In these chapters Alma addresses Zeezrom directly, but makes
it clear that he was also speaking to all who were listening. Alma was employing a good teaching tool by
interacting with one person who, as a proxy, represented the entire crowd.
Alma's teachings in these chapters built upon what Amulek taught
about mortal and spiritual death, the atonement, and the need to repent. Alma expounded on the concepts Amulek
taught to the people. Being a master
teacher, he used repetition to verify Amulek’s concepts, and expanded the
doctrine when further instruction was possible.
This is a good example for us to follow as we are called upon to teach
in our callings where there is a need to give lessons and other instruction.
These chapters are spiritual goldmines. I don’t want to gloss over any of the things
Alma covers, but due to space and time considerations, I have limited my
comments to a few points of Alma's teachings:
-- On the one hand, the power of the Holy Ghost enabled Alma
and Amulek to perceive Zeezrom's crafty intentions to trip them up. On the other hand, Zeezrom's intentions were
in harmony with, and inspired by, Satan. Both parties were in tune with the one they
served. Confrontation and contention are
not the best way to preach the Gospel, but sometimes cannot be avoided. We must be in harmony with the Spirit of the
Lord when we are faced with such an event.
-- During Amulek’s and Alma’s discourse, Zeezrom came to
recognize that he was seriously in the wrong.
As he recognized the truth that was being taught, he began to tremble
with his guilt. As is usually the case, Satan
abandoned his minion and did not support him in the end. Satan is not out to gain our love and
support. It is not his intent to help us
in our lives, or to guide us to be better people. His only desire is to circumvent God’s work
and to draw us away from God’s plan. No
matter what anyone tells us, we will only get loving, Godly support and
guidance from our Heavenly Father and His servants. We should remember this.
-- Alma reiterated that people who will receive God's word
are given more and more of His word until they have a fullness of knowledge of
that spiritual topic. This is why it is
important to read and study the scriptures, to attend church meetings, and to
ponder Gospel concepts continually. Those
who refuse to receive the word of God, who reject gospel teachings and turn
away from learning about the Gospel, are given less and less spiritual
knowledge until they have none.
-- Every human being who lived, lives now, or will live will
come before God to be judged of their earthly experiences and actions. It will be a bad experience for those who
haven't heeded God’s teachings or who have rejected God’s commandments. Alma points out that for those people it is
as if the atonement by the Savior did not happen. Furthermore, these people will have never
felt the hope of the atonement in their lives.
-- Alma taught that because of the events in the garden of Eden
– Adam and Eve’s transgression – mankind
became a fallen people, creating a need for a Savior and for the plan of
redemption. Heavenly Father knew men
needed to learn about the plan of redemption and needed to learn His commandments, and so
He sent angels to teach people about these things. God's servants teach us that we are in a state of preparation
in this life and must learn and live the things His servants teach us. He has commanded that men should refrain from
sin, and if we heed His call we will be saved from spiritual death. Heavenly Father is continually calling on us,
in the name of His Son, to repent and not harden our hearts, with the promise
that He would have mercy on us through the power of the atonement. If men do harden their hearts, their iniquity
provokes him to send down his wrath upon them.
Notice that this scripture says that their iniquity provokes Him, not
that the sinner provokes Him. God loves
us all, equally and totally.
Alma spent time teaching the people of Ammonihah about
Heavenly Father's messengers, particularly high priests.
-- Those who hold the high priesthood were (and are) called
and prepared from the foundation of the world.
They exercised great faith and were chosen for their faithfulness. Other men had the same opportunity; they started
from the same background but did not exercise faith or show faithfulness. Therefore, they were not called to be High
Priests.
Faithful high priests serve in their office forever due to
their faith, their repentance and their righteousness. Melchizedek is mentioned as the exemplar high
priests.
-- The high priesthood, which is also known as the
priesthood after the order of His Son, is without beginning of days or end of
years. It has always existed. This humbles me and makes me thankful for God’s
willingness to share it with us.
Many of the high priests I have known truly live up to this
description. While not perfect, they
strive for perfection. If they fall
short, they do their best to make up for their shortcomings and do the Lord’s
work. This is an ideal that I try to
live up to, sometimes more successfully than at other times. It is important to remember that Heavenly
Father wants us to do our best, but has provided us with a way to overcome any
mistakes and slip ups that may occur.
Alma then urged the inhabitants of Ammonihah, particularly
those who were being so combative, to repent, without delay. Alma taught the people that the Lord was declaring
repentance to them, and would declare repentance through His angels to all people
that they might avoid the second, or spiritual death. We would do well to seek to hear His voice,
spoken by His servants. We would do well
to heed Him and change ourselves to be in harmony with His word. Although this may seem to be a hard thing to
do – to transition from earthly mortal beings to Christ-like saints – it is
wholly possible, with God’s help. The
atonement is for all of us. It is meant
for us to apply to our lives.
There is so much meat in these few passages, yet the concept
is simple. If we love our Father in
Heaven, we will obey Him and live His commandments. He will reward us with eternal life in His
kingdom. If we don’t obey Him and live
His commandments, He cannot bestow these blessings upon us.
Don
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