Day 50 Alma 32-34

 

Chapter 32 in Alma is a very popular Chapter in the Book of Mormon.  In Alma 32, Alma teaches about Faith.  I hope you will take time to read this chapter slowly and really think about this Chapter.  It is a beautiful chapter and means a lot to me.  Alma started teaching the poor people in the land who were being cast out of their Synagogues for their appearance.  Due to their appearance, the people thought they were not fit to employee and so they also were not able to work, due to this inability to provide, they were on the street, cast out, and also sad (poor in heart).

The poor asked Alma how they were to worship when they spent years building the very Synagogues that they were not allowed to enter and worship in?  "Where were they to go?" Alma told the man and those with him that they were humble and had knowledge because they were cast out.  That they could worship in places other than the Synagogue and that they could worship more than once a week!  Alma told him they were blessed because they were humble.

Alma said that those who were humble and teachable are even more blessed than those forced to be humble due to poverty.  That if they repent and also endure to the end they will be blessed.  He said blessed are they who believe and become baptized without a perfect knowledge of things.  Believing and being humble without being compelled to be.  Alma said that a man or woman, not knowing something but believing anyway is a person who has faith.

Someone who KNOWS the will  of God and doesn't do it is cursed but a person who believes without a perfect knowledge is blessed.  "God is merciful unto all of those who believe on His name".  Alma told them that angels impart knowledge to men, women, and children and that even little children surprise the learned with their knowledge of Gospel truth.

Alma 32:26-43 is a complete analogy of how faith is a seed, how they can plant that seed, watch it grow and bear fruit, and receive the fruit of truth through faith that has been planted, fed, and produced good fruit.  Please go read these verses.  Take notes.  Apply the teaching.  Watch your own faith grow!

Likening Alma 32 Unto Me

I think about what faith looks like to me.  I believe if I was to apply the principle of faith, not having a perfect knowledge, but believing and acting on that belief to test and prove the truth of something, I'd give this analogy.  A young blind girl is walking the neighborhood with her mother.  The girl cannot see so she holds her mama's hand.  As they walk, the mother sees a puddle ahead, which if the child is not directed to walk around, her feet and little sandals will get all wet.  The mother lovingly says to her daughter, "sweetie, there is a puddle ahead, so I want you to follow my hand and direction and move your body where I lead you to prevent this puddle from getting your shoes wet.  The little girl cannot see the puddle, but she trusts her mama.  She follows her mother's direction and moves in the direction prompted by her mom's hand.  In this way, she avoids the puddle.  This is faith.  She didn't have a perfect knowledge, but she believed her mama wouldn't steer her wrong.

In my life I have times where I just don't know, or I can't see the relevance of something, the outcome of something, or whether something is coming my way.  I do, however, have faith.  I have faith that my spiritual promptings should be listened to that are given by the Holy Spirit.  I have faith in the words of the Scriptures to guide me.  I have faith in a modern-day Prophet of God who leads and directs our church. I have faith that the sun will come up tomorrow.  I also have faith that the gifts of knowledge, understanding, and unseen sight that I have had since I was a small girl are from God.

I have faith that the things I cannot know of with a surety, will come to pass if they be the Lord's will because I have been promised that if I "Ask, I will receive, seek and I will find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto me".  I have faith that God has a plan for my life, that he makes a way where there seems to be no way, and that he does good to those who love him.  God wants good for us and has a plan for our life to prosper us and to cause us to be blessed, not to harm us".  I have faith that these things I feel and believe are true!  I have faith that The Book of Mormon is true.

One of the things that Alma tells the people he is teaching is that to neglect the faith or the tree, will not bear fruit, there will be no result, so we must exercise our faith, work it out, practice it to see the results, light, and truth of it.

In Alma Chapter 33, there is a part of a verse that really hit me and is something we all can remember when we read or are taught something we don't understand or that our leaders and Prophet get wrong.  In Alma 33:2 part of it says, "ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them."  

Likening This Unto Me

I wonder how many times I have read something and instead of stating what is being taught is something I do not agree with, I would step back and think, "hmmm...I must not understand this because clearly it's being taught. I need to look more into this.  If I was to do this, how many times would a teaching or something I read not be misinterpreted.  I see it ALL OF THE TIME when people want to tell me what my faith believes and how it is wrong.  All of the time.   

I loved reading that verse because it reminded me of what someone said in conference, "Before doubting the faith, doubt your doubts" basically meaning that I need to dig deeper, do more research, and learn more fully before assuming my interpretation of something I read or learn is what I take offense at and is what is being relayed or if it is me not understanding fully and I need to go back and seek out further.  

Alma reminds the people about how we can pray and seek the Lord for guidance and answers to our prayers anywhere; the fields, bedrooms, closets, etc.  That God hears our prayers everywhere we pray not just in church.  Alma reminded them that God turns away his judgements of us because of Jesus Christ his son.

Alma 33:22-23 says, "22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

Alma 34 talks about how once Alma sat down, Amulek shared that without an Atonement from Christ, all mankind will not be saved.  Can I just say how cool it would have been to be there, listening to Alma and Amulek teach!  Anyways, back to Chapter 34... Amulek tells the people that because of the Prophets previously teaching, we know that the Christ who will redeem us is the Son of God.  That he will atone for us and that we will be redeemed and that we can have eternal life because of Christ's Atonement for our sins when we repent, be baptized, and believe in Him.  He tells the people to cry repentance and have faith unto repentance so that they can be saved, and to do so everywhere not just in the Synogogues.  Amulek also tells them to serve others, give to those in need, and practice doing for others so that your prayers to God for your own needs won't be in vain.  

Likening Chapter 34 Unto Me

"This life is the time to prepare to meet God."  Yep, I feel that lately.  Definitely this message is for this time.  Right now, in 2025 we all need to be "repenting, crying out to the Lord in our closets, and preparing to meet God".  I am not ever going to shy away from talking about the Gospel.  

I was at a nail salon today and wanted to ask, "Have you ever heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?  Would you like to visit us?" I didn't do it.  I will do it the next time I see the woman because I was prompted to and I know it was a prompting.  Heavenly Father knows this woman and maybe she has been praying to know God more.  I was there and was prompted so I am going to say something when I see her again.  

Hopefully, someday I will perfect acting on promptings immediately instead of having to go back and do it later.  Tomorrow is not promised.  I should do it when I am prompted!