When Pres. Hinckley was a young missionary, he became discouraged. So much, in fact, that he wrote a letter home to his father telling him that he was wasting his time and his father's money. His wise father's response was for his son to forget himself and get to work. Initially as Alma labored among the people in Ammonihah, he became discouraged so he left. However, an angel appeared to him and commanded him to return. In the meantime, back in Ammonihah, a man named Amulek had received a vision wherein an angel told him to welcome Alma into his home. And that's how the Lord set the stage for what would become a great missionary companionship.
Once again, Alma began to preach calling the people to repentance and teaching pure doctrine. He reminded them of things they should never have forgotten, for they had fallen into a trap that so many of the Lord's children do -- they failed to remember all that the Lord had done for them and their fathers. He told them that unless they repented, they would be in worse shape than the Lamanites, not only in the next life, but this one, too.
Amulek then added a second witness to all that Alma had taught them. He began by telling them of his conversion. Since he was a wealthy man and was well-known, he hoped that they might be more willing to listen to him.
Among those who heard these two men preach was a man named Zeezrom -- one of a number of lawyers whose purpose was to stir up the people in order to get gain. Zeezrom challenged Amulek, but Amulek held fast -- even after Zeezrom offered him "six onties of silver" -- definitely more than just pocket change. In fact, it was equivalent to 42 days wages for a judge. Amulek's response: "Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptation?" A wise response for us to remember when something or someone tempts us to do something that would compromise the covenants we have made and the principles we've been taught.
After Amulek finished with Zeezrom, Alma stepped in until the record states, "Zeezrom began to tremble." Alma told Zeezrom that he had been deceived by the devil and how that had happened. At one point, Antionah who was a chief ruler, challenged Alma on what he thought he knew about what took place in the Garden of Eden. Alma tried to correct his thinking and used a phrase that was only used by Alma as far as we have record: probationary state. And then he taught that it was vital for people to be taught the plan of redemption first and then the commandments. The plan of redemption provides the answers to all the "why" questions we could ever have concerning commandments, standards, etc.
As Alma concluded his remarks, the intent of his motives was clear, "I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance." Earlier, it is recorded that what he said unto those people he said unto all -- that includes you and me.
You'd think that would have been enough - and for some, it was. There were many who accepted the message that Alma & Amulek brought them. But those with power did not. They put these good men into prison where they suffered much. Those who would not deny the message that Alma and Amulek brought were burned alive - with these good men watching. And then the record sounds very similar to what is recorded in D&C when Joseph was languishing in the jail at Liberty, "How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance." And at last the Lord heard their pleas, for their work was not finished, and the walls of the prison came down and their persecutors were destroyed. Only Alma and Amulek walked out alive.
What would you take to recount your testimony? Six onties of silver? What would you deny in order to be saved from a fiery death? Which of your principles would you compromise to be able to attend a party? What commandment would you break in order to be accepted within a certain group? With a resounding voice may we always face temptation with the words of Amulek, "Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no temptation."
The value of the scriptures is not found in historical content or even in our admiration of men and women who were faithful, but rather in how their examples help us to overcome the challenges we face and to walk by faith.
Once again, Alma began to preach calling the people to repentance and teaching pure doctrine. He reminded them of things they should never have forgotten, for they had fallen into a trap that so many of the Lord's children do -- they failed to remember all that the Lord had done for them and their fathers. He told them that unless they repented, they would be in worse shape than the Lamanites, not only in the next life, but this one, too.
Amulek then added a second witness to all that Alma had taught them. He began by telling them of his conversion. Since he was a wealthy man and was well-known, he hoped that they might be more willing to listen to him.
Among those who heard these two men preach was a man named Zeezrom -- one of a number of lawyers whose purpose was to stir up the people in order to get gain. Zeezrom challenged Amulek, but Amulek held fast -- even after Zeezrom offered him "six onties of silver" -- definitely more than just pocket change. In fact, it was equivalent to 42 days wages for a judge. Amulek's response: "Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptation?" A wise response for us to remember when something or someone tempts us to do something that would compromise the covenants we have made and the principles we've been taught.
After Amulek finished with Zeezrom, Alma stepped in until the record states, "Zeezrom began to tremble." Alma told Zeezrom that he had been deceived by the devil and how that had happened. At one point, Antionah who was a chief ruler, challenged Alma on what he thought he knew about what took place in the Garden of Eden. Alma tried to correct his thinking and used a phrase that was only used by Alma as far as we have record: probationary state. And then he taught that it was vital for people to be taught the plan of redemption first and then the commandments. The plan of redemption provides the answers to all the "why" questions we could ever have concerning commandments, standards, etc.
As Alma concluded his remarks, the intent of his motives was clear, "I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance." Earlier, it is recorded that what he said unto those people he said unto all -- that includes you and me.
You'd think that would have been enough - and for some, it was. There were many who accepted the message that Alma & Amulek brought them. But those with power did not. They put these good men into prison where they suffered much. Those who would not deny the message that Alma and Amulek brought were burned alive - with these good men watching. And then the record sounds very similar to what is recorded in D&C when Joseph was languishing in the jail at Liberty, "How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance." And at last the Lord heard their pleas, for their work was not finished, and the walls of the prison came down and their persecutors were destroyed. Only Alma and Amulek walked out alive.
What would you take to recount your testimony? Six onties of silver? What would you deny in order to be saved from a fiery death? Which of your principles would you compromise to be able to attend a party? What commandment would you break in order to be accepted within a certain group? With a resounding voice may we always face temptation with the words of Amulek, "Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no temptation."
The value of the scriptures is not found in historical content or even in our admiration of men and women who were faithful, but rather in how their examples help us to overcome the challenges we face and to walk by faith.
loved this one!!
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