2.161 Alma...Began to Declare the Word of God

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello my friends, it's great to have you with me.

Today let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. Did you take some time to reflect on your talents? If not, go back and listen to yesterday again.

Come back around and admit to yourself that you have talents from the Lord and he wants you to use them. You got this. We're going to continue.

We're talking about sharing our voices as we've looked inside of our readings this week, Doctrine and Covenants sections 60 through 63, as well as Alma chapters 6 through 10. Our verse today is going to come from Alma chapter 6. I looked last season and I found that we did not use a verse out of Alma chapter 6.

There are only eight verses, so that's okay. But I thought, 'Let's see, we've got one. We've got one we're going to use, and it fits quite well with what we're talking about in Doctrine and Covenants through this week and even a little bit last week as we talked about it.' Our verse for today comes from Alma chapter 6.

It's going to be the last verse of that chapter. It is verse 8. This is between Alma doing his power preaching in Alma chapter 5.

We talked a little bit about that last week. And he's just about to go into the valley of Gideon and he's going to preach some more. Okay, so this is kind of an in-between.

This is what it says in verse 8. And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written.

Amen. Oh my goodness, did you get all of that? First of all, Alma, who, remember, this is Alma the Younger that went through the intense repentance process, right?

So this is Alma the Younger who has repented of his sins and is now turning to preach the Word of God. He goes forward to declare the Word of God in the valley of Gideon. Here's the first thing: He's going to preach to the church.

So my friends, if you are bearing your testimony, even just to friends and family that are also church members, that's part of sharing those talents and opening your mouths. This doesn't just have to be missionary work to people who are not members of the Church. Okay, that's the first one I love.

Alma is going to preach, and he's going to preach to church membership. And then how is he going to do it? Well, he's going to do it according to revelation of the truth of the word that was spoken by his fathers.

So he's going to look at lessons he had in his youth. Okay, I love that one. Parents, there's a cool reminder there.

Are you teaching your children these words? Because Alma needed a little bit of a visitation from an angel. We talked about this a few days ago, but he's going to focus on Jesus Christ and His Atonement to redeem people from their sins.

And finally, the Holy Order by which he was called. He's going to do it in accordance with the Priesthood power and authority that he has been blessed with. My friends, this is such a good formula for you and for me to remember how we can go about sharing our testimonies.

Do it through the things you've learned in church and through family study and Family Home Evenings and those aspects. Do it through the spirit of prophecy that is in you. Seek to have the Spirit.

Do it according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and do it through the authority of the Priesthood which the Lord has blessed and restored on the earth today. I am so grateful that Alma gives us a model for how we can go and open our mouths, share our voices going forward. That's all for today, my friends. Lift up your hearts and rejoice, cleave to the covenants you have made, and together we will be savory salt.