Alma Is My Hero// Weddings

The Book of Mormon teaches us that Alma was very wicked; he tried to destroy the church. We know that an angel appeared to him and said, "Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more."

"And now the astonishment was so great that he became dumb."

Then, after many days, Alma received strength.

"For," said he, "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold, I am born of the Spirit."

Alma testifies to Helaman of his conversion story.

Alma 36:18

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death."

Alma 36:19-21

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 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 36:27

27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.

I love Alma. He is my scripture hero. Alma teaches us that through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven. He also teaches us change. Alma changed drastically and wholeheartedly.

This week, Carissa and Jake got married! It was such an amazing experience and one I won't ever forget. When I first got to Pekin, she did not want to get married because they would lose their medical card, and they couldn't afford that! We testified so much that we know Heavenly Father would take care of them. She told our ward in Sunday school a couple of weeks ago that she was getting married and putting her faith in God. That is exactly what she did.

This family has experienced a lot of change! A lot of good change! Carissa is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how hard or scary she thinks it may be, because she knows within her heart now that Jesus Christ will carry her.

She is seeing the miracles and blessings that are being poured out to her as she follows the Savior's teachings. It is truly incredible to witness.

We had an experience this week where we showed up to someone we're teaching's door, and he just sat and sobbed in the doorway with us about a lot of really hard things in his life that have happened recently. He told us he didn't know why he was here. We talked about Alma and how, as he puts his trust in God, He will deliver him.

You could see almost an instant change in him from the beginning of the conversation to the end. He felt peace and comfort.

I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon! I'm extremely grateful for the knowledge that it gives me and the teachings in it. I have truly come to know so fully the truthfulness that that book holds. I've grown so much closer to my Savior as I have read and pondered what's taught in that book.

I have seen SO fully that the gospel of Jesus Christ changes people. It changed Alma. It's changed me. The Book of Mormon changes people as they read and pray about it. I know, without a doubt, that that book is truly another testament of Jesus Christ and was translated by the prophet Joseph Smith.

Change is so good. I'm so grateful for change!

Here are some quotes to make you laugh:

Doug (PBT in Pekin): "I need to marry a girl like you."

"Would you marry me?"

Sis Colson: "No."

Sis Colson: "This is gonna sound super depressing, but I hate waking up."

Me: "Like after mindfulness?"

Sis Colson: "Anytime."

Sis Herlihy: "He's a millionaire. He's got more money than God."

Me: "Sis Miller, how many guys have you kissed?"

Sis Miller: "I don't know, was I supposed to keep count?"

George Goins: "His wife is 2 years older."