Nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy

Alma 36 is filled with scriptures that can help us understand the pain and sorrow of sin. On the other hand, we also learn about beautiful and clean repentance can be.

This chapter is where Alma the younger is recounting the story of his conversion to his son, Helaman. Alma describes how his sins were great because he was leading members away from the church. It was not a good time for the church, or for Alma's father.

Alma was eventually reprimanded by an angel of God that came to visit him. While Alma lay paralyzed, unable to even speak, he was being racked with the eternal torment of his sins. When Alma describes this we can related how terrible we feel when we sin. He cries out in his mind unto Christ, asking for mercy. When this happens, Alma describes to his son that he was no longer harrowed up by the memory of his sins.

Repentance comes through true sorrow. It is not just when we feel bad because we did something wrong, it is when we truly recognize that we have erred in the Lord's sight and need His help to repent.

From all of this we get this beautiful scripture, "...there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (verse 21).