# Alma 34

*Paraphrase*

After Alma finished speaking, he sat down, and Amulek stood up to teach them:

### Amulek Teaches About Christ

“Brothers and sisters, you can’t possibly be unaware of what’s been said about the coming of Christ, the Son of God. These things were taught to you thoroughly before you left us. You asked my dear brother to show you what to do in your hard times. He’s been preparing your hearts and calling you to faith and patience— faith strong enough to plant the word in your hearts and test whether it’s good. We know the big question weighing on you: Is the word really about the Son of God? Will there even be a Christ? You’ve seen how my brother has proven to you, again and again, that the word is in Christ and leads to salvation. He quoted the prophet Zenos to show that redemption comes through the Son of God. He quoted Zenock. He appealed to Moses. All to prove these things are true.

### The Great and Last Sacrifice

Now I’ll add my own testimony: these things are true. I know that Christ will come among humanity to take on the sins of his people. He will atone for the sins of the world. The Lord God has spoken it. An atonement has to be made. According to the eternal plan of God, there must be an atonement, or all humanity will inevitably perish. We’re all hardened. We’re all fallen, lost, and headed for destruction—unless the atonement is made. There has to be a great and final sacrifice. Not a human sacrifice. Not an animal or a bird. It must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. No person can shed their own blood to atone for someone else’s sins. If someone commits murder, does our just law execute his brother instead? Of course not. The law requires the life of the one who murdered. So nothing less than an infinite atonement can pay for the sins of the world. That’s why there has to be a great and final sacrifice. After that, the shedding of blood will stop. The law of Moses will be fulfilled—every last detail of it. This is the whole meaning of the law: every bit of it points to that great and final sacrifice. And that sacrifice will be the Son of God—infinite and eternal. Through him, salvation will come to all who believe in his name. This final sacrifice will bring about mercy, which overcomes justice and creates a way for people to have faith that leads to repentance. Mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and wrap you in safety. But if you don’t have faith that leads to repentance, you’re left exposed to the full weight of justice’s demands. Only through faith and repentance does God’s eternal plan of redemption unfold for you.

### A Call to Prayer

So I pray that God will help you begin to exercise faith that leads to repentance. Start calling on his holy name. Ask him for mercy. Cry out to him for mercy—he’s mighty enough to save. Humble yourselves and keep praying to him. Pray when you’re out in your fields, watching over your flocks. Pray in your homes, for your whole household—morning, noon, and night. Pray for protection from your enemies. Pray against the devil, who opposes everything good. Pray over your crops, that they might thrive. Pray over your herds, that they might multiply. But that’s not all. Pour out your heart in your private places—your room, wherever you find solitude, even out in the wilderness. And when you’re not actively praying, let your heart stay full, constantly reaching out to him for your own well-being and for those around you.

### Prayer Without Charity Is Empty

But listen—don’t think that’s all there is to it. If you do all these things but turn away the needy and the naked, if you don’t visit the sick and suffering, if you don’t share what you have with those in need—then your prayers are empty. They do you no good. You’re like hypocrites who deny the faith. If you forget to be charitable, you’re like slag that refiners throw out as worthless—trampled underfoot.

### Don’t Put It Off

Now, brothers and sisters, you’ve received so many witnesses. The scriptures testify of these things. So come forward and show the fruit of repentance. Come forward and don’t harden your hearts any longer. Now is the time. Today is the day of your salvation. If you’ll repent and soften your hearts, God’s great plan of redemption will unfold for you immediately.

This life is when we prepare to meet God. This is the day for doing the work. As I said before, you’ve had so many witnesses. So I’m begging you: don’t put off repentance until the end. This life is given to us to prepare for eternity. If we don’t make good use of our time here, then comes the night of darkness, when no work can be done. You can’t wait until that terrible moment to say, ‘Now I’ll repent. Now I’ll turn back to God.’ No, you can’t say that. Whatever spirit controls you when you leave this life—that same spirit will control you in the eternal world. If you put off repentance until death, you’ve given yourself to the devil’s spirit, and he seals you as his. The Spirit of the Lord withdraws. There’s no room for him in you. The devil has complete power over you. This is the final state of the wicked. I know this because the Lord has said he doesn’t dwell in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous. He’s also said that the righteous will sit down in his kingdom and never leave, and their clothes will be made white through the blood of the Lamb.

### Final Counsel

My dear brothers and sisters, I want you to remember these things. Work out your salvation with reverence before God. Stop denying that Christ is coming. Stop fighting against the Holy Spirit. Receive him. Take on the name of Christ. Humble yourselves completely. Worship God wherever you are, in spirit and in truth. Live in daily thanksgiving for the many mercies and blessings he pours out on you. And stay alert in prayer constantly, so you won’t be led away by the devil’s temptations. Don’t let him overpower you. Don’t become his in the end. He rewards you with nothing good. My dear brothers and sisters, I urge you to have patience. Endure every kind of hardship. Don’t curse those who throw you out because of your poverty, or you’ll become sinners just like them. Be patient and bear these hard times with firm hope that one day you’ll rest from all your troubles.“

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/alma/34)*
