Tag: God

As Much as Ye Shall Put Your Trust in God, Ye Shall Be Delivered out of Your Trials, Troubles, and Afflictions

~ Richard Rowley

Alma teaches his son about God’s power of deliverance.

“…As much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 38:5)

Questions:

-Does the peace of the Spirit deliver a person from letting his or her earthly troubles cause despair or paralyzing anxiety?

-How important is it to be lifted above the vicious cycles of the fallen world (mentally and emotionally) in order to make the greatest difference in line with God’s will?  

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?

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?

Let Your Hearts be Full, Drawn Out in Prayer unto God Continually

~ Richard Rowley

Amulek teaches about how prayer should be approached in quality, quantity, and intensity.

“…Humble yourselves and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your field, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.” (Alma 34:19-27)

Questions:

-How does one keep his or her heart drawn out to God at all times?

Cry unto Him for Mercy for He is Mighty to Save

~ Richard Rowley

Amulek teaches that part of exercising faith unto repentance is to call upon God for mercy.

“…May God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy for he is mighty to save.” (Alma 34:17-18)

Questions:

-What does it mean to call upon God for mercy?

-How many see themselves as being in need of God’s mercy?