sorrow comes as souls reject the gospel.
This shows the importance of sharing the gospel with all around us - whether or not they are a member of the church.
27:10 - "...but the king said unto him: Inquire of the Lord, and if he saith unto us go, we will go; otherwise we will perish in the land..."
Lamoni trusted Ammon and the Lord - he also trusted the Nephites - seeing that they went to the Nephites for protection. However, he trusted the Lord even more. This kind of faith is essential - trusting the Lord more than the arm of man.
27:16-18 - "...this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness..."
That would be wonderful to be classified as a person who is a humble seeker of happiness. I want to be that way, even if nobody classifies me as such.
We want to be seekers of happiness, but also distributors of happiness.
27:28 - "...and they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence..."
They had this attitude and behavior from a correct and more thorough understanding of the doctrines of the gospel.
If we truly understand the doctrines of the gospel, then we will have more of this attitude as well (at least, if we were in this same situation).
26:11-16 - "...Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..."
In our own strength, we are weak. However, with the Lord, we can work many mighty miracles.
That's why we should give credit where credit is due, and why we can't glory too much in the Lord (Moses 1:39, Alma 29:9).
26:22 - "...yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance..."
These are great blessings, and they require great work. Although, the work is a great blessing in and of itself.
26:22 - "...yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance..."
We want to have understanding. We want to help bring others to Christ. We want to learn new things. This takes faith, acting on our faith, and living righteously so we may open ourselves to receiving more of the gift of faith. It is a profound circle of learning, faith, and application. As we live it, we will receive more.
