Alma 38:10-15

10 And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.

11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.

12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.

13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.

14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.

15 And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell

(Alma 38:10-15)

Alma continues talking with Shiblon.

As he had already been teaching the word, he told him to continue. He should be diligent and temperate in all things.

“Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work…

Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence” (D&C 4:3, 6).

“What is temperance, and why would the Lord want us to be temperate … In a spiritual sense, temperance is a divine attribute of Jesus Christ. He desires for each of us to develop this attribute. Learning to be temperate in all things is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost … Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals.”[1]

Alma advised him to avoid pride nor boast of his own wisdom.  “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain” (Proverbs 25:14).

“But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil” (James 4:16).

He was to be bold, but not arrogant. He should control his passions so he could be filled with love. “Significantly, disciplining the natural man in each of us makes possible a richer, a deeper, and a more enduring love of God and of His children. Love increases through righteous restraint and decreases through impulsive indulgence.”[2]

He was to avoid idleness.

He was warned against praying as did the Zoramites.

“For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person.

“Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice…” (Alma 31:13-14).

“[A]fter Alma and his brethren and his sons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond all measure.

“For behold, every man did go forth and offer up these same prayers” (Alma 31:19-20).

“[Y]e have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom” (Alma 38:15).

Don’t pray thanking God for being better than others as did the Zoramites. “Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children” (Alma 31:16).

Instead, humbly pray and ask the Lord to forgive your unworthiness at all times.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

“I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess [GR acquire, gain, or possess].

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

“[M]ay the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell” (Alma 38:15).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

---

[1] Being Temperate in All Things, Elder Kent D. Watson, October 2009 General Conference.

[2] We Believe in Being Chaste, Elder David A. Bednar, April 2013 General Conference.