And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.
My calling will help the teachers consecrate their work. He will show me what I need to do.
And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.
If I listen, I will be taught what I need to know.
Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek.
If things are not going the way I want, I can ask to know how to correct the situation.
And it came to pass that the judge stood before them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.
Whatever uncomfortable situation I am in, He can help me navigate it if I ask for His help
And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
If I need to change my mind about something, He can give me the power to do it.
And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures.
I can find many answers in words that are already written.
"6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
Down, but not out. Jesus keeps us from going out - we only go out if we feel like we're all alone. Feeling like I'm not alone frees me to focus on my blessings.
Even when the burden is not lifted, the weight of it can be lifted prior to the granting of the requested blessing.
"3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation."
Sufferings make us better comforters. That's why Christ suffered all - in case someone who suffered that particular one isn't available. He is the master key of comfort.
What is the difference between feeling like I'm the only one carrying a burden, and feeling like I'm not alone in carrying a burden? What difference does feeling "not alone" make, and why?
Psychological visibility...
""The ability to trust others and the ability to develop attachments are closely related," Svendsen notes. "Lack of trust produces a caution that undermines the immediacy that is so important in our attachment to others." In order to build meaningful connections, we have to have some basic level of trust. "People with low generalized trust do not necessarily view others as malicious, but rather as risky - as people who could hurt them," Svendsen points out, and "mistrust prevents you from reaching outside yourself." With loneliness as a likely result."
Someone who's been through what I've been through can be trusted not to hit the sore spots the trial has left, because he knows what they are and how to avoid them. He's safe.
And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book.
I should write down the most important words.
And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh;
It's going to get better. He can help me find a way forward.
Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
I can be kind. He can help me know how.
And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word.
He will fill me with His peace if I ask
Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.
I should check to see if my heart is hard.
Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written.
I should recognize wonderful things in other people and appreciate them.
And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?
I should come to learn and embrace that which is good
"Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is."
Source: The Old Man and the Sea
And an amnor of silver was as great as two senums.
With His guidance, I can exchange my time for kindness and knowledge
Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ.
I should choose spiritual progress as my object. He will help me attain it as I strive.
But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?
I should exert extra focus on communicating important messages
But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.
Intercessory prayer has power, and I can use it to bless people's lives.
Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.
I should listen for His voice, and follow through on what I hear.
For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.
I should speak words to bless people's lives.
Now these are the words which Amulek preached unto the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
I should listen to His words and decide what He's asking me to do
And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood forth, and began to preach unto them also. And now the words of Amulek are not all written, nevertheless a part of his words are written in this book.
I should make sure I'm happy with the sermon my life is preaching.
Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation;
I should seek to Hear Him and do
Satan depart. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Peace
Alert and refreshed at 5am
Thank you
Yea, and if it had not been for his matchless power, and his mercy, and his long-suffering towards us, we should unavoidably have been cut off from the face of the earth long before this period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state of endless misery and woe.
He can help me make it through trials if I ask.
And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them.
He can give me power to speak the truth if I ask
And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away.
I should listen for the word to come to me and do it.
And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was filled; and he blessed Amulek and his house, and he gave thanks unto God.
I should be grateful for the things in my life.
And it came to pass that the man received him into his house; and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and meat and set before Alma.
I should invite good things into my life. He can show me what to do with them.
Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions.
I know who I am and why I'm here. He will help me if I need strength to live accordingly
What it looks like in practice is being kind to the person in front of me.
In principle, it's the willingness to be kind to the person in front of me.
That's what loving everyone actually means.
Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.
I should try mighty prayer.
And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
Even if things have been rough until now, I have the ability to turn things around in ANY given moment if I ask for His help.
And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
I should work to do His will. He will help me if I ask
For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight.
I am walking a good road. I should ask for His help to stay on it.
And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
I can use the power of the Holy Ghost to change my life for the better
