June 3-9: Mosiah 29-Alma 4

They Were Steadfast and Immovable

Pat Debenham (American, born 1949)

Untitled (2020)

video, duration: 0:32

Used with permission of the artist

Click on picture to start video

The Book of Mormon admonishes us to be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works (Mosiah 5:15). In 2008, this scripture was the Church’s Mutual theme. In answer to a definition of the phrase, the presidencies of the Young Men and Young Women wrote, “To be steadfast is to be firmly fixed and not subject to change, to be firm in belief and determination, and to be loyal and faithful. Likewise, to be immovable is to be unyielding and incapable of being moved or diverted.” Just for fun, we asked a choreographer what he thought of this scriptural concept.

Pat Debenham, whose video work, Untitled, may be played by clicking the image above (choreography and performance by Ari and Paula Powell) responded, “In this short video the dancers, by coming together, receive strength from one another. They ground themselves in the presence of each other which allows each to walk with ’steadfastness’ into their lives. In the flux and flow of life we can feel destabilized with the earth shifting under our feet. In those moments when we attend to eternal principles and are constant, dedicated and devoted we feel grounded and steady. When we yield to, lean into each other and the Lord we find that we are centered (steadfast) even in the ever increasing chaos that the world offers us.”

Discussion Questions:

1. The Church was in a period of strength with the people.  The Church is described as "steady" (Alma 1:29) and the people "more still" (Alma 1:33).  And there was continual peace.  In what way do steadiness and stillness of the people engender peace in the Church?

2. In describing the Church in this period of prosperity, Alma writes that "they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need" (Alma 1:30).  Our Church is similarly in a period of prosperity.  How do Alma's teachings apply to us and our liberality toward others?

3. How can the behavior of members of the Church be a stumbling block to our belief?  (See Alma 4:10.)  How can we step over or around these blocks in developing our testimonies?

Questions for Children & Youth:

1.  King Mosiah taught his people a good way to choose leaders for a group of people.  He explained "that the burden should come upon all the people, that every man might bear his part" (Mosiah 29:34).  Many of the things that King Mosiah taught about his people also apply to families.  What is your part in your family and what can you do to bear that part well?

2.  When some of the people of Alma got mad at someone, they would "contend warmly" with them, "even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists" (Alma 1:22).  Have you ever gotten angry enough that you started to feel warm, or even hot?  What can you do to cool down when you feel this way?

3.  In this week's reading, we see that the people of God shared what they had with "the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry" (Alma 1:274:13).  Why is sharing something we do when we are followers of Jesus?