Alma 30

All Things Denote There is A God

In Alma 30, an Antichrist is preaching against the teachings of Christ. I like what Alma says when he says, "What evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; an ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true...The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:40-41, & 44).

All around us there is evidence of God's existence. All we need to do is open our eyes, and see the majesty. Each and every thing is made to operate within its realm. Our human bodies, the planets in motion--function under an intricate network and design. Both the study of the human body and the study of planets have persisted throughout time, and we, as humans, are still learning about that design. These things were not merely thrown together--there is a Creator. In addition to our bodies, and the planets, all other things on the face of the earth also function under a supreme pattern. And because we can look around and realize the existence of a Supreme Being, we can gather a testimony of Him.

What we choose to believe will be the determining factor of who we become. We have the agency to determine our pathway, and a large part of our pathway, in this life, will be our beliefs. In this chapter, Korihor (the Antichrist) insists on a sign from God that there is a God. Alma tells him that if it be God's will, then Korihor will be struck dumb--unable to speak. After Korihor is unable to speak, he wrote, "the devil has deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people...and he I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them (the people of Nephi), even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me" (Alma 30:53). Because Korihor chose to accept what Satan tempted him to believe, he left the path of safety, and became what he taught--he lost his testimony of God, and he led many others away. We are a products of our environments. We lose our testimonies as we choose to surround ourselves with things that separate us from God. If we allow Satan into our lives, we can be assured that he will lead us away from our loving Father in Heaven.

In the end Korihor is trampled and dies. It is written, "THUS WE SEE (capitalized for emphasis), the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord, and THUS WE SEE that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.

Alma 5

TESTIMONY

In this chapter Alma is testifying to the people, and proclaiming the word of God. At one point he says, "Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me" (Alma 5: 45-46). Testimony is built upon hard work. We cannot suppose that we will simply know without giving our hearts to prayer, and studying the word of God. We must seek Him to know Him. He waits for us to come, but we must still choose to do so. And if we do, we are promised a testimony and spiritual protection. At the end of the chapter Alma compares us to sheep. He says, "For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed" (Alma 5:59-60). The Lord desires to protect us, but because we are given our agency, we must choose if we will allow Him to do so. Our protection from spiritual wolves can only be through our Lord. As we seek Him, our testimonies will grow, and we will be brought unto his fold, and no ravenous wolf can or will destroy our testimony, because we will have chosen to turn our hearts, and fortify our testimony in Him.