My takeaways from The Book of Mormon chapters Alma 43 to 63

Putting it all Together Assignment. Lesson 03

This week we were to study Alma 43 through Alma 63.

Some students were calling these the war chapters. I can see why, but War is found through out the scriptures. So I personal am not labeling them as such.

So what outcomes did I personal get from reading this block of scriptures?

I found the strength of Captain Moroni to be a great example of trusting in the Lord. He knew that Alma was shown the strategies of the other army and had the protection of God on his side.

*Alma 43:  23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

 24 And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching roundabout in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.

I also found strength in the mothers of the young men fighting with Moroni. They prayed for their sons and their safe return home.

Alma 56: 47 49: 52-56

  47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

 48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

 49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.

52 And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when Helaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.

 53 Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.

 54 And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war.

 55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.

 56 But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.

There is a lot of fighting going on in these chapters, but what I see happening is the the leaders that believe in God and Kept his commandments had given their enemies many chances to give up with only the promise of not waging war against them they would let them live and the enemies never chose the easy way.

Any additional thoughts from my classmates? I would love to hear others takeaways from these chapters.

*Footnote: Scriptures posted here are copied and pasted from lds.org 

Putting it all Together Assignment.
This semester in my Book of Mormon class (FDREL 122G) we are studying the second half of the Book of Mormon Alma 30 through Moroni 10. When I say studying I mean studying not reading. I have read the book of Mormon a few times now over the last 12 years and have receive a testimony of the truthfulness of the contents. Now I am starting to understand what our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to learn and do after reading the scriptures held with in it.
Part of our learning this semester is to teach others what we are learning. The BYU-I teaching model has teaching each other as part of our learning. When we are able to teach others what we are learning it shows we are understanding what we are being taught. See, If you can't teach someone else what you have learned you really have not understood the materials fully. I am not talking about the fear of talking to someone. See with teach someone else it can be someone who is very close to you. It could be your best friend, son, daughter, wife, husband, mom or even your dad. Anyone you know will tell you if they understand what you are trying to teach. They might not agree with you but that is ok. Everyone has their own opinion.
Ok, this semester I will be posting things I am learning and I hope to write about people I have tried to teach what I am learning (With their permission.)
Please post any insights that you have or questions you may have to me and I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.
I am hoping my fellow Pathway students from my gathering class will also be posting to my blog this semester. I do not know of or if any will participate, but I am hoping to get more views and or readers to this blog. I may have started this blog as a class assignment last semester, but I am hoping it turns it to a positive place for everyone to come and learn from each other.
This week we read from the Book of Mormon Alma 30 to 35. I want to talk about Alma 31:8 through 16 and the false teachings and practices of the Zoramites. It reads:
*Alma 31: 8-16, 8 Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them.

 9 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.

 10 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.

 11 Yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord in very many instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them.

 12 Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never beheld;

 13 For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person.

 14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:

 15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

 16 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.

What I believe are false teaching and practices being taught or being done were these. They taught you could only pray in the synagogues. They did not keep the Law of Moses which are the 10 commandments. They taught others that there was not Christ. They felt for this reason they were they chosen people of God. 

Now please read the rest of Alma 31, then read 32 and 33. 

Now I am not posting those scriptures here (It would make a long post a very long post). I want to finish with a short summary of what I found to be what is still being taught to us today. He taught the people who where cast out of the synagogues that they could pray and worship God anywhere and everywhere at any time. You do not worship or pray to God just one day of the week in one place only. He also told them to read and study the scriptures which they had at the time. He also taught them to have faith in Jesus Christ.

This is all for now please feel free to add to other teachings that you find being taught in these chapters. Remember please to be nice to everyone as if we were talking one on one with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

*Footnote: Scriptures posted here are copied and pasted from lds.org 

I would like to be more like Christ in all ways

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-001-christlike-attributes?lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-001-christlike-attributes?lang=eng

Look to the Light.

What I got from watching the Mormon Message – "Look to the Light" video.

 https://youtu.be/Aup9M5HZawI

“Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time”

“The world has a chance to change. The world can become what Jesus intended it to be from the beginning. The world has a chance to except his love and follow him.” Sal, Contractor, New Jersey, USA“

 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12: 46

What does this mean? If light is Jesus Christ what is Darkness, The Devil? I'm going with this theory and running with it. I hope it's not like running with scissors.  I believe that if we have Jesus Christ in our life the Devil can not really harm us unless we let him in. If we do that the the light of Christ will become darker in us. Jesus Christ will keep on shinning brighter than we can comprehend. That is why we have a savior to rescue us. Jesus was born so man can be saved. At any moment we have and can be saved by excepting Jesus Christ and his love. We can all repent it is never to late. Would it not be the greatest gift we can give our Heavenly Father is that all my receive his atoning sacrifice and return to him? I say yes. Please be kind to one another no matter what you believe. Kindness can not hurt you or the one whom is receiving that kindness.

Book of Mormon; Mosiah 3: 19

Reads: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth sumit to his father.”

Let us ponder this verses as I had to for a class assignment this week. We were asked to answer the following questions as it related to this verse.

Question 1. How does the Atonement allow you to overcome the natural man?

Question 2. Why is it only through the Atonement of Christ that you can become a Saint?

Is the answer as simple as just naming off the list in the scripture? Could be, but what would we learn from that. Might I suggest another idea? I’d like to find the meaning of these words as they are being used in the verse. These are my definitions so I may be wrong. This is why I’d like your thoughts on this verse.

1.     Yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit. = Listens for and then do as The spirits directs.

2.     Putteth off the natural man. = Not letting the physical body determine my actions.

3.     Becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. = Believing in Christ and his role as my redeemer.

4.     Becometh as a child, = teachable

5.     submissive = will to listen

6.     meek = know that there is a higher power

7.     humble = Not being prideful and think I can do it all by myself

8.     patient = Waiting for the Lords timeline

9.     full of love = Loving all as he has loved us.

10.  will to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him = Being thankful for all my blessings and trails and know they are all for my benefit to grow.

11.  even as a child submits to his father = a way of showing respect to the one who gave me this mortal body to be tested.

Well I hope I am on the right track here. Please feel free to engage in creative responses to learning as we all move toward our heavenly goals. Please respectful to all who post on this blog.

Thank you,
Kevin