This post is a prelude to the things that Alma preached to the people of Ammonihah. Before I discuss this, though, I should acknowledge that my posts have been less frequent of late. Rest assured that I am still reading and studying the Book of Mormon and I will post more frequently, as time allows....
Alma is continuing on his travels to the Nephite communities, preaching repentance and putting the organization of the church in order. He visits the city of Melek, where he baptizes many and organizes the the local church. Not much else is said of this stop there. He proceeds to the city of Ammonihah, and this is where we pick up his story.
The people of Ammonihah were not receptive to Alma's ministerial efforts. Alma records: "Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma" (Alma 8:9). Nevertheless, Alma was compelled by his concern and love for the people. He first sought the Spirit: "Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance" (Alma 8:10). This can be instructive to us who have a difficult calling or challenging assignment in the church. Alma recognized that he needed help with the job ahead of him. We need to recognize that without the guidance and support of the Lord, we alone cannot do His work. This is the Lord's church; without His direction, this is only a mortal enterprise.
This passage uses the phrase "wrestling with God in mighty prayer". The scripture uses the word wrestle to indicate that there was much effort in seeking God's guidance. Consider Enos, son of Nephi's brother Jacob. He went to hunt in the forest and was moved by his father's testimony, which he must have heard many times. Enos says: "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens" (Enos v4). Alma must have struggled, labored, spent hours in prayer for the welfare of the people of Ammonihah. I can't think of a time ever when I spent hours in continual prayer. I do know, though, that I have had problems I was trying to deal with when I prayed formally and they had the spirit of the prayer in my heart for hours on end, as I went about daily tasks. I don't know if that is "wrestling in mighty prayer" or not. Perhaps we all need to be like Enos and like Alma, taking our troubles to the Lord, and seek opportunities as we struggle with the problem to kneel before him in "mighty prayer".
In spite of Alma's efforts, the people of Ammonihah treated him badly; they denied his former secular authority, defied his spiritual authority, and kicked him out of their city. Imagine how this must have felt! As he traveled on toward his next destination, weighed down in sorrow for the people he tried to serve, an angel appeared to him. Alma is surprised when the angel tells him "Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city...say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them. For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people..." (Alma 8:15-17). The Lord's way of lifting Alma's spirit was to send him back into the fire... Little did Alma know the things that this assignment would bring; what it did bring to Alma, though, was hope. Need hope in your life? Do the tasks that the Lord has given to you.
Alma returns to Ammonihah and is immediately meets Amulek, whom the same angel commanded to take care of a holy man. After dwelling with Amulek and his people for a number of days, the Lord commanded that Alma should again preach repentance and destruction to the people; the Lord also commanded that Amulek accompany him. In a later chapter we hear Amulek tell the people that he was instructed by the angel to find Alma and take care of him. We learn that Alma, rather than being a burden to Amulek's people, blesses them all with his presence, his teachings, and his testimony. Amulek becomes thoroughly converted and accompanies Alma on this assignment and others in the chapters ahead.
If you do what the Lord directs you to do, will you be protected, comforted, free from harm or danger? Not always. If you do what the Lord directs you to do, will you be blessed with the peace and comfort that only His spirit can bring? Yes, always. May we each follow the Lord's direction; may we each have His spirit with us.
Don
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