Just a few more comments about Alma chapter 9 before I move on to Alma 10…
Interesting thing 1: Alma challenges the Ammonihahites apparent poor memory of God six times during the first 14 verses of the chapter, saying “have ye forgotten”, “do ye not remember”, and “how soon ye have forgotten”. In verse 14 he challenges the Ammonihahites “I would that ye should remember…”. How important it is to remember our relationship to the Lord. How important it is to remember His commandments. How important it is for us to remember the way we feel when we have the Spirit of God in our lives. Too often we allow the busy-ness of daily living to blur our memory of spiritual living. Let us keep the Lord ever fresh in our memories, and the spirit of His gospel and His commandments fresh in our minds.
Interesting thing 2: In the same 14 verses, Alma refers to the commandments of God four times. Obedience is a measure of faithfulness; indeed, it is a measure of love and commitment to the Lord. Lack of obedience is a long step towards rebellion and rejection of the Lord in a person’s life. Willing obedience shows respect and love. Why is a child willing to be obedient to his parents? Love; trust; desire to please his beloved mother and father. I think that Heavenly Father is a pleased parent when we willingly obey His commandments.
Interesting thing 3: Alma pulls no punches in accusing the Ammonihahites of wickedness. “Oh ye wicked and perverse generation…”; “it shall be more tolerable for [the Lamanites] in the day of judgment than for you…”; “if ye persist in your wickedness… your days shall not be prolonged…”; “...he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your iniquities…”. How bad would you have to be to have a prophet of the Lord speak to you with these phrases? Oh, may we never fall to that depth!
Interesting thing 4: Alma reminds the people of the many times the Lord had intervened for their benefit and gives twelve different specifics, such as: “Having been visited by the Spirit of God…”; “having had so much light and...knowledge given unto them”; “having been brought out of bondage…”; “...having been delivered of God…”. These people had been blessed greatly with a multitude of spiritual blessings. Have we been given physical and spiritual blessings? Do we acknowledge them to our Father in Heaven? I hope that we all may use these blessings to strengthen our faith and to praise and thank God for them.
Interesting thing 5: As he did in Melek, Alma uses this address to teach the people of Ammonihah of the Savior and His mission. Unlike the people of Melek, the people reject this testimony and instruction, to their detriment. How do we respond to being taught of the Savior? I hope that learning about the Savior helps us to feel closer to Him and makes us appreciate His life, His mission, and His sacrifice.
Interesting thing 6: Alma tells the people that the Lord sent His angel to warn them so that they would not be destroyed. This is an instance where a mortal being is referred to as the Lord’s angel. I believe that when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are His angels, performing His work and ministering to His children. Let us ever live to be the Lord’s angels.
Alma’s address to the Ammonihahites is one of the most powerful messages of warning I can think of in the scriptures. May we live so that we will not be on the receiving end of such a message. May we ever live that the Lord will say to us: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21).
Don
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