The Book Of Alma (Chap. 33)

Alma 33:1
Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto
him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that
they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they
should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which
he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they
should begin to exercise their faith.

Alma 33:2
And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could
not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues.
But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship
God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if
ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand
them.

Alma 33:3
Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old,
has said concerning prayer or worship?

Alma 33:4
For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my
prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast
merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies,
and thou didst turn them to me.

Alma 33:5
Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto
thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou
didst hear me.

Alma 33:6
And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear
me in my prayer.

Alma 33:7
And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto
thee, thou didst hear me.

Alma 33:8
Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto
thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear
them.

Alma 33:9
Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my
cries in the midst of thy congregations.

Alma 33:10
Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out
and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my
cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit
them in thine anger with speedy destruction.

Alma 33:11
And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my
sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus
merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine
afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy
judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

Alma 33:12
And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures
which have been written by them of old?

Alma 33:13
Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for,
behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of
thy Son.

Alma 33:14
Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the
scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

Alma 33:15
For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things,
but Zenock also spake of these things—

Alma 33:16
For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this
people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou
hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son
Alma 33:17
And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has
testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not
understand his words they stoned him to death.

Alma 33:18
But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who
have spoken concerning the Son of God.

Alma 33:19
Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was
raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it
might live. And many did look and live.

Alma 33:20
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this
because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who
were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they
perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did
not believe that it would heal them.

Alma 33:21
O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about
your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly,
or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be
slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might
perish?

Alma 33:22
If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about
your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will
come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to
atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead,
which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall
stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day,
according to their works.

Alma 33:23
And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word
in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it
by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up
in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you
that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And
even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.