This weeks reading is as follows:Sunday: Alma 11:5-46
Monday: Alma 12:1-26
Tuesday: Alma 12:27-37 - Alma 13:1-8
Wednesday: Alma 13:9-31
Thursday: Alma 14:1-23
Friday: Alma 14:24-29- Alma 15:1-18
Saturday: Alma 16: 1-9
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I remember when President Hinkley gave the challenge to read the Book of Mormon and everyone reached Alma. Well I remember commenting to the sisters that all we are told is to repent. So here we are again reading it and we are told to repent. So is repenting bad? No, it isn't. It is a change to do better.
This week reading ask ourselves a lot of questions. I really always wondered about Alma 14:8-11- Why does the Lord permit the Righteous to Suffer? But I really love what President Kimball said: There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls. I feel that even though I would like things to be easier sometimes but it isn't the Lord's plan. If we didn't struggle we wouldn't need him. We need to Come Unto Him. It is a blessing to me to know he is there. He knows me even when I don't know myself. This gospel is so true.
I agree with Sister Storey that Alma 14:8-11 sometimes seems disheartening. Yet, I think it is included to remind us that the righteous DO suffer.
We have a natural tendency to blame ourselves, or wonder what we have done wrong to be suffering. But, these verses clearly tell us that the people were not deserving of these horrible things. We learn in this chapter that "these martyrs are received by the Lord in glory."
Another important concept in this chapter is that the power of the priesthood can only be exercised according to the will of the Lord. Amulek wanted to use the power to save the women and children from the fire. Alma declared the witness he received that the Lord has a reason for this, and that because of His purposes they could not stop it.
There are two other parts of this week's reading that I really love. In Alma 12:9-10 we learn that if we do not harden our hearts, we have the potential to know all of the mysteries of God, based on "the heed and diligence which [we] give unto him."
Then, in Alma 13:20 we read, "...Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction."
These verses put it all back on us. Our progress and our salvation are determined by our own choices.
There are many things that I do not understand and I want to have my questions answered. I want to know the mysteries of God, as I am prepared to receive them. I progress and learn as I prayerfully study the scriptures and listen to the voice of the Spirit.
It is my choice to invest my time and energy in partaking of His words and increasing my understanding. Those investments pay high dividends. The gospel plan is magnificent!
How would life be without struggles? It just wouldn't be a prepartory state without having our struggles. I have always found that growth usually is preceeded by struggles. How could be we ever know if we are becoming like our Heavenly Father if we didn't measure our growth by the obstacles we overcome?
All questions I ponder.
Bishop
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