Lesson 26 - Converted unto the Lord

Honestly, I love these chapters of the Book of Mormon. In our Sunday School class two weeks ago Brother Wangeman called these the best chapters in the book for counsel on missionary work. For some reason this caused me to look at these chapters differently. I started to see them as more of a lesson manual. I certainly saw patterns of persistence, trusting in the Lord. I saw how they were patient in long suffering. I saw that service can often open doors that the direct approach doesn't. Ammon and Aaron and the others were so good at following the Spirit. I saw that they weren't looking forward to the time of their release.

I sense some kind of lesson on conversion. I've always known that we can be converted to varying degrees. I think of some people I know that grew up in the church but have left it. I've know of some who have struggled with challenges all of their lives and remained faithful to the church. Some times those that left the church came to really be angry with the church and to those in it. The Amalekites and the Amulonites teach us a scary lesson. When you have known the gospel to be true and developed a deep testimony of it (as I assume many of them had). If you leave it, you can become as antagonistic to the church, the gospel, and the Savior, as you were in favor of it.

Repentance can and does allow us to go from the depths of sin to staunchest of members. It allows us to maintain our covenants despite gut wrenching temptations and experiences.

There is another pattern I saw in these Alma-chapters (Alma 23-29). These people were given to such great emotion that we see them losing strength, or passing out. It starts when Alma and the sons of Mosiah are converted. You remember what happened to Alma. Then thing about King Lamoni, the wives of the King and his father. Servants even fall to the ground as they are preached to. Then to top it off Ammon loses his strength with joy when he runs into Alma.

It is this kind of overwhelming feeling that can be related to repentance and the joy of seeing others repent and come unto Jesus.

In my day to day life I know I can do better about sharing my testimony and stregnthening others by sharing my true thoughts and feelings about how the gospel affects my day to day life.