They Began to Be Offended

It's true the word of God can be strict and challenging to follow. It's also true dividends are paid in the past, the present, and the future.

" . . . the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and . . . they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word . . . " Alma 35:15

An Infinite Atonement

The big questions are:

• Who are we?
• Where does this life take us? and
• What truths help us navigate the journey well?

" . . . there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world . . . and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal." Alma 34:12, 14

Your Burdens May Be Light

Plant a tiny seed of the word of God in your heart.
Feed it with the faith of action.
Continue as the seed turns into a tree.
Your burdens will become light through his Son, Jesus Christ.
You can do this if you will.

"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith, And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will." Alma 33:23

Give Place for a Portion

Faith starts with a simple desire to believe.

" . . . even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my word."  Alma 32:27

Their Souls are Precious

What could be more essential than knitting one's soul to the Savior Jesus Christ?

"Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee." Alma 31:35

I Always Knew

In the heart of every man, woman, or child resides an innate knowledge of the Creator.

" . . . I always knew that there was a God." Alma 30:52

According to Their Desire

In the end, and mostly even in the middle, we get what we desire and decide.

" . . . I know that (God) granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. 
Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience." Alma 29:4-5

The Light of Christ

The Boston Marathon killings and the response of heroes surrounding those killings remind us that the light of Christ can pierce the depths of evil.

" . . . and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing--sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life." Alma 28:13-14

Perfectly Honest in All Things

Perfect honesty requires being honest with everyone, even yourself.

" . . . they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end." Alma 27:27

In His Strength

When weak people become instruments in God's hands, they can do unimaginable good in the world.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things;" Alma 26:12

His Words Are Verified

Not a good idea to question whether the Lord comes through on details of his word.

" . . . (the Lord) had also verified his word unto them in every particular." Alma 25:17

Burying Weapons of War

The Anti-Nephi-Lehites buried their weapons of war after their conversion to the gospel because they had made a covenant with the Lord to refrain from murdering Nephites again.

Currently, the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution securing the right for citizens to keep and bear arms is being challenged. It is said by many that our nation would be safer without them. 

I disagree.

OK . . . I admire the Anti-Nephi-Lehites who willingly prostrated themselves on the ground before their enemies and met their deaths rather than break their covenants with the Lord. But law-abiding U.S. citizens aren't criminals, and they don't commit murder. They aren't and shouldn't be expected to willingly abandon their right to keep and bear arms in order to literally or figuratively prostrate themselves upon the ground, offering themselves or their families to criminals and demagogues out of an altruistic and ridiculous notion that the absence of weapons produces peace. 

" . . . and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace." Alma 24:19

Lay Down Weapons of Rebellion

Want God on your side? Stop rebelling against him and fighting people who are trying to help you.

"For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren." Alma 23:7

Giving Away All My Sins

I'd like to know God, but how do I give away all my sins? 
One at a time.

" . . . I will give away all my sins to know thee . . . " Alma 22:18

Liberty of Worshiping

One right that distinguishes free people from those in bondage is the right to worship God according to their desires.

"And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in . . . " Alma 21:22

The Strength of the Lord

The way to access the strength of the Lord in all things is to demonstrate in all our thoughts, words and deeds that we are his disciples. 

". . . I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things . . . " Alma 20:4

No Desire to Do Evil

Changing our minds is common. It many cases, it can be easy.
Changing our hearts and our desires . . . not so much.

" . . . and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing--that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil." Alma 19:33

He Knows All

We often speak and act in certain ways because people hold us accountable for our words and deeds.
Since God also knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart, and since words and deeds get their start in thoughts and intentions, it might be a good idea to put a little more thought and intention into our thoughts and intentions.

"And Ammon said: Yea, and (God) looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning." Alma 18:32

Search the Scriptures Diligently

Studying the scriptures is one thing.
Searching the scriptures diligently is for those who yearn for answers to life's compelling questions.

" . . . what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God." Alma 17:2