Alma
43 verses
They went out and began to preach the word of God to the people, entering into their synagogues and their houses, and they even preached the word in the streets.
And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.
After working hard among them, they started to have success with the poor, who had been cast out of the synagogues because of the roughness of their clothing—
And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—
They weren’t allowed to enter their synagogues to worship God, because they were considered filthy. They were poor and looked down on by their own people as worthless. They were poor in worldly things and also humble in heart.
Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.
As Alma was teaching and speaking to the people on the hill Onidah, a large crowd came to him. These were the people we have been talking about, who were humble because they were poor in worldly things.
Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.
They came to Alma, and the one who was their leader said to him, “What should my brothers do? They are looked down on by everyone because of their poverty, especially by our priests. They have thrown us out of the synagogues that we worked so hard to build with our own hands, and they did it because we are extremely poor. Now we have no place to worship our God. What should we do? ”
And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?
When Alma heard this, he turned around to face him and was filled with great joy, because he saw that their hardships had truly humbled them and that they were ready to listen to the word.
And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.
So he didn’t say anything more to the rest of the crowd, but he reached out his hand and called out to the ones he saw who were truly sorry for their sins, and said to them:
Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
I see that you are humble, and if so, you are blessed.
I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.
Your brother has said, "What should we do? We have been cast out of our synagogues and cannot worship our God.
Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.
I tell you, do you think you can only worship God in your synagogues?
Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?
Also, I want to ask if you think you should only worship God once a week.
Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?
I tell you, it is good that you have been cast out of your synagogues, so that you can be humble and learn wisdom. You need to learn wisdom. Because you have been cast out and are despised by your brothers because of your great poverty, you have been brought to a humble state; you have been made humble out of necessity.
I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.
Now, because you are compelled to be humble, you are blessed; for sometimes, if a person is compelled to be humble, he seeks repentance. Surely, whoever repents will find mercy, and whoever finds mercy and endures to the end will be saved.
And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.
As I told you, because you were forced to be humble, you were blessed. But don’t you think that those who choose to humble themselves because of the word are even more blessed?
And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
Anyone who truly humbles themselves, repents of their sins, and endures to the end will be blessed—much more blessed than those who are forced to be humble because of their extreme poverty.
Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.
So, blessed are those who humble themselves without being forced to be humble. In other words, blessed is the person who believes in the word of God and is baptized without being stubborn, and without needing to be convinced or compelled to know the word before they will believe.
Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.
There are many who say, “If you will show us a sign from heaven, then we will know for sure; then we will believe. ”
Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.
Now I ask, is this faith? I tell you, no; because if a person knows something, he has no reason to believe—it’s because he knows it.
Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
Now, how much more cursed is someone who knows God's will and doesn't do it, than someone who only believes, or only has a reason to believe, and falls into sin?
And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
You must judge this matter. I tell you, it is the same on one side as it is on the other, and each person will receive according to their actions.
Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.
As I said about faith—faith means not having a perfect knowledge of things; so if you have faith, you hope for things that you can’t see, but that are true.
And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
I tell you, and I want you to remember, that God is merciful to all who believe in his name; so he wants, first of all, for you to believe—even in his word.
And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.
He gives his word to people through angels, not only to men but also to women. That's not all; little children are often given words that confound the wise and learned.
And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned.
Now, my beloved brothers, since you have asked me what you should do because you are afflicted and cast out—I do not want you to think that I intend to judge you only according to what is true—
And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—
I don't mean that all of you have been forced to humble yourselves; I truly believe that some of you would choose to be humble, no matter what your circumstances are.
For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.
As I said about faith—that it isn’t perfect knowledge—the same goes for my words. You can’t know for sure right away, any more than faith is perfect knowledge.
Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
If you will wake up and use your abilities, even just to try out my words, and exercise even a small amount of faith—if you can do no more than simply want to believe—let that desire grow in you until you believe enough to make room for some of my words.
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.
We will compare the word to a seed. If you make room for a seed to be planted in your heart, and if it is a true or good seed, and you don’t reject it because of your unbelief or resist the Spirit of the Lord, it will start to grow inside you. When you feel these growing feelings, you will begin to say to yourself, “This must be a good seed, or the word is good, because it is starting to enlarge my soul; it is beginning to enlighten my understanding, and it is becoming delightful to me. ”
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
Wouldn’t this increase your faith? Yes, it would; but it still hasn’t grown into perfect knowledge.
Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
As the seed swells, sprouts, and begins to grow, you have to say that the seed is good, because it swells, sprouts, and begins to grow. Doesn’t this strengthen your faith? It does strengthen your faith, because you will say, “I know this is a good seed, because it sprouts and begins to grow. ”
But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
So, are you sure this is a good seed? Yes, because every seed produces its own kind.
And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
So, if a seed grows, it is good, but if it doesn’t grow, it is not good and is thrown away.
Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
Now, because you have tried the experiment and planted the seed, and it swells and sprouts and begins to grow, you must know that the seed is good.
And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
Now, is your knowledge perfect? Your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is inactive; this is because you know—the word has enlarged your souls, you also know it has sprouted, your understanding is beginning to be enlightened, and your mind is starting to expand.
And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
So, isn’t this real? I tell you, yes, because it is light; and whatever is light is good, because you can recognize it. Therefore, you must know that it is good. And now, after you have experienced this light, is your knowledge perfect?
O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
No, you must not set aside your faith, because you have only used your faith to plant the seed so you could test it and find out if the seed was good.
Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
As the tree begins to grow, you will say, "Let’s take great care of it so it can develop roots, grow, and produce fruit for us. " If you nurture it carefully, it will take root, grow, and produce fruit.
And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
But if you neglect the tree and don’t think about nourishing it, it won’t develop any roots. When the sun comes and scorches it, because it has no root, it withers away, and you pull it up and throw it out.
But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
This isn’t because the seed wasn’t good, or because the fruit wouldn’t be desirable; it’s because your ground is barren, and you won’t nourish the tree, so you can’t have its fruit.
Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
So, if you don't nourish the word and look forward with faith to its fruit, you can never pick the fruit of the tree of life.
And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
But if you will nourish the word, nourish the tree as it begins to grow, with your faith, great diligence, and patience, looking forward to its fruit, it will take root; and it will become a tree springing up to everlasting life.
But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
Because of your diligence, faith, and patience with the word as you nourish it so it can take root in you, in time you will pick its fruit, which is most precious, sweeter than anything else, whiter than anything else, and purer than anything else. You will feast on this fruit until you are filled, so you will not hunger or thirst.
And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
Then, my brothers, you will receive the rewards of your faith, your diligence, your patience, and your long-suffering as you wait for the tree to produce fruit for you.
Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.