Alma 39

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 yellow green 5/21 8/22 Brown 9/23)  

                     The commandments of Alma to his son Corianton.                 

                                 Comprising chapters 39 through 42
CHAPTER 39
Sexual sin is an abomination—Corianton’s sins kept the Zoramites from receiving the word—Christ’s redemption is retroactive in saving the faithful who preceded it. About 74 B.C.

  1 And now, my ^ason, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good ^bexample for thee? Assuming Alma is speaking by the spirit, his parenting example here starts out with comparing him to his brother. 
  2 For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the ^aZoramites. Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom. He's not afraid to say what he has against him; why he is disappointed.
  3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the ^aharlot Isabel. Notice he had to go find her. It wasn't just a temptation of circumstance. She wasn't even where he was...Did this harlot have such a reputation that Alma knew her by name?
 4 Yea, she did ^asteal away the hearts of many; The temptation was real...This woman was truly a harlot trying to seduce men. but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted. When we have accepted a calling/trust, we are not excused just because something is tempting...or he could be saying that he had no excuse because he had been taught better.
  5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most ^aabominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent ^bblood or denying the Holy Ghost? this applies to ALL sex outside of marriage. Period. It seems like he's bewildered as to why he'd give in to such a thing knowing how grave a sin it was. He knew it...and still did it...
  6 For behold, if ye ^adeny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is ^bunpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain ^cforgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness. At first he says it is unpardonable, but then he says it is not easy to obtain forgiveness, making it sound like it is pardonable... now when I read it again it sounds like this sin against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable but going against light and knowledge that you have had is forgivable but not easy. Why does he say it twice? Emphasis? The second time he says a forgiveness instead of just forgiveness what is the difference. Is there one? Also, he uses strong language in describing the sin against the Holy Ghost - "murdereth". I'm thinking this "light and knowledge" is the Baptism by Fire. Had Corianton received it yet? 
  7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been ^aguilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. How was dwelling upon his 'crime' good for him, even though it might cause great distress or torment? It is hard to correct others even though it would be for their good… Especially when they are adults. He keeps affirming that he's committed a great crime. He personally knows what that feels like to have your sins harrow up your soul. Hard to experience but for your good if it leads to true repentance. 
  8 But behold, ye cannot ^ahide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day. Remember to repent means to turn away from; to have a change of mind. Here it sounds like the “last day” is the day of judgment when we stand before God.
  9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the ^alusts of your eyes, but ^bcross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Born Again language ("The Kingdom of God is within you) Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and ^ccross yourself in these things.


 10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel. The general counsel here is to know when you need help and ask for it. Even though he's a young adult, he still feels he can "command" him. Perhaps just a strong word for "urge"...I love how he sees the older brothers counsel as "nourishing". We need to see God's commands and counsel as "nourishing" as well. It has ties to life-sustaining. 
 11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Isabel was not alone. “Suffer not yourself” implies that you have agency. You can control yourself. You don't have to allow yourself to be led away into forbidden paths. Notice it was his "heart" he needed to protect. Behold, O my son, how great
 ^ainiquity ye brought upon the ^bZoramites; for when they saw your ^cconduct they would not believe in my words. The Zoramites have their agency too, but there is still accountability for our actions that lead others into iniquity. I fear this is what is happening in the church but in a different way. The support of the global agenda with the pandemic has brought great iniquity upon our people because they saw the example of their leaders and would not believe others who are trying to share the truth about what is really going on.
 12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: I could say many things to my own children if only I could preface it with "the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me". Without that, I don't feel I have authority to speak like this... ^aCommand thy children to do good, lest they ^blead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye ^crefrain from your iniquities; Is Alma saying he's speaking these words in the "fear of God" himself? Or is he telling his son to refrain from his iniquities "in the fear of God?" Could be both... Again, when he was young he was guilty of "leading the hearts of many to destruction" by his example. He knows what the "fear of God" feels like. He feels very strong about this!
 13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly; but rather return unto them, and ^aacknowledge your faults and that wrong which ye have done. Alma had to do this in his youth as well. We will hopefully see this too in our church.
 14 ^aSeek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you. I love this message. This life is the time for us to prepare to live with God. Nothing in this life that we can buy or acquire will matter after we die.
 15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the ^acoming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.
 16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their ^achildren to hear the word at the time of his coming. We are charged with this task as well. If we are not going to be here when Christ returns, we at least need to prepare the minds of our children to be ready to receive Him. This is 74 years before the coming of Christ and about 107 years before he will visit them. So it truly is the children and grandchildren of these people that will be there when Christ comes to them. Still, there is a personal "coming" that we must all strive to prepare for in this life...
 17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming? 
 18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be ^amade known unto this people as well as unto their children?
 19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to ^asend his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming? There is something wonderful in this teaching. We don’t put off teaching preparing for the return of the Savior just because we think it won’t happen in our lifetime. Preparing for his return will prepare us to know him no matter when he comes. When we die that will be our second coming experience. We need to be just as prepared for that.