Alma 8-12

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Alma 8-12

• Alma and Amulek

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Alma 5Zarahelma
Success

• Alma gives many questions that make the people
  think about their standing before God.

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Alma 7Gideon
Success

• Alma teaches that Jesus taking upon Himself all
  things that He would know how to succor His
  people.

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Alma 8Melek
Success

• Alma baptizes throughout the land

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Alma 8Ammonihah
Failure!

• Alma 89, 11
• Alma 95, 30
• Alma 121011

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•  
• I was not well when I arrived. It seemed that
  everyone was prejudiced against us. Those first
  few weeks, because of illness and the opposition
  which we felt, I was discouraged. I wrote a
  letter home to my good father and said that I
  felt I was wasting my time and his money
• Alma 810,14-16. How did Alma feel?

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley 1997, 350).
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• I wrote a letter home to my good father and
  said that I felt I was wasting my time and his
  money. He was my father and my stake president,
  and he was a wise and inspired man. He wrote a
  very short letter to me which said, Dear Gordon,
  I have your recent letter. I have only one
  suggestion forget yourself and go to work.

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley 1997, 350).
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• Those words went into my very being. With my
  fathers letter in hand, I went into our bedroom
  in the house at 15 Wadham Road, where we lived,
  and got on my knees and made a pledge with the
  Lord. I covenanted that I would try to forget
  myself and lose myself in His service.
• That July day in 1933 was my day of decision. A
  new light came into my life and a new joy into my
  heart. The fog of England seemed to lift, and I
  saw the sunlight. I had a rich and wonderful
  mission experience, for which I shall ever be
  grateful.

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley 1997, 350).
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• How in increase the probability of success on a
  mission
• Obtain a Patriarchal Blessing
• Prepare to enter the temple
• Receive personal confirmation regarding
  missionary work
• Receive a personal testimony
• Complete worthiness
• Serious study of Preach my Gospel and the
  Scriptures
• Temporal preparation (cooking, laundry, etc)
• Reduce technology (music, games, texting)
• Become a missionary long before you enter the MTC

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To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

• What can you do to enhance your capacity to be
  led to correct decisions in your life? I am
  convinced that there is no simple formula or
  technique that would immediately allow you to
  master the ability to be guided by the voice of
  the Spirit. Were you to receive inspired guidance
  just for the asking, you would become weak and
  ever more dependent on Them. They know that
  essential personal growth will come as you
  struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.
• I witness that as you gain experience and
  success in being guided by the Spirit, your
  confidence in the impressions you feel can become
  more certain than your dependence on what you see
  or hear.

Richard G. Scott, To Acquire Spiritual
Guidance, Ensign, Nov 2009, 69
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To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

• However much faith to obey God we now have, we
  will need to strengthen it continually and keep
  it refreshed constantly. We can do that by
  deciding now to be more quick to obey and more
  determined to endure. Learning to start early and
  to be steady are the keys to spiritual
  preparation. 
•  We can decide now to do quickly whatever God
  asks of us. And we can decide to be steady in the
  small tests of obedience which build the faith to
  carry us through the great tests, which will
  surely come

President Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness Start
Early and Be Steady, Ensign, Nov. 2005, 38, 40.
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When times are hard.Mountains to Climb
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Second Tries

• Share a mountain youve had to climb
• Share a time where you faced a trial, gave up,
  but then recommitted and found success
• How do you overcome setbacks?
• Alma 1056 - The Lord will send Amuleks into
  our lives!
• CHALLENGE Be an Amulek!

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How did Alma know theChurch was true?How did
Alma know what to do in Ammonihah?Why did Alma
have success on his mission?
Alma 107-12
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Alma 107

• Reasons for fasting
• Alma 545-46
• Alma 66
• Alma 826
• Isaiah 586,9
• Helaman 335
• Matthew 1714-21
• DC 5914
• DC 8876
• Hymn 139

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The law of the fast has three great purposes.
First, it provides assistance to the needy though
the contribution of fast offerings, consisting of
the value of meals from which we abstain. Second,
a fast is beneficial to us physically. Third, it
is to increase humility and spirituality on the
part of each individual. L. Tom Perry, April
1986 Gen. Conf.
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Fasting FAQDiscuss with a partner

1. About how long should a fast normally last?
2. Is it ok to drink water while fasting?
3. How often should a person fast?
4. How much fast offering should a person pay?
5. Should you fast if you are sick?
6. At what age should children start fasting?
7. What should you do if fasting makes you
   irritable?
8. What is the difference between fasting and just
   being hungry?

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Alma and AmulekGreat Missionary Companions
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Alma 111-20

• 1 2 4 7
• Gold senine seon shum limnah
• Silver senum amnor ezrom onti
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
• U.S. CURRENCY (1,5,10) 1 1
  3 4 1 2 3 4 5
• NEPHITE MONEY (1,2,4,7) 1 1 2 1
  2 2 1 2 2
•  
• THIS IS A PERFECT
• MONETARY SYSTEM
• Joseph Smith did have a
• good writing day!)
• Alma 112122

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their
  sins?
• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
• 5. Who will judge us?
• 6. What will we be judged by?

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Alma 11

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• Alma 112122

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Alma 11

• If you are slipping into things that you should
  not slip into or if you are associating with
  people who are pulling you away in the wrong
  direction, that is the time to assert your
  independence, your agency. As a servant of the
  Lord, I promise that you will be protected and
  shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you
  will heed the promptings that come from the Holy
  Spirit (President Packer, Counsel to
  Youth, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 18).

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• Alma 112122
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• Alma 112829

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• Alma 112122
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• Alma 112829
• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their
  sins?
• Alma 1134

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• Alma 112122
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• Alma 112829
• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their
  sins?
• Alma 1134
• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
• Alma 113839

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Alma 11

• In what ways is Jesus Christ our Father?
• He created the earth, which sustains our life.
  He is our Father through His Creation.
• He brings about the Resurrection. He is the
  Father of our resurrected bodies.
• He provides a newness of life through the
  Atonement. He is the Father of our spiritual
  rebirth.
• He changes our nature as we repent and follow
  Him and makes us part of His family. He becomes
  our Father as we take on ourselves His name.

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• Alma 112829
• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their
  sins?
• Alma 1134
• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
• Alma 113839
• 5. Who will judge us?
• Alma 1141-43

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Alma 11-12

• Questions
• 1. Should we answer every gospel question that is
  asked of us?
• 2. Is there more than one God?
• 3. Can Jesus Christ save His people in their
  sins?
• Alma 1134
• 4. Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
• Alma 113839
• 5. Who will judge us?
• Alma 1141-43
• 6. What are we judged on?
• Alma 1214,24

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Elder Nelsons Father

• "On the night of April 6th, 1891, I had a strange
  dream or vision in which I saw and conversed with
  my father who died January 27th, 1891.   I was in
  bed when father came in or entered the room he
  came and sat on the side of the bed.  
•  When father came to the bed, he first
  said  "Well, my son, being you were not there
  when I died, so that I did not get to see you,
  and as I had a few spare minutes, I received
  permission to come and see you for a few
  minutes. 
•  I am very glad to see you father.  How are you
  do? 'I am feeling well my son, and have had very
  much to do since I died.'
•  What have you been doing since you died
  father?  
•  This question he did not answer but looked at me
  and smiled.  'My son, I have been traveling
  together with Apostle Erastus Snow ever since I
  died that is, since three days after I died
  then I received my commission to preach the
  Gospel.  You cannot imagine, my son, how many
  spirits there are in the Spirit world that have
  not yet received the Gospel but many are
  receiving it, and a great work is being
  accomplished.  Many are anxiously looking forth
  to their friends, who are still living, to
  administer for them in the Temples.
•  

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• "Will all the spirits believe you, father, when
  you teach them the Gospel?'  No, they will not.'
•  'Father, can you see us at all times, and do you
  know what we are doing?'  No, my son, I
  cannot.  I have something else to do.  I cannot
  go when and where I please.  There is just as
  much, and much more, order here in the Spirit
  world than in the other world.  I have been
  assigned work and that must be performed.'
•  'Father, is it natural to die? or does it seem
  natural?  Was there not a time when your spirit
  was in such a pain that it could not realize what
  was going on or taking place? 'No, my son, there
  was not such a time.  It is just as natural to
  die, as it is to be born, or for you to pass out
  of that door (here he pointed at the door).  When
  I had told the folks that I could not last long,
  it turned dark and I could not see anything for a
  few minutes.  Then, the first thing I could see
  was a number of spirits in the Spirit
  world.  Then, I told the folks that I must go.'
•  My son, always cling to the Gospel.  Be humble,
  be prayerful, be submissive to the Priesthood, be
  true, be faithful to the covenants you have made
  with God.  Never do anything that will displease
  God.  O, what a blessing is the Gospel!  My son,
  be a good boy.'
•  'Good bye. I then saw him leave the room.  He
  was neatly dressed in a suit of light gray
  clothes, which I had never seen him wear when
  alive.' (in From Heart to Heart  1979, pp 16-18)

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Read Alma 121,7,9

• Being in charge of the Endowment House, while
  the Salt Lake Temple was in the process of
  construction, Heber C. Kimball a member of the
  First Presidency met with a group who were
  planning to enter the temple the Endowment
  House for ordinance work. He felt impressed that
  some were not worthy to go into the temple, and
  he suggested first that if any present were not
  worthy, they might retire. No one responding, he
  said that there were some present who should not
  proceed through the temple because of
  unworthiness and he wished they would leave so
  the company could proceed. It was quiet as death
  and no one moved nor responded. A third time he
  spoke, saying that there were two people present
  who were in adultery, and if they did not leave
  he would call out their names. Two people walked
  out and the company continued on through the
  temple (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of
  Forgiveness 1969, 112).

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TRUE OR FALSE?

• DEATH 
• It stings when you die (that is, there is some
  pain when your spirit leaves your body) 
• Death is the temporary separation of our body and
  spirit 
• We will walk through a tunnel of light and then
  enter the spirit world alone
• There a time appointed for us to die
• Satan has power to end our lives
• Hitler, Cain, Judas Iscariot, and other
  unfaithful people will not be resurrected

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TRUE OR FALSE?

• RESURRECTION
•  
• Many people have already been resurrected, Christ
  being the first of them
• Since Jesus was resurrected with distinguishing
  marks, we, too, will also have some
  distinguishing marks
• Everyones body will greatly differ from
  everybody elses body

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TRUE OR FALSE?

• SPIRIT WORLD
•  
• The spirit world is here on this earth
• Those that commit suicide go to spirit prison and
  will go to either the terrestrial or telestial
  kingdom
• Pre mortal spirits mingle with post mortal
  spirits
• There are men, women, and children in the spirit
  world

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Alma 8-12

• What principles/ applications do you see from the
  story of Alma and Amulek?

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Our Choice

• We get what we focus on consistently. There are
  forces that erode our faith. These stem from
  personal tendencies, attitudes, and habits. But
  we can learn to change. I will refer to these
  influences as the Destructive Ds.

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Doubt

• First is doubt. Doubt is not a principle of the
  gospel. It does not come from the Light of Christ
  or the influence of the Holy Ghost. Doubt is a
  negative emotion related to fear. It comes from a
  lack of confidence in ones self or abilities. It
  is inconsistent with our divine identity as
  children of God.

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Discouragement

• Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement
  comes from missed expectations and leads to lower
  expectations, decreased effort, weakened desire,
  and greater difficulty feeling the Spirit. It is
  the very antithesis of faith.

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Lack of Diligence

• Discouragement leads to a lack of diligence, a
  reduced commitment to carry on through despite
  hardship and disappointment. Disappointment is an
  inevitable part of life, but it need not lead to
  a lack of diligence.

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Disobedience and Disbelief

• If not reversed, this path ultimately leads
  to disobedience. So often the result is
  disbelief. The scriptures describe disbelief as
  the state of having chosen to harden ones heart.
  
• (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, April 2009)

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Alma 8-12

• Alma and Amulek