Zechariah foresaw a man bearing wounds which he received “in the house of [His] friends.” The Savior's wounds raise the question: What scars have we unknowingly inflicted on our loved ones? Fortunately, He can heal every wound, including the pain we sometimes cause to those we love the most.
Entangled Again
The Articles and Covenants of the Church begin with a personal story. After being forgiven, Joseph Smith was "entangled again in the vanities of the world." He repented and was forgiven again. When we humbly repent, God will set us free, even when our sins seem insurmountable.
“He Began to Remember”
Coriantumr refused to respond to prophetic warnings from Ether for a long time. When he finally saw the wisdom in those warnings, it was too late to avoid the consequences of his unwise decisions. It is so much better to heed warnings and repent early!
Knowing “Of Myself”
Both Alma and Nephi testified that they had received knowledge directly from God which they could not have gained on their own. These testimonies encouraged their listeners to open their hearts and receive the knowledge that only God can give.
“Prepare the Minds”
Alma told Corianton that his ministry included helping parents prepare the minds of their children to hear the Savior's words. Alma's father had prepared his mind so that he knew where to turn in his moment of crisis. We can do the same for our children.
Born to Know
Alma told Helaman and Shiblon that he could not have understood the gospel without being changed, born of God. God can not only give us knowledge, but He can also transform us and elevate our consciousness, so that we can understand what He is teaching us
Exquisite
Alma described his pain and his joy using the same word: exquisite, which means "in the highest degree." Lehi taught that we cannot feel joy if we feel no misery. Maybe our sorrows expand our hearts, making room for us to feel more joy.
“My Mind Caught Hold”
In Lehi's dream, people "caught hold of...the rod of iron," which led them to the tree. After an angel rebuked Alma, his mind "caught hold upon" the thought that Jesus could save him. We can figuratively catch hold of this truth in our moments of darkness
He Has…and He Will
Remembering how God has helped us in the past can strengthen our faith that He will help us in the future. Alma reviewed with his son Helaman the ways that God had sustained and delivered him, and then testified, "He will still deliver me."
“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?