SCRIPTURAL TREASURES

Whenever the question comes up in a class which is studying The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ about the theme of chapter 32 of the Book of Alma, almost without exception the first response will be the ‘principle of faith’.

Limiting this chapter to the single principle of faith is much like saying that Einstein knew the names of the planets surrounding the sun.

Just a quick rundown of the multiple principles which Alma teaches in this chapter would include the following.

A person should never be judged whether they will accept the invitation to come unto Christ by the size of their bank account or the cut of the cloth which covers their bodies.

Many times there is a relationship between being impoverished and being poor in heart.

Being poor or lowly of heart are words Alma uses to increase our understanding of the principle of humility. These are used in contrast to those who have hearts filled with pride or loftiness.

Whatever our economic circumstances might be, unless we become humble or poor in heart there is little chance we will accept the invitation to come unto Christ.

Worshiping God is not dependent on having a certain place, nor a specified time to worship.

It is a good thing if one is compelled to be humble and it results in their accepting the invitation to come unto Christ.

It is a better thing if one becomes humble without being compelled and accepts the invitation to come unto Christ.

The degree of humility one might have will be demonstrated by their desire to repent.

When the humble person repents they will feel the mercy of God fill their souls.

When the humble person repents they will enjoy the blessings of God.

The humble person who repents will be blessed unto the believing in the word of God.

If the humble person continues on the path of being humble, repenting of their sins, believing in the word of God, partaking of the mercy and blessings of God and endureth unto the end they will be saved.

There is a difference between having knowledge of a thing and having hope or faith in that thing.

When we have knowledge of something and are not obedient to that which we know we will be cursed.

It is an act of mercy of God, that He keeps most of us on the level of going through life not having knowledge, but acting on the basis of hope or faith.

We will be judged by the level of hope and faith we have obtained through our humility and according to our works based on that degree of faith and hope.

Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen , which are true.

Once having become humble and begun the repentance process I must come to believe in His name.

Along with believing in the name of God, I must begin and continue to believe in His word.

The word of God comes to his children in mortality by angels sent from God.

If we receive the word of God from angels we will have the power to confound the wise and the learned.

When we receive the words of God given to us by angels or one who has received them in such a way, we will not know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

When we receive the word of God we should experiment upon it by exercising a particle of faith, desiring to believe, letting that desire work in us until we give place for a portion of His word.

When we have received a portion of His word, it is like a seed which has been planted in our heart, which unless it is cast out by unbelief or through resisting the Spirit of the Lord, it will begin to swell and enlarge unto the enlightening of our understanding and the strengthening of our faith.

Every seed of the word which we nurture unto enlarging bringeth forth other seeds unto its likeness and thus we learn line upon line.

Our mortal minds can begin to be enlightened unto understanding, leading us to have a perfect knowledge of a principle of the gospel.

Once having received a perfect knowledge of a principle of the gospel, my understanding of the responsibility which comes with an increased accountability should give me cause to be faithful.

Having received the light of knowledge on one principle of the gospel should not cause us to imagine that our knowledge is perfect or complete.

No matter how abundantly a seed has enlarged, even though it may have become a mighty tree, failing to continue to nourish or neglecting it at any stage of development will cause it to be scorched and wither.

The nourishing of whatever seed we have received must be done with diligence, patience and always looking forward to the fruit which will come.

God promises that if we have nourished the seed and it has matured through the light of heaven unto a magnificent tree bearing fruit, we will find the fruit to be most precious, sweet above all that is sweet, white above all that is white, pure above all that is pure and we will be filled that we hunger not, neither will we thirst.

What a wonderful treasure awaits us when we lay aside the appropriate yet shallow traditional thoughts or answers to oft repeated queries and enjoy the bounty found when we search the scriptures.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO + HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE + INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY = THE GOOD LIFE❣️