A New Semester

Well, my next semester of Pathway started, so here I am working on some of my assignments.

This week we studied Alma 30-35. These chapters have some great stories and great lessons. One lesson I had never noticed before was one that my instructor pointed out.  Alma and company are going on a mission to the Zoramites. Alma lists off those who are going with him and here is what my teacher had to say about those missionaries.

Alma 31: 6 gives us a nice list of missionaries, and tucked away amongst them we find the name “Zeezerom.”  And not only do we find his name, but look again at who his companion is. Amulek!!!  

And herein, greatest saints, we find an amazing foundational message for our day.The message: What true forgiveness means when the Atonement of Christ is applied.

Brothers and Sisters, Zeezerom was a real skunk.  Amulek refers to him as a “child of hell.”  The death of women and children were a result of his unrighteous efforts.  And yet, somehow Amulek’s teachings stuck somewhere in his soul and went to work on him.  His heart was changed to the point he tried stopping the martyrdom of those innocent souls and was cast out of the city for his efforts. 

My teacher also talks about how the atonement allowed Amulek to forgive Zeezerom and work with him to bring others to Christ.

I loved the lesson and I don't think I would have noticed it, if it hadn't been pointed out to me. It strengthens my testimony of the power of the atonement and how it can truly change us and truly allow us to forgive others.

I learned another lesson about prayer through one of the "Digging Deeper" videos. It's about the prayer that Alma offers after he sees the Zoramites praying on the Rameumptom. The Zoramites offered a prayer basically stating, "We thank thee God for making us better than our brethren, we know we're awesome, Thanks." and then they went home and didn't talk of God again all week, till they came back to offer the same payer again. They don't ask the Lord for anything or try to communicate with Him, they just talk at Him

This is juxtaposed with the prayer that Alma offers in Alma 31.  Where he states the following if verses 30-32.

30 O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities....
 31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.
 32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me....

Alma's prayer talks of his feelings and asks for help. He is communicating with our Heavenly Father. He also doesn't ask for his trials or troubles to be taken away. He instead asks for help in dealing with and overcoming those trials. I like the lesson that true prayer is heartfelt and is actually communication with our Heavenly Father.