What Would You Give Up for the Savior?

January 3, 2010 – 9:49 am

The Faith of Amulek

In writing Last Words for the Last Days, I featured 50 prophets whose last words were available to us through ancient and modern scriptures.  There were many other prophets, however, for whom we have only scattered records, and not necessarily their last words.  Some records of last words were so brief they were not included in Last Words for the Last Days. One such prophet was Amulek.

We first learn of Amulek in the Book of Mormon in Alma, chapter eight. Alma, the High Priest over the whole church, had tried to teach the wayward people in the city of Ammonihah but was rejected.  He left the city weighted down with great sorrow because of the wickedness of the people there.  As he traveled towards the city of Aaron, an angel appeared to him commanding him that he return to Ammonihah.

Upon reaching the city, he asked a man he met, “Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat?”  (Alma 8:19) This man was Amulek and he responded with, “I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house.”  (Alma 8:20)  Wow, wasn’t that a nice surprise!

Alma stayed with Amulek until he was ready to preach again.  “And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people.” (Alma 8:29)  Amulek did indeed go forth with Alma to preach the gospel.  In fact, Amulek used his reputation and high standing within the community to lend credibility and to gain access to more people.

Alma chapter nine is filled with Alma’s prophesying while chapter ten and eleven highlight the powerful words of Amulek.   At the end of chapter eleven Mormon tell us, “And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written.”  (Alma 11:46)  I am intrigued by that verse because it hints of more records with more words of the prophet Amulek — perhaps even his last words.  Unfortunately, those are among the many records not yet available to us.

Amulek suffered much with Alma at the hands of the wicked but they were spared by the power of God.  To me the true telling of Amulek’s convictions comes in Alma 15:16.   Mormon writes that in the Service of his God, Amulek did forsake  “all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred…”

Wow again!  That powerful phrase prompts the question  how much would I really be willing to sacrifice for the Lord.  Unlike the rich man who Christ told to give up all and follow Him, but he would not, Amulek did just that.  He gave up everything he possessed and worked so hard for all his life, plus everyone he loved including his family–all to follow the Lord and more completely obey his commandments.  Such great  faith!

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The Prophet Amulek Teaches Ten Steps to Effective Prayer

November 15, 2009 – 2:59 pm

Ten Steps To Effective Prayer – Amulek
Here are some powerful suggestions from the teachings of Amulek, the Book of Mormon Prophet who served as the missionary companion to Alma the Younger. He gives us counsel on ten characteristics of highly effective prayer–what we should all be praying for. They are found in Alma 34:17-27

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
Almulek continues to counsel us further on what we must do to make our prayers more effective:
28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.
29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men.

It seems pretty clear that the ability to call upon the powers of Heaven for help depends on sincere, heartfelt pleading followed by action on our part. May we all heed the words of this great prophet that our prayers may be more effective and invoke the blessings of heaven upon us.

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The Prophet Zenos Teaches When and Where to Pray

October 11, 2009 – 2:54 pm

When and Where to Pray

Have you even wondered where and when it was appropriate to pray? Zenos was a prophet of Israel during Old Testament times of whom we have precious few words and very little knowledge. That’s because although it seems he was quite a prominent prophet, none of his teachings were included the Bible. The only place we read his words is in the Book of Mormon, thanks to other prophets who recorded and passed down his teachings from the old writings.

Among other significant teachings, Zenos answers the question about where and when we should pray by teaching us that men should pray and worship God in all places. We find this beginning in Alma 33:3.

What I love about these passages is not only do they teach us to worship and pray in all places, but also they are a prophet’s testimony of the power and effectiveness of prayer, as well as his testimony of the Savior’s mission.

Alma asks, “Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship? For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

”Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me. And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer. And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.

”Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations. Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.

”And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.”

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Last Words for the Last Days Book Signing

August 7, 2008 – 11:25 am

Author Kathleen Ryan will be featured at a book signing hosted by the BYU Bookstore, scheduled to tie-in with Brigham Young University’s Annual Education Week  Program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Aug 07, 2008 – Author Kathleen Ryan will be signing her new book “Last Words for the Last Days” on Wednesday, August 20th, at the BYU Bookstore on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Last Words for the Last Days” features the final words of over fifty prophets. Ryan asks, “Have you ever considered what your last words to family and friends might be?” It’s a question many will be talking about at the book signing, and a question each of us should think seriously about.

“We’re all going to die at some point, and we can’t take anything with us, but we can all leave some of the knowledge and wisdom gained during our lifetimes to help those we leave behind.” According to Ryan, that is exactly what prophets like Moses, Isaiah, David, Jeremiah, John, Joseph and Alma tried to do when writing their last words.

To help make their words even more personal, the author features the prophet’s last words in letter format, rather than in verse form. Each chapter examines the unique circumstances surrounding the life of a different prophet. Following this historical and biographical information, the chapter concludes with that prophet’s final words.

“When you read their last words in this context you realize that they were intended to help guide us in the last days, and that their words are as relevant to us today as they were when these great men of God wrote them.” says Ryan.

For more information about the book “Last Words for the Last Days” please visit the author’s website at: www.Latter-Days.com.

This LDS book signing event will be hosted by the Brigham Young University Bookstore and will tie-in with BYU’s Education Week.  For more information about this book signing, contact the BYU Bookstore toll free at 1-800-253-2578.

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New Book Features Last Words of Prophets

May 18, 2008 – 12:00 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – May 06, 2008 – A long-standing tradition at many institutes of higher learning is to invite graduating students and faculty members to offer what is termed a “last lecture”.  The idea behind this practice is to glean from those individuals the most important aspects of their knowledge base – a condensed version of what they have learned and what information they deem the most valuable to them personally.

That same concept served as the premise for a new book just released by Millennial Press called “Last Words for the Last Days”.  Only these last lectures take on an unusual twist.

“Our entire civilization was built upon the wisdom and knowledge acquired by our forerunners – great men and women of learning throughout the history of mankind who shared their secrets and successes with us. But even at their best, this knowledge pales in comparison to the all-encompassing messages of the prophets of God.  Their eternal perspectives offer us so much more,” said author Kathleen Ryan.

After researching and studying the last discourses of several great Christian prophets, Ryan perceived the value of compiling these works into one easy-to-read volume that offered more than fifty of the most powerful last lectures from noted prophets throughout the history of mankind.

“The more I read, the more I became convinced that these last lectures, were perhaps the most important of all because they go beyond the conventional wisdom of man and tap into the knowledge base of our very creator,” Ryan attests.

To make these last lectures even more meaningful and personal to the reader, Ryan laid these discourses out in her book in letter format rather than scripture verse.

“I wanted the reader to feel like they were reading a last letter written to them by a cherished family member, so that the messages of great prophets like Moses, Isaiah and Amos take on a more significant personal application,” Ryan explained.

Ryan also introduces each prophet with brief biographical and historical information as well as insights into the unique circumstances leading up to their last words.

“I think the more you know about a person, the more you understand where they are coming from – why they chose to do what they did and say what they said,” Ryan said.

“These weren’t just prophets of God they were husbands, fathers, sons and brothers whose lives were deeply woven into the fabric of human history. And, because human nature is perhaps the one thing that has not changed much over the course of time, the ageless advice, counsel, and insight offered by these giants among men is as relevant today as it has been throughout the history of time.”

For More Information Visit: www.Latter-Days.com

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Last Words for the Last Days – New Book From Millennial Press by Author Kathleen Ryan

April 16, 2008 – 12:23 pm

If you knew that you had only a short time left to live, what would you say to your family and friends? What advice would you choose? What words of strength, encouragement, and love would you offer?

For Immediate Release  April 16, 2008 – Last Words for the Last Days is a compelling compilation of 50 of the most poignant and powerful last discourses from the world’s greatest prophets, both ancient and modern.

As mouthpieces of the Lord, prophets throughout all dispensations of time prophesied of the trials and tribulations that would assail the world in the latter-days. Never have their last messages been more relevant than they are right now – in the final hours of the last dispensation.

The only book of its kind, this deeply moving volume includes brief biographical and historical information on each prophet, as well as insights into the unique circumstances leading up to their enthralling last words for the last days.

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