I just posted about the importance of writing handwritten letters to our children, expressing our love and gratitude and then sharing our testimonies of Christ. As I prayed what to write about today, I opened to the letters that Alma wrote his sons. What a perfect time to breakdown these beautiful letters, and apply them in our lives. If they made it into The Book of Mormon I would say they are rather important. I believe every word is important, no space has been wasted. Imagine if you had 531 pages to give all your best advice, tips, guidance, inspirations, warnings, blessings, examples and directions, would you take even one verse for unnecessary purposes? I think not! That is why I love to apply each and every scripture to my life. The miraculous part of applying the scriptures is every time I read them they apply differently. Often I will go back and re-read the verses that I just journaled about and the application has changed to better fit the new day. So as you read my application today, allow it to give you excitement to go and prayerfully read it for yourself, and apply it in a manner that is most beneficial for you.
“We urge you to study the Book of Mormon as individuals and families and then to do as the prophet Nephi counseled: liken the scriptures to yourselves so that it will be for your profit and learning. (See 1 Ne. 19:23–24.)” -Ezra Taft Benson
Here we have Alma 38, a letter from Alma to his son Shiblon. Alma starts off his letter with one of the most repeated messages in The Book of Mormon, one that greatly impacts our lives and yet one that has been slowly diminished in importance. It makes perfect since that the adversary wants us to be complacent on listening for the consequence of our neglect is severe and yet rewarding for Satan.
Alma 38:1 My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence.
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!!
If you do you will prosper, if you don’t you will lose the presence of God. This is the ticket to success! We must follow the Lord! He is the way! The world will scream otherwise at you. God lays it out in simplicity. Follow me, and prosper. I feel like this is quite a deep statement, what appears at first to be basic, is actually intense. What kind of prospering is he talking about? I believe he is talking both temporarily as well as eternally. When we follow the Lord we don’t always have the most “successful” life on the worldly scale, but we will have the most peace and assurance, which is something that Satan never gives those who choose his way. We will be “successful” because God will always be with us, and he won’t abandon us. As we yoke ourselves with the Savior, we will have increased strength to survive any trial, more courage to stand strong against deteriorating standards, and be better prepared to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
He promises us that if we will follow Him then he will be with us. If we don’t His presence is removed. Christ is the light of the world, without Him it is a dark, lonely, depressing place to be, even if surrounded others making the same choices. There is always a void that can’t be filled without the light and life of Christ.
Alma 38:9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.
The power to turn on the light lies in our hands. We have full control whether the Holy Ghost is to be our constant companion and be there to lead and direct us through the ever darkening alleys of life. Have you ever actually walked in the old alleys behind houses? What about in the dark? We used to have an alley behind our house, and it was a shortcut to get to my friend’s house. During the day it was even scary, you couldn’t see around the next corner, and if someone was there with the intent to harm you, there wasn’t anyone around to hear the scream. However, if I had a friend or two, we enjoyed the well lit alley during the day. One night I was late getting home and it was pitch black out. I thought about the short cut alley, but I didn’t have anyone with me to help guide me through or to run and find help if a stranger was to attack. So I wisely opted to take the long road home. I feel like that is life for us right now. There are so many distractions and voices available to lead us in different directions. It’s as if alleys are popping up everywhere as shortcuts to our destination. The problem is that they have blind turns ahead that don’t show the dangers lurking. It is unsafe to venture through life without the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the light of Christ.
“Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Light of the World, and He beckons us to follow Him. We must look to Him at all times and especially so if there are dark and stormy nights when the tempest of doubt and uncertainty, like a rolling fog, creeps in. Should the pointed fingers “from the other side of the river of water, [where] a great and spacious building [stands]” (1 Nephi 8:26) appear to be directed at you in the attitude of mocking, demeaning, and beckoning, I ask that you immediately turn away so that you are not persuaded by cunning and devious means to separate yourself from truth and its blessings.
However, this alone will not be enough in this day when perverse things are being spoken, written, and portrayed. Elder Robert D. Hales taught us, “Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your ‘heart, might, mind and strength’—you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness” (“Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light,” Ensign, May 2002, 71; Liahona, July 2002, 78). Surely, our desire to follow Christ, who is the Light of the World (see John 8:12), means we must act on His teachings. We are spiritually strengthened, fortified, and protected as we act on the word of God.” -Ian S. Ardern
As I read the next two verses I could feel Heavenly Father’s joy when we follow Him. It’s so hard to read about the Father weeping in the scriptures. After all He has given us and all that He has done for us, and then we willingly turn off the light by disobeying or giving into our weaknesses. On Mother’s Day, my children are filled with gratitude for my dedication and hard work that is all for them. They always ask me what I want for Mother’s Day. They desperately want to be able to run to the store and buy my greatest wish to show their love and gratitude. My honest response is always for someone to do the dishes and clean the house. “Ugghhhh, please tell me something I can buy,” they will reply. When it comes down to it, I always LOVE their presents, but the best gift to a hard working, unconditionally loving mother is for her child to make good choices, and to to live in the light. It brings the greatest joy to parents to watch a child listen to the teachings of their youth, then follow the tender instructions with trust that their parents love them and wants the best for them. That’s the exact message I got from the next two verses, a perfect laid out description of the greatest gift we could give our Heavenly Father. He tells us how to bring Him joy. The thought of bringing Heavenly Father and Christ JOY after all they give us, sends chills down my spine.
Alma 38:2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. 3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites.
We can bring Christ JOY by being steadfast, faithful, diligent, patient, and long suffering. It’s interesting how he receives JOY when we are filled with joy. That’s a true parent! He wants us to do the things that he knows will lead to a happy life here on earth, as well as through eternity. He is the perfect leader, because he loves us perfectly and knows our full potential without error. Now we just have to follow with unwavering faith, trusting that he will guide us safely through the darkening alleys of life or be patient while he takes us around the long way, to avoid the lurking strangers that he can see hiding at each corner ready to distract us and pacify is to sleep so that we can’t see the destruction that lies ahead. With Christ as our guide we WILL NOT fail, but SUCCEED! His plan is perfectly laid out to bring us safely home.
Alma 38:4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.
I love that Alma acknowledges the hardships and the steadfast faith of his son. He then emphasizes the Lord’s hand through that trial. I have found this to be important to do through my children’s lives, to point out the tender mercies of the Lord. Sometimes while enduring hardship it is difficult to see the miracles that accompany it. However, someone, like a parent can stand on the outside and see more clearly. Alma’s son was captured, bound and stoned, just a few difficult trials to endure. However, he was steadfast and faithful and the Lord delivered him. This is what Satan does, he captures those who turn away from the Lord for a bit, then he binds his captives through their sins, and stones them by the constant banter and taunting of his devils. He will throw every stone possible to try and spiritually destroy each and every one of us. The only shield available is Christ! Through him we can survive the stoning and break the chains that bind. He is the only way. Sometimes it may appear to be the difficult way, but the truth is it is the ONLY safe way.
Alma 38:5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that 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.
“Brothers and sisters, think well again on these points, if you will. “Father, divide your goods and give me my share. I am going off on my own.” In the days ahead he wasted his possessions with riotous living. He became so low, so hungry, he lived with the swine. “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” His heart was crying out, “I am lower than the low. I am now absolutely nothing—I am absolutely nobody.”
Please weigh the impact of the father’s response once more. He saw the son coming; he ran to him; he kissed him; he placed his best robe on him; he killed the fatted calf; and they made merry together. This self-declared “nobody” was his son; he was “dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
In the father’s joy he also taught well his older, bewildered son that he too was someone. “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” Contemplate, if you will, the depth—yes, even the eternal proportions—of “all that I have is thine.” I declare with all the strength I possess that we have a Heavenly Father who claims and loves all of us regardless of where our steps have taken us. You are his son and you are his daughter, and he loves you.” -Marvin J. Ashton
Here’s the testimony of Alma. As you read it, think about the impact we will have in our children and others as we testify of Christ. We need to share His love and express how it has effected our lives.
Alma 38:6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things. 7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth. 8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.
Then he adds to his testimony the greatest plea to his son to follow Christ. We can all take His tender loving advise and apply it to our lives today. If we do, we will feel the lights brighten, we will find strength to endure the ills that we face, and we will be filled with peace and joy that cannot be duplicated any other way!
Alma 38: 9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
Wow! He tells us exactly what to do! Once you are walking with Christ! It will become your turn to lead others, this is a difficult time as well, because even though your life is full of peace and your feet are placed safely on the path, now you have to watch the struggles of others as they find their way. It’s hard to watch Satan pull at those you love and to see how tight his grasp is, it truly is as if he has them bound in chains. The hardest part is that the redeeming power of Christ is felt only through repentance and then walking with Him. However, Satan pumps so many lies into the wayward that they can’t see clearly what a beautiful loving plan repentance is. They choose to avoid it like a plaque, because the adversary sells it as a heavy tool. It is the saving step back into the light of Christ. The prophets and apostles have begged us not to give up on the lost! Christ himself gives a parable of the one lost sheep being worth our full attention no matter how long we have to seek! It’s worth the fight! We must fight for helping others, while praying with our full heart for the Lord’s shield to continue to protect us. It’s not an easy work, but it’s worth it!
I have found that daily repentance is the best way to clear the previous day from any dents from the adversary, giving a cleared new day to face.
Alma 38:14 acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.
“Sister Ella Hoskins, who at 100 years old was called to help the young women in her ward with Personal Progress. About two years later, at 102, Sister Hoskins earned her Young Womanhood Recognition award. The young women, the ward and stake Young Women and Relief Society presidencies, and family members gathered together to celebrate her accomplishment. Boundaries of age, organization, and marital status faded away in faithful service. Young women expressed gratitude for Sister Hoskins, for her teaching, and for her righteous example. They want to be like her. Afterward, I asked Sister Hoskins, “How did you do it?”
She promptly responded, “I repent every day.”
From a gentle lady, so full of the Spirit of the Lord that she glowed with pure light, I was reminded that to shine with the beauty of holiness, to stand with the Savior, and to bless others, we must be clean. Purity is possible through the grace of Christ as we deny ungodliness and choose to love God with might, mind, and strength. The Apostle Paul taught, “Flee … youthful lusts: … follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” None of us is perfect. We have all made mistakes. But we repent so that we may be better and “retain the name [of Christ] written always in [our] hearts.” When we serve in the name of the Lord, with purity of heart, we reflect the Savior’s love and give others a glimpse of heaven.” -told by Carol F. McConkie
-Sherri Jorgensen
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