Day 37: Alma 13-14

Welcome to Day 37...

Alma taught the people in Ammonihah about Melchizedek and the importance of priesthood authority in building God's kingdom as the majority of the people were extremely wicked and set on destroying the church.

Then things escalated to a total nightmare. Alma and Amulek were forced to witness a horrific tragedy and thrown into prison.

            

A distraught Alma pleaded: "How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance."  And then an mighty miracle occurred," according to their faith which was in Christ." Alma 14:26

Today's reading reminds us that yes, terrible things happen - but even those things are part of a vast eternal plan and all will be well in the end. 

So if all is NOT well today, that means it's NOT the end. :) 

• Opening Song: "Be Still"
  

• Begin study session with prayer
• Scripture Study: Alma 13-15 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon Alma 13-15

Video: Alma's Mission to Ammonihah 

• Video: Elder Boyd K Packer on Zeezrom 

Understanding why God allows the righteous to suffer can be a difficult principle for us to understand. Reflect upon the following statement from President Spencer W. Kimball to further understand why God allows people to exercise their agency, even if they make wrong choices: “If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective. If all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. No man would have to live by faith” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 15).

"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 abhorence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God." Alma 13:12

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest." Alma 13:28-29 

Although priesthood holders are discussed in Alma 13, President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that sisters were also given noble callings in the premortal existence: “Remember, in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks” (“The Role of Righteous Women,”Ensign, Nov. 1979, 102).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now.’ Whether foreordination for men, or foredesignation for women, those called and prepared must also prove ‘chosen and faithful.’ (See Rev. 17:14; D&C 121:34–36.)

• Video: Foreordination

“Today is a day of eternity. I hope each day we are thankful for life, for knowing that we are sons and daughters of God and that the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is upon the earth. I hope we will have a desire and a determination to make each day a good day.”

--George I. Cannon, “Today—A Day of Eternity,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 13

• Record thoughts and favorite verses in your journal

• Close study session with prayer

Day 36: Alma 11-12

Welcome to Day 36...

 Today Amulek and Alma continue to preach to the wicked people of Ammonihah, fielding Zeezrom's insolent questions with finesse, expounding on God's plan of salvation and pleading with the people: "Seeing we know these things and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us...but let us enter into the rest of God."  

I feel like my heart is softened each time I humbly open the scriptures, which often puts me in a forgiving and repentant state at the same time. 

So let's hop to it! On to the best part of our day! 

Opening Song: "Be Still My Soul" by Vocal Point

• Begin with prayer
• Scripture Study: Alma 11-12 (listen)
• Study Guide: (here)

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon

• Video: "There Was A Plan of Redemption"

• Alma 11:43-44
  "The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.
  Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil."

Alma 12:10 "And 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."

“As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter. And in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord.”--Robert D. Hales, Ensign, General Conference Nov. 2009, 73

              

“If you are slipping into things that you should not slip into or if you are associating with people who are pulling you away in the wrong direction, that is the time to assert your independence, your agency. Listen to the voice of the Spirit, and you will not be led astray. …As a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the promptings that come from the Holy Spirit.” 

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal.

• Close study session with prayer.

Day 35: Alma 9-10

Welcome to Day 35...

         
Alma preached to the wicked people of Ammonihah  and commanded them to repent or that God would "utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth in His fierce anger." When he pointed out that the Lamanites were better than they were, they wanted to throw him in prison. Amulek, an admired local, stepped forward and defended him, then lawyers like Zeezrom jumped in and things really got hoppin'! 

Both Alma and Amulek only spoke out MORE BOLDLY when reviled by the people. Such incredible examples of courage in the line of fire!

When we choose wickedness, the Spirit leaves us and we get "dumber." The people of Ammonihah "understood not" and "knew not that God could do such miracles."

Today's reading inspires repentance, wisdom and courage to share the gospel! 

Opening Song: "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" ( Alma 9:28)

• Begin Study Session With Prayer

• Scripture Study: Alma 9-10 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)

• Video Discussions on the Book of Mormon Alma 8-12

• Video: President Thomas S. Monson (Alma 9:28)

"Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, 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 shallreap 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." Alma 9:28 

                     

"Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. But behold, this is not all---he has commanded you to repent, or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the earth; yea, he will visit you in his anger; and in his fierce anger he will not turn away." Alma 9:12

                     

“There is only one way to rid ourselves of this suffering. It is by means of sincere repentance. I learned that if I could present unto the Lord a broken heart and contrite spirit, feeling a godly sorrow for my sins, humbling myself, being repentant of my faults, He, through His miraculous atoning sacrifice, could erase those sins and remember them no more.” --Claudio D. Zivic “After All We Can Do,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 98.

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal

• Close study session with prayer

Day 34: ** Make-Up Day!!**

Yes!! Another Make-Up Day!!!  :)

Take this opportunity to relish any passages you may have hastily skimmed, and catch up on chapters you skipped.  

If you're all caught up, watch this video and have a great day!!  :)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell Video:  
"Encircled in the Arms of His Love"

Come to Christ today and allow him to encircle you in the arms of his love!

Close Make-up Day with prayer  :)

Day 33: Alma 7-8

Welcome to Day 33...

Alma rejoiced that the people of Gideon walked "in the paths of righteousness." He testified of Christ, that he would be born of Mary and go forth suffering pains, afflictions and temptations of every kind. He would loose the bands of death and take upon him the infirmities of all, "that he may know how to succor his people and blot out their transgression." (Alma 7:9-13) 

Alma then gives us this beautiful entreaty: 
"Repent and be born again, for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven...
Fear not, and lay aside every sin which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction: yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandment and witness it unto him this day, by going into the water of baptism (or partaking of the sacrament)."  

If we do this, pressing forward and keeping the commandments, we "shall have eternal life."  (Alma 7:14-16)

And with "faith, hope and charity" we will always abound in GOOD WORKS.  (Alma 7:24)

After preaching to the people in Gideon, Alma journeys to Ammonihah where things don't go so well. "Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people." (Alma 8:9) As soon as the word "repent" came out of his mouth he was "spit upon and cast out of the city." He was "weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people." 

And then his angel friend from long ago appeared and cheered him on:"Lift up your head and rejoice!" That's all it took to rekindled Alma's fire! He returned to Ammonihah, found Amulek, who the Lord had prepared to be his companion, and new missionary adventures began.

The ups and downs of this life can be exhausting! Amidst the wrestle, the Lord comforts, helps and heals, sending angels and tender mercies to give us strength to carry on, just as he did for Alma and Amulek.

• Opening Song:  "Come Unto Jesus"

• Open Study Session With Prayer

• Scripture Study: Alma 7-8 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)

• Video: Book of Mormon Stories "Alma's Mission to Ammonihah"

• Video: Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the atonement

 "And now 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."  Alma 7:23

 

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7:11-12

“The Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing it offers do much more than provide the opportunity for repentance from sins. The Atonement also gives us the strength to endure 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,' because our Savior also took upon Him 'the pains and the sicknesses of his people' (Alma 7:11). Brothers and sisters, your faith and prayers and the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden.” --Dallin H. Oaks, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign. Nov. 2006, 9.

"...that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people...that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance..." (Alma 7:12-13.)

Jehovah incarnate (Jesus), albeit previously an omniscient Creator, was unaware of physical vicissitudes and subsequent anguish until He acquired first hand experience.

Suffering is a component in transforming from spirit (organized intelligence) to resurrected corporeal being.

"...yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered...And...he BECAME the author of eternal salvation..." (Heb. 5:8-9.)

Jesus became the author of our salvation after he experienced the atonement.
"I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent..." (D&C 19:16.)"

I am so thankful my Savior drank the dreaded bitter cup so that I can have a joyful eternity. As I read the Book of Mormon I feel a closer connection and kinship to Him than ever and feel His love abounding in my life! Continue feasting with me and rejoicing in his glorious gospel!  :) 

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal

• Close study session with prayer