Scripture Squiggle: 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."

I love Alma's comparison of the word of God to a seed. Working as a ward missionary the past few months, I have found great joy in seeing those who have accepted the gospel grow in their faith and testimony. As they nourish their tender roots in the gospel, they are growing stronger, stretching out and reaching for more light and knowledge. The trials and experiences that they were having before they joined the Church have not disappeared, but as Alma promised, their burdens have become lighter because of their hope in Christ.

We all need to remember to nourish our testimonies to keep them alive and flourishing, for our testimonies will sustain us when life is darkest.

Fictional Story: Alma 14:26

When Alma finished speaking, Amulek felt a warm power flow through his arms. He pressed against the strong cords that encircled his wrists and the ropes snapped apart. Bending down, he tugged on the bonds around his ankles and they, too, broke free. Amulek looked at Alma and saw the pile of torn cords lying on the ground at his feet. He opened his mouth to ask Alma a question but before he could utter a single word a loud rumble shook the prison. The chief judge of Ammonihah and the teachers and lawyers, who only minutes before had smitten them and mocked them as they stood helplessly bound, had now fallen to the earth, frozen into fear, unable to exit the prison.

The prison walls swayed and cracks began to spiderweb through the structure. The men on the floor screamed in terror as pieces of stone and wood crumbled down upon them. Groaning with the Lord's anger, the earth continued to shake until the entire prison lay in ruins; everyone within its walls slain, except for Amulek and Alma.

When they emerged from the dust that rose from the rubble, Amulek turned to Alma. "How did you know that the Lord would answer your prayer to free us, when He chose to take the women and children unto Himself?"

Alma's lips pressed into a thin line at the mention of the martyred believers. "Through the Spirit. The Lord whispered to my soul that our mission is not yet complete. He told me his will, and that is what I prayed for."

Amulek sighed, "Will I ever be so in tune with the Spirit?"

Resting his hand on Amulek's shoulder, Alma replied, "Your testimony is still young. Nurture it, allow it to grow. As you do this, you will learn to recognize the Spirit every time it speaks to you."

A crowd had gathered around them, but as the dust began to settle and the people realized that the chief judge and his fellowmen were dead, they fled in fear from Alma and Amulek. Alma again addressed his companion. "Even now the Spirit speaks. We must leave this city at once."

Amulek nodded, the slightest hint of contentment touched his mouth. "This time, I feel it as well."

Scripture Squiggle: Ether 15:34

"Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if is so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen."

This is Moroni speaking. After bidding farewell at the end of his father's record, Moroni decided to abridge the Jaredite record. Moroni was alone at this time, without family or friends, hunted by the Lamanites. How these words of Ether's must of comforted his soul! He knew that he was not the only person who had wandered alone. Did he thrill to know that the Lord was aware of him and had guided him to these words of comfort? This scripture is only one verse, but it yields so much about Moroni, about his feelings and testimony. Study it--what do you find?