Alma 19

After their conversion, Lamoni and his servants -

"...did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.
(Book of Mormon Alma 19:33)

And -

"...as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord." (Book of Mormon Alma 19:31)

And -

"...there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them." (Book of Mormon Alma 19:35)

It seems at first that all that was necessary for these people was to hear the word, believe, experience a change of heart, and be baptized and they would remain thereafter a "righteous people". But later after Ammon had freed Aaron and his brethren in Middoni -

"...Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael..." (Book of Mormon Alma 21:18)

For as Aaron tells King Laman -

"...the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni." (Book of Mormon Alma 22:4)

It becomes clear that it was necessary to continue to teach the people by the Spirit -

"Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 32:3)

Lamoni then -

"...caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together." (Book of Mormon Alma 21:20)

"And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God." (Book of Mormon Alma 21:23)

It becomes clear that it is necessary that we continue to "hear the word" and give heed to it "daily" in all diligence to stay in the way and remain a righteous people.

Alma 17

As the sons of Mosiah embarked on their mission to the Lamanites and journeyed in the wilderness -

"...they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct." (Book of Mormon Alma 17:9)

As Lamoni expressed a desire to believe in the words of Ammon, one of the sons of Mosiah, Ammon tells him -

"...I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true;
35 And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God." (Book of Mormon Alma 18:34 - 35)

We begin to understand what it takes to receive this "portion of that Spirit" as Mormon writes -

"...they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God." (Book of Mormon Alma 17:2 - 3)

These great missionaries had received knowledge, power, and increased faith as they diligently searched the scriptures with much prayer and fasting. And with that they had to show faith and patience as we are told -

"...they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit." (Book of Mormon Alma 17:5)

This is how priesthood leaders are to prepare and magnify their callings.

Alma 13

As Alma taught the people of Ammonihah of the Holy Priesthood, which -

"...high priesthood being after the order of his Son..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:7)

and of those -

"...being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:6)

and being -

"...called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:4 - 5)


Suggesting that the privilege of holding this priesthood had to do with "willing to take upon them the name of Christ" or willing to follow His annointed and do the will of God. Therefore -

"...there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:10)

To have the privilege of obtaining this priesthood, man must choose to repent and work righteousness or magnify their calling -

"Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:11 - 12)

Suggesting that even the most valiant at sometime had to repent. And not repent but -

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

Such as they cannot look upon sin save it be with abhorrence.

President Spencer W. Kimbell wrote -

“This passage indicates an attitude which is basic to the sanctification we should all be seeking, and thus to the repentance which merits forgiveness. It is that the former transgressor must have reached a ‘point of no return’ to sin wherein there is not merely a renunciation but also a deep abhorrence of the sin—where the sin becomes most distasteful to him and where the desire or urge to sin is cleared out of his life.

Surely this is what is meant, in part at least, by being pure in heart! And when we read in the Sermon on the Mount that the ‘pure in heart’ shall see God, it gives meaning to the Lord’s statement, made through the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1832, that presently impure people can perfect themselves and become pure:

'Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.’ (D&C 88:68.)” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 354–55).

Alma then admonishes the people -

"And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:13)

Alma 12

As Alma expounded on the teachings of Amulek, he said to the people of Ammonihah -

"...It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him." (Book of Mormon Alma 12:9)

In a few very simple words, Alma explains much of the plan of happiness, the spirit of prophecy of our testimony of Jesus Christ. It is a mystery to many that do not exhibit faith unto repentance, giving heed and diligence to His word.

"...therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries..." (Book of Mormon Alma 12:10 - 11)

This follows what the Savior taught His disciples -

"...it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." (New Testament Matthew 13:11 - 12)

Therefore -

"...if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.
14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.
15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance." (Book of Mormon Alma 12:13 - 15)

Recently in the national political race, some revealed doctrine has been challenged by an individual that has not come to understand some of the mysteries. The Lord has instructed -

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (New Testament Matthew 7:6)

For again they will only receive -

"...the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him." (Book of Mormon Alma 12:9)

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (New Testament John 17:3)

Alma 9

The Lord has said on multiple occasions -

"...Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." (Book of Mormon Alma 9:13)

That with that promise, Alma also tells the people of Ammonihah -

"...if it had not been for his matchless power, and his mercy, and his long-suffering towards us, we should unavoidably have been cut off from the face of the earth long before this period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state of endless misery and woe." (Book of Mormon Alma 9:11)

This verse helps us understand the patience and great love of the Savior. All he asks is that we repent. Alma continues this doctrine as he prophesies -

"...not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers." (Book of Mormon Alma 9:26)

How greatful we are that the Lord is patient and long-suffering as we develope faith and learn to keep His commandments. He makes it clear that -

"...he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name." (Book of Mormon Alma 9:27)

The key is "unto repentance" -

"...for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil." (Book of Mormon Alma 9:28)

Alma 7

Following up my last blog, where Alma went -

"...forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty...bearing down in pure testimony..." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:19)

Alma first preached to those in Zarahemla, and then he went to preach those in Gideon. It was it Gideon that he found joy that many were living according to the covenants that they had made. But again Alma emphasied the importance of the remembrance of their duty saying -

"I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:22)

The holy order being "file leaders" holding the priesthood. Their charge is to awaken each of us to a sense of our duty to God. Alma continues in describing what he meant of their duty saying -

"...I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:23)

And to -

"...see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:24)

Alma finishes his visit with -

"And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:26)

Alma 4

Alma, who was the presiding High Priest over all the Churches througout the land, also was serving as the Chief Judge over the Nephites. You can sense the priorities of Alma as -

"...having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:15)

So he -

"...selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people.
17 Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people.
18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:16 - 18)

Alma gave up his temporal job to allow more service in his spiritual job. In doing so, being the presiding high priest over multiple churches or in today's terms - wards, he explains his responsibility or purpose -

"...that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:19)

As we ponder his purpose, it was -

"...to stir them up in remembrance of their duty..." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:19)

Their duty being from our baptismal covenants being -

"...willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:8 - 9)

to -

"...the magnifying their calling..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:33)

How did Alma do this?

"...by the word of God..in bearing down in pure testimony..." (Book of Mormon Alma 4:19)

Alma's example is a great resource to all leaders.

Mosiah 23

Because of the humility and obedience, the followers of Alma -

"...began to prosper exceedingly in the land..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:19)

But even in great properity, Paul taught -

"...whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth..." (New Testament Hebrews 12:6)

We see this with the people of Alma that even as they began to prosper -

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:21)

Patience and faith go hand in hand. It is the test to be worthy to be called His son or daughter -

"Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:22)

Because of His love for His children, great burdens were placed on the people of Alma to try their patience and faith. And as they were tested, as they continued in obedience with patience and faith, the Lord promised -

"...I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 24:14 - 15)

And with this, the people -

"...did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 24:15)

It was not just a demonstration of patience and faith, but doing so cheerfully. And as the test was completed -

"...it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 24:16)

Which miraculously He did. Paul taught -

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (New Testament Hebrews 10:36)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught -
“The necessity of our having this intriguing attribute is cited several times in the scriptures, including by King Benjamin, who clustered the attributes of a saint, and patience was a charter member of that cluster.

Patience is not indifference. Actually, it is caring very much, but being willing, nevertheless, to submit both to the Lord and to what the scriptures call the ‘process of time.’

Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than his. Either way we are questioning the reality of God’s omniscience, as if, as some seem to believe, God were on some sort of postdoctoral fellowship. . . .

We read in Mosiah about how the Lord simultaneously tries the patience of his people even as he tries their faith. One is not only to endure—but to endure well and gracefully those things which the Lord ‘seeth fit to inflict upon [us]’ (Mosiah 3:19), just as did a group of ancient American Saints who were bearing unusual burdens but who submitted ‘cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord’ (Mosiah 24:15). . . .

The Lord has twice said: ‘And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life’ (D&C 101:38, italics added; see also Luke 21:19). Could it be that only when our self-control has become total do we come into true possession of our own souls?” (“Patience,” Ensign, Oct. 1980, p. 28).