"And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life."
Alma 32:40
This is another interesting scripture about the tree of life, in yet another context. This time, we're with Alma as he is teaching the poor in the land of the Zoramites. He uses the analogy of a seed, saying that we need to plant God's word in our hearts to see if it will grow. If it does, this gives us a testimony because as we feel it growing and changing us for the better, and we know that the seed is good. However, we can't stop there. As we learn that God's word is good, then we have to keep nurturing it, so that it doesn't wither within us.
It's tempting to believe in a one-time conversion. We read about dramatic conversions that happened to people in the scriptures and we might think... there, that's what I want, a big dramatic answer like that. Even in cases like that though, nourishment is necessary. Remember, Laman and Lemuel *also* saw an angel, more than once, but they only changed their behavior temporarily.
True conversion is a process, whether or not it begins with a dramatic event. :) Planting the seed is the beginning, but what we do with our new knowledge and our budding faith in God will make all the difference. Today, let's continue the process and nourish the word within us, and have faith in God, staying the course and step after step working towards the tree of life, and all that God has promised. :)
Alma 32:40
This is another interesting scripture about the tree of life, in yet another context. This time, we're with Alma as he is teaching the poor in the land of the Zoramites. He uses the analogy of a seed, saying that we need to plant God's word in our hearts to see if it will grow. If it does, this gives us a testimony because as we feel it growing and changing us for the better, and we know that the seed is good. However, we can't stop there. As we learn that God's word is good, then we have to keep nurturing it, so that it doesn't wither within us.
It's tempting to believe in a one-time conversion. We read about dramatic conversions that happened to people in the scriptures and we might think... there, that's what I want, a big dramatic answer like that. Even in cases like that though, nourishment is necessary. Remember, Laman and Lemuel *also* saw an angel, more than once, but they only changed their behavior temporarily.
True conversion is a process, whether or not it begins with a dramatic event. :) Planting the seed is the beginning, but what we do with our new knowledge and our budding faith in God will make all the difference. Today, let's continue the process and nourish the word within us, and have faith in God, staying the course and step after step working towards the tree of life, and all that God has promised. :)
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