Sunday School 27 - Alma 23-29

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It seems that this week and last week were about conversion. I also noted how the people were convicted to the gospel, that is to say, locked in. Having conviction to do good. In seeing their own guilt they destroyed and buried the things that defined them as Lamanites and changed their personal direction.

In the scriptures there are those that use Opinion as a tool to beat, destroy or change Conversion. The one asks for no commitment and the other asks for whole comment. When we are converted we are spiritually changed from one state to another, a metamorphosis, if you will. When we have an opinion, it can be rooted in facts, lies, truth and falsehoods but it is not committing to anything or anyone and can be changed in a second. God doesn't ask what our opinion of him is but asks for our hope and faith. He wants our deepest desire. For me, I want a million dollars and that is based on opinions of money. I also want the Celestial Kingdom and that is rooted in a love of the Savior and connection to eternal things. See the difference?

War with sin requires Constraint (action) and Restraint (avoidance). At times we need to know when to put in walls and break walls down. We put in our own boarders by break relationships, avoiding places, praying for strength and studying scriptures and the words of prophets. We must be navigating with open eyes, the thing that would pull us away from the Savior while attempting to navigate towards him. A weird careful balance.

How do we identify ourselves? The word Anti in AntiNephiLehi meant (Egyptian) = belonging or (Hebrew) = facing

AntiNephiLehi show heritage and commit. What names do we take upon ourselves. Our parents named us, wifes take the surname of their husbands, in the temple we get names, we take the name of Christ through covenant. Names have purpose.  We don't choose them nessisarily but when we know what they mean, we can see what our parents (the giver of the name) wanted for us in the name. My name is Henry Nathan. Henry means leader or king. Nathan means gift. The early years, my name was something to address me. Now days, I try to be my name; I try to lead with the spirit and be a gift of light and a smile to others. I would encourage you to look into your name also. 

You can bury your sins deep like burying the sins of war deep! Uprooting the sin and burying the catalyst is important to turn to God. The leader of the Lamanites asked the desire to sin be uprooted. King of the Lamanites had money and fine living but when he had learned there was more he said...

(Alma 22:15) "...What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."

Do we beat our swords into plowshares or bury them out of sight or do we put them over the fireplace like a gun or sword that can be used again and again... just in case? Are our sins like the vomit that the dog returns to over and over (Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22)? Are we willing to give up our lives, money, talents and time? I hope so. Repentance and building a relationship with Heavenly Father should be daily. We should use it (our time and talent) like a sailor uses a compass. If we are directing our life as best we can to Christ, we will see the reward. Maybe not in this life but we will not be left out. 

In one apple how many seeds are there? Can you count them? Now a new question, in one seed how many apples are there? Can you count them? When we serve the Savior by serving our fellow man, we spread seeds. You should think that you are always spreading seeds. Are they seeds of malice and discontent or of joy and friendship. Do your seeds encourage or are they like weeds and destroy and choke. Alma and the sons of Mosiah gave us a story that show change. Change for them was hard but it brought fruit fit for the kingdom to be stored in the silos of God never to be corrupted or destroyed again (Alma 26:5-7). Yes, some converts died by fire and the sword, but they died unto the Lord, to be given peace and rest. Others lived their example forgiving others and continuing in their repentance.

Take a look this week at these scriptures. Alma 19:16, 19:31, 22:23, 23:6, 23:8, 23:13, 24:6 (converted to the Savior). Take some time to reflect on your conversation. The Savior loves you; our Father loves you, and though it isn't said often, I am sure the Holy Ghost loves you too. We have great people on our side, thank God for that. Thank Him in your prayers, show it in your fast and testimony meeting and work to show it in your countinance is my prayer for all of us, brothers and sisters, in His name that seeks to redeem us, even Jesus Christ, amen.