Kahivhen Q.

Casinillo Book of Mormon, Religion 122

Independent Study

Lesson 2
Alma 36-42

Complete assignment 4 and any one of the other assignments:

4. Alma 38–39. A Comparison Between Shiblon and Corianton

a. Read Alma 38:1–4 and make a list of words describing Shiblon’s behavior.

 He keeps the commandments of God.

 He is steady and faithful to God.
 Since his youth he was obedient.
 He is faithful, diligent, patient and long-suffering in preaching among the people of the Zoramites.
 He bore trials and persecutions with patience, knowing the Lord is with him.

b. Read Alma 39:1–5 and make a second list of words that show contrasting descriptions of Corianton’s behavior.
Write a paragraph about the mistakes Corianton made and how they compare with mistakes made by many youth of
today. Include in your paragraph a statement of how youth could avoid those mistakes.

 He is not faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God.

 He boasts in his own strength and wisdom.
 He forsake the ministry and do immoral acts.

Among the youths in our time today, nothing is more rampant than the easy access of internet and the
darkening influence of movies, music, magazines, pictures and other entertainments. The adversary uses internet to
exploit pornography and influence the younger generations. Many but not all youths, can easily access these
materials out of curiosity or peer influence, and if not careful, it may result to indulgence and addiction. Personally,
mistakes can be avoided if we “let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly”. I am well influenced by how music shifts
your mood and the way you think in a given situation. Music can be hummed and sung silently as we strive to purify
our thoughts with worthy, uplifting and clean melody and lyrics . Youths of today must apply the standards found in
“For the Strength of Youth” and bring it with them wherever they go. All guidance and inspirations from our Prophet
are given in that booklet and is a source of strength for me.

c. From Alma 39:8–19, make a list of what Alma counseled Corianton to do to repent and regain spiritual strength.

 To repent and not hide his sins.

 To forsake his sins and go no more after the “lusts of his eyes”.
 To cross himself from those sins.
 To give heed, be nourished and take counsel with his brother.
 To not be easily led away by vain and foolish things
 To do not suffer the adversary to lead and entice you.
 To fear the Lord and turn to Him with all mind, might and strength
 To acknowledge his faults and wrongs which he had done.
 To seek not for riches.
 To go back to the ministry and serve the Lord by preaching the gospel.
d. Read JST Matthew 16:26 (footnote for Matthew 16:24) and the student manual commentary “Alma 39:9: ‘Go No
More after the Lusts of Your Eyes’” (page 239). Write a simple definition of what is meant by the phrase “cross
yourself in all these things” (Alma 39:9). Also write a paragraph explaining how crossing yourself can help us
avoid lusts of the flesh, such as pornography and other sexual sins.

“Cross yourself in all these things”- This phrase means remaining pure from the influence of the world. The
influences of this world is full of ungodliness, wickedness and destruction. In order to forsake the world, we must live
as the Savior said, “to deny ourselves of all ungodliness, every worldly lust and keep the commandments. With the
continued widespread of pornography in the internet, when we cross ourselves from this influence or this world, we
counteract, stop or erase. As we focus in building the kingdom of God, and obeying his commandments, we cross
ourselves of this world. Our minds and hearts are purified because it is full of wholesome thoughts. We are busy
doing what is right and what Heavenly father expected us to do.

e. Read Alma 43:1; 48:18–19; 49:30; 63:1–2, 10 and write a statement describing whether or not Corianton’s life
changed, and why.

Corianton’s life has changed significantly. It is because he gave heed to his father’s wise counsels and followed
the examples of his two brothers. He was commanded to repent of his transgressions and continue to work in the
ministry for preaching the gospel as well as converting the non- believers, which were the Lamanites. He changed
because he was also the first to have known the life changing experience of his father, from rebelling and conversion. I
feel that this story of his father also motivated him to submit to the Lord, accessing the power of the Atonement in his
life.

5. Alma 40. Life after Death

a. Read Alma 40:6–15 and the student manual commentaries “Alma 40:11: The Spirits of All Men ‘Are Taken Home to
That God Who Gave Them Life’” and “Alma 40:11–15: The State of the Soul between Death and the Resurrection”
(pages 242–43). Write a paragraph that explains the state of a person between death and the Resurrection.

When a person dies, his body will be decomposed while his spirit will enter into a state of happiness or misery
based upon his actions and works while he was in the state of mortality. This term was commonly used as the spirit
world, but the spirits’ place of dwelling is considered to be also here on the Earth. While in the state of paradise or
prison, these spirits were not separated but altogether socialize and fulfill its purposes. The righteous are mandated to
preach the principles of the Gospel to those in the state of sorrow and guilt. From the words of Pres. Brigham Young,
both the good and evil spirits go together. When the time of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, those who
were the first fruits, who were the righteous, will be changed in a twinkling of an eye, and come forth resurrected to
meet their Savior. When the Savior will reign the Millennium, all who have died from the time of Adam, to the
resurrection of Christ, also all those who have died, and who will be born, and were just and faithful, will receive the
blessings of meeting the Savior and enjoying the gift of the morning of the first resurrection. They were qualified to
dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. While those in the Terrestrial will be resurrected shortly after the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ.