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