Tag: Ammon

God Has All Power, All Wisdom, All Understanding, and Is a Merciful Being

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon teaches about God’s characteristics.

“…[God] has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.” (Alma 26:35)

Questions:

-Why is God merciful?

-Does mercy guide how God exercises His endless and perfect power?

-Can power be perfectly exercised without perfect wisdom, perfect understanding, and all-encompassing comprehension?

-Does God ever use His power to force people to do what is good and right?

-Does God allow us to choose between giving our individual wills to Him and withholding our wills from Him?

-Since God is merciful, in addition to all His other perfections, is there any difference between God’s will for us and what is best for us?

Teachings of Latter-Day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators:

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

“Some have sincere faith in the existence of a God but not necessarily in a revealing and omniscient God. Other sincere individuals question God’s omniscience, wondering, even though respectfully, whether even God can know the future. But an omniscient and revealing God can at any present moment disclose things future. This is possible because ‘in the presence of God, … all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord’ (D&C 130:7). Thus God ‘knoweth all things, for all things are present before [his] eyes’ (D&C 38:2). He told Moses, ‘There is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all’ (Moses 1:6).

“No qualifiers on the scope of God’s knowledge appear in holy writ. Instead, we read: ‘O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.’ (2 Nephi 9:20.)” (If Thou Endure It Well [1996], 46).

Unto Such Is Given to Know the Mysteries of God

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon teaches that the combination of…

…brings extraordinary spiritual blessings.

“…He that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance.” (Alma 26:22)

Questions:

-How can one maintain a prayerful connection with God while still going about day-to-day activities?

-Is it always possible to maintain a repentant demeanor toward God?

-How meaningful would our works be without Christ’s Atonement? How meaningful are they through Christ’s Atonement (when one is moving forward with a repentant demeanor and a sincere prayer is always in one’s heart)?

There is None That Knoweth These Things, Save it be the Penitent

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon, a Nephite missionary, teaches that the deepest spiritual truths can only be known after a person awakes to, and acts on, the absolute necessity of relying on Jesus Christ to cross over the abyss of spiritual death and obtain salvation.

“…In his great mercy [Christ] hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls. And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.” (Alma 26:21)

Questions:

-What brings a person face to face with the reality of spiritual death within him- or herself?

-How difficult is it to face the reality of spiritual death within oneself and then seek to reconcile oneself to God? How tenaciously does the “ego” within a person often fight this process?

Man was Created after the Image of God

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon, a Nephite missionary, teaches that God created men and women in His image.

“…Man in the beginning was created after the image of God.” (Alma 18:34)

Questions:

-How can a person make his or her spiritual posture a reflection of being made in the image of God?

-Is it possible to stand as tall, spiritually speaking, as God wants us to if we don’t internalize this gospel truth?

-Do many aspects of physical and mental health emanate from spiritual health?

God Knows All the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon, a Nephite missionary, teaches that God sees clearly and deeply into each person’s soul.

“…[God] looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.” (Alma 18:32)

Questions:

-Is it comforting to know that God looks on the heart with perfect clarity?

-How often do mortals, who don’t have the ability to clearly see the thoughts and intents of the heart, misjudge others?

A Seer Can Know of Things Which Are Past, and Also of Things Which Are to Come

~ Richard Rowley

Ammon describes the special powers given by God to a seer.

“…A man may have great power given him from God. But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known. Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.” (Mosiah 8:16-18)

Questions:

-Are there seers on the earth today?

-If so, do they serve as a great benefit to their fellow beings?

-Does God limit what they proclaim based on how ready the world is for truth?