The life of Alma the Younger offers so many insights and angles to study. Shortly after being made the chief judge and High Priest he realizes that the church is falling into disarray. A portion of the saints are ever faithful, giving, obedient and humble but another large portion of the church members are filled with pride and begin to lead converts on from one form of wickedness on to another. Alma sorrows greatly for the sins of his brethren and knows he must do something. I am sure he was completely overwhelmed and spent hours on his knees and poured through the scriptures for answers. In Alma chapter 4 verse 15 we read that despite his sadness and concern "the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him".
Alma makes an important decision. He will turn the political office over to another and focus wholly on his call as the High Priest of the church. I liken the next 13 chapters of Alma to our general conference and stake conferences with visiting authorities. Alma travels from church to church throughout the land to "set the churches in order". He teaches some of the most profound and clear sermons on the Atonement and how to access it's redeeming power. He bears powerful witness with Amulek of Christ's promised birth and ministry. He also sets a wonderful example of how to gain strength and access miracles through fasting and patient consistent obedience.
The next time you read Alma chapters 5 through 17 think of them as a conference issue of the Ensign. The teachings and testimonies are timeless and powerful.
I can witness with Alma that when hard times come, when we are filled with worry or sorrow, when we or someone we love suffer illness or tragedy, "the Spirit of the Lord will not fail [us]"! When things get hard read Alma's witness of the Savior's love and great Atonement (Alma 7: 7-12). Remember that there is no pain, no sorrow, no temptation, no sickness that He does not know personally and perfectly how to relieve. He bore our sorrows and griefs that He might know perfectly how to bring us peace and comfort. Turn to Him and Trust Him.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
A Nephite Christmas: Lessons on how to hold on to your faith and hope in Christ
I have always loved the story of the first Christmas as relaid in the Book of Mormon. Samuel's beautiful testimony and his powerful witness give us a perfect example of how our loving Father in Heaven works. He calls a prophet to witness to His children and then HE ALWAYS FULFILLS HIS PROMISES.
Imagine that first Christmas in Zarahemla. It has been 5 years since Samuel came and stood on the wall to bear witness of the Messiah's coming birth. You felt the Spirit witness to you that his words were true. He made a covenant to follow the Lord and to wait for His coming and embrace His Atonement yet to be fulfilled. Evil men conspire and declare your faith obsolete. They tell you that you have waited in vain and make a hundred explanations for the signs that you have seen. Then these wicked and murderous men tell you that your faith is not only vain but will cost you your life. They set a deadline for the great sign of Christ's coming. If the star does not appear and the night does not stay as day you will die along with all others who proclaim faith in the words of Samuel.
I love the recorded interchange on that first Christmas Eve between Christ and one of His prophets. In 3 Nephi 1: 11-14 we read how Nephi the prophet sorrows for the persecution of the faithful and for the wickedness of his brethren. He pours out his soul to the Lord all that day and the Lord responds with a beautiful declaration. "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the times is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son...And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given."
The Lord keeps His promises. It was clear that fist Christmas Eve that He was indeed the giver of life and light and hope. The sun set that Christmas Eve and those fearful but ever faithful saints waited and watched steadfastly clinging to their hope in the Savior they were promised. The sign came. The night was not dark but full of light. The new star appeared. The promised Messiah was coming! Can you imagine the joy of those saints? Their lives were literally saved that Christmas Eve by the Lord's birth. The Lord in His mercy extended to them an early Christmas present and confirmed their faith.
We live in a time of similar wickedness. Most of us are not threatened with death for our faith, though some are. We face the mocking and ridicule of those who would have us believe that Christ was not who He said He was or who the prophets have testified He was and is. Those who mock our desires for purity and call our obedience ignorance tell us our faith is vain and our knowledge "foolish imaginings". We must be as these faithful Nephites and look to those who do know for hope, peace and the courage to stand true in times of persecution and trial. The record in Third Nephi tells us that the people's faith was shaken by the words of the wicked (see verses 7-8) but the strength of their living prophet sustained them. The words of our beloved prophets and apostles can sustain us as well. They know as Nephi did that the Lord will fulfill all He has had them promise. The Lord will come again. Signs abound in our day as they did in the days of Samuel. We too are waiting and watching steadfastly to know that our faith has not been in vain. We too can take comfort in the Savior's comforting words to Nephi that he "will fulfil all that which [He] have caused to be spoken by the mouth of [His] holy prophets". He will come again and His Gospel is indeed the only way to achieve peace in this life and eternal joy in the world to come. Verse 22 of that same chapter warns us that Satan strove from that time on to harden hearts by sending lyings and deceivings among the people to make them doubt the signs they had seen and the testimonies they had received. We will have to cling to our faith and stay close to our living prophets to stand firm in the face of Satan's lies.
This Christmas may we remember the first Christmas Eve in Zarahemla and like those fearful but faithful saints cling to the Savior and rejoice in the knowledge that He did come as He promised and He did do all that He said He would do. His Atonement is real and has the power to heal, protect, make right and cleanse us all. His Atonement will make everything right in the end. We can trust Him and his prophets. His first Christmas gift saved the lives of believers and He will continue to save us one by one. God be thanked for the gift of His Son! God be thanked for allowing His precious Son to be "broken and bruised" for us. God be thanked for Christ the Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, even the Prince of Peace!
Imagine that first Christmas in Zarahemla. It has been 5 years since Samuel came and stood on the wall to bear witness of the Messiah's coming birth. You felt the Spirit witness to you that his words were true. He made a covenant to follow the Lord and to wait for His coming and embrace His Atonement yet to be fulfilled. Evil men conspire and declare your faith obsolete. They tell you that you have waited in vain and make a hundred explanations for the signs that you have seen. Then these wicked and murderous men tell you that your faith is not only vain but will cost you your life. They set a deadline for the great sign of Christ's coming. If the star does not appear and the night does not stay as day you will die along with all others who proclaim faith in the words of Samuel.
I love the recorded interchange on that first Christmas Eve between Christ and one of His prophets. In 3 Nephi 1: 11-14 we read how Nephi the prophet sorrows for the persecution of the faithful and for the wickedness of his brethren. He pours out his soul to the Lord all that day and the Lord responds with a beautiful declaration. "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the times is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son...And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given."
The Lord keeps His promises. It was clear that fist Christmas Eve that He was indeed the giver of life and light and hope. The sun set that Christmas Eve and those fearful but ever faithful saints waited and watched steadfastly clinging to their hope in the Savior they were promised. The sign came. The night was not dark but full of light. The new star appeared. The promised Messiah was coming! Can you imagine the joy of those saints? Their lives were literally saved that Christmas Eve by the Lord's birth. The Lord in His mercy extended to them an early Christmas present and confirmed their faith.
We live in a time of similar wickedness. Most of us are not threatened with death for our faith, though some are. We face the mocking and ridicule of those who would have us believe that Christ was not who He said He was or who the prophets have testified He was and is. Those who mock our desires for purity and call our obedience ignorance tell us our faith is vain and our knowledge "foolish imaginings". We must be as these faithful Nephites and look to those who do know for hope, peace and the courage to stand true in times of persecution and trial. The record in Third Nephi tells us that the people's faith was shaken by the words of the wicked (see verses 7-8) but the strength of their living prophet sustained them. The words of our beloved prophets and apostles can sustain us as well. They know as Nephi did that the Lord will fulfill all He has had them promise. The Lord will come again. Signs abound in our day as they did in the days of Samuel. We too are waiting and watching steadfastly to know that our faith has not been in vain. We too can take comfort in the Savior's comforting words to Nephi that he "will fulfil all that which [He] have caused to be spoken by the mouth of [His] holy prophets". He will come again and His Gospel is indeed the only way to achieve peace in this life and eternal joy in the world to come. Verse 22 of that same chapter warns us that Satan strove from that time on to harden hearts by sending lyings and deceivings among the people to make them doubt the signs they had seen and the testimonies they had received. We will have to cling to our faith and stay close to our living prophets to stand firm in the face of Satan's lies.
This Christmas may we remember the first Christmas Eve in Zarahemla and like those fearful but faithful saints cling to the Savior and rejoice in the knowledge that He did come as He promised and He did do all that He said He would do. His Atonement is real and has the power to heal, protect, make right and cleanse us all. His Atonement will make everything right in the end. We can trust Him and his prophets. His first Christmas gift saved the lives of believers and He will continue to save us one by one. God be thanked for the gift of His Son! God be thanked for allowing His precious Son to be "broken and bruised" for us. God be thanked for Christ the Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, even the Prince of Peace!
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