Alma 39:15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people. 16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.
These chapters are the absolute best at reminding us of who we are and our purpose here on earth. There are many warnings and cautions regarding the ills of mortality, and there is also encouragement and direction on how to avoid all things carnal! “Do not risk one more offense against God.” (Alma 41:8) “Repent and forsake your sins…Remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself.” (Alma 39:9) “But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.” (Alma 39:8) “Only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance….let it bring you down to the dust in humility.” (Alma 42:29,30) “Turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength.” (Alma 39:13)
It is important to recognize the absolute reality of the adversary and that he is relentless and persistent at doing everything in his power to move us away from the Lord. “Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart.” (Alma 39:11) His intent is for us to be as miserable as he is, and that is it. Satan has never loved or cared about anyone but himself, and he is miserable, therefore he desires for everyone to be miserable. “The spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them.” (Alma 40:13-14) “All men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.” (Alma 41:11)
That is the complete opposite way of Christ. Christ desires for us to experience joy here on earth and throughout eternity. “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10) He has made a perfect plan of happiness to which we agreed and fought for in the premortal realm. “With the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—“ (Alma 41:3-4) “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.” (Alma 40:23) “And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.” (Alma 40:25)
His plan of happiness includes laws and direction that Satan wants us to deem as foolishness. These laws are eternal—and will bring eternal happiness, and without them there would be no purpose of existence. The good news is there is purpose to our existence, WE ARE IMPORTANT! Therefore God’s laws are vital. “If there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature? But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.” (Alma 42:21-23) “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.” (Alma 42:15)
We need to trust God, and believe who he knows that we are—until we know for ourselves. We must KNOW WHO WE ARE!
Alma 42:31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen.
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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