One of the worst things the Zoramites had done to pervert the Word of God was that they taught that there would be no Messiah/Christ. Since they taught the doctrine of pre-destination - that some people are chosen to be saved and others to be damned - then what need they of a Savior? They considered themselves the chosen ones who were saved already.
Alma preached against this doctrine and taught that there would be a Messiah/Christ and that He had been preached by all the prophets since Adam. The wealthy "chosen ones" with their Ramiumtums threw him out of their synagogues and would not listen. But there were many poor among the Zoramites who did listen. They had been humbled by their poverty. They had been cast out of the synagogues as unworthy and dirty and they felt they had been cut off from God and couldn't worship anywhere else. Alma taught them that they could worship God anywhere. He taught them about the Word of the Messiah/Christ and that they could look forward to His coming to save all mankind who would humble themselves to come unto Him. All they had to do was to have faith in Alma's word regarding Messiah/Christ.
The thirty-second chapter of the Book of Alma is one of the most stirring sermons on faith in all of Holy Writ. I will share a few excerpts, but would invite you to read the entire sermon for yourselves.
But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea;
But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea;
And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. (Alma 32: 27-31, 37, 41-42)
So if you are feeling a little "Bah, humbug," this Christmas season for whatever reason, strengthen your faith in the Messiah, even Jesus Christ, who has come. Plant the seed of His word in your heart. Experiment upon Alma's words regarding His mission. Even if you have no more than a desire to believe, it is enough.
Text copyright December 2013, Gebara Education
Pictures:
Diagram of sprouting seed from www.thefamilytrifecta.com
All other pictures from www.lds.org
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