When Moses and the Children of Israel were wandering in the Wilderness of Arabia, the Plan of the Messiah was only rudely understood by all except the great leader, himself. To awaken them to a lively interest in things spiritual, and establish among them something to constantly remind them of the responsibility they bore as God’s chosen people—at the same time bring them blessings that was part of their heritage—a type of the Messiah, or a thing regarded as a symbol of Him who was yet to come, was placed in the midst of Israel that all who looked upon It obtained the gifts and promises that come through obedience. Look upon, we believe to mean observe and keep the ordinances and testimonies of the Messiah, whom the type mentioned portrayed, or represented. “Many did look and live.”
Because of “the hardness of their hearts” many of the Children of Israel did not understand what was meant by the Type established pertaining to what they looked forward. Others of them, more hardened than they, refused to abide by the laws God gave them through Moses. Some would not even look, because, Alma offered the explanation that their faith was insufficient to make themselves believe that they would be “healed” of their infirmities.
Alma, now made a direct appeal to the assembled throng. The first principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been the theme of his sermon. Faith in Him was a simple, yet effective, measure which was to be taken by all who desired to know the mind and will of God. Some fifty years earlier than Alma’s time, King Benjamin, in Zarahemla, taught faith in God as a necessary principle, and belief in His power of redemption as a saving grace for all mankind: Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in Heaven and in Earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in Heaven and in Earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that He would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to a knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of His goodness and have tasted of His love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causes such exceeding great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and His goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the Name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of Him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. (Mosiah 4:12)
If, Alma argued, all that is necessary is to cast your eyes about you, and see for yourselves the marvelous Salvation of the Lord as did the Children of Israel, would “ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief?” Would ye rather be “slothful” or indolent, and too lazy, to “cast about your eyes” and therefore perish when all that is required of you is that you see and recognize the great Redemption of the Lord? Yet, it is as easy to believe on the Son of God and have faith in His Atoning Blood, that it “shall bring to pass the resurrection” of the dead and other great and marvelous works, as it was for the Children of Israel to “look” upon the “type” of the Messiah which was raised in their midst. Prepare now by believing in Him, for it is the proper time to make yourselves ready to stand, as all men must, before Him, “to be judged at the Last and Judgment Day, according to their works.”