June is perhaps one of my favorite months. No, not because school is almost out (hooray!). I love the fact that we get to celebrate fathers.
Unlike many in this crazy world, I have been surrounded by good, righteous fathers. My own has always ever been a gentle man, slow to anger and quick to love. He has taught me much and even now we relish in learning something new together.
When I married I was blessed with another father, that belonging to my husband. He is also a good and gentle man, ever dedicated to serving others, a trait he passed along to his children. I never see him without receiving a hug and kiss, and hearing “I love you” pass over his lips.
And then there is my husband. He shares with me five beautiful children, and I marvel at the extraordinary man he is, and the care he takes of me and the little ones. He works two grueling jobs so I can be at home with them, as well as serving as a Mormon bishop (leader over our local church). Even with all these time consuming things, I have seen him push past his exhaustion to read one child a book, listen to the problems of another, or help one say his prayers.
With all these amazing examples in my life, it is not hard for me to empathize with a certain father we read of in the Book of Mormon – another testament of Jesus Christ. I am speaking in particular of Alma.
Alma spent a good part of his life living in wickedness. The king over his land reveled in sin, encouraging everyone under his rule to do the same. Alma was a priest of the king’s court, a high and respected position.
Something happened to turn Alma away from his life of sin: a man by the name of Abinadi. He was a prophet of God who came to their land with a message. These people needed to repent, or they would perish. Abinadi died bringing this message to the people, but it was not in vain. Alma believed his words, and he began to preach as well, turning many of the king’s people back to the ways of God.
Alma’s life was forever changed. He became a spiritual leader of the Lord’s church, but there was one major concern on his mind. His son, also named Alma (referred to as Alma the Younger), was a wicked young man. Alma the Younger rejected his father’s beliefs and worked hard to turn everyone he could away from the Lord’s church.
Perhaps Alma saw so much of his former self in his son. Perhaps he knew, more than Alma the Younger could ever realize, what the cost of each sin would be. One thing we do know. Alma never gave up on his son. Because of this, a miracle happened.
As Alma the Younger travelled with some of his friends an angel appeared.
“And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth” (Mosiah 27:14, emphasis added).
Alma loved his son, regardless of the wicked things he had done. Never had he stopped praying for this wayward youth.
Some of you reading this may have a son, a daughter, a good friend or a precious youth you teach who has lost their way. If there is anything we can learn from the example of Alma, it’s that there is always hope. Those lost souls may not be visited by angels. They will, however, be given the opportunity to repent and turn back to the Lord.
I’m certain Alma the Younger was raised with good and righteous fathers surrounding him. He had his own agency, however, and was given the chance to choose his own path. Just as I was. Just as we all are. If you, like this young man, have chosen a difficult path and now find yourself wishing to turn around remember this: in your life there are probably many fathers – as well as mothers, teachers, friends, siblings, etc. – who are praying for you every day.
What a miracle, the faith of a father.
