Alma
41 verses
After Alma finished speaking to them, he sat down on the ground, and Amulek stood up and began to teach them, saying:
And now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying:
My brothers, I don't think it's possible that you are unaware of the things that have been taught about the coming of Christ, who we teach is the Son of God. I know these things were taught to you abundantly before you separated from us.
My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.
Since you have asked my beloved brother to tell you what you should do because of your afflictions, and he has spoken to you to prepare your minds, and he has encouraged you to have faith and patience—
And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—
I want you to have enough faith to plant the word in your hearts, so you can test its goodness.
Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.
We have seen that the main question on your minds is whether the word is in the Son of God, or if there will be no Christ.
And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.
You have also seen that my brother has shown you, many times, that salvation comes through Christ.
And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.
My brother has quoted the words of Zenos, that redemption comes through the Son of God, and also the words of Zenock. He has also referred to Moses to show that these things are true.
My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.
Now I will testify to you myself that these things are true. I know that Christ will come among the children of men to take upon himself the transgressions of his people, and that he will atone for the sins of the world, because the Lord God has spoken it.
And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
It is necessary for an atonement to be made, because according to the great plan of the Eternal God, there must be an atonement, or else all mankind will unavoidably perish. All are hardened, all are fallen and lost, and must perish unless it is through the atonement that must be made.
For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
It is necessary that there be a great and final sacrifice—not a sacrifice of man, animal, or any kind of bird—for it will not be a human sacrifice, but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
No one can sacrifice their own blood to atone for someone else’s sins. If a man commits murder, does our just law take the life of his brother? No, it does not.
Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
The law requires the life of someone who has committed murder; so only an infinite atonement is enough to cover the sins of the world.
But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
So, it is necessary that there be a great and final sacrifice; and after that, there should be an end to the shedding of blood. Then the law of Moses will be fulfilled—completely fulfilled, down to every detail, and nothing will be left undone.
Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.
This is the whole meaning of the law—everything points to that great and final sacrifice; and that great and final sacrifice will be the Son of God, infinite and eternal.
And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
In this way, he will bring salvation to all those who believe in his name; this is the purpose of this last sacrifice—to bring about mercy, which overpowers justice, and provides a way for people to have faith to repent.
And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
In this way, mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and surround them with safety, while anyone who does not have faith leading to repentance is exposed to the full demands of justice. So, the great and eternal plan of redemption applies only to those who have faith and repent.
And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
I pray that God will help you, my brothers and sisters, to start exercising your faith by repenting and calling on his holy name, asking him to have mercy on you.
Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
Pray to him for mercy, because he has the power to save.
Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
Humble yourselves and keep praying to him.
Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
Pray to him when you are in your fields, and over all your flocks.
Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
Pray to Him in your homes, over everyone in your household, in the morning, at midday, and in the evening.
Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
Pray to him for help against the power of your enemies.
Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
Pray to him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
Pray to him about the crops in your fields, so that you may prosper in them.
Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
Pray for your flocks in the fields, that they may grow and multiply.
Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
But that's not all; you must pour out your souls in your closets, your secret places, and in your wilderness.
But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
And when you are not praying out loud to the Lord, let your hearts be full, constantly reaching out to Him in prayer for your own well-being and for the well-being of those around you.
Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
And now, my beloved brothers and sisters, I tell you, don’t think this is everything; because after you’ve done all these things, if you turn away the needy and the naked, and don’t visit the sick and afflicted, and don’t share what you have with those in need—I tell you, if you don’t do any of these things, your prayer is useless, it does nothing for you, and you are like hypocrites who deny the faith.
And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.
So, if you do not remember to be charitable, you are like dross, which refiners throw away because it has no value, and it is trampled underfoot by people.
Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men.
Now, my brothers, I want you, after you have received so many witnesses and seen that the holy scriptures testify of these things, to come forward and show the results of your repentance.
And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.
I want you to come forward and not harden your hearts any longer, because now is the time and the day of your salvation. If you will repent and not harden your hearts, the great plan of redemption will immediately be brought to you.
Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
This life is the time for people to prepare to meet God; the days of this life are when we should do our work.
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
And now, as I said before, since you have had so many witnesses, I urge you not to put off the day of your repentance until the end; because after this life, which is given to us to prepare for eternity, if we do not use our time well while we are here, then comes the night of darkness when no work can be done.
And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
You cannot say, when you are brought to that terrible moment, that you will repent or return to your God. You cannot say this, because the same spirit that possesses your body when you leave this life will have power to possess your body in the eternal world.
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
If you have put off the day of your repentance until death, you have become subject to the spirit of the devil, and he seals you as his own. Because of this, the Spirit of the Lord has withdrawn from you and has no place in you, and the devil has complete power over you. This is the final state of the wicked.
For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
I know this because the Lord has said he does not live in unholy temples, but he lives in the hearts of the righteous. He has also said that the righteous will sit down in his kingdom and will not go out anymore, and their garments will be made white through the blood of the Lamb.
And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.
Now, my beloved brothers and sisters, I want you to remember these things and work out your salvation with reverence before God, and no longer deny the coming of Christ.
And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
Do not fight against the Holy Ghost anymore, but receive it and take upon yourself the name of Christ. Humble yourself completely and worship God wherever you are, in spirit and in truth. Live each day with gratitude for the many mercies and blessings he gives you.
That ye 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 encourage you, my brothers, to be watchful and pray continually so you won’t be led away by the temptations of the devil, so he won’t overpower you or make you his subjects at the last day, because he gives you nothing good in return.
Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.
Now, my beloved brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be patient and to endure all kinds of afflictions. Do not speak against those who cast you out because of your extreme poverty, or you may become sinners like them.
And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;
But have patience and endure these afflictions, with a firm hope that you will one day rest from all your troubles.
But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.