Seeking for Understanding Breaks Down Walls

Alma, the younger did not live a perfect life. In fact, he was one of the vilest of sinners before he found God. In his younger years, he and his friends purposefully tried to lead people away from the Church of Christ. It took an angel to wake him up to God's reality and to how Alma had been wasting away his life.

This tells me a few things about God and a few things about Alma. First of all, it shows to me the power of God's love. Heavenly Father loves us so much. Even when we are making foul choices, He still wants to help us. He still cares for us and wants to provide us with His spirit. He knows it's not too late for us to change and improve ourselves. It's lake Elder Uchtdorf's talk "The Point of Safe Return." There is no point of no return. God anxiously awaits the day He can have us in His arms. He longs to comfort us and to be there for us, but we must open the door and turn to Him. We can repent, we can change, we can improve. We have to make the choice so to do. Alma is proof of these statements.

I truly feel that Alma is a better missionary and friend because of his harried past. He is a good missionary because he has experienced sin. He understands what it takes to repent and change, and because of that, he is not judgmental. Because of his experience, he didn't judge Zeezrom. Instead, he saw Zeerom's potential of gospel growth and taught him the gospel. Zeezrom then became a missionary himself. We can all learn a lesson from this story.

Now, I am by no means encouraging sinning in order to understand those around us. We will sin whether or not we try. I am, however, encouraging all of us to be better at understanding those around us. It feels good to be understood and loved. It feels good to know that you are not being judged by those around you. As we strive to truly understand our family, friends, spouses, neighbors, coworkers, we will know better how to serve and love them. Our lives will be happier and less contentious as will the lives of those around us. Seeking for TRUE understanding can break down walls and build bridges.

Trusting in Church Leaders

As I was reading in Alma 14 a few days ago, I had a thought come to me that I'd like to share. Sometimes it can be difficult to trust in church leadership. You may not agree with a bishop on the way things are run or don't think he is qualified enough. There are many reasons why it can be hard to trust in God's choice for the callings chosen in a ward, stake, or even in general callings. But, Heavenly Father puts people into those callings for a reason. It may be for those people to grow, and it may be for those around them to grow (or hopefully both!). When we raise our hand in church on Sunday to sustain someone, we are agreeing that we will support this person and trust in his/her leadership role in our ward.



Now on to Alma and my thought: Alma and Amulek had been preaching in Ammonihah like they had been inspired to do. It didn't seem like they were making a dent in the people there. After much effort and preaching, they were thrown into prison by many unbelievers. Additionally, those who actually had believed on Alma and Amulek's words, were being martyred for their faith. Alma and Amulek were forced to watch those they had taught be burned at the stake. They were taunted and goaded about their beliefs. As they stood there witnessing this horrorific death of men, women, and children, Amulek asked Alma if they could stretch forth their hands and exercise the power of God to save the people from the flames. But, Alma replied that the spirit kept him from doing that and he went on to explain why. Don't you think it was hard for Amulek to continue standing by his church leader as he watched those people calling out gut-wrenching, agonizing screams? I do. I think it definitely would have been hard to continue listening to Alma, even if he said he was doing it because of the spirit. But, Amulek listened nonetheless and he did so in faith knowing that Alma was a leader of Christ's church.



If Amulek could listen in such a troubling situation, don't you think that you and I can learn from his example? Sometimes we may not always understand why church leaders do certain things, but the beautiful thing is that we ALL have access to personal revelation. We can ask Heavenly Father to allow us His peace of mind, if it be His will. We can ask Heavenly Father to know that these leaders have been called of Him and take comfort knowing they are guided by our Father in Heaven.

(Of course, there may be exceptions to this, but in general, we should trust and sustain our church leaders in their callings.)

Listening to Spiritual Impressions

The Lord speaks to those who are prepared to hear Him. He does it through His Holy Spirit. Generally, His voice is quiet and peaceful, and if we don't turn down the noise of everyday life, we might miss out on beautiful guidance and blessings in our lives.

How many times have you or I missed inspiration from the Spirit? How many times have we heard and not obeyed? I have an example of just such an experience.



A few year ago, one of my close friends (and boyfriend at the time) had been praying and fasting about a particular topic. He was seeking an answer that he wasn't willing to listen to. After fasting on one Sunday in July, he felt received a VERY distinct answer to his searching. However, rather than heed the answer he KNEW he had received, instead he disobeyed and went down a path of his own choosing. The Spirit was trying to lead him out of temptations' way. Because he didn't listen, he ended up in some very bad situations which took him some time to recover from spirtually and otherwise. Additionally, he told me during this time that he knew the Spirit was not speaking to him, not only because he rejected a clear answer he got, but also because of choices he made due to the rejected answer. His choice affected not only his life, but my life and others' lives as well.



Thank goodness there are also many positive situations in which the reverse is true. Reading in Alma this morning, just such a situation was brought to my attention. In Alma chapter 8 Alma, the younger, goes to Ammonihah to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people. He is rejected and leaves the city. On his way out, an angel of the Lord came to him (the same one who had come to him when he was leading people away from the church)to tell him to go back to Ammonihah and to preach there. Now, this was a much more OBVIOUS way of Jesus Christ to speak with him. We most likely won't have an angel come to us and tell us what we are to do. But, Alma listened, even though he didn't know what the outcome would be. He listened to what he was told and, more importantly, did it. He took action. Because of his faith and action, Heavenly Father blessed Alma with everything he would need in order to convert many people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He affected many lives positively and converted and baptized many people as well.

Are we listening? Are we willing to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, no matter the cost? The many things we are called to do may not be easy, but, through faith, Heavenly Father will always provide a way for us to accomplish His commandments. Our Father in Heaven loves and is aware of you and of me. I know that as we act in faith to follow His Spirit, we will be guided and blessed beyond anything we can imagine. I have seen this power many times in my life. I'm grateful for it.

Kingly Selflessness

King Mosiah was a righteous king. He worked the land with his own hands to provide sustenance for himself and for his family. Through his position as king, he did not seek power or gain. He was not puffed up in pride. He had a firm testimony of Jesus Christ and his faithful prayers (coupled with Alma's) enabled an angel to appear to his sons. He was a good man.

As King Mosiah neared the end of his life, he realized it was time to prepare and choose a new king. Because of his sons' conversion to the gospel, they all would rather serve missions than to be king. King Mosiah is left with a dilemma. I am awed with how he handles this dilemma.

Mosiah recognizes the potential problems in this situation: If he chooses someone outside of his family, his sons could potentially come back someday to steal the kingdom from the other king, trying to rightly claim the throne. Additionally, he sees that maybe having a king isn't such a good idea after all. One person ruling the entire nation means that the nation could fall prey to a wicked king, like they did in the past. Mosiah decides to stop potential sin before it even starts. He decides to implement a system of judges after having the people vote on it. He truly was a wise, selfless king who thought only for the good of the people and not for himself. He was going to die anyway and wouldn't see what would happen during the reign of the next king, but he loved his people enough to set up a system that would hopefully work for, not against, them.

I see the need to learn from Mosiah's wise counsel. Mosiah stopped sin before it even started. He learned from his own and others' past mistakes and chose a different path. He recognized a potential problem and sought to keep a way from it ever happening.

I know that there have been times in my life where I knew a problem was likely to arise if I put myself in a situation. Yet, I went into that situation anyway. And the problems did arise. And I had to deal with them! How much better would our lives be if we listen to the spirit, if we kept ourselves out of potentially sinful situations. It is better to avoid temptation and sin altogether than to put ourselves in a situation where we know we might sin.

Writing Blesses Others

As I was reading in Mosiah last night about how Alma and his followers make it back to Zarahemla. Mosiah shared with the people the records that Alma had kept from the time he left Zarahemla until the time he returned (this record included many hardships, including being in bondage to the Lamanites and then miraculously escaping from the Lamanites). As Mosiah read these records to the people, this was their response:

"And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his peole were struck with wonder and amazement. For they knew not what to think... when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God." Mosiah 25: 7-10

Keeping those records and sharing them at an appropriate time increased everyone's faith and testimony. It is important to remember that those records weren't perfect and Alma did not only share positive experiences, but especially negative ones. Those hardships provided faith-building experiences that Alma couldn't have received otherwise.

What does this tell us about our own lives and experiences? We have been asked many times to keep journals in one form or another. Journaling doesn't necessarily mean for us to detail our entire day or to share only positive experiences. It means that we share faith-building experiences that may lift up ourselves as well as others.



Elder Eyring shared a talk about finding ways to remember God's kindness in our lives in the October 2007 general conference. He said that he writes in a journal everyday. A few years ago, he gave copies of that book to his children. It has helped them to come closer to the Lord and to know of Elder Eyrings testimony. May we also be able to do this for ourselves and our posterity. I know that as we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives, we will be more grateful and will be more positive. Others will see and benefit from this positive action in our lives.

Enjoying General Conference

As I was listening to the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today, I was overwhelmed with the love I feel towards the God who has provided us with His wonderful church. I know that this church is true. I know that those prophets, apostles, and general authority that bore testimony today did so out of love and gratitude for the same gift I have. They are God's leaders He has chosen for His church during this time.

I've waited for weeks to hear their words. I'm so glad for the uplifting messages I've been able to hear. I'm grateful for the answers to prayers that God has provided for me. I know that I will live a better, happier life if I abide by the principles set out in today's conference session. If you didn't get to hear conference today, you can do so here.

I enjoyed all of the talks today. Here are a few that stood out to me. First, President Monson. I know that he is a prophet. I loved the fact that he introduced conference today by speaking first in the morning session. He loves us, he wants the best for us, he is praying for us. He is God's prophet on the earth today. I'm so thankful for that knowledge.



Secondly, I appreciated the openness and candor of the real-life experiences from Elder Joseph Wirthlin's life shared during his talk. I truly want to abide by the principles of when the going gets tough, just laugh! I've been thinking about that concept lately and it was something I really needed to hear.



The next talk that comes to mind is Lawrence Coburn (can't quite remember the last name) whose knowledge and use of the scriptures in his talk astounded me. He obviously studies the scriptures and used them to support his testimony througout his entire talk. I loved his fervor and ZEAL for the gospel and for the redeeming power of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His passion for Jesus Christ was evident in every word he spoke. I only hope that I can live my life closer to Jesus Christ as a result of his talk.

And last, but certainly not least, I loved Elder Bednar's talk.



Elder Bednar has meant so much to me over the past eight and a half years. He is the reason I went to BYU-Idaho (long story that involves meeting him and me telling him I was going to BYU not RICKS COLLEGE). I have spoken and met with him in various capacities over the years through leadership at BYU-Idaho, because of my exceptional academic standing, as well as during MANY FHE meetings throughout my time there. I love his testimony. I love when he speaks. I have learned so much from him during devotional talks and meetings over the years. Before he was called to be an apostle, I had a spiritual prompting that he was going to be called and I was fortunate enough to actually be 20 feet away in the conference center when he was announced as an apostle. I feel very fortunate to have had these experiences and this witness that he is an apostle chosen by God to serve us during this time.

His talk today about prayer was presented in a unique way. God prepared the world spiritually before he created it physically. Elder Bednar likened this idea to us, saying that we, too, need to prepare ourselves spiritually before we can go out and create our day. I loved that principle. It shows us that even God prepared and took time to research and think every aspect out! (Boy, am I grateful! If he didn't work out the kinks spiritually before he created us physicaly, some of us could have 3 eyes and 4 noses.) It is important for us to remember this principle and that even God did his homework. How much more must we take time to prepare spiritually for what lies ahead of us!

Additionally, Elder Bednar talked about connecting our prayers from morning to night. Make them meaningful and show our gratitude. These are basic principles, but presented in a new light brought this epiphany to my soul. I know that when I am close to my Heavenly Father through prayer and love, I am happier and kinder towards those around me. I'm so grateful for this knowledge and opportunity I have to improve myself and my life!