In the Center

Alma 31 has become one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. If you remember, it's the beginning of Alma and his brethren's mission to the Zoramites. Alma finds them praying pridefully on the Rameumptom (or the 'Holy Stand') and perverting the ways of God. Now, my reason for loving this chapter certainly isn't because of the wickedness of the Zoramites but because of the prayer Alma offers to the Lord.

He starts in verse 26 by almost complaining to the Lord for having to be there. He asks "O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below . . . to beholds such gross wickedness?" The next few verses describe the wickedness of the people and it's apparent that it really pains Alma to be there.

By the end of the prayer (which by the way verse 35 is my favorite) Alma's attitude has changed. He now describes the Zoramites as being precious and asks the Lord to help him help them. In his own words he says, "Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren." I can just picture Alma on his knees pleading with the Lord for help. Obviously we don't know, but I wonder if there were any in Alma's party who had relatives who had fallen into apostasy with the Zoramites.

Anyway, I think the change in Alma's prayer can be traced back to verse 31 where Alma prays for comfort in Christ. It is interesting to note that when he says "wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ." it's not a question. No question mark to be found. But it is after this point that Alma's focus seems to change.

Christ is the focal point. He is what matters. Afflictions may come but as it says in verse 38 they are "swallowed up in the joy of Christ." When we understand that, nothing else matters.