Alma 22-23

Alma 22

While Ammon is building up the church is the land of Ishmael with King Lamoni, Aaron and his other brothers go to teach the king of all the land (Lamoni’s father—remember him from last time?), who has been curious and perplexed ever since Ammon spared his life. This King has had a drastic change of heart—the man who once tried to kill his own son because he was angry that he was helping a Nephite is now ready and willing to believe anything that Aaron and his brothers teach him.

These two verses just breeze over a summary of the things Aaron teaches to the King, but after you read them I want to point out a few really important points that are buried in here:

 13 And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.

 14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.

First point—Aaron taught the King from the scriptures, even though he probably knew the scriptures like the back of his hand and could have just told the stories himself. There is power in reading the scriptures word-for-word. I believe that. So high-five to you if you have been reading the actual Book of Mormon verses from each chapter and not just my second-rate summary of them. 

Second point—the Plan of Redemption through Jesus Christ—which is God’s plan for helping his children through this earth life and enabling us to return to Him after we die—was planned out a LONG time ago, “from the foundation of the world.” God knew He would send His Son, Jesus Christ, as the key element of his plan before Adam and Eve were ever placed in the Garden of Eden.

Third point—The sufferings and death of Jesus Christ allowed Him to conquer 2 things, (1) death and (2) sin. His gift of resurrection, or overcoming death, will be a free gift for everyone someday. But to overcome sin we have to do our part by having faith in Christ, repenting, being baptized, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Verse 14 just says “through faith and repentance and so forth” assuming that his audience knows the full list. This is a topic worth spending more time on later!

The King is deeply touched by these things that Aaron teaches him. Do you remember when Ammon almost killed the King, and he offered in desperation to give Ammon ½ of his kingdom if he would spare his life? Well check out what the King is willing to give now in order to have joy and eternal life:

 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

He is willing to give up everything to know God. What a great example he is! The Lord doesn't actually ask the King to forsake his Kingdom - but He does ask for something else. Aaron tells him to repent and pray to God with faith to ask for the hope and joy he desires.

 17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee.

I love that he is willing to “give away all his sins” to know God—because that is what God really wants from us. Are you willing to give away all your sins to know God?

The King is so overcome by the Spirit of God that he collapses to the ground like he is dead (sound familiar)? But Aaron is able to awaken him because the Queen is panicking and trying to convince the guards to kill Aaron and his brethren (but they know better because they’ve been watching everything that happened).

Once the King is awake he preaches to the whole palace, as well as many people in the town. The wide-spread conversion which first started with Ammon and King Lamoni’s people is continuing to spread throughout the Lamanites!

Alma 23

With the King of all the Lamanites converting to the Lord, this opens the door wide to all his people because he sends forth a proclamation to all the Lamanites forbidding them to harass, abuse, stone, or cast-out the Nephite missionaries when they are trying to teach.

And as a result, the missionaries begin to see incredible success. These Lamanite converts become my favorite people in the Book of Mormon, and you’ll see how heroic they are soon. But for now we are told that all the Lamanites who convert are faithful to the end of their lives—that is the remarkable part to me! You probably know lots of people who have a change of heart at some point in their lives, but how many of them remain changed, and how many go back to their old ways when things get hard?

 5 And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time.

 6 ... yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

 7 For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.

These converted Lamanites take on a new name—they become the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.

I think it's very interesting that none of the Amalekites or Amulonites were converted (they are the Nephite-deserters), and that none of the Lamanites who lived in the same cities as Amalekites or Amulonites were converted either. Our society, and especially our friends and family, can have an enormous effect on our perspective and our beliefs. Even in modern times, you can see different cultures and regions that are more disposed to faith and others who are more ambivalent or even hostile toward God. It is important for each of us to be able to recognize the kinds of people we surround ourselves with each day and the kind of influence they may have on us.

Alma 20-21

Alma 20

Ammon is told by the Lord that his brethren have been thrown in prison in the Lamanite land of Middoni. Lamoni offers to go with Ammon to get them out of prison because the king of Middoni is a friend. So they go, and on the way to Middoni, they cross paths with Lamoni’s father, who is king over all the Lamanites. Lamoni's father is angry that Lamoni missed a great feast earlier that week, and he's even more furious that Lamoni is with a Nephite and helping to free other Nephites from prison.

Lamoni’s father is so furious that he draws his sword to kill his own son, but Ammon steps up to protect him and overpowers the king quickly (if you haven't noticed, Ammon is really strong!). In desperation the king offers half of his kingdom if Ammon will spare his life. Ammon agrees to spare the king’s life if he will let his brethren out of prison in Middoni, and if he will not be angry with Lamoni and leave him free to govern his own land however he wants without being under the direction of his father.

 25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life.

 26 And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more—

 27 And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them.

Lamoni and Ammon make it to Middoni and free Ammon’s brethren from prison. They are naked and starving and suffering greatly. They were less fortunate than Ammon and had gone to a more hard-hearted group of Lamanites.

Alma 21

We rewind in vs.1-14 to when Ammon and his brethren originally split up to teach the Lamanites, and this time we follow Ammon’s brother, Aaron, and a few more who went with him. It was Aaron’s luck to go to a harder group of Lamanites who lived among the Amalekites and Amulonites (dissenting Nephites) who are the hardest of all, and so Aaron and his few companions travel uselessly from city to city trying to preach until they are thrown in jail in Middoni, and then saved by Ammon and King Lamoni.

These guys are so brave—they go out to try preaching AGAIN, even after all this harassment and abuse, but this time the Lord begins to bless them with success! Also, Ammon and King Lamoni return to the land of Ishmael and begin to build up the church of God among his people and teach them that they are free to worship and believe however they desire now. I love King Lamoni's people because, “they gave heed unto [the] word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God (v23).” I want to be zealous for keeping the commandments of God! What a great word.