DESIRES OF THE HEART

 

Is there a more poetic scripture in the Book of Mormon than this: “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance to every people!” (Alma 29:1). In my last post I wrote about joy. In this chapter, Alma mentions joy six times. He hungers to be an instrument in God’s hands that he might bring some soul to repentance for, says he, this would be his joy (v 9).

Alma’s affirmed that God grants unto men according to their desire (v 4). Consider the process of fulfilment of desires and how they affect our personal development and eventually determine our eternal blessings:

“Desires….become real determinants, even when, with pitiful naivete, we do not really want the consequences of our desires…..therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity….Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because, said President Brigham Young, ‘the men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day’ (in Journal of Discourses, 11:14). Therefore, true Christian soldiers are more than weekend warriors…..

“President Joseph F. Smith declared that, ‘the education of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in life’ (Gospel Doctrine, 5^th ed. [1939], 297). Such education can lead to sanctification until, said President Brigham Young, ‘holy desires produce corresponding outward works’(in Journal of Discourses, 6:170). Only by educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies!” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 26-28, or Ensign, Nov 1996, 21-22). In other words, be careful what you desire.

It is clear that educating and cultivating your righteous desire means doing everything possible that is our part in its fulfilment. The cultivation of Alma’s desire evolved into relentless missionary service so much so that ‘he could not rest’ when his sons went to preach ‘and he also went forth’ (Alma 43:1). I am also certain that his personal spiritual preparation was such that the time came for him to be given to speak with the tongue of angels (2 Nephi 32:2).

His desire to be an angel preaching repentance was no doubt realised past his natural mortal life. We are told that Alma was translated, even like Moses ‘to be a ministering angel unto many planets’ until the time of resurrection (Alma 45:18,19; Deuteronomy 34:5,6; Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:210)

Alma achieved something incredibly significant through his righteous desire. We are told that he sorrowed greatly and continually for the sins of the people (Alma 7:5; 8:10,14; 31:1,2,30,31; 35:15). Sorrowing for others is a Christ-like attribute. In all his yearning, Alma didn’t only work for the salvation of others but he became like the Master he served. This should be the outcome of every desire of our hearts.

ODE TO ALMA:

He stood between you

And the gaping jaws of hell,

He cherished your soul

And snatched you from everlasting

Misery of the damned.

He planted the seed of faith

In your willing heart

But you, you tilled the ground

And nurtured the tree of faith

Growing the fruit, so exquisite and sweet.

So heavy in your overflowing arms

You sought to feed the spiritually maimed.

He who stood at the gates of Hell

Your soul to save

Gathered the fruit,

Your path to His throne to pave. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Briana Shawcraft)