Day 51 Alma 35-36

 

In Alma Chapter 35, The Zoramite Priests and Chief Ruler of the Zoramites took a poll to see what the people thought of Alma and Amulek's teachings?  Those who liked Alma's teachings and believed in them were sent away.  They fled to Jershon and were accepted by Alma.  When the Zoramites who hated Alma found out, they sent men to go to Jershon, threaten the people and tell them to expel their followers that fled from them for Jershon.  The people of Jershon and Alma didn't listen and took them in kindly (the ones who were cast out, were poor, and fled). 

The Zoramites got together with Lamanites and talked badly about the Nephites and people of Alma in Jershon.  They were planning a war with the Nephites and Alma's people.  The people of Ammon joined with the Nephites to war against the Lamanites.  There was a battle.  Alma was sad about the disobedience, the wars, and the bloodshed.  The people's hearts were hardened.  Alma took his sons aside and taught them each his words and the commandments of the Lord that Alma wanted his sons to go preach to the people to call them to obedience and repentance.  

Likening Chapter 35 unto me

I have had my moments in life where I have been convicted of my sins, have needed to humble myself and repent of the things I have done wrong, whether it was not having faith in Christ, not believing Christ, or whether it was the way in which I lived my life, whether I was emotionally and physically available to others, and how I chose to be present with the Lord, listen to the Holy Spirit or ignore Him, and if I was teachable and obedient and repentant.  As I contemplate how much my life has changed and my outlook and joy because of obedience and repentance.  It is so sweet.  When I trust in the Lord, my life is better and feels more complete, my relationships are better, and I feel peace.

What did I do when I felt like my life wasn't in accordance with the Savior? I prayed.  I asked Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus to bring healing and comfort, teach me, and show me where he wanted me and what he wanted for my life.  I have experienced people coming along side me and supporting my efforts to draw closer to my Heavenly Father.  I have had mentors and people that loved me enough to tell me the truth, call me on things I may have said or done that were not in accordance with God's will, and who allowed me to make mistakes, grow, and develop into the woman I am today in 2025!  God gave me those people, my "Almas and Amuleks".

In Chapter 36, Alma talks about the Commandments of God with his son Helaman.  He starts out telling Helaman that if he keeps the commandments of God he will prosper and be blessed.  Alma tells Helaman that if he obeys the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that Helaman will be supported in his trials.  Alma tells Helaman about the visit by the Angel to himself and the sons of Mosiah when they were young, being wicked, and persecuting God's people.  He tells him how the Angel helped him believe in the words of his father Alma and the words of God.

Alma tells Helaman all about how he heard the angel tell him that if he didn't repent, he would be struck down.  Alma fell into a deep despair at these words and was not able to be awakened for 3 days and 3 nights but was "wracked with utter despair and torturous sadness".  He felt totally overtaken by darkness but cried out to the Lord to save him.  When he came to, he was repentant and determined to be a different man and to teach and be converted to God.

Likening these Chapters Unto Me

Tonight I was thinking a lot about my life from birth to age 50.  I have had many opportunities in my life to experience opposition in things; to experience positive and negative effects of my choices, the choices of others, the life situations I had been placed in as a child, the choices I made in my youth, and the adult decisions that were wrought upon me by others as well as those decisions I freely made for myself.  All choices have consequences, both good and not good.

Alma being a good and loving father, shared with Helaman his experiences in hopes that he could impart knowledge to his son to help him see a better, obedient way, to possibly be able to avoid the consequences of sin, but also Alma did explain to his son that if he did make unwise choices that he may receive a remission of his sings, forgiveness, and joy through repentance as he himself did in his youth when an angel appeared to him and his friends, King Mosiah's sons.

I will remember the teachings that Alma the Younger gave to his son Helaman.  I will remember to walk in obedience to the laws of the Lord and the covenants I want to make with him.  I will repent every day and at the end of the day before my head hits my pillow, I will talk with my father in heaven, tell him the things that went right today and the things that did not, ask his guidance, wait for answers, listen for the "still small voice" and make promises to Heavenly Father to do better tomorrow.