I was reading in the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 5. In this chapter Alma was speaking to the people in the city of Zarahemla. Alma asked a lot of questions so I took the time to write them down. Alma wanted to preach the word of God and "stir the people up in remembrance of their duty." At this time there was pride and contention among the people and he felt the only way that he might reclaim them was by "bearing down in pure testimony against them." (Alma 4:19) I learned that it is important to be shaken up spiritually continually, and that we must often need to be reminded of our duties and responsibilities in the church. We will not grow and learn unless we are shaken up constantly. In a manual that I use to help me with my scripture study, they compare it to a bottle of Italian dressing. Before you use the dressing you shake it, otherwise it would not taste right because the seasonings are at the bottom, likewise we must be shaken up and reminded of what it is we need to be doing. This is why we go to church, have family home evening, read scriptures, say our prayers, we have General conference, Stake Conference etc. This is how we are shaken up. When we stop doing these things we then stop having the company of the Holy Ghost. Alma saw that his people were not doing what was right. They had stop doing what was right and so he needed to shake them up. I was reading an article that talked about the motto for the company Nu Skin. The motto is "Be a source for good". I was thinking about that and how as members of the church we can be a "source for good". When we are doing what is right, we are a good example to those around us. At this time in the Book of Mormon, at the time of Alma, the members of the church were NOT being a source for good. They were being a bad example and having a negative effect on those who did not belong to the church. Because of this the church was not progressing. "The wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block.... and the church began to fail in its progress" (Alma 4:10). I was thinking how important it is to be a good example. Missionaries carry a badge with their names and that means they represent the Lord as they share their testimonies and truths of the gospel. Those of us who are not missionaries do not carry a badge, but we also represent the Lord. We took upon us His name at baptism and every Sunday we renew our covenants to always remember Him. We must be a "Source for good" in our homes and in our communities. Alma asked his people these questions because answering these questions can give an accurate measurement of our personal righteousness, just like when we are interviewed for a temple recommend. In Alison's last email she said
"This week has been an amazing week. I probably told you that my companion and I have been working on Christ-like attributes together and this week we have been working on charity. We have had awesome experiences that have been helping us grow. It is so funny because your capacity to love people in the mission is insane. The people you serve, your companion, the members, investigators, the Italian people and the list can just go on. Sometimes you think your heart will stop growing and then it just continues. My companion and I have just been meeting the most amazing people." To me this is a wonderful way to be shaken up, to try to be like Jesus, just by taking one attribute at a time will help us grow.
Here are the questions:
1. Have ye been born of God?
2. Have ye received His image in your countenances?
3. Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
4. Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of Him who created you?
5. Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
6. Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
7. Or do ye imagine yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say-Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth-and that he will save you?
8. Can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
9. I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?
10. Can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
11. Can ye think of being saved when ye have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
12. How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?
13. What will these things testify against you?
14. Will they not testify that ye are murderers and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
15. Do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God with Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob, and also with all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
16.If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
17. Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?
18. Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?
19. That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of
Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
20. Behold, are ye stripped of pride?
21. Is there one among you who is not stripped of envy?
22. Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?
23.And now, if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd of what fold are ye?
24. Behold, I say unto you that the devil is your shepherd and ye are of his fold; and now who can deny this?
25.Do ye not supposed that I know of these things by myself?
26. Behold I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
27.Can ye withstand these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet, yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts, yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?
28. Will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another, yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren,who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church,, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance, yea and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?
29. For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock?
30. And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out?
