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 11: The Nephite coin system is laid out. We learn that the Nephites used a system of weights that used 1,2,4,7. Which is very interesting because the village of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala uses the same units of measurement, which is approximately in the same location as the area in which the Book of Mormon is referring to.
Zeezrom who is a nephite judge, tries to tempt Amulek into saying that there is no God, by offering him six onties of silver, which is the most expensive "coin" in all of the nephite land.
We learn that Christ will not save people in their sins, only those who practice good works will be saved. Those who do bad works will only have the bands of death lifted from them to be judged in the flesh. (Alma 11:40-45).
Chapter 12:
We learn a lot of doctrine in Chapter 12. Alma contends with Zeezrom and we learn many things like: Men are judge by their own works, thoughts, beliefs and words. The wicked in the last day shall suffer a spiritual death. While we are in this life, we live a time of probation to prove ourselves, we must not procrastinate the day of our repentance. Those who repent will have claims to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Alma 12:3 - God knows our thoughts
Alma 12: 9-11 - Those who do not harden their hearts receive more of his word and understand more of the mysteries of God. Those who do harden their hearts less word is received and the mysteries of God become more and more unclear until they do not make any sense and they subject themselves to the devil.
Alma 12:14 - Our words and works will save us or condemn us in the last day.
Alma 12:22-26 - We learn why Adam and Eve could not partake of the fruit of the tree of life and why
Cherubims where placed to guard the tree. SEE: Genesis 3:24.
Chapter 13:
We learn that men are called to be high priests because of their great faith and good works, these High Priests are to teach the commandments. Angels will reveal (to the just and faithful) the actual coming of Christ.
A few things that stood out to me:
"... Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrestle them is shall be to your own destruction." (Alma 13:20), those who spend ridiculous amounts of time to prove something in the scriptures to be true or false will eventually lose sight of what is really important. We also know that the scriptures are written "...in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err..." (Alma 13:23). We should never question scripture. We also must always pray that we "...may not be tempted above that which (we) can bear..." (Alma 13:28)
Chapter 14: Alma and Amulek are imprisoned, while in prison they are beaten and spit upon. Those who believed on the words of Alma and Amulek are put into a fire to burn, along with all their holy books.
When Amulek saw the pains of the women and children that were burning in the fire he asked Alma: "...How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames." (Alma 14:10)
This is a question that all of us might ask at one time or another... why does God cause that wickedness prevail? Why does God cause pain and suffering? OR better yet; Why does God not use his power to relieve people of their pain and suffering? Especially when they are innocent?
Alma responds to Amulek and while answering him, also answers our questions... Alma said: "...The spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them in the last day." (Alma 14:11)
So we learn that God has his purposes and although we might not always understand why bad things happen to good people. We do understand that God will recompense those that are innocent and those that are guilty will be judged.
The chief judge in the land tempts Alma and Amulek by asking them why they could not save those people... and because they couldn't save those people from the fire that meant that they did not have power from God. Alma and Amulek are confined to prison, they continue to tempt them to break the bands and be redeemed by God. They break the bands and the walls of the prison fell to the earth, killing or seriously injuring all inside, except Alma and Amulek who walk away without and harm. People were so afraid of what had just happened, that they flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek.
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