Another Testament of Jesus Christ Podcast

What happens when pride starts creeping into the Church? In Alma 4, the Nephites go from humility and thousands of baptisms to costly apparel, riches, contention, inequality, and pride—and their behavior actually becomes a stumbling block to others. We'll talk about separating the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ from imperfect people, where our testimony is truly anchored, and why Alma ultimately gives up political power to focus on something even more powerful: the word of God and pure testimony. Join me as we study Alma 4 in the Book of Mormon and look for the message God may have for us today.

In this episode of Another Testament of Jesus Christ Podcast, we're studying Alma 3 in the Book of Mormon and looking at the aftermath of the terrible war between the Nephites, Lamanites, and Amlicites. One of the biggest themes in Alma 3 is the idea of a mark—the Amlicites deliberately mark their foreheads to show who they have chosen to follow. We'll talk about the difference between the mark and the curse in the Book of Mormon, why the Amlicites marked themselves, and how outward symbols can represent something much deeper about our identity and allegiance. I also share some thoughts about Native American face paint and the different ways markings have been used to represent identity, belonging, protection, remembrance, and preparation for battle. But the question that really stayed with me was: What do we choose to mark ourselves with? Who do our choices show that we are following? That question led me to think about missionaries who willingly put the name of Jesus Christ on their chest every day. So at the end of this episode, I sit down with my daughter, Sister Tacoma Campbell, who is serving in the Philippines Lipa Mission. We talk about what it means to carry the Savior's name, finding strength when God asks us to do hard things, the power of change through Jesus Christ, and what the people of the Philippines have taught her about faith. Alma 3 is ultimately a chapter about agency. We choose who we follow, which voices we listen to, and little by little those choices shape who we become. Come study Alma Chapter 3 with me as we talk about the Book of Mormon, agency, identity, missionary work, and what it really means to choose Jesus Christ.

This chapter is intense. Amlici wants to become king, the voice of the people rejects him, and what begins as political contention quickly turns into a massive war. Thousands of people lose their lives, the Nephites find themselves fighting for their homes and families, and Alma comes face-to-face with Amlici in battle. But what I love most about this chapter is what happens when the Nephites realize they cannot do this alone. They cry out to God, and He strengthens them in the middle of their battle. Alma doesn't ask the Lord simply to save his life—he asks to be an instrument in God's hands to save his people. We'll talk about Amlici, Alma's prayer, fighting for freedom, the wild beasts in the wilderness of Hermounts, and what this chapter teaches us about the incredible power of God. Whatever battle you may be facing right now, I hope Alma 2 reminds you that God may not always remove the battle—but He can strengthen you to walk right through it.