But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.
I can if I think I can, and then ask for His help
And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.
Belief that I am able to get what I want is the first and necessary step to obtaining it.
And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
What will I forsake? Will I give up my anger and sadness?
And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.
Everything I hear can be of a help to me. He will show me how to apply my efforts to succeed, if I ask.
And also, what is this that Ammon said—If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day?
I can ponder scriptures and find a way to understand how they apply to me.
And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God.
I should listen to the things He tells me, and do them. He will help me if I ask.
And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted.
He can show me where to go, if I ask
And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus they had suffered.
I can make it through hard things. He can help me if I ask
And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.
Contention is always of the devil. Even when it's contention in the name of spreading the word.
And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.
Belief is the only thing that stands between success and failure. He can help me believe if I ask.
And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon.
Whatever hard things I face, He can help me through them if I ask.
And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more
He can help me show great love to others that they can see.
Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.
I can be a King. And I can see. He will help me do both of these things if I ask.
"'Wrath' in this context may be understood as the natural consequences of widespread disobedience to the laws and commandments of God."
Wrath isn't a special punishment, it's the natural consequences already in place.
"Because the very reason the earth was created was so that families could be formed and sealed to each other."
So we can become more like Him. It's probably similar to the premortal organization, except we have bodies.
"...unless the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness..."
"Hence whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful recored of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven..."
On earth, every legal binding is done by someone who has been authorized and given a duly recorded certificate. There is a trail of documentation and evidence that confirms that authority.
Now when his father had heard these words, he was angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to the earth.
I should listen to His words.
And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.
He can help me know where to go and what to do.
Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots.
When I hear a prompting, I should act on it.
And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison.
I should listen to the voice of the Lord, not the litany.
And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
Everything I do can be His work if it's kind.
And it came to pass that there were many among them who said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was sent by the Great Spirit;
I should act as though I had been sent by the Great Spirit, by being suffused with His peace at all times.
Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth.
My prayers should include some thanksgiving
For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit.
Believe that He has the power to elp me change my mind to a useful state.
And it came to pass that he arose, according to the words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto the woman, and said: Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou.
He didn't know the name before, then learned it, and it became an anchor - a gateway to power and redemption and worship. His wife was there loving, ministering, supporting him.
And it came to pass that his servants took him and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss.
I should live so that my loss will be greatly lamented.
And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth?
I should keep my focus on things above the earth.
And he said, Yea.
I should say "yea" to all that life brings me.
Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee.
When I know what I want, I should ask for it.
And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou desirest of me I will grant it unto thee.
I should decide what I want and ask for it.
What's the worst that could happen?
What's the best that could happen?
Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.
It's ok to ask Him for what I want.
And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony of the things which they had done.
I should think about the things He has done for me and be grateful.
And it came to pass that he flattered them by his words, saying: My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us.
I should be of good cheer until proven otherwise
And after he had been in the service of the king three days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with their flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of Sebus, and all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they may have water
I can be a source of spiritual refreshment to those around me.
And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael.
He can help me face whoever I need to face, and find joy in doing so
Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption.
From time to time I should think about why I'm here, and how He can help me accomplish my purpose.
And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.
When I act, that is faith. Blessings will follow
And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.
I can be a good example to those around me.
And now after the church had been established throughout all the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people—thus ended the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
I can be kind for others to see.
That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
Anytime I receive His word, I should feel joy, because I've just been given something that will make my life better.
And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.
Progress in life means going forth. He can help me have the courage to go forth.
Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.
This is why I was called to Sunday School - to strengthen the teachers in their tribulations.
