Lesson 22: Have Ye Received His
Image in Your Countenance?
Purpose
To help class members understand what it means to experience
a change of heart and continue in the process of conversion.
Scriptures Covered in This
Lesson
&
Alma 5. Alma exhorts the members of
the Church in Zarahemla to live in such a way that they are prepared to
experience a "mighty change" of heart.
&
Alma 6. Many people in Zarahemla
humble themselves and repent of their sins. Alma and the people establish the
order of the Church in Zarahemla.
&
Alma 7. In the valley of Gideon,
Alma testifies of Jesus Christ. He encourages the people to continue following
the Savior.
A few chapters in the Book of Mormon are of particular
significance. Alma 5 is one of those chapters. Since class time is limited, I would
recommend the majority of the time be spent on Alma 5.
Background Information.
·
There was “wickedness [in] the church, and [Alma2]
saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers
on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of
the people” (4:11).
·
“And now it came to pass that Alma, having
seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which
were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their
inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did
not fail him” (4:15).
·
“And he selected a wise man who was
among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of
the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which
had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the
crimes of the people. Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was
appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment–seat to judge and to govern
the people” (4:16-17).
·
“Now Alma did not grant unto him the office
of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest
unto himself; but he delivered the judgment–seat unto Nephihah. 19 And this he did that he himself
might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might
preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty…”
(4:18-19).
This is the situation leading to Alma2’s great
sermon to the people of Zarahemla.
The sermon is full of questions Alma2 asks the
people. John W. and J. Gregory Welch
identify fifty important questions he asks during his sermon. These are listed below. (Source: Charting
the Book of Mormon, John W. and J. Gregory Welch, Charts 62 – 65 including
chart commentary.)
Alma 5:6-15
6 And now behold, I say unto
you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently
retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in
remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained
in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?
7 Behold, he changed their
hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto
God. Behold, they were in the midst of
darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the
everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the
chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.
8 And now I ask of you, my
brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I
say unto you, Nay, they were not.
9 And again I ask, were the
bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were
they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they
were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved.
10 And now I ask of you on what
conditions are they saved? Yea, what
grounds had they to hope for salvation?
What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea,
and also the chains of hell?
11 Behold, I can tell you—did
not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of
Abinadi? And was he not a holy
prophet? Did he not speak the words of
God, and my father Alma believe them?
12 And according to his faith
there was a mighty change wrought in his heart.
Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
13 And behold, he preached the
word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts,
and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living
God. And behold, they were faithful
until the end; therefore they were saved.
14 And now behold, I ask of you,
my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your
countenances? Have ye experienced this
mighty change in your hearts?
15 Do ye exercise faith in the
redemption of him who created you? Do
you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in
immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to
be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
Alma 5:6-15
Below are listed the
first seventeen rhetorical questions Alma asks the people of Zarahemla in Alma
5. First, Alma asks if they have
remembered their heritage and God’s deliverance of their ancestors. This can have personal application to
Latter-day Saints: just as the Nephites
were admonished to remember God’s deliverance of the ancestors, so should
Latter-day Saints remember the sacrifices of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the
pioneers-and the Lord’s providing them the promised land of Zion. Second, he invited people to ponder the
conditions of salvation and the need to believe the prophets of God. Third, he asks penetrating questions about
each listener’s repentance, change, faith, and hope. Still today, most of these questions invite a
clear yes or no answer.
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Question
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Verse
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Remembering God’s Acts for His
People
1. Have you
sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
2. Have you
sufficiently retained in remembrance God’s mercy and long-suffering towards
your fathers?
3. Have you
sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from
hell?
4. Were your
fathers destroyed?
5. Were the bands
of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled your fathers about,
were they loosed?
Knowing the Essential Logic of
the Gospel
6. On what
conditions were your fathers saved?
7. On what grounds
had they to hope for salvation?
8. What is the
cause of your fathers’ being loosed form the bands of death, yea, and also
the chains of hell?
9. Did not my
father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi?
10. Was Abinadi not
a holy prophet?
11. Did Abinadi not
speak the words of God?
12. Did my father
Alma believe them?
Being Personally Converted
13. Have you
spiritually been born of God?
14. Have you
received his image in your countenance?
15. Have you
experienced this might change in your heart?
16. Do you exercise
faith in the redemption of him who created you?
17. Do you look
forward with an eye of faith?
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8
9
10
11
14
15
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Alma 5:15-24
15 Do ye exercise faith in the
redemption of him who created you? Do
you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in
immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to
be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
16 I say unto you, can you
imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in
that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works
of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
17 Or do ye imagine to
yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works
have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine
yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt
and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance
of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the
commandments of God?
19 I say unto you, can ye look
up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image
of God engraven upon your countenances?
20 I say unto you, can ye think
of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the
devil?
21 I say unto you, ye will know
at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments
are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed
from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our
fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
22 And now I ask of you, my brethren,
how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your
garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify
against you?
23 Behold will they not testify
that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of
wickedness?
24 Behold, my brethren, do ye
suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God,
with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose
garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
Alma 5:15-24
Below are listed rhetorical questions 18-29 that Alma asks
the people of Zarahemla in Alma 5. These
dozen questions concern the state of the individual’s soul at the final
judgment day. Alma wishes to impress
upon his audience that there are ultimately only two possible outcomes at the
final judgment: eternal joy or eternal remorse. Those who are righteous will have the image
of God upon their countenances and will be found spotless and pure; others will
be stained and unfit for the presence of God.
(For more information, see The Ways of Life and Death/ Alma2’s
Explanation in Zarahemla chart included in these notes.) This dualistic conception, or the doctrine of
the Two Ways, is discussed in detail in charts 66-76. The vivid belief that all people will someday
stand before God to give an accounting and to be judged is a powerful motivator
of moral behavior.
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Question
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Verse
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Imagining the Judgment Day
18. Do you view
this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in
incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which
have been done in the mortal body?
19. Can you imagine
to yourself that you hear the voice of the Lord saying unto you, in that
day: Come unto me you blessed, for
behold your works have been works of righteousness upon the face of the
Earth?
20. Or do you
imagine to yourself that you can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say-Lord,
my works have been righteous works upon the face of the Earth-and that he
will save you?
21. Or otherwise,
can you imagine yourself brought before the tribunal of God with your soul
filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a
perfect remembrance of all you wickedness, yea a remembrance that you have
set at defiance the commandments of God?
22. Can you look up
to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?
23. Can you look
up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenance?
24. Can you think
of being saved when you have yielded yourself to become subject to the devil?
25. How will you
feel if you shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained
with blood and all manner of filthiness?
26. What will these
things testify against you?
27. Will they not
testify that you are a murderer?
28. Will they not
also testify that you are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
29. Do you suppose
that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose
garments are cleansed and are spotless pure and white?
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19
20
22
23
24
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Alma 5:26-46
26 And now behold, I say unto
you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt
to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
27 Have ye walked, keeping
yourselves blameless before God? Could
ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have
been sufficiently humble? That your
garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who
will come to redeem his people from their sins?
28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not
prepared to meet God. Behold ye must
prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one
hath not eternal life.
29 Behold, I say, is there one among
you who is not stripped of envy? I say
unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly,
for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for
such an one is not found guiltless.
30 And again I say unto you, is
there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon
him persecutions?
31 Wo unto such an one, for he
is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be
saved!
32 Yea, even wo unto all ye workers
of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!
33 Behold, he sendeth an
invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and
he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me
and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and
drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
35 Yea, come unto me and bring
forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the
fire—
36 For behold, the time is at
hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the
works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.
37 O ye workers of iniquity; ye
that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to
have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep
having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is
still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice!
38 Behold, I say unto you, that
the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you,
which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good
shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of
the good shepherd.
39 And now if ye are not the sheep
of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?
Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of
his fold; and now, who can deny this?
Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of
the devil.
40 For I say unto you that
whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the
devil.
41 Therefore, if a man bringeth
forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth
follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child
of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him.
42 And whosoever doeth this must
receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to
things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.
43 And now, my brethren, I would
that ye should hear me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I
have spoken unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to
the commandments of God.
44 For I am called to speak
after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ
Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things
which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come.
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things
myself? Behold, I testify unto you that
I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their
surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they
are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days
that I might know these things of myself.
And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath
made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation
which is in me.
Alma 5:26-46
In this next series of questions directed to the people of
Zarahemla, Alma states that experiencing a change of heart can be temporary and
that one must continually strive to be blameless before God. His dualistic view is apparent: those who are blameless are of the fold of
God, and all others are of the fold of the devil. In this part of his speech, he guides the
spiritual progress of his listeners by directing them in assessing their own
spiritual condition, identifying with a community that believes in Jesus
Christ, and personally obtaining spiritual knowledge.
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Question
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Verse
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Assessing One’s Spiritual
Condition
30. If you have
experienced a change of heart, and if you have felt to sing the song of
redeeming love, can you feel so now?
31. Have you
walked, keeping yourself blameless before God?
32. Could you say,
if you were called to die at this time, within yourself, that you have been
sufficiently humble?
33. Could you say
that your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of
Christ.
34. Are you
stripped of pride?
35. Is there one
among you who is no stripped of envy?
36. Is there one
among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him
persecutions?
Identifying With a “Fold”
37. If you are not
the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are you?
39. The devil is
your shepherd, and you are of his fold; and now who can deny this?
Obtaining Spiritual Knowledge
39. Do you not
suppose that I know of these things myself?
40. How do you
suppose that I know of their surety?
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27
28
29
30
39
45
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Alma 5:53-59
53 And now my beloved brethren,
I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these
things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in
the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly
apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?
54 Yea, will ye persist in
supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the
persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy
order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified
by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for
repentance—
55 Yea, and will you persist in
turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your
substance from them?
56 And finally, all ye that will
persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be
hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent.
57 And now I say unto you, all
you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out
from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and
behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall
not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be
fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the
names of my people;
58 For the names of the
righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an
inheritance at my right hand. And now,
my brethren, what have ye to say against this?
I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of
God must be fulfilled.
59 For what shepherd is there
among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not
and devour his flock? And behold, if a
wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out?
Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him.
Alma 5:53-59
The last ten rhetorical questions that Alma asks the people
of Zarahemla are listed in this chart.
These questions concern refusing to repent of sins. Alma’s phrase “trample the Holy One under you
feet” (Alma 5:53) poignantly illustrates that individuals blatantly mock God
when they know the source of salvation and yet refuse to repent and partake of
that free gift. By ending his speech
with these ten questions, Alma places the burden of repentance directly on the
shoulders of each person who seeks to live a life pleasing to God.
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Question
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Verse
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Refusing to Repent
41. Can you
withstand these sayings?
42. Can you lay
aside these things and trample the Holy One under you feet?
43. Can you be
puffed up in the pride of your heart?
44. Will you still
persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your heart upon the vain
things of the world, upon your riches?
45. Will you
persist in supposing that you are better than one another?
46. Will you
persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do
walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church
having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which
are meet for repentance?
47. Will you persist
in turning your back upon the poor and the needy, and in withholding your substance
from them?
48. The names of the
righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an
inheritance at my right hand. What have
you to say against this?
49. What shepherd is
there having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and
devious his flock?
50. If a wolf enter
his flock doth the shepherd not drive him out?
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53
54
55
58
59
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The Ways of Life and
Death
Alma2’s
Explanation in Zarahemla
(source:
Charting the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch & J. Gregory Welch, Chart
72)
Alma the Younger’s perception of the gospel was heavily
influenced by the teachings of King Benjamin, Abinadi, and his Father, Alma1. His explanation of the ways of life and death
to the people of Zarahemla (see Alma 5) echoes and expounds upon the teachings
of his predecessors, emphasizing adherence to the voice of the Good Shepherd as
the way to sustain spiritual Life. Alma
the Younger also states that “whatsoever is good cometh from God, and
whatsoever is evil cometh form the devil” (Alma 5:40). Just as humanity’s ability to bring forth
Good works is an element of God’s grace, as the foregoing quotation suggests,
the very existence of life and the power granted to humanity to proceed in the
way of life are also gifts from God.
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