A Change of Heart: Turning Towards God

In institute this morning we discussed Alma 1-7. Here are a few of the things we discussed, along with some of my own thoughts and connections.

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Alma 5:14 - "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

 "Have you spiritually been born of God?" 

 Alma is referring to a spiritual conversion, a change of heart, repentance - or bringing our will into alignment with God's will. It is a change of our being in which we have no more desire to sin, but to do good continually. (See Mosiah 5:2)

When we read about the apostate Nehor in chapter 1, we read verse 4 which says, "And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life." When I read this, it sounds like Nehor is saying that we don't need Christ's atonement because everyone is going to be saved automatically, no matter what we choose to do. (This sounds an awful lot like Satan's plan to me.) Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of people who believe something similar to this - Just admit that you are a sinner, say that you believe in Christ, and you'll be saved! Just say this once, and *BAM!* you're saved! No worries about trying to live righteously, or continually repenting of sins, or even striving to draw nearer to God. (And, by the way, pay the minister on the way out.)

"Have ye received his image in your countenances?"

When we read about the Amlicites in chapters 2 and 3, we read about how they had marked themselves with red upon their foreheads (Alma 3:13) to be more similar to the Lamanites with whom they had aligned themselves, and to set themselves apart from the other Nephites. In class it was mentioned that we tend to look like the people with whom we associate. Groups of friends may wear similar styles of clothing, gangs may get similar tattoos. It was even suggested that sometimes married couples begin to look like each other after a long period of time. Perhaps, as we become more like our Savior, to emulate his attributes, we begin to look like him. Several people in class mentioned that they can often pick out Mormons from a group because they have a certain "look" about them.

We read a passage from a talk by President James E. Foust, where he says:

I recently recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about 17 years ago. It was regarding the lease for the land on which the Brigham Young University’s Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies was later built. Before this lease could be signed, President Ezra Taft Benson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of Brigham Young University, agreed with the Israeli government on behalf of the Church and the university not to proselyte in Israel. You might wonder why we agreed not to proselyte. We were required to do so in order to get the building permit to build that magnificent building which stands in the historic city of Jerusalem. To our knowledge the Church and BYU have scrupulously and honorably kept that nonproselyting commitment. After the lease had been signed, one of our friends insightfully remarked, “Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?” He was referring to our students who were studying in Israel.

What was that light in their eyes which was so obvious to our friend? The Lord Himself gives the answer: “And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings.” ¹ Where did that light come from? Again the Lord gives the answer: “I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” ² The Lord is the true light, “and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” ³ This light shows in our countenances as well as in our eyes.

"Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

How can we experience this change?

• Walk in Christ's footsteps, following his example. (1 John 2:6)
• Seek the will of the Father. (John 5:30)
• Do the things that please the Father. (John 8:29)
• Stand as a witness of God in all times and places. (Mosiah 18:9)
• Look to God without doubt or fear. (D&C 6:36)

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The end of Alma's message to the church in Zarahemla talks much about Christ as the "Good Shepherd." He talks about how the Savior is calling us, how he wants to protect us and take care of us, but how often, we are determined to go our own way.

William Ernest Henley wrote an inspiring poem entitled, "Invictus" where he exclaims "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."  Orson Whitney wrote a response to this poem entitled, "The Soul's Captain" in which he suggested that Christ should be our soul's captain.

Our instructor ended by showing us a film about a couple kids who were asked to take care of several motherless lambs one summer, and how many of the lambs ended up dieing because they couldn't figure out how to eat the food that was provided for them, in spite of all the children could do. It added new meaning to the Savior's plea to "Feed [his] lambs."