Alma loved his son Corianton. He wanted to help Corianton overcome a series of mistakes he had made during their ministry among the Zoramites. In order to provide that help, he: clearly identified the wrongful behavior and its consequences, … By Paul Anderson on August 5, 2024 | Alma loved his son Corianton. He wanted to help Corianton overcome a series of mistakes he had made during their ministry among the Zoramites. In order to provide that help, he: - clearly identified the wrongful behavior and its consequences,
- explained the doctrinal misunderstandings which had motivated or at least justified the bad behavior, and
- expressed confidence in Corianton's ability to repent of his sins, receive forgiveness from God, and continue in his ministry.
The doctrinal questions Alma answered for Corianton are: - How could they know about Jesus Christ before He was even born?
- When will we be resurrected?
- Can't God simply "restore" us from sin to happiness?
- How can it be fair for God to punish sinners?
I'm so impressed with Alma as a father! Rather than assume the worst of his son, he assumed the best. Corianton's behavior was caused by a misunderstanding of important gospel principles, and once his understanding was corrected, he could receive God's mercy through repentance, and could once again "bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them" (Alma 42:31). Here are some other lessons I've learned from these chapters: Outline - Alma 39 - Alma clearly identifies a sin Corianton has committed, and he emphasizes the seriousness of the sin. He answers question #1 by affirming that God loves all of His children.
- Alma 40 - Alma testifies of the reality of the resurrection and explains that between death and resurrection, we will be in one of two states in the spirit world.
- Alma 41 - Alma explains that God will restore us to our proper state. If we have sought to do good, then good will be restored to us.
- Alma 42 - Alma explains that justice and mercy are not in conflict. Adam and Eve were kept from the tree of life not to prevent their progress but to enable it.
Connections - King David, like Corianton, succumbed to tempation and committed serious sins. Both of their stories can teach us principles which can help us overcome temptation.
- When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden, God prevented them from partaking of the tree of life. He did this not to penalize them or hold them back, but to give them time to prepare before coming back into His presence.
- In Alma's discussion of the resurrection, he shares some things he knows, acknowledges some things he does not know, and offers his opinion on other questions. The apostle Paul provides a similar collection of testimony and opinion during a discussion of marriage in 1 Corinthians 7.
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