Alma the Younger Shares His Testimony with His Son Helaman
Alma 36:1, 3–5
1 My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land. . . .
3 And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
4 And I would not that ye think that I know of myself—not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God.
5 Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself . . .
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“Any accountable person can gain a testimony of the gospel by obedience to that law upon which the receipt of such knowledge is predicated. This is the formula:
“1. He must desire to know the truth of the gospel, of the Book of Mormon, of the Church, or of whatever is involved.
“2. He must study and learn the basic facts relative to the matter involved. ‘Search the scriptures’ (John 5:39). ‘Search these commandments’ (D&C 1:37).
“3. He must practice the principles and truths learned, conforming his life to them. ‘My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself’ (John 7:16–17).
“4. He must pray to the Father in the name of Christ, in faith, and the truth will then be made manifest by revelation ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things’ (Moro. 10:3–5; 1 Cor. 2).”
(Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 786–87.)
