The Collected Works. Joseph Smith Jr.
taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what
they should drink, or what they should put on.
Alma 31:38
38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not,
neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength,
that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were
swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the
prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.
Alma 32 Chapter 32
Alma 32:1
1 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to
preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their
synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach
the word in their streets.
Alma 32:2
2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they
began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold,
they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of
their apparel—
Alma 32:3
3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their
synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness;
therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their
brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the
world; and also they were poor in heart.
Alma 32:4
4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon
the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were
those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart,
because of their poverty as to the things of the world.
Alma 32:5
5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost
among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren
do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty,
yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us
out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build
with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our
exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and
behold, what shall we do?
Alma 32:6
6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face
immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he
beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that
they were in a preparation to hear the word.
Alma 32:7
7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he
stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld,
who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
Alma 32:8
8 I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are
ye.
Alma 32:9
9 Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are
cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.
Alma 32:10
10 Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship
God save it be in your synagogues only?
Alma 32:11
11 Moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship
God only once in a week?
Alma 32:12
12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your
synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom;
for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is
because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your
brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought
to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be
humble.
Alma 32:13
13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are
ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh
repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy;
and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall
be saved.
Alma 32:14
14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled
to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are
more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
Alma 32:15
15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his
sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea,
much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble
because of their exceeding poverty.
Alma 32:16
16 Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without
being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed
is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without
stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the
word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.
Alma 32:17
17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a
sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall
believe.
Alma 32:18
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for
if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he
knoweth it.
Alma 32:19
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of
God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath
cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
Alma 32:20
20 Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you,
that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it
shall be unto every man according to his work.
Alma 32:21
21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a
perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope
for things which are not seen, which are true.
Alma 32:22
22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that