Of all the Alma chapters I read this
week, chapter 35 was most significant. It's a small chapter,
but it's full of lessons that are still applicable today.
Alma 35:6
And it came to pass that after they had
found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the
words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of
the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land
of Jershon.
The minority that demonstrated faith,
chose to repent and then live righteously were persecuted by the
majority who did not. Like the early church members and pioneers,
they were driven out of their homes, away from their family and lost
the majority of their processions and land. Through all that
persecution and adversity, they would hold on to the word of God as
their firm foundation.
Alma 35:9
And he breathed out many threatening
against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words;
therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the
poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish
them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their
inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their
wants.
When the chief ruler of the Zoramites
threatened the people of Ammon, they did not fear their words and
stood strong, when caring for the new converts. Instead of fearing
death from the conflict and facing possibility of war, they continued
to stand strong and follow the counsel of the scriptures. They showed
relentless courage by feeding, clothing and giving them land. As a
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are
constantly fighting off threats and standing for our convictions.
There are still members across the globe, that are up against laws
and policies that make it illegal and very dangerous for them to meet
and observe the Sabbath on Sunday.
Alma 35:15
Now Alma, being grieved for the
iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodshed, and the
contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the
word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every
city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and
that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word,
his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
In this verse, not only does Alma
grieve because of the wars and bloodshed, he grieves because of the
contention among the people. After all the conviction and faith, the
people of Ammon and the new converts shared against the Zoramites and
the Lamanites, they were letting disagreements among themselves
harden their hearts. This makes me very sad, because today this is
still a very big problem. There are people who have and active participants in our church and then one day
someone says something that offends them or hurts their feelings and
you never see them again. Not only has this happened in my ward and
family, but it's happened to me in the past. It's easier said then
done, but sometimes I just have to remind myself that the gospel is
the gospel and the church is made of imperfect humans.
Alma 36:16
Therefore, he caused that his sons
should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one
his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto
righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he
gave unto them according to his own record.
In this last verse of the chapter, it
shares how Alma chose to sit his sons down and give them each their
own responsibility. Alma knew the importance of their individual
relationships and did not give them a one size fits all set
of directions. This reminds me that all children are different and
all children should be taught and directed according to their own
individual needs. One size, does not fit all.
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