After crying out “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” Alma 29:1
The well-intentioned Alma the younger wanted a sorrow-free world and thinks that if he could just have the power, he would be able to bring the message to everyone.
Upon reflection, it appears that he discovers that this wish is a sin. His sin was thinking that he knew better than God and that perhaps the way things were in the world were not just.
Yet he acknowledges the justice of God: “I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire…” Alma 29:4
He continues saying: “Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless…” Alma 29:5
His final observation: “For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.” Alma 29:8
God gives truth to all people, no matter their religion or if they have no religion at all. He gives people what he sees fit that they should have and holds them accountable for what they are given. When he desires any of his children to have more, well, maybe that is when he sends us to each other.
I have discovered truth in unlikely places and from unlikely people.
1 Comment
And truth makes its way to unlikely people – such as myself! (This is Richard J. Nobbe III – I finally took the plunge and signed up for DISQUS. Mainly because I had to by compulsory means.) : )