📜 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Alma’s invitation in Alma 32:27 is strikingly gentle: “Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you.”
Notice that he doesn’t demand certainty, or even full belief. He points to something smaller, quieter, but just as sacred—desire.
Desire is the spark that awakens us. It is the stirring of the heart that says, “What if?” It is the first step toward God, even before faith has taken root.
📗 Isaiah 55
📜 8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
📕 Matthew 6
🗝📜 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
📜 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
📜 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
📜 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
📜 5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
📜 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
📜 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
📜 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
📜 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
📜 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
📜 11 Give us this day our daily bread.
📜 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
📜 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
📜 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
📜 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
📜 16 ¶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
📜 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
🗝📜 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
📒 Moroni 7
🗝📜 6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
📜 7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
📜 8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
📜 9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
📜 10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
📜 11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
📜 12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
📜 13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
📜 14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
📜 15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
📜 16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
📜 17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
📜 18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
📜 19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
📜 20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
📜 21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
📜 22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
📜 23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
📜 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.
📜 25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
📜 26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
📜 27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
🗝📜 28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 6
🗝📜 16 Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.
📜 17 I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee—that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true.
📜 18 Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant Joseph, faithfully, in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word’s sake.
📜 19 Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.
📜 20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.
📜 21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
📜 22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
📜 23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
📜 24 And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?
📜 25 And, behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate, even as my servant Joseph.
📜 26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept back because of the wickedness of the people;
📜 27 And now I command you, that if you have good desires—a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven—then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.
📜 28 And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
📜 29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me.
📜 30 And even if they do unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory.
📜 31 But if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors.
📜 32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you.
📜 33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
📜 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
📜 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
🗝📜 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
📚 Moses 8
📜 22 And God saw that the wickedness of men had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually.
Desire as Motivation
Desire fuels movement. It nudges us to “awake and arouse” our faculties, to test, to experiment, to plant the seed. Motivation doesn’t require a finished testimony—it begins with the smallest willingness to try. When we let desire work in us, it grows into action.
Teachable
📗 Isaiah 54
📜 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
📕 Matthew 13
📜 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
📜 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
📜 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
📜 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
📜 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
📜 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
🗝📜 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
📒 Moroni 10
📜 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 101
🗝📜 63 Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation—
📜 64 That the work of the gathering together of my saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places; for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be fulfilled.
📜 65 Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;
📜 66 While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire.
📜 67 Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the churches, that they shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed.
📜 68 Nevertheless, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, let not your gathering be in haste, nor by flight; but let all things be prepared before you.
📜 69 And in order that all things be prepared before you, observe the commandment which I have given concerning these things—
📜 70 Which saith, or teacheth, to purchase all the lands with money, which can be purchased for money, in the region round about the land which I have appointed to be the land of Zion, for the beginning of the gathering of my saints;
📜 71 All the land which can be purchased in Jackson county, and the counties round about, and leave the residue in mine hand.
📜 72 Now, verily I say unto you, let all the churches gather together all their moneys; let these things be done in their time, but not in haste; and observe to have all things prepared before you.
📜 73 And let honorable men be appointed, even wise men, and send them to purchase these lands.
📜 74 And the churches in the eastern countries, when they are built up, if they will hearken unto this counsel they may buy lands and gather together upon them; and in this way they may establish Zion.
🗝📜 75 There is even now already in store sufficient, yea, even an abundance, to redeem Zion, and establish her waste places, no more to be thrown down, were the churches, who call themselves after my name, willing to hearken to my voice.
Desire as Teachability
Desire also makes us teachable. To “give place for a portion of [the] words” is to open space in the soil of our hearts. Desire clears that space. It softens pride, makes us willing to listen, and gives us courage to experiment with truth. Teachability is not passive—it is the readiness to receive and to grow.
Alma shows us that desire is not weakness—it is holy potential. It is the hinge between unbelief and faith, between resistance and openness. Motivation gives desire its energy; teachability gives it direction.
So if all you have today is the faintest desire to believe, let it work in you. That small spark is enough for God to begin His work.
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