To watch the video presentation on YouTube, go to:https://youtu.be/-I8vEfAtEn0
MOSIAH 25 SUMMARY
The Mulekites, Nephites, Limhi’s People, and Alma’s people all unite as Nephites.
Alma establishes the Church throughout the land
Mosiah shares both Zeniff’s and Alma’s scriptural accounts.
I do enjoy this little section from about vs 7-12 where Mosiah reads the record of Zeniff and Alma to the people and they have a number of different reactions to the scriptures. They seem to have some conflicting emotions. At one moment they are filled with wonder and amazement, the next they have exceedingly great joy, then they’re weeping with sorrow, then they raise their voices in gratitude, and then they are filled with pain and anguish for the Lamanites. It’s a bit of a roller coaster of emotions. But what a great example of the power of engaged scripture study. These people are internalizing the scriptures. Their minds and their hearts are connected to the people and the message of the scriptures. They open their minds and hearts to God’s word. And another significant thing here, a number of the people change their names to Nephites because of what they’ve learned from the scriptures. They apply the scriptures to their lives and make changes. We could learn from them. How do you study the scriptures? Do you engage with them mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Do you rejoice when they rejoice, weep when they weep, mourn when they mourn and learn when they learn. I promise that the scriptures will come alive for you when you do that. They are designed to cover the full range of human emotion and experience. That’s why I love them so much and why, as old as they are, they never get old.
ICEBREAKER
Ask: How is your generation different from your parent’s generation?
TRANSITION
Well, in Mosiah 26:1 we have two forces or mindsets that are often at opposition with one another. One looking forward and the other looking back. Can you find those two things in that verse?
On the one hand, you have the rising generation and on the other, the tradition of their fathers. And in this case, those two forces are at odds with each other. They are in conflict. The rising generation in Zarahemla is rejecting the traditions of their fathers. And I’m sure you’ve all seen this type of dynamic played out in your own lifetimes as well where the younger generation seeks to throw off the conventions of the former. I think that every generation in some way faces the issue, but there are some more pronounced examples of this within the past century. You have the youth of the 1920’s casting off traditional victorian ideals. You have the counter-culture of the 60’s throwing off the idealized morality of the greatest generation. And now I believe we’re seeing another pronounced break between the baby boomer generation and millennials. The question: Does it always have to be that way? Is one side bad and the other good? Are generations doomed to be just one knee-jerk reaction after another to the previous generation? I don’t think so. I feel both sides have something positive to offer and some pitfalls to be aware of. And if both sides can understand that, maybe we can reconcile the two and get them moving in the same direction.
TWO FORCES
So what positives do the rising generation bring to the table? I would say vitality, ambition, the ability to look at old problems in new ways, and a willingness to embrace change. Those are good things that should be encouraged and admired.
However, there is a caution the rising generation needs to consider. Don’t overdo it. In your efforts to be different and progressive and open-minded, don’t give in to the temptation to completely reject the past. Don’t separate yourselves from your heritage, your legacy, and from the tried and true values of the past. While it is often healthy to throw off provincial cultural norms and embrace new policies, be careful not to throw out doctrine, and morality, and standards in the process.
Now for the "tradition of the fathers’ side” or the (I don’t want to say older ) but established generation. Their positive side is their loyal "true to the faith that our parents have cherished” attitude. They find stability and meaning and inspiration in their connection to their heritage and roots. They help protect society from repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Their experience and wisdom should be recognized and respected. But there are some warnings for them as well. They tend to be narrow-minded, clinging to past practices and they sometimes struggle to distinguish between that which is eternal and that which is merely customary or cultural. Sometimes they clutch at certain practices because, well, that’s how it's always been done.
So some advice to both the fathers and the rising generation. Tradition of the fathers side? Be open to change, seek to recognize the difference between eternal principles, and that which may only be cultural. Be careful not to quickly dismiss the views and ideas of the rising generation. Embrace their vitality and innovation. Rising generation, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. You disconnect yourself completely from your heritage at your own peril. You also need to seek to recognize that which is eternal in nature, even when it may be difficult to live. Following Christ will always require sacrifice, faith, and a willingness to be separate from the world. We can’t do away with these things.
If we can just strike the proper balance between these two things, Instead of being in opposition, wouldn’t it be great to just get both the rising generation energy to match the tradition of the fathers energy and move them in the same upward trajectory? Just think, if the rising generation were able to completely take charge of the church, what vital standards, eternal principles, and critical practices might be cast aside in the naivety of youth. No wonder our church is led by those of the established generation. But also, just think, if the church had never been willing to progress with the rising generation and make changes? Would women still be wearing pioneer dresses and remain confined to the home without the vote? I’ve often wondered if our policy on race and the priesthood in the past falls into this category of a cultural phenomenon that thank heavens changed. A gift from the rising generation. How wonderful that the church has been able to make progress along with the rest of society. Some things need to remain stable, and some things need to move. Like in the solar system. The sun remains stable, but the earth moves. The church is the same way. I love how the Doctrine and Covenants describe the church. It’s called the true and living church. Two very important descriptive terms. So you have true-foundational, eternal, unchanging, tradition. But it’s also living, change, progress, adaptability, vitality, rising generation. The church has to be and is both.
And I think we will always be safe if we're following the living prophets. Just look at our current leadership in the church. Many changes have been made that I think most of us would agree could be labeled as progressive and transformative. Changes in our youth programs, church meeting duration, policies regarding the gay community, adjustments to the temple ceremony, and so on. At the same time, you see them firmly rooted in and committed to our past. The new proclamation to the world just released in General Conference is a good example of this-firmly rooting the church in the bedrock of the restoration. I believe they strike the perfect balance between the new and the old, the rising and the tradition. Let’s be sure to keep our eyes and hearts on the brethren and if we do that, we can never go wrong.
PASSING THE TORCH
The rising generation of Zarahemla rejecting the traditions of the fathers. I believe that this is a fear that all faithful parents harbor. I know I worry about this. I ask myself "Will I be able to pass my faith onto my children? Will I be able to raise and teach them in such a way that they will remain true to the faith? Can I pass the flame of faith from me to them like an Olympic torch?
In this case, they haven’t succeeded in doing this. The flame has not been passed. And we have to be careful about being too quick to blame the parents in these cases. You’ll see that here, there is no blame assigned to the Moms and Dads of Zarahemla. Parents can do almost everything right and still have children who stray. Perhaps sometimes it’s just the flow of the time that sweeps even good children into its current. Rather than blame Fathers and Mothers here, Mormon describes what he felt happened to this generation. And if we can understand what happened, maybe we can take steps to prevent it from happening to us.
I think I see a progression in these first few verses of Mosiah 26. From verses 1-4. Read them and put the following statements in chronological order.
7— They remain in their carnal and sinful state indefinitely
2— They lack understanding of the word of God
5—They separate themselves from God’s people
4— They refuse to make covenants
1— They don’t believe in traditional gospel principles
3— Their hearts become hardened
6— They won’t call upon God(Mix these)
They don’t believe in traditional gospel principles
They lack understanding of the word of God.
Their hearts become hardened
They refuse to make covenants
They separate themselves from God’s people
They won’t call upon God
They remain in their carnal and sinful state indefinitely.
The first problem is that they did not believe. They didn’t believe the tradition of their fathers, they didn’t believe in the resurrection, and they didn’t believe in the coming of Christ. Just as faith is the first principle of the gospel, anti-faith is the first step away from it.
What does an absence of faith cause in vs. 3? A lack of understanding.
Now I see that it does say that the reason they didn’t believe is because they could not understand the words of King Benjamin because they were little children at the time he spoke them. To me, the not understanding in verse 1 is different from the not understanding of vs 3. The “understand” in vs 1 is a mental or cognitive understanding. They didn’t understand because they were infants and toddlers. They couldn’t even grasp the concept of language at that point let alone the message being taught. So yes, in that sense, we do need to be intellectually aware before we can have faith. But the not understanding in vs. 3 is the not understanding of the heart, not the mind. And that’s the critical issue here.
And a lack of understanding leads to a hardened heart.
A hardened heart leads to a refusal to make covenants,
Which leads you to separate yourself from God’s people.
And if you separate yourself from God’s people, you won’t call upon God.
And as long as they refuse to call upon God they will remain in their carnal and sinful state indefinitely.
You may have wanted to put not calling upon God as the last step, but that is the cause of their final state of remaining sinful, so I put that step second to last.
I think the world often gets things backward especially when it comes to matters of faith. The world says “I’ll believe it when I see it”. Or, “I’ll believe it when I understand”. But I don’t understand why I have to follow all these rules. I won’t pay my tithing because I don’t understand why I should have to. I won’t keep my media choices pure because I don’t understand why it’s a big deal. I won’t get baptized or serve a mission or get married in the temple because I don’t understand the importance of these things. But God says, no. Faith first. Believe and then you will see. Believe enough to act on these things, to experiment upon my word. If you want to understand tithing, believe in the principle of tithing enough to pay it, then the testimony and the understanding will come. Believe in the principle of commandments and standards enough to live them, then the belief or understanding will come. Jesus Christ taught this principle in John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. Believe enough to do, then the knowledge and the understanding is sure to come.
So what’s a parent to do? Maybe there’s a hint here. When your children are young when they are still believing and naturally trusting of you as their parents, be sure to help them to do what a disciple does. If you wait until their teenage years, it may be too late. Be sure to take them with you each week to church, study the scriptures with them, pray with them, help them to pay their tithing, let them see you doing all these things. I know of a father who for a time did not really emphasize going to church with his family. Their attendance was very sporadic. Instead, they would often go boating, on vacations, or to sporting events on Sunday instead. He felt justified by saying that spending recreational time with his family was, in his eyes, just as beneficial as church. That same father was very dismayed when his children, one by one, as they got older, decided not to serve missions or marry in the temple, or to go to church at all. To my knowledge, none of his children are active in the church to this day. So start young. Let them see you living and loving your faith. Let them hear you bear testimony, let them catch you studying your scriptures, or saying your prayers, or sharing the gospel. This isn’t a fail-proof strategy, I mean you can do almost everything right and still lose them, but you can stack the odds in your favor that a legacy of faith will be passed to the rising generation by focusing on that essential first step.
And then perhaps the opposite progression will happen. Instead of not believing, they will gain faith, and with that faith, they will understand the word of God, and if they understand, their hearts will be softened, and they’ll be willing to make a covenant, and if they’re willing to make a covenant, they will have a desire to associate with other members of Christ’s church, and if they’re willing to associate with the Church, they will call upon God, and if they call upon God, they will be better able to put off a carnal and sinful state.
CONCLUSION
So parents and established generation. Look to the rising generation. I think it behooves us to do everything in our power to pass our faith and understanding on to them through example and love. Let’s not seek to criticize, or belittle, or strong-arm them, but embrace and value their vitality and forward movement. And rising generation, look to the fathers. Learn from them and recognize their experience and wisdom. Root yourselves firmly in the past at the same time as you stretch your branches higher into the skies. Together, we’ll avoid this Zarahemla type setback, and move our true and living church closer and closer to Christ’s millennial reign.
FORGIVENESS
In an answer to a troubled prayer from Alma over the rebellious souls of the rising generation, the Lord teaches some key principles of forgiveness. In fact, this chapter gives us some of my favorite fundamental forgiveness phrases.
What’s your favorite forgiveness phrase in each of these verses?
25:10
26:22
26:30
26:31
25:10 I love the phrase “the immediate goodness of God”. Not just goodness of God, but immediate goodness. Immediate can have two meanings. It can mean, to be nearby, or close to. Like, you have an immediate family member. God’s goodness and mercy are always right there for us. It can also mean, instantaneous, or done at once. God is ever ready to lend us a listening ear and an understanding heart and a gracious pardon. He never leaves us, we only walk away from Him. So like the parable of the prodigal son, as soon as that boy makes his way back home, his father’s forgiveness is immediate. He doesn’t even let his son explain before he’s running to him and embracing him and planning a celebration for him. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that repentance is immediate, or easy, we’ll take a look at that principle later, but I do believe that forgiveness is.
26:22 My favorite phrase? Him will I “freely forgive”. God is the type of being that can freely forgive. Synonyms for freely? Quickly, readily, willingly, unreservedly, matter-of-factly, candidly, eagerly. God loves to forgive people. It’s almost as if he’s standing there with his hand out just anticipating, waiting, hoping you’ll reach out to it, and as soon as you do, he’ll grab it, and forgive. That’s his character. Something that is free is not paid for. We don’t earn forgiveness any more than we earn our salvation or our exaltation. We don’t earn our way into heaven. The forgiveness is given freely and willingly. The real work of repentance isn’t trying to convince God to forgive us and if I just do this and this, then eventually, maybe I can convince God to forgive me. No, the real work of repentance is changing our hearts and our actions.
26:30 My favorite phrase here: "as often”. As in “as often as my people repent, will I forgive them”. Forgiveness is not a one and done kind of thing any more than repentance is a one-time thing. Some feel that once they repent that they’ve used their “Get out of Jail Free” card and if they fail again, then good luck ever being forgiven again. They picture God saying "You had your chance and you blew it.” or "3 strikes and you're out”. No, the phrase is, as often as you repent. I’ll forgive you as many times as your heart turns sincerely to me. God asks us to forgive until 70 times 7 and he would never ask us to do something he’s not willing to do himself. God can and will forgive often and repeatedly.
26:31 The phrase here? Forgive one another. I suppose if there is a prerequisite to obtaining forgiveness, this would be it. If somebody wanted to argue that forgiveness isn’t free, they could very well point to this verse. There is a condition to forgiveness, forgiving your fellow man. Remember the parable of the unmerciful servant where a man owes 10,000 talents to his Lord and he has not wherewith to pay, and will never be able to pay it off. And yet his master forgives him all that debt, and he does it immediately, and freely. But then that same servant demands payment of a man who owes him a very repayable debt. A small sum in comparison, and yet he won’t. In consequence, his Lord retracts his former forgiveness and he is delivered into prison. So, if somebody came to me as a bishop and asked what they needed to do to repent, instead of going into an explanation of the importance of recognizing the sin, feeling remorse, or making restitution, maybe I should just begin by saying, “Well, have you forgiven all others?” Perhaps that’s the critical step we need to take if we ourselves wish to obtain forgiveness. God looks at us and says, I forgive immediately, freely, and as often as you need, do the same for your fellow man as well. Perhaps the real unpardonable sin then is not forgiving others.
MOSIAH 27
Well, with those phrases in mind, let’s move on to Mosiah 27. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Mosiah 27 follows Mosiah 26, besides the obvious reason. But thematically, the story of Mosiah 27 is the example used to illustrate the principles just taught in Mosiah 26. It’s like Mormon is saying, I just taught you the principles of forgiveness, in theory, now let’s see them in action. Let me show you just how immediate my goodness is, let me show you how freely I can forgive, let me show you how often I can forgive. This, I feel, is the archetypal story of forgiveness in the Book of Mormon. If I were to ask somebody what Book of Mormon stories come to mind when you say the word forgiveness, 9 out of 10 times it’s going to be Alma the Younger. His name is synonymous with forgiveness.
ICEBREAKER
To begin a study of this story, I’ll often do this little activity with my students to introduce a point to them. I’ll make this handout available to you for download at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeachingWithPower, but if you’re not into handouts or activities like this, I invite you to take two colored pencils and mark these phrases in two different colors. When I do this activity I like to tell my students that we are going to compare and contrast two very different groups of people. They will search up the verses that are listed and fill in the blanks with the correct words. Those words should fit into the boxes next to them. Then they will use the numbered boxes to find a secret phrase that will teach them a principle.
Our first group of people:
A very wicked and IDOLATROUS man in 27:8
Led many people to do after the manner of his WICKEDNESS. 27:8
A great HINDERMENT to the prosperity of the church. 27:9
STEALING away the hearts of the people 27:9
Giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his POWER over them 27:9
He was going about to DESTROY the church of God 27:10
They were going about REBELLING against God 27:11
They were the very VILEST of sinners 28:4
Now for our second group of people. What do we learn about them?
He began from this time forward TEACH the people 27:32
PREACHING the word of God in much tribulation 27:32
They did impart much CONSOLATION to the church 27:33
And thus they were INSTRUMENTS in the hands of God 27:36
And how BLESSED are they 27:37
They did publish PEACE; they did publish good tidings of good. 27:37
Now they were DESIROUS that salvation should be declared to every creature 28:3
So with those answers in place, what is the secret message? People Can Change
Because I’m not sure if you caught this, but all of these phrases are describing the same group of young men. Alma the Younger and the 4 sons of Mosiah. Yes I know I said that these were two different groups of people, but really they are. Even Alma himself says that they became new creatures in 27:26. A complete reversal of character. May this story give hope to any of you who have somebody you love who has strayed. Remember that people can change, even when you least expect it. I could give you many examples of people that I know personally who were so far off the strait and narrow that you would never imagine them coming back. And yet, they changed. Never give up hope in that possibility and never cease praying for it either. It happens more often than you might think. But what happened here. What could make the very vilest of sinners into individuals who want salvation declared to every creature? What could change an idolatrous person into an instrument in the hands of God? What could possibly cause somebody who spent all their energies seeking to destroy the church to someone who imparts much consolation to it? What happens? Read Mosiah 27 to find out. I also invite you to study Alma 36 where he relates the story again to his son Helaman. It’s a remarkable story that speaks for itself. As you study, ask yourself: What does this story teach you about repentance and forgiveness?
ANGELIC MESSENGERS
So we find that he was visited by an angel, he goes into a kind of spiritual coma during which he suffers the pains of hell and then is filled with the spirit of forgiveness and joy.
So I imagine there are a lot of parents that would like to line up one of these types of interventions for their own children, but there is something important to mention here. I know I’ve had some students make comments that revealed their assumption that Alma the Younger was changed by the angel. That this happened because, well, it had to happen so that the church could grow in the future because God needed him on his side. I don’t think so. I think the church would have been just fine without Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah. I don’t see the angel saying, “Boys, you need to change so that you can all become amazing missionaries and one day lead the church”. He doesn’t say that. All I see is a stern warning to Alma to stop seeking to destroy the church. To discontinue his current path or be destroyed himself. It’s also important to note that the angel says that his purpose for coming was to answer the prayers of his righteous father and the people, that their prayers may be answered. So this intervention was not really for Alma’s sake, but for the sake of the prayers of the faithful. What happens next I don’t believe is something forced on Alma the Younger. No, I think this was all him. This was him deciding not only to heed the angel’s warning but to completely change his life around. It was not a withdrawal of Alma’s agency.
And I believe that God can do this kind of thing for people today. Perhaps this is what we pray for on behalf of those we love. Some kind of warning experience or wake up call that can give them the opportunity to change. Obviously always honoring their agency. We spoke about Noah Moments a few lessons ago. Those can serve as these kinds of interventions. The loss of a loved one, an accident, a time of opposition, a dream, the advice of a friend, all of these can serve as angels sent to try and turn people around. I know of a man who completely changed his life around after his mother died. It woke him up. I know of another individual who turned back to God and the Word of Wisdom after a cancer scare. That woke him up. I know of a woman who made great changes in her life after a very realistic dream that showed her where her life was heading in her current actions and she changed. I do believe that in circumstances like this, that God will send “angels” to give the wayward a chance to change. And it may not work. Laman and Lemuel had all sorts of these things happen and they still rebelled. But God tried, and I think he’ll try with our loved ones as well. Especially if we pray for it.
BEFORE AND AFTER
Another principle I love from this story is in the contrast. In the before and after. And the contrast couldn’t be more pronounced. There’s a powerful marking activity that I like to do with my students here. With two different colors, mark all the words that describe how Alma felt before the atonement took effect in his life, before he realized God’s forgiveness., and how he felt after he received it. It’s very eye-opening. Let me walk you through them in 27:28-30, on the before forgiveness side:
Mosiah 27:28-30-BEFORE
Wading through much tribulation
Repenting nigh unto death
Everlasting burning
Gall of bitterness
Bonds of iniquity
Darkest abyss
My soul was racked with eternal torment
Mosiah 27:28-30-AFTER
Redeemed of the Lord
Born of the Spirit
Born of God
Soul redeemed
Now I behold the marvelous light of God
My soul is pained no more
Alma 36:11-24-BEFORE
Great fear
Amazement
Racked with eternal torment
Harrowed up to the greatest degree
Racked with all my sins
Tormented with the pains of hell
The very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror
Oh, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body
Racked even with the pains of a damned soul
Racked with torment
Harrowed up
Gall of bitterness
Encircled about by the everlasting chains of death
Alma 36:11-24-AFTER
I could remember my pains no more
I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more
Oh what Joy
What Marvelous light
My soul was filled with Joy as exceeding as was my pain
Exquisite and sweet as was my joy
My soul did long to be there
Exceeding joy
Filled with the Holy Ghost
Now that is quite a contrast, isn’t it. You can’t get any more opposite than those descriptions.
CAUGHT HOLD-SNATCHED
What made the difference, where does the switch come? What changed everything? Since we’re here in Alma 36, read verses 17-19. It was the atonement and mercy of Jesus Christ. That’s what makes the transformation possible. And what two-word phrase does he use to describe what his mind did with that thought? It "caught hold” upon that thought. I love that. Because Alma is drowning here. He’s wading through affliction, he’s in the darkest abyss. If you think back to Lehi’s dream he’s in the filthy river drowning in bitterness and pain. As his head dips under the water, he has one last thought. Maybe that atonement, that Jesus I’ve so often heard my father speak about, will be there, for me? And he reaches his hand out just hoping to grasp something, and a hand catches hold on his.
Now jump back to Mosiah 27 with me and you’ll find a very interesting companion word in both verses :28 and 29 to the phrase caught hold. What is it? He snatched him. Alma reaches out and catches hold, and Christ’s hand snatches him out of the river, or hell, or the chains. That suggests something about Christ’s forgiveness, doesn’t it? It’s that immediate, freely given type of forgiveness we were talking about earlier. To snatch something suggests eagerness, readiness, quickness like he’s just waiting there, hand outstretched saying, come on Alma, just ask for it, I’m ready, waiting, willing. And as soon as Alma reaches out, Christ snatches him out of that pain and torment. Sometimes I think we view repentance as a negative word, with negative connotations. I think to Alma, repentance was a beautiful word.
SCRIPTURAL BOOKENDS
Christ can and will do the same for you and I. If you ever feel yourself drowning in that guilt, sorrow, pain, or torment, the story of Alma the younger is in the Book of Mormon to show you there is a way out. You don’t have to feel that way forever. Reach out to your Savior from the depths of your pain, cry out to him, and I promise you there will be something to catch hold of. He will snatch you from that pain and bitterness. And oh, it will feel so good, to be free from that guilt. If he was able to rejoice and embrace the marvelous light, so should you. And really, the fact of the matter is that the story of Alma the younger’s change is a bookend or extreme example. The scriptures often present us with these stories where principles are pushed to their edges. There’s a reason for that. If a man as wicked and evil and rebellious as Alma the Younger can repent, then anybody can repent. If God can forgive a man who caused so much trouble for God’s church, then God can forgive anyone. And not only that, if a man as depraved and vile as Alma could become the leader of the church, the prophet of the Nephites, then anybody who repents can not only return to full fellowship but excel and even rise to leadership in the church as well. Like the prodigal son who only wanted to return and be a servant, it was clear from the very outset that his Father was going to treat him as a son. The same is true for us. When we return, we don’t return as servants, but sons and daughters. And on the other end of that spectrum, we have individuals like Nephi who also sought forgiveness. Remember 2 Nephi chapter 4, and he receives it.
Now the message you don’t want people to walk away with from this story, especially youth, is “Hey, I guess I can live it up like Alma the Younger and rebel and do what I want now, and then later I’ll fix everything as he did”. That’s not the point of the story. We don’t have a lot of Alma the younger and Sons of Mosiah type stories in the scriptures but there are a few. Paul comes to mind. But for every Alma the Younger we have 10 Nephi’s, for every Paul, we have 10 Peters. I think God prefers us to be Nephi’s and Stripling Warriors, and Joseph Smith’s and Samuels. But the Alma the Younger, 4 sons of Mosiah, Paul stories are in there too, and they serve a very important purpose. If God can forgive a Nephi and an Alma the Younger, these two bookends, then I’m bound to fall somewhere in between. Therefore, I have hope. I fall into that glorious range of grace. I know that sometimes individuals find it hard to forgive themselves even after they’ve been assured by a priesthood leader that they have received forgiveness. Or, what if you are a person whose life is free of serious sin. You’re nowhere near the sinner Alma was but you feel still find yourself getting discouraged and sorrowful because you don’t feel you measure up to what you could be. This story has a lesson for you too. Well, if God can forgive someone in open rebellion, then how do you think he’s going to treat somebody who is striving, trying, and wanting to be good.
LIKENING THE SCRIPTURES
Has God ever sent you an “angel” to help you to change? What happened?
Without revealing any past transgressions, how would you describe the feeling of forgiveness?
How does the story of Alma the Younger give you hope?
CONCLUSION
There is a challenge with teaching repentance to a group of students sometimes. Some may need one message emphasized while the others need the opposite side of the coin and you may feel like splitting the room in two and teaching one message to this side and the other message to that side. Some need the carrot message, while others need the stick. The thing about the Alma the Younger story is that it does a pretty good job of teaching both. The awfulness of sin, and the hopefulness of mercy. But if I had to choose which one I felt was emphasized, I would say it’s the mercy and forgiveness side. The reaching, snatching, catching hold hand of Christ. The story of Alma the Younger(and the sons of Mosiah) is the embodiment of the immediate goodness of God, the freely forgiving God, and the “as oft” as they repent, forgiving God. Alma the younger is the prodigal son, the scarlet sinner who became white as snow. And I know that I have felt, as I’m sure you have, a measure of the bitterness of sin, and the pain of regret. I am so grateful for God’s incredibly forgiving nature. I too have felt that relief, that joy that comes from catching hold of the hand of the Savior. He’s lifted me, he’s saved me, and he will do the same for you, and he will do it as often as you need it, and freely, and immediately!
