inquiringmind Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 (edited) I'm trying to understand what Alma 32:19-20 means.The text reads:And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.At first I thought it was saying that you'd be more accountable if you actually saw an angel (like Laman and Lemuel), then if you just had reason to believe that someone else did (like Joseph, or the women at the tomb), but the more I look at verse 20, the less clear the meaning seems to me.What does "it is on the one hand even as it is on the other" mean?Is that like saying "six of one, half a dozen of another"?Is Alma actually saying that "he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not" is no more cursed than he that only had cause to believe? Edited June 8, 2012 by inquiringmind
volgadon Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 I think it is saying that the principle applies across the board without exception. 1
Nominee Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 Across the board, you answer according to your knowledge. If you know a lot, you are accountable according to that knowledge. If you know only a little, you are accountable according to that knowledge. Whatever it is, it is according to that knowledge. The same rule applied to all ensures a unique outcome for each. It goes to say that the more you know, the more you will be held accountable for ~ with good reason. Like the Spiderman thing: "With great power comes great responsibility."~ Naomi
DBMormon Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 I sense in Alma a hesitancy to speak for God here. He personally feels that there is more accountability when one knows and therefore a harsher judgement and then he catches himself saying something that he is not certain is God's truth so he tries to back off of it a little. This awkwardness of stating God's will to trying to allow God to think differently then he personally does shows through.
CV75 Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 I sense in Alma a hesitancy to speak for God here. He personally feels that there is more accountability when one knows and therefore a harsher judgement and then he catches himself saying something that he is not certain is God's truth so he tries to back off of it a little.I think you have received good answers for your OP.What you are describing in this post seems to be more evident in Alma 40:15 and 19-21. Some may see this as a hesitancy to speak for God; I see it as a willingness to be open about the insight he is continually building upon as he testifies of truth. I see it as appropriately pushing the envelope rather than backing off.
zerinus Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 I'm trying to understand what Alma 32:19-20 means.The text reads:And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.At first I thought it was saying that you'd be more accountable if you actually saw an angel (like Laman and Lemuel), then if you just had reason to believe that someone else did (like Joseph, or the women at the tomb), but the more I look at verse 20, the less clear the meaning seems to me.What does "it is on the one hand even as it is on the other" mean?Is that like saying "six of one, half a dozen of another"?Is Alma actually saying that "he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not" is no more cursed than he that only had cause to believe?If you study those verses in the context of the two preceding verses (17 and 18), the meaning becomes clear.
Garden Girl Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 Other scriptures speak to this same issue... i.e., (paraphrasing) "to him that is given much, much is required."Also, being judged by our "light," i.e., what we know and understand, not by someone else's understanding. To do otherwise would not be fair, and only Christ can look into the depths of our heart to judge.GG
Freedom Posted June 8, 2012 Posted June 8, 2012 Your examples of seeing an angel is a different matter. It is referring to a spiritual witness. You are more accountable if you know something to be right but choose not to do it. A secular example would be seeing a swimmer in distress and not going out to save them. If you are unable to swim, you would not be held responsible but if you are an expert swimmer with rescue training, then your optics would not look so good. It is more than seeing. It is knowing, understanding, and then rejecting. Another example might be if you read an article about ecosystem pollution. The issues are complex so just because you read an article on it, does not make you an expert or fully responsible. If, on the other hand, you have full knowledge of the damage caused by dumping antibiotics down the toilet but you do it anyways, you will be under much condemnation.
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