Alma 39:12-19
In verse 12, Alma states that the Spirit of the Lord has said unto him, "Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction." He then commands his son to refrain from his iniquities, "in the fear of God."
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Alma goes on to command his son not to seek after riches. He then expounds to his son a few thought concerning the coming of Christ.
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I've now been with this passage of scripture for 3 or 4 days. Tomorrow, let's start with questions. Typically, when I'm stuck in a scripture study, I've asked the question: how does this point me towards Christ? I will start here tomorrow. I will also be asking additional questions based off of what I am reading.
The ability to ask questions is an attribute of divinity, and is a teaching of Christ. Ask, and it shall given you. (3 Nephi 14:7)
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Going back to verse 12, the very first thing that Alma says is that it is the Spirit of the Lord that is speaking to him. Parenting is most effective when done under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord. That is the crux or the essence of all action. (See also "When the Lord Commands, Do It.")
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Alma councils his son to seek not after riches or the vain things of this world. And then he adds this little exclamation point, "for behold, you cannot carry them with you." (verse 14)
What are "riches"?
- Money, gold, excesses that go beyond the necessities of life?
What are "the vain things of this world"?
- fame, a personal "style", excessive ornamentation, decoration, space, time wasters, entertainments,
Why does the Savior teach in the Sermon on the Mount the following?
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There is a connection between the coming of Christ and the preparation of his people. Alma explains to his son that this was the ministry to which he was called:
In verse 12, Alma states that the Spirit of the Lord has said unto him, "Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction." He then commands his son to refrain from his iniquities, "in the fear of God."
---
Alma goes on to command his son not to seek after riches. He then expounds to his son a few thought concerning the coming of Christ.
---
I've now been with this passage of scripture for 3 or 4 days. Tomorrow, let's start with questions. Typically, when I'm stuck in a scripture study, I've asked the question: how does this point me towards Christ? I will start here tomorrow. I will also be asking additional questions based off of what I am reading.
The ability to ask questions is an attribute of divinity, and is a teaching of Christ. Ask, and it shall given you. (3 Nephi 14:7)
---
Going back to verse 12, the very first thing that Alma says is that it is the Spirit of the Lord that is speaking to him. Parenting is most effective when done under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord. That is the crux or the essence of all action. (See also "When the Lord Commands, Do It.")
---
Alma councils his son to seek not after riches or the vain things of this world. And then he adds this little exclamation point, "for behold, you cannot carry them with you." (verse 14)
What are "riches"?
- Money, gold, excesses that go beyond the necessities of life?
What are "the vain things of this world"?
- fame, a personal "style", excessive ornamentation, decoration, space, time wasters, entertainments,
Why does the Savior teach in the Sermon on the Mount the following?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Matthew 5:31-32)So if riches and vanities are the worldly distractions that keep us from the things of eternity, if they are the things that we cannot take with us, what are the things that we do get to take with us? Knowledge and relationships.
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There is a connection between the coming of Christ and the preparation of his people. Alma explains to his son that this was the ministry to which he was called:
...to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.
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