Be Ye Separate

One of the themes in the teachings of Alma (the Younger) in the Book of Mormon is the need to not set our hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world. When he began his service as chief judge “there were many who loved the vain things of the world” like Nehor and despite his action to punish Nehor for his murder, the people still persisted in their love of the things of the world (Alma 1:16). Towards the end of his time as the chief judge several years later he was sorrowed by the fact that “the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world” (Alma 4:8). This led him to leave the judgment seat to go and preach to the people. He lamented to the people at Zarahemla that they were “puffed up in the vain things of the world” and questioned them, “Will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?” He preached against their unwillingness to part with their riches to help others: “Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?” (Alma 5:37,53,55). He sought diligently to help them not set their hearts upon wealth and worldly things.

               He similarly focused on this with others as well. To the people at Gideon he said, “I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world” (Alma 7:6). For Alma this was a key indicator of their righteousness and spiritual well-being and he rejoiced that this group was not so caught up in worldliness. When he went among the Zoramites he was again pained by their focus on worldly things. We read, “He saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.” He prayed to the Lord, “Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world.” He was pained by “their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them” (Alma 31:25-28). To his son who went with him on the mission to the Zoramites he counseled simply, “Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you” (Alma 39:14). Alma understood that riches and material things simply are not as important as the world would have us believe.

               It is likely that Alma’s emphasis on not setting our hearts on the vain things of the world came from his own wayward younger years when he did just that. He knew first-hand that a life focused on those things did not bring happiness or peace, and he was eager to help his people and his sons put their trust instead in the Lord. His invitation to all of us is this: “Come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things.” Rather, we must “follow the voice of the good shepherd” that our names may be “written in the book of life” (Alma 5:57-58).