“After bearing testimony, Amulek concentrated most of his
teaching on what the oppressed Zoramites must now do: repent, pray, and care
for the needy” (see Alma 34:17–28, 33–36).[1]
To exercise their faith, they need to call upon the Lord. “So
then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
“The religion of the Nephites encouraged people to pray
anywhere and about all things that concerned them, a teaching that Amulek
stressed to the Zoramites (see Alma 34:18–25), who offered a rote prayer only
in their synagogue and only on the appointed day for worship” (see Alma
31:14–23).[2]
The Zoramites recited a rote prayer once a week upon the
Rameumptom. Once finished, they forgot about things pertaining to their “religion”
until the next week (see Alma 31:8-23). Amulek taught them how to and for what
they should pray.
They were to humble themselves before God. They were to pray
constantly. Amulek gave them a list of when and where they should pray.
- Pray in their fields.
- Pray over their flocks.
- Pray in their houses.
- Pray over their household morning, mid-day, and evening.
- Pray against the power of their enemies.
- Pray against the devil.
- Pray over the crops of their filed, that they may prosper.
- Pray their flocks may increase.
- Pray in their closets, secret places, and the wilderness. (see Alma 34:18-26)
When they aren’t praying to the Lord, they should carry a
prayer in their hearts. “But behold, I
say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform
any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father
in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that
thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul” (2 Nephi 32:9).
They should pray for the welfare of themselves and those
around them. “Therefore, strengthen your
brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations,
and in all your doings” (D&C 108:7).
As important as is praying, that alone is not enough. If they pray but turn away those in need,
fail to visit the sick, and give money, food, etc. those who are in need, they
prayers are in vain. “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they
sit before thee as my people, and
they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew
much love, but their heart goeth after
their covetousness” (Ezekiel 33:31). They
are no better than the hypocrites who deny the faith. “Ye
hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:7-8).[3]
“For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that
which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall
do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. For behold, it is not counted
unto him for righteousness. For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he
doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had
retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God” (Moroni 7:6-8).
If they aren’t charitable, they will be cast out as being of
no worth. “It is interesting that Amulek
instructed the oppressed poor to care for the needy. This seems to be a warning
that they should not begin a new community (as was done before) that would
merely change who the elite were. Rather, they were to always care for anyone
in need, thus counteracting effects of a stratified society that marginalized
segments of the population. Amulek then explained, ‘If ye do not remember to be
charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no
worth) and is trodden under foot of men’ (Alma 34:29).”[4]
After they have had so many witnesses, they should “Bring
forth therefore fruits meet [GR appropriate to, worthy of] for repentance” (Matthew
3:8). “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before
God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into
that rest” (Alma 13:13).
[1] The
Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Journal
of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005):84.
[3] “Wherefore
the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed
their heart far from me, and their fear toward me [OR regard, reverence for me]
is taught by the precept of me” (Isaiah 29:13).
[4]The
Zoramite Separation: A Sociological Perspective, Sherrie Mills Johnson, Journal
of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005):84.
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