Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Mosiah 26-27 - The Conversion of Alma the Younger

Except for Nephi, son of Lehi, no one in the Book of Mormon gets more narrative written on him than Alma the Younger, hereafter “Alma.” Do you think maybe there’s a reason why? I think there is.

In Alma, we have the archetype of every person who’s ever sinned and striven to make themselves better. Mosiah II’s sons, Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni, also fit the same archetype. Mormon devotes 96 pages to the life history and teachings of Alma, while “just” 25 to the Sons of Mosiah and the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s.

The subtext of all these teachings is: no matter who you are or what you’ve done, no matter how hostile you are to God, He’ll take you back and forgive you -- if you repent. In the stories of Alma, the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s, and the Sons of Mosiah, murderers are forgiven not to mention people who seduced others away from the Gospel. The proud, philanderers, liars and cheats are small change compared to these groups. All forgiven. If ever there was a great message contained in the Book of Mormon, this is it.

Alma’s conversion is fairly well known, so there’ll be no recitation of events here. Instead, I would commend to anyone who’s wondered if God will forgive them or wondered if they can be for things they’ve done in their past, to read about Alma.

The Book of Mormon teaches that there are some things which can’t be forgiven, but the examples of Alma and the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s show a spectacularly wicked person can be forgiven. And if they can, so can the rest of us. Like Alma, all we have to do is ask. How cool is that?

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