Post # 216 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 21 --

May 25–31 -- Mosiah 29–Alma 4 --“They Were Steadfast

and Immovable”

Dear Family and Friends

Gee guys are you all getting used to everyone wearing

their masks now? I hope and pray each day that we will

soon see an end to this pandemic. I know that in our

little corner of the world right now the numbers of the

COVID 19 cases keeps climbing. A lot of these have to

do with the meat packing plants all around us. I'm not

just sure why this is the case but it sure seems to be so.

In this next week we will be studying the last chapter

of Mosiah and the first four chapters of Alma. This

first section comes to you directly from our Come,

Follow Me for Individuals and Families:

Reading the scriptures invites revelation. Be open to the messages the

Lord wants to give you.

Some might see King Mosiah’s proposal to replace kings with elected

judges as merely wise political reform. But to the Nephites, especially

those who lived under wicked King Noah, this change had spiritual

significance too.

They had seen how an unrighteous king had caused “iniquity” and

“great destruction” among his people (Mosiah 29:17), and they

were “exceedingly anxious” to be free from such influence. This

change would allow them to be responsible for their own

righteousness and “answer for [their] own sins” (Mosiah 29:38; see

also Doctrine and Covenants 101:78).

Of course, the end of the reign of kings did not mean the end of

problems in Nephite society. Cunning people like Nehor and Amlici

promoted false ideas, nonbelievers persecuted the Saints, and many

members of the Church became prideful and fell away. Yet “the

humble followers of God” remained “steadfast and immovable”

despite what happened around them (Alma 1:25). And because of

the change enacted by Mosiah, they could “cast in their voices” to

influence their society for good (Alma 2:6).

Alma 1:26 Book of Mormon

26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people,

the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had

imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their

labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher

was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the

learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man

according to his strength.

In this verse of scripture we learn a bit about how

things were during Alma’s time on this earth. It

teaches us that the “the preacher was no better than the hearer,

neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were

all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.”  

According  to this verse the preachers or the teachers

were no better than the learners and they all supported

themselves by working diligently.I have experienced this

in my life since joining the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints. I learned through my own personal

experience as a teacher and leader in the Church that

the Lord qualifies those whom He calls.

Prior to this I had gone to quite a  few different

churches and oftentimes I found this not to be true.

The ministers were paid to preach and the teachers

were paid to teach and we as the learners were often

put in our place so to speak. If you disagreed with their

teaching and or preaching you were made to feel like

your opinions didnt count, like you didn't know anything

about it.

'

Did you or your family members and friends happen to

find some parallels between the events in yours or their

lives and those that are described in this week’s readings

as found in Mosiah 29–Alma 4 ? 

If you and they have noticed a few parallels now might be

a good time to have a discussion about these parallels and

search through our readings in these chapters to find

some examples. 

After you have finished your search you and your family

members and friends could share those parallels that you

and or they have found in these chapters  with one another.

Make sure to emphasize the parallels to events in your/

their life today,

Mosiah 29:11–27; Alma 2:1–7

We can be a positive influence in our

communities.

Do you feel like it would be helpful for you and your

family members and friends to have a discussion about

how you /they could influence our society for the good.

You may want to ask your family members and friends to

think about some things that you / they are facing in your

community today. 

Then it may benefit you and your family members and

friends to get out a piece of your poster board and make

a list:) Yes, a list, Lists are good  for learning and especially

for review of things at a later time. When you have a visual

to look at as you study it helps most of us to remember

thighs better. 

This is because we can pull up that visual in our mind when

we review our topic later on.Okay, but this list will need

two columns. So maybe it will be a chart instead of just a

list. In thinking about this a bit more you may need three

columns.Now, the first list will be titled Today’s Issues. 

The second list will be titled  Nephites Issues. In the

third column you might want to write down the parallels

between the events you are having and those that the

Nephite were having in their day. So you might title the

third list Today/Then. 

After you have finished making your list of the things

that you are facing in your community today then it is

time to check out what the Nephites were facing in

their day!

You may want to avoid ny detailed discussions with your

family members and friends to keep stresses down to a

minimum,

To find out what the issues Nephites  were facing in

their day and what they did to manage their issues, what

could you do? . You and your family members and friends

could search through Alma 2:1–7. This might be a review

for you and your family  members but this will be a good

thing:)

Alma 2:1–7 Book of Mormon

1 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth year of their

reign there began to be a contention among the people; for a certain

man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise

man as to the wisdom of the world, he being after the order of the man

that slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law—

2 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after

him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began

to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people.

3 Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and also to all those

who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of Amlici; for they

knew that according to their law that such things must be established by

the voice of the people.

4 Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the

people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and

privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God.

5 And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together

throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were

for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and

wonderful contentions one with another.

6 And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.

7 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.

Then  you could ask your family members and friends

the following questions:  What might have happened if

“the people of the church” had not made their voices

heard? What else do we learn about being good citizens

from this account, from Mosiah 29:26–27, and from the

following story : 

“Make your influence felt.”

Soon after Sister Belle S. Spafford was called as Relief Society

General President in 1945, Relief Society leaders were invited to

attend a meeting of a prominent national women’s council. Relief

Society general leaders had been members of this council for many

years, but they felt they had recently been treated poorly by the

council. After discussion with her counselors, Sister Spafford

recommended to President George Albert Smith, the President of

the Church, that the Relief Society should terminate its membership

in the council.

As they discussed the recommendation, Sister Spafford said,

“You know, President Smith, we don’t get anything from the

Council.”

She later recounted:

“The President looked at me with surprise. He said, ‘Sister

Spafford, do you always think in terms of what you get? Don’t

you think it is well at times to think in terms of what you have

to give? I believe,’ he continued, ‘that Mormon women have

something to give to the women of the world, and that they may

also learn from them. Rather than have you terminate your

membership, I suggest that you take several of your ablest board

members and go back to this meeting.’

“Then he said with emphasis, ‘Make your influence felt’” (Belle

S. Spafford, A Woman’s Reach [1974], 96–97).

Sister Spafford obeyed this counsel. She served for many years in

the council and was eventually elected as one of its leaders.

So, how can you and your family members and friends

make your influence felt? You might want to consider

having your family members and friends think together

of something that you and they can do together to

make your/ their influence felt in your community. 

Then you and your family members and friends could

decide on something that you will do together to

influence your community on one of the issues on your

chart. This next section comes to you directly from

our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:

Ideas for Personal Scripture

Study

Mosiah 29:11–27; Alma 2:1–7

I can be a positive influence in my community.

Just five years into the reign of the judges, a crisis arose that would

test Mosiah’s declaration that the voice of the people would usually

choose what was right (see Mosiah 29:26).

The issue involved religious freedom: a man named Amlici

sought to “deprive [the people] of their rights and privileges

of the church” (Alma 2:4). Have you noticed religious rights

being threatened in your nation or community? What do you

learn from the way the Nephites responded to this threat?

(see Alma 2:1–7).

There are likely many important issues facing your community. How can you, like the Nephites, make sure that your voice is

included in “the voice of the people”? Perhaps you live in a place

where the voice of the people has limited influence on the

government; if so, are there other ways you can be a positive

influence in your community?

Alma 1:2–9, 26

We can recognize and reject false teachings.

Read the following scripture passages with your family

members and friends: Mosiah 19:1–8; 20:15–22; 22:1–9; and

Alma 1:2–9. 

After you have finished your readings it will be time for

a little review. Get out your poster board and make a chart.

At the top you can make two columns. The first column you can title: Gideon;s inspiring characteristics. A good

example of this is found in verse 9, when Gideon heard the

false teaching of Nehor he withstood Nehor “with the

words of God.” 

You and your family members and friends can make a

list of Gideon;s inspiring Characteristics on your

poster board that you have found in your review. In

the second column you could make a list of Nehor's

false teachings. You and your family members may

have noticed during your review of these scripture

passages.

You could be the one to share an example of Gideon

resisting Nehor which could very well be inspiring to

your family members and friends. Some scriptures of

Gideon refuting the teachings of Nehor can be found

in  Alma 1:3–6.  

Alma 1:3–6 Book of Mormon

3 And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that

which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the

church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought

to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but

that they ought to be supported by the people.

4 And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be

saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that

they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should

have eternal life.

5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to

support him and give him money.

6 And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear

very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after

the manner of his preaching.

After you and your family members and friends have

shared what you / they have found about Nehor you

might want more information to add to your chart about Gideon and Nehor. To do this you and your family members and friends could search through the

following scripture passages:

Scriptures that refute Nehor’s false teachings.

Matthew 7:21–23 Acts 20:33–35 1 Peter 5:2 2 Nephi 26:29–31 2 Nephi 33:9

Enos 1:23 Mosiah 18:24–26 Alma 1:26 Alma 11:37 Helaman 12:25–26

Now , after you and your family members and friends

have searched through these passages you could share

with one another what scriptures you have found and

add that information to your chart and then you could

ask your family members and friends the following

question:” How can we be more like Gideon in our defense of

the truth?

You know if we are truthful to ourselves we can

recognize that Nehor’s false teachings which are

described in Alma 1:3–6 can help each one of us to

recognize the tactics that the adversary uses to

deceive us. One example might be how the adversary

often hides his lies within the truth. 

You might consider having your family members and

friends search the following scripture passage

Alma 1:3–4  to identify the lies that Satan told and

those truths that he used to make the lies appealing? 

Now, when you are finished with your search and have

shared your findings you can ask your family members

and friends the following questions: What are some lies

mixed with truth that deceive people today? How can

we help our families and loved ones distinguish between

truth and error?

Do you remember what I said about how music can

influence us and our homes? So now could be a very good

time to sing or read a hymn about humility. One like,

“Be Thou Humble” (Hymns, no. 130). 

After reading or singing this hymn or another one about

humility you and your family members and friends could

discuss how the message  of the hymn differs from the

message that Nehor sends to the people as found in

Alma 1:2–9. 

You could also teach your family members and friends

about the contrast of what Nehor taught about the

gospel teachers with Aoma and other Church leaders

taught and exemplified as found in Alma 1:26; 4:15–20/ 

Then ask your family members and friends the following

questions: What was Nehor’s motivation? How was it

different from Alma’s? Encourage class members to

ponder their own motivations for serving in the Church. 

What does Alma 1:26 suggest about our responsibility

as learners? This next section comes to you directly

from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:

Ideas for Personal Scripture

Study

Alma 1

I can recognize and reject false doctrine.

Although Nehor eventually confessed that what he taught

was false, his teachings continued to influence the Nephites

for many years (see Alma 1:15–16; 2:1–2; 14:14–18; 15:15;

21:4; 24:28). Why might people have found Nehor’s teachings

enticing? As you read Alma 1:2–4, see if you can identify the

falsehoods in Nehor’s teachings; you’ll probably notice that

they’re taught alongside partial truths.

Gideon withstood Nehor “with the words of God” (Alma 1:7, 9).

Can you think of scriptures that refute Nehor’s falsehoods? Here

are some examples, but there are many others: Matthew 7:21–23;

2 Nephi 26:29–31; Mosiah 18:24–26; and Helaman 12:25–26.

How can these scriptures help you refute falsehoods taught today?

Another way to approach your study of Alma 1 is to compare

Nehor and his followers (verses 3–9, 16–20) with “the people

of God” (verses 25–30; see also 2 Nephi 26:29–31). How can

you be more like the people of God? Do you notice any

“priestcraft” in your own service?

Alma 1:19–30; 4:6–15

Pride can cause us to “fail in [our] progress.”

You and your family members and friends as you have

read through  and are now discussing Alma 1 and Alma 4

which can help you to understand just how pride affects

both individuals and the Church. For this next activity

you could if you have enough family members and friends

divide into two groups. If not you could work together.

You might ask the first group to learn about the state if

the Church as it is described in 

Alma 1:19–30. The second group will be learning about the

state of the Church a few years latter, which you will

find described in Alma 4:6–15. Like i said before, if you do

not have enough family members and friends for groups

you can do it all together,

You and your family members and friends could read

together the first passage Alma 1:19- 30. Then you could

read together the second passage Alma 4:6-15, You could

then share with one another what the Church and its

members were like according to the verses which you have

read together.

The next thing to do is to have a discussion with your

family members  and friends about what you have learned

about the effects of pride on the Church and its members

and the blessings of humility. You could make it fun by

maybe drawing pictures or having a short dramatization

about what you have learned. 

And now for the finishing question in this section to ask

your family members and friends What lessons do these

accounts hold for us today? This next section comes to

you directly from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals

and Families:

Ideas for Personal Scripture

Study

Alma 1:27–31; 4:6–15

True disciples of Jesus Christ do not set

their hearts upon riches.

Chapters 1 and 4 of Alma both describe periods when the Church

prospered, but Church members responded to that prosperity

differently in each case. What differences do you notice? Based

on what you find, how would you describe the attitude that

“humble followers of God” (Alma 4:15) have toward riches and

prosperity? What do you feel inspired to change about your own

attitude?

Alma 4:12–20

The “word of God” and “pure testimony”

can change hearts.

There are so many people in the world who can relate

only too well what Alma felt when he was “Very

sorrowful” as it says in Alma 4:15 which is about the

wickedness and afflictions of his people.  

Possibly you and ‘or your family members and friends

could think about a loved one they are worried about

and keep that person in your mind as you read together the following verses: Alma 4:12–20. 

After you and your family members and friends have read through these verses  to prompt a discussion you

might ask the following questions: What brought joy to

the people in their difficult circumstances? What does

the phrase “the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him”

mean to you? (Alma 4:15). 

What sacrifices did Alma make to help his people, and

what sacrifices are we sometimes asked to make? What

examples have we seen of the power of “pure testimony”?

(Alma 4:19). How can we share our testimonies without

lecturing or being judgmental? 

You might find it beneficial to have your family and

friends get out their journals and write a message of

their testimony to their loved ones. They might even

benefit from having a discussion of what a “pure

testimony: is. You could have this discussion after

they have written their message of their testimony.

The video “Apostle Testimony Montage”

(ChurchofJesusChrist.org) has some excellent

examples.  After you have viewed the video you might consider asking the following questions: 

How do these testimonies, or others we have heard,

“stir [us] up in remembrance of [our] duty”?

(Alma 4:19). How do these testimonies help us

overcome pride and contention? This next section

comes to you directly from our Come, Follow Me for

Individuals and Families:

Ideas for Personal Scripture

Study

Alma 4

The “word of God” and “pure testimony”

can change hearts.

What made Alma “very sorrowful” (Alma 4:15) in Alma 4?

Some might say that the office of chief judge would have put

Alma in the best position to solve the problems he saw among his people. But Alma felt there was a better way. What impresses

you about his approach to helping his people? Your study may

inspire thoughts about how you can righteously influence those

around you; if so, act on those thoughts.

And now we will be moving on to ideas for family

scripture study and family home evening which comes

directly from the Come, Follow Me for Individuals

and Families manual:

Ideas for Family Scripture Study

and Family Home Evening

As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help

you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to

meet the needs of your family. Here are some ideas.

Alma 1:19–25

Your family might benefit from identifying the different ways

Church members responded to persecution in these verses.

Maybe you could practice ways to respond appropriately when

others attack our beliefs. The Religious Freedom Videos might help.

Alma 3:4

What message did the Amlicites want to communicate when

they “set [a] mark upon themselves”? (see Alma 3:4, 13). What

messages might we send—intentionally or unintentionally—with

our appearance? This might be a good time to review “Dress and

Appearance” in For the Strength of Youth (2011), 6–8.

Alma 4:2–3

What things or experiences have “awakened [us] to a remembrance

of [our] duty” toward God? (Alma 4:3). Maybe it would be effective

to share these verses after waking your family in the morning. You

might then discuss how the challenges of waking up physically help

us understand the challenges of waking up spiritually.

Alma 4:10–11

How can we avoid being a “stumbling-block to those who [do]

not belong to the church”? (Alma 4:10). It might also be useful

to talk about how we can make sure the actions of others,

particularly fellow Church members, do not become stumbling

blocks for our spiritual progress.

Alma 4:19

To help your family understand the power of testimony, you could ask them to think of a time when hearing someone’s

testimony affected them deeply. Why might Alma have chosen

to use testimony and the word of God to touch the hearts of the

people? (see also Alma 31:5). Why is this more effective than

other methods people might use to persuade others to change?

Are there people whose faith we could strengthen by sharing

our testimonies with them?

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline

in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “Testimony,” Hymns, no. 137.

Our readings for this upcoming week in Alma 5–7 you 

and your family members and friends will read Alma’s

“pure testimony” and you will see its effects on the

people of Alma as found in Alma 4:19. 

Well guys here we are at the end of this week’s lesson.

I truly enjoyed sharing it with each one of you and I do

hope that I have shared with you something that has

upliftd you in some small way. And these lessons that we

have learned from Alma are priceless! Only as long as we can apply those teachings to our lives and live them

every day in our lives.

With this in mind i want to share the section at the

bottom of this lesson in the Come, Follow Me for

individuals and Families manual about this. It is called

Likening the scriptures to yourself. So how will each

one of you do this? How are you going to live the

teachings you have learned from this lesson

Improving Personal Study

Liken the scriptures to yourself. Consider how the stories and

teachings of the scriptures apply to your life. For example, you

might find parallels between today’s world and the societal

problems the Nephites faced in Alma 1–4.

You might even ask yourself:  how will what i am

learning build faith in Christ, repent, make and keep

covenants with God and receive the Holy Ghost?”

How will I be able to help my family members and

friends build faith in Christ, repent, make and keep

covenants with God and receive the Holy Ghost?

I guess i have rambled on enough for today so i will

close this post with a prayer that each one of you can

' be at peace in our world of uncertainty. I hope that

each one of you can hold onto the hope which is on Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can give us this

peace we seek in our lives. I have this peace in my life

and I never want to be without it.

I hope and pray that each one of you are now getting

acclimated to this next phase of the COVID 19.

Please be safe and remember who you are!!! You are

each one a child of God. Remember the lessons that

Alma has taught us this week. Until  my next post

please stay safe and make it a great week!!!