Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:16, 34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:16, 34-35

"Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.

O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren again unto thee."

In this chapter Alma leads a mission to the Zoramites. There he and his fellow missionaries to their great astonishment witness the perverted way the Zoramites worship in their synagogue. They would climb upon the high tower called the Rameumptom seat offering the same prayer. In this chapter it explains how this had came about, for they were once members of the church. 

"But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes, according to the law of Moses.

Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation."

(Almas 31:9-10)

This does make me appreciate the Handbook of Instructions being placed online by the church prior to this pandemic happening. For the people all can read it and not fall into gross errors and practices in the way that they worship in their homes. 

What struck me this time in reading the chapter was the vast difference between the Zoramites prayer and the prayer by Alma. It's sounds like the Zoramites are reciting the articles of faith instead of praying. They are giving statements of their beliefs to God. In fact I count five times they tell God what they believe, and never once ask God a questions or ask for his assistance in their lives, or the lives of others. They instead state how they have been elected above others and only then thank God for that in the closing of their prayer. Yeah, that would be a rather astonishing prayer to hear. 

In contrast Alma's prayer is full of desire on how they can help their brethren come to the truth. He does tell God what he is witnessing among the people and how sorrowful his heart is over it. He asks for comfort for his soul, and the souls of those serving with him. In all of Alma's prayer you see a personal relationship and need for his God. Where as the Zoramites have totally shut God out of their lives. This really reinforces the need for daily personal prayer, and how not having it we can shut God out of our lives.  

Day 1889