LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If you have already determined – the answer to a question – it will always make – any contrary answer you are given – more difficult to accept!!

NEIGHBORS

In chapter 16 of the Book of Alma we read that the Lamanites invaded the lands of the Nephites, and either ironically or justifiably destroyed the city of Ammonihah. Ironic because of the commonality of beliefs the Lamanites shared with the peoples of Ammonihah and justified because the people of Ammonihah had thrown the converts to the truth among them into a fiery pit. Peace was quickly restored under the leadership of Zoram and Alma and Amulek were able to resume their mission.

And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews. And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons, continually.

And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.

And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—

That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.

Now those who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be.

And now after the church had been established throughout all the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people—thus ended the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. (Alma 16: 13-18, 21)

While reading about the profound success Alma, Amulek and all the others who were called to preach unto the Nephites during those early years of the reign of the judges and their unbelievable success (even though it only lasted for a brief span of years), I was moved to ponder about how infrequently such profound results occur.

Because their missionary efforts resulted in the church being established throughout the land and blessings of the Lord being poured out upon the people, an evaluation of the message which Alma, Amulek and others preached in its purity unto the Nephites is definitely merited.

They were to preach repentance.

They were to preach without any respect of persons.

They taught that if there was no inequality among them the Spirit of the Lord would be poured out upon the face of the land.

They taught that the result of unbelief in the word would be destruction.

They taught that those who received the word with joy would enter into the rest of the Lord.

They taught about all the negative characteristics which needed to be eliminated from their daily walks.

During an earlier phase of my life I was able to enjoy a number of fascinating speeches at Brigham Young University. The speakers were not given any other indicators of what to speak on other than if this were to be their ‘Last Sermon’ what would they say.

My pondering upon the words of Alma and having been reminded of the wonderful messages I heard during those ‘Last Sermon’ lectures I was moved to wonder what my own last sermon might be. (I also immediately had the thought pass through my mind, I hope these will not be my last words).

A potential outlined of my ‘Last Sermon’:

Coming to understand that one of the major points of the Savior’s Good Samaritan parable was that we were not to put qualifiers upon who is our neighbor, but we were to become a neighbor after the manner of the Good Samaritan.

Jesus the Christ demonstrated the characteristic of the Good Samaritan neighbor through His Atonement which was lovingly ministered to all.

It will be through conversion to the universality of the kinship of mankind that we overcome the familial dysfunctions which plague the world.

We will only become converted to the universality of the kinship of mankind when we allow the Spirit of the Lord to awaken a remembrance of the days when we listened together at the feet of our Heavenly Father.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate lying and deceiving from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate envying and prejudice from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate strife and criticism from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate malice and hatred from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate reviling and bearing false witness from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate lying and deceiving from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate stealing and robbing from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate plundering and murder from our relationships.

If I truly believe everyone is my brother and sister it will be easier for us to eliminate adultery and lasciviousness from our relationships.

If my relationships with my brothers and sisters are no longer plagued by these negative characteristics it will be easier for us to act peacefully with one another.

If my relationships with my brothers and sisters are no longer plagued by these negative characteristics it will be easier for us to act lovingly toward one another.

If my relationships with my brothers and sisters are no longer plagued by these negative characteristics it will be easier for us to universally minister to our neighbors.

My prayer this day and always is that we will all be moved to become the neighbor who understands the universal kinship of mankind and try to emulate the example of He who is the Good Samaritan neighbor to all.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

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

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Every answer to every question – seems to give birth – to a multitude of offspring!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It is dangerous – to become so comfortable in the blessings you have received – that you feel you – no longer have need of further blessings!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

It could be stated – that every revelation – received by Joseph Smith during his life – was another answer to the question he asked in the Sacred Grove!! – which was – If any of the churches are true??

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Whether we are asked to serve – or – if we seek someone to serve – it all counts on the ledger – of having been in the service of God!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

The most important service – at any moment – will always be – the one that fills a neighbor’s need!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Asking what kind of service – is greater than another – is probably a question – based on very limited understanding!!

HAPPINESS

I started preparing to write a Thought this morning by reading in The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma, chapters 14 and 15. These chapters contain Alma’s report of the final days of his mission and the events which transpired as he ministered with his companion Amulek in various cities of the Nephites.

As is usually the case when I read or hear the words of missionaries reporting on the wonderful changes which happen in the lives of Heavenly Father’s children when they become converted to living the principles of the Plan of Happiness, it wasn’t very long before my mind started to reflect on the personal journey I have been taking while attempting to inculcate the principles of the Plan of Happiness as part of my being.

When I was a child

I am not one of those who has the ability to recall in vivid detail the early years of mortality, but what I do remember of this period of my life is that my personal happiness was a paramount quest of every day.

As I reflect back my goal was probably the right one, but my understanding of what constituted happiness was very convoluted.

Happiness was: Having my wants and desires met by others quickly with no questions or discussion required.

Happiness was: Having a minimum of chores to do which left the majority of each day’s hours for my personal fun and adventure.

Happiness was: Eating what I liked and never having to worry about what it was doing to my body.

Happiness was: I will just conclude this section by saying that when I was a child, happiness was all about me!

When I was a teen

The events of my life during this period come to me in less of a fog and many of them I can still see with great clarity in my mind’s eye.

There is little doubt that I carried many of the thoughts about what constituted happiness from my child period of mortality into my teen period, but I also know that there were some additional understandings of what happiness is which began to enter into my evaluation of that state of being.

Happiness was also: A feeling I got when I could tell I had contributed to one of my family or friends having happy feelings.

Happiness was also: The way I felt when I was able to share or give even if my own wants had not yet been satisfied.

Happiness was also: Finding satisfaction when my father told me I had done a good job of mowing the lawn or weeding the flower beds. I am not sure if I ever felt this happiness when doing the dishes or vacuuming the carpets.

Happiness was also: Coming to the realization that real happiness only comes when it is a shared condition, happiness is really about us.

When I was maturing

During the last two teen years of my life two very significant events happened which abruptly altered the way I viewed what it meant to be happy. The first was the day after graduating from High School I was on a bus to Fort Ord, California, to spend six months doing basic army training, being trained as a clerk typist for the army and working as a clerk typist in a basic training unit. Upon returning home and after wasting a couple of semesters at Santa Ana Junior College, the second life altering event happened. I was called to be a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to serve in the Northern Mexico Mission.

During the first of these two life altering events of my life my understanding of happiness was altered in the following ways.

My understanding of happiness included: Having a regimented and scheduled, orderly life.

My understanding of happiness included: Knowing that rules and regulations are beneficial and can be life saving.

My understanding of happiness included: Knowing that there are many ways of being taught the lesson that following commands should be done expeditiously and immediately to the best of one’s ability.

My understanding of happiness included: Coming to understand that following commands and directions was a good thing, happiness is really about obedience.

During the Second of these two life altering events of my life my understanding of happiness was altered in the following ways.

My understanding of happiness included: The real beginning of my journey of having faith in Jesus Christ and that His gospel is the true pathway to happiness.

My understanding of happiness included: The depths of feelings which can come when your ministerings have aided a sister or brother in their own quest for happiness.

My understanding of happiness included: The wonders which accompany witnessing the changes and happiness which come to those who choose to follow Heavenly Father’s Plan.

My understanding of happiness included: The path that one is walking upon will ultimately be the determining factor in our degree of happiness, happiness is really about faith in the Lord Jesus the Christ.

As I have spent my days working and wearing out my body

Although, as I begin my ninth decade of life I am still going through the process of maturing. I also recognize that those post mission decades have included some other interesting shifts in my understandings of what constitutes the true state of happiness.

Eternal happiness comes because: You find the one who accepts your invitation to join in the work and in the process of changing me and thee into everlasting we.

Eternal happiness comes because: You are given the privilege of being appointed to labor in various corners of the Lord’s vineyard.

Eternal happiness comes because: The Lord opens the gates of laboring in many different types of ministries in His Kingdom.

Eternal happiness comes because: As you come to the understanding that since the body and the spirit have a symbiotic relationship, if you allow your body to occupy your efforts towards perfection you will be burdened with thoughts and actions of always trying to overcome some telestial failing.

Eternal happiness comes because: As you come to the understanding that since the spirit and the body have a symbiotic relationship, if you allow you spirit to occupy your efforts towards perfection you will be occupied with thoughts and actions of always trying to put on an attribute or characteristic of Godliness.

Eternal happiness comes because: Just as the Law of Moses was a school master to bring us unto Christ, overcoming the telestial yearnings of the body are but a prelude to desiring to become like your Heavenly Father.

Eternal happiness comes because: As the ancient Apostle John declared, God is Love. Therefore, our achieving everlasting happiness is dependent upon our becoming creatures of love..

I will not burden you with an account of all the reasons I was prompted to write this Thought for a Sabbath Day, but let it suffice me to say, that as I continue in my hobby of people watching I am struck with the view of the many paths we take trying to fulfill our desire to be happy, while ignoring the one path which has been plainly marked by our loving Savior Jesus the Christ.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

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

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If vain is the same as nothing – how can we overcome vanity??

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If all who were burdened with pride – were to be stripped of that weighty costume – there would be a lot of nude people – walking around!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If jealousy – or – pride – keep us from gleaning knowledge – from one another – we have added an additional curse – upon our heads!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

If everyone were to return – to the land of their origins – all of the earth’s inhabitants – would be crowded into a small portion – of the earth’s surface!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I don’t think – there would be many volunteers – if we were given the choice – to return to the lands of our ancestors!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I don’t think – there would be many volunteers – if we were given the choice – to return to the good old days!!

UNTO EVERY NATION, TONGUE AND PEOPLE

Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory. (Alma 13: 22-24)

There is no doubt that as my days have lengthened it is true that I have, as some have accused me, become more and more (Paul-E-Anaish) as my belief in a God of love and mercy has dramatically increased and my rejection of a god of fear and retribution has all but been eliminated. In spite of what others might think, I personally prefer to believe that the gospel or the good news has softened my heart and broadened my hope for myself and my brothers and sisters whose sojourn upon this earth was of but a few or of numerous days.

I have spent many hours pondering: what seems to me to be an unequal distribution of the words of angels given to just and holy messengers (Alma 13: 26) who declare these glad tidings among Heavenly Fathers children.

I have spent many hours pondering: if in fact all nations have equally received the plain truths brought forth by angels, why was it necessary for Jesus the Christ after His resurrection to go and preach and institute the great missionary work among those in Spirit Prison who had perished at the time of Noah.

I have spent many hours pondering: why, if the gospel is equally available in every strange land, latter-day prophets talk of anxiously anticipating the day when they can participate in the great missionary work being done among those who have left mortality.

I have spent many hours pondering: if the fullness of the Savior’s Atoning Sacrifice covered not only those who had had their hearts prepared and who had received the word, but also those who were too innocent to be held responsible, along with those who were covered in the cloak of ignorance and I have even pondered about those who fall into the category of being deceived through the craftiness of men.

I have spent many hours pondering: while doing sealings for children and couples on both sides of the veil whether their worthiness for receiving the blessings being pronounced were initiated by angels during mortality or while they were learning in the Post Mortal Spirit World.

I have spent many hours pondering; why even among those peoples who have been highly favored in that they have heard just and holy messengers declare the words they have received of angels, do they continue to error and do not come to an unified understanding of the truth, but contend over the word.

Although I do not even pretend to have eternal definitive understanding of God’s knowledge of my ponderings, I do find I like the person I have become, who in his porch sitting days, has become far less likely to point the finger at his neighbor’s faults and far more likely to feel compassion for their cause and broader in my desire to understand their plights.

I have come to a deep conviction that Alma’s proclamation that every soul will hear the words of gospel sung by angels and delivered by just and holy messengers can only happen to every nation, tongue and people if we include all the phases of our existence.

As we learn in Alma’s concluding words in this 13th chapter of his writings, no matter when or by whom we receive the gospel there are requirements which come upon us if we are going to receive the promised blessings.

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; 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; 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.

As I read these closing words of Alma:

I am filled with Joy that I have had the privilege of being among those unto whom much has been given during my physical probationary period.

I am grateful that I have felt an increase of the promises made to those who watch and pray that they will be led by the Holy Spirit, helping them to an increase of humility, meekness, submissiveness, patience, love and long suffering.

Although I have little hope in my ability to gain perfection and completeness in these attributes while in my mortal body, I have faith that I will have the help of angels and messengers in the Spirit World for ages after I am no longer sitting and swinging on the porch.

I daily become more convinced that the last day spoken of by Alma is that time when the Lord declares our probationary time finished not by some arbitrary change from one phase of our existence into another, whether we refer to it as a death from our pre-mortal state to life in our mortal state or death from our mortal state unto being born unto eternal life, we will continue to hear, understand and strive to perfect His word in us until He says it is finished.

I pray the Lord will bless us to do now those things we know to do, search to know what more we can know and have sufficient charity to allow all our brothers and sisters to labor in the vineyard they have been given until we unitedly are laboring once again in the vineyard of the Lord.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

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

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Cultural changes – always seem easy – to those who never have to make them!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Smart phones – never exceed the abilities – of their users!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Just because I may have allowed an action – to become a habit – does not mean – I need to give it a permanent status – as part of my being!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

I have wondered – which would be easier – or – more difficult – depending upon one’s perspective – becoming an empty nester – having children who never leave home – o – having children return home after having left??

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Fathers – and – mothers are often surprised – to discover – that parenting doesn’t end when they become empty nesters!!

LIFE'S LESSON LEARNED!!

Becoming empty nesters – may be the final test – of a couple’s compatibility!!

PRIESTHOOD HELPMEETS

During my life I have gone from being a determined goal setter, to being a casual goal setter and finally arriving at the blissful non goal setting stage of my life.

Some years ago, maybe in the year 1962 when I was still a determined goal setter, I set the lofty goal of earning a Doctorate degree. The goal was lofty since my pre mission college experience was far from stellar. In fact, because of my total lack of dedication to being anything near a student I was barely able to recover my grade point average just in time to qualify to enter the program for my masters degree.

The reasons for my effectiveness as a student are not difficult to understand. Serving a mission in Northern Mexico had changed my attitude about the process of study from negative to positive, but the main reason the results in my classes went from ‘unauthorized withdrawal’, C’s and an occasional A in such non academic classes as volleyball to multiple A’s, is that Kathleen N. Wootton agreed to become my eternal companion.

From 1962 – 1977 while she was giving birth to 6 children, taking on the major part of caring and nurturing them, moving eight different times and going through a major social economic shift when I changed from being a journeyman lather to a full time CES seminary teacher and Institute teacher/director, she managed to help me acquire bachelors, masters and doctors degrees from Brigham Young University. The word help is very inadequate in describing the contributions she made to the obtaining of those degrees. I would have to make this a two part Thought if I were to attempt to exhaust the list of the ways she supported these achievements while working on her own goals.

These background paragraphs are necessary if you are going to understand what verses 1 – 9 of chapter 13 of the Book of Alma mean to me personally and hopefully will give the readers something to ponder on this Sabbath Day.

And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.

And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things—Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end—Thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.

If you understood the extreme change which I underwent concerning goal setting, you will not be surprised as I attempt to explain the profound difference my understanding of priesthood is as I begin my ninth decade of mortality from what it was when I was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.

I don’t think it would be all that beneficial to reveal the understandings I had as a 12 year old boy, so I will spend the remainder of this Thought trying to manifest where I am today in my understanding of what priesthood is.

I beg your forgiveness if I seem to ramble as I present the following concepts.

I know there was a reason Alma spoke the words he did, at the time he spoke them, and to the audience he was addressing, but the blaring absence of any mention of women while talking about the principle of foreordained eternal priesthood and the significance of them pertaining to mortals would be as much of a glaring misrepresentation as if I were to try to convince someone that I achieved those college degrees without the support and aid of Kathleen.

When Adam and Eve were sealed by Heavenly Father in the Garden of Eden, He pronounced Eve to be the helpmeet of Adam. He could have just as easily pronounced Adam to be the helpmeet of Eve, because the original meaning of the word was ‘the other half of a whole’. From the very beginning both Eve and Adam were given the understanding that neither could become complete nor perfect without the other.

Paul declared that ‘neither was the man without the women, nor the women without the man in the resurrection’. One of the reasons the sacred name Elohim is expressed in the plural rather than the singular Eli, is that the revealed word teaches us that Heavenly Father cannot be God without Heavenly Mother, nor can Heavenly Mother be God without Heavenly Father. We revere our Eternal Mother and desire to honor Her, but because we do not want Her name to be made common among the children of men in the same way other references to Deity have been made ordinary, we obediently refrain from addressing Her directly or singularly. During the latter days of my mortality I seldom think or refer to my Heavenly Father without thinking of my Heavenly Mother.

One of the joys of continued revelation is that of late we have been instructed regarding the difference between priesthood offices and priesthood power. All covenant keeping persons as well as all who have faith have access to the power referred to as priesthood. Since God is not an author of confusion He has instituted a system of order in His Kingdom. There are men and women who are set apart to do the ordinances of salvation. There are men and women who hold the offices of presidencies. There are some offices which are reserved for women and some offices which are reserved for men. There are some offices which can only be participated in when both a man and a women hold them jointly. We have been further instructed that priesthood power is dependent on worthiness and faithfulness, while offices need to be conferred upon a person.

Although with little effort I could continue to ramble about where my understanding of priesthood is at this time in my life, I am pretty sure I have provided enough to stimulate at least a little pondering for this Sabbath day. Besides, with the rapidity which the Living Prophet is revealing the mind and will of the Lord to us in these latter, latter days our understanding about the priesthood of Elohim will probably shortly be expanding.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

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

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Artificial intelligence – is useless – and – dangerous – in the hands of thoughtless people!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Having the ability to think – doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent – to keep us from being thoughtless!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Sadly – most thoughtless acts – we do to one another – are of the unkind variety!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

Thoughtless – is undoubtedly a very good word – to describe – many of our actions!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the most frequent things we do – which is a way of voluntarily giving up our Agency – is when we allow others – to determine our level of happiness!!

LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED!!

One of the first meaningful steps – a person takes – in their journey – towards becoming a teacher – is when they begin to care – more about what the students – are getting out of the lesson – than their own personal gratification!!

POWER OF THE WORD 2

If you have trouble remembering why there is a shifting of subjects while you are reading this continuation of the Thought I started last week, a quick review of the introductory paragraphs will help you get back on the roller coaster we are riding.

Many year’s ago I read a short story by Gerald Lund about the interview we might expect to undergo when we stand before the judgement bar to be judged concerning the days of our mortal probation. The phrase which has always stayed with me from his story was; as a man was relating his few charitable acts he inquired ‘doesn’t that count?’ and the reply he received was ‘every thing counts’.

As we continue the interchange between Alma and Zeezrom we find Alma verifying to Zeezrom that indeed ‘everything counts’.

14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God…

It has been somewhat of a surprise to me that years not only mellow fermented liquids but likewise can have a mellowing affect upon humans, especially if they are put in the right environment and are given positive reinforcements.

Since I have been blessed with having spent the majority of my days in a wonderful environment with a constant flow of positive reinforcement, I find the latter days of my mortality to be full of peace, joy and love. It would be easier for me to relate to this last referenced verse if it read; For our words will reward us, yea our works will reward us, we will be found spotless, and our thoughts will also reward us, and in this wonderful state we shall dare to look up to our God…

I think we need to consider the audience Alma had in the city of Ammonihah before we think ill of the negative way in which he presented the event of our reuniting with our Heavenly Parents. I believe in a congregation of repentant, ministering saints he would have spoken words of encouragement rather than condemnation.

I also think we need to be grateful to live in a day when the living Prophets of God teach mostly of a merciful and loving Heavenly Father.

Our hearts have barely recovered from the joy which filled them as we witnessed the conversion of Zeezrom when one of the chief rulers in Ammonihah, a man named Antionah, takes upon himself the role of chief adversary. He questions the validity of there being such a thing as eternal life, since the Lord had sealed reentrance to the Garden of Eden in order to prevent Adam and Eve living forever.

23 And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar, for he said: If thou eat thou shalt surely die.

24 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

25 Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken.

26 And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they
would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect.

27 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto men that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end.

The excitement of my advancement from being a freshmen in high school to being sophomore was very short lived since I soon learned that the word sophomore meant one who was a ‘wise fool’. It was further explained that with only a bit of knowledge one could easily find themselves being pretentious and falsely confident in the beginnings of their pursuit of knowledge.

By the lack of understanding demonstrated by his question we are left with little doubt that Antionah was sophomoric in his understanding of the gospel, whereas Alma spoke with the understanding which comes to one who sincerely seeks to know the truth.

Because we are all mostly in a sophomoric state when it comes to knowing the mind and will of our Heavenly Father, Alma gives us the following greater understanding about how our lives should progress.

28 And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;

29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.

30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.

31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—

32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.


33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

Since Agency is so essential to our progression, we need to rejoice if we are among those who have the privilege of being among those to whom the messages of angels have been made available and we should pray to have our souls quickened to the desire to invite others to come unto Jesus the Christ and partake of his words of redemption.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

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