August 2, 2010

Tonight I finished reading Alma chapter 19 and was struck with a facet of this story of Abish and her actions. When she saw what had happened, she immediately recognized it for what it was: a glorious manifestation of the Spirit of God. Because she had been converted, she saw and felt the power of the experience and, "supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people." I love her energy, enthusiasm and urgency in wanting to share this experience with others and I have felt that same way before. But the people we share with don't always see the same thing we do. She was devastated when she came back and realized that the multitude of people who had gathered didn't at all see what she did. In fact, they believed it was the power of evil!

It's at this moment that I learn the most. Abish, instead of running off in her tears and embarrassment because no one saw the beauty of what she had, she runs to the queen with faith and hope in her heart. The queen wakens and bears a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. Then the king wakes up too and does the same. "There were many that did believe in their words" and "there were many who would not hear his words and went their way." But for those who believed, they received a change of heart and had "no more desire to do evil," they were baptized and became a righteous people.

This story, to me, teaches the importance of sharing, with everyone we possibly can, opportunities to feel the Spirit. Not everyone will and some may even judge it to be of the devil. That can be hard to hear and see but the lesson is to stay strong and don't run from the opportunity because when the Spirit is present, He will teach and attempt to reach the hearts of others. And we can never be the ones to judge who is going to be open to receive the Spirit's message and be changed. Our job is to share the opportunity with everyone and not be afraid if someone walks away from it. It is worth it for even the one heart that is touched.