One common denominator for these two chapters was the tree of life. Reading Alma 12, another chapter mentioning the tree of life, I noticed further connections to Alma 32. In some ways, it seems that Alma already knew all the principles and ideas that he laid out later in Alma 32. In Zarahemla and Ammonihah, he touched upon a few of those. But studying these principles in Alma 5, 12 and 32 together gives a deeper understanding of his teachings. Notice for instance Alma 12:9
It is given unto many to the of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.Alma 32 is the only other chapter in all scripture using the expression, "portion of his/my word".
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 32:27)Alma 32 also talks about diligence in nourishing the seed (word of God). Alma 12 goes on to say
And therefore, he that will his heart, the same receiveth the portion of the word; and he that will harden his heart, to him is the greater portion of the word (Alma 12:10)Alma 32 goes on to say
Now, we will compare the word unto a . Now, if ye give place, that a may be planted in your , behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your , that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts (Alma 32:28)The soft heart is the good soil for the seed/word of God. A hard heart can only handle a lesser portion of the word because it doesn't provide the kind of soil that the seed needs to grow. Alma 12:11 talks about the hard hearts ultimately leading to knowing "nothing concerning his mysteries" and Alma 12:13 talks about the word of God not found in us:
Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awfulThis also corresponds well with Alma 32, where the word was planted in our hearts. At some point we will be examined to see if the word can be found in us. Reading about the process from desire to faith to knowledge in Alma 32, we realize there are various possibilities for us to remove the word from within us at different stages.
- Desire stage: Alma 32:27 quoted above asks us to "give place" to a portion of the word. If we don't, the word will not be found in us
- Faith stage: Alma 32:28 talks about the possibility to plant the seed but immediately "cast it out because of [our] unbelief". This is another way for the word to be discarded and not found in us.
- Knowledge stage: In Alma 32:38, the seed has started growing so we know it is good but we don't keep nourishing it. It withers away and we "pluck it up and cast it out". When we do, the word cannot be found in us anymore.
Combining the teachings from Alma 12 and 32 we learn that we must keep the word in us. In order to do that we must have soft hearts. Then the word will grow. It doesn't stand still. Either we have a soft heart and nourish the word and it grows or we have a heard hart and discard it or neglect it and it withers away.
In Alma 12, a man named Antionah asked why the way to the tree of life was blocked. Wasn't the whole point that man should live forever? Alma explains that it is, but it couldn't happen that way. Having no preparatory state first would frustrate the plan of redemption (see v 26). He goes on to explain that we must not harden our hearts in this preparatory state so that we can enter into his rest. In Alma 32, Alma teaches the Zoramites that a soft heart can become the soil for the word. If we use this preparatory state to nourish it, the word will be "found in us". The blocked tree of life in Eden is not an issue anymore because the word in us has grown into one and we can partake of its fruit.