Alma 7

Jesus Christ suffered to save us from sin and death and to help us through the challenges of mortality. By living the principles of the gospel, you follow the path to the kingdom of God.

1-6. How was Alma's joy over the people in Gideon different from the joy he felt over the people of Zarahemla?

7. According to Alma what was the one thing which was of more importance than anything else that was to come? Why do you think that the coming of the Savior was the most important event of all time?

8. Would the Savior come in the lifetime of these people?

9. What did Alma say the people must do to prepare for the coming of the Savior? If the Savior would not come in their lifetime, why did they need to prepare for His coming? What do you need to do to prepare for His coming... for the time that you will stand before Him face to face? Why do you think that Alma was able to spend more time teaching the people of Gideon about the Savior and less time teaching about repentance? Why do you think Alma would tell a people who already believed and had strong faith that they needed to repent?  What can you do to make sure you can receive the most important messages the Lord can send to you through his servants?

11-12. How can Jesus help you with your pains and sicknesses? What did Jesus do about the fact that you will someday die? What is the difference between sicknesses and infirmities? What can the Savior do about areas of your life where you feel weak and inadequate? Are there any trials, problems or challenges you face that are not covered under the four categories of pains and sicknesses, death, infirmities, and sins?

11-13. Why was the coming of Christ the most important event in all of human history? How can your understanding of these verses help you when you face challenges? When has the Atonement helped you or someone you know in one of the ways mentioned in these verses? What will you do to rely on the Atonement as you face challenges? How can those who are unclean because of spiritual sin become spiritually clean again?

"The Atonement is not just for sinners." - Bruce C Hafen, Ensign, April 1990

"Are you battling a demon of addiction - tobacco or drugs or gambling, or the pernicious contemporary plague of pornography? ... Are you confused with gender identity or searching for self-esteem? Do you - or someone you love - face disease or depression or death? Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come FIRST to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven's promises... This reliance upon the merciful nature of God is the very center of the gospel Christ taught. I testify that the Savior's Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair. From the beginning, trust in such help was to give us both a reason and a way to improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation." - Jeffrey R Holland, General Conference, April 2006

"Can we, even in the depths of disease, tell [Jesus] anything at all about suffering? In ways we cannot comprehend, our sicknesses and infirmities were borne by Him even before they were born by us. The very weight of our combined sins caused Him to descend below all. We have never been, nor will we be, in depths such as He has known. Thus His atonement made perfect His empathy and His mercy and His capacity to succor us, for which we can be everlastingly grateful as He tutors us in our trials." - Neal A Maxwell, Even As I Am, p. 116

"The Savior... will help us carry our burdens. Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that they cannot be healed without help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. Since the Savior has suffered anything and everything that we could ever feel or experience, He can help the weak to become stronger. He has personally experienced all of it. He understands our pain and will walk with us even in our darkest hours." - James E Faust, GC, October 2001 

"There is not one vexation, anxiety, or suffering unfamiliar to Him. Though He is without sin yet knows He each and every one of our griefs that He might be able to help us." - Keith B McMullin, GC, April 1999 

14-16. What things must you do in order for the Atonement to have power in your life? What blessings come to you through the Atonement as you do your part?
19.Alma wanted to help the people of Gideon stay on the path which leads to the kingdom of God. What things do you need to do to stay on this path? (See verses 14-16, 22-24)
19-21. What is the path of righteousness? What are some of the characteristics of this path that would help you describe it to someone else? What things can you do better to walk this path?
21. Why is it important to keep yourself spiritually clean?

"We are to live and labor so as to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and he will not dwell in unholy tabernacles." - George F Richards, GC, October 1944

23-25. What things can you do to keep yourself spiritually clean? How can these attributes help you avoid pride?

"To open the windows of heaven, we must conform our will to God's will. Diligent, enduring obedience to God's laws is the key that opens the windows of heaven. Obedience enables us to be receptive to the mind and will of the Lord.... the willing and obedient are those who receive the blessings of revelation through the open windows of heaven." - Joseph B Wirthlin, GC, October 1995

"The antidote for pride is humility - meekness, submissiveness. It is the broken heart and contrite spirit.... God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble.... Let us choose to be humble." - Ezra Taft Benson, GC, April 1989