I love the scriptures!!! I always find good stuff when I study and just want to share it with everyone! But, we all learn in our own time and at our own pace, so what I get out of something is not necessarily the same as what the next guy will. Nevertheless, I have to share my recent thoughts.
I've been reading in the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, about Alma's mission to the churches throughout the land. He preaches repentance to the people everywhere he goes, and establishes or corrects the church there. He calls out the wicked and their practices, in "plain words," so they cannot misunderstand. As I read about the wickedness, I keep noticing that he's all but describing our world today! I keep thinking that America, like those cities of old, is so wicked and nearing destruction, that it's scary! The end is definitely coming, and he jests not when he says the time for repentance is NOW!!!: "And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken into my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance." (Alma 13:27) Amulek (Alma's missionary companion) said: "why hath Satan got such great hold on your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you?"(Alma 10:25) Sheesh! It would be very guilt-provoking to have someone say that to you! No wonder the people got so angry; they didn't want people to know how wicked they really were!
Now, despite the general wickedness, there were people who listened and believed the missionaries' words, just as there are today. Alma spoke of them: "many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures." (Alma 14:1) These peoples' hearts were pricked; they felt the truthfulness of the words of Christ's gospel, and wanted to know more, so they went to the scriptures to verify the words and find more answers. That's what needs to happen now! We've got to get searching, with sincere hearts, for answers in the scriptures. We need to live our lives by the scriptures- we've got to get back to relying on God and searching the words of the prophets for strength.
Alma expounded on receiving knowledge: "It is given to many to know the mysteries of God...according to the heed and diligence which they give unto Him...he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." (Alma 12:9-10) How awesome is that! And empowering! It's not just prophets or pastors who get to understand God's word- everyone is given the opportunity and privilege to find answers and understand and gain knowledge from God! Just as Joseph Smith realized when he was a teenager, after he read James 1:5: God will give us knowledge and truth if we but ask sincerely; and he will not upbraid, or criticize us, for asking! In other words, it's not just the privilege of the elect to know the word of God! We can all know God and His word, but we have to ask and search and be righteous and ready for the answers and knowledge that will surely come!
Ok, so those of us who do believe and search the scriptures and ask God in sincere prayer for repentance and peace and knowledge, Alma records that we "shall have claim on mercy through (God's) only Begotten Son..." (Alma 12:34). So, we have to work for that mercy by repenting, and then we have to keep our claim on it by remaining righteous! We can't just get saved and that's it. We have to remain worthy of that saving redemption! Alma tells us that those who repent and are baptized are "sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God," and enter into "the rest of the Lord their God." One other thing that I love: Alma says that these people who are sanctified and righteous "could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence." (Alma 13:12) I want to be like that! I want to get to the point where I hate the thought of sin, and don't fall to even my "favorites" anymore!
I'll end with what Alma wants for us: "may the Lord grant unto you repentance." (Alma 13:30) I want that repentance and forgivenes, because I know that no matter how hard I try to "be good," I'm still gonna mess up some times and make bad choices. That's becasue I'm not perfect! But I know that if I keep repenting and trying to be the best that I can be, my Savior and brother, Jesus Christ, will make up the difference, because He loves me! And if I can endure to the end and follow Alma's words, I will make it back home to heaven, to be with my family and my loving and proud Heavenly Father again, forever!
"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on His holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall reveive eternal lefe; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into His rest." (Alma 13:28-29)
