Scripture Study Insights - week fifteen

Alma 17
Search the scriptures diligently to receive knowledge. Prayer and fasting lead to the spirit of revelation and the ability to teach powerfully. Knowledge of the plan of redemption leads to repentance. Patience and courage lead to becoming “instruments of salvation” in the hands of God. We must win the hearts of others before they will believe our words.

Alma 18
Ammon is an exaple of faithfulness, strength and “obedience with exactness.” Cross reference to Alma 57:21 and the sons of Helaman. There are people who don’t know the truth. When teaching them, start with the basics: plan of redemption, creation of the world, history of God’s dealings with his people.

Alma 19
Prayers of thanksgiving can overpower us with joy. When our hearts are changed we have no desire to do evil.

Alma 20
Sometimes telling the truth makes others angry.

Alma 21
Those with hard hearts can convince others to harden their hearts. It’s easier to give heed to the word of God when we study “daily, with all diligence.”

Alma 22
Aaron used the same teaching process as Ammon: understand the creation, the fall and the atonement, have faith and repent. When the head of the household is the teacher, it’s easier for everyone to be converted unto the Lord.

Alma 23
The Lamanites who were converted through the spirit of revelation “never did fall away.” They became righteous and industrious and friendly to the Nephites. The apostate Nephites – Amalekites and Amulonites – already had their chance to hear the gospel and rejected it the second time around as well.

Alma 24
Repentance is hard work, but it leads to all guilt being removed from our hearts. Sometimes we may need to work hard to bury temptations so that we don’t succumb to them.

Alma 25
Shows fulfillment of prophecies – Ammonihah destroyed, seed of Noah suffer death by fire.

Alma 26
It’s a blessing to help God do his work. However, it takes work and effort to preach the gospel. The harvest of souls will not be swept away like the harvest of grains could be. Remember to praise God for his mercy and great power. Cross reference vs 12 to Phillipians 4:13. Those who pray, exercise faith, repent and do good works will understand the mysteries of God. The antidote to depression is to go forward and work with patience. Success comes after trial and affliction. God is mindful of every single person. Give thanks.