After preaching to the church in Zarahemla, Alma(2) left to check on the status of the church in Gideon. While there, he gave a powerful sermon.
He explains to the church in Gideon he was not able to come sooner because of his responsibilities as the chief judge. He is there because he resigned the chief judge position.
He came hoping the church would be strong in Gideon, unlike Zarahemla, which had many problems. He expresses his joy that they are a righteous people.
Alma(2) changes subjects by talking about the coming of the Savior. He said that the time is soon coming when the Redeemer will come among his people.
He tells them he will not come among the Nephites at this time. He teaches that Christ will be born in the old world, the land from which they came.
He would be born of a virgin, named Mary. He would suffer both hardship and temptations. He would die, and through His death, He would defeat death. Through his death, we will be able to obtain forgiveness of our sins.
He tells the people they must repent, be baptized, and born again, if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Through repentance and baptism they will cleans their sin. The result will be that they will have eternal life.
During this sermon, Alma(2) frequently testifies as to the truthfulness of his words. He had received these words from the Holy Spirit. He bears testimony based on his experiences and knowledge.
He testifies that the Lord cannot walk in crooked paths. The paths of the Lord are straight. He does not dwell in unholy temples. No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God. All must remove their filthiness or remain forever in their filthiness.
He tells the people to be humble, submissive, gentle, willing to help those in need, be patient and long-suffering, temperate in all things, diligent in keeping the commandments of God. They are to have faith, hope, and charity, and constantly have good works.
He leaves them with the peace of God according to their faiths and good works, now and forever.
Alma(2) ends his visit and leaves to preaching in Melek.
“These divine attributes should become fixed in our hearts and minds to guide us in all of our actions … Charity can be the outward expression of faith and hope. If sought and obtained, these three foundation elements of celestial character will abide with us in this life and beyond the veil into the next life. Remember that the ‘same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that [you] go out of this life … will have power to possess your body in [the] eternal world.’ (Alma 34:34) We should not wait a single day to intensify our personal efforts to strengthen these virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy attributes.
“When we keep the Lord’s commandments, faith, hope, and charity abide with us ... we prepare ourselves to stand with confidence before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ‘without blemish and without spot.’ (1 Peter 1:19)
“… I see that developing faith, hope, and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith begets hope, and together they foster charity … These three virtues may be sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other …
“These are the virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy characteristics we seek …”
“At one time or another I believe everyone yearns for the ‘peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philip. 4:7). That peace for our troubled hearts only comes to us as we follow the Light of Christ … it leads us to repent of sins and seek forgiveness … In every home, neighborhood, and community, we ought to strive for peace and never be party to stirring up contention or division.
“Throughout scriptural history, the Lord has promised peace to His followers … Just hours before He was to begin that glorious yet awful process of the Atonement, the Lord Jesus Christ made this significant promise to His Apostles: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you’ (John 14:27).
“Was He promising His beloved associates the kind of peace the world recognizes—safety, security, with the absence of contention or tribulation? Certainly the historical record would suggest otherwise. Those original Apostles knew much of trial and persecution throughout the remainder of their lives, which is probably why the Lord added this insight to His promise: ‘Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27) …
“Peace—real peace, whole-souled to the very core of your being—comes only in and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When that precious truth is discovered and gospel principles are understood and applied, great peace can distill in the hearts and souls of our Heavenly Father’s children. …”
These are powerful words. The promises and teachings of Alma(2) are every bit applicable to us today as they were to the people of Gideon. He tells of things we must do; he tells us of ways we must live; all he teaches us he does under the commandment of God.
He bears testimony as to the truthfulness of his words. If we “listen with our spiritual ears,” we will also learn the truthfulness of Alma(2)’s words.
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