This week in my Book of Mormon class we studied the chapters in Mosiah that tell of the account of Alma the younger. This is a story of a man who turns his life around and finds peace and lasting joy through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I have always loved this story because it demonstrates how real the atonement is in each of our individual lives, and that no matter what sins or mistakes or weaknesses are present in our lives, there is always hope in overcoming them and having our weaknesses become strengths.
In Mosiah chapter 27 we find a description of the kind of person Alma the younger was. Although his father, also named Alma, was the leader of the church, Alma the younger was found among the unbelievers. In verses 8-9 we learn that "he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities. And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people...and he was going about to destroy the church of God." He formed a posse with the 4 sons of Mosiah who was the king and who sought for peace amongst his people.
I imagine how Alma the elder and King Mosiah must have felt knowing their sons were the cause of so much destruction and persecution to their people. We learn in verse 14 that Alma the elder "prayed with much faith" concerning his son Alma the younger. As a result of this faithful father's prayers, Alma the younger and the 4 sons of Mosiah were visited by an angel who basically told them to knock it off and that he had come to convince Alma the younger of the power and authority of God. The angel told them to stop seeking to destroy the church. Alma the younger was so shocked and astonished by this angelic visitation that he was unable to move or speak for 2 days. During that time the people and leaders of the church fasted and prayed for him that he would recover. I find this so interesting that the very people who he had persecuted and treated with so much disrespect were the ones to rush to his aid and pray for his welfare. I wonder if I would have been as charitable and forgiving, or if I would have felt that he deserved it and hoped he was being punished.
At the end of the 2 days, Alma the younger recovered and began to share what he experienced during those two days. He had a complete change of heart and began to testify of the power of the atonement. He states, "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." My favorite verse is 29 where Alma the younger says, "My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more." I love these verses. I can relate to those feelings of feeling so weighed down, feeling like I was in bondage because of sin, bad habits, and addiction, like I was in the dark and lost. I love how he describes being "snatched" and "now I behold the marvelous light of God". The atonement of Jesus Christ can truly snatch us up from the depths of iniquity and bring us into the peace and light of God.
Although Alma the younger was personally visited by an angel, taught, and given specific instructions, he still had to receive his own testimony through the power of the Holy Ghost. In Alma 5:45-48 we learn that he "fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit". I find this so interesting. I have wished for that kind of "angel" experience in my search for truth. I have wanted a big, undeniable sign from God that the church is true or that the Book of Mormon is true, or that God even exists. But I have learned that the still small voice of the Holy Ghost testifying to my spirit of the truths of the gospel is far more powerful than anything. Seeing or hearing things with my physical senses can fade with time or outward influences that might try to persuade me that maybe I was mistaken. But the power of the Holy Ghost imprints on my spirit in a way that I could never deny. I feel like real conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ comes through small every day experiences where the Holy Ghost teaches and testifies line upon line, precept upon precept.
The ending to the account of Alma the younger is pretty amazing to me. As he is converted to the gospel and has this mighty change of heart, he desired to make right his wrongs and goes among the people preaching and sharing his testimony. Although he was forgiven of his wrong doings, he still suffered some of the effects of his sins. Many of the people who he had lead away from the church, now persecuted him and made things very difficult for him. But he bore it with patience and humility. Alma the younger and the 4 sons of Mosiah became some of the most amazing missionaries for the church. It's hard to compare the change in these 5 men and remember that they are the same people that were seeking to destroy the church of God, and now their only desire is to build up the kingdom of God and who brought thousands into the light of the gospel. This is such a beautiful example of how the atonement truly can make our weaknesses become our greatest strengths.
I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atonement. I still have so much to learn about the atonement, but I do know that there is no sin or weakness that is beyond the reaches of the atonement. I know that I can repent and be forgiven, and I am trying to become more aware of my weaknesses so that I can ask for His help in overcoming them. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, and the Savior of the world. His love has no bounds. I feel it every day in my life, and I hope I can share that love with all those I come in contact with!
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