Category: Book of Mormon

The Words of Christ Carry Us Beyond This Vale of Sorrow into a Far Better Land of Promise

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches his son about the power of scripture and prophetic teaching.

“…The words of Christ, if we follow their course, [will] carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.” (Alma 37:45)

Questions:

-Is it possible to understand the culture of Heaven before entering into the eternities?

-Can the words of Christ (as found in the scriptures) prepare one to participate in the culture of Heaven?

-Will anyone who doesn’t understand the culture of Heaven be comfortable staying there?

-Have you ever thought of your promised land as becoming Christ-like so you are prepared to cross through the veil and meet Him?

Let the Affections of Thy Heart Be Placed upon the Lord Forever

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches his son about the type of relationship one should have with God.

…Keep the commandments of God. Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. 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. (Alma 37:35-37)

Questions:

-How does a person reach a state where all they do, think, and feel is directed to the Lord?

-Is it possible to reach such a state without God’s help?

-Is it possible to always have God’s Holy Spirit with you?

Such Shall Find Rest to Their Souls

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches key principles, which Priesthood leaders should preach, to bring rest to souls.

“Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.” (Alma 37:33-34)

Questions:

-How does ego inevitably torment those who let it have a prominent place in their lives?

-How many understand that having a humble heart and faith in God brings the only true and lasting peace?

Destruction Shall Come upon Workers of Darkness

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches his son that the promised land (in the Americas) is cursed for all who work darkness.

“…There is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe…Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe.” (Alma 37:28;31)

Questions:

-Does the promised land referred to in this verse include all of the Americas?

-Does this verse leave any doubt that the curse mentioned is perpetual on the promised land?

By Very Small Means the Lord Doth Confound the Wise

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches his son about the more subtle power God often chooses to employ as a means of bringing about great results, most specifically the salvation of souls.

“…By small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.” (Alma 37:6-7)

Questions:

-In discussions about God’s attributes, how often is perfect finesse mentioned?

-When life is a measure of our faith and true desires—and the cumulative use of one’s free agency is what will be put in the balance on the Day of Judgment—how much finesse is needed by a loving God who desires to bring all (who are willing) back to His presence for eternity?

-Would life be a meaningful proving ground for the eternities (and test of faith) if God frequently revealed Himself beyond small means?

-How often do people overlook what God is doing in their lives because they are looking for grandiose interventions?

-How off base are those among the intelligentsia/academicians who see the world as being firmly a matter of intention-less cause and effect separate from the powerful “undercurrents” of God’s interventions?

Whosoever Shall Put Their Trust in God Shall Be Supported in Their Troubles

~ Richard Rowley

Alma testifies that God does not leave those comfortless who trust in Him.

“…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.” (Alma 36:3)

Questions:

-What does it mean to put one’s trust in God?

-Can someone who willfully disobeys God’s commandments (and does not repent) be said to trust God?

Bear with All Manner of Afflictions with a Firm Hope That Ye Shall One Day Rest from All Your Afflictions

~ Richard Rowley

Amulek provides vital keys to progressing spiritually.

Questions:

-In what ways do people contend against the Holy Ghost?

-How can a person receive the Holy Ghost? Is it possible to fully do so without being baptized by one with authority?

The Lord Dwelleth Not in Unholy Temples but in the Hearts of the Righteous Doeth He Dwell

~ Richard Rowley

Amulek teaches that the Spirit of God withdraws from those who do not repent. To be prepared to dwell with God in the eternities, a person needs to reconcile himself or herself to God through Christ’s Atonement and allow God to dwell in (and purify) his or her heart through His Spirit.

“…If ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doeth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb. And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God…” (Alma 34:35-37)

Questions:

-Is it possible to be at rest spiritually? Do the powerful forces of God’s love, and Satan’s rebellion against God, allow anyone stay in place spiritually speaking?

The Same Spirit Which Doth Possess Your Body at the Time Ye Go Out of This Life Will Have Power to Possess Your Body in the Eternal World

~ Richard Rowley ~ Leave a comment

Amulek explains why “death bed” repentance, while better than no repentance, isn’t a good idea. The health of one’s spirit is the result of cumulative choices. Decisions that are made — day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year — form the essence of one’s spirit and that essence will largely hold sway once a person passes through the veil of death into the eternities (and receives a resurrected body).  

“…I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance. Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. 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 34:30-32)

“…I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance, until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for the same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.” (Alma 34:33-34)

Questions:

-How quickly does one’s spirit start to heal and be enlightened after he or she repents and softens his or her heart toward God?