Second Chances

I think that one of the themes that we see in the Book of Mormon is that God will give us multiple chances to repent.  After Alma had taught the people of Ammonihah and they had rejected him, he was ready to give up on them.  The record tells us that “he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.”  But while he was traveling, an angel came to him and said to Alma, “I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah” (Alma 8:13, 16).  The Lord apparently wanted to give them another chance. 

Something similar happened with Nephi was teaching the people of Zarahemla.  After many interactions with them that left him depressed because of their wickedness, he “went his way towards his own house” and likely was ready to quit trying to preach to them.  On his way a voice came to him which told him, “I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: “Except ye repent ye shall be smitten” (Helaman 10:2, 11).  He immediately went back and the people were given another chance to hear the word of the Lord and to be warned.  In the same spirit, Samuel the Lamanite went to preach to the city of Zarahemla, and after many days “they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land.”  But just like Alma and Nephi, Samuel was commanded to “return again, and prophesy unto the people” (Helaman 13:2-3).  Even though he had already spent “many days” preaching among the people, the Lord wanted to give them another opportunity to be warned and hear the testimony of Samuel.  We have a similar story with Abinadi: he was among the people preaching to them repentance and the consequences of their sin when they “hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi” and he was driven from the city (Mosiah 11:29).  But the Lord sent his prophet back and commanded him saying, “Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people” (Mosiah 12:1).  There are other stories as well that highlight this theme that the Lord will give us multiple chances.  Laman and Lemuel were given many opportunities to repent and accept the gospel.  Corianton was given a second chance to preach the gospel even though he messed up the first time.  Alma the Younger and the Elder were both given second chances to repent, which they did.  It’s important to note, though, that while the Lord does give us many chances to repent, the number is not unlimited.  Ammonihah was eventually destroyed, and King Noah eventually had to face the consequences of rejecting Abinadi one too many times.  In our own lives these stories should give us courage that the Lord wants to help us get on the right path, but the best time to do so is right now before it is too late.