Alma 39

 

What serious mistakes have you done in your life so far? Where are you heading because of these mistakes? Is that the place where you exactly want to go? What difference would it make if you choose to turn your life around by reaching to the light that shines within you, learn from your mistakes, and make them your stepping stone towards becoming your better version whom you are truly meant to be?

"The commandments of Alma to his son Corianton.

Comprising chapters 39 through 42.

Chapter 39

Sexual sin is an abomination—Corianton’s sins kept the Zoramites from receiving the word—Christ’s redemption is retroactive in saving the faithful who preceded it. About 74 B.C.

1 And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?

2 For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites. Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom.

3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.

4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.

5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?

6 For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.

7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good.

8 But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things.

10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel.

11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.

12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities;

13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly; but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults and that wrong which ye have done.

14 Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you.

15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.

17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?

19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?"

And here's the beginning of the commentary entitled: "I can avoid sexual sin." :

"Alma’s counsel to his son Corianton in Alma 39 provides a great opportunity to learn about the devastating effects of sexual sin, including pornography. Perhaps more important, it can also help you understand the Savior’s offer of forgiveness and healing to people who repent. These questions and activities may help:

• What mistakes led Corianton to break the law of chastity? (see Alma 39:2–4, 8–9). What were the consequences of his actions? (see verses 5–13)."

Corianton's mistakes were:

1. He did not give heed to the words of his father and his brother.

2. He did go on unto boasting in his own strength and in his own wisdom.

3. He did forsake the ministry.

4. He did go over into the land of Siron.

5. He did go after the harlot Isabel.

6. He did go after the lusts of his eyes.

The consequences of his actions were: 

1. He did the most abominable above all sins next to the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost.

2. He cannot hide his crimes from God.

3. Except he repent his crimes will stand as a testimony against him at the last day.

4. Except he repent and forsake his sins, and go no more after the lusts of his eyes, but cross himself in all these things; for except he do this he can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

5. He brought great iniquity upon the Zoramites; for when they saw his conduct they would not believe in his father's words.

6. He lead away the hearts of many people to do wickedly. 

Our mistakes truly have consequences. If we truly care about people's welfare, we would be mindful of our actions. We want to be a light shining and guiding people and inspiring people who are in the dark to transform their lives so they can become the light for others themselves rather than the one leading people in the opposite direction, don't we?

Alma 4: 19; 31: 5; 39: 15; 49: 30

 

How can we follow Alma's example of trusting the power of true doctrine to give someone we love an eternal perspective and encourage repentance? 

"19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them." (Alma 4: 19)

"5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." (Alma 31: 5)

"15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people." (Alma 39: 15)

"30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people." (Alma 49: 30)

"29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance." (Alma 42: 29)

And here's the introduction commentary to this week's reading assignment, August 5–11: “The Great Plan of Happiness” Alma 39–42 :

"When someone we love has made a serious mistake, it can be hard to know how to respond. Part of what makes Alma 39–42 so valuable is that it reveals how Alma—a disciple of Christ who once had his own grievous sins to repent of—handled such a situation. Alma’s son Corianton had committed sexual sin, and Alma, as he had learned to do in his ministry, trusted the power of true doctrine to give his son an eternal perspective and encourage repentance (see Alma 4:19; 31:5). In these chapters, we observe Alma’s boldness in condemning sin and his tenderness and love for Corianton. And ultimately, we sense Alma’s confidence that the Savior “shall come to take away the sins of the world [and] declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people” (Alma 39:15). The fact that Corianton repented and eventually returned to the work of the ministry (see Alma 49:30) can give us hope for forgiveness and redemption when we are troubled about our own sins or the sins of someone we love (see Alma 42:29).

See also “Alma Counsels His Sons” (video), Gospel Library."    

We are all sinners and despite this fact, the Lord still loves each of us. He shines His sun on all of us every day of our lives. He's blessing all of us in this earthly life no matter what. He is no respecter of persons. He's giving all of us enough time to prepare to meet Him. He's giving us the opportunity to repent of our sins because "He loves the sinner and hates the sin". He sacrificed for us and overcame the effects of sin and death because He wants us to have true joy and happiness. It's difficult to find true joy and happiness when we keep sinning. From the Book of Mormon, we learn that "wickedness never was happiness." We are able to find true joy and happiness only when we allow what the Savior did to take effect in our lives and we are cleansed from our sins.