Draft - Following After the Desires of Our Hearts

I was reading in Alma 28 and 29 this week.  I have been wanting God to shock some of my children that they might know the truth.  Alma wanted a similar thing and did 'sin in his wish' (v.3).  The next few verses were not very hopeful to me.  The firm decree of God is that He grants men according to their desires - unto death or unto life (v.4).  These agency decrees are unalterable because each person has their will - either to salvation or to destruction.  And that is just the way it is.   If a person knows good from evil, it is given to him according to his desire (v.5).  All I can hope for is that I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance (v.9).  One thing I can do for the unrepentant is pray (v.10).  So, there is hope.  Alma infers that people prayed for him and that he prays for others and that his prayers are heard.  A merciful arm was extended to him as it is to others.  So, no speaking with a trump of God (v.1) forcing everyone to hear.  Along with prayer there is another element of labor involved (v.15).  As Alma preached the gospel, he never reviled back when persecuted.  He (and every other follower of Christ) permitted those that were angry at what they heard to have their fits of rage and fight back.  By doing so, Alma (and all of us) shows his faith in God, relies on God to take the matter in His hands demonstrating that he is willing to persecuted for His name sake.  This long suffering and patience is what shows our faith in Christ.  We are emulating Christ in word and action.  We become saviors on mount Zion.  This kind of faith divides the group that is listening.  It provides the maximum opportunity for the listener come around.  It also seals the fate of those that persist in their fight against God.