Bearing Down in Pure Testimony

Alma 4:19-20 ". . (Alma went) forth among his people . . that he might preach the word of God unto them . . seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony . . according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy."

Pure testimony must mean testimony that has been etched in the heart.

How Do We Recognize Evil?

Alma 3:16 "And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed."

In today's world, labeling people by their outward appearance is discriminatory and inaccurate. Our methods for recognizing and avoiding evil must be different from those used in Book of Mormon times. We must daily seek help through obedience to the commandments, prayer, scripture study, and holding fast to the Word of God.

The Wisdom of the World

Alma 2:1 ". . a certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world . .

The wisdom of the world is one thing and the wisdom of God is quite another.

It's Popular to Persecute Christians

Alma 1:19 ". . whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ."

Persecution of Christians didn't start in our day and won't end until the Second Coming.

Has 'The Time' Come?

Mosiah 29:27 "And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you;"

It seems every day the 'voice of the people' gets louder against Christianity, The Constitution, and traditional family values. When will 'the time' come for the 'judgments of God', or is it already here?

Share God's Love With Others

Mosiah 28:3 "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish;"

When we begin to understand the love of God, we want to share that love with his other children.

He Remembers Every One

Mosiah 27:30 ". . he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all."

God created us. He knows everything and still loves us. We are not invisible. There is no place to hide.

Today is the Day

Mosiah 26:30 "Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me."

Tomorrow is a gamble. Today is the day for repentance and forgiveness.

Anguish Isn't Arrogance

Mosiah 25:11 ". . when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls."

Yearning for the happiness of others isn't the same as harboring feelings of superiority.

Freedoms of Religion and Speech

Mosiah 24:11 ". . and (Amulon) put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death."

The battles for religious freedom and free speech didn't start, nor will they end, with US.

Who Can We Trust?

Mosiah 23:14 "And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments."

There are still people who can be trusted. Search for them and more importantly: Be one.

Behold the Back Pass

Mosiah 22:6-7 "Behold the back pass, . . on the back side of the city. The Lamanites . . will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass . . when they are drunken and asleep."

It is sometimes possible to win a war by intelligently avoiding it.

Because of Their Iniquities

Mosiah 21:15 "And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities;"

The Lord blesses us when we change. And real change takes time.

When a Prophet Speaks

Mosiah 20:21 "For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against us--and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?"

When a prophet speaks, it's time to listen and repent.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Mosiah 19:20 ". . they were angry with (King Noah), and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire."

Boomerang.

Repentance, Redemption and Faith

Mosiah 18:7 ". . And (Alma) did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord."

Acting in faith shows that we are ready to change our ways and receive Christ's gift.

What Would I Do?

Mosiah 17:20 "Abinadi . . suffered death by fire; . . because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."

What would I do for Jesus Christ, who suffered death by crucifixion for me?

When Is It Too Late?

Mosiah 16:12 ". . having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not;" 

Some say, "It's never too late to return to God." Yet God's Word says someday, sometime, it will be.

Publishing Peace Today

Mosiah 15:16 "And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!"

Everyday Christians publish peace today through examples of thoughts, words, and deeds.

Jesus Can Heal Us

Mosiah 14:5 (Compare Isaiah 53) ". . and with (Jesus') stripes we are healed."

Jesus Christ bought us with a price. His life, His teachings, and His blood have the power to heal us. All we need do is Come to Him.

When We Know the Truth

Mosiah 13:4 ". . because I have told the truth ye are angry with me."

We can't change the truth. We can "know the truth" and change how we feel about it.

*John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

He Shall Know

Mosiah 12:3 ". . the life of King Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord."

Pride may win in the beginning. Later comes destruction. The End.

Who is the Lord?

Mosiah 11:27 ". . who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?"

Who is the Lord??
Status sometimes magnifies the error of pride, as demonstrated by King Noah's words.

They Were Wronged

Mosiah 10:12 "They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, . . . that they were wronged . . by their brethren . ."

Who's On the Lord's Side?

Mosiah 9:3 ". . we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God."

Who's on the Lord's side determines whose side the Lord is on.

Why Flee From the Shepherd?

Mosiah 8:21 ". . they (the children of men) are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest."

Why run away from Jesus -- our Shepherd -- our one chance for safety, shelter, and peace?

At the Juncture of Sin

Mosiah 7:29 ". . the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them."

If God rescued us at the juncture of every transgression, He would be fostering neediness and sin. That's not going to happen. Christianity is not a religion of victims. The Lord expects us to recognize our sins, to confess them, to repent of them, and to leave them behind. We have to do that with intention, with determination, and by ourselves.

Take the Names

Mosiah 6:1 ". . king Benjamin thought . . that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments."

Yeah, count me in.

Take Upon You His Name

Mosiah 5:8 ". . There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, . ."

One day, "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ." Today is a good day to start.

Order Is the First Law

Mosiah 4:27 ". . all things must be done in order."

Watching the Baltimore upheaval from afar and aching for our country, I yearn for patience and order while the truth is being unraveling. This seems unlikely in our new, solutions-on-demand 21st Century.

Rejoice With Exceedingly Great Joy

Mosiah 3:13 ". . whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy . ."

Inexpressible joy comes through faith in Jesus Christ -- His Atonement and His Triumph over Death!