Alma 8

Hearing and Obeying Heavenly Father

Obeying Heavenly Father can be difficult, but it leads to the greatest happiness. As Alma and Amulek exercised faith and followed God’s instruction, God blessed them and those around them. This lesson can help you hear and obey Heavenly Father in your life.

Help learners feel their contributions are valued. Listening requires that a teacher focus more on the needs of the student than what is next in the lesson outline. Be willing to set aside what you have planned, as prompted by the Spirit, and listen to students’ insights. Let them know through your words and actions that you are eager to hear them.

Student preparation: Invite students to pray and ask Heavenly Father what He wants them to do to follow Him more fully.

Possible Learning Activities

Following Heavenly Father

If it would be more relevant to students than the examples below, begin by inviting students to share challenging things the Lord might ask them to do.

Think about how you would feel if Heavenly Father asked you to do the following and why you would feel that way:

• Share the gospel with someone who has rejected your invitations in the past.

• Befriend and help someone in your school who is disliked or rejected.

  Invite a few students to share how they would feel and why.

• What are some other commandments or promptings Heavenly Father may give us that could be difficult to accept and obey? Why might these situations be so difficult?

In the chapter you will study today, God instructed Alma to face a situation similar to the first scenario above, and Amulek faced a situation similar to the second. Take a moment to ponder whether there are commandments or promptings from God that are difficult for you to obey. As you study, look for how Alma and Amulek overcame their challenges and followed God’s commandments. Seek Heavenly Father’s help to know how you can better hear and follow Him.

It could be helpful for students to work with a classmate to read and share the accounts of Alma and Amulek as listed under separate headings below. Or invite half of the students to read Alma’s account and the other half to read Amulek’s account. Students could then partner with a classmate who read the other account and explain to each other what they read. Display the accompanying questions so students can refer to them while they read.

Alma’s experience

Read Alma 8:8–18, looking for what God asked Alma to do and why it may have been difficult for him. Try to visualize the events as you read them. You may want to watch the video “Alma and Amulek Are Delivered by the Power of God” from time code 0:36 to 2:22, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and follow along in your scriptures.

• What phrases in verse 14 indicate how Alma was feeling when he received this command?

• What phrase in verse 18 describes how long it took Alma to obey?

• Why do you think Alma obeyed so quickly even while he was feeling such sorrow?

Amulek’s experience

Read Alma 8:19–21; 10:4–11 to see what happened next. (It may be helpful to know that Amulek related his experience in Alma 10:4–11.) Try to visualize the events as you read them. You may want to continue watching the video “Alma and Amulek Are Delivered by the Power of God” from time code 2:22 to 4:03, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• What do we learn in Alma 10:4–6 about Amulek? Why might these factors have made it difficult for him to obey God?

• Why do you think Heavenly Father continued to reach out to Amulek even though He had not obeyed in the past?

Read Alma 8:26–32 to see how Amulek and Alma were blessed for their actions.

• What principles did you learn from the account of Alma and Amulek?

Listen as students share. Write any principles on the board. Ask why understanding these principles is important. Use students’ words to write on the board a principle similar to the one below.

One of the principles you may have identified is when we hear and obey Heavenly Father, He blesses us and others. We can hear God’s word in a variety of ways. For example, Alma and Amulek both heard God’s word from an angel.

It may be helpful to discuss with students the different ways we can hear God’s word. You may want to have students review “Revelation” in the Guide to the Scriptures or Bible Dictionary.

Hearing Him

The activity below is intended to help students overcome obstacles they might face to hearing and obeying God. This may be best to do as a class discussion or in small groups. Students could share ideas and list them on the board. Encourage students to ask questions and help each other find answers. As part of this activity, you might suggest or use some of the ideas below.

Amulek said, “I was called many times and I would not hear” (Alma 10:6). Earlier in his life, Alma also did not listen to God for a time (see Mosiah 27:8).

Imagine that someone you know is having a difficult time hearing and obeying God. Take a few minutes to brainstorm what might motivate that person to trust in the Lord. This may include the following:

• Alma and Amulek’s example of obedience

• Examples of the Savior’s obedience to the Father

• Other scripture stories when someone heard and obeyed God

• Blessings you have experienced as you have tried to obey God

Consider watching the video “Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice” from time code 1:40 to 4:25, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. In the video, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles describes a young man who faithfully and obediently acts on a prompting during a time of uncertainty.

Invite several students to share their thoughts. Consider sharing your thoughts as well.

Take some time to record any impressions you may have had from Heavenly Father. Think about what you can do to act on those impressions. This may include committing to obey specific commandments or promptings and any steps you should take. If obeying these commandments is difficult, consider praying that Heavenly Father will help you.

Invite students to share what they would like to remember from Alma’s and Amulek’s examples.

Share your testimony with your students that Heavenly Father will help them as they strive to hear and obey Him.

Commentary and Background Information

What are some of the blessings that result from our obedience to God?

President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) stated:

Obedience to the Gospel brings [people] into very close and intimate relationship with the Lord. It establishes a close connection between men on the earth and our Great Creator in the heavens. It brings to the human mind a feeling of perfect confidence in the Almighty and in His willingness to listen to and answer the supplications of those who trust in Him. In times of trial and difficulty this confidence is beyond price. Trouble may come upon the individual or upon the people, disaster may threaten and every human hope may seem to be overthrown, yet, where [people] have availed themselves of the privileges which obedience to the Gospel brings, they have a sure standing place; their feet are upon a rock that cannot be moved. (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist [1987], 116)

What can we learn from Amulek?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, while serving in the First Presidency, taught:

Perhaps, like Amulek, you know in your heart that the Lord has “called [you] many times,” but you “would not hear.”

Nevertheless, the Lord sees in you what He saw in Amulek—the potential of a valiant servant with an important work to do and with a testimony to share. There is service that no one else can give in quite the same way. The Lord has trusted you with His holy priesthood, which holds the divine potential to bless and lift others. Listen with your heart and follow the promptings of the Spirit. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Learn from Alma and Amulek,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 73)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Agency in Heavenly Father’s plan

Alma taught the gospel to the people in Melek and Ammonihah with mixed results. Students could compare the reactions to Alma’s message in Alma 8:3–5, 8–13 and discuss why Heavenly Father values agency. The class could make a list of daily choices that help them come closer to Heavenly Father and choices that distance them from Him. Consider inviting them to use their agency to come closer to the Lord.

Inviting others to come to Jesus Christ

Alma and Amulek are good examples of disciples who were persistent and patient in inviting others to come to Jesus Christ. Consider inviting the class to read Alma 8:10–21, 27–32, looking for how Alma and Amulek showed their patience and faith. Students could share ways they can be persistent and patient as they seek to help others come unto Jesus Christ. They could plan or role-play how they can respond with love and patience if someone declines an invitation from them.

Alma felt discouraged

Consider inviting students to think about how the Lord helped Alma when he felt discouraged (see Alma 8:14). It might be helpful to see how the Lord responded to Alma’s concerns (see verse 15) and what Alma did afterward (see verse 18). Invite students to write an encouraging note to someone they know who might be feeling discouraged.

Heavenly Father does not give up on us

Consider inviting students to study some of the following accounts, looking for examples of the Lord continually reaching out to help people.

• People of Melek (Alma 8:3–5)

• People of Ammonihah (Alma 8:8–10, 13, 16, 18, 29)

• Alma (Alma 8:14–15, 30–32)

• Amulek (Alma 10:4–7, 11, 30–32)

Students could then consider how the Lord has reached out or is reaching out to help them.