ALMA 32
The Great Experiment
People often talk as if religion and science are at odds. In fact, the scientific method was described perfectly in Alma 32 as a way to move from faith to knowledge, as a way to prove out faith. If you have questions, ask my son Peter, he's a scientist.
People often talk as if religion and science are at odds. In fact, the scientific method was described perfectly in Alma 32 as a way to move from faith to knowledge, as a way to prove out faith. If you have questions, ask my son Peter, he's a scientist.
Alma 32:27 - The experiment:
- Planting a seed
- Alma invites us to see what happens when we plant a seed in a specific place.
- The seed is God's word (which we grow by our faith)
- How do we grow our seed of faith:
The Great Experiment:
Fundamental Truths:
1. What's the best kind of "soil" to grow your faith in? What divine quality? (Alma 32:12-16)
2. What do we already know faith is not? (32:21, 26)
3. How does God feel about you conducting your experiemtn? (32:22)
4. Who is authorized to conduct this experiment? (32:23)
Hypothesis:
Place any stamenent of faith you want here, just be sure to word it in the positive. (God is real, The Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, etc.)
Procedures: (see alma 32:27-28)
1. Desire to believe
2. Give place for it to grow
3. Plant it in your heart (it has to come from a place of sincerity)
Observations: (see alma 32:28)
1. Swelling within your breast (D&C 9:8, 85:6, Galatians 5:22-23)
2. Enlarge my soul (makes you a better person - how have you changed for good)
3. Enlighten my understanding (The spirit speaks to both heart and mind)
4. Delicious (when its delicious, you want more of it)
Conclusions:
1. (32:29) - your faith increases
2. (32:30) - good seed (he never says its a true seed, but a good seed)
3. (32:35) - It's real, light and discernable
Study Questions for Alma 32:35-43
1. After we've planted the Seed, are we done? (35-36)
2. What kind of tree are we trying to grow? A shade tree? A decorative tree? (37)
3. What must we not do with our tree of faith? (36,38)
4. What must we do with our tree of faith after it begins to grow? (37)
5. What is the name of the tree we are growing? (40)
6. What three repeated things are necessary for nourishing our tree? (41,42,43)
7. What blessings come to those who grow their trees? (41-42)
Liken the Scriptures:
1) If you could visualize the state of your faith as a tree, what would it look like?
2) Have you ever experienced one of the four observations of faith? What happened?
3) What are you doing to nourish your tree of faith? Do you feel prompted to do something more? Will you?
4) What fruites of faith have you already experienced? What fruits do you most look forward to?
- Planting a seed
- Alma invites us to see what happens when we plant a seed in a specific place.
- The seed is God's word (which we grow by our faith)
- How do we grow our seed of faith:
The Great Experiment:
Fundamental Truths:
1. What's the best kind of "soil" to grow your faith in? What divine quality? (Alma 32:12-16)
2. What do we already know faith is not? (32:21, 26)
3. How does God feel about you conducting your experiemtn? (32:22)
4. Who is authorized to conduct this experiment? (32:23)
Hypothesis:
Place any stamenent of faith you want here, just be sure to word it in the positive. (God is real, The Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, etc.)
Procedures: (see alma 32:27-28)
1. Desire to believe
2. Give place for it to grow
3. Plant it in your heart (it has to come from a place of sincerity)
Observations: (see alma 32:28)
1. Swelling within your breast (D&C 9:8, 85:6, Galatians 5:22-23)
2. Enlarge my soul (makes you a better person - how have you changed for good)
3. Enlighten my understanding (The spirit speaks to both heart and mind)
4. Delicious (when its delicious, you want more of it)
Conclusions:
1. (32:29) - your faith increases
2. (32:30) - good seed (he never says its a true seed, but a good seed)
3. (32:35) - It's real, light and discernable
Study Questions for Alma 32:35-43
1. After we've planted the Seed, are we done? (35-36)
2. What kind of tree are we trying to grow? A shade tree? A decorative tree? (37)
3. What must we not do with our tree of faith? (36,38)
4. What must we do with our tree of faith after it begins to grow? (37)
5. What is the name of the tree we are growing? (40)
6. What three repeated things are necessary for nourishing our tree? (41,42,43)
7. What blessings come to those who grow their trees? (41-42)
Liken the Scriptures:
1) If you could visualize the state of your faith as a tree, what would it look like?
2) Have you ever experienced one of the four observations of faith? What happened?
3) What are you doing to nourish your tree of faith? Do you feel prompted to do something more? Will you?
4) What fruites of faith have you already experienced? What fruits do you most look forward to?