Alma 32:31 - 32:35

Alma 32:31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

The quest ion is, is this a good seed? We can say yes because it begins to increase its impressions on our mind. If we find ourselves not being impressed or not wanting to know more, the seed will not last which means it is not a good seed.

The goodness of the seed I think relates to it staying power not as to whether it is a good seed in the sense of it the concept is “good or evil.” A lot of people have had evil thoughts put in their minds by satan and they have stayed there until they acted on them.

Alma 32:32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

So if the seed or concepts do not grow in influence in your mind, you are not ready to accept it and you will in time forget about it.

Alma 32:33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

So if the seed or concept does continue to grow in influence then you know you are ready to start doing whatever the concept dictates that one should do in their life.

Alma 32:34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

Now this experiencing of the influence of a concept is now a knowledge you did not have prior to you hearing of the concept at first. You did not know that it would influence you but since you have felt its increasing influence in your life you have certain knowledge that it can influence you. You no longer have to rely on faith that it might influence you. You now know that it can.

Alma 32:35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

This increasing of influence or spending more and more time thinking about the concept is a real thing. Therefore the concept is having greater and greater influence over you. Now you don’t know all there is to know about the concept, but at least you know if it will continue to influence you.

I am not sure if Alma is equating a concept that is good in the site of God to be the only thing that will continue to grow influence over a person and that is a good seed. Like I have said a lot of folks over the years have gotten caught up in evil and have died trying to perpetrate it.