I am tackling the Book of Mormon in 60 days. My plan is to have the Book of Mormon studied by the end of 2011. During my challenge, I will post a daily blog of my reading, in this blog I will share with you... my thoughts, feelings, opinions and knowledge about the Book of Mormon. Do you have questions? Comments? Please... lets start a discussion. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, comments or concerns!
Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of
How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g
Scripture Thought (What I Learned):
Chapter 7: Alma delivers his words to the people of Gideon. He tells them about Christ, and how he will be born of Mary in Jerusalem. He tells them, that through Christ the bands of death are lifted and through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement one can be saved.
Alma (the younger) speaks of Christ; "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of this people. And he will take upon him death which bind his people; and he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12) Christ suffered all, and by doing this he knows what we suffer and has the ability and wisdom to know how to comfort us in our times of trial, heartache, pain, sickness...etc.
No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God (Alma 7:21)
"...asking for whatsoever thing ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal..." (Alma 7:23) If we are humble and keep the commandments of God, then we have the right to ask for things we need, spiritual or temporal (material - food, shelter, money...etc.)
Chapter 8: Alma finishes up baptizing and preaching in the land of Melek. He travels to the land of Ammonihah to teach the word to those people in that land. But the people reject Alma the younger and he leaves the land. Alma was very upset that these people would not listen to him. But an angel of the Lord comes and commands him that he go back into the land. When he comes back into the land of Ammonihah he is weak and hungry, but the Lord had someone placed in his path (Amulek) to take him in and feed him, that he could receive blessings on his house. Amulek and Alma the younger start to spread the word in the land of Ammonihah.
Something we learn here is that sometimes we fail, and when we fail we need to continue. The Lord knew that like all of us, Alma would be sad and feeling like he was inadequate. But he told him to go again and the Lord helped him through the process.
We also learn of the blessing that can come upon our house when we take in the Lord's missionaries and feed them (Alma 8:20)
Chapter 9: "...except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God..." (Alma 9:12). Alma and Amulek preach unto the people in the land of Ammonihah and they tell them that they need to repent, and if they do so, the Lord will be merciful unto them. The Lord cometh soon (82 b.c.), and those who repent and do good works will enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Chapter 10: "...if it were not for the prayers of the righteous....ye would even now be visited with utter destruction..." (Alma 10:22) - The people that are righteous keep God happy, and cause that he does not destroy those who are wicked.
We learn that Lehi (from the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the father of Nephi) was a descendent of Manasseh who was a descendent of Joseph (who was sold into Egypt, by his brothers). There is a nice tie back to the stories of the Bible.
Unrighteous lawyers and judges open the door to the destruction of their own people. I find this one a little humorous, and since I am a strong believer that God has the biggest sense of humor of us all... decided to have Alma write these words:
"...those men who sought to destroy them, who were layers..." (Alma 10:14)
"Now these layers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people..." (Alma 10:15)
"Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain..." (Alma 10:32)
It seems like even God dislikes lawyers! Anyways, beside the point... we learn that unrighteous people in positions of power is not good, and it is definitely not what God wants.
No comments:
Post a Comment