Post by Nephihah – Chief Judge and Alma Fan
Alma’s questions, as I recently shared with you, are a sermon in themselves. However, another individual theme that ran throughout his sermons in Zarahemla was his proclamation that everything he taught was from God. He was led by the spirit and inspired by the Lord to teach and commanded to do so. I now share with you his exact words where he makes it clear the source of the testimony, the doctrines and principles and warning and the promises.
I would that ye should hear me, for I have spoken according to the commandments of God.
I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus;
I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come.
I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.
I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.
I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.
I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God.
I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.
I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.
Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion.
I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men.
The Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people—Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire.
Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it.
He commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.
As you read Alma’s words you’ve wondered why Alma was so careful to attribute the energy of his soul to the commandments of the Lord, keeping any inference to his own ambition tucked away. If you know Alma at all, and I do, the only ambition he has is to please and honor God. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the energy of his soul he wished he were an angel and to sound the word of God to the whole world. I think he knows stuff we don’t. But again, he is a prophet, seer and revelator. But even a prophet is required to study, seek and plead for revelation.