POWER OF THE WORD 1

As I opened my scriptures to chapters 11 and 12 of the Book of Alma it didn’t take me very long to realize that since a lawyer named Zeezrom was involved, this week’s Thought would end up being different than most.
I didn’t even try to find a central theme and build around it, since when dealing with lawyers of Zeezrom’s type before his conversion one has to expect to be tossed to and fro by winds of attempted deception and confusion.

Therefore, if you decide to read today’s Thought, you need to expect to be on a mental roller coaster journey with many twists and turns and with varying themes.

In order to create at least a sense of continuity before getting into the exchange between Alma and Zeezrom we need to be reminded of Amulek’s stirring testimony as he ended his discussion with this cunning lawyer which had a softening effect upon the barrister.

39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;

40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else…

41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works…

45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.

46 Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble.

A missionary doesn’t have to be laboring in the vineyard of the Lord very long before they gain the understanding that when companions support one another with the bearing of sincere and powerful testimonies there is a strong synergetic effect which multiplies their words by more than a factor of 2. By the time Alma begins to speak in chapter 12 of the book of Alma, the mighty testimonies which he and his companion have already borne have started to affect Zeezrom physically and the process of conversion to God and His servants has begun.

1 Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done...

3 Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit…

6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.

7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.

Anyone who has had the experience of watching the effect of the power of the word borne by sincere testimony, has probably also watched the change come upon someone from having a spirit of adversity to having one of sincere inquiry. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to those who have enjoyed these sacred moments, that as Zeezrom’s heart begins to soften and he begins to be teachable his accusations turn to sincere questionings.

8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?

9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.

It probably took longer than it should have for me to come to the realization that the process we call learning has more to do with the receptiveness of the student than the abilities of the teacher. I know I spent too many years believing I could put on an entertaining show which would fill students with the desire to drink in the words of the performance. During those years I was never ever able to understand why some of my students seemed to have so little interest and in fact there were even those who preferred visiting with their friends or napping during my performances!

Since I spent a vast portion of my life in the role of a teacher, it was a career changing time of my life when I realized effective teaching comes not by what or how words are presented, but it was dependent on whether the student had been stimulated into having a self-interest about the words which were being spoken.

It should not surprise us that in almost every advancement we have of coming to know the mysteries of God, it will not be dependent upon God’s willingness to give us his word, but upon our willingness to heed and diligently seek for his words. Just as during my teaching career I had students who left classes with no new learning or even with less than they entered the class with, Alma informs us that gaining more understanding of the gospel is not determined by God’s willingness to impart His word, but upon our willingness to receive His word.

What a sad thing it would be if when we return to our Heavenly Home, we came to the realization that because we had been unwilling listeners, we were returning to our Heavenly Parent’s with less understanding than when we departed for our earthly mission.

(To be continued)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

PEACE + JOY + LOVE + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY = THE GOOD LIFE