Alma — Chapter 34
1 After Alma said these things, he sat down on the ground. Then Amulek got up and began to teach them. This is what he said:
2 My brothers and sisters, I think it is impossible that you do not know about what has been said about the coming of Christ, whom we teach is the Son of God. Yes, I know you were taught these things many times before you rebelled and left us.
3 You asked my dear brother to tell you what he thinks you should do because of your troubles, and he said some things to you to prepare your minds. Yes, he told you to have faith and patience.
4 Yes, you should have enough faith to plant the seed of the gospel in your hearts, so you can test it to see if it is good.
5 We see the big question in your minds is whether or not the scriptures talk about the Son of God, or whether or not there really will be a Christ.
6 My brother also told you many things to show you that the gospel of Christ brings salvation.
7 My brother told you what Zenos said about salvation coming through the Son of God, and he told you what Zenock said, too. He also told you what Moses said to show that these things are true.
8 Now I tell you that I myself know these things are true. I know Christ will come among people and take on his people’s sins. He will pay for the sins of the world, because the Lord God has said it.
9 An atonement must be made, as God has planned, or all people will die. All people are hardened and fallen and lost, and all people will die unless an atonement is made.
10 A great and last sacrifice must be made — not a sacrifice of people, nor of animals or birds. It will not be a human sacrifice, but a never-ending and eternal sacrifice.
11 People cannot pay for someone else’s sins with their own blood. If a man murders someone, will our just law take someone else’s life to pay for it? I tell you, No.
12 But the law requires the life of the man who murders. So nothing but a never-ending and eternal sacrifice will pay for the sins of the world.
13 A great and last sacrifice must be made. Then there will be no more blood sacrifices, and the Law of Moses will be finished. Yes, every bit of it will be finished then.
14 This is what the law means. All of the law points to this great and last sacrifice. The great and last sacrifice will be the never-ending and eternal Son of God.
15 This is how he will bring salvation to everyone who believes in him. This is why there will be this last sacrifice, so mercy can pay justice, and give people a way to have enough faith to repent.
16 Mercy will pay justice and protect those who repent. But those who do not repent must come under all the law of justice. The plan of salvation works only for those who have faith and repent.
17 May God bless you, my brothers and sisters, that you will have faith to repent and pray to him, so he will have mercy on you.
18 Yes, pray to him for mercy, because he is strong enough to save you.
19 Yes, humble yourselves, and always pray to him.
20 Pray to him while you are in your fields, and pray for your flocks.
21 Pray to him in your houses. Pray for your family and servants, morning, noon, and night.
22 Pray to him against the power of your enemies.
23 Pray to him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Pray for the crops in your fields so you will prosper in them.
25 Pray for the flocks in your fields so they will get bigger.
26 But not only this: you must pray with all your souls to him in your secret places, and in the wilderness.
27 Yes, and when you are not praying out loud to the Lord, let your hearts be full of prayer to him for your good and for the good of those around you.
28 Now, my dear brothers and sisters, this is not all. Even after you have done this, if you still do not give to the poor and the naked, and do not visit the sick and hurt, and do not give what you can to those in need — I tell you, if you don’t do these things, your prayers will not do you any good, and they will be useless. You will be just like the hypocrites who deny the faith.
29 So if you do not remember to have charity, you are the same as the worthless metal refiners throw away, and people walk on.
30 Now, my brothers and sisters, since you have had so many witnesses, and since you know the holy scriptures talk about these things, I want you to come and show by your works that you repent.
31 Yes, I want you to stop hardening your hearts, because now is the time and day of your salvation. If you repent and don’t harden your hearts, the great plan of salvation will work for you right away.
32 You see, this life is the time for people to prepare to meet God. Yes, this day of life is the day for people to do their work.
33 Now, as I said before, you have had many witnesses, so I beg you not to put off the day of your repentance until the end. Because after this day of life, which we have been given to get ready for eternity — if we do not do our work at this time, in this life, the night of darkness will come, and then we will not be able to do any work at all.
34 You cannot say when that terrible time comes, “I will repent, I will go back to my God.” No, you cannot say this, because the same spirit which was in your body at the time you die will be the same spirit which will be in your eternal body.
35 So if you have put off the day of your repentance until death, you will become the devil’s slaves, and the Spirit of the Lord will leave you. It will not be in you at all., and the devil will have all power over you. This is what happens to the wicked in the end.
36 I know this because the Lord has said he does not live in unholy temples. He lives in the hearts of the righteous. He has said that the righteous will sit down in his kingdom and never have to leave it again. Their clothes will be made white through the Savior’s blood.
37 Now, my dear brothers and sisters, I want you to remember these things, so you will work out your salvation with fear before God, and not deny Christ’s coming anymore.
38 Remember these things so you will not fight against the Holy Ghost, but receive it, and take on yourselves Christ’s name, so you will be as humble as the dust, and worship God wherever you may be, in spirit and in truth. Remember these things so you will be thankful every day for the mercy and blessings he gives you.
39 I tell you, my brothers and sisters, be careful and pray always so the devil will not lead you away and catch you in his power, so you will not be his slaves at the last day. He will not give you any good rewards.
40 Now, dear brothers and sisters, I tell you to have patience in all kinds of trouble. Don’t hate those who have thrown you out because you are poor, or else you will become sinners like them.
41 But have patience in your troubles, with a strong hope that someday you will rest from all your troubles.
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