Alma 45
45:1 - Again, there's not a lot on this chapter, but let's see what we can find. The Nephites have just defeated the Lamanites in battle, or at least compelled them to give up their weapons of war and make a covenant of peace, and "the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy." It's interesting to me that, while yes, they were victorious against all odds, and they were deeply grateful to God, and rightly so, but there were a lot of Nephite casualties as well and surely there were crops and goods lost, and I'd imagine that lots of work went undone as much of the working force went off to fight. Over all, I'd imagine that this was also a time of great tribulation for the Nephites as well, but still the praised God. I just so happened to listen to President Uchtdorf's talk from this most recent general conference entitled "Grateful in Any Circumstances," in which he taught "we can choose to be grateful, no matter what. This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer. When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace. We sometimes thing that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life to we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" I believe in the "attitude of gratitude" and I try really hard to make it a part of my daily life, but sometimes it's more difficult than others, especially when I think about how much the Nephites, and the Lamanites for that matter were probably suffering at this time, and they still found joy and happiness in being grateful and praising God. It seems kind of counter intuitive to praise God after war and while suffering, but really, if we look at the eternal perspective, Heavenly Father prepared this world for us, has given us the opportunity to come down and receive bodies, and experience mortality like he did. Yes we might suffer here and now, but the end result will be joy and blessings so unfathomably amazing that we can't even comprehend it right now. God isn't enjoying our pain, he isn't telling us to "buck up and move on," he suffers with us, and in fact, Jesus suffered all we feel and more, infinitely more. No matter what happens, and this is easy for me to say while I live my cushy life, we can be ultimately grateful for the Infinite Atonement that allows us to not only survive spiritually, but to thrive as well, that gives us perfected bodies, we can be grateful that we are loved and cared for by an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God. We can be grateful for our experiences and suffering here, and we can be grateful that there is a plan for our eternal happiness, no matter what we suffer here in this life.
45:2-8 - Alma now begins initiating the handing over of the affairs of the church to his oldest son Helaman, and he asks him three important, yet simple questions. "Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?..." "Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?..." These are basic understanding and belief questions, probes to his commitment to the doctrine, and he answered affirmatively to all of them. But here comes a much deeper question about his faith in the authority held by his father, and I wondered why Alma might ask Helaman this next question, "will ye keep my commandments?" From an outside perspective, it might seem like Alma is elevating himself up to the status of God to give commandments and to be obeyed, and this is also further confusing for me because I think, "what if my dad asked me that question? Would I be willing to keep his commandments?" Thankfully, in an October 1983 general conference address entitled "Parent-Child Interviews," Carlos E. Asay simplified this for us, teaching, "Up to this point in the interview, the father's questions were sampling the son's basic beliefs. Now it was essential that those beliefs be tested and determined as being more than idle lip service. Alma's capstone inquiry was, 'Will ye keep my commandments?' I am not certain what went through Helaman's mind as he prepared to give his final response. He knew the necessity of honoring his parents and respecting priesthood authority. His previous actions had verified this fact. I like to think that Helaman's reply was promoted by a heartfelt desire to be obedient rather than by a fear of authority. Deep love of God and father were reflected in his words: 'Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.' It is a marvelous thing when a father is able to make his commandments square perfectly with God's expectations. Apparently, his condition was achieved by Alma, for Helaman was ready and willing to obey with all his heart." Alma's question to Helaman, wasn't about his own need for approval or idolization, but instead was to be sure that his son fully understood and committed to the task that he was being assigned. And as far as my guilt over my own father's commandments, it takes a lot of work to have desires and orders for your children that are on the same level as God's, so that eases my mind on that subject a little bit. He continues, "This short, informative, and inspiring interview must have pleased Alma greatly. Not only had he communicated heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul with his son, but the son had openly declared his faith and pledged his devotion... I wonder if our interviews with our children are as inspirational and building as the one between Alma and Helaman. I find it significant that the father came to the son; the son was not summoned to stand inspection or to give a report. I find it refreshing that the conversation was direct and without any verbal sparring; it was not labored or rehearsed. I find it exemplary that commitment was drawn without prying, wringing, or pressuring. And I find it most beautiful that the father concluded with a tender blessing." I had not considered this little talk between father and son, that significant, but truly, when looked at through the teachings of Elder Asay, it makes total sense. Alma asked of his beliefs, of his intention to follow the instructions given to him, and his devotion to a being that had not yet come into the world. I find that the excellent points expressed here are even more fully incorporated when listening to the example that Elder Asay gives as how he applied this lesson in his own daily life. He says that he came home late one night and was confronted by his wife who was worried that one of their sons had lost his interest in serving a mission. Elder Asay relates, "Immediately I went to the room and sat on the edge of his bed. When I asked if I could speak with him a moment, he said, 'Certainly.' The hour was late. He was tired, and so was I. I, therefore, could see that nothing would be gained by a long conversation. And following the direct Alma-and-Helaman approach, the conversation went something like this: 'Son, are you still planning on serving a mission?' 'Yes,' he answered. 'I've always planned on serving, and I haven't changed.' 'Son, do you know what qualifies a young man to serve a mission? Do you know what worthiness means?' 'Yes, Dad,' he said. 'I understand the requirements and standards of worthiness that must be met.' I said, 'Thank you. I have one last question: Are you clean and worthy to serve? Could you accept a call if one were issued you today?' There was a moment of reflective silence; then he declared: 'It isn't easy. Temptation is real and found everywhere. However, since you asked, I am clean and I am worthy to serve.' This was a wonderful, beautiful, spontaneous, and sanctifying experience. I thanked my son, kissed him, assured him of my love, and bid him good night. I returned to my bedroom and told my wife that all was well and that she could go to sleep." I found this example to be a most profound way in which I could reflect on my own life and how I can beat around the bush less and be more direct when I feel that that would be more helpful.
45:9- - Alma goes on to prophesy about the fate of the Nephites because of their wickedness and the curse on the land saying "Thus saith the Lord God- Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe." He also blesses his sons, the "he departed out of the land of Zerahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more." The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching that "Moses, Elijah, and Alma the Younger were translated. The Old Testament account that Moses died and was buried by the hand of the Lord in an unknown grave is an error. It is true that he may have been 'buried by the hand of the Lord,' if that expression is a figure of speech which means that he was translated... It should be remembered that the Nephites had the Brass Plates, and that they were the 'scriptures' which gave the account of Moses being taken by way of translation." The concept of translation is very interesting to me, I don't understand it at all, in hardly any way, and I wonder what the requirement for being translated is. Surely it doesn't indicate one's righteousness over another right? Wasn't Alma's father, Alma, also just as righteous, or Captain Moroni? So I'm not too sure about that kind of stuff. With his father's mysterious disappearance, Helaman assumed his place as the head of the church. Interestingly, how we talked about the people being grateful despite their suffering, it turns out that they all didn't react as positively, "for behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church." Whenever there is discord among the people, it seems like the most profound and effective way to restore order and peace is to preach the gospel, and Helaman fully assumes that responsibility, because he "and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land... And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches." But unfortunately, some people don't know how to handle their blessings from God because the people "grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God." Which of course opens up the door for their downfall.
For a little chapter that didn't have much written in the IM about it, there sure were a lot of subtle, yet profound lessons. I found the lessons on gratitude and parent-child interviews quite poignant.
45:2-8 - Alma now begins initiating the handing over of the affairs of the church to his oldest son Helaman, and he asks him three important, yet simple questions. "Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?..." "Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?..." These are basic understanding and belief questions, probes to his commitment to the doctrine, and he answered affirmatively to all of them. But here comes a much deeper question about his faith in the authority held by his father, and I wondered why Alma might ask Helaman this next question, "will ye keep my commandments?" From an outside perspective, it might seem like Alma is elevating himself up to the status of God to give commandments and to be obeyed, and this is also further confusing for me because I think, "what if my dad asked me that question? Would I be willing to keep his commandments?" Thankfully, in an October 1983 general conference address entitled "Parent-Child Interviews," Carlos E. Asay simplified this for us, teaching, "Up to this point in the interview, the father's questions were sampling the son's basic beliefs. Now it was essential that those beliefs be tested and determined as being more than idle lip service. Alma's capstone inquiry was, 'Will ye keep my commandments?' I am not certain what went through Helaman's mind as he prepared to give his final response. He knew the necessity of honoring his parents and respecting priesthood authority. His previous actions had verified this fact. I like to think that Helaman's reply was promoted by a heartfelt desire to be obedient rather than by a fear of authority. Deep love of God and father were reflected in his words: 'Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.' It is a marvelous thing when a father is able to make his commandments square perfectly with God's expectations. Apparently, his condition was achieved by Alma, for Helaman was ready and willing to obey with all his heart." Alma's question to Helaman, wasn't about his own need for approval or idolization, but instead was to be sure that his son fully understood and committed to the task that he was being assigned. And as far as my guilt over my own father's commandments, it takes a lot of work to have desires and orders for your children that are on the same level as God's, so that eases my mind on that subject a little bit. He continues, "This short, informative, and inspiring interview must have pleased Alma greatly. Not only had he communicated heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul with his son, but the son had openly declared his faith and pledged his devotion... I wonder if our interviews with our children are as inspirational and building as the one between Alma and Helaman. I find it significant that the father came to the son; the son was not summoned to stand inspection or to give a report. I find it refreshing that the conversation was direct and without any verbal sparring; it was not labored or rehearsed. I find it exemplary that commitment was drawn without prying, wringing, or pressuring. And I find it most beautiful that the father concluded with a tender blessing." I had not considered this little talk between father and son, that significant, but truly, when looked at through the teachings of Elder Asay, it makes total sense. Alma asked of his beliefs, of his intention to follow the instructions given to him, and his devotion to a being that had not yet come into the world. I find that the excellent points expressed here are even more fully incorporated when listening to the example that Elder Asay gives as how he applied this lesson in his own daily life. He says that he came home late one night and was confronted by his wife who was worried that one of their sons had lost his interest in serving a mission. Elder Asay relates, "Immediately I went to the room and sat on the edge of his bed. When I asked if I could speak with him a moment, he said, 'Certainly.' The hour was late. He was tired, and so was I. I, therefore, could see that nothing would be gained by a long conversation. And following the direct Alma-and-Helaman approach, the conversation went something like this: 'Son, are you still planning on serving a mission?' 'Yes,' he answered. 'I've always planned on serving, and I haven't changed.' 'Son, do you know what qualifies a young man to serve a mission? Do you know what worthiness means?' 'Yes, Dad,' he said. 'I understand the requirements and standards of worthiness that must be met.' I said, 'Thank you. I have one last question: Are you clean and worthy to serve? Could you accept a call if one were issued you today?' There was a moment of reflective silence; then he declared: 'It isn't easy. Temptation is real and found everywhere. However, since you asked, I am clean and I am worthy to serve.' This was a wonderful, beautiful, spontaneous, and sanctifying experience. I thanked my son, kissed him, assured him of my love, and bid him good night. I returned to my bedroom and told my wife that all was well and that she could go to sleep." I found this example to be a most profound way in which I could reflect on my own life and how I can beat around the bush less and be more direct when I feel that that would be more helpful.
45:9- - Alma goes on to prophesy about the fate of the Nephites because of their wickedness and the curse on the land saying "Thus saith the Lord God- Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe." He also blesses his sons, the "he departed out of the land of Zerahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more." The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching that "Moses, Elijah, and Alma the Younger were translated. The Old Testament account that Moses died and was buried by the hand of the Lord in an unknown grave is an error. It is true that he may have been 'buried by the hand of the Lord,' if that expression is a figure of speech which means that he was translated... It should be remembered that the Nephites had the Brass Plates, and that they were the 'scriptures' which gave the account of Moses being taken by way of translation." The concept of translation is very interesting to me, I don't understand it at all, in hardly any way, and I wonder what the requirement for being translated is. Surely it doesn't indicate one's righteousness over another right? Wasn't Alma's father, Alma, also just as righteous, or Captain Moroni? So I'm not too sure about that kind of stuff. With his father's mysterious disappearance, Helaman assumed his place as the head of the church. Interestingly, how we talked about the people being grateful despite their suffering, it turns out that they all didn't react as positively, "for behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church." Whenever there is discord among the people, it seems like the most profound and effective way to restore order and peace is to preach the gospel, and Helaman fully assumes that responsibility, because he "and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land... And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches." But unfortunately, some people don't know how to handle their blessings from God because the people "grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God." Which of course opens up the door for their downfall.
For a little chapter that didn't have much written in the IM about it, there sure were a lot of subtle, yet profound lessons. I found the lessons on gratitude and parent-child interviews quite poignant.
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