"Precious cargo, Sara. Remember, Precious cargo."
"If it doesn't matter in 100 years, then it's not really worth worrying about."
"On the hard days of your mission just remember that you are in Scotland!"
"Even if we died and found out that the church wasn't true, it's a great way to live. It makes you happier than any other lifestyle."
"When you first wake up, be grateful, and you'll find yourself being more satisfied and happy with your life."
These are snippets of advice my dad has given me over the years. Some of them were times when I sought his counsel, and other times they were given when he knew I needed it. Those are only some of the big ones I can remember. What counsel do you remember from father figures in your life? What makes counsel valuable? Is it the timing? The content? The person? Or does it become valuable as you act on it?
The chapters for this week are precious simply because they are advice given by a dad to his sons. Some of my favorite talks given in General Conference are given in the context: To my grandchildren. Words that we want carried on to our posterity, or times when we think it may be our last time to speak to someone, are surprisingly wise and tender. As a study exercise this week, pick a person in your life to give counsel to. It could be someone who is struggling or someone you care a lot about. It doesn't matter who you choose. As you are studying these chapters, think about them. Think about how these chapters could help them in their life. Then write them a letter, giving them counsel and advice in their life. Unless you feel prompted to send it, keep it in your study journal. Read it again in a few days. I receive more revelation for myself this way than by studying for my own problems. If you do this exercise and it was meaningful to you, please let me know!
Alma is giving his sons Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton counsel. As you read chapters 36-39, look at the way in which he teaches to their individual needs.
This wouldn’t be a true Sunday School blog, if I didn’t stop and talk about the incredible format of Alma 36. Most of us remember the word ‘Chiasmus’ from seminary. It is another great testimony to me of Joseph Smith’s role as translator to the Book of Mormon. This is what the Book of Mormon Institute Manual has to say about it:
Chiasmus, sometimes called an inverted parallelism, is a Hebrew literary form where words or ideas are arranged in a certain order and then repeated in reverse order. This repetition emphasizes important ideas and words. In addition, the writer’s main idea is often located at the center of the chiasmus.
Alma used chiasmus to tell the story of his conversion to his son Helaman. The presence of Semitic literary forms such as chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is an external witness that the book is what the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that it is: a translation of an ancient text written in a Middle Eastern language.
The following chart will help you recognize the chiasmus in Alma 36. For convenience, positions are designated in the chart from left to right, starting with the letter A and ending with the letter P. Thus, the thought expressed in the beginning verse of the chiasmus, Alma 36:1 (labeled position A), is repeated in the last verse of the chiasmus, Alma 36:30 (also in position A). The thought in Alma 36:2 (labeled position D) is repeated in verse 29 (also in position D), and so forth.
Notice that the central message of the chiasmus focuses on the time in Alma’s life when he experienced great pain and sorrow and turned to Jesus Christ for relief (see Alma 36:17–18).
I love reading chapter 36 knowing that the focus of the chapter is to remember Christ. When Alma did that, as illustrated in the chiasmus, everything changed. That’s how it works for us; when we remember Christ, everything changes.
Alma’s main message to his sons is one of repentance. He knew the effects of bad decisions all too well. In regards to repentance, Pres. Ezra Taft Benson said:
“Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. …
“… Repentance involves not just a change of actions, but a change of heart” (“A Mighty Change of Heart,”Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2).
In chapter 37, Alma is explaining to his son Helaman, the importance of scripture since Helaman will be in charge of the record. Study question (while you are reading chapter 37): What is the importance and value of scripture?
So, I’m 5’1”. I know that may be shocking to some of you since I appear so tall at church. But this is an illusion. Usually when you see me I am standing while you are sitting. Some short people got an initial growth spurt before everyone else and were the tallest in their grade and watched painfully as every other person passed them up in stature. This was not my story. I’ve always been the smallest. I’ve always had to stand on the front row and I have always been mocked and teased. That’s why I’m so tough. So is it any wonder that I’ve always felt that Alma 37:6-7 were written for me?
6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
I even love the beginning where Alma says, “You are going to think I’m crazy for saying this…”
I was attending a fireside once when the speaker talked about Shiblon being one of his Book of Mormon heroes. Like you right now, I was searching my brain trying to remember who Shiblon was. In Alma 38, Alma gives his son Shiblon counsel. This is the only time we really hear about him. As you read this chapter, look for what we learn about Shiblon by what his dad says to him.
Alma’s final son, Corianton, has been leading people astray by his bad example. He has started down a slippery path of sexual sin. Just as a warning, teaching the Law of Chastity on my mission was my favorite lesson. In chapter 39, I can see it being one of Alma’s favorite lessons to teach as well. Obviously, teaching it to your son in this context would be devastating. But there is so much power brought into your life when you keep this commandment. It was one of my favorite lessons to teach, because it was one of the most life-changing principles that people could receive spiritually. It would literally change families for the better. You would see light appear in places where darkness reigned previously. In the Book of Mormon Institute manual it says:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained the connection between the worth of a soul and the Atonement, helping us understand why sexual transgression is so serious:
“In exploiting the body of another—which means exploiting his or her soul—one desecrates the Atonement of Christ, which saved that soul and which makes possible the gift of eternal life. And when one mocks the Son of Righteousness, one steps into a realm of heat hotter and holier than the noonday sun. You cannot do so and not be burned.
“Please, never say: ‘Who does it hurt? Why not a little freedom? I can transgress now and repent later.’ Please don’t be so foolish and so cruel. You cannot with impunity ‘crucify Christ afresh’ [see Hebrews 6:6]. ‘Flee fornication’ [1 Corinthians 6:18], Paul cries, and flee ‘anything like unto it’ [D&C 59:6; italics added], the Doctrine and Covenants adds. Why? Well, for one reason, because of the incalculable suffering in both body and spirit endured by the Savior of the world so that we could flee. We owe Him something for that. Indeed, we owe Him everything for that. ‘Ye are not your own,’ Paul says. ‘Ye [have been] bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s’ [1 Corinthians 6:19–20; italics added]. In sexual transgression the soul is at stake—the body and the spirit” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 99–100; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 76).
I have had so many friends lose their marriages to infidelity. What can you do now in your life and/or marriage to prevent that from happening?
I’m amazed at the love Alma had for his sons. As the mother of two sons, I am inspired by the unique way he delivered a similar message to each child and the boldness and love he used in teaching them.
I want to end with Alma 37: 45-46:
45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
Nothing could be easier than opening our scriptures. Look to God and live this week!
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