Alma 47-49
War talk. Lamanites are stirred up to war, meanwhile, Moroni has been rebuilding and strengthening the cities. Finding the weakest spots and fortifying and strengthening them so when the Lamanites come to battle, they are terrified and fear for their lives.
While reading this past year, I've been more in tune with my strengths and weaknesses, been able to see clearer. I know where my weak spots are and I'm working on strengthening them.
Alma 46:12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it-In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children-and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
*Title of Liberty! It's short, sweet, and to the point. We must always defend our God, our religion, our freedom, our families at any and all cost. We must stand up for what we believe in. And we must be willing to give all so we remain true and faithful. I believe that if we pray daily for these things, to be strengthened in these categories, we will be. :)
Alma 43, battle. The Lamanites come to war against the Nephites. But they end up retreating to the wilderness. Moroni sends his spies to see where they're going, but he also sends messengers to Alma, who receives revelation and prophecy about the plan of the Lamanites. Moroni is a man of faith and a man of action. He doesn't just send messengers, he does something to help himself and his armies. He doesn't just sit around waiting for Alma to reveal the plan, he acts on his faith.
The Holy Ghost can and will guide us in EVERY aspect of our lives, but we have to make a decision first. Decide, then pray.
Alma 41:10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11:..they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
*I keep seeing a pattern, and it was spoken in the Women's Conference tonight. Happiness. Joy. Men are that they might have JOY. We are designed BY GOD to have happiness. We are created in His image. God is happiness! Oh this makes me smile. I love this.
Alma 40:12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
*These verses give me so much peace & comfort, both for myself & for my loved ones have passed on.
Alma 37:46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
*Just because the way is easy, doesn't mean we can take it easy. We still need to exercise our faith, study, learn, teach, pray. I've been working on praying out loud more and often, to help ease the tension and stubbornness between the boys and I. Today was a good day, but by lunch Korbin was all out of prayers. Tomorrow...
Alma 34-36
One scripture in particular, stuck out for me right now :
36:27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions;... yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
*I've come to realize I need to strengthen my prayers. And pray more. I need to cry unto Him in all things, and at all times. I need to show my boys the power of prayer. I need them to see the comfort and peace that prayer can bring. I keep worrying about things down the road, and I need to give my boys all the tools possible to handle everything and anything.
Alma 32:27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
*I love this one. I love how it starts with just a particle, just a desire to believe. It is the simplest instructions, the beginner's guide. And it's not about believing everything all at once, it about opening your heart to receive the words. I never thought of it this way.
I have a desire to feel the Spirit and be taught by the Prophet and leaders during conference. I need to exercise faith and prepare myself to receive His Spirit.
Alma 30:2...but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and also after the days of fasting, and mourning, and prayer, ...there began to be continual peace throughout all the land.
*I can't help but think of Ruth (my MIL who passed away in May) this week and all the sadness the family holds. I read this and instantly felt peace. I know it'll take time (months maybe years) but we will again have peace after the passing of a loved one.
Alma 27:27...And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men...
Zeal = passion love fire devotion energy
*I think sometimes I lose my zeal and just trudge thru my responsibilities. But I need to focus more on this (29:9) ...but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
*Maybe my going to church when my boys are fussy and my head hurts will make someone smile. Maybe my comment will touch their heart. Maybe I'll be able to console a crying child or mother. I pray to be zealous.
Catch up day.
Alma 26:17 Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?
*I have always felt a connection to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. I love their conversion story. I feel a connection because, even tho there wasn't a shaking of the earth or an Angel, I feel like their story is my story. (I was not out to destroy anything tho.)
There are not words to describe how I feel. Every word I think of seems so weak and plain. Ammon says it best (end of 16) Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
Alma 26:6 Yea, YOU shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall YOU be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh YOU shall be gathered together in YOUR place, that the storm cannot penetrate to YOU; yea, neither shall YOU be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry YOU.
7 But behold, YOU are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and YOU are his; and he will raise YOU up at the last day.
*Write this down. Remember it. Study it. YOU ARE HIS! YOU are in His hands, He knows where you are, what you need, He knows your heart. He knows YOU!
Alma 22:15-18
Aaron teaches Lamoni about repentance, and Lamoni is praying to God, saying he would give away all his sins to know God. He believes there is a God because Aaron told him.
*I've leaned on quite a few testimonies over the years, and I can proudly say now, that I have found my own. The foundation was built with the aid of others, but I think everyone's is. It is thru the strength of others that we find our own. I'm grateful for the strong testimonies of my family and friends. Thank you for sharing with me. I love you.
Alma 19:31...as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord. 32 But there were many among them who would not hear his words.
*How many times did Laman and Lemuel hear the words with their ears but not their hearts? When we hear His words, we need to make sure our hearts are open that we may hear. Most Sunday's I go just to get thru it, but I'm going to try and go prepared to feel the Spirit and hear what He would have me hear.
Alma 17:2...yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently... 3. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation...
*I love this. These are the simple basics that we learn as children. Read, pray, fast. I love love LOVE it. And I've noticed how quick I am to lose focus on the simple basics. I'm slowly getting back to them as I'm starting to teach the boys.
