God’s work will not fail. But our efforts to hep with His work sometimes seem to fail – at least, we may not immediately see the outcomes we hope for.
At times we might feel a little like Alma when he preached the gospel in Ammonihah – rejected, spit on, and cast out. Yet when an angel instructed him to go back and try again, Alma couragely “returned speedily” and God prepared the way before him.
In Alma’s case, an angel commanded him to return to Ammonnihah to preach the gospel even though the people there had already violently rejected him (Alma 8:14-16).
What do you learn from Alma’s example of sharing the gospel despite challenges and opposition?
- Alma teach us to pray fervently for the people of those whom we would like to share the gospel with in Alma 8:10:
10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.
- Alma teach me to be humble and care deeply for the people in Alma 8:14:
14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:
- The angel taught Alma and me to do not allow others decisions to destroy my own joy and it is my agency and others agency to choose and it is important to understand that our prayers or doings cannot overrule another person’s agency as it is the gift from Heavenly Father to all of His children.
Alma teach me despite the difficulty of the command, Alma “returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah”. President Howard W. Hunter taught that the Lord loves such obedience: “Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel”
18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.
- Alma teach me to Fast for the people. Fasting often indicates to the Lord the seriousness of our request. President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught: “At times fasting is appropriate as a strong evidence of our sincerity. … When we fast we humble our souls, which brings us more in tune with God and His holy purposes”
26 And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken me in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted many days.
- Alma teach me, I should take the Holy Spirit as my guide in Alma 8:30:
30 And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
Which verses in Alma 8 increase your desire to share the gospel?
There is a verse which is significantly increase desire to share the gospel, which is at Alma 8:15, which is “ Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.”
This verse teach me that if we keep God’s commandments, then we will have reason to rejoice, regardless of our circumstances. I remembered that there is a talk from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talking about a doctrine of truth that:
“… It says again and again that we are going to be blessed for our desire to do good, even as we actually strive to be so.
Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. If you fall, summon His strength. Call out like Alma, “O Jesus, … have mercy on me.”7 He will help you get back up. He will help you repent, repair, fix whatever you have to fix, and keep going. Soon enough you will have the success you seek.”
Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You
By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
March 2016 General Conference
It is the same as when Alma trying his best to preach or minister to the people of Ammonihah, the angel said that Alma had reason to rejoice because he had been faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
What can we learn from Alma about obeying the Lord “speedily” (verse 18) even when it might be difficult?
If we respond quickly to the word of the Lord, He will help us fulfill His commandments.
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