Here are some very late comments on my studies of the end of Alma! Have I said that I love this book yet?!?! :D
In Alma 59:9 "And now as Moroni had supposed that there ^ashould be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city" (italics added).  When I read this I thought of how much easier it is to follow the commandments and be obedient than it is to fall and have to repent and work our way back to the top. I don't remember who said it but someone said 'its easier to be 100% obedient than 90% obedient' or something to that effect.
Another chapter I really like was Alma 62:40-41 (vs. 41) "But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their ^aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility." How do we take our 'afflictions' do we just kind of roll with the punches? Do we take them with bitterness and become even more bitter after each trial or do we live and learn with a humble heart and positive attitude. I'd like to say I'm always the humble type learning from all of my experiences and being grateful for them but...that is something I could definitely work on. Sometimes I think its hard to stay positive during the trying times and we forget that everything we go through is for our good and learning. I hope we can all strive to learn from our challenges and become better and stronger because of them. Let us be like those who "were softened because of their afflictions" and let us humble ourselves before God. Though I may not appreciate my trials at the time they happened I can now say that I am so grateful for the experiences I have had in my life and for the opportunities Heavenly Father has given me to become a stronger, better disciple, and daughter of God.

:( Alma is almost over!

Ok so its been a minute since I've written and I just want to touch on a few things that stood out to me as I have been reading the last few weeks. Soo much good stuff! Where to start...ok so kind of tying it back into my last post; Moroni prepared his people and it worked. But he didn't stop there. The next chapters (48-55ish) are filled with how Moroni continued to strengthen and fortify the people. I love this because he had found something that worked and that protected them from the Lamanites and yet he continued to prepare because he knew that his people could & must become stronger. He understood that preparation is not simply a one time thing but something that must be continued like enduring to the end, but not just enduring but enduring well. So just because we've prepared ourselves (against Satan, temptations, weaknesses, our enemies/anything that will/can keep us from God) and succeeded once doesn't mean we're good to go or should be content. But that we must continue to prepare/strengthen and fortify ourselves against the enemy. Always staying two or three steps ahead. Being content is a false sense of security and a dangerous state of being. -Random tangent: Satan tries to lull us into a sense of security and contentment because it keeps us from progressing. When we are 'content where we're at' we've stopped our progression and are missing out on things that the Lord is simply waiting to bless us with. So if we feel content with the knowlege and other things that we have (spiritual) something is wrong and we need to take another look and change something.

Ah too much I want to say and not enough time to say it all!!! Um...Moroni is AmAzInG! LoVe him! Alma 48:16-17!

Helaman and his army (the 2000 stripling worriars) so amazing! Their faith, dilligence and commitment to be obedient is phenomenal and as you read chapters 56-58 you will see just how blessed they are for that faith and obedience. They are described as not doubting, having exceeding faith, great faith, fixed determination and more. They are amazing.

I love the scriptures! I learn so much from them as I read them and study them with prayer. I am so grateful to the Lord and 'His great goodness'! I wish I could say more but as I said time is not on my side. Have a wonderful day!!

Satan is tricky but he's not all that. Today in my studies I was reading in Alma 43. This chapter is mainly talking about the war between the Lamanites and Nephites but it is sooo good! Someone once said if you're looking for an action book or a story such as 'Lord of the Rings', the Book of Mormon is the place to find it! So true! I love it! A verse that stuck out to me today is verse 24 "...the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people..." In an earlier verse it talks about how the Lamanites were too afraid of the Nephites to face them head on so instead they tried to take the pansy way and aim for they're weak spots. It didn't work. -Because the Nephites had the Lord on their side. They relied on Him and were given strength and the ability to know what to do. Satan does exactly as the Lamanites did to us each day. He knows our weaknesses and he knows how to use them against us but as we rely on the Lord as did the Nephites he will have no power over us and our weaknesses will be made strong (D&C, Book of Mormon, Bible).
This chapter is so good I love Captain Moroni and his ability to inspire and strengthen his armies through being an example and relying on the Lord and being prepared. Read this chapter (book) with this question in mind 'how can this relate to me in my life right now/today?' as you do I promise inspiration will come through your reading and praying.
Sometimes its hard/impossible to learn anything if we go in reading the scriptures with an attitude of 'these things (ex. wars, genealogy, etc.) have no application to me' or 'I'm just reading to read and to be obedient'. Thats not what we were given these precious record for. We were given them to learn and to strengthen our faith in Christ through reading the words and applying them to our lives. The Book of Mormon is so amazing and no matter how many times we have or will read it we can learn new things each time. -Because each time we read it we are at a different point in our life and the teaching bring on new meaning and application. I LOVE this book and I know it is meant for everyone despite race, nationality, and circumstances. It is centered on Jesus Christ and His Gospel and He and His Gospel do not discriminate nor leave anyone behind. He loves each of us and showed that love through His sacrifice and atonement for us.
In the name of Our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I lOvE Alma! Why are we here? What is the purpose of this life? How can a faith in Jesus Christ help me? These are just the tip of the ice burg of questions to the soul answered throughout The Book of Mormon. Yesterday I was reading in Alma 34 and it talks about why we are here. I love the lines "...now is the time and the day of your salvation" (vs. 31). "...this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity..." (vs. 34).  "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (vs. 33). So why are we here? Well it tells us right there! I love that chapter!

Today I was reading in Alma 36 and I LoVe this chapter too! This chapter talks about how a faith in Christ can and will help us if we allow it to. In this chapter Alma is talking to his son Helaman. He shares an experience he had earlier in his life when he came to know Christ and was "born of God". He shares the exquisite joy and peace that came from accepting Jesus Christ and allowing the healing power of the Atonement to take place in him. I love how he describes his experience; "I ^dremembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, ^ahave mercy on me, who am ^bin the ^cgall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting ^dchains of ^edeath. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my ^apains ^bno more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what ^ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:17-21).

Our faith in the Savior brings joy, peace, love, and the ability to be forgiven. We can repent. We can overcome and be forgiven for our sins! I have felt the amazing powers of the Atonment work in my life. I have felt that forgiveness and cleansing power. It is real. I know that our Savior truly did live and die for me, and for you. He truely has felt everything each of us has ever has and will go through-each temptation, each pain, each sorrow, each sickness, everything (Alma 7:11-12 vs. 13 is a good one too!). He made it possible for us to return and live with our Father in Heaven. And why did he do it? "...that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:12). I love the definition of succor-to run to. He did it so that he would know exactly how to comfort and help each of us. I love Him so much! I love His gospel and I absolutely love the scriptures and the many many things they teach me each day! I love serving the Lord and just as Alma "...I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste" (Alma 36:24)! That is why I am here serving the people in Florida for 18 months. That is why when I return home I will never cease to share what I know about my Savior and His love with everyone around me. I love this work! I love my Savior and I love my God. I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

What is this life for, why are we here? Here is a great answer by the Prophet Alma and Amulek"...this life became a ^cprobationary state; a time to ^dprepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead" (Alma 12:24). Which means everything we do in this life-we will be held accountable for so everything we do should be bringing us closer to our Savior and Father in Heaven. The time that we have here is so short! For example this first dash is a representation of the time we spent with our Father before coming to the earth, the period equals the time we have here on the earth and the rest equals what awaits us after this life -.---------------------------------and it never ends! Our time is so short and yet so crucial! What we do now impacts the rest of our Eternity.
I really like this chapter and one of my favorite parts is in Alma 12:14 "For our ^awords will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the ^bmountains to fall upon us to ^chide us from his presence." Will we be ashamed because of our actions here or will we be excited and look forward to that day when we will meet our God? Personally I want the later. So what are you going to do about it? Alma gives us great council when he says "cast off your sins, and [do] not ^cprocrastinate the day of your repentance; But...humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and ^awatch and pray continually, that ye may not be ^btempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be ^cled by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, ^dmeek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; ^aHaving faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the ^blove of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his ^crest. And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be ^abound down by the chains of ^bhell, that ye may not suffer the second ^cdeath" (Alma 13:27-30).
Eternal life is something that will come by our day to day and minute to minute efforts. Its a process in which we cannot afford to slacken our strength. It will and does take work-hard work but I know and I promise as a representative of Jesus Christ that it is and will all be so worth it! We cannot even begin to comprehend they pure joy and happiness that awaits us. So my dear brothers and sisters, let us do our very best each and everyday. Be an example that those around you can and will want to follow. Let us all work together in strengthening one another and bringing our brothers and sisters unto Christ so they too can have Eternal life. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.