Alma 19-22

1. Alma 19-22 Alma 19:6“Light” There are three phases of the light of Christ that I want to mention: The first one is the light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world. The second phase is the gift of the Holy Ghost. The third is the more sure word of prophecy. (Marion G. Romney, Ensign, May 1977, 43)

2. Alma 19:16 “Abish” One of three women mentioned in the Book of Mormon that actually lived during that time period. Can you name the other two? (Sariah and Isabel). A convert on account of a remarkable vision of her father (I’d like to hear the rest of that story).

3. Light of Christ We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect (TPJS, 51). Every individual born to the earth is given a detecting capability, a divinely appointed gift to distinguish truth from error. We call it our conscience. God calls it the Spirit of Christ. When we properly use this gift, we are naturally drawn to truth and repelled from error (Ensign, Nov., 1979, 70). If we falter and turn aside, our lamp will burn dim and finally go out, when lo, the Comforter, the source of revelation, will leave us, and darkness will take its place; then how great will be that darkness (Joseph Smith, JD, 18:273).

4. Alma 19:13 Have others had the great blessing of seeing their Redeemer? “At one of these meetings…when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling,… a personage walked through the room… I saw him and suppose the others did, and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God… Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; He was surrounded as with a flame of fire… The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him… This appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in His presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The prophet Joseph said: Brethren now you are prepared to be Apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son” (Zebedee Coltrin, in Lyndon W. Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 187-88).

5. “I was shown a panoramic view of His earthly ministry… My soul was taught over and over again the events of the betrayal, the mock trial, the scourging of the flesh… I witnessed His struggling up the hill in His weakened condition carrying the cross and His being stretched upon it as it lay on the ground, that the crude spikes could be driven with a mallet into His hands and wrists and feet to secure His body as it hung on the cross for public display… I cannot begin to convey to you the deep impact that these scenes have confirmed upon my soul” (David B. Haight, Ensign, November 1989, 60). ( D&C 67:10; 88:67-68; 93:1).

6. Alma 19:22-23 “Missionaries are protected, unless….. Alma 19:33-34 “True Conversion” No more desire to do evil! Alma 21 “the Amalekites” Were a sect of Nephite apostates. They led in the massacres of the Christian Lamanites, or people of anti-Nephi-Lehi’s. Lamanite commanders put Amalekites in high positions of their armies because of their hatred toward the Nephites.

7. Alma 20:13-17 What is the connection between anger and violence? “May I suggest that you watch your temper,… Discipline yourselves… To flare up in anger and swear and profane… is an indication of weakness. Anger is… an indication of one’s inability to control thoughts, words, his emotions… When the weakness of anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, November 1991, 51).

8. Alma 20:30 “A More Hardened and a More Stiff-Necked People” President Henry B. Eyring explained why we must still try to reach every soul. “Well, the danger may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us. For instance, at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you” (C.R., Oct. 1998, 41).

9. Alma 21:2-3 Who were the Amalekites and the people of Amulon? “The Amalekites were a sect of Nephite apostates whose origin is not given… “The Amulonites were the descendants of Amulon and his associate wicked priests of King Noah. They were Nephites on their father’s side, and Lamanites on their mother’s… “Many became followers of Nehor… Not one repented and received the Gospel Message that was preached by the sons of King Mosiah; on the contrary, they became leaders in the persecution carried on against the … people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi” (George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 3:290).

10. Alma 21:12 How do people harden their hearts? When people harden their hearts they “shut their ears,… close their eyes, and are determined to hear nothing that it is true”(Brigham Young, JD, 4:371). Alma 22:3 Conversion to the message, not the messenger. Aaron will do just fine and so will any other missionary with the spirit.

11. Alma 22:15-18 “What will we give up in order to have eternal life?” “Each of us must surrender our sins if we are to really know Christ. For we do not know Him until we become like Him. There are some, like this king, who must pray until they, too, have ‘a wicked spirit rooted’ from them so they can find the same joy” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, November 1983, 43). (John 17:3)

12. Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life (Lectures on Faith, lecture 6).

13. Alma 22:16 “A Pattern” 1. desire 2. bow down 3. repent 4. call on His name in faith 5. believe that ye shall receive

14. 25 bits of advice from Mission Presidents and their Wives The following comes from a summer retreat given to the Religion Department in West Yellowstone on August 2nd, 2002. The Mission Presidents and their wives were Phil and Patsy Whiteman and Dave and Dena Christensen. They served in the England and Chile Missions respectively.

15. Their presentation was centered around the theme: “Preparation for the Future Missionary,” and “things that a future missionary could learn at home prior to their mission.”

16. 1. The value of a proper diet (namely fruits and vegetables). 2. The importance of physical fitness. Walking 12- 15 miles per day in both missions was quite common. 3. Keeping their room and house clean (the reward for the cleanest apartment in the England Mission was a jar of peanut butter. 4. Knowing the gospel and how to find information before they serve. The importance of being in the habit of reading the scriptures daily.

17. 5. Obedience! Even with something as simple as parting their hair. 6. Parents (in general) should not share personal problems with missionaries. 7. Repent and clean up their lives before theycome on their missions. Both stated that as many as 90% of the missionaries cleared up sins in the MTC or in the mission field. 8. Be a missionary that “knows” and “knows”they have the knowledge.

18. 9. Memorize “Teach My Gospel.” Then they will be in position to be spirit directed on what they teach. 10.Know that doctrine changes people’s lives, not talking about behavior. 11.Know what it means to “Come unto Christ.” Don’t just say the words casually. 12.Don’t just teach what you know, but how you came to know it. 13.Don’t play to your own rules. It will eventually catch up to you.

19. 14. Missions are models for life. Always do what is right, not just on your mission. 15. Understand the doctrine of the “Apostasy” and be able to teach it. 16. Be careful not to come across as better thanothers. Be prepared to stand up for what’s right, even if you have to stand alone. 17. Make obedience the “popular thing” in the mission field and at home when you return.

20. 18. We can learn without being spiritually converted. Knowledge is important, but not nearly as important as being spiritually converted. 19. Elder Faust taught the Mission Presidents and their wives in the MTC that their first responsibility was to their “missionaries” and not missionary work. He told them they would be able to measure their success on their mission by how well their missionaries were doing 20 to 40 years later.

21. 20.Don’t just baptize people for the sake of getting baptisms. Learn to teach with the spirit and then converts won’t leave the Church. Build faith and teach doctrine. 21. Remember that the people you are teaching are Gods in embryo. Even if you have to pretend they are the greatest, try to see their divine potential. President Christensen told of an experience that he had when Elder Holland and Elder Oaks came to his mission unannounced. With one Apostle on each side of him they asked him what he thought of the Stake Presidents in his mission. He told them that he didn’t think they were that good. They then taught him the above doctrine.

22. 22. Put your house in order. Run a tight ship. 23. Tell it like it is, speak in plainness. 24. Heavenly Father knows all things. Heavenly Father puts us where we need to be. 25. Carefully gage the internet in your home.

23. Missionary Work There never was a set of men, since God made the world, under a stronger responsibility to warn this generation. We are required to do this. This is our calling. It is our duty. It is our business. Wilford Woodruff

24. “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence…” Let the idea be emphasized throughout the entire church….that when a young man enlists under the missionary banner it means that he is superior in every way: in character, in faith, and in a desire to serve the Lord. True Christianity is love in action. There is not a better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for one’s fellow men. That is the spirit of missionary work. God bless the missionaries wherever they are today, for they are God’s servants, as long as they keep themselves pure and spotless from the sins of the world. I testify to you that His Spirit is guiding them, magnifying them in their youth and making them a power in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. David O. McKay