"And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off."
When I think of this story of Alma the younger my impression was that the angel appeared because of the prayers of his father. It has helped me pray for my wayward children.
This time as I read it I could see it was more than that. Alma and the sons of Mosiah were destroying the church, the members were oppressed and also praying that this would stop. It was more than just the prayers of a father that caused the Lord God to send an angel to Alma and the sons of Mosiah. What the objective was is to stop the destruction of the church, even if that meant that Alma of himself was destroyed. What an incredible lesson in your nothingness before God.
"O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.
For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God.
(Helaman 12:7-8)
Why am I less than the dust of the earth? It's because even dust is strictly obedient to the will of the Lord. In the order of obedience man is lower than the dust.
"And if the Lord shall say - Because of thine iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence - he will cause that it shall be so.
And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be save, that repentance been declared.
Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved."
(Helaman 12:21-23)
What an amazing blessing was given to Alma and the sons of Mosiah. They learned of their nothingness before God. After that is understood they could become an instrument for good in His hands when they repented.
Day 1856
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