Alma 33

After Alma said this, people asked if they should believe in one God for the fruit, how they should plant the seed, how to start growing faith, etc. Alma said:

Look, you said you couldn’t worship because you’re banned from the synagogues. I think you’re missing the point. Check out the prophet Zenos on this. I think I can come pretty close to quoting him: “Merciful God, you heard me in the wilderness when I asked to restructure my relationships with enemies. You worked magic on them and I thank you. You also heard me, I should note, when I was in the field, in the house, in the closet— pretty much everywhere I chose to speak to you. You just wait for the chance to show mercy, predicated on anyone calling your name from anywhere they might be. In a crowd—in church or out—or in private. You especially comfort outcasts, particularly when they’ve been shunned for their appearance or general ambience. You like to show your anger to those who shun in that way. Dare I say, you like to put them down miserably, irrevocably. I’ve learned from you that sincerity always wins. Somehow Jesus factors into that. I’m not sure why or how, but I’ll take it. Maybe it’s because he’ll undoubtedly get shunned too.”

Can you accept that? You can’t hear that and omit the Anointed One from your calculations. If Zenos isn’t enough, how about Zenock? He too talked about the Anointed One to come: “You get so mad, Lord, when people mistrust your mercies that come through your Son.” By the way, that kind of talk got Zenock stoned. His listeners hated all these traditions about the Lamb. We should note, though, that many others spoke of the Lamb. Moses, for instance, held up an artificial snake that was supposed to represent Jesus. If you stared at it, you would be healed from any terminal illness. Some people complaisantly gazed at the fake snake. Other people thought it a bit of farce—a Lamb as a snake?—and disregarded Moses’ invitation. They died to prove the wisdom of divine absurdity.

So, hear me out: if you could get healed by staring at a fake snake, wouldn’t you at least give it a try? No real cost to you. Or would you stubbornly dig in your mental heels, even risking death by attitude?

Thus I think you should give Jesus a chance. Open your minds. Try a little faith in his unusual mission, which includes not only healing, but curing from sin and jimmying the locked door to eternal life.

All men will be judged. And I’m looking right at you when I say that. Prepare for that day by planting a little faith in the seedbed of your souls. Nourish it. See if it doesn’t sprout, take root, and poke through the soil, eventually growing into a tree that, if you were having a vision, would probably represent eternal life.

I leave this blessing on your heads: may your backloads lighten a little. They will if you will do what I’ve said.