Alma 37:6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
The Lord has asked us to do small and simple things to move the work of the Lord forward. As we trust him, we will be part of something grand—majestic, something we can’t fully understand because it is “for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God.” (Alma 37:12) “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) “I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.” (Alma 36:27)
Let’s look at what he asks us to do in these three chapters…
He bears the most outstanding testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.” (Alma 36:17) His purpose in sharing his experience is to help us lean on his testimony of the redeeming power of the Savior to save us, so that we know with out a doubt that the Lord will always have never-ending mercy on us as we turn our hearts to Him. “For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you.” (Alma 37:17) We too can find that sweet joy that Alma found as he turned his horror of bitterness to the Lord. “I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.”(Alma 36:12) “In fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.” (Alma 36:14) “I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death… I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!… There could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains…On the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” (Alma 36:18-21) “God has delivered.” (Alma 36:27) What a simple thing to ask of us, to repent and allow him to carry our burdens, as we look to him for guidance.
Alma 36:26…I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God. 27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me. 28 And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time.
He has asked us to retain the brightness of the scriptures. “They must retain their brightness.” (Alma 37:5) “Remember…God has entrusted you with these things which are sacred.” (Alma 37:14) The scriptures have the power to heal and soften hearts, to repair our brokenness and bring us to Christ with full purpose of heart. The scriptures will bring our own lives into the light of Christ, as well as all those that we come in contact with.“Were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.” (Alma 37:9) As we read the scriptures daily—personally and with our families—we will be keeping the commandment that they should be “kept and handed down from one generation to another…that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.” (Alma 37:4)
One of the simplest, but greatest things the Lord has asked us to do is pray. “Cry unto God for all thy support.” That’s pretty clear how often we should petition heaven for help…ALL the time, in ALL situations. “Let all they doings be unto the Lord.” The Lord is not only ready and willing to come to our aid—he is begging us to call upon him in ALL things. “Whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let the afflictions of they heart be placed upon the Lord forever.” (Alma 37:36) “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 37:37)
With those three things firm planted in our hearts, the rest of the small and simple things will come naturally. The Lord has told us the importance of keeping his commandments, all which have been given as a protection for us and to help us navigate life. “Inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his word.” (Alma 36:30) We need to pray for and then follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, guidance of the prophets, and tap into the power discernment which will help us distinguish light for darkness. “I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations.” (Alma 37:23) We need to “never be weary of good works”, leaning daily on “repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ,” we need to be “humble” and “meek and lowly in heart.” (Alma 37:33,34) “Be diligent and temperate in all things…not lifted up in pride…bridle all your passions…refrain from idleness.” (Alma 38:10-12) All these things will show us the course to follow, “It is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.” ( Alma 37:44)
Alma 37:5 …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.
Alma 38:9 …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.
-written by Sherri Jorgensen
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