Mosiah 29: 26; Alma 2: 1-7; Mosiah 29: 26-27

 

What difference would it make if voices of people are being heard more than ever before?

"26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people." (Mosiah 29: 26)

"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." (Alma 2: 1-7)

"26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land." (Mosiah 29: 26-27)

And here's the commentary entitled; "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). Study Alma 2:1–7 to find out what the issue was and what the Nephites did about it. What might have happened if “the people of the church” had not made their voices heard? What else do you learn from this account about how the Lord wants you to be involved in your community? (see also Mosiah 29:26–27).

What are the important issues facing your community? Consider how you, like the Nephites, can make sure that your voice is included in “the voice of the people.” In what other ways can you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, influence your community for good?

See also Dallin H. Oaks, “Love Your Enemies,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 26–29."

The wicked Amlici could have been crowned king of the Nephites if the people of the church had not made their voices heard. Hitler rose to power because the righteous people around him didn't get their voices heard. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke) The Lord wants me to be involved by influencing my community for good so that I can be an instrument in God's hand in making good triumph over evil. 

From my own experience in my community at work, people tend to just say "yes" all the time to the immediate head. When the team that I was in was having a hard time because of the inaction on the part of some individuals, someone made a decision without involving them and told me to not say anything to them. This made me so uncomfortable because it's not being honest and I believe in being honest. So I made up my mind to speak up. I did send my message to one of those individuals because I wanted to stay honest, I care about them and I care about our team. My message was not taken well. Someone among the three of them got mad and tried to confront me while I was in the queue of people by the finger-scanning machine. While she was being loud as she was trying to get me to talk to respond to her angry comments, after I scanned my finger I simply left. Later on, this individual did start talking to me again in a calm manner so we've been in good talking terms again since then. When that individual who told our team to say nothing learned that I did speak up, she did say that she admired my honesty. I also spoke up to our immediate head and because I did, she decided to change how we would work together the following school year (last year) which resolved the issue eventually. Because I did speak up the issue finally got resolved. 

Speaking up does have consequences. The consequence could be not always in your favor when your immediate head expects you to say "yes" all the time, doesn't want to do what you are suggesting, or doesn't know exactly what to do to be able to change a situation for the better. My speaking up almost cost me my job actually. My contract signing for this new school year got delayed because my immediate head decided to get the higher officials to talk to me before I signed my contract. My immediate head told me "You're a good teacher" and said she wanted to keep all her teachers. At the start of this current school year, I was told to talk to the higher authorities again. They told me and I did understand that there were two extra teachers in my immediate head's grade levels (1st and 2nd grades) because the number of classes of 1st and 2nd graders this school year is two less than the past school year. So this is the reason why they were moving me to teach Kindergarten 3 (KG3). I gratefully accepted this new position. When I reported to my new immediate head (Head of Kindergarten 1, 2, 3, and Pre-Kindergarten or Nursery, English Program) at the KG staffroom, she was giving the specific teaching assignments to the teachers and directing them to go to their classrooms. When someone did not agree to teach Pre-K as her new assignment, the position was given to me. 

It's now three weeks since I started teaching my Nursery class and I can say that getting moved to this position is a blessing in disguise. This teaching job was offered to three teachers before it was given to me. Nobody wants this teaching position. That's why all three teachers before me turned it down. The teacher who taught this class last year is no longer teaching in the school now (along with the other one who taught the other class. There are only two classes in Pre-K). I heard she had a hard time--teaching Pre-K class was so difficult for her. And her contract was no longer renewed up to a full year, unlike mine. I'm so blessed that my contract is still up to one whole year. This is an answered prayer. I'm even more blessed that I'm now teaching my very first Pre-K Class. I've been prepared for this and so I'm up to the challenge which nobody wants to go through.

Because I made the choice to be honest and speak up, the Lord has been blessing me abundantly. Making the choice to be honest is truly God's will. When we face challenges as we are doing His will, the Lord inspires us to know exactly what to do to rise above our challenges. And He blesses us in ways that we could never imagine. I never thought that I would be teaching Nursery ever. And yet I've been inspired to prepare for it beforehand. I took care-giving course after resigning from my secondary school teaching job in the Philippines and prior to coming over here in Thailand 18 years ago. This training particularly taught me how to lift things from the ground and to do caring things (like changing baby's diapers) in ways that would strengthen my body like exercise does, rather than hurting my body. The Lord truly is in the details and the details and the details of our lives. I left my country equipped with not only my teaching credentials plus experience but also my care-giving skills that I needed to rise above the challenges that I would face at work here abroad. Now I've been able to easily do my job as a Nursery Teacher/Caregiver. I feel I've been able to do more exercise now than ever before and I'm physically stronger, with more energy, and healthier. My time is also freed up because I would only prepare visual aids for my lessons. No need to do a lot of stuff like preparing PowerPoint Presentations, making and marking exam papers, marking a lot of workbooks (Only got one set of workbooks in one subject for the whole school year. That's it!), and working on students' projects which would require taking and doing them at home from time to time. So, now I have more time for other things I'd love to do. I'm able to spend a few hours working in my little garden just this past weekend. I'm also back to doing yoga regularly. Lifting my students from time to time during the whole day with them at school daily got me back to doing my regular weight-lifting exercise. All these additional exercises in addition to my early morning dance routine daily are truly making me feel stronger, full of energy, healthier, and happier. And I feel I have more power to make many more things happen!

Mosiah 29: 38; Alma 4: 15; 1: 25

How do you keep yourself steadfast and immovable?

"38 Therefore they relinquished their desires for a king, and became exceedingly anxious that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land; yea, and every man expressed a willingness to answer for his own sins." (Mosiah 29: 38)

"15 And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him." (Alma 4: 15)

"25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them." (Alma 1: 25)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: "

"June 3–9: “They Were Steadfast and Immovable” Mosiah 29–Alma 4:

"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 influenced his people, 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).

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 4:15; 1:25)." 

1) Knowing exactly what I want and 2) Keeping that vision always in front of me. These are the two things that are keeping me steadfast and immovable. The direction where I am going in every aspect of life is clear to me. Always looking at the big picture of where I'm heading has been empowering me to stay on track. Even though my weaknesses or mistakes would knock me down along my journey from time to time, I would always get back up on my feet and keep going onward the right direction. 

Mosiah 27: 8-24

What difference does it make when we acknowledge God's will and timing as He answers our prayer?

 "8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.

9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.

10 And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king—

11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;

12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them.

13 Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.

14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.

15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God.

16 Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.

17 And now it came to pass that these were the last words which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed.

18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder.

19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father.

20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God.

21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him.

22 And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God.

23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:

24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." (Mosiah 27: 8-24)

And here's the commentary entitled: "God hears my prayers and will answer them according to His will and timing." :

Maybe you’ve been in Alma the Elder’s situation with a family member who is making destructive choices. What do you find in Mosiah 27:8–24 that gives you hope? How might these verses influence your prayers on behalf of others?

When we acknowledge God's will and timing in answering our prayer, we are giving Him our complete trust. We are letting go and letting God. We are not attached to the outcome or the result that we want as we ask God in prayer. We understand that God is all-knowing and He knows what's best for us. So, we surrender to Him our own will. We want His will to be done. If His will is exactly the same as ours, it's great! If not, we submit to His will recognizing that His thought is higher than our thought and He sees what I don't see--far ahead than what we see. He knows what's best for us more than we ever know. So, when I pray for others, for example, for someone's healing, I can show my faith either way--whether the person get healed or not. I have the faith to be healed and the faith not to be healed. There is always hope either way. God will allow what is the best to happen under His plan.