“Wrestling with God in Mighty Prayer”

Alan C. Miner

In Alma 8:10 it informs us that "Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer . . . Hugh Nibley queries, Wrestling with God? Does God resist you? Do you have to resist him? No, you have to put yourself into position, in the right state of mind. Remember, in our daily walks of life as we go around doing things, we're far removed. If you're bowling, or if you're in business, or if you're jogging or something like that, doing the things you usually do, and then you have to go from there to prayer, it's quite a transition. It's like a culture shock if your really take it seriously. You have to get yourself in form, like a wrestler having to look around for a hold or get a grip, as Jacob did when he wrestled with the Lord. You have to size yourself up, take your stance, circle the ring, and try to find out how you're going to deal with this particular problem. You're not wrestling with the Lord; you're wrestling with yourself. Remember, Enos is the one who really wrestled (see Enos 1:2). And he told us what he meant when he was wrestling; he was wrestling with himself, his own inadequacies. How can I possibly face the Lord in my condition, is what he says. So this is what we're doing. . . . It takes a great mental effort to confront the Lord in all seriousness. [Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 2, pp. 301-302] [See the commentary on Enos 1:2]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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