How do you grow spiritually when you can’t worship the way you’d like? What do you do when you can’t gather with other believers or enter houses of worship? That is the question the poor Zoramites asked Alma: “We have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?” they asked (Alma 32:5).
In response, Alma and Amulek taught them how to exercise faith in Jesus Christ. Here is my summary of their sermon with key takeaways: Alma and Amulek’s Sermon to the Zoramites – Alma 32-34.
Here are some principles I’ve learned from these chapters:
Effective Teaching
- It is important to observe and adapt to the needs of your students: He Did Say No More to the Other Multitude – Alma 32:6-7
- Two ways to know if people are ready to learn: In a Preparation to Hear the Word – Alma 32:6
- Trust your students; give them the benefit of the doubt: Only According to That Which Is True – Alma 32:24-25
Nourishing Our Faith
- You have to be willing to experiment to find out for yourself if the word of God is true: What Is the Relationship Between Faith and Knowledge?
- Faith requires both uncertainty and certainty: Things Which are Not Seen, Which Are True – Alma 32:21
- Patience is active, not passive. It represents steady effort over time: By Your Faith with Great Diligence and Patience – Alma 32:41-43
Believing in Jesus Christ
- “Small acts of faith are required to ignite God’s promises”: What Can We Learn from the Brass Serpent?
- Grace is an enabling power, not just a cleansing power: What Does It Mean to “Work Out Your Own Salvation?”
Praying Always
- We can ask for God’s help in a variety of circumstances: Thou Didst Hear Me – Alma 33:3-11
- We need to pray for others and serve them: For the Welfare of Those Who Are Around You – Alma 34:27-28
Caring for the Needy
- “The patient is always the expert”: What Does It Mean to Serve Others “According to Their Wants?”
- Don’t be afraid to serve: They Did Receive All the Poor of the Zoramites – Alma 35:8-9
Book of Mormon Study Notes 
Hi Paul – What a nice visit we had last night. And I thought I’d like to leave a comment on the Effective Teaching part of today’s blog post. Alma 5:44-49 sets the pattern for proclaiming the gospel, whether it be in the family, the classroom, or as full time missionaries. Alma taught from the scriptures, testified of his personal knowledge that had been given to him by the Spirit that the scriptures are true, and then he added to that as the Spirit directed.
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Thanks for the comment, Steve. It was great to see you yesterday. I appreciate your reminder that effective gospel teaching relies on the scriptures and our personal spiritual experiences and that we need to follow the guidance of the Spirit. Thanks for the cross-reference to Alma 5.
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