Sunday School 23 - Alma 5-7

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Remember remember remember... How many times are we asked to remember our Savior's sacrifice and those that serve Him both his saints and prophets. In Alma chapter 5, the Prophet Alma reminded Zarahemla of the struggles and how God had bailed them out of their trials. Bail means paid debt, brothers and sisters, or that a debt need to be paid. Your struggles are lightened because your paid bail allows angels to attend you; it allows the Holy Ghost to be your constant companion. He pointed out everything has a price.

Alma the prophet then asks us to image, image, image. Alma imagined a death without redemption and then got to imagine one with it. The sins that set us back should scare you but that should turn and correct your course. 

Repentance is a fresh view of God and the World. This should lead us to repentance. Said Steven W Own, in his talk, Repentance is always Positive, in 2017...

"Too often we think of repentance as something miserable and depressing. But God’s plan is the plan of happiness, not the plan of misery! Repentance is uplifting and ennobling. It’s sin that brings unhappiness. Repentance is our escape route! As Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained: “Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. … Only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation. Repentance … points us to freedom, confidence, and peace.” My message to all—especially to the youth—is that repentance is always positive. When we speak of repentance, we aren’t just talking about self-improvement efforts. True repentance is more than that—it is inspired by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to forgive our sins. As Elder Dale G. Renlund has taught us, “Without the Redeemer, … repentance becomes simply miserable behavior modification.” We can try to change our behavior on our own, but only the Savior can remove our stains and lift our burdens, enabling us to pursue the path of obedience with confidence and strength. The joy of repentance is more than the joy of living a decent life. It’s the joy of forgiveness, of being clean again, and of drawing closer to God. Once you’ve experienced that joy, no lesser substitute will do." 

In the previous week we learned (Alma 3:27) "For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey." If we work to repentant, our reward is a redemption and eternal yoke with the one that saves us all.  

When Alma was talking in chapter five, the saints had lost motivation and had to be reminded and called to rememberance whillst the saints at Gideon remember the journey of their internal conversion and the joy it gave. Because of that they receive more light and knowledge. At times, we are going through the paces; we forget that God wants us to see prayer and scripture study with joy (happiness as a result of hard work) and gladness (immediate joy). Such things as saying your testimony or pouring your heart in prayer should not discourage you but spark you daily to recognize how much the Holy Ghost is so close to you he only needs to whisper.

We are shared a moment of what the Savior has done for us when it is said in Alma 7:11-12...

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

How do we bind ourselves in all holiness? Elder Bednar said in October 2021 in his talk, With the Power of God in Great Glory...

"Covenant promises and blessings are possible only because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He invites us to look to Him, come unto Him, learn of Him, and bind ourselves to Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel. I testify and promise that honoring covenants arms us with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory."

Many of us have talents that we have forgotten the full power we had on them I was called to remember and imagine the piano that I had forgotten. The same could be said for my relationships. I took the time to call friends I had forgotten and like a forgotten melody, the spark of love and friendship came back. If you have forgotten what it was like to really pray or really study the scriptures, take a moment and pray and give thanks and ask how you can make it happen again.

So while you are struggling remember "Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, sometimes he calms the sailor." Stand strong for others and for truth and if you cannot stand, kneel for yourself and pray for others. 

Have a great week.