Alma 32: 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
These chapters are exceptional in the way that they show us how merciful and loving our Heavenly Father is. “God is merciful unto all who believe on his name.” (Alma 32:22) He will give us every chance possible, he will work with us at the place we are right now, and he will never abandon us. “can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety.” (Alma 34:16) If there is anyone who understands how strong and relentless the adversary is, it’s Heavenly Father. He can clearly see all the distractions, deceptions, and deceiving that is going on in our individual lives and if we choose to follow him, he will help us walk confidently, courageously, and boldly through those trials without hesitation. “He that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed .” (Alma 32:15) Never fear, those moments of hesitation he will patiently help us as we continue to trust him through, experimenting on His words, practicing a particle of faith, and having a desire to move closer to Him. “This is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.” (Alma 34:14)
Like the Anti-Lehi-Nephi’s we can follow the Lord even before we fully understand the “why’s” to what he has asked, by having a hope for things to come, and by being converted through the Savior’s redeeming powers. My daughter Chelsea built her testimony through the principle of experimenting. “Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.” (Alma 34:4) It can be a lot for a young girl to filter through her parents different churches. Like Joseph Smith, she sought truth, and was unsure how to to come to the correct conclusion. She remembered the teachings of Alma, to experiment upon the word. So she made the conscience—difficult decision to not follow the world, but to experiment upon the words of “The Strength of Youth”. She threw away her tank tops and decided to dress modestly. She told her friends who were boys that she was going to wait until sixteen to date, and then she started to read the scriptures…accompanied with prayer. “ Be watchful unto prayer continually.” (Alma 34:39) These little acts of faith, have grown into an Oak tree of testimony and knowledge. “Ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life.” (Alma 33:23) Her words echo those of Alma’s “I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true.” (Alma 34:8)
Alma 32:28 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.
Each of us can grow our own tree of faith and testimony that will bear delicious fruits and sustain us through difficult times. “But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you…(Alma 32:41-42) “Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.” (Alma 32:43)
Alma teaches us how to follow the Lord everyday, so that we can be encircled in His light continually which will be our protection from the ruthless attacks of Satan. He begs of us to cry unto the Lord constantly, without pause. “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. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. (Alma 34:17,18,19) There is not a time or a place that you can’t pray—“In your fields…over all your flocks…in your house, morning, mid-day, and evening…against the power of your enemies…against the devil…POUR OUT YOUR SOULS IN YOUR CLOSETS, AND YOUR SECRET PLACES, AND IN YOUR WILDERNESS.” (Alma 34:19-26) “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 34:27) The Lord always hears our prayers—-ALWAYS! “Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness….in my fields…my house…my closet…midst thy congregations…when I have been cast out and despised by my enemies.” (Alma 33: 4-10)
Alma 33:11 … I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy
With the Lord in our side, our hearts soft and our minds clean, we will be prepared to meet God, which is our ultimate goal here on earth. “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.” (Alma 34:33) “That 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 34:34) “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God.” (Alma 34:32)
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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