The Book of Mormon Part 74

Alma 33:8 8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

Alma 33:9 9 Yea, O G.o.d, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.

Alma 33:10 10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.

Alma 33:11 11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

Alma 33:12 12 And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

Alma 33:13 13 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son.

Alma 33:14 14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of G.o.d?

Alma 33:15 15 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things--

Alma 33:16 16 For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.

Alma 33:17 17 And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of G.o.d, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death.

Alma 33:18 18 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of G.o.d.

Alma 33:19 19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

Alma 33:20 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

Alma 33:21 21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

Alma 33:22 22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of G.o.d, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pa.s.s the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

Alma 33:23 23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may G.o.d grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

Alma 34 Chapter 34

Alma 34:1 1 And now it came to pa.s.s that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying:

Alma 34:2 2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of G.o.d; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.

Alma 34:3 3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience--

Alma 34:4 4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.

Alma 34:5 5 And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of G.o.d, or whether there shall be no Christ.

Alma 34:6 6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.

Alma 34:7 7 My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of G.o.d, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.

Alma 34:8 8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord G.o.d hath spoken it.

Alma 34:9 9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal G.o.d there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

Alma 34:10 10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

Alma 34:11 11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.

Alma 34:12 12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.

Alma 34:13 13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and t.i.ttle, and none shall have pa.s.sed away.

Alma 34:14 14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of G.o.d, yea, infinite and eternal.

Alma 34:15 15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

Alma 34:16 16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Alma 34:17 17 Therefore may G.o.d grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

Alma 34:18 18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

Alma 34:19 19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

Alma 34:20 20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

Alma 34:21 21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

Alma 34:22 22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

Alma 34:23 23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

Alma 34:24 24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

Alma 34:25 25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

Alma 34:26 26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

Alma 34:27 27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

Alma 34:28 28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need--I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

Alma 34:29 29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men.

Alma 34:30 30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.

Alma 34:31 31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

Alma 34:32 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet G.o.d; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Alma 34:33 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.