Alma 31

Alma 31:26-28

And he (Alma) lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men?

Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world.

Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, an their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with: and behold their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say - we thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish.

As I read this passage it struck me that a large portion of the Zoramites sin was pride. It is interesting to see how much their pride and their insincerity bothers Alma. It is also interesting to read verses 27 and 28 as if they apply to current latter-day saints or to ourselves personally. I think that all to often they fit just right. I know I have had moments when I have prayed to God but my heart was set on vain things of the world, or other moments when I have thought I was better than others because of the gospel, because I am part of a chosen people.

Contrast that attitude with the attitude of Alma and the other missionaries later in the chapter:

Alma 31:35

Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

Alma 31:37

And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.

Now we might not be in a position where we should take absolutely no thought for our food or clothing, but the point is which do we think more about? Our clothes? Our food? Our material things? Or our brethren? What do we really care about? What things are precious to us personally? The souls of our brothers and sisters or the "precious things which (we) are ornamented with."