My second mission companion, Joe Hutchings, broke down scripture in a way I had never seen performed. One morning he set a goal to not leave the house until each one of us had shared a "deep doctrine" learned that morning. I remember listening attentively as he explained to me about what he had learned. He then asked me what I had learned. Feeling inferior, I responded that I enjoyed reading Alma 13, but unfortunately could not find anything very profound in the chapter. His jaw dropped, and he took the next ten minutes expounding on the chapter. My eyes had cracked open for the first time.

The next day, I reread the chapter. This marked my first day of studying and not just reading the scriptures. During that time I felt my eyes were opened and that I learned valuable insights. After taking this class, I feel that my eyes have not only opened wider, but that I have been handed a pair of binoculars.

In fine, the 13th Chapter of Alma has me intrigued. The thought of my statement I made two years ago about not finding any deep doctrine in this chapter makes me realize how many interesting insights fill the Book of Mormon that I am unaware of. It exhausts the mind trying to think of the endless routes the doctrine may take you. Even though the chapter has repeatedly exhausted my mind, my joy has been more full through this commentary. My appreciation for the Book of Mormon is greater. My desire to study it in depth has also increased. I hope that this final commentary is not the final, but the beginning of commentaries made through years of scripture study in my life. Most of all, the intricacy of this chapter reminds me that the best we can do can only be achieved with help from on high. I have so much to do, and hopefully may enter into the rest of the Lord some day.

1. These ordinances were given . . . that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God.

2. REDEMP'TION, noun [French; Italian redenzione; Spanish redencion; from Latin redemptio. See Redeem.]

President Joseph F. Smith commented on the repeated use of the word rest in Alma 13 by stating the following, "It would appear that Alma is trying to point out that it is through the atoning blood of Christ and by the power of the holy priesthood that individuals and congregations are prepared and made ready to enter the rest of God. In one sense, a person enters the rest of God when he or she gains a testimony of the gospel and is brought out of worldly confusion into the peace and security that comes only from God. In this sense, the rest of God is the spiritual rest and peace which are born from a settled conviction of the truth in the minds of [individuals]."

1. "In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders." (Smith's Bible Dictionary)

b. exercised mighty faith (vs. 18)(to obtain it)

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Approximate Word count = 2056
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)