In the Book of Mormon we read that Alma the Younger told the people that he had repented of his sins and had been redeemed of the Lord. All mankind must be born of God and changed from their carnal and fallen state to a state of righteousness. They cannot inherit the kingdom of God unless they become new creatures. Alma the Younger told about how after he had repented, he had been born of God and saved from everlasting burning. He had gone from the darkest abyss to the marvelous light of God. His soul had been racked with torment but now was pained no more. This shows how sin can make us miserable bt repentance can bring joy and light back into our lives. Mosiah 27:24-29 "For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off. Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God. My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more."
In the Old Testament we read that the people in darkness will see a great light and a Child would be born. He would be the Prince of Peace. Indeed, Christ brought a great light into the world! Isaiah 9:2, 6 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
In a verse with a thought booklet, Jesus did not pray that His disciples would betaken out of the world, but that they might be protected from the evils of the world. We live in a wicked world. But rather than escaping from it, we need to learn to live in it without partaking of the evils thereof. John 17:15 " I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
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