Alma doesn't tell us that he's quoting from Psalm 95, but during his sermon in Ammonihah, he elaborates on phrases and concepts from that psalm. The central message: repent now, be receptive to God, and He will give you peace and stability.
Weakness vs. Rebellion
God distinguishes between unintentional errors (sinning in ignorance) and intentional ones (sinning against light and knowledge). He can help us overcome both, but the repentance process may be different when we need to change our desires and motives.
A Personal Interview
I took Elder M. Russell Ballard's challenge to hold a personal interview using Alma 5. As a result, I resolved to remember, to be more adaptable, to exercise faith, to let go of pride, to respect others' experiences, and to change some patterns of thought
“If Thou Wilt of Thyself…”
When someone's choosing unwisely, you might propose they think about the impact of their actions on other people. Alma's angel took the opposite approach, urging him to think about their impact on him. Are your choices making you stronger and happier?
Admonishing and Being Admonished
Alma and his fellow church leaders admonished one another. It might seem strange that imperfect people should correct each other, but that's the way the church works. We were "baptized unto repentance," meaning that we are humble and willing to change.
Sackcloth and Ashes
The people of Ninevah dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes to symbolize their penitence. As a result, God turned away the consequences Jonah had prophesied. Abinadi likewise urged his people to "repent in sackcloth and ashes," but they did not.
Trusting the Answers We Receive from God
"Counsel me not," says the Lord of the vineyard when his servant questions a prior decision. Jacob urges us to "take counsel from [the Lord's] hand." An important part of that is trusting the revelation you have already received on a given topic.
Patterns of Repentance in Nephi’s Psalm
Nephi's psalm divides into 7 sections: 1. Expression of joy 2. Expression of sorrow 3. Expression of gratitude 4. Conflict 5. Rallying cry 6. Prayer 7. Commitment The last three sections are complementary strategies for dealing with the conflict.
Motivating Laman and Lemuel
Laman and Lemuel experienced a series of escalating wake-up calls before the fear of death finally persuaded them to untie their brother on the ship. We can often save ourselves a lot of grief by responding to early warnings before things get worse.
To Day
David said that our deadline to repent is "today." So did Paul, Jacob, Alma, and Amulek. Paul explains that the deadline of "today" applies to us. President Nelson added that we should repent every day, because repentance is not an event. It's a process.