2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
(Alma 17:2-3)
(Alma 17:2-3)
Alma was overjoyed when he was reunited with his friends, the sons of Mosiah, after about 15 years of serving in different countries and having no contact with each other.. He was impressed with their spiritual maturity, which Mormon attributes to two activities:
- Searching the scriptures – They had become “strong in the knowledge of the truth” and had a “sound understanding” because of the time and effort that they had invested in scripture study. I think this implies more than simply memorizing facts and being able to explain the doctrine. I think that the principles of the gospel had sunk deep into their souls and they were able to apply those principles almost instinctively.
- Prayer and fasting – Diligent and consistent prayers, sometimes accompanied by fasting, had opened their hearts to the Spirit of the Lord, which enabled them to receive revelation and to teach “with power and authority of God.” I’ve thought about what this means. We sometimes associate authority with the blessing we received when we were ordained or set apart. But the word also means the ability to influence others or to obtain their respect. This kind of authority comes only when the Holy Ghost ratifies the truth of your words.
Today, I will recommit to the activities which helped the sons of Mosiah to progress spiritually. I will study and ponder the scriptures in order to internalize true principles. I will pray and fast to have the companionship of the Holy Giost so that I can be an effective gospel teacher–at home, in my calling, and in informal conversations with my friends.
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