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"A Place to Sit Down in the Kingdom of God," Alma 5:20-25

Alma 5:20-25

In a more serious tone, Alma reminds his brethren of the need to be saved and the requirements of salvation. These verses pick up with the topic of purity and its necessity to enter into God's kingdom:

...For there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. (vs. 21, emphasis added)
Alma in verse 22 poses a question that causes me to consider my own personal worthiness. "How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?"
 
Alma then goes on to accuse them of having blood stained garments, calling them murderers and being guilty of all manner of wickedness. On the one hand, this seems like an extreme accusation.  Where these people of Zarahemla actually guilty of murder?  Elder Jeffery R. Holland recently said "Love God and remain clean from the blood and sins of this generation... Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and your love at every stage of your life." (The First and Great Commandment, Oct 2012) What does he see that we are not seeing?

This is a heavy and hard topic. It seems to suggest that a lifestyle removed from God and focused on self fulfillment lends itself to the support of sinful and even extremely corrupted processes and practices. Modern lifestyle separates us so much from the basic elements of existence that I wonder if we are not always fully aware of at what cost convenience comes to us. I won't expound further upon the topic, but rather leave personal extension up to us individually as readers.


Subsequently Alma contrasted their evil state with those of known prophets who had gained a place in the kingdom of God,  "whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white." (vs. 24) and then concludes by comparing the people at Zarahemla: "Ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven." (vs. 25)
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