Alma 3

Those who come out in the open rebellion against God bring negative consequences upon themselves. If you are separated from God, it is because you have separated yourself from him. Through your dress and appearance you can distinguish yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ. You receive happiness or misery depending on whom you choose to obey.

4, 13. What did the Amlicites do to distinguish themselves? Whom did the Amlicites want to be distinguished from? How might some people today distinguish themselves from the righteous through their outward appearance?

5-6. How were the Lamanites distinguished from the Nephites?

6-8. Why did the Lord set a mark upon Laman and Lemuel and those who associated with them?

8. Why did God want to keep his people separate from the unbelievers?

9. What happened to those who did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites?

14-19. How were the markings of the Amlicites a fulfillment of prophecy?

18-19. What phrase in this verse describes the Amlicites actions and attitude to ward God? How did they bring a curse upon themselves? What are some of the ways individuals or groups mark themselves today? What are some ways you can show through your dress and appearance that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ? Is it possible to mark yourself positively as well as negatively in such areas as dress and appearance, language, entertainment, Sabbath observance, and so on? In what ways can you mark yourself more affirmatively as a disciple of Christ?

"Did you ever think that your body is holy? You are a child of God. Your body is His creation. Would you disfigure that creation with portrayals of people, animals, and words painted into your skin? I promise you that the time will come, if you have tattoos, that you will regret your actions. They cannot be washed off. They are permanent. Only by an expensive and painful process can they be removed. If you are tattooed, then probably for the remainder of your life you will carry it with you. I believe that the time will come when it will be an embarrassment to you. Avoid it. We ... plead with you not to become so disrespectful of the body which the Lord has given you.

"May I mention earrings and rings placed in other parts of the body. These are not manly. They are not attractive. You young men look better without them, and I believe you will feel better without them. As for the young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient. I mention these things because again they concern your bodies. How truly beautiful is a well-groomed young woman who is clean in body and mind. She is the daughter of God in whom her Eternal Father can take pride. How handsome is a young man who is well groomed. He is a son of God, deemed worthy of holding the holy priesthood of God. He does not need tattoos or earrings on or in his body. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve are all united in counseling against these things." - Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign, January 2001

20-27. According to these verses, what reward comes to those who obey the Lord? What consequences come to those who do not follow the Lord? What blessings have you received from the Lord as you have chosen to follow him?

"We are, in a very real way, our own creators. We reap that which we have sown, and we receive our wages of "eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which [we] listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey"  In other words, we decide by our day-to-day actions what our harvest will be. As with the farms I saw in the Magic Valley of Idaho, it can be a bounteous harvest or it can be a patch of weeds." – John H Vandenburg, GC, October 1968