Alma 39-42

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LESSON #1 BRIDLE YOUR PASSIONS (ALMA 39)

OBJECT

For an object to this lesson, if possible, make arrangements with somebody to borrow a horse bridle to bring to class. Now I live in the American West, so I’ve usually been able to find somebody that I know with horses nearby that is willing to lend me one for the day.  Now if you don’t have access to an actual bridle, no need to worry, you can always just show a picture of one instead, but it’s fun and a little more interesting if you can bring an actual bridle in.

ICEBREAKER

Then for the icebreaker I first ask if anyone knows what it is or what it’s used for and usually somebody is going to be able to explain it, but if not, then I just end up explaining it. But then I like to ask if anyone has ever ridden a horse before and to describe what the experience was like. For me, when I was a teenager I worked on a cattle ranch for a couple of summers, and I had a chance to ride horses fairly often.  And when I first was learning, I remember my dad handing me the reigns and saying, “You are in control. Make sure the horse knows that.” And it took me awhile to really grasp that concept, and sometimes I think that the horse sensed that I didn’t know what I was doing, that I was unsure of myself, and I lost control of the horse on a number of occasions, and he’d run back to the barn. I had a sibling who when first put on to the back of a horse, when it started to move a little more quickly, got scared, dropped the reigns, and just grabbed on to the saddle horn as the horse took off. My dad had to catch up to the horse on his own, reach out for the reigns and bring it to a stop. For me, though, over time, eventually my confidence grew in my abilities, and it wasn’t really until I firmly decided in my mind that that horse was going to do what I wanted it to do, that I really learned how to ride.  I was even able to get my horse up to a full run on a number of occasions, and wow, what an amazing feeling.  Horses are powerful animals.  To have 1000 lbs. of muscle and speed and strength moving beneath you is really exhilarating. So I like to ask my students why it’s wise to ride a horse using a bridle? The answer you should expect? So that you can control it. The bridle gives the rider, who has less muscle, and speed, and strength, the ability to harness and direct all that power into a desired direction.

Well, Alma used the imagery of a bridle to teach his son Shiblon something that WE as mortals need to control as well. What was that thing in Alma 38:12? Our passions. We need to bridle our passions. What may be some of the passions that we need to learn to control?

HANDOUT

A quick handout activity you could use to cover this idea is to use this word unscramble. Challenge your students to figure out what words are represented here. Each word represents a human drive, motivation, or feeling that we all must learn to control or bridle. Just give them a few minutes to try and figure out as many as they can. So we have anger, pride, greed, ambition, lust. As mortals we are probably going to experience and feel each of these desires and feelings welling up inside us at times. And if we’re not careful, they can run away with us and begin to control our spirits instead of vice versa.  Alma chapters 39-42 describe a conversation that Alma has with his son Corianton who, unfortunately, had allowed his passions to control his actions rather than his spirit, and consequently, he commits sexual sin, while serving as a missionary no less. Alma is going to show us what we can do to prevent immorality from happening in our own lives in the first place and also provide hope and counsel for those that do fall into this error. He’ll show us a way to regain control of our passions or how to help others to regain their control.

SEARCH

For you as a teacher, I’d like to give you two possible ways to approach this lesson depending on your audience. For one, you could continue with the “Powerful Parenting Principles” approach that we used last week since we’re still watching Alma in his role as father. Now as a parent, it’s pretty much inevitable that your children are going to make mistakes and need correction. Now hopefully they aren’t serious mistakes, but undoubtedly you’re going to face this situation.  Alma is going to show us how to work with a child who has gone astray or has made poor moral decisions. On the other hand. Maybe you won’t be teaching a group of adults or parents. In that case, this is a great opportunity to emphasize the law of chastity and the hazards of sexual sin; being mindful of the age of your audience of course. Both approaches can be effective. And I’ll try to model both but then let you decide which direction you would most like to take it.

From the parenting or counseling side of things, our next parenting principle would be to “Correct Them with the Truth.” And I see four steps here. To teach this, you could count everybody off as ones, twos, threes, and fours, and depending on their number, have them read the entirety of Alma 39 looking for evidence of their particular step. Here are the four:

1. Help them understand where they went wrong

2. Explain the short and long-term consequences

3. Show how they can prevent future problems

4. Give them hope

Now if you are teaching this from the law of chastity approach you could do the same activity but with the following adjusted categories

1. The warning signs

2. Short and long-term consequences

3. How to prevent sexual sin

4. Hope for the transgressor

Whichever you choose to emphasize, allow your students  to share what they have found after reading the chapter.

To help prepare you for that discussion, here are some possible answers they might give.

The Warning Signs

For the #1’s, helping them to understand where they went wrong or the warning signs. And why would you want to start with this? So that they will know what to avoid doing in the future. So that they’ll understand what has led them to their current situation. Consequently, these answers will also work for the warning signs of sexual sin. If we ever start to catch ourselves thinking or acting in these ways, then we can hopefully change course

In :2 Alma tells him that he did not give so much heed unto his words as his brother had. Problems often arise when we are not giving as much heed or sufficient heed to God’s standards and commandments as we should. For young people, sometimes they begin to get too close, too soon in romantic relationships. Dating too early, dating too seriously, getting too close to each other, spending too much time alone. Pushing the boundaries is often a gateway to sin. The stripling warriors are a good antithesis of this attitude when the scriptures tell us that they obeyed every word of command with exactness in Alma 57:21. They didn’t fudge on their commands even a little bit. They didn’t push things to the limit. They gave strict heed to commandments and counsels.

Another problem in vs 2. Corianton did “go on unto boasting” in his own strength and wisdom. This is a common attitude when it comes to those who fall into sexual sin. They feel like they're strong enough. They say things like, "Oh, we’re ok. We won’t have moral problems like other couples do or other teens do. We can handle it. I don’t need to follow the counsels of parents and prophets. I know better than they do. They just don’t understand. I’m stronger than that. I’m wiser than that.” Unfortunately. They often find out that they were neither as strong or as wise as they thought they were.

Another trouble area comes in verse :3. Thou didst forsake the ministry. Problems often arise when we aren’t doing the positive things that we know should be doing. We start to forsake the simple habits and practices of the righteous. We start to neglect our prayers and our scripture study. We become lax in our church attendance; our media standards deteriorate; we fail to nourish and build up our faith. When we forsake the ministry, we make ourselves more vulnerable to the influence and attacks of the world and the adversary. Rather, we can fill our lives with so much good, good works, good goals, good causes, that the adversary doesn’t even have a chance to get a word in edgewise. There’s no room for his influence when we are engaged with the “ministry” of righteous actions.

The next area where Corianton went wrong is also in verse 3 when we learn that Corianton “did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites after the harlot Isabel”. What’s the problem here? Spending time in the wrong kinds of places with the wrong kinds of people. Those who end up making moral mistakes often choose to put themselves into tempting situations, citing their strength and their wisdom. They go to the land of Siron; which I really love that that’s the name of it. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were the creatures that tried to lure Odysseus and his crew to come to them with their enchanting music and beautiful voices so that they could devour them. Odysseus famously commands his crew to bind him to the mast and to refuse to let him go no matter what he might say until they had passed out of earshot of the Sirens. Now I’m sure that this has nothing to do with the Book of Mormon name but it’s a fun coincidence. We too should stay away from the seductive voices of the land of Siron. What’s the land of Siron for us? It could be a certain kind of party; it could be sitting alone in the dark watching a movie with the person you are attracted to, or in a car kissing, or giving the other person a back rub. It could also be the type of person you are with. Somebody who doesn’t share your standards, or who pushes you into becoming physical when you would rather not. Mistakes are often made when we put ourselves into tempting situations with those who might tempt us. Now I know I’m presenting this in terms of the youth, but all of this applies to adults as well. The land of Siron could be spending alone time with a coworker or an acquaintance that is not our spouse, texting back and forth with that person, or even where we allow our thoughts to go.

The final way Corianton went wrong comes in verse 4 where Alma reminds his son that he had no excuse to do what he did. Even though Isabel was capable of stealing away many hearts, this was no excuse for him. We often go wrong when we seek to excuse ourselves in certain things. What are some of the excuses people give when it comes to sexual sin? But we were in love. It just happened. Everybody else is doing it. It’s not that big a deal. You can always repent. I know other kids who have done this, and they still served a mission and got married in the temple. When we seek to excuse ourselves, we plant ourselves firmly in enemy territory.

So that’s step number one in helping the wayward. Help them to see where they went wrong. Also, these are practices and attitudes that we must avoid if we wish to keep ourselves sexually pure. If we ever catch ourselves not giving so much heed, boasting in our strength and wisdom, forsaking the ministry, excusing ourselves, or spending time in the land of Siron, then hopefully we will notice these as warning signs, and turn away from the imminent dangers.

The Consequences

Step number 2. Explain the short and long-term consequences of their decisions, or the consequences of sexual sin.

What were these for Corianton?

Verse :7 I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. Sin often harrows up our souls. This can be a short and long-term consequence. Feelings of guilt and deep remorse are often felt by those who are still sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Alma is all too familiar with this feeling as he himself felt the harrow of sin in his youth. He used that exact same word to describe his feelings when he was seeking repentance.

A short-term consequence is found in verse 11. It hampered Alma’s ability to do missionary work amongst the Zoramites. He says: Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe my words”.  Sometimes one of the other excuses we may give for our sins is, “Hey, I’m only hurting myself”. I believe that’s wishful thinking. We don’t make decisions in a vacuum. The effects of everything we do ripple out and touches the lives of others. Our decisions might affect the lives of those who look to us as examples like younger siblings, friends, or people in our community. We should consider the effect our current decisions may have on our future relationship or children. The opinions of those who are not members of the church may be influenced by our actions as is the case here with Corianton. Alma’s son’s actions were speaking louder than his words. I’m sure it made it difficult for Alma to teach the Zoramites when they could point back at him and say, “Look at what your own son is doing Alma. Put your own house in order before you go around telling us to take care of ours”.

Well what about the long-term consequences? vs. 8 "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.” Sometimes people think that no one will ever find out what they've done. But really, no matter what, we always have an audience of at least one; our Heavenly Father. No sins are truly secret. Also, one day we will have to stand before God to account for our actions. If we don’t take care of these things now, they will stand against us in the day of judgment.

Another long-term consequence in verse 9. Alma instructs Corianton to cross himself in these things; “for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God”. Case in point, our exaltation is at stake. It would behoove us to remember that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God. We may forfeit the kingdom of God if we refuse to repent for this kind of thing.

Prepare and Prevent

This leads us to our next step. Explain how they can prevent that kind of thing from happening again in the future. OR you can also look at this as a list of things that will help protect us from committing sexual sin in the first place.

The first thing.

:5 Know ye not that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord, yea most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost.  And then in verse 7 he refers to this sin as “so great a crime”. I know there will be people who are a little uncomfortable with this. Is immorality that serious? Next to murder like Alma suggests here? Someone might argue "OK, I understand that sexual sin isn’t good and that it’s better not to let it happen, but next to murder? Come on. Calling it a crime. Isn’t that stretching it a bit?" My response to that. No. It is serious. And I think that’s one of the barriers that will help prevent us from making that mistake. Understanding the seriousness of the sin. Because that’s the exact opposite of what the world is going to tell us. The world says, “It’s no big deal. Everybody does it. As long as you do it safely, you’ll be ok.” Sexual sin is serious though. And why? Why would Alma lump that in there with denying the Holy Ghost, and murder? Well, I think it’s because life is so sacred to our Heavenly Father. That’s why it’s so serious to take life from somebody else. But the power of giving life is equally sacred to him and the rules that govern that power must be taken seriously. We need to help young people understand that. We need to help all people to understand that. The powers of procreation are sacred and are only to be used at the right time and under the right circumstances.

Another thing that will help. :9 Go no more after the lusts of your eyes. Modern translation? Be careful what you look at. The media we engage with can greatly affect our opinions and actions. Do the movies we watch and the music we listen to and the books and magazines we read, and the websites we visit glorify or encourage immoral behavior? Do they depict casual sexuality and make it look acceptable? Do we indulge in pornography and inflame our lusts? We need to be very careful what we allow our eyes and ears and minds to be influenced by.

Rather than indulging in these things and making excuses for why it’s ok, we can, as Alma counsels, “cross ourselves in these things”. To cross ourselves means to exert control; to place barriers between us and sin. Yes the natural man or woman inside us may cry out for us to give in to our lusts but we’ve got to cross ourselves.  I like that Alma says for him “to take it upon you” to cross yourself in these things. As a parent, I can only do so much to protect my children from the immoral influences of the world. I can put filters on their phones, I can restrict them from watching certain movies, and I can familiarize them with what is good and wholesome so that they will recognize the difference. But when it comes right down to it, they are going to have to make those decisions for themselves. They will need to take it upon themselves to cross themselves, because I’m convinced that, no matter how hard I try as a parent to protect them from it, they will be exposed to the moral depravity of the world. Statistics say that no matter what I do, they will encounter pornography at some point in their lives. And I hope and pray that they will cross themselves and make that decision for themselves when that time comes.

Remember the verse that we discussed at the beginning of the lesson? Alma used it in the context of his son Shiblon, but it really applies well to Corianton. What should we do with our physical passions? Bridle them, so that we can be filled with love. The reason we put bridles on horses is not because they're terrible wicked animals that need to be destroyed. Our sexual passions are not innately evil or wicked. In fact, they were placed there by God to accomplish his divine purposes: to bring children into this world, and to bring spouses closer together—to make that husband/wife relationship a special, unique, and exclusive one.  But they need to be controlled. The world says the exact opposite when it comes to sexual passion doesn’t it. They suggest to the vulnerable mind that the best way to show that you love someone, that when people are really in love, they have an intimate relationship. They have sex. That message is all around us, especially in our media. Even in media that we would probably consider fairly innocuous and inexplicit. But the suggestion is often there. You know, a couple starts kissing, and then there’s a cut to where they wake up in bed together the next morning. “See!” Hollywood teaches us, “When people love each other, this is what they do! Isn’t that great! Sexual relations strengthen your love.” Now we do believe that also . . . when it’s coupled with eternal commitment. But when there is no union, no commitment, no marriage, I’m afraid that sexual relationships do not strengthen love. In fact, I believe they weaken it.

Gordon B. Hinckley said the following quoting a former Apostle Elder John A. Widtsoe

“I heard Elder John A. Widtsoe … say, ‘It is my observation that a young man and a young woman who violate the principles of morality soon end up hating one another.’ I have observed the same thing. There may be words of love to begin with, but there will be words of anger and bitterness later”

Gordon B. Hinckley and John A. Widtsoe

(“True to the Faith,” Ensign, June 1996, 5).

This has been my experience as well with individuals and students that I’ve known and worked with as a priesthood leader in the past. Time and time again, I’ve seen those casual or illicit sexual relationships lead to the dissolution or destruction of the relationship, not the strengthening of it. BUT, if we bridle our passions the promise is that we will be filled with love. Controlling our passions brings love into our lives.

I can personally attest to the truthfulness of that. I am so grateful for parents and church leaders who taught me the importance of chastity and following the Lord’s plan for love in my life. It’s fairly straightforward. I followed the dating standards from the former “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet, albeit sometimes begrudgingly, with exactness. I didn’t date in my early teens, I didn’t have a serious girlfriend until after I had returned from my mission, and my wife and I remained sexually pure before our marriage and have remained faithful to each other ever since. And I can promise you that my life is filled with love. I’m so grateful I followed the Lord’s plan. The relationship and friendship I share with my wife is beautiful.  I’m also grateful for my four children that have come into my life through that expression of love. Alma was right. Bridling your passions can fill your life with true, deep, and fulfilling love.

Two more ideas here.

In verse 10, Alma says, 10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel.” The suggestion here? Be humble enough and willing enough to take counsel from those that are older and wiser than you. That can be hard to do when we are naturally disposed to pride and thinking that we know better and don’t need older people’s thoughts and opinions to guide us.

And then in verse 13. Turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength. Fill your life with good things. If you have forsaken the ministry, return to those simple habits. Pray, study your scriptures, attend church, frequent the temple, strengthen and nourish your faith. Repentance isn’t just about the elimination of the bad, it's equally about filling that space with the good. Like I said earlier, Be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and the adversary will have very little space to work against us.

Hope for the Transgressor

Now, after all of that, it is absolutely critical that you not skip this last step. When a child has gone astray or transgressed, be sure to give them hope. Also, it is very possible that when you teach this, there may be individuals within your class who have committed serious moral errors. You don’t want to leave them solely with the preceding message. The gospel is a gospel of hope and redemption and mercy. Those who have committed serious sin, even sexual sin, have much to hope for. Yes, it is serious. Yes, there are consequences. Yes, repentance and a change of heart is necessary. But there is no cause for despair. There is no condemnation. There is no being cast off. Remember Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. He did not condemn her, he instructed her to “Go and sin no more.” The Lord welcomes the repentant with open arms and with infinite mercy.

Look at verse 15.

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.

So, Corianton, Christ comes to take sins, and to bring the repentant gladness, and salvation. Yes you need to change. But the atonement is there for you, and will work for you.

And though the context of this next verse isn't necessarily directed at Corianton, I can’t help but feel that Alma is alluding to the worth of Corianton’s soul when he says in verse 17 “ is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming”.  Underlying message. Corianton, souls are precious. All souls. Yours too!

And then Alma is going to spend the next 3 chapters trying to help Corianton understand the plan of salvation and Christ’s role within it.  It’s an awesome example of how the doctrines of the gospel can be applied in a relevant way to our lives. He’s going to help Corianton see the eternal perspective of his decisions by examining the plan as a whole. So as a teacher, before I concluded a lesson on Alma 39, I would be sure to take them to Alma 42:29-31 where Alma ends his discussion with Corianton with the following message:

29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.

30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

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.

See how he ends that. I only want you to be troubled insomuch as it will lead you to repentance. And then accept his mercy, and his long suffering, and let that troubling feeling go. Don’t hold on to the guilt. Rejoice in the purity and virtue that Christ’s atonement can restore to you.

And then, he doesn’t tell him that’s he’s blown it. He doesn’t send him home in shame. He doesn’t tell him that he is forever stained and untrusted. Instead, he tells him that he is still called to preach the gospel unto this people. And he refers again to the plan of salvation, and we know there are many different names he uses for the plan. The plan of happiness, the plan of redemption. But how does he refer to it here at the end of his talk to his son. He calls it the great plan of mercy.

Alms leaves his son with hope for the future. He can repent, he can still preach, he can obtain mercy. And you may wonder if it worked or not? Did Corianton change? Yes, he does! There is a verse that shows this. Alma 49:30

 30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.

Corianton is included in the list of those who are preaching the gospel among the people. Corianton repented, and became a powerful instrument in the hands of God once again. Those that commit serious sin are not hopeless, or doomed to be second class citizens in Zion, but continue to have great potential for good and leadership and influence in God's kingdom.

TRUTH

Sexual sin is serious with serious consequences, but God has provided us wise counsel to help us to prevent it AND repent from it, if necessary.

And then, I like the simple, straightforward wisdom of the following statement: Bridling my passions will fill my life with love.

TAKING IT TO HEART

What have you learned as a parent about helping your children learn from their mistakes?

OR

How has God’s law of chastity blessed you?

THE TAKEAWAY

So, as parents, when we have a child that strays or errs, let’s remember the example set by Alma. He doesn’t condemn, he doesn’t shame, he doesn’t despair. Rather, with love, we can help them to understand where they went wrong. Explain to them the consequences of their decisions, long and short-term. Teach them how they can prevent those things from happening again in the future, and be sure to give them hope.

Also, I hope we can learn from Corianton’s mistakes. I encourage us all to follow the Lord’s plan for love in our lives. Let’s remember that it’s bridling our passions that will fill us with love not giving in to them. I’m afraid that when we drop the reigns of the law of chastity, that the horse of our sexual passions will start to run away with us and take us to places we never imagined or ever wanted to go. But, if we will take up those reigns, hold on to them tightly and allow our conscience, our spirits to be “in control” as we “cross ourselves in these things,” then those passions will lead us to fulfilling, beautiful, and eternal loving relationships. And if you have already faltered, if you’ve already gone down the path of immorality, remember how precious your soul is to your Father in Heaven. There is a way back, and he will welcome you, if you turn and take it.

LESSON #2 THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS (Alma 40-42)

OBJECT

For an object, I like to bring in a set of LEGO instructions with a completed model of those instructions and then also a random pile of unassembled LEGO bricks as well. Now you may not have LEGOS, but you could purchase a small set from Amazon if you like or if you know any children in your life, chances are, they are going to have some LEGOS lying around. But I first like to bring out a bunch of unassembled bricks and ask, could you build something with these? And the answer you’ll probably get is, YES. You probably could build SOMETHING with those bricks but, if you’re like me at least, it’s going to be fairly rudimentary, jumbled, and a bit of hodge podge. But then I pull out the instruction booklet and ask. How do you think the final product of your building endeavors would differ if you decided to follow the plan in the booklet? It’s probably going to turn out a little better. It’s going to work better, look better, and use all of the pieces available. And that’s when I pull out the completed model to show them. That’s the difference between having a plan and not having a plan. And yes, somebody might make the point that they enjoy being creative and putting together their own projects and models rather than just following the instructions. But still, even those kinds of projects typically begin with an overall vision or plan for creating that kind of model or you have built up enough experience with following instructions that you finally develop the building skills to put something like that together on your own. Either way, the point of the object lesson is, plans make a difference. Plans will almost always bring better results than just flying by the seat of your pants. I think we can all pretty much agree on that principle. Well, what about when it comes to our lives? If you believe in God, which I certainly do, do you believe in a “fly by the seat of your pants” kind of God, or do you believe in a God with a plan. I believe in a God that has a plan for his children. And having a plan makes all the difference for us. It provides us with purpose, direction, and progress towards a beautiful end. How lucky we are as members of the Church of Jesus Christ to have a deeper and richer understanding of that plan and how urgent we should feel to spread the knowledge of that plan to as many as possible.

ICEBREAKER

For an icebreaker then, tell your students that Alma refers to this plan in five different ways in these chapters. Five different titles for the plan. See if you can find all 5 of the different titles Alma uses for the plan by studying the following verses. I encourage you to mark them as you go.

If you’re teaching youth, you might consider doing this activity as a relay race. Divide your class into teams and then write the following list on the board with blanks. Line up the teams at the back of the classroom and tell them that only one person from a team can cross the line at the back and come to the front and fill out one of the blanks using their scriptures. That person can only fill out one, then they must run back and a different person from the team comes up and fills in another, then runs back, and so on until all 5 blanks are filled. The team that can do this first, wins.  So we’ve got:

41:2 The plan of restoration

42:5 The plan of salvation

42:8 The plan of happiness

42:11 The plan of redemption

42:31 The plan of mercy

Well, then ask your students, “Which is your favorite description of the plan and why?”  Mine is the plan of happiness. And that’s what it’s all about. Isn’t it? Understanding the plan that God has prepared for us will not only lead us to happiness in this life, but eternal happiness in the life to come. God desires our happiness and has paved the way for us to obtain it, if we choose it.

Now, Alma chapters 40-42 are deeply doctrinal chapters and I'd like to give you a way to teach them if your desire is to focus more on their doctrinal content. These chapters revolve around a number of key doctrines of the plan, particularly those of the Spirit World, Resurrection, Judgment, and the Atonement. And if we wanted to, we could add one more point to our powerful parenting principles.  Teach your children correct doctrine. Of course, in order to teach correct doctrine, WE need to know it. Why is it so important to teach our children correct doctrine? Because a bad understanding of doctrine can often lead to bad behavior. That’s apparently what happened to Corianton. Alma perceives that he has some misunderstandings about the plan, which may help to explain why Corianton may have made some of the decisions that he did. In 41:1 Alma says that some have "wrested the scriptures and gone far astray because of this thing”.  Their misunderstandings have led them astray. Far astray.  41:10 tells us what one of those misunderstandings was. Do not suppose because it has been spoken concerning restoration that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. That’s where he is in error. People have told him that resurrection brings happiness to everyone, regardless of how they lived their lives; that you can be restored from sin to happiness. It sounds like he’s been influenced a bit by the doctrine of Nehor. All are saved regardless of how they lived. And you can see why that is such a seductive doctrine. It means it doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter if you sin, eventually, you will be eternally happy because of the resurrection. Alma is going to try and correct that misunderstanding.

SEARCH

So let’s see how well you understand the doctrines of the plan. For an activity, I’m going to give you a true/false handout.  Go through each of the statements and mark them as TRUE or FALSE first without looking at the scripture references. Then, go through and correct your own answers based on the identified verses. Here’s what the handout looks like:

True/False

Nobody was resurrected before Jesus Christ was resurrected.  TRUE (40:2)

Only the righteous are resurrected. The wicked will remain as spirits throughout eternity. FALSE (40:4)

When they die, the righteous will continue to be tested and challenged by temptation and trial until they are resurrected. FALSE (40:12)

When they die, the wicked are received into a state of darkness and fear. TRUE (40:14)

The righteous that lived and died before Christ’s resurrection were resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection. TRUE? (40:16-20)

The resurrection will restore peoples bodies to their perfect state; without scars, ailments, or disabilities. TRUE (40:23)

The resurrection will bring happiness to everyone regardless of how they lived their lives. FALSE (41:3-4, 10)

The resurrection will also purify our desires to perfect ones. FALSE (41:5-6)

It’s fair that not all of God’s children will receive exaltation. TRUE (Alma 42:1,4, 12, 15, 18-21)

And I’ll walk you through the answers with some commentary.

1. Nobody was resurrected before Jesus Christ was resurrected.  TRUE (40:2)

There is no resurrection until after the coming of Christ. Jesus was the first.

1. Only the righteous are resurrected. The wicked will remain as spirits throughout eternity. FALSE (40:4)

Behold there is a time appointed that ALL shall come forth from the dead. Resurrection will come to all. Bad or good.

1. When they die, the righteous will continue to be tested and challenged by temptation and trial until they are resurrected. FALSE (40:12)

We learn from this chapter that:

 "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” This is what we would call spirit paradise.

1. When they die, the wicked are received into a state of darkness and fear. TRUE (40:14)

Verse 14 tells us that: 14 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; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

1. The righteous that lived and died before Christ’s resurrection were resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection. TRUE? (40:16-20)

Now this is an interesting one because Alma doesn’t seem to know all the particulars about exactly when the righteous from before Christ’s lifetime are resurrected. He’s not sure if it happens immediately after, or if it happens at some later time, or if the wicked are involved in some way. So he just gives us his opinion. Now, his opinion turns out to be right, the righteous who had died before Christ’s lifetime are resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection, so we can mark this as true, but Alma had not had that revealed to him yet. I think this reveals something very fascinating about seeking truth. Alma is a prophet, and he doesn’t have a perfect understanding of all doctrine. I just love the phrases that are used in this chapter to describe the different facets of his gospel knowledge.

There are some things that he says he is able to unfold unto us because it’s been revealed to him. Because he has “inquired diligently to know them.  :3

However, Alma says that there are some things  that no one knoweth save God himself. :3

Also, there are some things that it mattereth not that we know them at that time :5

Yet, there are some things that he does know for sure. :9

And there are some things he gives as his opinion :20

Now many religious people want certainty on all points. But the fact of the matter is, we have to admit that we do not have a perfect understanding of all of God’s truth at this time. There are some things that nobody but God knows, there are things that don’t really matter, and there are times when all we can give is our opinion. And you know, I think that’s healthy. I believe that God wants us to wrestle and inquire diligently and work things out in our minds and come up with opinions and even express them as long as we admit that they are opinions. The discovery of truth and revelation is a process which I’m sure will continue into the next life. Article of Faith #9 “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”.

1. The resurrection will restore peoples’ bodies to their perfect state; without scars, ailments, or disabilities. TRUE (40:23)

The words used in verse 23 are proper and perfect.

1. The resurrection will bring happiness to everyone regardless of how they lived their lives. FALSE (41:3-4, 10)

Now this is the big question of chapter 41. The big misunderstanding that Corianton has. Alma tells us that:

3 And it is requisite 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.

4 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—

And then we have very well-known message of verse 10

10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

Let’s also include the next question with this discussion

1. The resurrection will also purify our desires to perfect ones. FALSE (41:5-6)

Also false. Why do we think that resurrection is going to change the nature of our spirits? Yes. Physical and mental scars and disabilities associated with our mortal bodies will be eliminated. But our spirits are eternal. The desires and knowledge we’ve cultivated while in this life will remain with us. As Alma taught back in 34:34 "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”.  We discussed that idea last time. Knowledge is not the same as desire. If we don’t like spiritual things in this life; if scriptures and church and service and kindness don’t appeal to our desires here, what makes us think that we’re going to feel any differently in the next life? Now there will be people that will change and repent in the Spirit World, but it’s going to require the same amount of effort and change of heart as it would in this life.  People are the same there as they are here. If their desires were evil and self-centered and rebellious and full of anger and hate, and therefore misery, then that is what they will be restored to in the next life, albeit with an immortal body. The righteous and therefore happy, will be restored to the same happiness that they enjoyed here. That’s why Alma reminds us, wickedness never was happiness. As long as I possess a wicked (or disobedient, or selfish spirit, I will reap the proper or natural consequences that accompany that attitude).  As verse 41 tells us, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.

Resurrection doesn’t change your spirit; it changes your body. Restoration or resurrection is a beautiful word to the righteous. It restores them to all that goodness that they enjoyed in life, not just in spirit, but in body as well. Resurrection really is no blessing to the wicked. They are restored spirit and body to their natural state of misery. When Alma was in a state of misery because of his sins,  he expressed that the very thought of standing before God filled his soul with inexpressible horror; that he wished that he could somehow become extinct. He wished to cease to exist. Therein lies a part of the misery of the wicked. They will be restored, they will be brought before God, and it will not be a pleasant experience.

It’s the boomerang principle we find in verse 15. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored.

Our final statement.

1. It’s fair that not all of God’s children will receive exaltation. TRUE (Alma 42:1,4, 12, 15, 18-21)

The entirety of Alma 42 is the answer to that question. God is fair, he is a just God. If he weren’t, he would cease to be God. Alma is going to give us a number of reasons for why it's fair. Corianton doesn’t seem to feel it is. He supposes “that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery.”  That’s in verse 1. And so Alma explains, “Here’s why it’s not injustice.” And he gives him at least 4 reasons for why it’s not unjust.

REASON 1 :4, 10 There is a time granted for people to repent.  God doesn’t just condemn you to spiritual death forever after you mess up once.  Your sentence is not definite, it’s not a final sentence. You have time. He uses Adam and Eve as an example. They broke a law. They were cast out of the garden and physical and spiritual death were passed upon them.  But that wasn't it.  They had time to make things right. God gave that to Adam and Eve, and he is giving it to you. What kind of time?

-Probationary and preparatory. What does it mean to be on probation? The sentence has been passed but it can be commuted if we prove that we have changed. It is also preparatory. We prepare ourselves to meet God, to show him that we have done enough to  meet his demands, which are easier than the demands of justice itself.

REASON 2 :12 It’s fair because we brought it upon ourselves. Nobody forces us to commit sin. We make our decisions of our own free will and choice. Therefore, it’s fair. 

REASON 3  :16-22 There has to be a punishment affixed to the breaking of law. This is explained in verses 16-22. If there wasn’t some kind of punishment or consequence for breaking God’s laws, then they wouldn’t really be laws at all. It’s like the rules of my classroom that I know some of my students are inevitably going to test. If I have a no cell phone rule, and somebody brings one out, but I don’t say anything about it, or don’t confront them, or have some consequence, then it’s not really a rule, is it. So a consequence is affixed to it. For God to be just, then there must be justice.

Then, we have REASON 4  The biggest reason of all. Verse :15 It’s also fair, because God is merciful.  He extends mercy freely to whoever will come to Christ. Christ’s atonement will satisfy the demands of justice.  Christ is willing to take upon himself the punishment, the justice for our sins, as long as we are willing to accept HIS conditions, which are easier than those of cold and simple justice. What are the conditions? :13 the conditions of repentance. We need to develop a repentant soul, and then mercy will have claim on us. It sounds very fair to me. Merciful and just at the same time. That’s the miracle of the Atonement and the great plan of happiness.

TRUTH

There are so many different truths that we’ve discussed during the activity that I don’t think it make sense to review them all here once again. But let’s just make a general statement here.

The better I understand the doctrines of God’s plan, the better equipped I will be to make good decisions.

TAKING IT TO HEART

What truth that we’ve discussed today most motivates you to choose righteousness? Is it the knowledge of God’s mercy? Is it the doctrine of the Spirit World and knowing what happens to us when we die that helps you to make better decisions? Or is it the simple, fundamental fact that wickedness never was, never is, and never will be happiness?

THE TAKEAWAY

Well I know that was a lot of doctrine to cover, but does it help you to see why it’s so important to have a good grasp of the plan and its purposes? Once Corianton understood the doctrine, he was much better prepared and able to change. He was motivated to change. He understood why he needed to repent, and why it was fair. Good doctrine leads to good behavior! So let’s be sure to study and know the plan of salvation.  It guides us, blesses us, and helps us to make the right choices. I bear witness that if we internalize and gain a conviction of its truths, we will be able to build something incredible with our lives—a character like Christ’s, a soul with desires like his, and eventually, a body and power like his. We can become gods. That’s what we’ve been building ourselves into all along. That’s what he’s given us the instructions for. By following those instructions, we can build something far greater and inspiring than anything we could do on our own.  It’s the great plan of happiness and I encourage us to choose happiness by choosing righteousness.