Just wanted to share how much I enjoyed church today. For the first hour called Sacrament Meeting (where we take of the bread & water representing Christ's body and blood), I really felt the Spirit during the talks given. In the middle of the meeting all of the youth (boys and girls ages 12-18) got up and sang this sweet song. I will see if I can find it for you on Youtube…
I shared this video with you all a couple of weeks ago but I'll share it again today.
Today in Relief Society our lesson was "Faithful, Energetic Service in the Kingdom of God". You can click HERE if you would like to read it, too! It is from the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Lorenzo Snow. This was one of my favorite lessons. I love sitting in Relief Society and listening to the sweet sisters as they share their experiences and comments. Here is a picture (with permission) of our dear Sister Collins, who taught today's lesson.
I am grateful to be a part of the largest organization of women in the world. If you would like to learn more about the Relief Society click HERE. You are also all welcome to visit any of our churches where you can listen to the lessons yourself. Click HERE to find a Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) church near you. I bet you didn't even know that you have one close by you! We have buildings in almost every city in the US and all around the world. We would love to have you visit anytime! Let me know what you think if you do stop by.
If you would like to listen to the Book of Mormon instead of just reading it, you can click HERE. Pick the chapter you want and then if you scroll to the bottom you can click "listen". My father-in-law just called me and shared how he has loved reading along with us that way. Thanks Dad!
Today we are reading about the story of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah.
Here is a great video, in simplistic terms, of the story of Alma the Younger. Sometimes it helps me to get a visual of the basics of the story. I hope this will help you, too!
In chapter 27 I love verses 24-26 where Alma the Younger talks about being born again.
24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) gave us an important reminder as we seek to be born again and become like our Savior Jesus Christ:
“We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair.
“But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment."
I also found the following which gives me much hope.
- •Though Alma the Younger had to wade through much tribulation, the end result of his repentance was exquisite and exceeding joy (seeAlma 36:21). The following chart helps illustrate the effect of Alma’s repentance:
- •Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained we must realize that the price of sin is high and that though repentance can be difficult, the end result is always worth much more than the cost:“We learn that repentance is a very painful process. By his own admission Alma said he wandered ‘through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death,’ that he was consumed with an ‘everlasting burning. … I was in the darkest abyss,’ he said. ‘My soul was racked with eternal torment’ (Mosiah 27:28–29). …“For three seemingly endless days and nights he was torn ‘with the pains of a damned soul’ (Alma 36:16), pain so real that he was physically incapacitated and spiritually terrorized by what appeared to be his ultimate fate. No one should think that the gift of forgiveness is fully realized without significant effort on the part of the forgiven. No one should be foolish enough to sin willingly or wantonly, thinking forgiveness is easily available.“Repentance of necessity involves suffering and sorrow. Anyone who thinks otherwise has not read the life of the young Alma, nor tried personally to repent. In the process of repentance we are granted just a taste of the suffering we would endure if we failed to turn away from evil. That pain, though only momentary for the repentant, is the most bitter of cups. No man or woman should be foolish enough to think it can be sipped, even briefly, without consequence. …“We learn that when repentance is complete, we are born again and leave behind forever the self we once were. To me, none of the many approaches to teaching repentance falls more short than the well-intentioned suggestion that ‘although a nail may be removed from a wooden post, there will forever be a hole in that post.’ We know that repentance (the removal of that nail, if you will) can be a very long and painful and difficult task. Unfortunately, some will never have the incentive to undertake it. We even know that there are a very few sins for which no repentance is possible. But where repentance is possible, and its requirements are faithfully pursued and completed, there is no ‘hole left in the post’ for the bold reason that it is no longer the same post. It is a new post. We can start again, utterly clean, with a new will and a new way of life”
Mosiah 27:28. After Much Tribulation Comes the Blessing
31 Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.
What great missionaries Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah turned out to be!
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.
I hope that my boys also turn out to be wonderful missionaries. I took these pictures of them this morning. My middle boy wasn't quick ready for church yet so he decided to photo bomb his younger brother. LOL!
In verse 3 we read…
"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."
President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) described how desire to share the gospel is a natural result of personal conversion:
“There is the example of the four sons of Mosiah—Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni—who received a forgiveness of sins through the Atonement and then labored for years among the Lamanites to bring them to Christ. The record states that they could not bear the thought that any soul should perish (see Mosiah 28:3). …
“A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others."
I wanted to share some missionary videos with you all. This past October the prophet of our church, President Thomas S. Monson, announced an age change for the young men and young women in our church. Here is the first video. You will see the shocked and happy faces of the youth in the audience. I remember, as I was watching from my living room, having the same response. I might have shed a few tears as well.
We are truly blessed as we serve. The following is a video of just a portion of the young women who responded to the call of a Prophet of the Lord and decided to serve a mission. The girls serve for 18 months and the boys serve for 2 years.
(These sisters are all out NOW on their missions!)
We end our reading today with the Sons of Mosiah heading off to teach the word of God to the Lamanites and then King Mosiah doing away with kings and establishing a system of judges. He appoints Alma to be the Chief Judge and he is also the High Priest in the land. Mosiah and Alma both die at the end of this chapter. They were both wonderful examples to me and I am grateful I was privileged to learn from them.
I cannot wait to read with you all tomorrow! Big hugs to you all! Please let me know if I can ever do anything for you. You are all in my daily prayers.
*As always, if you have any questions and would like to chat live with a member of my church, click HERE.
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