As the
missionaries went forth from door to door,
They
had more success with the people who were poor.
When
they came and asked Alma, “What are we to do?”
Alma
said, “You’re blessed! Poverty has humbled you!
“Listen
to my words and experiment on them
“In the
way that you’d plant a seed in your garden.
“Just
as seeds need nourishing, water, soil & light,
“You
must tend the word with your patience and your might.
“You
are showing faith if you go through this process
“Since
you act on hope without a perfect knowledge.
“Over
time, you’ll know of the goodness of the seed
“If you
find its fruit sweet above all that is sweet.
“So it
is with my words. Act on them and you’ll see
“They
will feed your soul and make you truly happy!”
Chapter 33
Alma’s
words made his listeners happy and they asked,
“Where can we worship so
that your words come to pass?”
For a
synagogue these poor people were in search,
Since
the richer people had cast them out of church.
“You
think you can only worship in church? You err!
“You
can worship God anytime and anywhere!”
Alma
then shared scriptures from Zenos and Zenock
About
prayer and how the Lord’s merciful to us.
Wherever
he prayed, in his closet or his field,
God
heard Zenos and answered all of his appeals.
Alma
then recalled how Moses raised up a type
All who
looked would be healed it if was in their sight.
It’s
the same for us, like the type that was lifted,
All we
have to do is look to Christ and we’ll live.
Chapter 34
Alma
sat down so Amulek could testify
That
his words were true about faith and Jesus Christ.
“All
mankind would perish if He hadn’t paid the price
“And
atoned for us—the great and last sacrifice.
“This
is the reason the Law of Moses was sent:
“To
help us think of Jesus’ future atonement.
“He
sacrificed his life! That was what His life was for.”
(That’s
why we don’t sacrifice animals anymore!)
“In
order to benefit from His atonement,
“We
must exercise faith in Him and then repent.
“The
best way to begin this process is to pray.
“Do it
anywhere and at any time of day.
“Pray
to God for mercy. That’s a great place to start.
“Even
when you can’t pray aloud, pray in your heart.
“But,
remember, all of your prayers are void and null
“If you
turn down chances to be charitable.
“This
life is the time our labors must be performed.
“If you
delay repentance I can promise this:
“You’ll
be subjected to the devil! You’ll be his.
“Brethren,
if you bear your rejection with patience
“One
day you shall rest from all of these afflictions.”
Chapter 35
After
saying this, Amulek and Alma went
To the
land in which the People of Ammon lived.
To
their horror, they learned that Zoramites who dared
To
believe their words and the message they had shared
Had all
been cast out of their homeland, so they fled
To
Jershon, where Alma made sure they were well fed.
All the
Zoramites who remained were quite upset,
“Cast them out or we’ll
fight you!” was one of their threats.
But the
People of Ammon weren’t afraid at all.
They
ignored the threats. The Zoramites were appalled.
So they
joined the Lamanites and prepared for war—
All
this to make sure the believers suffered more!
Alma’s
heart was grieved that there was fighting again.
He
gathered his sons so that he could counsel them.
© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes
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