Being asked to have faith is merciful

Reading: Alma 32-35


Last week we talked about Alma and Amulek observing the worship habits of the Zoramites, a people who decided not to believe in a redeeming Savior.  They worshipped only on church days and only while at church.  They began to judge people according to what they had and how much of it they had, placing the highest importance on those who had more.  Therefore, the people who had less, the poor were cast out of the synagogues and out of society.  Alma and Amulek are approached by this poorer class of people, requesting help with their problems.

Alma 32:5-6
• People were despised because of poverty (class system)
• Especially despised by priests (I’m sure they were wondering what kind of religion is this, where the priests despise you?)
• We should at least be able to GO to the synagogue since we built it
• What shall we do? The want to learn, they want direction.
• Afflictions humbled them, they were prepared to hear
• Also, v 8 mentions that they were lowly in heart and therefore blessed

Alma and Amulek respond by telling them the benefits of their situation:
Alma 32:13-16
There are two ways to get to the point of wanting to learn: 1) being compelled to learn or 2) wanting to learn

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING HUMBLE AND BEING COMPELLED TO BE HUMBLE?

IS IT BAD TO BE COMPELLED TO BE HUMBLED?

WHAT THINGS COMPELL US TO BE HUMBLE?

Being compelled is part of human nature and life.  For example, the Israelites (over and over), David, Lehi, Alma (the man who is speaking), were all at one point compelled to be humble.  Being compelled to be humble is not the issue, but what you do with the compellation is.

The risk of being compelled is, wanting a quick fix, an easy answer, and answer that will not likely last or make a difference.

An internal desire to learn will more likely produce a lasting change.

Alma relates the quick fix risk to, as he says in verse 16, “stubbornness of heart, being brought to know the work, compelled to know BEFORE they will believe (seeing is believing mindset), and further explains the risk of being compelled to be humble by talking about signs.

Alma 32:17-22
Alma seems to make this connection:
• If you receive a
o sign (v17) (generally through physical senses), you then have
o knowledge (v18), you are
o held accountable for that knowledge (v19) and what you do with that knowledge (v20),
o making you subject to the law/justice.
o Following a receiving signs path omits the incubation period or really gaining wisdom
• If you exercise
o faith (v21), enough to

“real faith lets a man act as if he knows it is true when he really doesn’t. Therefore, faith is a real sense is power—power to act and perform without actual knowledge.” Hartman Rector, Jr., Oct 73

o believe (v18,19), you act on beliefs (incubation period)
o which eventually turns to knowledge, maybe better spoken as wisdom (v33-36),
o then you are subject to the law, but will receive mercy, which overcomes justice (v22)

So, perhaps Heavenly Father actually shows us MERCY by asking us to have faith in things that aren’t seen.  We get more chances to try and get things right, if we don’t already have the answer.  I never viewed the necessity of faith as a merciful operation.  I think I will try not to be so impatient to know more than I need to know now, and this gives me incentive to ensure I am close to Him so I can figure out the next step I need to take, what beliefs need to be solidified as knowledge.

In fact, the method that Alma outlines next is the process of what to do during the faith/belief phase.  He lists actions we should take as opposed to waiting for a sign or something to happen to you.

He challenges them to an experiment of planting a seed, testing for growth and tasting the fruits of the seed.
• Exercise a particle of faith (27)
• Desire to believe (27)
• Give place for a portion of my words (27, 28)
• Nourish it with great care (37)
• Diligence, patience, looking forward (41)

Evidence of a good seed:
• Swelling motions, sprouting, growing (28)
• Enlarging my soul (28)
• Enlightening understanding (28)
• Tastes good (28)
• Increases faith (29, 30)
• Brings forth it’s own likeness (once you know the gospel, you can expect gospel blessings) (31)
• Brings forth good fruit (31)

What will the seed do?
• Take root (41)
• Grow into a tree (41)
• Produce fruit (41)
• Tree will bring forth fruit UNTO you (43)

Alma explains this process further by asking if, after you follow the path of faith, is your knowledge perfect?

Alma 32:33-36
• Nourishing a seed takes time (swelleth, sprouteth and beginneth to grow), in fact, his analogy is for a tree, which develops very slowly compared to a weed or a zucchini plant.
• Then is your knowledge perfect? Yes, in that thing.  What thing?
o That the gospel is good following Christ is good.
o (v35) WILL YOU BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT KNOWLEDGE?   Yes, because it is discernible (by the Holy Ghost).
o (35-36) BUT is your knowledge in general perfect? No, because you exercised faith to PLANT the seed, there’s much more to do in order to make it grow.


To make sure the Zoramites get an answer to their question about whether to believe in a Christ or not, in chapter 33, Alma reminds the Zoramites of the teachings from the prophets of old,  namely Zenos and Zenock, testifying of Christ. At the end of the chapter, Alma indicates what doctrine they need to plant in their heart:

Alma 33: 22-23
Amulek adds his own testimony regarding this germinating doctrine, which is opposite of what the rich Zoramites and priests were teaching:

Alma 34:9-16
Mercy satisfies the demand of justice – by your belief and action from belief you receive mercy which “encircles them in the arms of safety."

So, Amulek emphsizes that if you can have all this, then begin to call upon the name of Christ to receive mercy and "arms of safety."

Alma 34:17-27
This group of scriptures was of particular importance to me this week as it was one of those weeks where I seemed to "sweat the small stuff" and I thought it was stuff too trivial to bring to God in prayer.  But after reading verses 17-27 I was reminded that He will listen to anything I have to say, I can pour out my heart to Him and He will still see me as what I can become and not just what I am now.  If I continue to turn to Him even for the small stuff it helps me to (v 38):

Contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

I also found this good quote which reminds me of the real purpose of prayer:

 The purpose of prayer, however, is not to appease a vindictive Deity; nor is it to court favors from an indulgent Father. It is to attune oneself with the spirit or light which “proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space.” ( D&C 88:12.)  Marion G. Romney, “Prayer and Revelation,” April 1979

Amulek adds a few other things:
o (v 28-29), after you’ve learned all this, help others.
o (v 32) “this life is the time to prepare to meet God
o (v 33) do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.

Amulek ends with good advice:

Alma 34:39-41
Watch and pray, be patient, bear your afflictions and have a firm hope.