Alma 8: 14; 31: 30; 35: 15; 35: 16; 38: 9

What do you choose to feel about the state of the world today? What are you choosing to do about it?

"14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:" (Alma 8: 14)

"30 O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul." (Alma 31: 30)

"15 Now Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful." (Alma 35: 15)

"16 Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record." (Alma 35: 16)

"9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Alma 38: 9)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: July 29–August 4: “Look to God and Live”  Alma 36–38

"When Alma saw wickedness around him, he felt deep “sorrow,” “tribulation,” and “anguish of soul” (Alma 8:14). “Wickedness among this people,” he said of the Zoramites, “doth pain my soul” (Alma 31:30). He felt something similar after returning from his mission to the Zoramites—he observed that the hearts of many of the Nephites “began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word,” and this made his heart “exceedingly sorrowful” (Alma 35:15). What did Alma do about what he saw and felt? He didn’t simply become discouraged or cynical about the state of the world. Instead, “he caused that his sons should be gathered together” and taught them “things pertaining unto righteousness” (Alma 35:16). He taught them that “there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. … Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness” (Alma 38:9)."

Many people in the world tend to simply become discouraged or cynical about the state of the world today. How about you? You don't want to be one of those people who would choose to give in to their tendency to become discouraged or cynical, right? You can do better than that. You can choose to be like Alma. He didn't give in to the same tendency. Instead, “he caused that his sons should be gathered together” and taught them “things pertaining unto righteousness”. What a brilliant idea! Now, how can you and I do the same? I don't have sons of my own and yet I have siblings. With the technology now, even though we can't gather together physically right away because of the distance between us, we can gather virtually (online). And if we can't meet together online, we can always send messages to one another. This is something I recently did myself. I sent a message to each of my siblings and shared with them “things pertaining unto righteousness” as we navigate a family situation we are in at the moment.