I was reading the story in Alma 32 about Alma and the Zoramites. Alma goes and sees that the rich people are worshipping just for show and are prideful in their vain repetitions and costly apparel. He sees them praying only once a week for just a few minutes, standing on the infamous rameumptom and saying blasphemous prayers.
Well, then Alma preaches to the people and those who are poor listen to him. They have been cast out of their synagogues and are despised because of their poverty. I've read this story multiple times, but this time, I was surprised by Alma's bluntness. He tells them straight out that even though they have been kicked out because of the "courseness of their apparel" and their "poverty as to the things of the world," they can still worship and pray in their homes and private places more than just once a week. He goes on to say that it is good that they have been cast out because they have been compelled to be humble; however, immediately after this, he says that "because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word? Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty." (Alma 32:14-15) This caught me off guard because it seemed like Alma gave them a compliment, then took it back. As I thought about this, I realized that he wasn't retracting a compliment, but rather could say this to the humble people because (1) they were willing to repent, (2) they had been prepared to hear these words, and (3) he was the prophet and could tell them whatever he wanted.
Alma goes on to discuss knowledge vs. belief and what most people know this chapter to be about: Faith. My question for you is "What can we do each day to become humble of our own accord instead of being compelled to be humble?" Any thoughts or suggestions?
remembering to thank Heavenly father for everything in our lives...remembering that it is he who gve us everything and it is he who can take it away....by remembering that he gives us everything I think that tht should help us to be humble because if you don't take credit for everything than you cannot become prideful....
ReplyDeleteSarah Roberts
It meant so much to me today to look on your blog and see this very post. As my baptism draws nearer, I am left to repent for many things I have buried. It is a painful process and to be honest, I am a little surprised that it came up for me now. I have realized my life focus has been pointed the worng direction many times. I have been thinking of Alma a lot lately especially the repentance unto baptism. Just another reassurance to me as is your post that I am making the right choice! I am grateful to The Gospel and the chance we all have to become more Christ-like each day that we live. Thanks for the thought!
ReplyDeleteI haven't mastered this yet either but I pose the same question every time I read this part in the scriptures. I think the most important is staying close to the Lord. As we do the little things on a daily basis--read the scriptures, pray, magnify our callings, attend church weekly, etc--we the Lord will bless us with a greater ability to be humble. Once we start straying from these things we begin to be more prideful because we don't have the Spirit with us as much to help us in our quest.
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