Reproach
In the above video, I talk about the good and bad of being a reproach. But as to the bad, perhaps we've all brought upon ourselves some kind of reproach at one time or another —something we wish we could take back or do over. But what matters now is not the sins of the past, but instead to "let God’s justice and mercy and long-suffering have full sway in your heart, and let them bring you down to the dust in humility." (Alma 19:7 CoC).
None of us can fully prevent another person from sinning, because that's a choice of their own free will. However, teachers, priests, parents, friends, and communities have the duty to encourage one another to stay in the right way (Moroni 6:2).
Alma, the son of Alma, was a good priest in this way. He taught his people the seriousness of coming into God's presence with the stain of sin. After all, it's intended for us to be saved from our sin, not in our sin - and that under the guidance of Christ. To help prepare them, he gave them a list of questions to consider. He said:
Now I ask you, my brothers and sisters of the congregation: Have you spiritually been born of God? Have you received His image in your own countenances? Have you experienced this powerful change to your hearts? Do you rely on faith in the redemption of the Lord who created you? Do you faithfully anticipate rising from the grave to immortality, freed from degeneration, illness, and corruption, to stand before God and be judged based on what you’ve done in the mortal body? I ask: Can you expect to hear the Lord’s voice then saying to you: Come to Me, blessed one; your works have been righteous on the earth? Or do you imagine being able to lie to the Lord and claim: Lord, our works on earth have been righteous (even when they were not), and He’ll save you? Or can you instead foresee standing before God’s judgment seat filled with guilt and remorse, remembering clearly all your guilt and wickedness, knowing you’ve defied God’s commandments? I ask: Can you look up to God on that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I ask: Can you look up, having the image of God engraved on your countenances? I ask: Can you think of being saved when you’ve allowed yourselves to obey the accuser? I say: You will then know you can’t be saved; because no one can be saved unless their clothes are clean, purified, and every trace of sin and iniquity removed through the blood of Him our fathers testified was appointed to come to redeem His people from their sins.
Now I ask you, my brothers and sisters: How will any of you feel when standing before God’s judgment bar, with your clothes stained with blood and all kinds of filthiness? What will these things prove about you? Won’t they prove you are murderers, guilty of all kinds of wickedness? My people, do you think anyone can have a place in God’s kingdom with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets, wearing clothes that aren’t cleansed and spotless, pure, and white? I’m telling you: That’s impossible unless our Creator is a liar from the start, or you would have to believe He’s a liar from the start. You can’t think such a person will be welcome in the kingdom of heaven; they’ll be thrown out since they belong in the accuser’s kingdom.
Now, my people, consider this: If you’ve experienced a change of heart and felt moved to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, Do you still feel that way? Have you been keeping yourselves innocent before God? If you were to die now, could you honestly say you’ve been humble enough, that your clothes have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ — who is coming to redeem His people from their sins? Are you stripped of pride? I tell you that if you’re not, then you aren’t prepared to come face to face with God. You must prepare now; because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon, and you won’t have eternal life. Again I ask you: Is there any one of you not stripped of jealousy? I tell you anyone who’s not, is not prepared and won’t be found innocent. And I urge you to prepare quickly, since the time is near; and we don’t know when the time arrives.
I ask you again: Is there any one of you who mocks their brother or sister or who mistreats them? Woe to anyone like this, because they aren’t prepared; the time is short for them to repent or they can’t be saved. Indeed, woe to everyone who commits iniquity. Repent! Repent, because the Lord God requires it. He invites all mankind — the arms of mercy are extended toward them. He pleads: Repent, and I will receive you. He says: Come to Me and you’ll partake of the fruit of the tree of life; you’ll eat and drink freely of the bread and waters of life. Come to Me and do righteous works and you won’t be cut down and cast into the fire. The time is near when anyone who’s failed to produce good fruit or didn’t do righteous works will have good reason to weep and mourn. (Alma 3: 4-6).
That was a lengthy quotation and I didn't even copy all of the questions he asked! But, I think you can grasp the idea: good teachers and priests ask good questions, or in other words, conduct 'inspections', to help us make the most of our probation and to dwell comfortably with God.
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