Alma 5:16-20

(Redirected from Alma 5:18)

Questions

What would it take for us to imagine that we hear God calling us blessed and calling us to him? What would it mean for God to call us "blessed"?
How is imagination tied to salvation? How is imagination tied to exercising faith?
What does it mean to "come unto" God in this way? How might that be different from how we normally talk about coming unto God?
If every person sins, what does it take for our works to be the works of righteousness? What are "the" works of righteousness? Does that mean all of our works are righteous, or that there is an expected subset of works that are righteous? What does righteous mean in this context?
What is meant by "upon the face of the earth"? Is that just another way of saying "in mortality" or is there something else implied here?

How does Alma contrast these two acts of imagination by use of the term "or"?
What does it mean to "imagine to yourselves"? Is this just another way of saying "imagine", or is there something else going on here?
How could anyone imagine lying to the Lord? Why does Alma bring this up?
If Alma imagines someone lying unto the Lord when they state that their works have been righteous works, does that imply that he imagines everyone will have to make their own statement about their own works, something that isn't mentioned in the earlier example of judgment?
What does this imaginative account of judgment and salvation imply about these two acts? How literally should we take this account?
Is salvation something that happens after resurrection and judgment, or is this just an imaginative metaphor for some other process?

What does it mean to be "brought before the tribunal of God"? Who is it that brings us? How are we brought?
What does it mean to be have your soul "filled with guilt and remorse"? Isn't this a good thing that leads to repentance?
What is it about the remembrance of guilt and wickedness that is damning in this situation?
How are we supposed to forget our guilt and memories of our wickedness?
What is meant by a "perfect" remembrance"? How is that different from a normal memory?
What does it mean to "set at defiance the commandments of God"? Is this just another way of saying "being disobedient" or is there something else going on here? What does it mean to "set at defiance"?
Which "commandments of God" are referred to here? Are these specific commandments, or just everything that God has said to do?

Why do you think Alma says that we will look up at that day? Could he possibly be suggesting that we will be on our knees, kneeling before the Lord and looking up at Him?
What are "a pure heart and clean hands"? Are these the same things, or two different things?
How can a heart be pure?
What does it mean for hands to be clean?
What does it mean for the "image of God" to be "engraven upon your countenances"? How is it "engraven"? What is our countenance?

What does Alma mean by "being saved"?
How does someone "yield themselves" to the devil? What does this imply about our use of agency?
What does it mean "to become subjects to the devil?"
Does this give us any insight into the ground of our being? Is there neutral ground, a way to avoid yielding ourselves to either God or the devil? Or are we forced to chose? Are there any neutral choices?

Set at defiance. This phrase only occurs three times in the scriptures: Alma 5:18, Alma 61:7, and 3 Ne 6:30. Its use in 3 Ne 6:30 is interesting, as it is talking about those who desire to overthrow the laws and resultant liberties of the people in order to be subject to kings--perhaps a shadow of what Alma is talking about here, with people disregarding the commandments and willing to be subject to the devil. Websters 1828 definition of defiance specifically ties it to notions of armed conflict: 1. A daring; a challenge to fight; invitation to combat; a call to an adversary to encounter, if he dare. Goliath bid defiance to the army of Israel. 2. A challenge to meet in any contest; a call upon one to make good any assertion or charge; an invitation to maintain any cause or point. 3. Contempt of opposition or danger; a daring or resistance that implies the contempt of an adversary, or of any opposing power. Men often transgress the law and act in defiance of authority.

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