Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Twenty-Eight

To Convert and Retain - To Activate and Reclaim

A Latter Day Application of Alma 31-35

The principles taught in Alma 31-35 have a powerful application in our day as we work to covert and retain new members or as we activate and reclaim those who have fallen away.

Alma 31 – The grace of Christ is the only way that lives are permenantly changed - The Zoramites had fallen into apostasy, and Alma desired to bring them back to Christ and his church.  Alma knew the word had a more powerful effect upon the people than anything else, therefore he thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue (power) of the word of God” (Vs 5).

Zoramites and the Rameumptom  -  Jerry Thompson

The doctrine of the Zoramites is a composite of many of today’s false beliefs which include:

  1. God always will be a spirit (Vs 15) – This denies Divine Sonship of Christ and his resurrection
  2. “There is no Christ” (Vs 16) – Because they were already holy and without sin there was no need for Christ or for redemption
  3. They were elected to be saved, and all others were elected to be cast down to hell (Vs 17)
  4. Set, self-congratulatory prayers compared to Alma’s humble prayer (Vs 15 – 18, 26 – 35)
  5. They could pray and worship only once a week at church (Vs 23, Alma 32:11)
  6. They were full of pride and materialism (Vs 24 – 28)

Alma 32 – We gain and retain a testimony of Christ through personal spiritual experiences. Alma speaks of faith and proposes an experiment to compare the word of God to a seed

  1. Humility puts us in a state of “preparation to hear the word.”  (Vs 6, 13 – 16)
  2. We can increase our faith by praying at any time or place.  (Vs 11 – 12)
  3. Faith is not to have an absolute or perfect knowledge.  (Vs 17 – 26)
  4. Experiment by comparing the word to a seed, and plant it in our heart.  If it is a good seed we will feel the swelling motions as it grows.  (Vs 27 – 34)
  5. Our physical senses can be misleading.  Vertigo is an example.  Spiritual feelings are more certain, real, and lasting than the physical senses.  Spiritual feelings expand our minds bringing goodness, enlightenment, and knowledge.  (Vs 35)
  6. To obtain the fruit that is most desirable our faith must continue to be nourished by righteousness even in adversity.  (Vs 37 – 43)

Alma Teaching the Zoramites

"...if a seed groweth it is good..." Alma 32:32

"...if a seed groweth it is good..." Alma 32:32

Alma 33 – “No one can know spiritual truths without prayer” (Preach My Gospel, 94) – The Zoramites ask “how they should plant the seed, or the word...in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith” (Vs 1).  Alma answers:

  1. The word is planted by the prayer of faith if we pray to be heard of God, and also by studying the scriptures and the prophets all of which testify of Christ (Vs 2 – 21)
  2. The testimony of Christ is the seed to be planted in our hearts.  Alma gives seven points that constitutes the testimony of Christ:  (1) “Believe in the Son of God, (2) that he will come to redeem his people, (3) and that he shall suffer and die (4) to atone for their sins; (5) and that he shall rise again from the dead, (6) which shall bring to pass the resurrection, (7) that all men shall stand before him, to be judged.  This is the word which if planted in our hearts “will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life” (Vs 22 - 23)

To pray in faith we must understand and believe two fundamental doctrines about prayer:

  1. God is our Father and we are His children – With this understanding “prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part.  Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Prayer).
  2. Prayer is a two way communication between God and man – This is a very unique concept. “Although prayer has a role in many religions and cultures, rarely is prayer considered to be a two way communication between God and man” (Preach My Gospel, p. 39). 

Alma 34 – Amulek emphasizes the need to repent

  1. Amulek adds his testimony to that of Alma’s and to that of Zenos, Zenock, and Moses all of which testified “that the word is in Christ unto salvation” (Vs 1 – 8).
  2. It is necessary that an infinite and eternal atonement be made by the Son of God who is also infinite and eternal (Vs 9 – 14)
  3. It is by faith in Christ and by repentance that “mercy over powereth justice” and “brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption” (Vs 9 – 16).
  4. We exercise faith unto repentance by praying for mercy (Vs 17 – 18)
  5. We are to humble ourselves and continue in prayer for all of our needs  (Vs 19 – 25)
  6. We should pray continually for our welfare and the welfare of others.  This is done by living as we pray.  If we pray for the needy we must be charitable to them or our prayer is in vain and we are as hypocrites who deny the faith.  (Vs 25 – 29)
  7. Faith and repentance, strengthen by prayer, must not be procrastinated.  (Vs 30 – 41)

Alma 35 – Refugees, when given an opportunity, usually become contributing citizens

  1. The Zoramite rulers and priests conspired together to learn who believed in the words of Alma and his brethren with the intent of casting them out. (Vs 4 – 5) 
  2. Many believers were cast out of the land and became refugees among the people of Ammon who took them in and provided for their needs. (Vs 6 – 9)
  3. The people of Ammon, who had been refugees themselves (see Alma 27:21 – 24) who would not take up the sword, once again became refugees in the land of Melek. (Vs 10 – 13)
  4. The repentant Zoramites, who were refugees, became contributing citizens. (Vs 14)

The Book of Mormon is the instrument of conversion and reactivation for the later days –

President Ezra Taft Benson

  1. In our day the seed we are to plant in our hearts is found in the Book of Mormon, and if we ask God "with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10: 4).  For conversion or re-activation to take in the latter days people must read and pray about the Book of Mormon.  
  2. The Book of Mormon brings faith sufficient to cause us to repent and endure to the end.  As President Ezra Taft Benson taught:  “It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too.  But there is something more.  There is power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find power to stay on the straight and narrow path.”
  3. Today the only way people will truly be converted or reactivated is if they follow the formula given in Moroni 10:4.  They will then know the Book of Mormon is true.  From this they will know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was his prophet, and that the Lord’s Church has been established on the earth.  (See Book of Mormon, Introduction)