Gospel Doctrine Lesson #20

#20 My Soul is Pained No More”
Mosiah 25-28 & Alma 36

How many of you have ever made a big mistake? Even though it was long ago you still feel like people still want to punish you for it over and over; and yet you’ve felt like you’ve been forgiven? Well whether you are the one who made the big mistake or the one who keeps punishing people over and over for their mistakes, this lesson is for you.

Our lesson today is about Alma the Younger’s rebellion and repentance-however sometimes I feel like we always talk about the same things where this story is concerned; that is: Alma the younger was awful, angel comes, he repents and is forgiven. We always place ourselves in Alma the Younger’s position, by doing that, I feel like we miss Alma Elder’s perspective here. The pains he goes through as a parent when his child is making mistakes, but more importantly how he handled the situation not just as father but as a member of the church. He handled the situation with love and compassion throughout the whole experience (at least that’s what we have record of, I imagine he still went through his own private hell as he was witness to his son). (Not because he was a father disappointed in his son, but also because he could see reflected back to him what he once did under King Noah and the pain he caused His Heavenly Father and himself)

To start with I would like it if someone could paraphrase Alma Younger’s experience for us. Just so it’s in our mind, but we won’t be dwelling on the story itself but the feelings behind the story.

In 25th chapter of Mosiah is starts off reminding us that all people of God live in Zarahemla-Mulekites (the original inhabitants), the people of King Mosiah, Now Limhi’s and Alma’s people. King Mosiah gathers all records of all these groups and reads them to everyone. (25:5)
Now I want you to see the attitude of the people here-they just read the record of the rebelliousness of Limhi’s people and Alma the Elder all the awful things they did, the repentance they went through and then the miraculous escape of them. The people of Zarahemla could’ve been Shock-ed and amaz-ed and judged them harshly and held it against them, they didn’t (25:8) they rejoiced at the wonder of it and that they are righteous again. Then (25:9-11) they also felt sorrow for their wicked brethren that were slain and the wicked Lamanites that they would do this. What a great love they had in their hearts for their fellow me(all men) I’m afraid I have been witness to, and been part of being judgmental and not letting go of judgments myself.

For example: we have that molester website where you can get on and find out where all those offenders are. Well this is fine and I understand as a parent we want to find out and then keep our kids completely clear of such people, but by having that attitude I have realized the hurtfulness to them it brings. These offenders get put on there and they never escape that label because we won’t allow it. There may be some on that website that will have those tendencies because they can’t/won’t let go of it. However, I have since learned that there are those who have completely repented and took upon themselves the atonement and have rid themselves of those tendencies, but can’t escape it because we-who don’t understand it can’t let go of the fact they might relapse. I have 2 friends that got put on that list both different reasons and circumstances, These people were respected and treated like anyone else, until that list came out and their crimes were broadcast all over, then all of a sudden treated very differently. They were avoided at all costs, they felt horrible. They already felt awful for their crimes, and they happened many years ago but had to be put on the list because the law said so, now after feeling free of those feelings, they had them thrown back on them again because of some list. They repented had their sins wiped clean, even spent their lives trying to make up for it, but we keep punishing them by saying things like, “oh-yes so and so is very nice, but they are on that website you know.”

Alma the Elder and the other church members don’t do this nor do they act this way, they take a different approach, They love! I want to focus on that today, throughout this story I would also like to tell you one I just experienced myself that opened the other side of this story for me.

**Remember Alma the Elder was a sinner once himself. He was a wicked priest under King Noah, He himself had done some awful perhaps unspeakable things-maybe even some things that could’ve put him on that website. Because he’s been there he knows how it feels (25:15) who better to teach repentance and faith than those of us who have been there? I love the instant forgiveness of the people (25:18) Even though they’d heard about Alma and who he once was, they still allowed him to baptize them because they let go of all those labels and judgments!

Alma is head of the church and here comes a huge test, there are “sinners”(26:6) that are brought forward, he sends them to Mosiah(26:10-11), Mosiah(26:12) says, “I don’t want to deal with this, you are in charge here” Listen to how compassionate he is, he tries to understand where these sinners are coming from (26:1-3)(26:10&13) Who better would you want to judge you that someone with that kind of compassion. (26:13) Alma realizes the seriousness of his calling and goes 1st to the Lord.
I love this, the Lord proceeds to give Alma confidence in his calling by telling him how proud of him He is and how he loves his faithfulness (26:15-16). Then the Lord tells him the thing that will get him through every sinner and every situation. We can learn from this verse. (26:22) He freely forgives them if they repent-freely-as if nothing happened!
(26:23) freely forgives because of the atonement.
(26:24) freely forgives so much that he gives them/us place at his right hand.

Now comes chapter 27 in Mosiah, we are introduced to sons of Mosiah and Alma Younger.(27:8) Wicked and idolatrous. A lot like his father once was. Because of this I imagine Alma Elder can understand his son. Now we know what happens-angel comes etc. I want to weave in my own story here to put it in a perspective that we see is relevant in our day.
**I have a friend who is experiencing a similar situation to Alma the Elder here. My friends’ daughter happened to be a great friend of mine as well, she was close enough to Keith and I that we consider her “our daughter”. We love her dearly. Well, a few months ago I was talking to my friend she told us her daughter was dating a boy we as her “mother’s” wouldn’t necessarily approve of. She told me the action she and her husband was taking. Same as Alma Elder 1st-27:16 letting her decide for herself, with much opposition and 2nd-27:14 prayed and 3rd-27:22 enlisted others in prayer and fasting for a miracle (although, Alma was praying here for a miracle after the angel, my friend was praying for the miracle that would take that boy out of her daughters life) As with all prayers- they are answered but not always in the way we want. Unlike Alma Elder in (27:20) who rejoiced that his son was struck dumb my friend didn’t rejoice.
*just a side note here I imagine Alma didn’t rejoice that his son was struck dumb because he could no longer speak evil about the church but rather, he knew the signs of a repentant soul-remember he’s been there before.
(27:21)Alma wanted to show the people what Lord did for his son not to his son but for him.
Well we know that boy + girl = stuff happens and sometimes there is a result that we never want our children to have to face. My friend did what any rational, normally calm mother would do: she freaked out, screamed, yelled, threatened the boy, threatened the daughter, then, finally cried for 3 days! But as with all grieving mothers we have to talk to someone! She called her father (a former Bishop) who listened to her tirade patiently then, when she was done, he calmly told her this advice- advice that we would all be smart to use when it comes to finding out that someone is having a tough time with sin or mistakes. He said, “This isn’t about you-you walk to your daughter right now and give her a hug and tell her how much you love her and that you will get through this together!” She did that. It bridged their relationship again. The daughter started to feel hope. Then as with Alma Younger, things started to happen for them, the Lord sent that family angels (27:37) who bore testimony of how they got through it. New friends came into their lives, a woman whose daughter was just getting through that trial she helped my friend get through some tough times as she shared her experiences as she herself coped. They happened to be photographers, and cake decorators, they helped plan a wedding. Someone else came into their lives, I believe it was their Bishop(not sure, maybe they just figured it out on their own through whisperings of the spirit, I forgot), who gave them this advice, “That boy will soon be your son-in-law, learn to forgive and love him now and you won’t regret it.” This couple took that advice and experienced (28:4) Joy at taking their struggle and turning it into a strength. Alma Younger wanted to teach others because he felt joy. This couple wanted to share their Lord’s Love with a boy they found out had a tough childhood, No father figure in his life and a mother who was indifferent to him. They have since learned to love this boy and I imagine he too is healing, or will heal his past life’s experiences as well as his current ones, as he is invited into a loving family.
So here we are in the middle of a public place this friend is just telling me all this and I’m bawling, she stops, looks at me and says, “I have no idea why I am even telling you, of all people, this, I’m so sorry” I looked at her and the spirit tells me it is my turn in this drama. You see I myself have gone through exactly what this young girl is going through. I ask how her daughter is doing through all this? She told me not great, she’s having a hard time forgiving herself and can’t see how the Lord would ever forgive her. I knew how she felt-exactly the same as Alma the Younger felt. (27:29)Her soul was being racked with bitterness, she was in the darkest abyss, eternal torment, I knew she was saying (27:30) “I rejected my Redeemer (the teachings I knew were right) and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers;”(My parents warned me and I completely ignored them, thinking I was strong and could handle this). I hugged my friend and told her I knew exactly how her daughter was feeling because I had started out the same way her daughter was right now. We both bawled some more. She was shocked, she said she is still being amazed at the Lord’s hand in her life. I gave her some little pieces of understanding that I received through all this; I doubt my advice did anything for her, because let’s face it I’m hardly dear Abby, but I want to believe that even in such small ways we can help others. I saw my friend again lately and asked how things were going. She said that night she went home and told her daughter she saw me, her daughter was embarrassed and asked if her mom had told me her situation. Her mom said she had, but that it was okay. She told her about my experience. The daughter was relieved. Her mom said that she said, “if they can get through this and Bishop Rusch is now a Bishop, then maybe there is hope.” So, my advice-didnothing-Keith holding a calling as Bishop-miraculous!! (who knew his holding that calling would come in handy)
Her mom said she’s laughing and smiling again! They have already set a date a year from their marriage to go through the temple! She is currently experiencing what Alma the Younger describes in (Alma 36:18-21) Can the repentance process be so fast for such a serious offense? I testify that it can if we allow it to happen and we don’t continue to belittle ourselves and punish ourselves. I testify that is how the Lord works in our lives-he puts people there in our lives to teach us-work with us-love us-and give us hope. Because my friend shared this story with me I was allowed to experience what Alma Elder and Younger experienced, as parents, Alma 36:26 born of God, tasted what he had tasted (happiness, love and compassion, towards someone else, just as I had those same type of angels who came into my life when I needed them, and still do, I can taste of how good it feels as I help someone else) As we go through our own experiences, and I know all of you have some, we can experience the Lords help personally just as Alma Younger did in (Alma 36:27-28) We can be supported in our troubles of every kind, if we put our trust in Him that it will all work out. Part of putting our trust in Him is to also be an instrument in His hands to uplift, support, comfort, mourn, and most of all LOVE others through their struggles, not judge and hold grudges, of these things I testify with all my heart, in the name of JESUS CHRIST AMEN.