Alma Chapter 43

43:4 - "...for behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites..."
This is an interesting phrase, because it appears that "becoming" Lamanites is more of a matter of belief rather than lineage.
It's not what we know - it's what we do with our knowledge that makes the difference in who we become.


43:19-20,29-30 - Comparison between Moroni and Zarahemnah

Moroni

• Strategy
• Asked of the Lord what to do (through Alma the prophet)
• Spied out the army
• Fought with compassion
• Humility - gave glory to God
• Inspired his army
• Armor, protection, and preparedness

Zarahemnah

• Had more fighters on his side
• Fought with anger
• Didn't care about people
• Natural man
• Fought for personal gain

Reviewing these comparisons helps us to better discern what side we should be on.

We must always work to be on the Lord's side.

43:47-50 - "...and Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage..."
It is amazing what faith can do.  It can help us have the desire to be obedient to the commandments, and, in this case, it can help us know that we are fighting for the right cause.

Alma Chapter 42

42:1 - "...And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand—which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery..."
It may seem somewhat unjust that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery - wouldn't it be better to have hope in repentance and faith?
Yes, we should have hope in faith and repentance, but the point of the misery is to lead us back unto Christ.
Plus, the misery really helps us to appreciate the joy of being in the presence of the Lord.


42:2-5 - "...Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit..."
If Adam had taken of the tree of life, he would have lived forever.  This appears to be the same tree of life that is in Lehi's dream - which may give more insight into why Cherubim and a Flaming Sword was placed to guard the tree of life.
Many people in Lehi's dream partook of the fruit of the tree of life, but still needed to hold fast, because some of them fell away after partaking.  If Adam did not learn more, it seems that he would have lived forever in a state that would have been similar to falling away after partaking.
God in His mercy gave Adam the opportunity to learn and grow and progress and approach closer though the proper means.  We also have this opportunity, and must follow the commandments.


42:13 - "...Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state..."
We do have help from the Lord.  He suffered everything for us, and we can have that cover us completely.  Our job is to have faith in Him and repent of our sins...continually trying to get closer to Him.
As we act in faith, we will see those blessings, including forgiveness and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Alma Chapter 41

41:3 - "...And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good..."
President Ezra Taft Benson has said about this, "Thoughts lead to acts, acts lead to habits, habits lead to character—and our character will determine our eternal destiny."
Our works and actions are right in the middle, and it is essential to start long before it reaches that point by keeping our desires and thoughts clean.


41:6 - "...if he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness..."
With faith, desire may come.  With desire, acting in faith and repentance will come.  As we do these things, we will be led closer and closer to Christ and be lifted up at the last day.


41:10 - "...Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness..."
It may look good now, but in the end, it will ensnare you and lead you carefully away down to hell (2 Nephi 28:21).

Alma Chapter 40

40:3 - "...Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection..."
I think the biggest thing that touched me while reading these chapters (39-42) was in Alma 40:3. In this verse, Alma is talking to his son, Corianton, about the resurrection.  First he mentions about mysteries and that there are many mysteries that are kept and that nobody knows except God.  But then Alma gives us a great key for understanding "mysteries" or doctrine that we didn't understand before.
The key mentioned by Alma is that he inquired diligently of God that he might know.  I know that we need to ask God and He will give us an answer.
Take, for example, Nephi in 1 Nephi 15:7-11.  He just had the vision of the Tree of Life, and he talks with his brothers.  They ask him a question about their father's dream/vision - the same vision that Nephi just came from seeing. Nephi asked them the key question - "Have ye inquired of the Lord?"  They hadn't, because they didn't believe that the Lord would answer.  Nephi gives a great statement in verse 11.  If we ask in faith, with a softened heart, and are diligent in keeping the commandments, we will have these things made known unto us.
Another example is in 3 Nephi as Mormon is putting in commentary about the Three Nephites.  In 3 Nephi 28:17, Mormon admits that he doesn't know if they were mortal or immortal.  In verses 36-40 he gives us the key again.  He sais in verse 37 that since he had last written that he had inquired of the Lord.  Mormon received the answer because he wanted to know and inquired diligently.
I know that if we pray sincerely and diligently, we will receive the answer.  Sometimes it takes a little longer to receive an answer, so that's where diligence comes into play.  I also learned from this reading that it is important to be humble so we don't think that the answers we receive just come from ourselves.  If we recognize that it all comes from the Lord, then we will be more humble and malleable in His hands, which is our real goal.


40:11 - "...Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life..."
President Thomas S. Monson spoke on this subject in the November 2007 Ensign, pg. 21-24, telling us that "God will never forsake [us] - that He sent His Only Begotten Son into the world to teach us by example the life we should live."
We will eventually stand before the Lord and understand things a lot better, but right now it's very comforting to know that God will never forsake us. It helps us prepare for that great day!


40:25 - "...And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God..."
This is in the middle of the verses that say that the wicked will have an awful death - so we can have faith if we are doing our best, applying what we learn, and acting in faith, that we can and will shine forth in the kingdom of God.
We must have faith and not be discouraged!

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.