Day 66: Alma 30

"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve..."

“…the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Nephi 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon is similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Apr. 1975, pp. 94-95)

“One of Satan’s frequently used deceptions is the notion that the commandments of God are meant to restrict freedom and limit happiness. Young people especially sometimes feel that the standards of the Lord are like fences and chains, blocking them from those activities that seem most enjoyable in life. But exactly the opposite is true. The gospel plan is the plan by which men are brought to a fullness of joy. The gospel principles are the steps and guidelines which will help us find true happiness and joy.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 357)

Day 65: Alma 27-29

“I believe that every Latter-day Saint who has received a testimony of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged has this same feeling that Alma had--a desire that all the world might hear the testimony of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When men and women receive a testimony of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, they are anxious that all the world should have that same knowledge and faith. They are anxious that the gospel should go to every honest soul. And there is no other labor in all the world that brings to a human heart, judging from my own personal experience, more joy, peace and serenity than proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. - President Heber J. Grant

“True spirituality helps us to achieve balance between being too content with our present self and the equally dangerous human tendency we might have of wishing for more enlarged and impactful roles. Alma said, ‘But behold…I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.’ However, note the often ignored, but tutoring, verse that follows: ‘Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?’ (Alma 29:3,6) To develop that kind of justifiable contentment to better use our existing opportunities—is obviously one of our challenges, particularly so when we seem to be in a ‘flat’ period of life. We may feel underused, underwhelmed, and underappreciated even though we are ignoring unused opportunities for service all about us.” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Notwithstanding My Weakness, pp. 115-6)

Day 64: Alma 26-27

No matter where we serve, are we doing all we can to further the work of the Lord? Is anything more glorious than to see a child of God immersed in the Spirit of the Lord? Even to the "encircling about with the matchless bounty of His love"?

We are about the Lord's work. We cannot fail! Opportunities may be challenging, but the Lord will give us the strength if we but open our mouths. As Ammon states in 26:27 "..we were about to turn back, the Lord comforted us..."

One of the most important verses of these chapters is 26:30 "And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving SOME soul..."

What are willing to do for that one soul..?

Day 63: Alma 24-25

Part of the repentance process is restitution. If restoring that which was lost is not possible, such as life, then we must do all we can to ease the burdens and bless the lives of those wronged. In addition, we must cast aside those tools that reminds us, and could very well tempt us, of the sins we have committed.

Here, the converted Lamanites, Anti-Nephi-Lehies, make a covenant with God to never lift the sword against anyone ever again. Much like these people, so we have our weakness tested to see if we truly buried our "weapons of rebellion" deep in the earth.

"In abandoning sin, one cannot merely wish for better conditions. He must make them. He may need to come to hate the spotted garments and loathe the sin. He must be certain not only that he has abandoned the sin but that he has changed the situations surrounding the sin. He should avoid the places and conditions and circumstances where the sin occurred, for these could most readily breed it again. He must abandon the people with whom the sin was committed. He may not hate the persons involved but he must avoid them and everything associated with the sin. He must dispose of all letters, trinkets, and things which will remind him of the "old days" and the "old times." He must forget addresses, telephone numbers, people, places and situations from the sinful past, and build a new life. He must eliminate anything which would stir the old memories." Spencer W. Kimball The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.171

Day 62: Alma 22-23

This is no trick indeed, but you are halfway though The Book of Mormon! Tis a treat to daily read and study. Especially as we read of King Lamoni's father and his desire to give up all his sins to know the Lord, and repent of his sins. But did this happen by mere happenstance? No! A young missionary opened his mouth and shared the Gospel message with boldness and love.

"…Each of us has the sacred responsibility to proclaim the gospel. The Savior's commandment applies to all members of the Church, not just to full-time missionaries or to returned missionaries. We each have the responsibility to follow the Spirit when it prompts us to share the gospel so that others can come to follow the Savior.

We must act when the Spirit speaks! It [is] God's message, brought to [our] mind by the Spirit of the Lord." (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Finding Peace in Our Lives, p. 241)

Open your mouth to all those around. You never know who will respond.

"Walk to the edge of the light, and perhaps a few steps into the darkness, and you will find that the light will appear and move ahead of you." - President Harold B. Lee

Day 61: Alma 20-21

This is not a Halloween trick - tomorrow you'll be reading through the halfway point in The Book of Mormon!

With no more desire to do evil, many of the Lamanites under the kingship of Lamoni begin the transformation to fully obeying the word of the Lord. But the work has only begun. Ammon and Lamoni in route to save his brethren in another land, run into the King over the entire Lamanite people - Lamoni's father. Coincidence? No. But great promises are about to be fulfilled.
In the process of arguing with Lamoni's father regarding Lamoni and the recent events, the father is angry with Ammon and attempts to slay him. Ammon delivers a signature blow to the arm, but restrains from completely cutting it off. So we must all remember in our own lives - when we share the gospel with others, we do not want to completely sever their faith and hope. We are to build upon their beliefs and bring to the knowledge of the fullness of the truth.

Because Ammon was merciful, and had great love for the Lord and His work - he recognizes the great danger of seriously hurting the king over the whole land, Just as well, he recognizes a great opportunity for a potential investigator.
As we go about today, we are watched by many people - in and out of the church. Do we represent the Lord in all we do? Or by our actions cause a larger gap to form between an individual or group because of the things we say and do? Much like Ammon probably prevented a war between the Nephites and Lamanites by sparing the life of the king, so we can avoid backlashes against the Church by being true and faithful, ever hearkening to the voice of the Spirit.

Day 60: Alma 18-19

“Another special challenge we face from time to time is having good motives and good intentions—and even good actions misfire. Abish, the ‘Lamanitish woman’ (Alma 19:16-17), was not the first nor the last Church member to think an opportunity to be present and, therefore, to act on the impulse to do good. Confusion and contention followed her deed, as did tears from conscientious Abish. Vindication was nearly immediate in her case, but it is much slower coming at other times.

If our motives and actions are good, we should be able to endure some misunderstanding, but the pain and frustration of it will be real because we really care. Time and truth can cause lower courts of opinion to reverse themselves, hopefully soon. But if not, we will come to that final gate where Jesus Christ is the gatekeeper and ‘he employeth no servant there.’ The gospel guarantees ultimate, not proximate, justice.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 115)