27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.
Alma asks the people of Zarahemla if they are “sufficiently humble” to stand in God’s presence. In case you’re wondering how much humility is sufficient, he clarifies that point in the following verse: “Behold, are ye stripped of pride?… If ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God.”
How is it possible to achieve such a state of readiness? After all, as Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:
Every mortal has at least a casual if not intimate relationship with the sin of pride. No one has avoided it; few overcome it (“Pride and the Priesthood,” General Conference, October 2010).
Alma tells us exactly how we can overcome our pride: we must be cleansed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Today, I will pray to be cleansed, recognizing that part of that cleansing is to be stripped of my pride. As painful as that may be, it is worth it if it enables me to become sufficiently humble to return to the presence of God.
Today, I will pray to be cleansed, recognizing that part of that cleansing is to be stripped of my pride. As painful as that may be, it is worth it if it enables me to become sufficiently humble to return to the presence of God.
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