Alma 31: 6-38

There are times when we just want to keep reading as we read from the Book of Mormon. And today is one of those times for  me. As you can see I finished the rest of the verses in Alma 31.

The Zoramites as found by Alma and his brethren in the land of Antionum reminds me of how the Lord described the people at the time of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and written in Isaiah 29: 13. It says, "...this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me..."

The attitude of Alma towards the Zoramite dissenters is best described in the Book of Mormon Institute Student Manual. It says, "Alma recognized that the souls of the apostate Zoramites were precious to God. Thus, Alma prayed for the power and wisdom to bring them back to the Lord. Alma's prayer exemplifies the attitude all members and missionaries must develop. All people are of great worth, and through the power of God they can be brought back to him."

The manual went on quoting the words of Elder Carlos E. Asay while he was serving as a member of the Seventy (1926-99). Elder Asay taught that all people are precious to God and should be to us: "The souls of our brothers and sisters who may seem to be more feeble and less honorable are precious. The Church has need of them. We should make every attempt to know them and to help them claim the full blessings and joys of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our prayers should be as Alma's: 'Give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee (Alma 31:35).

Elder Asay went on to say: "We must remember that our salvation is intertwined with the salvation of others. We must care more for those who seem to care less for their faith" (Nurturing the Less Active," Ensign, Oct. 1986, 15).

Is it easy to care more for those who seem to care less for their faith? For me, it's easier to care more for those who are honest seekers of the truth--those who are prepared to hear and embrace the gospel. But for those who care less for their faith? That's tough! I always thought if someone is not (yet) ready to listen, then I should move on to those who are ready so I don't waste my time. I will just keep them--those who are not ready in my prayers. But how is that for caring more for them? Well, I don't want to waste not only time but also effort in fruitless labor. Fruitless labor? That sounds like judging the book from its cover. Now I'm trying to recall how Alma taught the Zoramites despite their finding them in such discouraging situation with their level of spirituality...I got some memory from my past study about what happened next to these Zoramites as Alma and his brethren preached to them the word of God. I'm excited to learn something new as I study those events again--tomorrow in Alma 32.