Day 34 Mosiah 24-26

 Please listen to the two YouTube videos I have placed below.  They are very special and mean alot to me.  I began this blog with one, and ended my post with the other.

Likening Mosiah Chapter 24 unto Me

First off, I wanted to begin this Chapter with the above Youtube Video about Prayer.  I believe that in the scriptures many times we have been taught and shown by example how righteous men and women, when in need, reached out to the Lord in Prayer.  When I read in Chapter 24 about how Alma and his people were told not to pray or they would be killed, it hit me hard.  Alma's people, to prevent their murder, prayed in secret and God heard their hearts.

There have been times in my life where I have needed to keep the things of God private and pray in my heart to preserve myself.  It happened specifically once where I knew that I needed to pray, but that if I did so out loud it would make things worse, and so I prayed in my heart.  God did hear my prayer and delivered me from EVIL.  

I loved the above Music Video and wanted to share it with you as you ponder your own prayer life.  Have you had a time in your life where you have needed the Lord and needed to reach out to him in private for something urgent?  Ponder this and remember how you felt?  Were your prayers answered?  Mine were, and there are still a few petitions I have that I am still waiting on answers to, but I know they will come in time.  The verses below talk about how Alma and his people were warned not to pray, and what they did.  God did answer them!

Mosiah 24:11-12

11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.

12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

The people of Alma had great faith and prayed and asked God to deliver them out of the hands of Amulon and their enemies.  God told Alma to be of good cheer and fear not.  He put a deep sleep upon the Lamanites and helped Alma and his people to escape them.  They arrived in the Land of Zarahemla after 12 days and Mosiah welcomed them with Joy.  God truly answered their prayers.

In Mosiah 25, King Mosiah shared the stories to both the people of Zarahemla and the people of Limhi about how God brought them out of bondage from the Lamanites and reunited them in Zarahemla.  Alma taught repentance and faith in the Lord.  Both the people of Limhi and Zarahemla were called Nephites, Alma baptized the people of Limhi and established, "The Church of God".

Alma set up many churches in the land, called priests and teachers, and baptized the people in the Waters of Mormon.  He reminded the people of Limhi that it was God that delivered them and that even though there were many churches established in Zarahemla they were all one church because ONLY Faith and Repentance were taught.  The Spirit of God was poured out upon them and they were blessed.

In Mosiah Chapter 26, I feel like verses 1-4 could pertain to our day.  Some young people are not following the traditions of their grandparents and parents when it comes to attending church, praying, believing in God, believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. or even being morally clean.  It is like the days of Noah or Sodom and Gomorrah; sinful, without direction, and lawless.  There are others however, who are returning to God, returning to traditional family and church attendance, and desire for the things of God.

Alma noticed many who were not repenting and he went to King Mosiah about it.  King Mosiah told Alma to judge them and told him that he was a good judge.  Alma went to the Lord.  The Lord told Alma that those who repent will be forgiven and those who do not repent can not be numbered among the Church of God and their names were blotted out among those who are called The Church of God.  Alma was told that his sins are forgiven and he will obtain eternal life.  Alma was told that he is to teach the people that they are to forgive or they could not be forgiven.  So Alma did as he was instructed of the Lord.

Likening these Chapters Unto Me

#1 Faith and Repentance are our first two Doctrines in our Faith followed by Baptism, Confirmation, and Enduring to the End.  I recognize in these Chapters that our faith, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" is modeled after the Church of God established by Alma.  It reconfirms to me the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how God does not change.  He established his Church through his servants the Prophets (Amos 3:7) and restored it through Joseph Smith Jr.

#2 I must forgive.  It is not a suggestion but a commandment and necessary for me to also be forgiven by God.

#3 God protects those who love him and makes good for them.   This includes me.  God knows my needs, hears my silent prayers and my vocal prayers and answers them according to my request, his will, and for my good.

#4 It is important for me that I make space and room in my heart, mind, and life for those who desire to find Christ.  I know him and I know Christ wants his children to come unto Him.  I want to share with those I know and meet, how they can come unto Christ and live with him eternally.