This is supposed to be done first thing in the morning but I got caught up in a number of things today. I should be able to get back to getting up at 4AM or even earlier so I could keep up with this when I get back to work next week. I should be able to keep myself up--fight my sleepiness (I wonder what is making me sleepy today. It's probably the weather...). Well, if I could get myself into bed by 10PM (as planned), I think I could be up by 4AM or even earlier. I'll do my best to be in bed by 10PM tonight.
Chapter 35 is really short. Let me quote the chapter heading: "The preaching of the word destroys the craft of the Zoramites--They expel the converts, who then join the people of Ammon in Jershon--Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the people."
And in verse 7 it says, "And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them." The Institute Manual mentioned: "The converted Zoramites, being 'cast out of the land; and they were many' (v. 6), went and dwelt among the people of Jershon (people of Ammon). Here they were nourished, clothed, given lands for their inheritance, and had all of their wants satisfied (see v. 9). In their previous land they were looked upon as poor, filthy, and course (see Alma 32: 2-3).
In Matthew 20: 28, we read: "28 Even as the
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we also are supposed to minister to others just as Jesus and his prophets and apostles did. I'm reminded of an experience I had when I was new here in Thailand. My place is about an hour from the church depending on the traffic. It could be more than an hour at times. But there is a local Thai church which is only 10 minutes away by bus. It's really a lot easier to go there instead of going to the International Ward. So, there were 2-3 times I did go to such Thai Ward. When I was there, the missionaries who were fluent in Thai would translate for me. And I felt great at first. But then I felt I'm making others serve me and I'm not able to serve them myself. I don't speak Thai so I could only listen while I'm in the Sunday classes. I couldn't express my own thoughts and ideas and share my testimony to others. It was not a good feeling. I was making other minister unto me while I'm supposed to minister to others myself. So I decided to go back to the International Ward where I could speak to everybody in English and so I could minister to others. I'm glad I did listen to my heart. I'm a lot happier when I am able to contribute my time and effort in service to my fellow brothers and sisters in the church.
Yesterday while reading Chapter 34, one thing stood out but there was no time to expand it. Let's go back to that passage now. In Alma 34 : 38, Alma exhorts us to "live in thanksgiving daily." President Dieter Utchdorf shed more light on this in his talk entitled, "Grateful in Any Circumstances" during the latest general conference. I really love everything President Utchdorf said. But let me quote his explanation of gratitude--how is it possible for us to be grateful no matter what.
"We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.
This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.
When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.
We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?
Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.
This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind."
We are commanded to be thankful in all things. It makes so much sense. If we are to minister to others, being grateful no matter what would empower us and we will be able to serve others just as the Lord would if He is here on earth. Nothing could stop us from putting others' needs ahead of our own. We can lose ourselves in service to others. This kind of gratitude does transform us to become more like our Savior.
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