Mosiah 26

The generation gap is eternal. A generation rises, ignorant of its grandparents’ world. This time it was about King Benjamin’s talk, which was as near stone-tablet as anything in this promised land. And the kids didn’t know a word of it.

If you don’t know about something you can’t believe in it. So this generation was as far from its patriarchs as Nephi was from Palestine. They had no interest in baptism. No craving to be listed on the church rolls. So, they fall into the “lost” category by Alma standards.

They started off a small group in Mosiah’s early years. But they grew, as children do, not just in stature but in number.

Now religion comes and goes. But flattery is forever. That’s how these kids acted, anyway. They started to prey on the Narcissus in every man or woman. Those they flattered into illicit sex had to be thrown out of the church. The priests brought them to Alma, who judged them like Solomon.

The worst of them Alma didn’t know. But witnesses to their salacious conduct abounded. This was new for Alma. He didn’t think of church this way. So he took them to Mosiah and introduced them thus: “People say these are sinners. Aren’t we all at some level? But they may have crossed over into criminality. So…”

Mosiah interrupted him. “This is your job—sin. Not crimes.”

Alma left the room puzzled. He prayed hard. It was a long prayer, but the answer was longer:

Alma, I bless you for being the first Baptist. I bless you because you loved Abinadi. I bless you for starting my church here. I even bless you because you asked me about someone accused of flagrant sin.

I also bless those who love you as a teacher. I bless those who choose to wear my name around their lives.

You’re my servant, and I promise you that you’ll serve me well, gather people together in my name. For that, even though I prompted and motivated you to do it, I’ll give you eternal life.

Imagine I’m a shepherd. Anyone who hears my voice is my sheep. Take them into the church. It’s my church, by the way, so I can decide. Baptism is for change, not for status. If you accept someone into your group, I do too. And I forgive them all.

Because I will absorb the sins of the whole world. I created them all and can grant anyone I choose a place at my right hand. Even a distant place. If they adopt my name, I adopt them right back. And that’s what gets a seat on my right side.

When the second trumpet sounds at the end of time, those who maintained their ignorance of me have to look me in the face and know who I am, a Redeemer who requires only acceptance of his redemption. Then I will have to say, having constructed the concept of “know” quite narrowly, “I never knew you.” Then they go to hell.

If anyone doesn’t hear my voice, either in their heads or through your mouths, I don’t want them in my church. Don’t push it. Some people aren’t ready and may never be ready.

As for judging, do your best, according to your deepest sentiments and your experience with human nature. If someone commits themselves to me, forgive them.

Repentance is repeatable. If that weren’t true, I’d have thrown up my hands long ago. If someone sins and vows to change you must always forgive them. Any exceptions I’ll notify you about.

Teach the people that if they don’t forgive one another, I’m under no obligation to forgive them. Grudges bury a man in condemnation.

Tell people to repent as needed or get axed from the church.

And that was the message, which Alma wrote down as best he could recall it. A lot of it was a feeling that one then transcribes into words. But it became the foundation for all the judging he would have to do.

So he did that. Whoever wanted to be baptized, Alma would do it. Whoever wanted to visit church meetings was welcome. For more privileges one would have to confess their sins. Whoever does that gets a ticket into every meeting ostensibly reserved for church members. But anyone who sneers at confession hasn’t a prayer. Literally.

Alma got good at regulating the church, coordinating its ideals with its members’ actual lives. The church grew and prospered. It was a peaceful place to be. Alma did his job.