Alma 34

After Alma finished speaking Amulek arose to preach. “Brothers, I know that you were taught about the coming of Jesus Christ before your division from us. When you asked Alma what you should do, he answered that you should have faith and patience, that you should try planting the word of God in your hearts and experience its goodness.”

“The big question in your minds is whether or not Jesus Christ will come. Alma has shown you that Jesus Christ is our salvation. He reminded you of the words of Zenos, Zenock, and Moses to show you that what he says is true. Now I want to testify that I also know that these things are true, that Jesus Christ will come, and take upon himself the sins of the world. God has spoken it. An atonement will be made because according to the great plan of God, all mankind will perish without it. In order to accomplish this, a great sacrifice must be made. No man alive can qualify to be this sacrifice. Only Jesus Christ can make this eternal and infinite sacrifice, and in doing so bring salvation to those who believe in him. He is the means through which we are brought to faith and repentance.

“As you begin to call upon God he will have mercy on you. Cry for mercy and he will save you. Humble yourselves and pray to him. Cry out to him from the fields and from your houses throughout the whole day. Cry out to him for power against your enemies, and against the devil who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry out to him in your secret places and in the wilderness. When you aren’t crying out to God, fill your hearts with prayer to him. Do not turn away the needy and the naked, or fail to visit the sick and afflicted. Give to them. If you don’t help those in need, your prayers will be empty and you will be hypocrites. Unless you are charitable, you are like waste that is thrown away.

“Now having heard so many testimonies and seeing that the scriptures verify these things I want you to come forward and repent. Quit closing your hearts because now is the time of salvation. If you repent now, you will be redeemed. It is time now to prepare for your eventual meeting with God. Whatever spirit possesses your body during life will possess it at the time of your death. If you procrastinate until the end you will belong to the devil and he will have full power over you. This is the final state of the sinner. I know this because God said he cannot be found in unholy places. Only in the hearts of righteousness can he reside.

“It is my desire that you remember what has been said, and that you work out your salvation in prostration before God. Do not deny the coming of Jesus Christ, or fight against the Holy Ghost. Humble yourselves before God and worship him wherever you are. Give thanks every day for the mercies and blessings he gives to you. If you pray continually, you will not be led into the temptations of the devil. If you don’t let him in, the devil cannot overpower you and claim you as his subjects on the day of judgment.

“Have patience and stand up to life’s afflictions. Refuse to hate those who have cast you out because of your poverty, or you will become sinners like them. If you persevere, one day you will find eternal rest from your troubles.” [74 BC]