Alma 43-56

This week was probably one of my favorite readings weeks of the class so far. Sometimes the war chapters can be confusing, but I love them more than anything. Reading them is like watching an action movie in my head, and the amount of principles that can be pulled from them is amazing! I wish I had enough time to write about everything we learned this week, but I'll do my best to cover the main points.

One of the cool things we discussed was in chapter 49 in verses 6-8, where Amalickiah essentially copies Moroni's war strategies and thinks that will give him an advantage over Moroni. The funny thing is, Moroni's army still wins. Brother Griffin used this point to illustrate that no matter what, Satan is always playing catch-up to the Lord. Never at any point does the Lord say "Oh dear, what's going to happen next?" His plan is set in stone, and Satan's feeble attempts to counter Him only work when we let them. He tries to make the copy or the fake version look real, but we have to rely on the Holy Ghost to teach us wrong from right and to avoid temptation.

Another principle I loved was in chapter 49, verse 14, where Amalickiah's army comes to attack the city of Noah, which had previously been their weakest city. To their astonishment, Moroni had fortified that weak point so much that it was even stronger than their previous strongest city! We can apply this to us in that the Lord makes our weaknesses strengths. Brother Griffin didn't say this in class, but I cross-referenced this verse with Ether 12:27 in my scriptures.

A similar example is in chapter 50 where Moroni describes the fortifications he's making to all of the cities. Even though those cities are already strong, he doesn't stop fortifying them and making them stronger. In verse 11 it says "...he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and Lamanites[.]" Even though we may feel confident and strong in certain areas, we must fortify ourselves so much that we don't get anywhere near the line of danger.

Whilst fortifying these old cities, we must also make new fortifications simultaneously. Brother Griffin used the analogy of "sweeping the corners," in that we must constantly clean ourselves every day, every week at sacrament, and at the bishop's office. We have to sweep out the old, dusty, dirty parts of ourselves, put them on the "altar" and give them up to the Lord. This helps us to become more like Him and a better person overall.

I also loved verse 23 in chapter 50 which says "But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi..." Brother Griffin emphasized that this was the worst war the Nephites had ever seen in their time, and yet there "never was a happier time." He said that happiness doesn't just happen. Regardless of circumstances, happiness is always a choice. You can always choose to be happy, regardless of external circumstances.

Finally, I just love chapter 53 personally, especially verses 20-21. What incredible young men! If that doesn't give you an idea of what kind of guy to look for, I don't know what does. I have always said that I want to marry a stripling warrior, and I definitely still feel that way. This just reminds me to look for someone who is "exceedingly valiant," has "courage," "strength," "soberness," "keeps the commandments of God," "walks up rightly before Him" and is "true at all times in whatsoever thing [he is] entrusted." So so awesome. :)

That's all for today! Thanks for reading. :)

Kelsey

Alma 35-37

Wow, where do I begin? We covered so many wonderful things in class this week. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my FAVORITE days, simply because of Mission Prep and Book of Mormon. I'm learning so much in these classes. My teachers are just beyond incredible. 

We started in Alma 35 on Tuesday, where "the more popular part of the Zoramites" cast out the poor believers of Alma and his brethren. Despite the Zoramites' threatenings, the people of Ammon took the believers in and took care of them. This upset the Zoramites, which demonstrates two principles: the first is that, although the believers were poor in money, they were not poor in spirit. They believed what was true and were happier than the wealthy Zoramites, as were the people of Ammon. They might not have been wealthy either, but they loved others and served them, which is the true source of happiness. The wealthy Zoramites had everything, and yet they did not have the gospel, nor were they happy. "You can't do wrong and feel right," Brother Griffin said. That reminded us of Alma 41:10 "Wickedness never was happiness." That brings me to the second principle: misery loves company. The Zoramites were miserable, and they wanted the believers to be miserable as well. This tactic is the similar to what Satan does to us, and it can also remind us to not give into temptation of peer pressure around us.

Chapter 36 was my other favorite, because it’s about Alma the Younger and his conversion process. This chapter is awesome because Brother Griffin reminded us how often we can use this story in our teachings as missionaries. We will have converts who, like Alma the Younger, will feel miserable, pained, and wracked with horror because of the things they’ve done. But this chapter reminds us that we are NEVER too far gone. There’s no sin that can keep us from receiving forgiveness. Verses 12-18 describe the characteristics of hell: “destruction,” “inexpressible horror,” “racked with the pains of a damned soul,” “harrowed up” “gall of bitterness” and “everlasting chains of death.” Sin is painful, but the Lord is omnipotent and can remove any pain we have. After going through a severe repentance process throughout the chapter, Alma understands the joys of heaven that that are associated with the gospel and doing what’s right. Verses 20-23 say “marvelous,” “light,” “joy,” “sweet,” “singing and praising,” “strength,” etc.

He drew a diagram that showed a path of heaven, and a path of heaven, and showed that Christ is ALWAYS the turning point for either path. The inclusion or the exclusion of Christ determines which path you’re on.

The last chapter I wanted to write about is chapter 38, specifically verses 10-12, talk about controlling ourselves. They read: 

         “And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.

See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.

Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.” 

The overall theme is to avoid extremes, and to “bridle our passions,” but not just the sexual ones. Brother Griffin asked us to list off a number of things we are passionate about—sports, dance, academics, clothes, reading, food, etc. Whatever it may be, those passions must be bridled. Passions are great and wonderful, but it’s dangerous to get too extreme in any one thing. The natural man must be tamed. 

That's all for today :)

Alma 30-35

Some of you may know that I'm attending Brigham Young University this semester. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and BYU is an LDS school. In my Book of Mormon 102 class, I've been asked to write a weekly forum on the topics we discuss in class and my readings. This is to help me better understand and comprehend our lessons, as well as help someone else who may be in need of some spiritual insights. I think this is a great method and I'm excited to share with you all the things I'm learning at BYU. So, here we go!

In class this week, we discussed Alma 30-35. I really enjoyed these chapters and I'm loving the concept of pre-reading before coming to class. Because I'm held accountable for whether or not I do the reading, I actually do it! Haha. It keeps me motivated to always read my scriptures and I find myself pulling them out anytime I have a free minute. It's really a good habit that I'm excited to get into.

I often realize while studying the scriptures just how blessed we are to have them. Brother Griffin's class is more like seminary, in that, instead of focusing on the historical, nitty gritty aspects, we are focusing on the spiritual principles and the things we can apply to our lives. We started the week in Alma 30, which Brother Griffin deemed "The Devil's Doctrine." It discussed Korihor and his methods--which are identical to Satan's--for leading us astray. He contrasted that with Alma 31, which instead shows us "The Dream Team" of missionaries--Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek and Zeezrom. While Korihor is preaching wicked, false things, these five are out sharing the gospel.

One of my favorite parts of the lesson was Alma 32. Alma 32 has always been special to me because following its instructions is how I gained my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In verse 28, it says "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."

In these verses, we see a four-step process to testing doctrine. How can you know if a principle is right or wrong? How can you know if a new concept is righteous or wicked? This verse tells us the four things that a good seed will do: first, it will "swell" within you. It will feel strong, and powerful--a burning in the bosom type of thing. Second and thirdly, it will "enlarge [your] soul" and "enlighten [your] understanding." Things will be clearer and it will make sense. Finally, you will realize the value of it and it will become "delicious" to you. You'll be able to recognize how wonderful it is and it will feel right. Interestingly enough, these four steps together (swell, enlarge, enlighten, and delicious) spell the word "seed." Clever huh? Brother Griffin says it's a good way to remember it.

Finally, the principle I loved about this lesson was that in chapter 32, verse 40, Alma describes the fruit that comes from this tree as the fruit of the Tree of Life. We know from 1 Nephi 15:36 that the fruit from the tree of life is "most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God." Therefore, this doctrine about the seed of our testimony is actually teaching us how to grow our own Tree of Life! Alma 32 is giving us the steps we need to experiment, plant, and eventually grow a beautiful, everlasting Tree of Life within us--our testimonies.

Well, that's all for today. I'll be back next week. :)

Kelsey