My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Alma 23-29 in a lesson titled “They ‘Never Did Fall Away.’” It was introduced with the following information.
Do you sometimes wonder whether people can
really change? Maybe you worry about whether you can overcome poor choices you’ve
made or bad habits you’ve developed, or you may have similar worries about
loved ones. If so, the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies can help you. These
people were the sworn enemies of the Nephites. When the sons of Mosiah decided
to preach the gospel to them, the Nephites “laughed [them] to scorn.” Killing
the Lamanites seemed like a more plausible solution than converting them. (See
Alma 26:23-25.)
But the Lamanites did change – through the
converting power of Jesus Christ. They were once known as “a hardened and a
ferocious people” (Alma 17:14), but they became “distinguished for their zeal
towards God” (Alma 27:27). In fact, they “never did fall away” (Alma 23:6).
Maybe you have some thoughts or actions to
change or “weapons of … rebellion” to lay down (Alma 23:7). Or maybe you just
need to be a little more zealous toward God. No matter what changes you need,
Alma 23-29 can give you hope that through the atoning power of Jesus Christ,
long-lasting change is possible.
The
chosen principle for tonight’s discussion is “Sharing the gospel brings me joy”
(Alma 26; 29). There are 24 mentions of the word joy in Alma 23-29
indicating that living and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ brings joy. The
chapters for this give numerous reasons why Ammon, the sons of Mosiah, and Alma
rejoiced. The following verses is just a sample.
12 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; yea, behold, many
mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his
name forever.
13 Behold, how many thousands of our
brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing
redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us,
therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
14 Yea, we have reason to praise him
forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from
the chains of hell.
15 Yea; they were encircled about with
everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into
his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are
encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have
been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.
16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we
will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full;
yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in
the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his
mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men?
Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
17 Who could have supposed that our God
would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and
polluted state?
18 Behold, we went forth even in wrath,
with mighty threatenings to destroy his church.
19 Oh then, why did he not consign
us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his
justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair?
20 Oh, my soul, almost as it were,
fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us,
but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of
death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.
21 And now behold, my brethren, what
natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none
that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.
22 Yea, he that repenteth and
exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually
without ceasing – unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God;
yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been
revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of
souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our
brethren to repentance.
Elder
Marcus B. Nash taught: “Sharing the gospel kindles joy and hope in the souls of
both giver and receiver. … Sharing the gospel is joy upon joy, hope upon hope”
(“Hold Up Your Light,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 71).
President
Dallin H. Oaks taught that all members could share the gospel and gave three
specific things that we can do. (1) “pray for desire to help with this vital
part of the work of salvation. All efforts begin with desire.” (2) “we
can keep the commandments ourselves. Faithful, obedient members are the most
persuasive witnesses of the truth and value of the restored gospel.”
(3)
“we can pray for inspiration on what we can do in our individual
circumstances to share the gospel with others” – not what the missionaries or
others might do.
President
Oaks had other suggestions as to actions that we can take to be more effective
while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1.
We
need to remember “that people learn when they’re ready to learn, not when we’re
ready to teach them….”
2.
As
we speak to others, we need to remember that an invitation to learn more about
Jesus Christ and His gospel is preferable to an invitation to learn more about
our Church….
3.
When
we seek to introduce people to the restored gospel, we should do this in ways
that are authentic and in loving concern for the individual….
4.
Our
efforts to share the gospel should not be limited to our circle of friends and
associates….
5.
Ward
bishoprics can plan a special sacrament meeting to which members are urged to
bring interested persons….
6.
There
are many other opportunities to share the gospel…
7.
Our
young members’ fascination and expertise with social media gives them unique
opportunities to reach out to interest others in the gospel….
The
above suggestions are given to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ to
share His gospel. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with other people brings
joy to the people who share it.
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