Alma 58 - Helaman 3

Yesterday, at sat in council as a member of our stake related a series of bad choices he had made in his life. He seemed willing to meet with us as if he expected that this event would eventually take place. At first, as he began to recall many of the events in his life, he seemed very business like, indifferent as he related the facts. As he spoke, describing his circumstances and choices that he had made, the more he related the anguish and pain that had subsequently followed. It seemed that he himself began to recognize that -

"...wickedness never was happiness..." (Book of Mormon Alma 41:10)

I am sure that as he entered the room that morning that he never had anticipated the transformations of feelings that would overpower him. This man, who had been totally inactive for years, began recalling some the the feelings that he had experience in the mission field and it seemed to touch his heart. As he later left the room, there was a sincere spark that seemed to have been ignited within him. I wished I had the ability to somehow help him understand the words of Mormon I read this morning describing the penitent that come unto Christ -

"...Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Book of Mormon Helaman 3:27 - 30)

This great blessing is given to the penitent as -

"...they [do] fast and pray oft, and [do] wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." (Book of Mormon Helaman 3:35)

I declare that I have found these words to be true.