What can a seed become? (A plant or tree, depending on the type of seed.)

1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.Faith is like a little seed:If planted, it will grow.Faith is a swelling within my heart.When I do right, I know.

2. 2. Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.Faith is trust in God above;In Christ, who showed the way.Faith is strengthened; I feel it growWhenever I obey..

3. What can a seed become? • (A plant or tree, depending on the type of seed.)

4. What must happen before a seed can begin to grow?

5. What does a tree look like when it is young?

6. What does it look like when it is mature? What nourishment does a seed need to help it grow into a plant or tree?

7. Nourishment means something that helps things grow or keeps them alive and well, such as water, fertilizer, sunshine, and soil.

8. Just as a good seed with proper care and nourishment will eventually become a fruit-bearing tree, the word of God, planted in our hearts and properly nourished, will develop into a strong testimony.

9. Today you will learn how to you can gain a strong testimony. Lesson 22 Alma Teaches about Faith

10. Alma taught theZoramites about faith in God. • He said that asking for a sign from heaven in order to believe is not having faith. Alma 32:17–18

11. He said that faith is believingwhat is true without seeing it. He also explained how faith grows. Alma 32:21

12. If we really want to believe, and listen to the word of God, it is planted in our hearts like a seed and starts to grow. Alma 32:26–28

13. Alma said that as we learn more about the gospel, this seed keeps growing. We know that it is good, and our faith grows stronger. Alma 32:30

14. He explained that just as a good seed brings forth good fruit, the word of God brings us blessings if we have faith. Alma 32:37, 42–43

15. Discussion Questions

16. In the last lesson, we learned about the rich and proud Zoramites.

17. Why were the poor Zoramites humble? (Alma 32:2–3.)

18. Alma 32:2-3 2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel— 3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart. Return

19. What are some afflictions that may make people humble enough to listen to the gospel?

20. What does it mean to be “poor in heart”? (Humble, teachable, truly repentant, and free from pride.)

21. How was being poor a blessing for these people? (Alma 32:12–13)

22. Alma 32:12–13 12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble. 13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved. Return

23. People can be humble even if they don’t suffer afflictions or poverty, but sometimes people with riches become proud. • Why is it necessary for us to be humble when we are taught the gospel?

24. What is faith? (Alma 32:21.) • “…faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. “ • Why must we have faith to develop a testimony of the gospel? (Alma 32:26.) • “Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.” • It takes time to gain a testimony. • Keeping the commandments can help us gain a testimony that they are true.

25. What did Alma tell us to do to develop faith? (Alma 32:27.)

26. Alma 32:27 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. Return

27. What can we do to increase our desire to believe?

28. How is obeying the commandments an “experiment” on the word of God? • When we experiment, it means to try something we are not sure about. • When we experiment, or keep commandments, such as the Word of Wisdom, we receive blessings for our obedience and our testimonies become stronger. • How has your faith increased through your obedience to the commandments?

29. How can we plant the word of God in our hearts so our testimonies will grow? By regularly studying the scriptures; listening in Primary, sacrament meeting, and family home evening; praying; and consistently applying the principles of the gospel in our lives

30. How will we know when the good seed, or a testimony of the gospel, is be-ginning to grow inside us? (Alma 32:28, 34.)

31. Alma 32:28,34 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. 34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

32. Share your testimony and describe how you gained it. You can gain and strengthen your testimony. If you have faith you can gain a strong testimony of the gospel.

33. What does it mean to nourish a seed? • Nourish means feed or take care of.

34. What qualities did Alma tell us we must have to nourish our testimonies of the gospel? (Alma 32:41 –42.)

35. Alma 32:41 –42 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Return

36. Why do you think patience and diligence are necessary in developing faith and a testimony?

37. How can studying the scriptures strengthen our faith and testimony? (Alma 33:14.)

38. Alma 33:14 14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God? Return

39. What important teaching should be part of our testimony? (Alma 33:22.)

40. Alma 33:22 22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works. Return

41. How is a strong testimony like a tree? (Alma 33:23.)

42. Alma 33:23 23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen. Return

43. How will having a testimony help you gain eternal life? You may wish to share how your testimony has made your problems easier to deal with and brought you joy.

44. In Alma 32, the word of God is compared to a seed.

45. The “Word of God” means the gospel, or the teaching of Jesus Christ • Just as a seed will grow into a tree, if we learn and obey the word of God, we will gain a strong testimony of the gospel

46. Testimony of Jesus Christ • Just as a seed requires care and nourishment to grow into a tree

47. Our testimony of the gospel requires faith and care to grow strong. • What can you do to strengthen your testimony. • Pray • Study the Scriptures • Obey the commandments • Give Service

48. If you will learn the word of God and obey the commandments while you are young, you will gain strong testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. • Try it yourself so you can build a stronger testament and know the truth for yourself.