Day 143 How the Atonement Changed Alma's Life

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I'm cheering for your every success. I've got a question for you to start this episode.

How has the Atonement of Jesus Christ changed you? I'm so excited to dive in today. Welcome to day 143 on our 365 day journey through the Book of Mormon together.

Today on our journey, we're going to be continuing the story of Alma the Younger! Oh my goodness! How much do we have to celebrate for him and his friends, the sons of Mosiah.

Today you're going to be reading Mosiah chapter 27, verses 31 through 37. You will finish that chapter, and Mosiah chapter 28, verse 1. Now let's dive in today and look at how the Atonement of Jesus Christ changed Alma's life.

Let's take a look at verse 32 and see what we can find. And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people. And those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.

Oh, how things have changed for Alma. He's gone from the one throwing rocks to the one having rocks thrown at him. And it happened because he embraced the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

But I don't want to focus on the negative side of things here. Yes, Alma and those working with him are persecuted by the unbelievers. It's a natural result of those that don't understand how the Atonement of Christ works.

What I do want to focus on is Alma's change. You see, the Atonement of Christ takes us as we are but absolutely expects us to change and to be better. That's what I like about this verse of scripture.

You see, Alma came with a lot of baggage. He had made a lot of bad decisions. They even say later on in the reading today, how vile they were in their sins.

But they allowed the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change them specifically. I love that because it helps me remember that if I'm going to come to Christ and I'm truly going to open up my heart to him, I need to be open to changes in my own life. I need to see things differently.

I'm going to see perspectives change. The way I see things is going to change to the way the Lord sees things. The more I try to sync with his will and the more I try to see things through his lens, the more I change my own behaviors and attitudes as well.

I see so many people that point the finger of scorn while also saying the Atonement of Jesus Christ has been great in my life. It's an interesting place to be. I'm not talking about any specific person or group of people.

Instead, what I'm trying to look at is myself in the mirror. And the question I asked at the beginning of this episode is the same one I wrap up with: and that is, how has the Atonement of Jesus Christ changed you? For Alma and the sons of Mosiah, it changed everything.

They're not just going to preach to the Nephites. They're going to go and they're going to become amazing, incredible missionaries to their very enemies, the Lamanites. That's all for today, my friends.

Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow and I hope you are too.