Alma 5 - "Imagine"

jaston · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 09:24 AM

So I'm up to give the lesson in Elder's quorum on Sunday. I've had a scripture on my mind for a couple of weeks. I really like the concept of "imaging" the end results of life. Whether we can imagine hearing the voice of the Lord, ourselves meeting before God, reflecting on our works - good or bad, etc. It reminds me of stories of successful people that imagine or envision themselves being successful (i.e. sports figures imagining themselves take a shot in basketball, running a touchdown in, etc.).

My only struggle is figuring out how to base a lesson off of this concept. I don't want it to become some type of Life coaching seminar.

So I guess I'd love to hear ideas. Any ideas?

Alma 5:15-19
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who acreated you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be cjudged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
**16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye ablessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
**17 Or do ye aimagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and bsay—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
**18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect aremembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
**19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the aimage of God engraven upon your countenances?

Misshalfway · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 09:42 AM

There is always the last few verses in the book of Enos......."...see his face with pleasure...."

PapilioMemnon · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 11:11 AM

Imagine (visualize) is a great & powerful concept!
Present the lessons, and ask them to take a minute podering, imagine, vizualizing themselves at the moment before Heavenly Father... as someone reads the questions.
It's really powerfull if those who will do, do it with real intent!

skalenfehl · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 05:15 PM

Alma 5 is a very good introspective chapter. There is a lot of material there that you can use. Another idea is researching and discussing what it means to "keep an eye single to the glory of God."

When you say end result of life, do you mean our individual personal lives or life in general as in the end of all life/end of the world/Millennium type of thing?

jaston · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 10:45 AM

Wow, sorry for my long delay. I wasn't getting emails (regarding responses to my post), but I fixed that.

I was thinking more in terms of end of this life, but I think it could probably work either way.

I love the Enos comment as well.

Hemidakota · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaston

So I'm up to give the lesson in Elder's quorum on Sunday. I've had a scripture on my mind for a couple of weeks. I really like the concept of "imaging" the end results of life. Whether we can imagine hearing the voice of the Lord, ourselves meeting before God, reflecting on our works - good or bad, etc. It reminds me of stories of successful people that imagine or envision themselves being successful (i.e. sports figures imagining themselves take a shot in basketball, running a touchdown in, etc.).

My only struggle is figuring out how to base a lesson off of this concept. I don't want it to become some type of Life coaching seminar.

So I guess I'd love to hear ideas. Any ideas?

Alma 5:15-19
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who acreated you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be cjudged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
**16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye ablessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
**17 Or do ye aimagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and bsay—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
**18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect aremembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
**19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the aimage of God engraven upon your countenances?

Any given sport professional, as well in my old days with power lifting, we would have to imagine it prior to a lift and so on. Visualization is the key in any sport in winning.

I guess we could apply it to our gospel ingrained lives here since we have that visualization on what we expect ourselves with eternal expectations.