Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 19

Introduction

In the lending profession, an old maxim is that you analyze the “Three C’s of Credit” before giving someone a loan.  Those C’s are character, capital, and capacity.  These essentially mean you have the resources and intention to repay what you borrow.  In today’s economy, the Three C’s may now be crummy job, crummy credit, and crummy collateral.

Today we’re going to discuss Three C’s related to the gospel: covenants, commitment, and consequences.

Alma teaches the baptismal covenant

After fleeing from King Noah’s court, Alma repented of his sins and began secretly teaching Abinadi’s words.  Begin with the following quote describing what a gospel covenant is:

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “A covenant is a contract and an agreement between at least two parties. In the case of gospel covenants, the parties are the Lord in heaven and men on earth. Men agree to keep the commandments and the Lord promises to reward them accordingly” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 91; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 26).

President Smith talks about God “rewarding them accordingly.”  I believe this does not mean “according to what we have earned;” rather it is “according to what He has promised.”

Read Mosiah 18:7-10 and consider the covenant Alma invites his hearers to make.  What qualifications for baptism are taught in these verses?

• Learn about faith and repentance (verse 7)
• Have a desire to be baptized (verse 8)
• Be willing to be called God’s people (verse 8).  Cross reference with Hebrews 8:10.
• Be willing to bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those that mourn and comfort those who need comfort (verses 8-9)
• Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places (verse 9)

What promises does Alma indicate God gives in return?

• We will be redeemed, or brought back (verse 9)
• We will receive eternal life (verse 9)
• We will have his spirit more abundantly (verse 10)

As we do these things as we keep our baptismal covenants, how are we changed?

King Noah betrays his people and is destroyed

At this point in the story, Alma and his people flee into the wilderness and are lost to King Noah and those in the land of Nephi.  The Lamanites invade some time thereafter, the people flee, King Noah is killed by his people because of his selfish leadership, and Noah’s priests escape into the wilderness.  The Nephites are brought into bondage by the Lamanites.  King Noah’s son Limhi becomes the king of the Nephites.  Unlike his father, Limhi is a just man who tries to do what is right.  See Mosiah 19.

Limhi’s people suffer the consequences of their sins

Limhi’s reign in the Land of Nephi seems to have lasted about 20 years.  They were in bondage to the Lamanites during that time, paying a tax to them of one-half of everything they produced.  There were also four wars recorded during this time.

1. The Lamanites start the first war based on a misunderstanding.  What happened?  See Mosiah 20:1-6.
2. Wars 2, 3 and 4 were started by the Nephites who did not want to be in bondage to the Lamanites.  Unfortunately for Limhi’s people, the bondage they were in was a physical sign of the spiritual bondage they had put themselves in.  Just as the power of God is the only way to escape spiritual bondage, His power was the only way they were going to be delivered physically.
3. In addition to the wars, Limhi’s people also suffered the literal fulfillment of Abinadi’s prophecies concerning the consequences of their sins.  Compare Mosiah 21:3-5 with Mosiah 12:2, 4-5.  After failing in their military efforts to escape, they humbled themselves.  Read Mosiah 21:14-15. 

Notice again the consequence they had to endure as pointed out in verses 14-15; God was slow to hear their cries.  Is this because God was mad and wanted them to suffer?  I don’t think that adequately explains this situation.  I believe he was slow to respond to their pleas precisely because he loves them.  Limhi’s people had reached a point of humility where they really wanted to change.  God delayed their deliverance “because of their iniquities” (verse 15).  The change of heart the people needed and wanted was not yet finished.  God had to forebear until the transformation in their hearts had been fully accomplished.

God was not ignoring them during this time of affliction.  He softened the hearts of the Lamanites and Limhi’s people began to “prosper by degrees” (see verses 15-16).  When the change of heart was fully accomplished, God provided a way of escape through Ammon’s arrival and an ingenious plan implemented by Gideon.  See Mosiah 22:3-12.

Alma’s people are smitten and delivered

Now the story turns again to Alma.  Remember that he had been warned to flee with his followers from King Noah.  Compare that with King Noah’s people not having any warning when the Lamanites attacked them in Mosiah 19.

Alma and his people settled in a land they called Helam, where they apparently lived in peace and prosperity for most, if not all, of King Limhi’s reign, so about 20 years.  Once Limhi escaped, the Lamanites chased them until they got lost.  Then they wandered in the wilderness, met Amulon (King Noah’s chief wicked priest) and joined forces, trying to find their way back to the land of Nephi.  Instead they found Alma and his people and put them in bondage.  The consequences Abinadi prophesied were even fulfilled for Alma’s people. 

Elder Marvin J. Ashton said: “Our freedom to choose our course of conduct does not provide personal freedom from the consequences of our performances. God’s love for us is constant and will not diminish, but he cannot rescue us from the painful results that are caused by wrong choices” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 24; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 20).

Alma’s people were ultimately delivered through the miraculous intervention of God.  But first, they taught us two important principles:

1. Mosiah 23:21-22; compare D&C 95:1-2.  How should we respond when God chastens us?  I was recently visiting with a good friend of mine who is struggling with some personal challenges.  He has prayed for God to solve his problem, and just doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere.  But rather than giving up, getting angry, or blaming God, he pointed out several recent instances where God has answered other prayers he has offered.  This gives him the assurance that God isn’t ignoring him, but that He is very aware of his circumstances.  He still is struggling and doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do, but he knows the promises in verse 22 apply to him, and he’s trying to put his trust in God.
2. Mosiah 24:15.  This isn’t easy.  In fact, we spend a lifetime working on this trait.  And God is patient, and will continue to give us challenges and struggles so we can learn to be cheerful.

Conclusion

When we do our best to live up to the covenants we have made with God, he will bless us.  That is a great consequence in our lives!  And when we fall short in our commitments, the consequences are more unpleasant, but even these struggles can help us in our eternal quest to change our natures to become like God.