After Limhi’s and Alma’s people arrive in Zarahemla, King Mosiah gathers his people to hear their stories. Then, Mosiah authorizes Alma to establish churches throughout the land as he did at the waters of Mormon.
But scaling up the church brings new challenges. Many in the younger generation do not believe and therefore do not understand the gospel. Alma receives revelation to understand how to establish behavioral boundaries for church members. Heart-wrenchingly, his own son and the sons of King Mosiah are among the young people fighting against the church. In answer to his prayers, they are miraculously converted to the gospel by the visit of an angel.
Mosiah authorizes his sons to preach the gospel among the Lamanites, having received assurances from God that they will be safe. He also translates the Jaredite plates and turns over the sacred records to Alma’s son, Alma.
Here are some things I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- Mosiah 25 – King Mosiah reads the records of Limhi’s and Alma’s people. His people react with empathy.
- Mosiah 26 – God teaches Alma how to establish behavioral boundaries for church members.
- Mosiah 27 – Alma’s son and Mosiah’s sons are miraculously converted by an angel.
- Mosiah 28 – Mosiah approves his sons preaching the gospel to the Lamanites. He translates the Jaredite record and entrusts the sacred records to Alma’s son, Alma.
Key Themes
- The work of salvation happens onan individual level.
- Belief and understandingare interconnected.
- God is willing togive us guidancewhen we face difficult decisions.
- Pride makes itharder to feel peace.
- Jesus Christ can make a fundamental and permanent change in our nature, which we call being “born again.”
- When we arechanged by the power of God, we want to help other people experiencethe same transformation.
Connections
- Both Alma and Paul experienced sudden and miraculous conversions to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- In the dedicatory prayer of the temple at Jerusalem, Solomon pleaded with God to forgive the people’s sins. Joseph Smith prayed for the same blessing when he dedicated the Kirtland temple. Alma received God’s assurance, “As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” (Mosiah 26:30).
Applications
- Strive for empathy: to feel the joys and sorrows of other people.
- As church members, we must be willing to bothgive and receive feedback.
- Pray for your children.
- Let people change, and support them in their improvement.
Recommended Posts
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Relationship Between Church and State?
- What Do We Know About the Jaredite Plates?
- How Can I Be a Better Missionary?
Blog Posts: May 28-June 2
The Immediate Goodness of God
Both Limhi and Alma learned by experience that God can deliver us from the challenges we face. They also learned that that He will provide immediate blessings and strength to help us endure the challenge until the deliverance comes.
“Give Thanks in All Things”
Alma and his fellow church leaders “[gave] thanks in all things.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained that gratitude is not transactional. Instead, it is “an expression of hope and testimony.” We can be grateful even for blessings we have not yet detected.
Admonishing and Being Admonished
Alma and his fellow church leaders admonished one another. It might seem strange that imperfect people should correct each other, but that’s the way the church works. We were “baptized unto repentance,” meaning that we are humble and willing to change.
“As Often as My People Repent”
The Savior promised to forgive us “as often” as we repent. That’s a comforting promise, particularly when we make mistakes repeatedly. We need to keep repenting, He’ll keep forgiving, and we’ll eventually stop making those mistakes with His help.
“If Thou Wilt of Thyself…”
When someone’s choosing unwisely, you might propose they think about the impact of their actions on other people. Alma’s angel took the opposite approach, urging him to think about their impact on him. Are your choices making you stronger and happier?
“Every Creature”, “Any Human Soul”
The sons of Mosiah wanted to preach to the Lamanites because they loved all of God’s children and wanted to help everyone achieve eternal joy. God loves all of His children, and His disciples transcend labels like nationality as they serve other people.
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I love your ability to pull out nuggets from the weekly readings . I so appreciate the time you take to blog your insights ! Thank you !
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Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog.
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