Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah
The scriptural
account of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah is well known and dearly
loved by many members of the Church. Indeed, the story of the angelic
visitation which changed them from “wicked[ness] and idolat[ry]” to “preaching
the word of God” and “impart[ing] much consolation to the church” teaches many
profound lessons (Mosiah 27: 8; 32-33). It hints at the redemptive power of our
Savior’s sacrifice and shows both how far his arms can reach to rescue the
fallen as well as the depth of his willingness to forgive those who truly
repent. Recall that these men were not ‘good people’ who made some mistakes.
They were literally enemies of the church who did everything in their power to
destroy it. And yet our Savior’s “grace [was] sufficient” that even they were redeemed
(2 Corinthians 12: 9 King James Version).
While an examination
of these individuals could be stopped here and still leave us much to consider,
continuing the accounts of their lives yields a wealth of other spiritual
lessons. This evening I will briefly examine the subsequent few years following
their conversions and in doing so, speak of one such lesson. I begin with Alma
the Younger.
Alma the Younger
The scriptural
account tells us that soon after his conversion, Alma the Younger was chosen as
the Chief Judge over the land and the High Priest over the church (see Mosiah
29). The first year of his reign was so successful, and he so spiritually
powerful, that he contended with and completely confounded the anti-Christ
Nehor and established peace among all the people. We also learn that the
previous trend of having large numbers of church members led away into sin by
unbelievers was reversed: “the church prosper[ed]” (Alma 1: chapter heading).
While Alma the Younger
would go on to accomplish many great and notable things, my examination
purposely stops here, which by the reckoning of the scriptures is about 90 BC.
But even stopping prematurely after just the first year of Alma’s reign shows
an almost unparalleled transition. He had methodically and purposely tried to
destroy the church and undermine the faith of its members. But then, what an
ascent he experienced! From the vilest sinner being rebuked by an angel to
becoming the Chief Judge over all the people and the High Priest over the whole
church! Surely there can be doubt that Alma’s repentance was sincere and that
the Lord had accepted his offering and forgiven him.
Ammon
Ammon’s experience
is similar. After the visit of the angel and his own repentance, Ammon went to
preach the gospel to the Lamanites. As he journeyed he met Lamoni who was king
over the entire land of Ishmael ( see Alma 17). He was strengthened and
protected by the power of God while defending the king’s sheep. He also
discerned the king’s thoughts without him saying a word (see Alma 18), converted
Lamoni and many of his people to the gospel (see Alma 19) and sparked interest
in Lamoni’s father, an even greater king who was later baptized (see Alma 20).
Like Alma the Younger,
Ammon too went on to accomplish many significant things. But as with Alma, my examination
of Ammon’s experience purposely stops here: about 90 BC by the reckoning of the
scriptures. But as was the case with Alma, stopping the review of Ammon’s
experience prematurely still leaves little question whether he had sincerely
repented and received the forgiveness of the Lord. He converted kings and
kingdoms, received strength to slay his enemies and was protected that he “could
not be slain” (Alma 19:23)!
Aaron
As we examine the
account of Aaron, however, we witness a sharp contrast to the experiences of
Alma the Younger and Ammon. Remember that Aaron had gone about with the others
in actively trying to ruin the church and destroy the faith of the righteous. He
was just as ‘wicked’ and ‘idolatrous’ as the others. Yet he also beheld the
angel, repented of his sins and changed his life.
So what do we know
about Aaron’s experience following the angelic visitation?
Was he appointed
to a position of power as was Alma?
No. From the
scriptural account we learn that Aaron rejected his father’s throne and refused
to be king even though he had been chosen by the voice of the people. In fact,
it was Aaron’s refusal to become king that led to Alma being chosen as Chief
Judge. Instead Aaron, like Ammon set out on a mission to the unbelieving
Lamanites.
So was he able to convert kings while being
strengthened and protected to the overpowering of his enemies as was Ammon?
No. Instead, the
scriptural record tell us that the Lamanites “had cast [Aaron] out, and had
smitten [him]” (Alma 20: 30). Note here that the word smite means to “strike with a heavy blow” which in Aaron’s case was
probably closer to a severe beating rather than the quick slap to the face most
of us envision when we hear the word smite
(smite, 2009). The scriptures also say that he had been “driven…from house to
house, and from place to place, even until…[he was] taken and cast into prison,
and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days”. But why stop
there? Aaron also had his clothing taken from him that he “[was] naked, and
[his] skin [was] worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And
[he] also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions” (Alma 20:
29-30).
This short account
of Aaron’s brings us to the same point in time that was used to examine Alma
the Younger and Ammon: 90 BC. It also provides a sharp contrast to their
experiences subsequent to the visitation of the angel.
At roughly the
same time that Alma was being elected Chief Judge and High Priest over the
church, confounding anti-Christs and establishing peace among all the Nephites…
And at roughly the
same time that Ammon was being protected from thieves by the power of God,
discerning King Lamoni’s thoughts and converting the king and many of his
people…
At roughly this
same time Aaron was being severely physically beaten, starved of all food and
deprived of all drink, driven out of place after place and thrown into prison without
cause for long periods of time. And probably in an attempt to add insult to
injury and humiliate him, Aaron was stripped of all his clothing so that he was
naked as well.
Starved nearly to
death, badly injured from physical abuse, having open and raw callouses on his
wrists and ankles, exhausted both physically and emotionally, naked and at
least a little discouraged, not knowing if he would ever be freed from jail or
if his present condition would remain until his dying breath, we have no way of
knowing exactly how Aaron felt during this time. Yet, I feel that it may be
beneficial for us to step inside his head for a moment and consider what he may have thought or felt to himself.
Is it possible
that Aaron wondered as would Joseph Smith thousands of years later “O God,
where art thou...How long shall thy hand be stayed…Yea, O Lord, how long shall
[I] suffer these wrongs and oppressions” (D&C 121: 1-3)?
Or could he have
asked as did our Savior “My God, my god, why has thou forsaken me” (Mark 15:
34)?
In contemporary
language, perhaps he may have asked himself “Why is this happening to me, especially
while my brothers and friends are being blessed beyond measure? Their sins were
as grievous as were mine. And my repentance has been every bit as sincere as
has theirs. So how is it that Alma has the ability to completely confound the
wicked and Ammon has the strength and protection to defeat his enemies while I
am surrounded by the unrighteous who seem to have full sway over me. I can
neither convince them of their errors nor protect myself from their abuses. Is
my faith simply insufficient or am I just not righteous enough?”
Allotments
Yet for our
benefit, the scriptural account of Aaron’s suffering contains a full and
complete explanation that answers all of these questions. Indeed, we are told
exactly why Aaron was required to endure as he did while those around him
enjoyed success. Speaking directly of Aaron, the scriptures say that “as it
happened, it was [his] lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and
a more stiffnecked people” (Alma 20: 30).
‘It was [his] lot’;
those four words provide all the instruction necessary. They also contain a
spiritual concept that is both profound and true. Aaron’s trials among the
Lamanites, though not what he may have hoped for or expected, were not God
punishing him for past mistakes. Nor had God abandoned him nor was his
repentance incomplete or his faith insufficient.
Rather, Aaron’s
suffering occurred simply because it
was his lot. Throughout his suffering, Aaron was blessed with the
things he needed, but not necessarily the things which he wanted.
Significance for Us
Does this spiritual
concept of allotments hold any significance for us?
Have you ever felt
as though some aspect of your life was less than desirable through no fault of
your own? Maybe your professional achievements haven’t come as fast or gone as
far as you had hoped even after all the work you’ve put in. Or has your health
seemingly conspired against you despite your best efforts to the contrary?
Perhaps parenting has left you scratching your head because of your children’s’
wrong choices despite your gospel teachings. Maybe for you, marriage and
children haven’t come at all. Whatever your personal situation, please do not
feel that you were given such circumstances because God hasn’t forgiven you for
past mistakes. Please don’t think that He has abandoned you. And certainly you
should not believe that God is punishing you. As was the case with Aaron
centuries ago, many of the trials and challenges we face, indeed the very life
circumstances many of us are given, come about simply because it is our lot. As part of our
allotments, we will receive the blessings we need, but not necessarily the ones
which we want.
The concept of
allotments is so central to the Plan of Salvation that Jesus Himself spoke of
it while on the Earth. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind
from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this
man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this
man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest
in him” (John 9: 1-3). In other words, nobody did anything wrong to cause the
man’s blindness. It was simply his lot.
Now, it is true
that sin and transgression have negative effects that are both tangible and
real. But I am not referring to people who persist in their sins, seek to
justify their transgressions and then wonder why they aren’t happy. If that is
you, then repent and change your ways as did Alma, Ammon and Aaron. I promise
that as you do so you will find a peace of mind and conscience that far surpasses
any momentary pleasure or joy you obtain thru your rebellion. No instead, I am
speaking of people who earnestly seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ –
even with all of their imperfections, who strive daily to keep the commandments
- even though they often fall short, and who love God – even though their
actions sometimes indicate differently, but who like Aaron are sometimes left wondering.
It should be noted
here that I am one of these people. I have made mistakes, some of which have
caused me great pain. But as did Alma and the Sons of Mosiah, I have repented
and sought to change. In doing this I have noticed that my circumstances have
sometimes contrasted sharply with those of my peers.
Personal Account
For example, after
marriage most of my friends and family have embarked on a course which can be
best described as attempting to “multiply, and replenish the earth”
single-handedly (Genesis 9: 1). They’ve given birth to multitudes of children
all of whom are lovely in every way. My wife and I have similar desires and in
pursuit of such gave birth to a daughter in 2006 and a son in 2011. Our
daughter has grown up perfectly bringing much joy into our lives. And while our
son also brought us immeasurable joy, he was born with a previously
undiscovered form of a rare metabolic disorder which eventually resulted in his
death. No words can express the depth of my grief or the breadth of my sorrow
over his passing. It is sufficient to
say that my son Drew’s death has tried me in much the same way that Aaron’s
sufferings must have tried him. Despite knowing better, I admit that in my
quiet moments of introspection I have at times wondered whether Drew’s death
was some form of punishment for my past transgressions or if perhaps he was
taken because God doesn’t trust me as a father.
I have since come
to the realization, not intellectually - but spiritually, that my son’s death
was simply part of my mortal allotment. There was nothing that I did or did not
do that prompted God to call Drew back to Him. It was my lot all along. Throughout
this experience and subsequent to Drew’s death I have been blessed with the
things I needed, but not necessarily the things which I wanted.
Though I wanted my
son to be healed and remain here as part of my family, I was instead blessed
with an unshakable reassurance that because he was born in the covenant he is
eternally bound to me by a power that even death cannot sever.
As I have
struggled to accept Drew’s death I have been introduced to another spiritual
concept that is akin to that of Allotments. Alma the Younger spoke of it
roughly fourteen years after his angelic visitation at a time when his craving
to bless the lives of others resulted in him desiring to “speak with the trump
of God” so that he could “declare unto every soul, as with the voice of
thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption…that there might not be more
sorrow upon all the face of the earth” (Alma 2921). Despite having the best of
intentions, Alma immediately recognized that his wish was actually sinful. Said
he, “behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with
the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me” (Alma 29:3).
Contentment
As did Aaron, Alma
knew well the gospel concept of Allotments, but perhaps more importantly Alma
understood the importance of its companion principle: Contentment. He knew that
happiness does not come as we desire to usurp the allotments of those around us,
remember the commandment “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17); but rather as
we humbly accept the allotments that a loving Heavenly Father has given us.
Happiness and contentment come from performing where we’re assigned; not from
changing the assignment. Eventually we all must come to accept or reject the
roles we have been assigned here on earth. Elder Neal A Maxwell once said that
“contentment is more than shoulder-shrugging passivity. It reflects our
participative assent rather than uncaring resignation…[it is]…acceptance
without self-pity” (Maxwell, 2000, para 27).
Finding
contentment is a process that I believe is custom tailored to each individual.
It is a personal journey that each of us must undergo in his or her own
separate way. And yet I can tell you a few things that I have realized on my
own personal journey…which is not yet complete.
Finding Contentment
First, I can tell
you that finding contentment does not come from casual involvement in the
gospel. Becoming content involves the whole soul. It requires all of who and what you are. You
cannot go about it half-heartedly and expect full results to follow.
Second, truly
achieving contentment only comes as we allow our wills to become swallowed up
in the will of our Father. Because “no man can serve two masters” we must
choose whether to pursue our own selfish course or to “take [Christ’s] yoke
upon [us]” (Matthew 6:24; Matthew 11: 29). In making our choice we should
remember that “[His] yoke is easy, and [His] burden is light” (Matthew 11: 30).
My third and final
point extends from the previous two. It was evidenced by our Savior’s
experience as He sought to offer His own whole soul and as He allowed His own
will to become swallowed up in the Father’s. Said He in Gethsemane, “O my Father,
if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done”
(Matthew 26:42). Regarding this experience the resurrected Christ said that the
“suffering caused [Himself], even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because
of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit”
(Doctrine & Covenants 19:18).
The final point I
am trying to make is that finding contentment isn’t easy. In fact, there will
be times along your journey when you will be required to give more than you are
able…and that is the point. It is then that you will be driven to your knees.
It is then that you will be forced to turn to the Savior and His atonement will
be allowed to take over. “[His] grace [will become] sufficient for [you]; for
[His] strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12: 9).
Cessation and Exaltation
We should always remember
as was evidenced by the account of Aaron, that the trials and challenges we
face as part of our allotments always come to a close. For Aaron, the end came
as he was rescued by Ammon (see Alma 20). For Nephi who had been tied up by his
older brothers while crossing the ocean to the Promised Land, the end came as
“the bands were loosed from off [his] hands and feet” (1 Nephi 7:18). And for
the innocent wives and children who were “cast into the fire” and burned by the
people of Ammonihah, the end came as “the Lord receive[d] them up unto himself
in glory” (Alma 14:11).
However and
whenever our allotted trials end we are assured that if we have “endure[d] it
well, God shall exalt [us] on high” where our contentment and joy will be full
as we “rest from all [our] troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (D&C
121: 8: Alma 40: 12).
It is our acceptance
with contentment or rejection with disdain of our assigned lots that ultimately
determines our own final standing. “For…[God] granteth unto men according to
their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea…he allotteth unto
men…according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto
destruction” (Alma 29: 4).
I bear testimony
of the principles I have shared this evening. I testify that for each of us,
our Allotments were custom tailored, individually and personally, by a loving
Heavenly Father whose sole intention is to “bring to pass [our] immortality and
[our] eternal life” (Moses 1: 39). I share my witness that Jesus Christ is His
literal Son and that He atoned for our sins and bore our afflictions. I testify
that it is only thru His power that ultimate Contentment can come. This
Contentment is made possible by our adherence to the teachings and example He
shared. As we strive to become content with our allotments we will find that
“when [the Savior] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is” (1 John 3: 2).
In the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
References
Maxwell,
Neal A (2000). Content With The Things Allotted Unto Us. Retrieved April 12,
2013 from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ website: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/content-with-the-things-allotted-unto-us?lang=eng
smite
(n.d.). Collins English Dictionary -
Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved August 09, 2013, from
Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/smite
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