Mosiah 27 - 28

This past week my thoughts have seemed to be led toward two topics - repentance and "becoming". As I have previously blogged, I felt there had to be some sort of pain, remorse, and Godly sorrow in the repentance process. For Alma the younger tells us that -

"...after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning..."
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:28)

And he stood and declared -

"...I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:24)

He then shares the mystery that the Lord revealed to him to -

"...Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:25)

And as they become Children of Christ -

"...they become new creatures..."(Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:26)

The Lord then give notice to all men that -

"...and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:26)

We learn a little more about this "becoming new creatures" as we observe the actions of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah. As new creatures -

"...Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:32)

Even though -

"...being smitten by many of them..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:32)

"....And they traveled throughout all the land...zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:35)

For as new creatures, spiritually begotten children of Christ -

"...they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble...." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 28:3)

What great insight of true repentance we learn from these brethren as -

"...they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:36 - 37)