Mosiah 18:30-35
This first verse is a beautiful passage of scripture. It has reference to the significance of a location to one's spiritual conversion. Something of a nostalgia is recognized in these verses. This is akin to people when they find out that I served as a missionary in Costa Rica. When I am asked if it was beautiful, I can wholeheartedly reply "yes" it was. Yet the sights and sounds that I am referring to have little touristic value. In my mind are the dirty roads of impoverished developments, the small homes of willing investigators, and the overcrowded buses where testimonies where shared. These are the things that make this land so beautiful to me, for the very same reasons as are recorded in verse 30, "how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer."
There is something about living and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ that enlivens the senses so that where one lives at the time of such experiences is remembered fondly.
The remainder of these verses deals with their exiting from the place of Mormon because "Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king’s army" (vs 34). There is a footnote on the word "apprised" which leads to another passage (Mosiah 23:1) that explains that Alma was warned of the Lord that armies of King Noah were assembling against them.
This forced exodus causes a head count to be taken. Approximately 450 individuals were in the company. This is no small gathering, and a reminder that God does not want to save only a small number of his children. As many as will come, may eat and drink freely of the waters of salvation.
This first verse is a beautiful passage of scripture. It has reference to the significance of a location to one's spiritual conversion. Something of a nostalgia is recognized in these verses. This is akin to people when they find out that I served as a missionary in Costa Rica. When I am asked if it was beautiful, I can wholeheartedly reply "yes" it was. Yet the sights and sounds that I am referring to have little touristic value. In my mind are the dirty roads of impoverished developments, the small homes of willing investigators, and the overcrowded buses where testimonies where shared. These are the things that make this land so beautiful to me, for the very same reasons as are recorded in verse 30, "how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer."
There is something about living and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ that enlivens the senses so that where one lives at the time of such experiences is remembered fondly.
The remainder of these verses deals with their exiting from the place of Mormon because "Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king’s army" (vs 34). There is a footnote on the word "apprised" which leads to another passage (Mosiah 23:1) that explains that Alma was warned of the Lord that armies of King Noah were assembling against them.
This forced exodus causes a head count to be taken. Approximately 450 individuals were in the company. This is no small gathering, and a reminder that God does not want to save only a small number of his children. As many as will come, may eat and drink freely of the waters of salvation.
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