How can we use THE WORD to activate the blessings God promises in our life?
In the Book of Mormon, once he rejoined his brothers after years of missionary work, Ammon talks about HOW the Lamanites were changed and converted. Notice what he says was the key to this:
Alma 26:13
13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
The word is in us. It can cause us to change. Christ’s changing power is in us. Is this the Light of Christ which leads us to do good? Is this the Holy Ghost who justifies us, sanctifies us and changes our very nature? Is this the Baptism of Fire which brings about the mighty change in our hearts? The power of his word is in us. Something to ponder.
How do we get this word in us or in our hearts?
In Alma 32, Alma invites us to plant the word (seed) in our hearts.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, [soft heart] that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief [stony heart], that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts;
How do we plant it?
1. The WORD is imparted BY ANGELS unto men, women and children. (See Alma 32:23) Isn’t that amazing? I have never noticed this scripture before. This takes us back to 2 Nephi 32:3 “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore. they speak the words of Christ.” Nephi tells us that when heavenly or earthly messengers (“sowers” of the seed) speak the word, the Holy Ghost is the one who carries it to us. “…For when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” (2 Nephi 33:1). Our job is to give place for it. (see #5 below)
2. We know we need fertile ground.
In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13 and Mark 4) we learn about the different types of ground or states of our heart when we prepare to receive THE WORD: I can think of individuals I know who fit each of these categories and even myself at times. I am sure we could find examples of each of these in the Book of Mormon as well.
a. By the wayside -You don’t “understand” the word. In Mark 4, he uses the word "receive" instead of "understand". In this case, Satan comes and takes away the seed out of our hearts. (Matthew 13:19)
Are you confused about the doctrine? Did you take the time to study and ponder it on your own? Do you understand the value or what THE WORD can do for you? What fruit it can bear? The footnote for "understand" leads to a scripture describing the mists of darkness in Lehi’s dream. You didn't receive it? Perhaps you heard it but didn't open your heart to let it in.
b. Stony ground- Receive it with gladness but it cannot get root. When asked to endure tribulation and persecution for it, it endures for a while but “by and by he is offended” and the seed does not remain. (Matt 13:20-21).
“I grew up in the church and loved it. But when these new changes in the handbook came out/when these new policies came out/when some “messy” historic information and stories about the church came out I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
c. Among thorns- Hear the word but the cares of the world, riches and lusts choke the word. It becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)
“I believe it could be true but I am not “spiritual”. I’d rather focus on what I can see and know for sure in the world.” Or perhaps you are attending church and going through the motions. However, your focus is not on the Savior but on worldly matters and you never see the fruit of Christ’s Atonement in your life: the reason for it all.
d. Good ground- Hear the word and understand it (Matt 13:27) or receive it (Mark 4:20). It bears fruit. The amount of fruit varies according to our efforts and faith. “Some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)
3. We need to “awake and arouse [our] faculties, even to an experiment upon my words…” (Alma 32:27)
Faculties: That power of the mind or intellect which enables it to receive, revive or modify perceptions; as the faculty of seeing, of hearing, of imagining, of remembering, etc.: or in general, the faculties may be called the powers or capacities of the mind. (1828 Dictionary) Be prepared and open to change your heart and mind.
Arouse: To excite into action, that which is at rest. (1828 Dictionary)
4. “…Exercise a particle of faith” (v 27)
According to physics and chemistry we know that all particles (microscopic pieces that make up an atom) vibrate. Are you choosing to activate faith and hope and raise the vibration of your body and mind?
An interesting definition I found of ‘exercise’ is: Exertion of the mind; application of the mental powers.(1828 dictionary definition) This returns to the purpose of this blog…”Look unto me in every thought…” (D&C 6:36)
5. Desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion* of my words. (v 27)
I would add “choose to believe” to help clarify "desire to believe". This is how we cast out doubt. When I find myself beginning to fear and doubt whether or not I will receive a blessing or that something will work for my good I say out loud: “I choose to believe!” I am making space for the blessing to occur. If I doubt, I cannot receive it.
*see description below lesser portion vs greater portion
What happens to us if we plant the word or seed?
Back to Alma 32:28
…and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
Notice these words spell: SEED.
Swelling
Enlarge
Enlighten
Delicious
(I will do a separate post about these 4 things. There is so much here.).
What must we do to keep it there that it may grow and bring forth fruit? So it may be in us. (See Alma 32:28, 37, 40-41)
Plant it. vs 28
Don’t cast it out with doubt. vs 28
Don’t resist the Spirit. vs 28
Nourish it vs 37 and vs 40
Have faith vs 40
Be diligent vs 40
Have patience vs 40
Look forward with eye of faith (visualize the blessing and end result you seek) vs 40 So much more to talk about here. Another time.
*While we may not completely reject the seed we may only be able to receive a portion of the blessings God wants to offer us. As described in the parable of the sower, the good ground varies the in the amount of fruit it grows. (30-60-100). What is the determining factor for the amount we can receive?
In Alma 12, Alma and Amulek are teaching the people of Ammonihah. The people can only receive a portion of the word:
vs 9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
So the word is now being compared to the mysteries of God. We can only receive (in us) that which we will OBEY.
vs 10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
vs 13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.
In Summary:
If we desire to taste the fruit of this WORD or the results of our faith, we need a humble and soft heart. We must be willing to hear and seek to understand the WORD (scriptures, words of the prophets, and promptings of the Spirit) by feasting on the words of Christ and obeying immediately. Choosing to believe and casting out doubt, we will receive the blessings and fruit of the seed. Our hearts will experience a mighty change, our souls will expand and we will be born of God. We will receive more of the mysteries of God until we know them in full including seeing our Savior Jesus Christ face-to-face. Those in the scriptures who experienced these blessings were the most obedient and who chose to seek these blessings looking forward to the fruit thereof. They imagined the blessings in their mind and clung to that. They looked forward with an eye of faith and chose to believe it was coming to them. After all, God cannot lie. ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.