Verses 1-5: Our Eternal Destiny
What does this teach me about the atonement?
What an outpouring of direct teachings from the Savior! Perhaps He shared here because He knew an uncorrupted account of it would come later, through the Prophet Joseph.
Sadly, we only have an abridged third person account, but there's a wise purpose behind that which will come up again in this chapter. Much will be made about what's NOT written.
In these few verses, we learn about the final judgment, and the mercy, justice and holiness which is in Christ. This relates to the atonement in that through it, Christ became the only means by which any of us could be judged as "good". He was the only wholly good person who ever lived, whose every action grew from the constructive force of love. He absorbed our "badness" into His goodness by suffering it with us, so that if we just borrow His holy name, as He repeatedly pleads with us to do, we can be deemed good too. And not only "deemed" good, but eventually become good. This way the eternal, implacable law of justice which demands that some appropriate effect rebound upon the doers of deceitful, destructive acts, is fulfilled by Christ. At the same time, the mercy, which the cause of love and joy demands, is also fulfilled by Christ. It is the greatest miracle ever to take place.
Why will every person stand before God to be judged? What does this accomplish? It allows unrest to cease. The mere action of standing in God's presence, is like the magical waterfall at Gringott's Bank that washes away all facades. No excuses or self-deception can withstand His "His-ness". We will, as a matter of course, acknowledge to ourselves and to Him what we've become. I believe we will instantly know whether His presence is an appropriate place for us to stay. If not, it will be a blessed relief to escape. In His wisdom and mercy, He's prepared comfy spots for all of us.
Lesson for me?
Recently I've been experiencing some discouragement and depression. I need to remember that the Savior desires to save me from (not all suffering, for I must taste the bitter to appreciate the sweet) that suffering which I unnecessarily add to life's inherent challenges: the suffering of a hopeless and false (courtesy of the "Father of Lies") negative inner narrative. Let it go. Just keep the Savior in mind and offer the best, most loving response to that which shows up each moment- internally and externally. The Savior wants me back, and this means I must let Him train me to find joy in His presence.
Verses 6-21: Words so Awesome They're Illegal
This section speaks repeatedly of the limiting of information.
How does this relate to the atonement?
The atonement is our salvation. It's the unspeakable act that opens the door to our spiritual knowledge, which is always commensurate with our spiritual progress. We could not progress spiritually without it because there would be no leaving behind our misdeeds. They would always characterize us. So why was it illegal (not lawful, verse 18) to write some things down? In our lowly mortal state, we can scarcely understand the things of God. They are beyond us. But the Lord meets us where we are and provides just enough knowledge to coax us into the next phase of our journey, through the grace of the atonement's power. I believe that if an accurate and detailed description, as far as words can convey, of the glory and majesty of God, the wonder that awaits us beyond this world, was provided to us, it would seem strange.
Let's imagine that we somehow received a photograph of the mansions of Heaven, which we could look at as long as we like. Without the motion of the Spirit moving through us, filling us with joy and light, the photo would turn cold, pale and ordinary, just as a verbal description would. It would be something like observing a group of people dancing, but not being able to hear or feel the music 🎶: odd, alienating. We could be told about the procedures of Heaven, the way the earth was made, the composition of our spirits, whatever mystery you can name, and if we attempted to understand them, being who we are now, they would lose their splendor in our estimation, simply because we haven't acquired the capability to comprehend the splendor.
The danger then would be that our frail minds just might conclude that Heaven is not worth the effort! We've seen what it has to offer, what it's all about (so we think), but our favorite sins are more attractive.
This is why certain, sacred things are withheld. This is why our faith is tried. This is why the gospel is filled with mystery and surprise. If we can trust the Lord enough and feel His love enough to believe that what awaits us is wonderful beyond imagining, so it will be.
Lesson for me?
*As verse 9 implies, I need to believe the knowledge that's already been provided me before I can obtain more. True belief means practice, so I must review the personal commandments I've been blessed with and recommit to living them.
Here's a summarized list of personal lessons culled from my notes (I stopped halfway through Alma so there's much more, but this is enough to sit with for today):
*CHOOSE faith
*Remember the Savior
*Believe He can save you.
*Act out of love. Always.
*Don't shrink in parenting.
*Take the time to teach children to love and serve one another.
*Make a promise/goal, acknowledge it to another, follow through. Repeat ad infinitum.
*Help the suffering.
*In the cause of the Savior, don't shrink from suffering, persecution or fear.
*soft, open heart + heed & diligence = knowledge... Obey impressions to do good without hesitation (stop bargaining for more time/ease!)
*Share the gospel freely (Boast only in the Lord.).
*Live in awe.
*Do your best in each moment.
*Give your will, your desires, your "identity" (everything!) to God.
*Help others toward penitence with great and true love, instead of allowing them "comfortable ignorance" which will surely turn later to discomfort.
*Don't wish for different circumstances. You're here for good reason.
*Remember your own deliverance from the bondage of sin.
*Read the scriptures as a family every day.
*As I serve faithfully like Ammon without shrinking from the task or worrying about people's impressions of me, and without self-pity, or seeking to take glory to myself, I will be blessed with that kind of outrageous power as is required for the task.
*Rather than shed the blood of a brother or sister, I will give up my own life. Rather than take away from a brother or sister I will give to them. Rather than spend my days in idleness I will labor abundantly with my hands and every other resource I've been blessed with.
*Don't withhold your efforts because you don't, in that moment, feel a "sign" motivating you. You've learned enough that you should be willing to press forward even when all feels dark.
