A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 36:17-23 The first thing that catches my attention is the contrast between before and after; the bitter and the sweet; the despair verses the hope. Moments earlier, in the gall of bitterness, Alma says: Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God , to be judged of my deeds. ( vs. 15 ) Then as evidence of  this mighty change of heart, he says: Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there . ( vs. 22 ) One moment there is such fear and torment at the thought of being brought into the presence of God. In the next, Alma has a longing to be there singing praises to God. The natural question that follows is: What caused Alma to change internally? (It wasn't seeing an angel.) What about the act of having f...

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...