Do Not Procrastinate. Even In Tough Times.
Broken Umbrella in the Rain
. . . Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;
Amulek Gave Up All He had
Amulek certainly gave up a lot. It seems he gave up everything. Not only after following Alma and listening to the angel was he ridiculed and spat upon by the people, but he was even imprisoned. As bad as that sounds, he endured much worse than imprisonment. He was forced to watch women and children burn alive for believing what he taught them. In addition, it also seems he gave up all of his wealth. It says in the verse above that he either abandoned all of his substantial wealth or gave it away when they left. We also learn that his family, his father, and all his friends abandoned him. It seemed that Amulek had to give up everything.
Two Choices, Both Allowed by God
Alma and Amulek made choices and followed the Lord and their faith in Him. Alma chapter fourteen not only contains one of the more horrific scenes in the Book of Mormon, maybe in all of scripture but also provides a great example of choices made. God will not force us to do the right thing. He has given us our agency, and he allows us to choose Him and eternal life or to turn away from Him and choose the way of the adversary or the way of eternal death.
In Alma 14:25, we see that the chief judge smote both Alma and Amulek as they were tied up, challenging them to have their God release them if He were real. After that, each and every one of the people walked up and did the same. Each struck both Alma and Amulek as they sat silent and tied up, then repeated the exact words. The Lord had instructed Alma not to speak out at that point. Alma and Amulek made their choice to follow the promptings of the Lord, no matter the cost.
The Lord allowed each of those striking and torturing Alma and Amulek to make their choice as well. He trusted and knew that both Alma and Amalek would follow his instructions, and he also knew that no matter what happened, they had a reward waiting for them. They had a relationship with God. They trusted each other. And God knew how the scene would play out. He allowed each of them to make their choice and to repent or to rebel against the teachings of God and God Himself. He allowed them to harden their hearts or choose to soften them and listen. They made choices on their own, just as Alma and Amulek had. Then, they both stood and spoke with the power of God.
In April of 2022, D. Todd Christofferson said, “In the end, it is the blessing of a close and abiding relationship with the Father and the Son that we seek. It makes all the difference and is everlastingly worth the cost. We will testify with Paul ‘that the sufferings of this present [mortal] time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us.’ (Romans 8:18) I bear witness that no matter what our mortal experience may entail, we can trust God and find joy in Him.” (“Our Relationship with God” April 2022)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Elder Christofferson continued, “So, in the midst of this refiner’s fire, rather than get angry with God, get close to God. Call upon the Father in the name of the Son. Walk with Them in the Spirit, day by day. Allow Them over time to manifest Their fidelity to you. Come truly to know Them and truly to know yourself. (See 1 Corinthians 13:12) Let God prevail.”
Alma Pleads with His Full Heart
What had Alma preached to the people that made them so Angry? He taught them to be humble, pray, not procrastinate their repentance, and seek a relationship with the Lord.
Alma felt such anxiety while preaching that it turned to pain as he pleaded for those he was teaching, including us, to follow the Lord and heed his teachings. We must repent and cast away our sins. Alma also includes some beautiful ways to avoid temptation, endure to the end, and stay on the covenant path.
Here is the action plan Alma pleads us to follow:
1. Act Immediately on Spiritual Urgings - Do Not Procrastinate:
Recognize and address your sins without delay.
Begin the process of repentance now; do not postpone it.
2. Cultivate Humility and Devotion - Humbly Pray Always:
Humble yourself before the Lord. Seek Him with a contrite heart often.
Regularly call upon God in prayer, acknowledging your dependence on divine guidance.
Seek to become humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love, and long-suffering.
3. Maintain Constant Vigilance in Faith:
Engage in continual prayer for guidance and watchfulness to avoid being overwhelmed by temptations.
Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to develop qualities like meekness, submissiveness, patience, and love.
4. Foster Spiritual Resilience and Love:
Cultivate a resilient faith in the Lord and always keep hope for eternal life.
Keep the love of God central in your heart as a constant source of strength and inspiration.
5. Aim for Divine Communion and Peace - Seek a Personal Relationship With God:
Live in accordance with these spiritual principles so that you may be uplifted, find peace in the presence of the Lord, and have eternal life.
Stay true to your covenants.
Think Celestial.
As children learn to speak, they may babble as the desire hits them, even at seemingly the wrong times. As children grow, they speak out as thoughts hit them. We should think of our prayers that way. When the thought hits you, pray about it. You don't need formality to speak with God.