Alma's Congregation

I always like to look at what the Church looks like when it is new. There have been many times in the scriptures, after global or local apostasy, that the Church is reestablished or revitalized. What is it that priesthood leaders prioritize in these situations?

After Alma listens to Abinadi and escapes from King Noah's court he establishes such a congregation. He starts out teaching people about redemption and resurrection and the Savior. As their testimonies and appreciation of the Savior grow, they have a desire to make a covenant with God. Covenants are a serious, permanent, sign of commitment and devotion. After experiencing the sweet fruit of repentance, is it any wonder that their love to the Savior would grow to a point that they desired a permanent bond with him?

Alma gives a beautiful explanation of the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18 but I'll save that for another day, what struck me today was what they did after they were baptized. Here's what they set up:

1) Organization: 1 priest to every 50 members. What was their job? To strengthen the people. To preach repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. They were to continue to support themselves temporally. I love verse 26 which talks all about the blessings they will receive for doing so.

2) Unity: Alma tells them there should be no contention, their hearts should be knit together in unity and love. Just recently I had an experience in fast and testimony meeting that felt like that. A few people got up and expressed deep personal spiritual feelings that I also feel. These people are very different from me in age, gender, life situations and sensibilities, but I felt so understood in that moment. I felt that our hearts with knit together in unity and love.

3) Sabbath: they were to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy.

4) Prayer: Alma instructs them to give thanks to the Lord every day.

5) Worship: they should meet together once a week to worship and to teach each other. "And also as often as it was in their power." I like to think that second line refers to meeting of smaller groups or maybe even something that resembles home and visiting teaching.

6) Impart of their Substance: "if he should have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little but little should be required." He also says it should be given out of their own free will and good feelings. And that they should impart both temporally and spiritually, according to their needs and wants. That's a whole other blog post as well I think.

Between the time that Alma first set up these guidelines and the time that they were run out of town by Noah's army the church grew from 204 people to 450 people. It seems to be good evidence that they were thriving and happy.

A lot of times in my life, when things get a little hectic or stressful I feel a need to get back to basics and I love this blueprint that we have in Mosiah 18.