After calling the people of Zarahemla to repentance, and re-staffing the church adequately, Alma proceeds to the city of Gideon. There he finds that the people have been more in tune with God than the people he just left. This provides Alma with the opportunity to teach them advanced principles of the Gospel, rather than spending his time correcting them. This begs the question for each of us: Are we striving to be righteous, readying ourselves for spiritual knowledge when the opportunity arises? Or will the Spirit of the Lord have to spend precious time breaking down walls?
Fortunately for the people of Gideon, Alma was able to teach them instead of chastising them. There are some great truths in these chapters to be read and pondered. Here are a couple that I gleaned:
I already mentioned being ready for truth and knowledge so we may receive it properly when it comes. Alma tells the Gideon people that he received information and direction from the Holy Ghost: "...he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they [the Zarahemlites] are established again in the way of his righteousness. And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; ... But behold... I trust... that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come." (Alma 7: 3-6). Moreover, Alma tells them that he received guidance from the Spirit of the Lord: "But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight..." (Alma 7:9). The point is, Alma received guidance and instruction from the Holy Spirit, just we can if we are walking circumspectly.
Alma taught the people about the coming of the Savior. He taught: "For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people." (Alma 7:7).
He gave specifics of the Savior's coming and of his mother's circumstances: "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." (Alma 7:10).
Alma taught the people of Gideon about the Savior's ministry: "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... the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance..." (Alma 7:11-13)
What a powerful testimony of the Savior, of His mission on earth, of His magnanimous love and charity toward us. Alma's testimony of the Savior is an example for us; we should pursue such a testimony. We MUST have such a testimony if we want to survive the attacks of the adversary. Such a testimony comes from active seeking and active doing. Alma showed us this by his example. He was willing to give up being the most important leader of his country to do the Lord's will exclusively.
Alma continues with his address to the Gideonites by urging them to be humble, to serve, to submit themselves to the Spirit's guidance, and concludes by blessing them "And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever." (Alma 7:27). This reminds me of every general conference, and the final address from the prophet. The people of Gideon were blessed by Alma's presence and by his stirring admonitions. We are blessed twice a year by such a man, the prophet of our days, President Thomas S. Monson. May we treasure this great gift.
Don
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