Skip to main content

"If I Had Not Been Born of God," Alma 36:1-5

Alma 36:1-5

I'm working to put together the connection between being born again (spiritually reborn) and testimony, and I've think I've found it. 

Spiritual knowledge, Alma doesn't take credit for the obtainment of spiritual knowledge. Rather he seems to regard it as a gift from God. (see vs. 4-5) In these verse, Alma does verify that in order to obtain a knowledge of spiritual things, one must be born again.
If I had not been born of God I should not have known these things. (vs.5)
Back in chapter 26, verse 21 & 22, Ammon confirms this reality, that only those that have been spiritual born of God are those that are possessors of the knowledge that comes from God.

This is also supported by what the Savior taught in John 3.

I finished this study over in Mosiah 4:13. I have felt quite a bit of guilt in recent years with regards to my own children when I read the connection here between personal testimony and the family obligation to teach my children and protect them. However, I am reminded of two things this morning:
  • Not that this should bring me comfort, but King Benjamin's grandchildren were the sons of Mosiah. And it was that younger generation, that where only small children at the time that King Benjamin gave his historic address, that really struggled with their faith. 
  • Easily spoken, but no one is saying this is easily implemented. As I continue to wrestle with the implementation of such a commandment, I find hope that in the struggle therein lies the answers.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"An Awful Death," Alma 40:22-26

Alma 40:22-26 Ezekiel 37:6-14 - This prophecy of Ezekiel is a key indicator of divine priority. These last few verses at the end of the chapter are a testimony of the reality and nature of the resurrection, and the consignments of the wicked and the righteous thereafter. What questions should I be asking about these verses? Continue in verse 26 tomorrow. There are a number of footnotes on "the death of the wicked," or that death which "pertains to the things of righteousness." So I have spent the morning studying this death of the wicked, by reading the footnotes on "death" as referenced in title of this post, or "an awful death of the wicked."  Doctrine and Covenants 29:41 truly illustrates the seriousness of that predicament. He first is talking about the spiritual death that came upon Adam when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden: ...wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is

"Behold, Here Are Six Onties of Silver," Alma 11:1-22

Alma 11:1-22 I finally arrive at chapter 11 of Alma. We have at the beginning of the chapter an explanation of the currency of the day among the Nephites. It is laid out as such: Nephite Coinage Chart Gold Silver Value limnah onti ( vs.22 ) Equal to a senine, a seon, and a shum of gold combined, or equal to a senum, an amnor, and a ezrom of silver combined. (7 senines, 7 senums, or 7 days of work) ( vs. 10, 13 ) shum ezrom 2 seons (4 senines) or 2 amnors (4 senums) ( vs. 9, 12 ) seon amnor 2 senines or 2 senums ( vs. 8, 11 ) antion 3 shiblons, which means it should be 1½ senine ( vs. 19 ) senine senum This is the base measurement from which all other coins are valued. A day's wages for a judge. Also, the worth of a measure of barley and every other kind of grain.( vs. 3, 7 ) shiblon half a senum, half a measure of barley ( vs. 15 ) shiblum half a shiblon (4 shiblums = a senum) ( vs. 16 ) leah half a shiblum (8 leahs = a senum) ( vs. 17 ) In verse 20 , we learn that the motivation