Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.
And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God.
As I read these verses this morning, and the rest of Mosiah 27, I am struck with a new perspective. This is Mormon's introduction to one of the greatest individual conversion stories known in the scriptures. Alma's conversion is similar to that of Saul, who became know as Paul in the New Testament record. Except Alma was truly wicked, in fact a "very wicked and an idolatrous man," whereas Saul at least sincerely believed he was serving God through his persecutions of the church.
So, as Mormon introduces this story of conversion, we are introduced, without the particulars of his sins being mentioned, to a very wicked man. Yet, in the years after his conversion unto Christ, he became the high priest and leader of the Church--as great an influence for good as he had been an agent for wickedness and disruption.
What was Alma like as a child? And what of the revelations of his father, Alma senior, the prophet converted by the preaching of Abinadi? He was also once a wicked man. Did he not know that his son was also destined for greatness?
Perhaps that knowledge, received from God during a thousand prayers for his son--as he watched him grow from infant to a toddler, then to a little boy with wonder in his eyes -- perhaps that knowledge fueled the great faith with which he then prayed for his son's conversion as a young man.
The message to me is two-fold (at least). First, there is hope for even me. Hope that I can be tutored and prodded, humbled and forgiven, raised up by a merciful God to fulfill my personal mission in the world. If Alma came up from such depth to such heights, then there is hope that with God's help I can still climb the much smaller cliffs that surround my valleys of sin.
Second, there is hope for my children. They are still young. And they are full of brightness and hope. Goodness. I know that in due time they will face the trials of their own weaknesses. I will stand by them as Alma senior stood by his son. And I know that God will bless them and will remind them of the teachings of their father.
