Alma and Amulek

Alma gives many questions that make the Alma gives many questions that make the people think about their standing before people think about their standing before

God.God.

Alma teaches that Jesus taking upon Alma teaches that Jesus taking upon Himself all things that He would know Himself all things that He would know

how to succor His people.how to succor His people.

Alma baptizes throughout the land

Alma 8:9, 11Alma 8:9, 11Alma 9:5, 30Alma 9:5, 30

Alma 12:10–11 Alma 12:10–11

 “I was not well when I arrived. It

seemed that everyone was prejudiced against us. Those first few weeks, because of illness and the opposition which we felt, I was discouraged. I wrote a letter home to my good father and said that I felt I was wasting my time and his money…”

•Alma 8:10,14-16. How did Alma feel?

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997],

350).

“I wrote a letter home to my good father and said that I felt I was wasting my time and his money. He was my father and my stake president, and he was a wise and inspired man. He wrote a very short letter to me which said, ‘Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work.’

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997],

350).

“Those words went into my very being. With my father’s letter in hand, I went into our bedroom in the house at 15 Wadham Road, where we lived, and got on my knees and made a pledge with the Lord. I covenanted that I would try to forget myself and lose myself in His service.

“That July day in 1933 was my day of decision. A new light came into my life and a new joy into my heart. The fog of England seemed to lift, and I saw the sunlight. I had a rich and wonderful mission experience, for which I shall ever be grateful.”

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997],

350).

How in increase the probability of success on a mission:

•Obtain a Patriarchal Blessing•Prepare to enter the temple•Receive personal confirmation regarding missionary work•Receive a personal testimony•Complete worthiness•Serious study of Preach my Gospel and the Scriptures•Temporal preparation (cooking, laundry, etc)•Reduce technology (music, games, texting)•Become a missionary long before you enter the MTC

• Share a ‘mountain’ you’ve had to climb…• Share a time where you faced a trial,

gave up, but then recommitted and found success…

• How do you overcome setbacks?

Alma 10:5–6 - The Lord will send Amulek’s into our lives!

CHALLENGE: Be an Amulek!

• Reasons for fasting…• Alma 5:45-46• Alma 6:6• Alma 8:26• Isaiah 58:6,9•Helaman 3:35•Matthew 17:14-21• D&C 59:14• D&C 88:76•Hymn 139

“The law of the fast has three great purposes. First, it provides assistance to the needy though the contribution of fast offerings, consisting of the value of meals from which we abstain. Second, a fast is beneficial to us physically. Third, it is to increase humility and spirituality on the part of each individual.”

L. Tom Perry, April 1986 Gen. Conf.

1.About how long should a fast normally last?2.Is it ok to drink water while fasting?3.How often should a person fast?4.How much fast offering should a person pay?5.Should you fast if you are sick?6.At what age should children start fasting?7.What should you do if fasting makes you

irritable?8.What is the difference between fasting and just

being hungry?

1 2 4 7

• Gold senine seon shum limnah

• Silver senum amnor ezrom onti $1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7 $8 $9

• U.S. CURRENCY ($1,$5,$10) 1 1 3 4 1 2 3 4 5

• NEPHITE MONEY (1,2,4,7) 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2

•  • THIS IS A PERFECT MONETARY SYSTEM

• Joseph Smith did have a good ‘writing’ day!)

• Alma 11:21–22

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us?

• 2. Is there more than one God?

• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their sins?

• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?

• 5. Who will judge us?• 6. What will we be judged

by?

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us? • Alma 11:21–22

“If you are slipping into things that you should not slip into or if you are associating with people who are pulling you away in the wrong direction, that is the time to assert your independence, your agency. As a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the promptings that come from the Holy Spirit” (President Packer, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 18).

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us? • Alma 11:21–22

• 2. Is there more than one God? • Alma 11:28–29

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us? • Alma 11:21–22

• 2. Is there more than one God? • Alma 11:28–29

• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their sins?• Alma 11:34

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us? • Alma 11:21–22

• 2. Is there more than one God? • Alma 11:28–29

• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their sins?• Alma 11:34

• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?• Alma 11:38–39

• In what ways is Jesus Christ our Father? • · He created the earth, which sustains our life.

He is our Father through His Creation. • · He brings about the Resurrection. He is the

Father of our resurrected bodies. • · He provides a newness of life through the

Atonement. He is the Father of our spiritual rebirth.

• · He changes our nature as we repent and follow Him and makes us part of His family. He becomes our Father as we take on ourselves His name.

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us?

• 2. Is there more than one God? • Alma 11:28–29

• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their sins?• Alma 11:34

• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?• Alma 11:38–39

• 5. Who will judge us? • Alma 11:41-43

• Questions• 1. Should we answer every

gospel question that is asked of us?

• 2. Is there more than one God? • 3. Can Jesus Christ save His

people in their sins?• Alma 11:34

• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?• Alma 11:38–39

• 5. Who will judge us? • Alma 11:41-43

• 6. What are we judged on? • Alma 12:14,24

"On the night of April 6th, 1891, I had a strange dream or vision in which I saw and conversed with my father who died January 27th, 1891.   I was in bed when father came in or entered the room; he came and sat on the side of the bed.   When father came to the bed, he first said:  "Well, my son, being you were not there when I died, so that I did not get to see you, and as I had a few spare minutes, I received permission to come and see you for a few minutes.”  I am very glad to see you father.  How are you do? 'I am feeling well my son, and have had very much to do since I died.' What have you been doing since you died father?   This question he did not answer but looked at me and smiled.  'My son, I have been traveling together with Apostle Erastus Snow ever since I died; that is, since three days after I died; then I received my commission to preach the Gospel.  You cannot imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the Spirit world that have not yet received the Gospel; but many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished.  Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends, who are still living, to administer for them in the Temples. 

"Will all the spirits believe you, father, when you teach them the Gospel?'  No, they will not.' 'Father, can you see us at all times, and do you know what we are doing?'  No, my son, I cannot.  I have something else to do.  I cannot go when and where I please.  There is just as much, and much more, order here in the Spirit world than in the other world.  I have been assigned work and that must be performed.' 'Father, is it natural to die? or does it seem natural?  Was there not a time when your spirit was in such a pain that it could not realize what was going on or taking place? 'No, my son, there was not such a time.  It is just as natural to die, as it is to be born, or for you to pass out of that door (here he pointed at the door).  When I had told the folks that I could not last long, it turned dark and I could not see anything for a few minutes.  Then, the first thing I could see was a number of spirits in the Spirit world.  Then, I told the folks that I must go.' My son, always cling to the Gospel.  Be humble, be prayerful, be submissive to the Priesthood, be true, be faithful to the covenants you have made with God.  Never do anything that will displease God.  O, what a blessing is the Gospel!  My son, be a good boy.' 'Good bye.‘ I then saw him leave the room.  He was neatly dressed in a suit of light gray clothes, which I had never seen him wear when alive.' (in From Heart to Heart:  1979, pp 16-18)

“Being in charge of the Endowment House, while the [Salt Lake] Temple was in the process of construction, Heber C. Kimball [a member of the First Presidency] met with a group who were planning to enter the temple [the Endowment House] for ordinance work. He felt impressed that some were not worthy to go into the temple, and he suggested first that if any present were not worthy, they might retire. No one responding, he said that there were some present who should not proceed through the temple because of unworthiness and he wished they would leave so the company could proceed. It was quiet as death and no one moved nor responded. A third time he spoke, saying that there were two people present who were in adultery, and if they did not leave he would call out their names. Two people walked out and the company continued on through the temple” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 112).

What principles/ applications do you see from the story of Alma and Amulek?

“We get what we focus on consistently. There are forces that erode our faith. These stem from

personal tendencies, attitudes, and habits. But we can learn to change. I will refer to these influences as the

“Destructive Ds.”

First is doubt. Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. It does not

come from the Light of Christ or the influence of the Holy Ghost. Doubt is a negative emotion related to fear. It comes from a lack of confidence in

one’s self or abilities. It is inconsistent with our divine identity

as children of God.

Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement comes from missed expectations and

leads to lower expectations, decreased effort, weakened desire,

and greater difficulty feeling the Spirit. It is the very antithesis of

faith.

Discouragement leads to a lack of diligence, a reduced commitment to carry on through despite hardship

and disappointment. Disappointment is an inevitable part of life, but it

need not lead to a lack of diligence.

If not reversed, this path ultimately leads to disobedience. So often the result is disbelief. The scriptures describe disbelief as the state of

having chosen to harden one’s heart. (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, April 2009)

Alma and Amulek