Talk:Alma 29:1-5

For the second question, which compares verses 3 & 6 to D&C 58:26-29, here are my thoughts. I think the difficulty arises from a reading of this which suggests that we shouldn't go beyond what the Lord asks us to do.

As the question points out, D&C 58:26-29 tells us we should go beyond what we are asked to do. But in what way does that passage tell us we should go beyond what we are asked to do? The passage tells us we should do good beyond that which the Lord tells us to do. But in this passage Alma tells us of a case where he desired to do something that he knew the Lord didn't want him to do. In that case, what he desired, though it seemed superfically good, was not at all good since it was in opposition to God's will--and he knew it.

I think there is another interesting question here but I can't quite figure out what it is. It is something about how to apply these verses. When should one of one own accord go preach to people. It is interesting to compare this to what the Sons of Mosiah did. One can't help but thinking that Alma's desire was in part fueled by their success. So then when Alma says his desire is a sin, one wonders why his reasons for thinking it is a sin didn't also apply to the Sons of Mosiah--who seem to decide on their own that they want to go teach the Lamanites. It may be that we can't get a generalized principle out of this--that in one case the Spirit told the Sons of Mosiah that they should go preach, and in another case the Spirit tells Alma that this is not his job--that his job is to preach among his own people.

--Matthew Faulconer 00:53, 28 Sep 2005 (UTC)

it is given according to his desires

I'm not posting this comment on the commentary page because I think this is something of a diversion from the main point.

I think it is interesting to compare verse 5 with Romans 7:15-25. Verse 5 tells us that we are free to choose according to our desire. But Paul in Romans tells us that we choose evil even when we desire good. I don't think there is a contradiction--I don't feel like they are contradictory. I think they are talking about a different type of choosing. But I don't have a good enough understanding to explain the difference and why they aren't contradictory. Can anyone else take a shot at this one? --Matthew Faulconer 06:44, 9 Nov 2005 (UTC)

I don't see how you concluded: "But Paul in Romans tells us that we choose evil even when we desire good." Can you make that interpretation a little more clear please?

When you mentioned “desire” in your commentary I thought of the link made in 3 Nephi between desire and prayer. I think you could substitute the action of ‘choose’ for ‘prayer’ in there and made a new analogy. 3 Nephi 19: 9 And they did pray [choose] for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them. 19: 24 and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray [choose]

Thus perhaps the way we are led to choose correctly is to have the influence of the Holy Ghost with us to align our choices with the divine best.