Alma 6 - Keeping the church strong

Zarahemla was a place that had a very fragmented church when Alma went to teach them in Alma 5. Here's what he did:
- ordained priests and elders to preside and watch over church (v1)
- added those who repented and were baptized to the church (v2)
- wicked in the church who were not humble had names removed (v3)
- HIGHLIGHTS fact that word of God given liberally to all and all invited to assemble (v5)
- those who were in the church were commanded to pray/fast for those who knew not God (v6); missionary minded church
That's what was critical. Notice the missionary minded point, all invited points are important. Also, v8 mentions how he taught those in Gideon according to the spirit of prophecy, the testimony of Jesus and the revelation of the truth of the word of the fathers. He taught what he knew was true of prophets of old, what he'd learned himself through revelation, and his own testimony of Jesus; critical to know that Jesus would guide in what to teach in order to help others benefit from the Atonement. Jesus has a great interest in this and will guide his leaders in order to help people.

Alma 5 - teaching the recently gone astray members

Alma 5 teaches a few things; here's the highlights:

- recently there were people in bondage that were freed by the mercy/power and word of God; this is an example for us of what God does - takes those that are in bondage/darkness and frees/illuminates them (v3-11)
- likewise all of us also get in bondage due to our sin or lack of faith
- Believing on the words of Christ through a prophet led to salvation (v 10-13)
- asks if they have also been changed of God through faith? does it show in their countenance/actions? (v14-15)
- asks if they can imagine the judgement, standing in front of God, and a good or bad outcome depending on their lives. Focuses particularly on how they will feel if they are still soiled with sin when in front of God. (v16-25)
- If you were once changed, do you still feel changed ("sing the song of redeeming love")? (v26)
- series of questions about more particular traits a changed person needs to have (humility, no pride, no envy, not mocking those around you) (v27-30)
- Repent you workers of iniquity, Christ offers redemption freely to all and continually calls after you (v31-38)
- you either follow the Savior or the Devil, you'll be rewarded for who you follow, and it's shown by your works (v39-42)
- I am called of God to teach repentance to all, and I know these things are true of myself (v43-49)
- Spirit tells him to say, Kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent to be ready for it, if you don't repent you will be cast out into the fire (v 50-52)
- Summarizes warnings: will you, ignore these sayings (trampling Christ under your feet - notice it's an active, not passive thing to ignore and sends a message), be proud, wear costly apparel and focus on riches, think you're better than others and persecute others who are humble and do good works in the church, turn back on poor, persist in wickedness? If so, you will be cast into the fire unless you repent (v53-56)
- desirous to follow the Good Shepherd? leave the wicked; there will be clear separation at some point; also, "touch not their unclean things", and he will protect those in his fold (v57-60)
- Invitations: he does always call after you, he commands me to command you to follow my words,  I command members and invite non-members to be baptized unto repentance in order to have entire life (v58-60)

Situational teaching - the case studies in the Book of Alma

I believe the different examples given to us in Alma of teaching various different people in different stages of gospel belief/learning is there in order to guide us on what to emphasize when teaching people in similar circumstances. The entire book of Alma is full of these little case study examples. For example:
Alma 5 - group of recently departed from the church; have had strong testimonies in the recent past
Alma 7 - fairly righteous group of people; needs to emphasize a few things to remind them
Alma 9-12 - very wicked group of people that were former members; burn the righteous
Alma 18 - Ammon with King Lamoni; people that never knew about Christ and had some bad habits
Alma 22 - Aaron with King Lamoni's dad; similar to the above
Alma 31-34 - teaching group of humble people and very wicked former members of the church
Alma 36-42 - teaching multiple sons with differing assignments/sins/abilities
War stories - great lessons on preparedness, acting in faith, God caring about those serving in different capacities than spiritual only

I want to learn from these stories in order to apply the lessons God's given depending on the circumstance of the person being taught.

Elder Clayton - the Lord blesses with talents

I listened to an interview with Elder Clayton and his wife today and late last week. It was terrific. Elder Clayton told one story in particular that inspired me. He talked about being in the Area Presidency in South America and that he was given a gift. He would be able to remember people's names even if he only talked to them for a brief time and then saw them again 2 years later. He easily could remember their names and about their lives and who they were. He said that when he returned to Salt Lake City at the end of 4 years, that gift left him. He could still remember people's faces but he could no longer remember their names, even when he tried. He said that it was a great lesson to him that God could magnify us and that it was His work that was being done.

http://mormonchannel.org/conversations/40

I really believe this. I've seen it in my own life as I've read scriptures and focused on more spiritual things; my capacity is increased significantly.

This idea also relates to the verse I read and blogged about a week ago -

 6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding ^ariches, and their ^bfine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their ^cindustry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly^dapparel.

It is very important that we do think we get ahead by our industry but by the blessings of the Lord.

He also mentioned that he knows prayers are answered and that it's an underutilized tool. I know that's true for me.

Humility - requirement to return to heavenly Father's presence

One thing we're supposed to learn in this life is that we must depend on the Lord, be humble. That's the first in a string of verses in Alma 5:

 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves ^ablameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently ^bhumble? That your garments have been ^ccleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to ^dredeem his people from their sins?

 28 Behold, are ye stripped of ^apride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

 29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of^aenvy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare ^bquickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

 30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a ^amock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?

This is a great set of verses. Without being humble, Christ can't cleanse us from our sins. It's also critical that we don't have pride, envy or make a mock of those around us. Interesting to see v. 30 - critical for us to be good to those around us. Many otherwise good people mock those around them. That's a problem.

Taking credit for too much - a problem

I earned it. That can be an easy and logical thing to say, but it can bring problems, such as pride and a lack of caring for others. For example, here's the following verse that describes how members of the church began to grow pride and mean as a result of their prosperity. Alma 4:

 6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding ^ariches, and their ^bfine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their ^cindustry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly^dapparel.

The members had worked hard and avoided wasteful things in obtaining their blessings/riches. However, they were blessed - they were taught the right way to live and had the guidance of the Spirit, which is why things were working out for them. Unfortunately, when you only see your work/efforts and forget 1) who taught you and 2) what you would be doing without those teachings or that guidance, you think you 'earned' it.

This can be a very big issue in today's church, which is likely why it's in the Book of Mormon.

Interestingly, Alma fought the pride of the church that crept up due to this by bearing testimony to them and teaching them the word. Perhaps it's a lesson that if we're in the scriptures and listening to the prophets, it will help us remember where to give credit and to stay humble.

Remember, thinking you've earned things "by your industry" is not a reason to be lifted up in pride or to think you deserve things, specifically such as fancy clothes, that you wouldn't give to those around you.

Interesting guidance for the church

In Alma 1, the chapter talking about the Anti-Christ Nehor who taught that pastors/priests should be chosen by the people and be paid for their work, we get some insight into the emphasis of the church after this.

1) important for the hearers and the preachers to be equal (I think largely true in the church today, but there are moments when preachers may be venerated too much or not enough.)

 26 And when the priests left their ^alabor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man ^baccording to his strength.

2) When the church and its members are steady, good things happen. After consistent, hard work, and good relationships, prosperity often comes:

 29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly ^arich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of ^bsilk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely ^ccloth.

3) Church and its members give to all people, rich or poor. This is a distinguishing characteristic along with being hard workers.

 30 And thus, in their ^aprosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were ^bnaked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon ^criches; therefore they were^dliberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no^erespect to persons as to those who stood in need.

4) Those who were not in the church were characterized by other traits:

 32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in ^asorceries, and in ^bidolatry or ^cidleness, and in^dbabblings, and in ^eenvyings and ^fstrife; wearing costly apparel; being ^glifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.

Critical for church members to notice what these church members didn't do. They worked hard (weren't idle), did not babble (talk about useless things / gossip), didn't fight/argue or envy others, wore "normal" clothes, weren't prideful, didn't commit sexual sin, or any other wickedness. Notice that things such as working hard are in the same sentence as not murdering. It's important to be good to people and bless the world as much as it is to not sin (using sin in the traditional sense of 'doing bad').

Also notice that the law was enforced on all who broke it to deter them. Here's the influence of that:

33 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they became more still

I really like verse 32. I want to be a better worker, waste less time, not envy or fight with people, and never commit sexual sin.

Have a good day. I think these are great verses for our day.