Day 38: Alma 15-17

Welcome to Day 38...

An imprisoned Alma exclaimed, "O Lord give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ even unto deliverance!" 

"The Lord...granted unto them power according to their faith which was in Christ...and they were loosed from their bands..." (Alma 14: 26-28)

We can be freed from bondage. Deliverance is possible for us, according to our "faith in Christ."

Alma and Amulek continued on to the land of Sidom and discovered a repentant but ill Zeezrom. "If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed." (Alma 15:8) 

Alma noted a "great check" in the hearts of the people, "checked as to to the pride of their hearts.” Due to their humility, the church was well established in Sidom.

Ammonihah, the city that supposedly "God could not destroy because of it's greatness" became the pungent “Desolation of Nehors."

Alma and Amulek were rewarded with many faithful followers in Zarahemla, establishing peace and "victory over the devil" with "the word of God preached in its purity in all the land and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people." (Alma 16:21)

More joy was in store for Alma when, after fourteen years, he bumped into his old "partners in crime" - the sons of King Mosiah! They were "still his brethren in the Lord...strong in the knowledge of the truth for they had searched the scriptures diligently" and had been missionaries to the most challenging audience they could find -"a wild and hardened and ferocious people who delighted in murdering the Nephites."

Now on to one of the most AWESOME stories EVERRR!! Ammon proselyting to the Lamanites! Ammon gave us a perfect model of how to share the gospel through service, and we learn just how "disarming" he was in his missionary labors. When things looked dreadful, Ammon was delighted. He saw it as an opportunity to manifest God's power and told his trembling comrades to "be of good cheer." (Alma 17:31)


Let's follow Ammon in being full of faith and courage in the face of today's trials. Enjoy your study session!

• Opening Song: 

"I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"

• Begin study session with prayer

• Scripture Study: Alma 15-17 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon

• Video: "Ammon A Great Servant"

"And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God." Alma 16:16-17

President Thomas S. Monson on Alma 17:1-3:

Alma 17:10-11 "And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted. And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

                                
“A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” --Joseph Smith Jr.

• Video: "The Truth Shall Make You Free"

• Record thoughts and favorite verses in your journal. 

• Close with prayer and have a beautiful, spirit-filled day!