Alma Chapter 39

39:1 - "...have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?..."
This is another blessing of being faithful and keeping the commandments.  We want to have the Holy Ghost, yes, but we also want to be good examples.
By showing our faith in this manner, we can be good examples.


39:11 - "...Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words..."
We need to be good examples in all times, in all things, and in all places - otherwise we can end up being in a similar situation as this passage.  We can and must set good examples (Mosiah 18:10).


39:17-19 - "...And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?..."
These things were taught so long before Jesus Christ came to this earth because God loves His children at all times.  He wanted them to have that hope and faith, even though they wouldn't live during the time that Jesus Christ came.
This helps us as well, because if He loved them enough to teach them these things, then it means that God also loves us enough to teach us these things and that we can have those blessings in our lives at this time.

Alma Chapter 38

38:11-14 - "...See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength..."
Watch out for pride!  In this passage of scripture, it discusses how the Zoramites would pray in a very prideful manner.  If we do not watch out, we can slowly but surely let pride seep into our lives and prayers!


38:12 - "...see that ye refrain from idleness..."
This can be a problem for many people.  We often have so much going on that we overload and burn out, and just want to be idle for a while.  It's quite ironic.
If we can just pace ourselves and not run faster than we have strength, acting in faith even when we want to be idle or just sleep - then we will have that added measure of help!

Alma Chapter 37

37:6-7 - "...now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise..."
By small and simple things are great things brought to pass - we can accomplish a lot through small things.
Elder Christoffel Golden Jr. talked about this in the November 2007 Ensign, pg. 78-80.  "In the wake of our best and very limited efforts and because of the Lord's infinite goodness, 'great things [are] brought to pass' by the 'small and simple things.'...In its essentials, the gospel is simple and easy to understand and adapted to the capacity of the weakest."
We can and do accomplish great things through the help of God.


37:9 - "...yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer..."
Ammon and his brethren could not have helped the Lamanites without the scriptures.  The power of the scriptures is immeasurable.  The word of God is mightier than the sword (Alma 31:5).
We need to remember this in teaching our own families and sharing the gospel with friends/neighbors.

37:13,41 - "...o remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God...nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey..."
The commandments are strict, but we will prosper if we follow them.
When we are following the commandments, we will be able to follow the Spirit to reach out and help others - often by small and simple means.  When we are obedient, we will see great miracles occur in our lives.


37:16 - "...if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words..."
This scripture refers to the Book of Mormon, but can be also applied to many other sacred events in our lives.  If we are doing our best to show our faith and keep the commandments, we will have the Holy Ghost to guide and show us how to be sacred and how to be open to receive more of the gift of faith as well as direction in our lives.

Alma Chapter 36

36:2 - "...I would that ye should do as I have done..."
Alma is teaching his son in this chapter and encourages him to follow his example.
We also should look to our fathers and follow their righteous examples.


36:9 - "...and he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God..."
No matter how much some people may try, they cannot force somebody else to take their view.  We must also not seek to do the same, whether it's against the church or in behalf of the church.  To force others is a path of destruction.
We must convert ourselves and share our convictions and testimonies, but realize that we cannot force others to adopt the same beliefs.


36:24 - "...Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost..."
We must not become weary of doing good.  There are always people that need help, and there's something that we can do to help or prepare to help.


36:24-26 - "...that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste..."
When we receive great blessings, we must have the faith and actions to try to bring them to others.  We can exercise faith and hope that they will benefit from our actions.

Alma Chapter 35

35:15-16 - "...Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them...he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge..."
Alma saw the importance of teaching his own family before going back out to teach the rest of the people.  He also took his family with him to go teach again.  We should remember to do the same - make sure that we're teaching our own families first and foremost.


35:15-16 - "...having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city..."
Alma could have given up on the Zoramites and other people - but he had the faith that there were some who would still change.  That's why he acted in faith and taught his sons, then they all went back to work.
Sometimes we have difficulties with our own work.  If we follow this example to go back in faith, we have the assurance that as we work in faith and try to do our best, the Lord will help us accomplish what we need to accomplish.

Alma Chapter 34

34:2 - "...I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ..."
These things were not done in a corner (Acts 26:28).
We have them made known unto us, and we really have no excuse.  When you know more, you can fall further, since you can't "not know" any more.
The whole point is that it's not about what we know - but what we do with what we know.


34:9-14 - "...For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish..."
It is expedient to have this atonement, and everything points unto it.
Why?
Elder Bruce D. Porter talked about the "why" in the November 2007 Ensign, pg. 31-32.  In this talk, he discusses having a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
He mentions, "The sacrifices mandated during the Mosaic dispensation pointed symbolically to the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, who alone could reconcile sinful man with God."
It all testifies of Christ.  He's the one who paid the price.
Why, though, a broken heart and contrite spirit?  Again from his talk:

1. It brings humility.
2. It's a precondition to repentance
3. It serves as a shield against temptation
4. We have more gratitude

These great blessings come only as we prove we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, which are great blessings as well.

34:14 - "...And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal..."
All things testify of Christ (Moses 6:63).
Everything about the law and the reasons that we keep the commandments point to Christ.  He was able to accomplish the atonement and made it possible for us to even be here.
We should also point to Christ.


34:15-16 - "...that they may have faith unto repentance..."
Having faith unto repentance allows mercy to take over.
If we do not repent, the plan of mercy cannot take hold because that is Christ's law.  And it's something that we can and should follow.


34:32-34 - "...For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors..."
We need to prepare now to meet God - by becoming the person that the Lord wants us to be.


34:41 - "...but that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions..."
We will have this rest one day, but until that time, we need to exercise our patience and faith.
The rest of the Lord is going to be a huge blessing.

Alma Chapter 33

33:11 - "...and thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity..."
The Lord wants to help us, and He will hear us because of our sincerity.  It shows the importance of being sincere with our prayers, and have a personal relationship with Him.


33:19-21 - "...behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live..."
We look unto Christ in order to live (or be healed).  The Brass Serpent represents the Christ (Numbers 21:4-9).
If we look unto Christ, we can be healed in the areas that we need it.


33:19-21 - "...behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live..."
Sometimes the way to be healed is very simple.  We just don't take the path because we expect it to be harder.
We need to have faith in the simple healing process - and follow it.