Purpose in Christ's Suffering (Come, Follow Me)

In this week's Come, Follow Me readings, Alma helps us to understand why the Savior suffered and died for us. In a study of complementary contrasts, Jesus Christ suffered and died that we might be comforted, resurrected, and saved. He knows our pain, and turning to Him, we can find strength and relief.

Alma 7

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.


13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

The Source of Salvation (Come, Follow Me)

Our Come, Follow Me readings this week (Alma 5-7) have provided me with a powerful and poetic reminder that Jesus Christ is the source of salvation from spiritual and temporal captivity, sin and death.
These chapters, especially 5, have also demonstrated a remarkable literary depth and richness.  I love this book.

These chapters are filled with Hebrew-style parallelism like chiasmus.

Immovable in Keeping the Commandments (Come, Follow Me)

From Come, Follow Me this week, I was grateful for the reminder to follow the example of the Savior in keeping the commandments and being patient with one another.

"They were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them."  Alma 1:25

Complementary Contrasts and Come, Follow Me

All throughout the Book of Mormon, we see so many "complementary contrasts" of which Elder Gong spoke in General Conference. 

Mosiah 27:

28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.

29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.

Borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows (Come, Follow Me)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

Mosiah 14