Alma and Our Day

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything new on my blog. In fact, my last blog was just after Fast Sunday and we have already had another one. Oh how time flies.

My mind has been swimming with thoughts and ideas on what to blog about and I likely have two or three that I will post in a pretty short time frame so please check back often.

I am continuing to read in the Book of Mormon and am currently reading in the first few chapters of Alma. My thoughts have really been drawn to what is happening in these chapters. Alma sees that wickedness has crept in to the lives of the people so he has stepped down as chief judge and is devoting all his time to being the high priest. He is traveling from city to city preaching the gospel and calling the people to repentance.

Alma was successful in the city of Zarahemla. In Alma 6 we read: “1 AND now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church.
2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church.
3 And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous.
4 And thus they began to establish the order of the church in thecity of Zarahemla.”

Alma moves on to the cities of Gideon and then to Melek. In both cities he found success and baptized many. He called and ordained others to preside when he departed. He then moves to the city of Ammonihah where he found a much greater challenge.

In the city of Ammonihah he found the people to be particularly stubborn and he was rejected. In Alma 9 we read: “13 Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.” Alma was discouraged by this rejection and it weighed upon him heavily. The next verse in Alma reads: “14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:
15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.
16 And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.
17 For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people.
18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.”

The most poignant of these verses to me verse 17 “For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people.”

For the first time since I started this blog I am making a political statement that may offend some readers… but I feel it is appropriate for our time. Last week when the Healthcare Bill was passed which appears to be contrary to the desires of the majority of citizens, I felt that this very moment in Book of Mormon history was being repeated. Indeed there are those in Washington that “do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people.”

I have become very afraid for our nation. Although the failing of our government has been prophesied for many years, it is difficult to watch it happen. In Alma 10, Alma quotes Mosiah by saying: “19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.”

Although this is a frightening thought, I do feel optimistic for the future. I know that the Lord loves and blesses the righteous (and those of us who are striving to be). In a subsequent verse in Alma 10 he states: “ 22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
23 But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.” Now is the time for us to step up!

The Brethren have been very clear in the last couple of conferences that the times that we live in now are those that have been prophesied of for many years. We are in the last days and the Savior will return soon. I get great comfort once again from the words of Alma found in Chapter 13. “25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
27 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;
28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.
30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.”

Verse 26 above makes it clear that “just and holy men” will be key in guiding us in the last days. How appropriate that General Conference is in a few days. May we all listen intently.