Alma 36 - The POWER of Christs' name

I have been studying conference talks from the October 2018 general conference each day along with my Book of Mormon reading.  I love when they testify of each other.  Today as I was reading of Alma the younger, testifying to his son Helaman about his experience of being born of god, he shares that after he saw an angel, he could not move.  For three days and three nights he says,"I was racked, even with the pains of a damned soul."

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart:  

O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

There is power in Christ's name.  Alma remembered what he was taught, and chose to reach out and ask for mercy, and as he THOUGHT this, he could remember his pains no more.  This is how merciful and forgiving our Savior is and the power that comes by just thinking or saying his name.  

"The Savior's name has singular and essential power.  It is the only name by which salvation is possible." April 2018 Ensign, page 44

And then this on page 99 of the April Ensign from Elder Robert C. Gay.

One of my favorite scriptures is John 4:4, which reads, “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

"Why do I love that scripture? Because Jesus did not need to go to Samaria. The Jews of His day despised the Samaritans and traveled a road around Samaria. But Jesus chose to go there to declare before all the world for the first time that He was the promised Messiah. For this message, He chose not only an outcast group but also a woman—and not just any woman but a woman living in sin—someone considered at that time to be the least of the least. I believe Jesus did this so that each of us may always understand that His love is greater than our fears, our wounds, our addictions, our doubts, our temptations, our sins, our broken families, our depression and anxieties, our chronic illness, our poverty, our abuse, our despair, and our loneliness.  He wants all to know there is nothing and no one He is unable to heal and deliver to enduring joy.

His grace is sufficient.  He alone descended below all things. The power of His Atonement is the power to overcome any burden in our life. The message of the woman at the well is that He knows our life situations and that we can always walk with Him no matter where we stand. To her and to each of us, He says, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but [shall have] a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

In any of life’s travels, why would you ever turn away from the only Savior who has all power to heal and deliver you? Whatever the price you must pay to trust Him is worth it. My brothers and sisters, let us choose to increase our faith in Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

My mission in this life, is to remember this as I strive to come unto Him.  The adversary loves to discourage and help others' lose all hope.  I have the opportunity each and everyday to share this truth, to believe this truth and to teach this truth.  I have felt this instant healing as I have allowed Him to take what He has already taken.  It is beautiful and so JOYFUL. 

Elder Gay continues, "My prayer is that we will faithfully take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ -- by seeing as He sees, by serving as He served, and by trusting that His grace is sufficient to deliver us home and to enduring joy."

He is so willing to replace our troubles and heart aches with JOY.  We just need to reach out to him.  It is as simple as that, just as Alma thought His name, he was healed.  The adversary wants us to believe that we are not worthy to speak His name, but that is a lie.  We can always rely on Him, forever, for always, no matter what.

Questions are good

As I read the scriptures, questions often come to mind.  Why did they say it that way?  Do they mean this or something else?

Let me give you an example.  In Ether, the brother of Jared has such great faith that when he sees the finger of the Lord, that the Lord shows himself to him.  And then Christ tells him who he exactly is.  So that there is no question. It is a beautiful account of his calling and election made sure.

In Ether 3:17, it states:

"And now, as I Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites."

I am going to share my thought process. This is what goes on in my head, at least what did when I read this the other day. :)

If he saw him in the likeness of the same body as the Nephites, does that mean he was a resurrected being.   Oh wait it says, unto this man in the spirit.  Okay so what does that mean?  Thinking..... my thoughts go everywhere

 So, this is like 1400 years before Christs birth.  But he appeared to Him in the likeness of the same body as the Nephites.  That would mean that his spirit was as a grown man.  I wonder if anyone has any insights about this.

Now there is an amazing App, my dear friend Karie shared with me.  It is called the citation index.    It has the scriptures on it and you can click on a scripture and it will share any talks that have referenced it.  So, I did that and this is what came up.

Two talks came up from Joseph F. Smith and Orson Pratt.  This is what I learned.  That Christ has testified and taught while in the spirit.  I knew this, it made sense, but these witnesses added to my testimony.   That when Christ was in the tomb he went to the spirit world and taught all that had not heard the gospel.  Orson Pratt had some good insights as well.  He talked about how our spirits were in a mature state and that they conform to the size of an infant.  When we are first born,  our spirits need to be housed in a body that we will need to grow into.  But, our spirits are full grown.  But, because of the veil, we begin as infants.  Does that make sense?  He said it more clear. 

There is so much more, but in a nutshell, that is what I learned.
And it rang true to me.

My purpose in this post, is to say, QUESTIONS ARE GOOD.  They get you thinking and pondering and searching.  And when I do that I receive clarity.  I have read that scripture many times before, but this time I have a deeper understanding.

This is the talk from Orson Pratt

Revelation on the Judgments of the Lord—Firstfruits of the Resurrection—What Becometh of the Souls of Men—Redemption Universal.

Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the First Ward Schoolhouse, Sunday Afternoon, Dec. 28, 1873.

Here is an excerpt:

Here was the redemption of a man restored back again into the presence of the Lord while yet in the flesh; he saw with his eyes what he had before seen by faith. Then the Lord said—“Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name. Ether 3:14Behold, this body, which you now see, is the body of my spirit; and all men in the beginning have I created after the body of my spirit.” Ether 3:16 Notice now, they were created after the same form and fashion, and no doubt attain by growth to similar dimensions as the body of his spirit, without flesh and bones. The expression is, “All men in the beginning” Ether 3:16you were there, all this creation were there; all the inhabitants of the earth who now live, all that have lived, and all that will live in times to come, were all created after the body of his spirit in the beginning before this world was made. 

When all these spirits were sent forth from the eternal worlds, they were, no doubt, not infants; but when they entered the infant tabernacle, they were under the necessity, the same as our Lord and Savior, of being compressed, or diminished in size so that their spirits could be enclosed in infant tabernacles. If their bodies die in infancy, do their spirits remain infants in stature between death and the resurrection of 
the body? I think not. Why not? Because the redemption must restore everything to its natural order. Alma 41:2,4 If they were of the size and stature of manhood or womanhood before they entered into the tabernacle would the redemption be complete, when they came out of that tabernacle, unless they were restored to their former dimensions? I think not; there would not be a full restoration, and consequently, there would seem to be an imperfection in the plan. There are some of our brethren and sisters, perhaps, who are very anxious to see their little children after they depart this life. The Lord sometimes gives them a vision of their departed little ones, not of their spirits, but as they will appear in the morning of the resurrection, in order that they may know and recognize them. But supposing that he should show them the spirits of their little children as they are after leaving their infant tabernacles, would they be satisfied? I think not. Why? Because I think they would not recognize them, for I am of the opinion that the spirits of children who die here regain their former dimensions of manhood or womanhood, and hence if you were to see them you would perhaps be disappointed. But by and by the resurrection will come, then these full grown spirits, who have died in infancy here, will again enter into the infant tabernacle, and they will come forth as infants, as they were at the time they laid down their bodies; then their parents will have no difficulty in recognizing them. 

There is quite an anxiety at the present time, about one thing, connected with the resurrection, and that is, will those spirits, whose bodies died here in infancy, when reunited with their infant bodies, remain of that stature through all the ages of eternity? There is a sermon of the Prophet Joseph Smith, reported by longhand reporters, in which it is stated that resurrected infants will forever remain infants. But I doubt very much in my own mind if those who reported that sermon got the full idea on this subject; and if they did, I very much doubt whether the Prophet Joseph, at the time he preached that sermon, had been fully instructed by revelation on that point, for the Lord has revealed a great many things to Prophets and revelators, and among them to Joseph Smith, the fullness of which is not at first given. For instance, in baptism for the dead, in Joseph's day women were baptized for men, and men for women as well as for men. The Lord had at first revealed a few things to him, showing that baptism for the dead was a true principle, without giving him all the particulars at once. But he continued to enquire of the Lord, and he received more and more in regard to this principle. So in regard to the resurrection, there may have been many things revealed to him that were true, and others upon which, without having revelation, he would draw his own conclusions, until it should please the Lord to give further revelation. There is no revelation given that gives us a full knowledge upon that point—but I will give you my reasons, merely as reasons, to show that they who die here in infancy will grow up to the full stature of manhood or womanhood, after the resurrection. I do not say that it is so, but my reasons for believing that they do are these: How could they be restored completely to all that perfection of manhood and have a perfect tabernacle, adapted to the dimensions of the spirit 
as it existed, before it came here, unless their bodies should grow up from a state of infancy, and be sufficiently enlarged to become a perfect house for the fullgrown spirit, whether man or woman? I have heard, whether it be true or not I do not know, that before Joseph was martyred, he had obtained further light and information on this subject, to the effect that there would be a growth after the resurrection. How this may be I do not know, and it does not particularly matter; still it is something that we have the right and the privilege of reflecting upon, for there is no harm for any man or woman letting the mind expand to lay hold upon all that God has revealed, and to ponder upon it, as the ancient children of God did. Nephi says—“I ponder upon the things of God continually which he has revealed unto me,” 2 Ne. 4:16 and there is no harm for us to do the same. We should not get into that old sectarian notion, that we have no right to know anything about this, that or the other, and that we must not pry into this, that or the other. That is an old sectarian notion, which we have fought against all the day long, and we do not want it to creep into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the privilege of its members to let their minds expand, and to ponder upon the things of God, and to enquire of him, and by and by, when we have prepared ourselves by getting all the knowledge we possibly can from that which is written, God will give us more.

 

And they clapped their hands for JOY!

     In Mosiah, when Alma is converted as he listens and believes to the teachings of Abinadi, he continues to teach, in private, all those that believe.  He teaches about baptism and says in Mosiah 18: 10-11:

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

     I love this!  I have experienced this kind of JOY in my life and have also witnessed others experience this joy.  

     When I was serving a mission in Milan, Italy, we met a girl named Stefania.  She had a boyfriend that was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She knew there was something "different" about him.  When she learned about the priesthood, she knew that was what set him apart from other young men his age.  When I was transferred to the area, she was already being taught the discussions.  She was a joy to be with, as she discovered who she had always been, a daughter of God.  

     The day of her baptism was beautiful.  After she was baptized, I was with her in the restroom and her face just radiated JOY.  She couldn't stop smiling.  She said, I just want to shout for JOY.  I said, then let's do it.  So, we jumped up and down and shouted  in pure joy.  She had just been baptized a member of Christ's church on the earth in the latter-days.  Her soul was rejoicing and her physical body did the same.  A physical way of expressing the feelings of her spirit.  It was an incredible thing to witness.  

     As I read these words in Mosiah, I knew exactly how they felt.  When I was deciding whether or not to serve a mission, I had an experience where receiving my "answer" gave me immense joy.  The short version, is I had fasted and prayed whether or not I should serve a mission, and a "voice came to my mind" fast Sunday after church as I was addressing an envelope and said, "I let you know..... I want you to go."  At that moment, tears came to my eyes and a huge smile.  There is something about knowing the "will of the Father" for you that brings immense peace and joy.

     I went the next Tuesday to talk to my bishop and as I was walking home ( I lived in Rexburg, Idaho) I was smiling so big and I felt like I might burst.  I felt as if I was walking on air.  

In Doctrine & Covenants 19 verse 16 it states, 

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

      My sweet husband shared an explanation of this scripture that touched my soul and expanded my understanding.  He shared that on our missionhere on earth,  this scripture is first speaking about that "one soul" as us individually.  When we are converted our joy is full.  And then as we help bring others to the gospel, that joy increases tenfold.  

     President Nelson said, "Anytime you do anything that helps anyone -- on wither side of the veil --take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel.

     I share this because when we do this, we experience JOY.  A few years ago I was at the temple receiving an endowment on behalf of a woman named Anne.  I was on the very front row, in the Jordan River Temple, of the session room.  I seriously had the biggest smile on my face.  So big that my cheeks began to ache.  I was very alert and just grinned and grinned the entire session.  Every time the ordinance worker would look my way he would smile, my smile was contagious.  About half way through the session, I had this thought, "Am I feeling this joy, because this is how she feels?"  I received a confirmation that that was the case.  That feeling lasted for about 4 days.  I was JOYOUS!  

    On the Sunday following,  I was leading a song in Relief Society, grinning big again and my daughter said someone leaned toward her and said, "Your mom is so happy."  She said, "Yeah, she had a special temple experience this week."

     This is what the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.  Pure JOY.  I wish that I could say that the majority of time I feel this.  But, that is not the case.  And that is okay.  2 Nephi 2:11 states:  For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

     I am so grateful for each of these experiences.  For the privilege to feel pain as well as joy.  I know that this JOY only comes through the power of Jesus Christ. What a beautiful gift to have the privilege to come to know Him and to feel of His love for us.  I know He lives.  I love Him.