But That Ye Have Patience

One of the themes of the experience of Alma, Amulek, and the others among the Zoramites and their teachings to them is the need for patience. Alma prayed to the Lord at the start of their mission, “O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me” (Alma 31:31). Clearly it took great patience for them as missionaries to preach to this wicked people, for the did “much labor among them” before they found “the poor class of people” who began to listen to them. We know it was a difficult place to preach in also because of the experience of Shiblon there. Alma said to him afterwards, “I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites. For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee” (Alma 38:3-4). Shiblon was stoned and put in bonds there, and he endured it all with patience. Their missionary successes came I believe because they showed such patience.

               Alma and Amulek also taught the people there of their need for patience. Patience is simply inherent in Alma’s description of a seed growing into a tree—that kind of thing just takes time! To truly come unto the Lord, to understand His word, to taste of the fruit of the gospel, we must have patience. Alma said it this way: “If ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root.” He continued, “Because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof.” Again he mentioned patience as a key ingredient to the whole spiritual process. If we persevere, he promised, “Ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you” (Alma 32:41-43). Amulek also emphasized patience to the Zoramites. He summarized Alma’s teachings this way: “He hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience.” Amulek then gave the same exhortation: “Brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions.” He encouraged them not to revile others, “But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions” (Alma 34:3, 40-41). They would indeed need patience as they not only learned how to really pray and worship, but as they were subsequently kicked out of the city and forced to start their lives anew somewhere else. Their story encourages us all to cultivate patience as we seek to plant the seed and nourish our own spirituality, “waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto [us].”