"And now, my brethren, 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;"
This is the reality of those who hold this holy order. They feel absolute charity toward others. It causes them "great anxiety even unto pain" to consider how others might be lost. This was exactly the same charity that motivated the born-again sons of Mosiah to perform their missionary labors at great personal peril. (Mosiah 28: 3.)
When you hear such a man after this order speaking in plain, even blunt words, it is not because they are unkind. It is not because they are uncharitable or brash. It is because they are filled with care, concern, and longing to share eternal life with those who would otherwise be lost.
Look at his words. What does it mean that Alma's motivation now comes from "the inmost part of my heart?" How is it possible that Alma can have such concern that it causes him "great anxiety even unto pain?" Why does he long so for others to "hearken unto his words?"
Is this motivation for Alma the same as he described Melchizedek having?
Is the plea to "cast off your sins" the same plea which Melchizedek made to his people?
If this is the plea of both Melchizedek and Alma, and it is a burden which causes pain for fear that the mission would fail, where do we find such souls today crying repentance? Are they among us? Do we have ministers using the words of angels, declaring a message from heaven, who suffer anxiety and pain at the thought we will not repent?
Are you one of them?
If you are not, then why procrastinate? Why not also join in the process? All that is required is repentance to make yourself clean, followed by keeping the word of God until you entertain angels, receive your assignment, and having been commissioned to then proclaim repentance to others.
Alma is inviting people to join the order after the Son of God, becoming thereby sons of God themselves. This is the great message of the Book of Mormon. I've discussed in six books the mysteries of godliness, using primarily the Book of Mormon as the scriptural source to explain these doctrines. It is the most correct book we have to set out these doctrines and inform us of the process. It is interesting how little of that message we've uncovered as yet.
So let us proceed.....
I'm all in. I'm repenting! I'm asking, I'm seeking, I trying to be open to whatever the Spirit tells me. I've had ears to hear and I'm more determined then ever and I have no fear!
ReplyDeleteThanks, keep it coming!
For over a decade I have wondered if there is even 1 man on this earth who has this kind of charity? I have not known of one yet.
ReplyDeleteSo, these are the steps:
ReplyDelete1-Repent
2-Keep the word of God
3-Entertain Angels
4-Receive instruction/ a commision
5-proclaim repentance
I suspect that most of us reading this blog are on step 2 (Although, repentance is an ongoing process). I also suspect that many of us long for the time when we can entertain angels. What can we do then to hasten that time? Certainly we need to wait on the Lord, but can more fasting, more and better prayer, more service, more exact obedience, more zeal on our part move the Lord to act more quickly? Some of us are no longer young, and we worry about not having enough time to complete the course.
Any suggestions?
The kind of love that Alma had towards these people is the kind of love that parents have for a child that turns from the gospel and lives far below their potential. If only we could view every single person, no matter what their circumstance or sin, with the same kind of love that we feel towards an unrepentant child, we would be feeling the same kind of love that Alma had. Yes, it really does hurt down to the very core of our hearts. It is really hard to remove judgment when you are living on a higher plane than someone else. But that is what we must do....remove all judgement and let people feel God's love for them through us. I believe that we all are ministering angels from time to time, but it is a process. We have the potential to be that way all the time, but we need to work on it steadily. With God's help we will arrive as he bestows upon us that kind of charity...for it is a gift from Him.
ReplyDeleteThis has been awesome having you expound this chapter of Alma, Denver. For me, the questions and the answers have been enlightening and important, but even more importantly, I believe that you have shown us another pattern to follow. A pattern of how to study the scriptures. For this I am grateful. Thanks...Kathy
As fast as we can receive light...
ReplyDeleteI have outlined the first 100+ pages of the Second Comforter in six pages for my personal use and to more easily review and evaluate my current strengths and weaknesses regarding the redemptive process. I've noted that, until recently, I've not benefitted as much as I otherwise could have by opposition, not fully understanding how it helps ground us more fully to truth. I've trudged through and around opposition without always learning all I can from it, simply because I failed to recognize its true purpose. I've also noted a weakness in my Code of Conduct.
A part of the right of passage in my youth was to be able to shoot the ear off of a tick. As I became an exceptional marksman and hunter, I increasingly identified with Moroni slicing heads off, and Ammon slicing arms, often comparing such acts to my prowess as a hunter and slayer of beasts. Too often I have confronted my enemy with bold ferocity, rather than with charity which seeks grace toward my enemy. I've mistaken my actions to be righteousness. I share this to say that as I've become better acquainted with the process and its repeating patterns, I've noted that each of my weaknesses in the process have been presented to me just as fast as I can fully come to terms with them. Initially, as this began to occur rather quickly, I felt discouraged and wondered if I could ever successfully walk the path. But then, I recognized that I was actually learning how to overcome my weaknesses almost as fast as they were being brought before me. It isn't requisite that I spend years overcoming them; rather, I simply need to recognize them and replace former ways of doing things with Christ's manner of doing them. Now, rather than losing hope, each new weakness I process causes me to feel more hopeful. I sense that because of real intent that has always been with me, I've always had the basics down, but because of incorrect traditions I've been encumbered by, there are some mid-course corrections that have been required.
It gives me great hope in the redemptive process that I may yet learn to resonate more fully in a manner that will permit me to part the veil.
This has been such a blessing; thank you for your bluntness, your boldness, and your endeavoring well to help each of us receive the Fullness of the Gospel. I am one of those who has mistaken boldness and bluntness for unkindness at times. I believe each of my ten children have made the same mistake from time to time, as I at times have sought to teach and instruct.
As I did a final read through of a book I was assigned to write, during my final read through before submitting it to be published, I was impressed that the book was merely a prelude to my life's mission. This stunned me, given that the book was such a momentous effort for me. I had researched and written with such painstaking effort that I had assumed it to be my life's work. But then I was given to know that this book would only assist me in my real assignment. I do not yet know what that assignment is; however I have cause to hope to receive it. Thank you.
Let's press on!
"Alma is inviting people to join the order after the Son of God, becoming thereby sons of God themselves." What about us, as daughters of God... Where do we fit in all of this?
ReplyDeleteAGR
What a wonderful invitation.
ReplyDeleteAV, do you believe the people recognized Alma's charity for what it was? Can we recognize perfect charity if we do not first possess it? Eternal law requires that false judgments we mete out must come back upon our own heads. For a man to achieve your vision of charity, must he heap condemnation and judgment upon himself? If you are incorrect in your assessment regarding the complete drought of Alma- and Moroni-like men, what condemnation are you heaping upon yourself? Will doing so assure you of such a man for eternity or possibly just the opposite?
ReplyDeleteWhy do I ask? I've been challenged to be such a Moroni or Alma by one who possesses great charity, but not perfect charity. Only through dreams and the direct voice of the spirit in the very moment has the Lord spared me from unwittingly heaping condemnation upon myself.
I can say with certainty, that in the very moment I would have declared repentance in behalf of this individual, the Lord warmed me that my judgment in the matter was flawed and uncharitable. He did not reveal the whole of the matter to me, but sufficient to know that I would damn myself by proceeding further, and I would do so based solely upon another person's notions of the whole truth, not according to God's knowledge of the matter.
If this were you, would you have another damn himself in your behalf, or would you rather receive the entire truth of the matter from the one who loves you perfectly? He is gentle and meek and can open our eyes in manner that our greatest weaknesses and sorrows can become as if they never were. He alone can heal...
JDS,
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear more.
beerparka@gmail.com
This invitation is unto all, even to the ends of the earth. For sure, I feel invited.
ReplyDelete2 Ne. 26: 33
33 ... for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.