Skip to main content

" .. Ye ought to search the scriptures," Alma 33:1-2

Alma 33:1-2

I appreciate this chapter in the Book of Mormon. Alma is a master teacher and the way that he sets the stage in chapter 32 for what happens here in chapter 33 impresses me. This chapter is also fun (to me) because Alma pulls two prophetic references of which there is no record found anywhere else in our modern verse of the scriptures which so perfectly address their present circumstances. (This reminds me of missionaries I knew when I served many years ago who could do the same thing.)

The question is put to Alma at the beginning of this chapter of whether they should believe in one God or how the people should begin to exercise their faith. Alma then sets the stage in verse 2 to use the scriptures to support his teaching.

...Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.
 This sentiment also closely echos the words of Christ himself when he said: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"A Space Between Death and the Resurrection," Alma 40:15-21

Alma 40:15-21 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg/resurrection?lang=eng The New Testament, after the Resurrection of Christ, is replete with testimony by the apostles of the reality of that very thing. I took a pause from this study to reflect over in John 6 . At least twice within that passage, the phrase "the resurrection of the just" had been added back into the passage in the Joseph Smith Translation. No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just. ( JST - John 6:44 ) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up in the resurrection of the just at the last day. ( John 6:54 ) Why, among other doctrines, does the adversary or the world want to suppress...

"The State of the Soul Between Death and the Resurrection," Alma 40:11-14

Alma 40:11-14 Deep consideration of the realities articulated in these verses has brought a very strong spiritual confirmation to me this morning. This doctrine is familiar to me, both because of the numerous times that I have studied these verses before, but also because of the eternal realities that cause my soul to resonate with the Spirit of the Lord. Verse 11 , which I learned and memorized as a youth, especially rings deep and true. We are taken back to God after this amazing and terrible* mortal experience. And then there is a separation between wicked and righteous. In a realm dominated by the Light, there is a separation. It is also curious to note how the same Being, God, can induce such dramatically different responses in individuals based upon their choices. *I use terrible in the sense of "extremely unpleasant or disagreeable" or to illustrate the extreme hardships that are an inevitable part of this experience. --- In verses 12-14 , the states of the r...