“How Does Developing a Soft Heart Help Us Gain Spiritual Knowledge?” Ensign, June 2020
Come, Follow Me: Book of Mormon
Alma 8–12 (June 8–14)
How Does Developing a Soft Heart Help Us Gain Spiritual Knowledge?
When Alma preached the gospel in Ammonihah, most of the people rejected him, but Amulek listened and believed. The difference between Amulek and the rest of Ammonihah shows us the consequences of having a softened heart or hardened heart to the things of God (see Alma 12:10). You can choose to have a soft heart.
Amulek and the People of Ammonihah
Amulek believed that Alma was a prophet of God (see Alma 8:20). When an angel told him to let Alma into his home, he chose to obey (see Alma 10:8). He also answered God’s call to preach the gospel (see Alma 8:29–30). The other people in the city, however, rejected Alma and refused to believe.
Blessings of a Soft Heart
Because he accepted the word of God, Amulek was blessed with spiritual knowledge. He was “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Alma 8:30), he gained a testimony of God’s power (see Alma 10:5), and he even knew the thoughts of those who tried to deceive him (see Alma 10:17). You too can choose to accept the word of God and receive His blessings.
Consequences of a Hard Heart
Because the people of Ammonihah hardened their hearts to Alma’s teachings, they lost precious blessings. They had no knowledge of God’s miracles (see Alma 9:5), and they were warned that God would destroy them and they would not inherit His kingdom (see Alma 9:12).