After Alma baptized about 200 people at the waters of Mormon, he organized them into a church and gave them instructions about to serve one another. Here are some of the principles I’ve learned from Alma’s instructions:
- “Preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people” (Mosiah 18:20). Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate the gospel. You can apply the basic principles of faith and repentance to a variety of complex situations.
- “There should be no contention one with another, but…they should look forward with one eye,…having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21). Seek to bring people together: to reduce contention and increase unity.
- “As often as it was in their power [they should] assemble themselves together” (Mosiah 18:25). Good friends want to be together more often, to communicate frequently. Think often about the people you care about. Reach out to them regularly. Find opportunities to be with them.
- “The priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God” (Mosiah 18:26). This passage may refer to monetary support, but I am thinking of it today in broader terms. When I minister to someone else, I ought to have unselfish motives. I’m not serving them because I hope to receive something in return. They may have nothing to give me right now. Instead, in return for my service, I will receive the grace of God.
- “The people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had” (Mosiah 18:27). Instead of comparing myself (usually unfavorably) to other people, I need to recognize that I have unique talents, skills, and resources that I can share with other people. My goal is to find out what I have to give that other people need.
Today, I will apply the ministering principles I have learned from Alma. I will keep my ministering simple, cultivate unity, reach out to others frequently, be unselfish, and recognize what I uniquely have to offer.
