Have you been looking at our world lately thinking, “Could it get any worse?” In Alma chapter 31, we see a sequence of events that is all too familiar, just in a different era. There are the Zoramites, an apostate people who have denied Christ, missionaries who are filled with the spirit and engaged in trying to reclaim the people, and the way prayer and supplication help them process the trials and stresses involved with living in such an environment. Verse 26 in particular, caught my eye.
“And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men?”
I am sure since Alma walked this earth that every generation which followed has cried out such a prayer, yet here we are today, in one of the blackest times the eyes of man have seen, and the souls of godly people are in mourning. Never has it been more apparent that what was once bad is now considered good, and what was once good is now considered bad. The very laws of God are being projected as outdated, racist, abusive, and deemed to be an offense to what society craves.
Our world has become an environment that limits the Christian on what they can say and how they say it, yet everything subversive, abusive, and hateful to God, has no limitations. I ask you, where is the balance in this? If one is free to embrace and promote evil, then why is not the other free to embrace and promote good? We are allowed to promote good but we are cautioned or influenced to leave the name of God or Christ out of it. For now, we are allowed to embrace what religion we so choose, but we are limited in what we can say for much can be construed as hate speech.
What of the situations that we come into contact with daily? The children who are being neglected and abused, the ever-rising crime rates in the social climate, immigration issues, racial tensions, deteriorating values and standards in our government, the escalating tensions on a worldwide level, and the many situations that conflict so dramatically with God’s law. Often it seems like the darkness and stress will envelop us all and crush us in one fell swoop. At times like this, it is evident why the scriptures are so necessary in our lives. By these sacred texts we know there are others who have come before us; people who experienced heavy trials and by staying faithful, endured to become stronger and progress onward. Alma is a good example of how we today are to handle living in a world that can often be at odds with the gospel. Let’s look at what he did.
Alma was observant and took stock of the situation in his midst.
23 “Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.”
24 “Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.”
5 “Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.”
Alma then pours his heart out unto the Lord, in agony of what he is seeing. His concern is for the people, and he prays for strength for him and his brethren, not just to be able to withstand what is going on around them, but to have the strength to endure it AND bring these people back unto Christ!
30 “O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.”
31 “O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.”
32 “O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulekand Zeezrom, and also my two sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ.”
33 “Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.”
34 “O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.”
From Alma, we learn the importance of not turning our backs on the falling condition of our world and those getting caught up in it. Instead, we are to be amongst them, be their friends, be an example, and most importantly; to love them with the pure love of Christ. One of the reasons we are on this earth is to use our gifts and talents to bring people unto Christ; quite the challenge when we have the adversary in our midst at the same time, but it is more than possible and worth every moment we can spend striving to achieve it.
So, if you have a voice, use it; sing, speak, write. If you have the gift of art, use it; paint, draw, animate, be creative and expand. If you excel in compassionate service, go and do; visit the sick, volunteer in nursing homes and schools, help those in need. There are so many ways to bring people unto Christ, and it is a universal endeavor; no matter what church one belongs to, they carry the same responsibility and different talents to achieve what they have come here for. Even if we all differ in doctrine on some levels, there is that one point of unity that we have. Go and do!