"They Were Called the People of God"

In Mosiah 25 there were many churches established in the land of Zarahemla, but even though there were "many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God (Mosiah 25:22).” "And they were called the people of God. And the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them... (Mosiah 25:24).”

Although we have many wards, branches, and stakes throughout the world, we are "all one church" and the Lord pours out His Spirit upon us all. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, artist Smith Tumba gathered a group of young singers to perform his original version, “Congolese style”, as he described it, to perform “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning.” Tumba, a returned missionary and musician, shared his music via YouTube.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Have you ever attended a ward or branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints other than the one where you are a member?  In what ways did this experience bear witness that we are "all one church"?  What did you learn from this experience that can help you to improve your own ward or branch?

2. Alma was the prophet and Mosiah was the king and both were members of the Church. Their sons, however, members of the "rising generation" (Mosiah 26:1), were not believers and worked against the Church, "stealing away the hearts of the people" (Mosiah 27:9). How do Alma's prayers for his son, offered "with much faith" (Mosiah 27:14) help us to know how we can support and bless those who choose to leave our flock?

3. The story of Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah as described in Mosiah 27 teaches that the visit of an angel can change the course of a life.  Who are the angels in your life who have influenced the direction you have chosen to follow?

QUESTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH:

1.  Alma the Younger's father's prayers helped his son make better choices.  How have you felt the prayers of your parents or someone else who loves you help you make good choices?

2.  Alma the Younger was named after his father Alma.  Who are you named after (either your first name or your surname) and what are you doing to live up to your name?  Think about the sacrament prayers (and your baptism) where we covenant to "take His name upon us" (referring to Jesus' name) (Mosiah 18:8-10; D&C 20:37).  How does taking Jesus' name upon you impact your choices?   President Henry B. Eyring explained:  "We promise to take His name upon us.  That means that we must see ourselves as His.  We will put Him first in our lives.  We will want what He wants rather than what we want or what the world teaches us to want" ("That We May Be One," April 1998 General Conference, Ensign, May 1998, 67).

3.  King Mosiah sent out a "strict command" that no one should persecute anyone else and they should treat each other kindly, like they would want to be treated (Mosiah 27:3-4).  He asked that people not treat others with an attitude or pride or haughtiness.  He said that "there should be an equality among all men" (Mosiah 27: 3).  What does it mean to have "an equality among all men" (and women)?  How do you think it would change the world if we all treated each other this way?  What can you do to start this change with the people around you?