Today I read Alma 10. This is the chapter where Amulek begins his speak to the people of Ammonihah. He tells the people about his history and about how he was called to preach to them repentance. He also reiterates what we talked about yesterday, how the Lord generally will only spare unrighteous cities because of the few righteous in them.
The final part of the chapter is the lawyers and unrighteous people of the city trying to trap Amulek in his words as some lawyers are wont to do. It leads into the next chapter where Zeezrom tries to trick Amulek into denying God for money. However that is tomorrow's post.
I wanted to do an appendage to yesterday's post of Satan's counterfeit to God's plan. I have met many, many people who felt they were called to the ministry to preach God's word. They usually say how they were going through their life when suddenly one day they had an epiphany and felt that they had a higher purpose to perform. This is good, they understand what is taught in Hebrews 5:4, that no one chooses this calling, rather people are called to preach the word of God. The difference between those people and Amulek though is Amulek has the priesthood.
In Alma 14:10 Alma and Amulek are forced to watch the murder of the women and children of the men who believe Alma and Amulek and Amulek is tempted to use the priesthood to save them and stop their suffering. Alma states that he also desires this but God stops him so that at the judgment day the people will have no excuse of their judgment because all these people would testify of their wickedness.
Even though the preachers of this world know that they do not take this honor unto themselves they do not understand the 2nd half of the scripture in Hebrews 5:4, the part that says even as Aaron was. Aaron was called to be a priest in the Old Testament by God through Moses. The first thing Moses did after this was to ordain Aaron to the priesthood and perform sacred ordinances for Aaron. THAT is the difference. To be called as was Aaron is to have the priesthood, ordinances performed and then to go forth and serve God. These men and women who feel compelled to serve God and preach His holy word, are probably actually feeling the Lord direct them towards the truth and to align their lives with His word and THEN they can serve and preach His holy word to others.
Unfortunately though we have allowed Satan to deceive us and now the right ways of God have been perverted. Like so many other things, sacred and holy things, Satan has once again convinced us that his counterfeit is right and God's way is either too hard or the wrong way. He whispers in our ear that authority to act in God's name is not necessary, belief alone is enough. When the scriptures scream otherwise. God is unchanging! He has never hidden from us what must be done. We balk at the challenge and wring our hands and shuffle our feet until Satan whispers an easier way and claim God is ok with it because our lives are going well. What a bunch of hoohaw!
I have never understood people who think that because your life is going well God must be ok with your decisions. Such people do not understand the scriptures. I'm pretty sure Alma's life was acceptable to the Lord, did he have an "easy" life? Don't make me laugh! Nephi sure was righteous, did he suffer? The scriptures CLEARLY state that the Lord will try his people (Mosiah 23:21). I would honestly say if you have no trials at all, that's the time to examine your life and ask yourself, what am I doing wrong?
The Lord loves us and truly all these things are indeed for our benefit. For it's only in our despair and lowest points that most people will turn to God. Unfortunately as soon as they climb out of that pit they immediately forget Him again, like a friend who only comes around when they need something. It is indeed a hard thing to appreciate trials, especially when you are in them, but truly we should be grateful for what we suffer, for it is our trials that bring us closer to God. May we all thank God for the lessons we have learned and who we are today with His help. Until tomorrow.
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