Alma 37:43 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compa.s.s (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.
Alma 37:44 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compa.s.s, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
Alma 37:45 45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
Alma 37:46 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.
Alma 37:47 47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to G.o.d and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
Alma 38 Chapter 38
Alma 38:1 1 My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of G.o.d ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of G.o.d ye shall be cut off from his presence.
Alma 38:2 2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto G.o.d; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your G.o.d, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
Alma 38:3 3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites.
Alma 38:4 4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word"s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.
Alma 38:5 5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in G.o.d even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
Alma 38:6 6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of G.o.d which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of G.o.d I should not have known these things.
Alma 38:7 7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth.
Alma 38:8 8 And it came to pa.s.s that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.
Alma 38:9 9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.
Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.
Alma 38:10 10 And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.
Alma 38:11 11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.
Alma 38:12 12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your pa.s.sions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
Alma 38:13 13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.
Alma 38:14 14 Do not say: O G.o.d, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy--yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before G.o.d at all times.
Alma 38:15 15 And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell.
Alma 39 Chapter 39
Alma 39:1 1 And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of G.o.d? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?
Alma 39:2 2 For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites. Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom.
Alma 39:3 3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron, among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.
Alma 39:4 4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
Alma 39:5 5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?
Alma 39:6 6 For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of G.o.d, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.
Alma 39:7 7 And now, my son, I would to G.o.d that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good.
Alma 39:8 8 But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from G.o.d; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.
Alma 39:9 9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the l.u.s.ts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of G.o.d. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things.
Alma 39:10 10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers.
And give heed to their counsel.
Alma 39:11 11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.
Alma 39:12 12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of G.o.d, that ye refrain from your iniquities;
Alma 39:13 13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly; but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults and that wrong which ye have done.
Alma 39:14 14 Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you.
Alma 39:15 15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.
Alma 39:16 16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.
Alma 39:17 17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject.
Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto G.o.d as a soul will be at the time of his coming?
Alma 39:18 18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?
Alma 39:19 19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?
Alma 40 Chapter 40
Alma 40:1 1 Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.
Alma 40:2 2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection--or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption--until after the coming of Christ.
Alma 40:3 3 Behold, he bringeth to pa.s.s the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save G.o.d himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of G.o.d that I might know--that is concerning the resurrection.
Alma 40:4 4 Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but G.o.d knoweth the time which is appointed.
Alma 40:5 5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for G.o.d knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case--that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.
Alma 40:6 6 Now there must needs be a s.p.a.ce betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.
Alma 40:7 7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?