The Zoramites’ Problem
READ Alma 32:1-5
In what ways are these Zoramites
poor?
Poor as to things of the world.
Poor in heart.
Why is fine apparel necessary for
worship?
It’s not – while “Sunday dress” or the “Priesthood Uniform” may
be signs of respect for God, they often devolve into judging each other on the
“appropriateness” or the cost of the clothes.
In fact, the Lord would rather have a repentant people, which is
symbolized by wearing sackcloth and ashes.
And regardless, the physical clothes you wear have no connection
to the power of the light you have within you or your ability to reach through
the veil and transfer it from the spiritual realm to the physical world.
What does “poor in heart” mean?
Meek and humble (and possibility depressed or melancholy) but not
necessarily repentant and submissive to God, at least not yet… (see 2 Nephi
28:13; Alma 32:13).
They are poor in heart because of their poverty, not because of
godly sorrow.
They have low self-esteem because they are treated so badly (as
dross to be cast away) by the people of their ultra-materialistic society.
But they are worried for their salvation and don’t know what to do
or where to turn – as they can’t worship in the churches.
What does the phrase “our God”
suggest?
God as they understand Him to be.
That they are not interested in Alma’s “god” because they believe
that their understanding of God is correct and Alma’s is not.
Why might they be “despised of
all men” and “esteemed as dross”?
Because of their poverty.
Their religiousness and pride in being God’s only chosen people,
when combined with their focus on materialism is probably not a coincidence –
they may have adopted a Puritan perspective that is also found in other places
in the Book of Mormon that material blessings are proof of God’s favor (see 1
Nephi 4:14).
So, by extrapolation, if you are poor you are out of favor with
God.
And since their doctrine is about predestination, being out of
favor with God as evidenced by your poverty is not just due to your “laziness”
or lack of skills or brains but is because you were NOT elected by God for some
inherent, deeper, and uglier issues that you have – which means you are
despised and cast out as having no worth.
But you have to wonder how deeply they believed this – otherwise
why listen to Alma at all? God was
likely sending them messages regarding their inherent worth which conflicted
with what they were being taught.
READ Alma 32:6-12
Why does Alma ask them these two
rhetorical questions?
Note: the questions are regarding only being able to worship God
in a church building and only worshiping once a week.
He is pointing out to them that their concern (not being able to
worship God) is founded upon false doctrinal assumptions.
But he is doing it in a less confrontational way.
What wisdom is Alma offering to
teach them?
The truth about God.
Which, when learned and experienced, will free them from the
tyranny that the priests and wealthy are exercising over them in standing
between them and God, and damning them as a result.
Wisdom begins with understanding that worshipping God is a very
personal matter and God desires to have a very personal relationship with each
of them.
READ Alma 32:13:
Why might it be merciful for God
to permit or perhaps even inflict suffering?
If they can be humbled and converted through the things they
suffer, it will be worth it to them.
If they are driven to their knees in repentance.
If they see their weakness and cry unto the Lord for forgiveness
and strength.
Actually, they cannot know joy unless they also experience
suffering, so it is a prerequisite to receiving God’s greatest gifts anyway.
Are we blessed if we are humbled
against our wills?
No.
But we cannot be humbled against our wills – when afflictions
happen either we choose to be humble or we choose to harden our hearts and
ultimately curse God and die (see Alma 62:41).
Why are people blessed if they
are compelled to be humble only because of their afflictions?
Because at least they chose to humble themselves, albeit after
some external situation or event causes them to consider the choice.
And being humble enables one to be open to hear and accept the
word of God – to repent.
And if you repent you will find mercy and if you endure to the end
in covenant, you will be saved.
And if you are saved, by whatever route you take to get there –
knowing you must ultimately come unto Christ, who does the saving – it is the
same (see Matthew 20:1-16).
READ Alma 32:14-16
Why is it better to humble
oneself than to be compelled to be humble?
It shows that the desire of one’s heart is to believe God and His
word, and to follow Him – they are seekers.
It shows they are open, soft hearted, and teachable.
It shows that they are naturally submissive to God.
It speaks to the amount of light and intelligence they have within
them, which light they gained through diligence and obedience to God in a prior
life (see Alma 13:3-5; D&C 130:18-19; TPJS 391:2; D&C 93:12-14).
And perhaps it will help you to avoid some of the affliction required
to compel you to be humble.
Regardless, submitting to whatever the Lord will inflict upon you
is the fastest way to gain light and become what God wants you to be – you have
to trust Him and love Him with your whole soul, however.
Faith to Plant the Word of God
READ Alma 32:17-20
Why do signs, and the knowledge
that comes with them, follow belief instead of lead to it?
Knowledge is a confirmation of belief.
Knowledge is gained when God deems the person is ready to receive
it.
Knowledge is gained by experience – which in most cases requires
faith and belief.
If this was not the case, the knowledge would damn the person who
received it because with knowledge comes a higher required level of alignment
to God’s will, as the accountability is higher (it is the principle that leads
eventually to the plight of the Sons of Perdition, who have a perfect knowledge
of Christ and yet deny Him).
READ Alma 32:21
What is a perfect knowledge?
Perfect = finished, complete; fully informed (see 1828 Webster’s
Dictionary).
Knowledge = a clear and certain perception of that which exists –
of truth; illumination of mind; acquaintance with fact or a person (see 1828
Webster’s Dictionary).
New information is important but complete knowledge involves both
understanding (new information) and experience.
It is to know something completely through your personal
experience and beyond a shadow of doubt because of the enlightenment that
cannot be denied.
In this instance, it is to know the truth from God (the source of
truth) about God and to have experimented upon it in this world, which requires
faith.
What happens if you hope for
things which are not seen, which are untrue?
Your faith is vain.
Your faith cannot manufacture truth out of untruth.
You will lose your faith as your faith is proved to be false
through your experiences.
Truth destroys all falsehood, in time (and eternity).
Even if you believe that things are the way you think them to be with
your whole mind and soul, if they are not that way, your faith will not make
them true and your faith will ultimately be crushed as the truth is made known.
READ Alma 32:22-23
What are the prerequisites for
faith?
Humility (see v6, 16) – “I don’t know.”
An openness to the truth or “believing heart” – “I want to know.”
Hearing the Word - The truth.
So how can you find out what is
true so you can place your faith in it?
You must seek the truth – you must not only be curious but have
real intent or the desire to change if you discover new truth that requires you
to change.
You must hear the truth or Word.
You must experiment on it – you must act on the Word.
You must gain a perfect knowledge (of some things) through your
experience.
How does God impart His word unto
men, women and children?
He sends angels from His presence to teach them.
He sends true mortal messengers who give men His words because
they (the messengers) have been in His presence and have been given what to say
in a direct quote; “thus saith the Lord.”
What knowledge is gained from the
ministration of an angel?
The true message from God that they have been commissioned to give
you.
The existence of angels and supernatural entities.
Who receives the ministry of
angels and who does not?
Those who receive: men, women and children regardless of church
calling or level of righteousness; the humble.
Those who do not: the “wise” and learned; the prideful.
READ Alma 34:1-5
What is the real topic of Alma’s
sermon?
Whether there is a Christ or not.
That the “word” to be “planted” in our “hearts” is the message of
the condescension and saving mission of a Son of God.
What is Alma’s sermon preparatory
to?
Preparing them to actually conduct the experiment on the Word for
themselves.
Before someone can experiment on the Word, they must be prepared
by being given “the word”, which is the seed to plant the Word of God taught in
power and truth by one who possesses a “perfect knowledge” of it himself.
Before someone can experiment successfully on the Word their minds
must be prepared or their expectations set regarding patience and the process
of faith; how it grows within you from a small capacity to a great one – from
belief to a perfect knowledge.
READ Alma 32:26
Why can’t you know of the truth
of anyone’s words with surety at first, unto perfection?
We learn truth through experience; specifically, through
experimentation amongst alternatives which lead to various and sometimes
opposite or conflicting results.
A person’s testimony or words are anecdotal to the listener; they
can be convincing or persuasive but only to motivate the wise listener to take
action and prove the words for themselves.
They must have their own anecdotal experiences with God.
READ Alma 32:27-28
What is required to prove all
things?
Suspending disbelief long enough to experiment upon the word (see
John 7:17).
A desire to believe; which is not the same as actually believing
(see Helaman 6:36).
You just need to recognize that you don’t know everything (or much
at all, and everything you know is either incomplete or inaccurate to one
degree or another) and be willing to believe the Lord, no matter what He tells
you, including things He has not yet told you, some or all of which might
contradict what you think you know is true (see Ether 3:4-14).
Why does Alma make “desire” the
most important force in v27?
Because your desires will determine what you will do with this
“seed” Alma is giving you, and how diligently you will do it (see 2 Nephi
32:4,7).
What is the process of faith that
Alma describes?
Hope (in the traditional definition of the word – meaning a wish
or desire to believe that something is true or will happen).
Action/trial of faith.
Confirmation or proof through natural processes; God said
something would happen, faith was applied in the face of opposition, and God
was correct as the promised result occurred.
In this introductory stage of faith, what must the
person hope for?
Desire to believe that
something is true (32:27).
What is the action or trial of faith required?
Experiment by
exercising a particle of faith – to plant the seed in one's heart.
What is the "seed" to be planted?
The Word - the truth
that Jesus is our Redeemer and is the Son of an embodied God who is our father,
too; that He condescended to come to earth to atone for our sins and die; and
that He lives again today (see Alma 34:6).
Who plants the seed?
God plants the seed.
Our job is to “give
place” so that the seed has a place to be planted.
How does one "give place for a portion of the
Word?"
Listen to it with an
open mind.
Ponder it - think
deeply.
Pray about it
sincerely - with all the desire of your heart – “cry” unto the Lord.
Do not cast it out by
your unbelief – doubt.
Why might the seed not grow?
It is not a good or
true seed or...
It is cast out by our
unbelief or belief in falsehoods which constrain the truth and cause us to
resist the Spirit because it is attempting to teach us things which we already
"know" to be false.
How can we tell the difference if the end result is
that the seed did not grow?
We can examine our
hearts; remember the Parable of the Sower/Soils (see Matthew 13:3-9).
Were we truly, humbly
open to any possibility and were we actively seeking for truth or...?
Did we not care
enough to seek for the truth or...?
Did we already think
we had the truth or...?
Did we exercise faith
with real intent - were we willing to make difficult changes if the results of
the experiment required us to?
But at the last day,
when we stand before God with a bright recollection of all our deeds and a
clear understanding of the desire of our hearts, we will know at that day why
the seed did not grow within us (see Alma 11:43).
READ Alma 32:29-35
How does one know that they have received a
confirmation of the truth of the word?
The evidence is the
discernable increase in light and intelligence within the soul of the person;
it affects the thoughts and feelings, causing new thoughts and more refined or
godlike emotions to occur but it is not thoughts and feelings; it is hard to
verbalize but still REAL (32:35).
It begins to
"enlarge my soul, enlighten my understanding, be delicious to me"
(32:28).
Based on this
evidence, the seed is good or true (alive - it is doing something to you,
changing you, awakening you) - your hope that this is true has been confirmed
empirically (32:33-35).
What does it mean for a soul to be enlarged?
Enlarged = increased in
bulk; extended in dimension; expanded; augmented; released from confinement or
straits (see 1828 Webster's Dictionary).
To be made more than
you presently are; to be changed; to be expanded; to be sanctified; to be given
greater capability; to be given a greater portion of love - like when a couple
has a new baby and an endowment of love for that child is given to the parents
that wasn't there before.
To be added upon and
exalted (see Abraham 3:26); to be increased in capability and power such that
one can create, redeem, and be as the Gods (see D&C132:17; D&C 121:42).
What does it mean for understanding to be enlightened?
Enlightened =
rendered light; illuminated; instructed; informed; furnished with clear views
(see 1828 Webster's Dictionary).
Things that were
difficult to understand are revealed to the mind in a way the person could not
comprehend previously and had never before thought of (see JSH 1:74).
It is to see what you
could not see before - see meaning to comprehend and to see what is hidden in
plain sight (see Ephesians 1:18; D&C 76:12); to understand more – to have
increased in intelligence or light and truth.
It is to have great
knowledge given you by God (see Alma 24:30; Hebrews 6:4; D&C 6:15).
Why does Alma describe the word as delicious?
Delicious = highly
pleasing to the taste; sweetest to the senses; affording exquisite pleasure or
delight; most pleasing to the mind (see 1828 Webster's Dictionary).
The word and the
light that comes with it becomes something that the enlightened soul craves
because light cleaves to or is attracted to, light (see D&C 88:40-41).
Why does Alma say the soul begins to be enlarged
or understanding begins to be enlightened or the seed begins to
be delicious?
Faith is dynamic - it
grows or shrinks, so it must have a beginning and an end, which is perfect
knowledge.
Faith is a process
that is repeated again and again - faith may be perfect in one thing (i.e. the
Word is true) but not in all things, so it must begin again when other tenets
are proved.
Our capabilities are
dynamic as well - Christ Himself went from grace to grace and didn't have a
fullness at first (see D&C 93:12-14).
What do we learn about the seed
if we don’t cast it out?
That it is good.
That it is alive.
That it will grow.
That we will also grow if it is within us.
While God might plant the seed,
who must try the experiment and what is implied by that?
We must try the experiment.
God will not impose upon our agency – we must care enough to test
the seed by asking, seeking and knocking.
Having experimented upon the
word, what knowledge is now perfect?
The knowledge that the seed is a good, living seed, because it has
changed you and endowed you with more light and knowledge.
Is this real?
Yes, it is discernable.
Alma lays out the terms of the experiment: if you allow the seed
to be planted in your mind and heart, it will expand your mind and you will
comprehend spiritual things you never could understand before and had never
occurred to you in that way previously; and it will increase your capacity to love
far beyond the ability you had previously.
In other words, you have been changed but you did not change
yourself because you hadn’t the ability or understanding to do so.
If these things happen to you, the seed is good and the experiment
was successful, as per the instructions given to you up front – the experiment
is legitimate and the experience is real.
What does it mean to taste light?
Taste = to perceive by means of the tongue; to try by eating a
little; to have pleasure from or relish.
To partake of it by consuming it and taking it into your body,
after which it comes part of you – you become more light.
To enjoy the “flavor” of light – it becomes delicious and you want
more of it.
To discern that something is good or bad, by taking it into you
and trying it (see TPJS 398:2); does it increase you or poison you?
READ Alma 32:36-39
Why do we need to continue to
exercise faith once we know that the word is good?
Because knowing that the word or seed is good is just the first
step.
It tells us that any effort that we put into growing the seed
could be worthwhile as the seed is a living seed; meaning that if it doesn’t
bear fruit, it is down to us and not the seed.
Understanding that Jesus can save us is the first step in a long
journey back to Christ’s presence in this life – if we don’t know that, we
won’t continue the journey because it will be fruitless from the start.
If the seed is the word and the
word is Christ, what tree grows from the seed that is planted?
The Tree of Life (see Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2; 1 Nephi
8:10-12; 1 Nephi 11:7-25; Alma 32:40).
What is the fruit of the tree?
Christ and His gift of immortality and eternal life through His
Atonement.
Interestingly, fruit contains seeds that can be planted in others
and can bear fruit on this earth and in other eternities.
How do we nourish the tree?
We exercise faith – we believe Christ.
Our desire and capacity for spiritual things is strong enough that
we get root; we have attained to enough light/intelligence to withstand the
“heat of the day”; we have a “well of living water springing up within us –
which well is the baptism by Fire and the gift of the Holy Ghost… (see Matthew
13:18-23; 2 Nephi 22:3).
We are animated by the Holy Spirit and have become one with it
sufficiently to be able to nourish the tree in times of trial and “heat”.
What does it mean that one’s
“ground is barren”?
They don’t care/desire to ask – they are damned by their careless
indifference (see 1 Nephi 15:3 or 1 Nephi 11:1 and 2 Nephi 32:4 for the
opposite).
They don’t have the faith to ask (see 1 Nephi 15:7-9).
They harden their hearts with pride (see Alma 12:10-11).
Their minds are darkened through unbelief - believing things that
are false (see D&C 84:54).
They don’t have enough light/intelligence/spirit within them to
nourish the seed sufficient for it to grow within them as a result of
squandering past opportunities to gain light before the foundation of this
world (see Alma 13:3-4) and that trend or those decisions continuing in this
life…
It is not a result of them not being “spiritual people” because
they weren’t “born that way” – it is because they have chosen not to listen to
God (they will “not nourish the tree”) but follow their own way; because in the
beginning they were on equal footing with their peers and they have received
what they have chosen (see Alma 13:5; D&C 130:18-21; Alma 12:10-11).
What is the “sun” and can what
causes the tree to grow in our lives also kill it?
The “sun” is analogous to trials of life that test and grow our
faith, that force us to our knees and cry for mercy to God, that present
opposition and choices from which we can choose to be obedient and attain more
light…(See D&C 130:18-19; Alma 13:3-4; Ether 12:27).
Or which overcome us, as we are in jeopardy every hour we are on
this earth to lose what we have amassed so far (see 1 Corinthians 15:30; Alma
12:10-11).
READ Alma 32:40-43
If the fruit of the Tree of Life
is Christ’s gift of immortality and eternal life through His Atonement, what
does it mean that some people will never “pluck of the fruit”?
They will never awake and arise from the “deep sleep” they are in…
At least not while they can do something about it (i.e. while
living in a probationary state on a mortal earth away from God’s presence where
they can attain to further light and intelligence) …
Although they will experience regret like a lake of fire and
brimstone when they realize what they might have had but have wasted the
opportunity to obtain.
They are “damned” to repeat the cycle of the “deaths”, never to
rise up; but they do it to themselves (see D&C 132:21-25).
Why does faith require both
diligence and patience – why must we wait so long for the fruit?
Faith is about extending trust to God, regardless of the magnitude
of the trial (all things are possible unto the Lord – see Matthew 19:26) or the
time He takes to deliver us (laying down one’s life for His friends shows His
love for us - see John 15:13).
His work and glory is our eternal life (see Moses 1:39) but it
requires us becoming precisely as He is (LoF 7:9, 15-16), a Holy being without
any darkness (see 1 John 1:5), which requires us to obtain light through
obedience to commandments or aligning ourselves to be exactly as He is (see
D&C 130:18-21) and being purged of all darkness and dross or imperfection
through the refiner’s fire of affliction and sacrifice (see Malachi 3:2-3; LoF
6:7).
All this requires us to exercise faith by being diligent in keeping
the commandments or aligning our behavior perfectly with God’s and by being
patient in the meantime as He helps us gain the attributes and knowledge which
we can only gain outside of His presence as we make decisions between opposite
choices, in the face of affliction, suffering and death – while continuing to
be faithful to Him and love Him despite the sorrow of the mortal experience.
When is “by and by” and how far
in the future is it?
It is at the end of the natural growing season.
The “growing season” is our probationary period.
By and by means in the end, in time, in a while, in due course.
It must be in (a) mortality, though (see D&C 132:21-25).
READ Alma 33:1
How does one plant the word in
one’s heart, after having given place for it, and begin to exercise faith?
Step one is to desire to believe.
Step two is to read the scriptures or words of God – specifically
about our need for Christ, His atonement, His commandments and example, and
what we must do to come unto Him.
Step three is to pray about those words – to connect directly with
God with the intent of receiving a revelation regarding the truth of the words.
Step four is to repent of all one’s sins, to desire with one’s
whole soul to change.
Step five is to covenant with God – to offer one’s whole soul to
Him in return for the salvation He offers and the mighty change of heart that
will enable you to receive that salvation.
Step six is to align your life with His – to keep His commandments
and abide in the covenant you have made, be ministered to by angels and to
minister to others and relieve their suffering that you might be filled with
the love of God and sanctified with light.
Step seven is to receive a hope or promise of exaltation and to be
ministered to by the Lord Himself and sealed up to eternal life, then to do
whatever He commands you to do.
In all of these steps the process of faith repeats itself: a hope
or desire for the next step, trials of faith, and eventually a blessing which
acts as a confirmation of the faith exercised; and the connection between the
individual and God gets stronger as the veil gets thinner, until the person
obtains a perfect knowledge of God, which is eternal life.
READ Alma 33:2-11
What should the relationship be
between an individual, a Church and God?
The individual should connect with God directly through prayer
daily and build an actual relationship with Him.
The Church can provide guidance regarding how to connect with God,
including the administration of ordinances which are authorized invitations to
connect with God through covenant.
The Church also provides an opportunity to serve others – enabling
us to model the behavior that Christ would have us demonstrate.
The Church should never place itself between the individual and
God in any way; it should only be an enabler of that relationship – it is
interesting that Zenos says God has “heard my cries in the midst of thy
congregations” – God wants to connect with each of us personally and being in
Church is no substitute for actually connecting with God.
Why does Alma equate prayer and
worship?
Worship = the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being,
reverence or homage paid to Him in religious exercises consisting in adoration,
confession, prayer, thanksgiving (see 1828 Webster’s Dictionary).
Prayer = in worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being,
consisting of adoration or an expression of our sense of God’s glorious
perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness,
intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving (see 1828 Webster’s
Dictionary).
Prayer is a key vehicle for worship; it is a primary way that we
worship.
An Infinite and Eternal Sacrifice
READ Alma 33:19-23
What is the symbolism of Moses’
“brazen serpent” episode?
Covenant people wandering in the wilderness.
Because of rebellion/sin, they are fatally bitten by poisonous
tree snakes.
To be saved, all they needed to do was to “look” to the figure
lifted up on a pole.
But because of the easiness of the solution, they did not have
faith that it would heal them, so they did not look.
READ Alma 34:8-14
What is this "great and last sacrifice?"
The Atonement required an infinite and eternal sacrifice - the sacrifice of a God (see Alma 34:14)
The old religions of human sactifice required human beings to suffer to reconcile God to humanity.
In Christianity, God Himself (Christ) suffers and dies to reconcile humanity to Himself and His Father.
Why can’t one man atone for the
sins of another or his own?
Atoning implies reconciling a sinner to God (who cannot abide any
sin or imperfection).
An atonement involves suffering for the sins of another by being
made guilty of those sins and then being brought before a just and holy being
(God) to overcome those sins in His presence.
The wages of sin are death and the one enacting the atonement
submits to death – but as they lived a perfect life themselves, their suffering
and death is unjust.
This allows them to win the victory over death and hell (where the
spirits of the dead are trapped) and to come back from the dead to live again
in immortal glory.
Suffering an atonement (unjustly, as is always the case) entitles
the one enacting it to decree that all those they deem qualified will also be
saved as “perfect”.
But if one has sinned, suffering for one’s sins is just.
If one has sinned, the “wage” of sin is death.
To atone for the sins of another, the one who atones must be free
from all sin, such that justice and death has no hold over them; otherwise,
they could not win the victory over death as it would be just or fair for them
to die; overcoming death is key to enacting an atonement.
Because all men in this world but Christ have succumbed to the
effects of the Fall and have sinned personally, they cannot atone for the sins
of another as they are sinful themselves.
Man cannot atone for His own sins for the same reason, although he
can and will suffer for them if he does not repent (see D&C 19:15-20).
Why did the great and last
sacrifice have to be a Son of God?
Christ never sinned, so His death was unjust since the wages of
sin are death but He did not earn those wages.
When a man who should have lived forever is slain, something
infinite is taken – therefore the price He paid was infinite.
The law of justice was offended by His death and whatever justice
could demand from the fall was turned on its head – Christ had the right to be
resurrected and reclaim eternal life because the grave could make no justified
claim to keep Him.
This allows Him to make infinite intercession to reclaim and
restore His creation.
No one else could have merited this but a Son of God.
READ Alma 34:15
What is the intent of the great
and last sacrifice?
To bring about the “bowels” of mercy.
Whose mercy is intended to be
brought into play?
God’s mercy for us, as we cannot save ourselves (see Alma 36:18).
Our mercy on Him, who descended below all things taking upon
Himself the guilt of our sins or becoming guilty of our sins; He is trying to
touch our hearts (see 1 Samuel 25:24).
“We’re
not trying to reach God and touch his heart with OUR sacrifices, rather God is
trying to reach us and touch our hearts with HIS infinite sacrifice. The sacrificial Lamb of God who died on
Calvary WAS God.” (Stephen Robinson).
What is infinite and eternal
suffering?
Infinite or endless and eternal are names for God (see D&C
19:10-12).
Christ suffered all that a God COULD suffer.
Even Christ was sore amazed or astonished by the suffering (see
Mark 14:33).
He bled at every pore (see Mosiah 3:7; D&C 19:15-18).
If
you had sinned less, would Christ have suffered less?
No.
The arithmetic of the Atonement is not
finite or a cumulative amount.
It is infinite – all that a God can
suffer.
While
we cannot comprehend it unless we experience it, what do we know about this
infinite and eternal suffering?
Christ became sin for us – He didn’t
just pay the penalty for sin; in the Garden of Gethsemane, He became the
biggest sinner of them all, which is why the Spirit departed as it can’t dwell
in a sinner.
He descended below all things – He is
the lowest of the low.
He experienced all things – personally
or vicariously.
He knows good from evil because He has
experienced a fullness of both.
He learned how to succor us in His
extremity.
He suffered these things in the
presence of a just and holy being, His Father, and overcame them, thus
reconciling Himself and all who will come unto Him and learn (be succored), how
to do the same (see Isaiah 63:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Mormon 9:3-5; D&C
19:11-20; Luke 22:43-44; John 16:32; Alma 7:11-13).
He asks no one to suffer more than He
was willing to, which gives Him the right to ask us to suffer a little bit and
learn the first principles of how to become as God is – a Savior of others.
What
does Gethsemane mean?
Geth – press.
Semane – oil.
Jesus becomes the olives or grapes
that go into the press and His blood flows as He is pressed by the pressure of
the infinite atonement.
“God uses no magic wand to simply wave
bad things into nonexistence. The sins
that He remits, He remits by making them His own and suffering them. The pain and heartaches that He relieves, He
relieves by suffering them Himself.
These things can be shared and absorbed, but they cannot be simply
wished or waved away. They must be
suffered.” (S. Robinson)
READ Alma 34:16-17
How
does the Atonement satisfy the demands of justice and allow Christ to extend
mercy?
Justice demands that sins be punished
and sinners receive their wages, which is death (see Romans 6:23).
Through the Atonement, Christ took
upon Himself and was made guilty of all sin and corruption of any kind (see 2
Corinthians 5:21).
Christ was punished for those sins and
received the wages of sin, death.
Christ’s punishment and death was
unjust, as He had actually never sinned personally.
This allowed Christ to overcome sin
and death – He owns the keys to death and hell and can grant mercy to whoever
He chooses to.
He sets the terms by which He will
extend mercy – which is faith in Him, repentance and keeping the gospel
covenant.
READ Alma 34:18-27
Why
should we pray?
While it is good to pray to God for what
things we need, this is not the principle purpose of prayer. He said that if we
seek the kingdom of God, everything we need will be given to us (see Matthew 6:
33). God already knows what we need.
If asking for blessings isn’t the
principle purpose of prayer, what is? We can experience incredible growth with
God by focusing on communication with him rather than asking things from him.
The purpose of prayer is not about
telling God what we want, but getting God to tell us what He wants.
Submission to God results in answered
prayer because it results in requests according to the will of God, and the
Lord grants requests that align with His will.
What
are we to pray for?
To obtain God’s will for us; as successful
prayer asks only what God wants; we must inquire of the Lord.
Mercy for your soul.
Your household or family – mercy on
their souls and their welfare.
Your flocks and fields or livelihood.
Protection against your mortal enemies.
Protection against your spiritual
enemies or Satan.
To know the mysteries of God and a
perfect knowledge of Christ (see Alma 26:22; Jacob 4:12).
To know the truth of all things (see
Moroni 10:4-5).
To change your heart so that you
submit to his will – for God to affect your desires and soothe your soul.
When
and where are we to pray?
When: continually – either in vocal
prayer, silent prayer or your heart being drawn out toward Him or mindful
feelings of love for Him at all times.
We are to engage in a continual conversation
with God, when we are not actively engaged in another task.
Where: wherever we are – in your home,
at work, in your secret closets, in the wilderness.
Why
are many prayers ineffectual?
They do
not overcome the gravitational pull of the body.
Prayer
is a channel to God in the spirit, not the flesh.
Transitioning
from bodily prayer to spiritual prayer is a process that everyone must learn.
They are not inquiring of the Lord but
telling the Lord what they want.
They did not wait upon the Lord – it
may take hours or days of sustained prayers, or months or years of regular
prayers.
Wickedness; failing to align your life
with the laws of eternal light and being filled with darkness (which muddles
the spirit), as a result (see Alma 12:10-11).
Ignoring the poor and needy; a lack of
compassion for others.
Failing to first consult the words He
has already given in the scriptures.
A lack of real intent – not truly
wanting to commune with Him or not wanting God’s answer but your own will to be
done.
The lack of desired blessings in your
life is not a result of God’s contrary will, but of your contrary heart.
How
does one learn to pray in the spirit?
Find an appropriate place to pray.
Set aside special times to pray when you can be alone and
undisturbed.
Learn to focus and sustain your concentration (meditation can help
train you).
Learn to silence your mind; true prayer requires the Lord to speak
to you; He will reply to what you say and He will give you what to say; first
try to clear your mind for 5 minutes; once you have kept a clear mind for 5
minutes, try 15. Keep doing this until you can keep a clear mind indefinitely.
Stay still physically, as every movement risks breaking your
concentration; remember, one key of true prayer is to act exactly as if you
were in the presence of God, because that is your goal. In the presence of God,
you would be so transfixed by his beauty, glory, and goodness, that nothing
else would be on your mind. Your body would be frozen in awe and reverence.
Watch for the Lord like a sentinel; extend all of your awareness
toward sensing His presence coming to you or more actually, revealing His
presence to you, because He is already there but you cannot sense Him.
Once you feel His presence, silently wait upon Him as subjects
used to wait upon their King to notice and acknowledge them in ancient days.
Never cease seeking the Lord until you find Him, no matter what or
how long it takes.
God has placed within your hands the power to connect with Him at
any time, and in any place. Establishing that connection will dispel darkness,
fill you with light, open your spiritual eyes, and give you a sure knowledge of
His existence and His love for you. That power is prayer, and the principle way
to open the connection is through worship.
In summary (see Luke 6:12), we must first focus our minds on God –
we must find Him; then we must “knock” at the veil to be admitted into His
presence (whether we can see Him or not, at this stage); at this point we may
have to “wait upon the Lord” as a vassal used to have to wait to be
acknowledged by their king, even if it took a long time – this waiting upon the
Lord, in His presence, sanctifies you by proximity to His glory; when invited,
you may speak – worship Him with Spirit-inspired praise; ask to obtain His will
– inquire of the Lord until He answers you – this might require additional
waiting upon the Lord or it may be that He is waiting upon you; ask how you
might be a tool in His hand to accomplish His will on the earth.
Why must
we “wait upon the Lord”?
This process sanctifies you and prepares you for more significant
experiences with him.
Waiting on the Lord sometimes yields blessings that occur during
the process. There are several scriptural examples of God blessing someone who
was waiting on him. This includes the appearance of heavenly messengers,
hearing the voice of God, or the taking place of some other miracle. However,
the most common effect of waiting on the Lord is the turning of the heart
towards God.
Many times it is not just you waiting on the Lord, but the Lord
waiting on you; God builds our capacity to endure his presence by gradually
exposing us to him, with ladder-like cascading experiences, whether perceptible
or not; when Moses ascended Mount Sinai, he did not immediately come into God’s
presence. Instead, he waited on him in prayer for six days. It was only on the
seventh day that God spoke to him and brought him into heaven; the Lord wanted
to see him immediately, but six days of sanctification were required; what
would have happened if Moses, upon climbing up the mountain, decided that God’s
absence meant that he should quit and go back down?
If the Lord were to appear to you without acclimating you to His
presence, you would be consumed. Even if the Lord appears without glory, as He
can, you will still be overwhelmed. Your immediate reaction will be to say, “it
is enough Lord!” as you feel as if you will die.
Sometimes we are not yet focused enough; sometimes we are not yet
humble enough; sometimes God is waiting until we are ready to obey what He
needs to tell or show us; sometimes there are delays caused by workings in the
spirit realm.
Waiting on the Lord prevents you from being tempted; it makes you
more humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love, and long-suffering; it
brings about deliverance; waiting on the Lord brings peace and power in God.
There is a reason that the Lord Jesus spent so much time in prayer
during his mortal ministry. As Jesus waited on the Father, the Father’s glory
recharged His spirit to the point that He could radiate it to the world
throughout the day.
We come to know God through waiting on the Lord: “Be still, and
know that I am God.
Why
should you continue to wait upon the Lord if it seems like nothing is
happening?
Don’t judge with your natural eyes; Keep praying.
Your goal is to pierce through the veil each time you offer your
morning prayer. It takes time to do that, both in terms of number of sessions
of prayer (as you learn to quiet your mind for longer and longer periods of
time) and in each individual session (as you refuse to quit until the fire is
lit).
Waiting on God is like boiling water. You can’t see what is
happening until the water suddenly breaks into a boil.
Even if you do not receive any communication, you are still
changing.
The very act of waiting on God makes you more holy, because you
are exposing yourself to God’s glory. Don’t give up! Our attitude ought to be
like Habakkuk’s: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and
will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am
reproved.”
What
is the relationship between worship and prayer?
Worship means to hold someone in high
respect by showing reverence and awe while bowing oneself to the ground.
Worship is a behavior and an attitude, both confined to prayer. All worship is
prayer, and most effective prayer is worship.
What John sees in vision is the true
order of worship: they fall down before the Lord Jesus; they sing to Him; they
celebrate His eminent acts in spirit-led praise; they celebrate the works,
goodness, and glory of the Lord Jesus.
Worship is the key to opening the
connection to God. Real worship is the consummate focus on and enumeration of
God’s goodness.
How
and why should you worship in prayer?
You’ll typically have to kick start
the process by focusing your mind and heart on the goodness of God, producing
your own worship. The glory of God quickens us when we speak of the goodness of
God.
When you do this, the Holy Spirit will
flood you because when your heart focuses completely on God’s goodness, your
whole body fills with light (see Luke 11: 34). You move from a lower state of
awareness to a higher state, where your perception begins to be quickened by
the Holy Spirit. You’ll be given what to say.
When you achieve this, you will be
completely focused on what you are saying, not on what to say. In real time,
you will be producing praise as rich and beautiful as anything in the Psalms,
but customized to very specific things in your present life. You become lost in
it. When you achieve this, you’ll notice how real worship is like waking up
from sleep as your physical presence fades and is replaced with the brilliant
richness of the Spirit. Worship takes us into a holy place.
When you arrive at the quickened state
of worship, and you have praised God with everything that the Holy Ghost has
told you to say, you have entered into the holy place where God resides, and
you can continue with the rest of your prayer with special access to God. We
ought to include this kind of worship in our prayers. In fact, we ought to
begin our prayers with this kind of worship every single time we pray. Praise
and worship create heaven-piercing humility. They open the door to access to
God.
When we focus our efforts on
worshiping God, and wait to make any requests until after we have entered the
holy place, we will achieve efficacy in our prayers.
Worshipping God is not a matter of
sweet-talking Him into doing what you want. Worship fills us with His glory.
When we are in that quickened state, we are more in tune with His will, and the
Holy Spirit will tell us what to say. It is a tangible, immediate way to
supercharge our faith. Praising God reminds us of just how good, merciful,
holy, and just He is. Recounting the characteristics of God can also stir us up
to greater trust in God, causing us to recommit ourselves to serve him.
What
constitutes a legitimate answer to prayer?
Not feelings but transcribe-able
information; you must be able to quote God, as God speaks to us as one man
speaks to another, through the Holy Ghost that is within you.
How
are prayers routed to heaven?
Many prayers remain unanswered because
we choose to ignore what the scriptures reveal about that mechanism, and replace
it with the traditional naïve construct of treating prayers to God like a
wishing well. The routing mechanism is
akin to how sacrifices were routed in the temple.
Like the priests on earth, heavenly
beings add independent, more holy offerings to your prayers.
We do not see them routed through the
heavenly authorities. We do not see the Lord interceding for us with the
Father. So why do the mechanics matter? The reason this process is critical to
understand is so that we know the criteria for success and can engineer our
prayers to be successful every time we offer them. At any stage, the prayers can be rejected.
How do your prayers get past heavenly
beings? What causes them to support your cause?
Our requests are amplified by heavenly beings inasmuch as we are true
and faithful in all things.
In spite of the channel through the
angels, there is also a channel directly to the Lord because the keeper of the
gate is the Holy One of Israel; and He employeth no servant there; and there is
none other way save it be by the gate; for He cannot be deceived, for the Lord
God is His name. (2 Nephi 9: 41).
It is important to realize how prayers
ascend to heaven so that you can ensure that yours do.
Why
does God not answer all of our prayers – even if they are His will?
Some prayers go unfulfilled in spite
of them being God’s will because the supplicant is not yet ready to receive
them.
All blessings correspond to certain
levels of commandments, and until a person has obeyed the corresponding
commandments, it would be a curse to bestow the requested blessing.
Often, requests for blessings are
answered with a test from God so you can see for yourself whether or not you
will obey Him.
We tend to think we are better than we
are. Tests are a gift from God to help you discover your self-deception – your
true status before Him.
READ Alma 34:28-30
What
is the relationship between a personal relationship with God and a relationship
with others?
Proactively loving, serving, blessing,
teaching and relieving the suffering of others is how we show God we love Him
because we are actively doing His work and glory which is enabling the
immortality and eternal life of man (see Matthew 25:31-40); when we love others
we are loving God (see Mosiah 2:17).
That said, if we listen to the Spirit
enough to serve others but do not follow the promptings of that Spirit back to
God’s presence, we will be damned by our careless indifference (see 2 Nephi
32:1-7); we serve others because we love God and want to keep His commandments
(see John 14:15-21).
There is a balance and connection between
the inner spiritual life and the life of service; but if there is a conflict in
time or priority, Christ seems to indicate that spending time being tutored by
Him is the most “needful” thing (see Luke 10:41-42); perhaps this is because
service can be done for other reasons than because you love God, while
connecting with God will lead to appropriate levels of service and sacrifice
for others (see LoF 6)?
READ Alma 34:31
How
long does it take to be forgiven if one TRULY repents?
Immediately! No time at all.
When it comes to forgiveness of sin,
Christ is a “first watch God”.
READ Alma 34:32-35
Why can no “labor” be performed
to “improve our time” and become prepared to meet God after this life is done?
The spirit that possesses your body at the time of death will have
power to possess it again in the eternal world.
If you have not repented and are not redeemed (brought back into
God’s presence in the flesh – see Ether 3:13), you are subject to the spirit of
the devil who does seal you his because the Spirit of God has withdrawn from
you and has no place in you.
When we are back in God’s presence the opportunity to live by
faith, to be tried, afflicted and to sacrifice in a world where death and
suffering are a real possibility, to be out of God’s presence where sin can be
practiced or rejected, where light can be gained by obedience to God’s
commandments in the face of the Adversary’s temptations, is no longer available
– whatever light we have accumulated in such a mortal probation is ours but
gaining more does not seem to be possible while in God’s presence because the
test is over.
READ Alma 34:36
How does the Lord “dwell” in the
hearts of the righteous or “holy” temples?
Via His Holy Spirit or the Light of Christ – which is God’s power,
light or glory – and is within and through all things and sustains life (see
D&C 88:6-13) and is how we become one with Him (see John 17:21-22; D&C
35:2).
The idea that Christ Himself dwells in our hearts is a sectarian
notion and is false (see D&C 130:3; John 14:23).
So, to conclude this section, Amulek provides a beautiful
description of what the “seed” is that we must plant – it is Jesus Christ’s
infinite and eternal sacrifice, intended to bring about mercy while meeting the
demands of Justice. This is the “Word”
which must be planted in our hearts. For
further reading about some of these concepts, I would highly recommend that you
read Seek Ye This Jesus by Robert Smith.
Putting the Craft in Priestcraft
READ Alma 35:3
What does it mean to “destroy
their craft”?
The Zoramites had reinterpreted the scriptures to their own ends
to make themselves look good.
“Destroying their craft” is done when the light of truth shines on
falsehoods, publically and completely debunking them.
The Zoramites were sworn to oppose this as it would destroy the
society which was built on these falsehoods, which means that they were
opposed, by definition, any attempt that a true prophet would make to teach or
expose people to the truth.
READ Alma 35:5-6
Why did the priesthood leaders
hold quiet focus groups and surveys to discover the minds of the people?
They needed to remain popular to stay in power – even though they
had already decided on a course of action, they wanted to find out how it might
be received by the people.
They were not receiving direct revelation from God, which does not
depend on the voice of the people and in many cases is not popular with the
Church members.
