Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 20

Introduction

Begin by asking how many class members are converts.  What does the word convert mean?

From Old French convertir, from Latin converto (“‘turn around’”)

1.    (transitive) To transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.

A kettle converts water into steam.

The lesson manual explains:

[We] often use the term convert to refer to a person who was baptized into the Church after the age of eight. In another sense, however, each of us should be a convert. Each of us, no matter when we are baptized, must acquire his or her own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For some people this conversion is sudden and dramatic, but for most it is a subtle, gradual process. Some people become converted easily, while others must struggle to develop this testimony and commitment.

Now, how many class members are converts, or are working on becoming one?

Limhi and Alma join King Mosiah

After the events in last week’s lesson, King Mosiah is now leader of a group of people calling themselves Nephites, who are made up of the following four groups:

1. People of Mulek who originally settled in Zarahemla.  These are not descendants from Lehi.
2. People of King Mosiah I who fled from the land of Nephi when the Nephites became too wicked.
3. Alma’s people, who were descended from the people of Zeniff who had returned to the land of Nephi from Zarahemla three generations earlier.
4. King Limhi’s people, who came from the same are as Alma, but didn’t heed Abinadi’s message and repent as quickly.

Mosiah called a type of conference, and everyone gathered.  They read the records of Limhi and Alma’s people.  Alma taught the people in individual groups, reminding them of the bondage of the people and God’s deliverance.  Limhi and all his people were converted and baptized.

Un-converts deconvert others

Read Mosiah 26:1-4.  These people remained in their current state; they were unchanged; they were unconverted.  What did these people do?  (Persecuted the church, deceived many, and led others into sin.)  What can we learn from these four verses?

In verse 6 it becomes necessary for something to be done about these church members who are engaging in sin, so Alma sends them to King Mosiah.  Mosiah’s response is simple and classic.  Read verse 12.  It appears to me that Mosiah said in effect, “This is not a secular issue, it’s a spiritual one.  The sins these people have committed did not break the laws of the land, which is my responsibility.  Instead, they’ve broken the laws of God, and you’re the spiritual leader.  It would not be appropriate for me to judge them, so you have do deal with it.”  Mosiah was a great delegator!  (Note that in Mosiah 27:1-2 when the problem of persecution arises, this time Mosiah does get involved.  This problem is civic in nature.)

Read Mosiah 26:13-14.  The Lord explained to Alma how to set up a church disciplinary system for the benefit of all church members, both repentant and un-repentant sinners.  Read Mosiah 26:37-39.

Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah are converted

Among the un-converts who were trying to destroy the church, Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni were zealous, and apparently successful!  How do you suppose Alma the Elder and King Mosiah felt about this?  How did they respond?  Read the following quote from Elder Holland:

When he was Church Commissioner of Education, Jeffrey R. Holland said: “Perhaps no anguish of the human spirit matches the anguish of a mother or father who fears for the soul of a child. … [But] parents can never give up hoping or caring or believing. Surely they can never give up praying. At times prayer may be the only course of action remaining—but it is the most powerful of them all” (“Alma, Son of Alma,” Ensign, Mar. 1977, 80–81).

Although not all prayers of this type will be answered by angelic visitation, God will answer each of our prayers according to his love, while respecting the agency of the sinner.  Note that in Mosiah 27:16, the angel does not force Alma to repent; he warns him not to continue persecuting the church, even if he wants to be destroyed. 

How did Alma the Younger respond?  First, he suffered for his sins.  Read Alma 36:12-16 for a description of the remorse he felt.  This is not mild regret for having done wrong; this is life-change, soul-wrenching misery for having done wrong.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: “Alma serves as a pattern. The horror for sin that engulfed him should be felt by every wayward member of the kingdom; then repentance would be forthcoming, as it was with our Nephite friend” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 229).

God did not leave him in his suffering any longer than necessary.  Read Alma 36:17-22.  How can we follow Alma’s good example?  What will happen as we do so?

The new converts seek to convert others

Read Mosiah 27:35-37 and Elder Perry’s quote:

Elder L. Tom Perry said: “After conversion comes the desire to share—not so much out of a sense of duty, even though that responsibility falls on the priesthood, but out of a sincere love and appreciation for that which has been received. When such a ‘pearl of great price’ comes into our lives, we cannot be content just to admire it by ourselves. It must be shared!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1984, 106; or Ensign, May 1984, 79).

 

 Handout for class

 

Un-converted	Converted
Carnal and fallen, to be cast off (Mosiah 27:25–27; Alma 36:11)	Redeemed of God, born of the Spirit (Mosiah 27:24–25; Alma 36:23)
Wading through much tribulation (Mosiah 27:28)	Snatched out of an everlasting burning (Mosiah 27:28)
In the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity (Mosiah 27:29)	Redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity (Mosiah 27:29)
In the darkest abyss (Mosiah 27:29)	Beheld the marvelous light of God (Mosiah 27:29)
Racked with eternal torment (Mosiah 27:29)	Soul pained no more (Mosiah 27:29)
Harrowed up by the memory of his many sins (Alma 36:17)	No longer harrowed up by the memory of his sins (Alma 36:19)
Felt exquisite and exceeding pain (Alma 36:20–21)	Felt exquisite and exceeding joy (Alma 36:20–21)
Soul racked with horror at the thought of being in the presence of God (Alma 36:14–15)	Soul longed to be in the presence of God (Alma 36:22)