Elements of Success

The previous chapters have Alma and Amulek preaching with great success - many were baptized, Zeezrom repents and Ammonihah is destroyed with all its inhabitants who followed the order of Nehor.

Alma now travels from Gideon towards Manti when he meets the sons of Mosiah who are travelling to Zarahemla. He is not only pleased to see his friends, but especially pleased to see that they have remained faithful to the covenants - the were "...his brethren in the Lord." In reviewing the miracles the sons of Mosiah experienced, Alma summarizes what caused them to experience the success they enjoyed. I have previously counted 6 elements of success. In re-reading this account, I find that i missed the 7th. The 7th is assumed by many, but over the years I find that it is perhaps the most important.

When Alma expressed his joy at seeing that they were still faithful, he discovered a pattern the he had followed in his ministry, as well.

1.They had waxed strong in a knowledge of the truth and had a sound understanding because they had searched the scriptures. They searched the scriptures. They did not just search to make a point, but to see what the Lord would have them do and be. It seems that the question often asked is "What do I have to do in order to succeed?" But the result of the "doing" is manifest in what the person becomes. Thus, they searched the scriptures, "diligently". They read with the intent to change, obey, teach and help others "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." D&C 84: 44

2. They gave themselves over to much prayer and fasting. While we are counseled not fast in the extreme, we know prayer and fasting combined create an opportunity for deeper humility. To some it is a way to say to God, "See what pain and torture I am willing to bear? Now you have to give me what I want." They are like the spoiled child I knew as a boy who held her breath until she fainted knowing that going to such extremes got the attention of her parents. She always got her way because the parents were concerned for her safety and wanted to avoid a recurrence.

These men took the opposite attitude. They fasted and prayed with the intent to know what God wanted of them. Fasting was a way of putting all worldly cares aside so they could humbly receive God's word. The result was that they had the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation. Do we suppose that they would have been given prophecy and revelation if they were not willing to act on it? Experience teaches that when we receive promptings upon which we fail to act, the promptings become fewer until we either repent and show we are willing to take action or we are left on our own, D&C 121:38 Thus, we pray with intent to obey and take action. See principle 7, below. We fast to know how to conform our will to the will of God. Then we can expect an abundance of revelation and even prophesy (this principle is the only one emphasized by repetition in this chapter). Thus, fasting and prayer lead to revelation that we may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring others to a knowledge of the truth and allow them to abandon traditions and habits that keep them from progress.

3. When they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. Apollos, in Acts 19 and 20, taught with power convincing many of Christ and baptized many. Paul had to follow behind him, straighten skewed doctrine and re-baptize, for Apollos had no authority. Both power and authority required. Once the people had been convinced by the power of their teaching, they could follow their teaching with the saving ordinances and with ordinations to establish the church in various parts of the land. This allowed Alma and the sons of Mosiah freedom to travel about spreading the word knowing that they were not stuck in one place, being the only ones with power and authority. See principle 5, below.

4. Implied in all the other elements is that they were led by the Holy Ghost. Just as important, they were comforted by the Holy Ghost. Success in any endeavor requires a good deal of self confidence, especially during times of trial, but self confidence is inadequate unless bolstered by the promptings and encouragement of the Spirit. The scripture (v.5) says they did suffer much in body, mind and spirit. They suffered fatigue, hunger, thirst and hard labor while they poured all their effort into preaching and bringing souls unto Christ. It reminds me of a passage from a woman's pioneer journal. It was in the early spring; the rain and snow had created thick mud which caused the wagons to be mired and move at a snail's pace as the men moved from one to another with shovels and poles to free them from being stuck in the bog. She looked out to see Brother Brigham up to the top of his boots in mud and "as happy as a prince." (I heard this quoted in a religion class and never saw the reference)

When we are assured by the Spirit that the path we have chosen is what God would have us do, then our confidence will wax strong. (D&C 121:45) The Holy Ghost will provide comfort during times of trial when the natural man would give up.

5. They established the word among the people. This they did as commanded by the Lord. To establish His word implies that they did more than hold a big meeting where they roused people to respond to the Word, baptized them and then moved on. To establish the Word would imply that they remained long enough to ordain and set apart officers and teachers, employ scribes to copy the scriptures and monitor progress to a point that they could then leave and do the same in the next city.

It also implies that they, like Paul, Philip, John and Peter, would send letters of instruction and encouragement and return from time to time. Otherwise, what once seemed firmly established would be lost to discouragement, apostasy, false doctrine, sloth and transgression.

6. The Lord told them to be good examples of patience in long suffering and afflictions. They were not expected to just "tough it out" on their own, however. The Lord said to be good examples unto them "...in me..." Once again we see that we are never left alone no matter how difficult or dangerous the work might be. When we try to "go it alone" we exhibit pride and our success is limited. When we humbly put ourselves in the Lord's hands our success is potentially unlimited. The Lord promised them "I will make an instrument of the thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." (v. 11) And so he did. The Lord keeps covenants.

7. What I had missed before in reading this chapter is implied in all the other steps, but without it none of them are of any effect. That is, they had to "...take courage to go forth." Without courageously taking action, everything else would just have been academic. They had to have an inspired pan and then act on that plan. The action coupled with courage and humility brought the amazing results.

So, summarizing the steps that led to their success we find the following:

1. Obtain a deep knowledge and understanding of the mission and its tasks. Deeply search the scriptures.

2. Use fasting and prayer to discover the Lord's will for you, your calling and your mission in life.

3. Do not take authority upon yourself. Do your work with power and authority.

4. Be led and comforted by the Holy Ghost.

5. Establish an organization that will multiply your work and properly supervise it, but give authority as well as responsibility.

6. Be patient in the process. Nothing gets planted in the spring and harvested in the fall unless it is cultivated with much effort through the heat of the summer.

7. Take courageous action. All the planning and praying is of no value until you take action.

Are these steps to success limited to missionary work or work in church callings? Review them carefully. Would a great lawyer, mother, musician, chiropractor, computer programmer, employee of any kind, delivery driver, father or scout master be even greater if he or she knew they were doing the will of Heavenly father, were following the promptings of the Spirit, were patient in their summers and were building a system that would make their organization not just function, but flourish? These are good steps for success in any aspect of life.