What Good Have I Done?

Alma 42 teaches about the relationship between justice and mercy.  If there were no laws and consequences for breaking laws, there would be no justice. Without justice God would cease to be God (verse 13). However, without mercy, we would all be in a fallen state.  Mercy comes through the grace of Jesus Christ who has atoned for our sins if we will repent and follow him.

21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

The American cultural icon shows justice as blind (and so equitable).  However, we soon learn that man's justice is not fair. We are treated differently depending on social class, race, and it seems religion. Justice is also seen as female.

Alma makes justice male and mercy female (in verse 24). God is fair in meting out justice, but loving because he is merciful.

Labels: Alma, angels, atonement, justice, mercy, punishment, repentance

In the Book of Mormon Alma teaches his son, Corianton, about the resurrection.  God knows when the resurrection will occur, he says. It is not important that we know.  In verse 8 Alma speaks about how God measures time.  "All is one day with God," he says. Only men measure time.

"Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men" (Alma 40:8).

The book of Genesis in the Bible and Abraham and Moses in the Pearl of Great Price tell about the creation. "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth" (Ex. 31: 17 ; D&C 77: 12).

The Apostle Peter taught that one day for God is like a thousand years. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Pet. 3: 8).

Whether it took six days or six thousand years or millions of years to create the earth, it doesn't matter for God doesn't measure time the same way we do.  "All is as one day with God."

Labels: Alma, Corianton, creation, time

In teaching his son Corianton, Alma addressed some of his concerns about the coming of Jesus Christ. Alma told Corianton that he shouldn't be surprised that God would tell before hand that his Son would come to the earth. After all, Jesus would redeem all his children.

Verse 17 Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?
18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?
19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?

We face a similar situation today. People say that we do not need prophets to teach us about Jesus Christ. We have all we need in the Bible.  Yet, God loves his children today like in old times. We also are blessed because of the Savior's atonement. Jesus died for us like he died for people of olden times. So would God not be as concerned about his children today as in times past? Would he not reveal his secrets as he did in the past to his servants, the prophets? See Amos 3:7.

God has called living prophets, beginning with Joseph Smith.  Through Joseph Smith, God restored the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood authority that allows us to take upon us the name of Christ, repent of our sins, and be redeemed by Christ as were people that lived in his day and that of the ancient apostles.

Labels: Alma, atonement, Corianton, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith. God's love, prophets, redemption, salvation

Alma gave the records of the Nephite nation to his son, Helaman, with
the command that he add to the record of the people.

"Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be
kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and
preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the
mysteries contained thereon" (Alma 37:4)

Alma said further that "by small and simple things are great things
brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the
wise" (verse 6).

It is wisdom "in God that these things should be preserved; for
behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and
convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the
knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls" (verse 8).

Read more at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/37

Labels: Alma, Book of Mormon, Helaman, scriptures

Alma tells his son Helaman of his conversion and being born of God.

He heard a voice and saw an angel. The voice said to him: "If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God." For three days and three nights he could not open his mouth nor use of his limbs. He suffered the pains of a damned soul, but before succumbing, he remembered what his father had taught him about the coming of Jesus Christ. He called upon the name of Jesus, and was then born of God. A sweet joy filled his soul.

16: And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

Picture: "Alma arise" by Walter Rane

Labels: Alma, Born again, Conversion

Question

This Saturday I get to give a talk on Baptism at the baptism of a friend. Do you have any suggestions of something I could say for her?
Thanks, Heather


Answer

This is my favorite scripture about baptism. The story is good, but more importantly it explains the commitments we make at baptism and renew when we take the sacrament. It also describes the Lord's promises to us.


See Mosiah 18:8-10 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/18)

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?


Baptism serves as a witness before Christ that
1. we desire to come into the fold of God (v. 8)
2. we want to be called his people (v. 8)
3. we are willing to bear each other's burdens (v. 8)
4. we are willing to mourn with those that mourn (v. 9)
5. we will comfort those who need comfort (v. 9)
6. we will stand as witnesses to God at all times in all things and places all our lives (v. 9)
7. we will serve him and (v. 10)
8. we will keep his commandments (v. 10)


In return God promises
1. that we will be redeemed (v. 9)
2. rise in the first resurrection (v. 9)
3. receive eternal life (v. 9)
4. and he will pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us (v. 10)

Labels: Alma, baptism, commitment, covenant

Alma and his companions went to preach among the wicked Zoramites,
because as he wrote the word had greater power in changing people than
anything else. This is a lesson we could learn from and apply today.
However, it is as important in our day as in Alma's that our words be
honest and sincere.

Alma 31:5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency
to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more
powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or
anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it
was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

See http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/31

Picture: Thomas Monson speaking at a General Conference of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Labels: Alma, change, Conversion, monson, scriptures, sword, war

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart,
that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to
shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of
thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should
repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon
all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be
content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

If you had your wish, would it be like Alma that you want to serve
God? In these few verses of this chapter Alma
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/29) praises God for his goodness
and declares God's love for us. This beautiful song of praise stands
out as one of my favorite scriptures.

In verse 5 he says that a person who doesn't know the difference
between good and evil is blameless before God. The person who can
distinguish between good and evil and chooses good shall be exalted.
Children are pure before God. Little children are alive in Christ
because of the atonement (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/8). Those
who die without the law shall also receive a reward and have an
opportunity to hear the gospel
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/71-80#71).

Elsewhere, the scriptures say that we can discern good and evil
because of the spirit of Christ which each of us has
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/7/15-19#16).

Labels: Alma, angels, children saved, mormon missionary, salvation