The Rameumptom Still Exists Today | Alma 30-31 | Come Follow Me

Do you ever ask yourself this question: Why did Mormon and Moroni feel the need to include THIS chapter in the Book of Mormon? I ask myself this question for almost each chapter, and have a study journal dedicated to this question. 

So, why did Mormon feel like the story of Alma, the Zoramites, and the Rameumpton, needed to be included in the Book of Mormon? Because the Rameumpton is not just a physical object or place, but a concept and mentality that still exists today in the Church. Let me explain. 

First off, what is the Rameumpton?

The Rameumpton is a high tower or stand from which the Zoramites gave a rote prayer with both arms raised high. Alma the Younger viewed the practice of praying from a Rameumptom as sinful, largely because the prayer affirmed the Zoramites' belief that there would be no Christ, and that the Zoramites were elected to be saved while all around them were "elected to be cast...down to hell." 

The weekly prayer on the Rameumptom was the Zoramites' only religious observance, while for the rest of the week they never mentioned God and pursued a lavish and selfish lifestyle.

Those who partook in this culture are seen as having a "hubris" personality type, meaning, a personality of:  extreme or foolish pride or dangerous overconfidence, often in combination with arrogance.

So. How can the Rameumpton still exist if it was an object thousands of years ago? Well the physical part of it is gone, but the concept and mentality of it remains the same and can be seen in some members of the Church. Let me explain. 

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes with a lot of weight and responsibility. We aren't just saying that we are part of just a church, we are members of the one and only TRUE church. With that knowledge and belief, it's easy to think "I am better than you because I belong to the true church so everything that I do is correct and right and you should be living by my example."

Whoa. No one talks like this right? I don't think so. BUT. That mentality can be felt sometimes. 

During sacrament meeting one Sunday, I was sitting in the back with my wife. We had been struggling on attending Church and finally made the decision that we needed to be better and attend. We were so excited. One reason why we've struggled to attend was this feeling of not fitting into any of the Utah wards we had been to.

One of the members got up to give their talk and the topic was repentance. The talk was good and the scriptures and talks from General Conference he sited were good. Those are easy to find though, what about his personal experiences? He then goes "One of the hardest, if not the biggest moment of repentance I've had to go through was..."

This was it. I'm going to hear a personal story and relate and connect to this person in a truly deep member. I didn't. His answer was "not paying fast offerings during my mission." This totally took me out of the Church going experience for the rest of the day. I felt like I couldn't relate to anyone, especially not the "I didn't pay my fast offerings on my mission" guy. If that was the worst sin he had done, then what would he think of ME and my sins and personal life?

I want to emphasize this point. Me struggling with Church after hearing this talk is NOT that members fault. It's mine and mine alone. But there is a lesson in this that I feel we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to have with each other in terms of the subjects and contents we talk about within the Church walls. 

I believe that there needs to be more room for discussion, empathy, and understanding in how we teach the gospel in our meetings. Everything about the Gospel is 100% true but that doesn't mean that everyone hearing the lesson is at the same place or standing with the doctrines.

When a teacher gives the lesson about Eternal Marriage and the dangers of divorce and gives blanket statements that are supposed to encompass the room, that unfortunately is just poor teaching. Because not everyone in the room might be feeling the same way. How do you expect to Becky who was recently divorced and her life throw in a whirl to get anything from that lesson?

How do you expect David to want to come back to Church when all the talks and lessons he hears are basically saying "you're not good enough, try harder" and all David is doing is trying but just struggling still every day with the commandments?

The Church should be a place of prayer and teaching. Absolutely. But the Church is also a meeting place. It is a  gathering of many members who are in different circumstances and places in their doctrinal learning and testimony who are all coming together in their common belief in Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel. We need to have more empathy and understanding in our meetings that can make members feel the Spirit and feel like "hey I can do this too" rather than blanket statements that are taught that make us feel like just giving up because everyone around me seems perfect when really they are not. 

The Rameumpton doesn't exist today, but it's a mentality that some feel when coming to Church on Sundays. It's a mentality that members who are struggling with their testimony feel when hearing others talk about the blessings and good their life is. It's the feeling of judgement that is felt when another member is surprised that you are struggling with living certain commandments that are easy for them. 

If were to eliminate the Rameumpton in the Church, I believe that church membership would rise and we would have more active members. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!