An Elder's Shared Life Lessons

I implied in yesterday's post that I received some letters from my friends currently serving missions. One of the questions I always enjoy asking them is "What are a few of the lessons you've learned on your mission?" Because when they have the chance to respond, they give me these answers that are really inspiring. Today I want to share what one of the Elders wrote me about a few life lessons he's learned:

1. The Lord is preparing certain people to receive and accept the message of the Restoration. And often times, it's the people you least expect.
2. Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies. If the Lord wants you to be a missionary, he will help you to be a missionary. If he wants you to be the prophet, he'll help you become the prophet.
3. Obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel will bring you lasting happiness. Satan tries to trick us, or beguile us to think that we are truly happy. But we're not. Only the Savior and His gospel can do that.

The reasons why I like to ask missionaries about the lessons they've learned is so that I, too, can learn those lessons. I want the missionaries serving to think about not just all the "success" or lack of they are having, but of all the lessons they are learning. I want them to think about the amazing opportunity they have to grow in the gospel and the lessons they have learned, so that they can begin to apply them immediately. I want to hear of what they have learned, so that I can also begin to apply them in my life.

Alma 51

Moroni was "exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve" (14). There was a fraction of the Nephites who proposed to alter the law to "overthrow the free government and to establish a king of their land" (5). But it was "settled by the voice of the people" and they came in favor of the chief judge system (7). This was a critical time for such contentions because the Lamanites were preparing for war against them and since the king-men were not happy with the people's decision, they were happy in their hearts and refused to take up arms in defense of their country (9, 13). No wonder he was upset!

He asked for permission for "power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death. For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to the voice of the people" (15-16).

We too need to put in order ourselves and our own lives to adequately prepare. Not just as a people, but individually. For example, I need to focus on myself. I have faults that I am trying to overcome. I'm not perfect. But I should repent and try to become better. Then I can become more and more prepared for events in life.

How to Write a Missionary

Have you ever written a missionary? It's rather fun. Once you figure out what to say.

Often, when you begin, you stare at the single sheet of binder paper with the date from 3 days prior on the top line and "Dear Elder"on the 3rd, because it takes up more room. You stare the same state your mind is in, blankly. You have no idea what to say.

You start your first sentence (with a blank line in between the "Dear Elder" and the line you are currently marking, of course).

Alma 50

"Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father; yea, he was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime" (Alma 50:39, emphasis added).

What is the cause of God?

"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

We are to support and maintain this cause. Using our individual agency we can bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of ourselves by choosing to follow God's commandments. We can help share the cause of God, the Plan of Happiness, with our fellowmen. We can help create and support laws and traditions that maintains and supports this righteous cause.

Marriage: Covenant or Simple Contract?

Some interesting things I learned in my Family Relations class:

Covenant: a superior party draws up the contract and you accept the contact or not. There would be benefits to keeping it and consequences for not. It requires each person to keep their individual contract to the superior party.

Contract: is simply a written or spoken agreement between husband and wife and there are no longer penalties.

This difference results in an "easier" divorce and causes people to treat marriage differently. Alos, marriage is more uncertain. Marriage is already an act of faith, but now there are more factors that can cause divorce. As a result, many men and women aren't fully preparing for marriage, they're preparing for the "just in case" of divorce.

President Spencer W. Kimball said:

"Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys. It affects not only the two people involved, but also their families and particularly their children and their children’s children down through the many generations" ("Oneness in Marriage").

How grateful I am for the gospel and for the truths I have been raised with. For the knowledge I have that a marriage can last more than a few years, more than just a lifetime, but that marriage can last for eternity. You treat marriage and who you marry to much more seriously.

Alma 49

How to we prepare ourselves against wickedness?

It's by the simple things.

1. Daily prayer
2. Daily scripture study
3. Faith
4. Hope
5. Charity
6. Obedience

These may be simple things, but they are vital. They will prepare you against the temptations and trials of the world. They will help you stay strong. They are portions of our lives we can always improve on, and the act of doing increases our testimonies and strength.

What They Need: Contact and Belonging

You've known the people who do crazy things to get attention; attention that isn't usually positive.  Where their actions just drive people away, not because the person's a bad person, but because the individual is annoying or socially awkward. Generally, others ignore him until a point when he does something that is the "last straw" which causes interaction, usually negative.

Why do they do this?

Human beings have a need; a need to have contact with others and to belong.

We all need a role, a place where we feel we are contributing and a somebody. Some individuals create a role for themselves that isn't always healthy. For example, the child that is labeled the clown or the mischievous one will live to that expectation. It's their role; a role that's really hard to move from.

We all need to have contact with each other. In the extreme case of people in solitary confinement, they pretty much go a bit insane. There's a lot that happens. Carly Frintner wrote a paper entitled "Lonely Madness: The Effects of Solitary Confinement and Social Isolation on Mental and Emotional Health" that speaks more in depth about it. But we starve for contact whether it's eye-contact, physical contact, emotional connection or others.

Alma 48

I want to speak about Alma 48:19:

"Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words."

Specifically on being no less serviceable unto the people. There are two talks in particular that I'd like to focus on: Neal A. Maxwell's "Content with the Things Allotted unto Us" and Howard W. Hunter's "'No Less Serviceable.'"

Alma 47

In Alma 47, Amalickiah caused contention to occur within the Lamanites and played off of both of them, ending up king in the end with the leaders of both sides dead. 

When Amalickiah was with the Nephites, he wanted to be king and was causing much contention there, but then Moroni gathered the people and captured many who were opposing the government.

Don't have contention. Be united. Build Zion wherever you are at. 

Alma 46

"And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole" (Alma 46:12).

This should also be our standard. We should also live in such a way that supports our country and righteousness. We should be great citizens of the country we live in.

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

“Improve your community by active participation and service. Remember in your civic responsibility that ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ (Edmund Burke). . . . Do something meaningful in defense of your God-given freedom and liberty” ("To the Single Adult Brethren of the Church").

President Benson also taught:

“This is our need today—to plant the standard of liberty among our people throughout the Americas. (in Conference Report, Oct. 1962, 14–15).

Alma 45

Alma the younger was near the end of his ministry and goes to his son Helaman asking him:

"Believest thou the words which I spake concerning those records which have been kept? (Alma 45:2).
"Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?" (4).
"Will ye keep my commandments?"(6).

Helaman's responses were extremely positive:

"Yea, I believe" (3).
"Yea, I believe all the words which thou has spoken" (5).
"Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart" (7).

Alma then said: "Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land" (8).

Elder Carlos E. Asay shared this as an example for what parent-child interviews should be like:

"I wonder if our interviews with our children are as inspirational and building as the one between Alma and Helaman. I find it significant that the father came to the son; the son was not summoned to stand inspection or to give a report. I find it refreshing that the conversation was direct and without any verbal sparring; it was not labored or rehearsed. I find it exemplary that commitment was drawn without prying, wringing, or pressuring. And I find it most beautiful that the father concluded with a tender blessing. . . .

"I do see great wisdom in the practices and performances which we encourage parents to follow in the Church. There is virtue in sponsoring family home evenings; in conducting family prayers, as Elder Perry has mentioned; in giving father’s blessings; and in holding parent-child interviews. All of these are important and have their place. However, the participation in such performances and the reporting of such activity must not become the end. They are means of involving, means of teaching, and means of blessing people. All should be engaged in for the purpose of saving and exalting souls" ("Parent-Child Interviews").

I think this is important for parents, and families, to remember. Parent-child interviews blesses a family. It builds a relationship between parent and child and helps parents better guide their children on a path of happiness.

Alma 44

I noticed something while reading Alma 44. I noticed it probably because of my Family Relations class and the recent focus we've had on men and women and their characteristics as well as their divine role.

Captain Moroni and his men fought for liberty and for the right to worship as well as for their wives and children. They fought in defense of their lands, houses, wives, children, rights and privileges, and their liberty that they might worship God according to their desires (Alma 43:9). In my history classes previously, I've learned that those armies who are fighting on their home turf in defense of those same things, generally do better than the opposing and intruding army usually anticipates.

Then after Captain Moroni and his men surrounded the Lamanities, he didn't actually want to kill them, so he said:

"And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us—" (Alma 44:5, emphasis added).

The Family: A Proclamation to the World reads: "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families."

Fathers by divine design are to preside, provide, and protect.

When fathers are doing their best to fulfill their responsibilities they will be blessed. Captain Moroni not only sought counsel from the prophet and followed it. He not only was a brillant strategist. He was fighting for the things God would wish we fought for.

God had strengthened their arms by the sacred support which they owed to their wives and their children.

If a father does his best to fulfill their divine responsibilities, they will be blessed and strengthened. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be the best he can give.

That's what I noticed in this chapter that really spoke to me this time around.

Fatherhood: Synthesis of Guidelines

In my Family Relations class, we've been obviously discussing family relations. In previous posts I've spoken about "Gender," "Date: It's Important," and "Women: Homemaker or Job/Career?" For one of my assignments I wrote a longish essay about my thoughts on fatherhood. Which I decided to share with you. I recommend reading if you have a lot of time or if you are really fascinated as I am by this topic:

Recently, I’ve heard a lot more about fatherhood. I’ve noticed the push towards defining what fatherhood is. I hear a lot more about men’s rights versus woman’s rights. Especially since the “Great Recession” that arrived while I was still in high school. Men and women alike were being laid off of jobs. Many families I know intimately had both the mom and dad working outside of the home. When the recession occurred, I noticed that many of the women had kept their jobs while the men lost theres. Suddenly there seemed to be a reversal of roles within my friend’s lives. Fathers began spending much more time at home. They really began to know their children on a daily bases. They discovered they enjoyed it immensely, knowing their children and becoming a part of their everyday lives. I believe this happened all over the country. In my opinion, this was a great push to define “fatherhood” and hammer out the rights that men have as fathers. In the 50’s the perfect family lived in the suburbs with a white picket fence, the children going off to school, the husband always working and relaxing at home, while the wife took care of everything in the home, including the people in it. Since then, there’s been such a push for equality for the women, much of it happening before I was born, but constantly referred to. I believe it was a reaction to the 50’s ideal of the perfect family. However, I believe the fatherhood movement is also reaction against the social expectation that has evolved since industrialization and the 50’s perfect family. Husbands are to provide for their families, but fathers are also to be fathers. The world is currently trying to figure out what that is. The world is beginning to recognize a father’s importance society because of their role in their children’s lives; they help raise confident, strong, healthy children that will someday become adults and be contributing to society and it’s next generation.

Alma 43

"And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them" (Alma 43:33).

Captain Moroni prepared his military force with armor. After counseling with the prophet, he placed his main portion of his army where it was going to be needed.

Hugh Nibley said:

“The Lamanite campaign was directed by Amalekite and Zoramite officers, whose knowledge of Nephite military secrets and methods would have given them an enormous advantage over any commander but Moroni. Right at the outset his foresight had robbed them of their first and logical objective—the buffer land of Jershon (Alma 43:22). He had taken up his main defensive position there, but when the messengers returned from consulting the prophet he learned that the Lamanites were planning a surprise by directing their push against the more inaccessible but weaker land of Manti, where they would not be expected (Alma 43:24). Immediately Moroni moved his main army into Manti and put the people there in a state of preparedness (Alma 43:25–26).
“Informed of every Lamanite move by his spies and scouts, Moroni was able to lay a trap for the enemy, catching them off-guard as they were fording the river Sidon (Alma 43:28–35)” (Since Cumorah, 297–98).

We should prepare in our lives. Prepare by turning to the prophets and following their counsel. General Conference is coming up. It is a great opportunity to listen to the words and counsel of the prophets and listen to the Spirit for inspiration for the best way to be obedient.

Alma 42

"And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God" (Alma 42:4).

Elder L. Tom Perry said:

“The main purpose of earth life is to allow our spirits, which existed before the world was, to be united with our bodies for a time of great opportunity in mortality. The association of the two together has given us the privilege of growing, developing, and maturing as only we can with spirit and body united. With our bodies, we pass through a certain amount of trial in what is termed a probationary state of our existence. This is a time of learning and testing to prove ourselves worthy of eternal opportunities. It is all part of a divine plan our Father has for His children” ("Proclaim My Gospel from Land to Land").

I love mortality. I really do. I can't even imagine not having a body. Well, I can imagine it. But I certainly appreciate the fact that I have one. I've mentioned this briefly before back for Alma 30, but my Creative Writing teacher introduced the idea that when writing we are to describe things using all 5 senese: sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing. If we do so, the story becomes more real for the reader.

That's how everyone here on earth discovered their environment. They explored with their senses. Without a body, I wouldn't have those senses that define the world for me. I'm grateful for this probationary state to become used to my body and to learn, grow and repent of the mistakes I've made. Because I'm not perfect.

Alma 41

"Wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10).

"As you seek to be happy, remember that the only way to real happiness is to live the gospel. You will find peaceful, eternal happiness as you strive to keep the commandments, pray for strength, repent of your sins, participate in wholesome activities, and give meaningful service. You will learn to have fun within the limits set by a loving Father in Heaven" ("Happiness").

Many people in the world are searching, seeking for happiness. But they don't know where to look and they end up doing things that does not lead them to happiness. Knowing the Plan of Happiness and obeying the commandments given to us, leads us on the path of happiness that we can share with others

Alma 40

"The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:23).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said:

“What a comfort to know that all who have been disadvantaged in life from birth defects, from mortal injuries, from disease, or from the natural deterioration of old age will be resurrected in ‘proper and perfect frame.’ . . . 

“The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!” ("Resurrection").

It really is a comfort and blessing to know that "all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame." It gives me strength, and I don't have any ailments. It gives me peace and comfort for friends and family who do. It gives me peace and comfort and strength that I can share with them.

Alma 39

"And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee? . . .

"And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel" (Alma 39:1, 10).

Alma the younger is speaking to his son Corianton, having already spoken to his older sons Helaman and Shiblon. Corianton has strayed quite a bit and Alma is trying to help him get on the right path by bringing to light what he did, why it is bad, the consequences of such action and how to repent.

I had never before noticed until this time around in reading the Book of Mormon that along with Alma explaining all those things to Corianton, he also advises him to follow in his elder brothers' footsteps, or follow their example that they have set. He also advises that he counsels with them in his doings.

Elder siblings are supposed to be examples to the younger ones. We are supposed to be able to advise and encourage and help our younger siblings. Older siblings aren't perfect, but if they've been trying their best and trying to follow God, then take their advice under serious consideration.

Alma 38

In 1994, Bruce C. Hafen and his wife Marie said:

“Is self-denial wise because something is wrong with our passions, or because something is right with our passions? Alma taught his son: ‘See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.’ (Alma 38:12; emphasis added.) He did not say eliminate or even suppress your passions, but bridle them—harness, channel, and focus them. Why? Because discipline makes possible a richer, deeper love” ("The Belonging Heart").

 On March 2, 2010, Elder Hafen visited BYU-Idaho and gave a devotional under the title "Bridle Your Passions." Highly suggest reading it. I think it's interesting that Alma the younger taught his son Shiblon this. That Mormon included it when compiling the Book of Mormon. This means it is meant for our day. Bridle your passions. What does this mean to you?

Women: Homemaker or Job/Career?

Throughout time, husband and wife have been a team and have provided together. God said to Adam, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake" (Genesis 3:17; Moses 4:23).

The ground was cursed for Adam's sake. Adam now had responsibilities to fulfill and lessons to learn from fulfilling them. In my post "Date: It's Important," I shared what the men's responsibilities are and how dating helps prepare them and perfect them in fulfilling their responsibilities.

Now what are the women supposed to do?

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it mentions: "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children."

Does this mean mothers are supposed to be stay-at-home moms or homemakers?

Alma 37

Alma 37 is full of a lot of truths and advice. A lot. I really recommend you read it yourself and pick your own verse to really study and apply. I've chosen Alma 37:37:

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

I've spoken of Communication: Councils previously. This is similar. Pray every morning. Pray ever night. Pray for guidance. Then go out and do. Pray in gratitude. Pray continuously.

Counsel with God. Let him guide you in what you should be doing. Ask him what his will is. Then do the best you can.

Alma 36

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (3).

Put your trust in God. Trust in God can bless individuals, families, communities and nations.

Elder Henry B. Eyring in General Conference October 2010 siad in his talk "Trust in God, Then Go and Do":

That trust comes from knowing God. More than any other people on earth, we have, through the glorious events of the Restoration of the gospel, felt the peace that the Lord offered His people with the words 'Be still, and know that I am God' (Psalms 46:10). My heart is filled with gratitude for what God has revealed about Himself that we might trust Him. . . .  

You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer in this conference, you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.

We can listen to learn and repent to everything. Not just General Conference. However, the next one is coming up. But we can listen to learn and obey to inspiration that can come in classes at church or at school. We can listen for God's will to us in good songs or scripture study. We can listen anywhere and everywhere. When we listen and then follow what God has asked us to do, when we trust him, we will find ourselves enormously blessed. Trust in God. Think of it every time you see U.S. currency with the words "In God We Trust." It will bless your lives, trusting God.

Alma 35

The converted Zoramites were exiled from their homes and lands for their beliefs, but went to the people of Ammon or the Anti-Nephi-Lehies where they were welcomed with open arms. The people of Ammon administered unto them "according to their needs" (9). They received the converted, exiled Zoramites, nourishing them, clothing them, and give them lands for their inheritance (9).


M. Russell Ballard said:

"Brothers and sisters, we must ever keep in mind that missionary work throughout the world requires great sacrifice, and all of this sacrifice, effort, and exhaustive preparation of missionaries may be in vain if those who accept the gospel do not receive a loving and warm welcome by the members of the Church. 

"We know from years of experience that the first contacts new converts have with members in wards or branches are critical to the conversion process" ("The Hand of Fellowship").

We too must welcome the converts and all members. We need to help them feel the love of Christ. We need to be better. Missionaries search for someone to share the gospel with and give them the blessing God offers to them. But we must do our part too.

Alma 34

In reading Hebrews for my New Testament class, I found a phrase I really like: "let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

Life can be like a race. We exist before the race begins and we exist afterwards. Even if the race is a long, grueling one, it's not long in comparison to the time spent outside of the race. However, this race determines who you are.

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:32).

It's important to stay on the path. You have to return to the path to finish, to progress. Even when the course has obstacles and hurdles, you persevere. This isn't a race against other people. It isn't a race where you have to run the whole time. You just do the absolute best you can. It's how you run the race that matters. Did you warn others about the obstacles that were coming? Did you prepare yourself and do the best you could to prepare others? Did you take the time to help, serve, and encourage the other participants? 

There are enough Gold Medals for everyone. There's one waiting for every individual. We just need to do our best and turn to God and repent. We all make mistakes on this course. We aren't perfect. But we need to be adequately prepared, we need to do the best we can, we need to have the best sportsmanship. We need to be patience and endure to the end the best we can.

Alma 33

We can pray anywhere and be heard by God (3-11). We can pray at work, at play, at home, in private, in public. No matter where we are, Heavenly Father will hear us. Praying is one way we can begin exercising our faith. Just giving a simple, sincere prayer.

Henry B. Eyring said:

"When God has commanded us to pray, He has used words like 'pray unceasingly' and 'pray always' and 'mighty prayer.' 

"These commands do not require using many words. In fact, the Savior has told us that we need not multiply words when we pray. The diligence in prayer which God requires does not take flowery speech nor long hours of solitude. . . . 

"Our hearts can be drawn out to God only when they are filled with love for Him and trust in His goodness" ("Prayer").

Praying unceasingly, always, and mightily are not just words. It's where our hearts can be drawn out to God only when they are filled with love for Him and trust in His goodness, which is shown and expressed through our lives. Through how we live. We have to show faith, patience, love and diligence through our actions. We have to show humility and trust towards God that he will do what is best for us. Have our will bend to us, or in alignment with his. Pray unceasingly, always and mightily in your hearts, in your actions. Show how much you mean your prayers. Try to fulfill them yourself with Heavenly Father's help. Become his instrument in answering your's and other's prayers.

Alma 32

Alma 32 has many great teachings. But this blogpost would be HUGE if I talked about each of them. The verse I really want to focus on is:

"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" (27).

Experiment upon my words. That's what Alma says. Experiment. Test out the claims of the prophets. If they say morning and evening prayers and daily scripture study will bless your life, test it out! See what happens. Testing our such a claim is exercising a particle of faith. If you only have the desire to believe, test out the things we are told to do. You'll find how true the prophet's claims are. But you have to exercise a portion of faith.

"Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever you work toward a worthy goal, you exercise faith. You show your hope for something that you cannot yet see" ("Faith").

 So experiment upon the words of the prophets, desiring to know truth.

Alma 31

The Zoramites were a fraction of the Nephites that occupied a crucial piece of land (3). The rest of the Nephites worried and feared that the Zoramites would begin associating with the Lamanites which would be a great loss to the Nephites (4). Then Alma had an idea:

"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" (5).

As a result, off he went with a group of people to go preach the word.

Today, we should also focus our efforts on the word of God. We should read it. We should listen. We should teach it. Why? President Boyd K. Packer said:

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. 

“The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. . . . That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel” ("Little Children").

Communication: Councils

Yesterday, I spoke about Symbolic Interactions and Listening. Today, I'm speaking about Councils.

Councils. They are meetings where people get together to discuss and plan how things should run.

Generally, in both politics and the business world, each council member has his or her own agenda they are trying to push forward. They're a bit biased. The ideal council would be where people of different backgrounds, different experiences, and different opinions gathered together often to truly and honestly discover the best things that should be doing and the best direction they should be headed.

However, even then each has his or her agenda thinking that their way is the right way.

Thus, you want a council where they are searching for the best of all the possibilities. Which means they have their opinions but they are open to change. The best councils don't compromise, they have a consensus at the end of the meeting. If there isn't a consensus then a decision hasn't been reached and it will be put off until the next meeting.

Alma 30

My Creative Writing teacher, Josh Allen, was teaching us that as writers we need to use more than one sense to describe something. "The moist-earth colored brownie tasted like the desert sand." This covers sight and taste, two of our senses. However, this description only works if the reader has seen the color of moist earth and if they have tasted sand or something simular.

In Alma 30, Korihor is leading the people away by his words using arguments that still face us today. One such example is that he says, "How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of the things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ" (15). Korihor's saying you can't prove what you know, thus it must not be true. It's an argument that faces us all the time.

Communication: Symbolic Interactions and Listening

We are always communicating. Even when you're not talking you're communicating. What is communication? Communication is the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings. When there is a miscommunication it means the conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings failed. Such a miscommunication happens for a variety of reasons, but one way it happens involves symbolic interactions. Every interaction we have is immersed in symbols.

Generally, a handshake means the deal is sealed, we have an agreement, hello, welcome. When someone doesn't give a handshake when you expect it, you may think the person is rude, doesn't want to shake your hand, or many other explanations in the negative. However, perhaps this individual just doesn't shake hands at all.

The handshake is an example of a symbolic interaction. Doing it or not doing it has meaning to each individual involved. But perhaps the meanings are not the same.

Alma 29

"I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction" (4).

Having righteous desires are important. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk entitled "Desire" in the April 2011 General Conference. It's a really excellent talk that I suggest reading. But I particularly enjoyed one part:

"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming."

Are our priorities in order? We hear that a lot. To change our priorities we need to change our desires. Thus, the question is: Are our desires righteous? If our desires are righteous than so are our priorities, our choices will follow and so will are actions. When we act, it determines how we change, what we achieve, and what we become.

What are the desires we have? Make sure you have them, and make sure you have good ones.

Alma 28

Death is truly something sad. Throughout life, it is inevitable that we have friends, family members and acquaintances die. We mourn the separation.

However, I am blessed to not fear it. I know that I will see them again. I don't have to wonder. I don't fear death for I know of God's plan and what happens after. I know of the resurrection. I know I'll see them again. Mortal time moves a lot faster than we may assume.

Of course you mourn the loss. It's hard. It's not easy. But when you know they lived a good life, when you know of the hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ, it's not as hard as it could have been.

Alma 27

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies or the people of Ammon entered into the Nephite land and were numbered among the people of the church of God. However, "they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end" (27).

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we should be distinguished from those around us by our character. We should live in such a manner that people can say, "Oh! The Mormons! I know them. They're a great people. Always serving God and their neighbor. They're so friendly. They are the most honest, kind, happy people I know and they truly live what they believe."

Share your testimony by living it. People will distinguish you from everyone else.

Alma 26

As you know, I have a brother serving a mission in South Carolina and I keep his blog updated for friends, family and strangers. Alma 26 is all about the joy missionaries can have of being "instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work" (15). Of course, there are missions that are hard. But the missionaries should keep their spirits up. If they only introduce the gospel to one single individual, you never know what could come from that. How much good can come. They have still been an instrument in teaching the gospel by example if not words.

In this particular chapter, I have one favorite verse:

"And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?"(2).

I don't think this is a question only for missionaries, but rather for everyone. What great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can we tell?

In my own personal life, I've noticed many blessings. The simple fact of my getting my homework done is a miracle every time it happens. I look at the pile before me and I just don't think I can get everything done. It's not that I procrastinate. I don't really. There's just so much to get done every day when I'm taking 18 credits. But I get started on it. I just start moving and working on it. Before I know it, I'm done. Not only am I done, but occasionally I'll have a tender mercy of a break in my homework. Not only that, but I have earned good grades. It's a total miracle to me. There is seriously no possibly way I could have accomplished it myself. The Holy Ghost and it's power to be able to help me remember and recall things is a fantastic study companion. This may not seem so amazing to you. But I know that I'm not doing it all myself. I have help. To me, this is a greatly appreciated blessing.

There are so many other blessings in my life that I cannot name them all. It would take hours and days and create a really long blogpost. So long, I wonder if blogger has a max for how many characters a post can hold. But begin to notice the blessings in your life. Can you see them? Do you know what they are?

Two Poems of Mine

I'm taking a creative writing class this semester. Currently, we are covering poetry. I've recently discovered I actually enjoy poetry (some of them). Once, I tried my hand at poetry in high school and decided never again. Yet we keep covering it in all my English classes for some reason. This particular professor gave us some of the reasons why we often do not have a positive experience with poetry and thus avoid the following:

The 7 Deadly Sins of Poetry

1. The Impenetrable Haze Poem - the work as a whole does not suggest a theme that any two people can agree on.
2. Truth-in-a-nutshell - poem tries to define truth, beauty, love or evil in the abstract, it is apt to sound like a little essay in short lines.
3. Oh-Poor-Miserable-Me! - based on unrelenting self pity. Belongs in a psychiatrist's office, not writing class.
4. The Marching Band Poem - heavy-handed rhythms and rhymes drown out subtleties of sophisticated poetry.
5. Hark, The Antique Language! - you are writing for the 21st century.
6. The Wailing-Violin Poem - the reader's emotions are manipulated to evoke tears. The poem is no longer sincere.
7. The Collective-Group Poem - we all resent being included in sweeping generalizations about all women, all men, all students, all Americans, all parents, or all anything.

As an assignment, I was to actually write some poetry. Here are two of my sincere attempts. Ironically, they are both based a little bit on my youngest brother. Tell me what you think!

Alma 25

To the Anti-Nephi-Lehies salvation did not come by the law of Moses, "but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come" (16).

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel (Articles of Faith 1:4).


Dallin H. Oaks said:

You need the strength that comes from faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ if you are to fulfill your duty “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9). In times of trial you need the comfort offered in the holy scriptures, which assure you that when you have the shield of faith you will “be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (D&C 27:17). 

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares you for whatever life brings. This kind of faith prepares you to deal with life’s opportunities—to take advantage of those that are received and to persist through the disappointments of those that are lost. 

Most importantly, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ opens the door of salvation and exaltation: “For no [one] can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name” (Moro. 7:38). ("'Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ'").

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is pretty important. Faith is means action. Faith is action. You don't just believe something, you act on that belief. So you don't just believe in the Savior, you act on that belief. That's what faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is.

Alma 24

The Lamanities were a people who had the traditions of their fathers and had plundered, stole, committed adultery, murdered, and many manners of wickedness (Alma 23:4). However, when those Lamanities were converted, they were converted and never did fall away (Alma 23:6). They called themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 23:17). However, even though the king of all the Lamanities was converted, and his whole household and many of the Lamanites, there were some who were angry and began to rebel against the king (Alma 24:1-2). This fraction began to make preparations for war (4). The leaders of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies came together to council on what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanities (5). But not one of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies wanted to or would take up arms against their brethren and they wouldn't make any preparation for war (6).

Why? Why did they choose this path?

Crisis in Life

This is the simplified Chinese word for crisis. It's basically a combination of the words "danger" and "crucial point" ("Chinese words for 'crisis'"). Having crises in your life, either for a family or individual, can either strengthen or tear relationships apart. But it depends on the overall experience on whether it adds to the things that tears people apart.

The above is the ABC's of a crisis. In my own family, here's a simple example that helps illustrate this process.

Alma 23

"Yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away" (6).

Are we so converted that we will never fall away? Conversion is something you can always be becoming. Richard G. Scott said:

To be converted, you must remember to apply diligently in your life the key words “a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments.” Your happiness now and forever is conditioned on your degree of conversion and the transformation that it brings to your life (Full Conversion Brings Happiness).

What's our degree of conversion? Are we only sorta converted? Or are we in it 100%?

How do we become better?

Alma 22

"I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
"But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest" (15-16).

The king then prayed to God and said, "I will give away all my sins to know thee" (18).

Sometimes I think that when we repent that the Savior is taking away our sins. He is. But, we first have to offer them. Sometimes we value our sins and we want to hold on to them, even when you know it's bad. The Savior asked us to sacrifice something we shouldn't have anyways and He'll make us clean. Sometimes we love sin more then God.

It's like the monkey trap. The monkey sees something enticing and pleasureful, sticks his hand in and grabs it. However, as the hand forms a fist, the monkey can no longer escape. If the monkey would only let go of the object, he'd be free.

It's not an exact analogy, but it does get the point across. Would you rather hold onto your sin or be free? It's harder than you'd think to sacrifice a sin. Think of how hard it is to change a bad habit. It's a challenge. It's work. Sometimes you need help. But the reward is great. You get to know God better. You are free. You have the hope of eternal life. You receive great joy.

Sacrificing a sin is totally worth it. Even if it is hard.

Alma 21

"And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord" (16).

We are supposed to be led by the Holy Ghost. Sometimes this can be difficult because you may not know how to recognize the Holy Ghost. I live by a rule of thumb. If it's good, do it. Moroni says:

"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which invitheth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God" (Moroni 7:13).

Instead of trying to figure out if it is the Holy Ghost or not, what you should be trying to discover is if it's good or not. Anything good comes from God. The Holy Ghost helps communicate it. As you do those good things, begin to recognize it as the Holy Ghost. See the consequences of righteous action. As you become more familiar with the Holy Ghost and learn to immediately recognize it, then you will become more tuned and more easily guided.