Book of Mormon Lesson
# 25 Alma 17–22
They Taught with Power and Authority of God
Introduction
We now know what happened to Alma after his conversion, but what of the
sons of Mosiah. These chapters go back 14 years to chronicle the mission of
Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni, the sons of Mosiah, and “those who were with them”
(Alma 17:12) which included Ammah and Muloki (Alma 21:11). One wonders who
these were. Presumably friends who had followed them into apostasy early on and
had equally repented and were desirous, “go up to the land of Nephi that they
might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the
word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites” (Mosiah 27:11–17; 28:1). And so
begins what is possibly the greatest missionary story in the Book of Mormon,
one that all potential and current missionaries probably know by heart and take
heart from. It is a direct fulfillment of 1 Nephi 3:7 as the sons of Mosiah and
their companions go and do the things the Lord commands, and He definitely
provides a way, a very unexpected way, for all of them to have success among
the Lamanites in the land of Nephi where the other Ammon rescued Limhi and his
people.
1. The sons of Mosiah preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Alma 17:1–18.
We talked a couple of weeks ago
about the power of prayer. It is the preparation we all need for everything we
do. And not just momentous tasks. But here in verses 2, 3 and 9, we learn that
the sons of Mosiah studied, fasted, and prayed (a) to know how they could make
amends for their past misdeeds and (b) continued fasting and praying as they
embarked on stages in their mission. So it comes as no surprise that the keys
to successful missionary work are study,
fast, pray. More than this, they are the keys to a successful life in the
Gospel aren’t they? Many years ago, I was translating in the MTC when Elder
Richard G. Scott was talking, and I first heard his admonition that if we
record the impressions we get from the Spirit, we are likely to get more. Here
is just one of his quotes on the subject, “Knowledge carefully recorded is
knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should
be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it.
This practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light”
(“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign,
Nov. 1993, 86). So study, fast,
pray, record might be our keywords. Because then, in verse 10, we learn
that the Lord visited and comforted them with His Spirit. So they put themselves
in danger by going to the Lamanites and in so doing, developed a love for their
potential enemies. However, Pres. Joseph F. Smith warned about overzealousness:
“A man may fast and pray till he kills himself; and there isn’t any necessity
for it; nor wisdom in it. … The Lord can hear a simple prayer, offered in
faith, in half a dozen words, and he will recognize fasting that may not
continue more than twenty-four hours, just as readily and as effectually as He
will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month. … The Lord
will accept that which is enough, with a good deal more pleasure and
satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary” (Conference Report, Oct. 1912, 133–34).
2. Ammon serves and teaches King
Lamoni, and many of the people are converted. Alma 17:19–39; 18; 19.
So we first hear Ammon’s story. And it is quite possible that all we
remember from this is Ammon smiting off the arms of his attackers. There is a
historical precedent for this which we only discovered a few years ago. You can
read about it here: https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/why-did-the-servants-present-lamoni-with-the-arms-of-his-enemies.
But there is more to learn from the rest of this chapter than renewed
evidence for its authenticity. Verse 20
tells us about the customs of the Lamanites—when capturing a Nephite they would
bring him before the king who had several choices: “slay them, or to retain them
in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast them out of his land.”
Lamoni did none of these things. And one can only believe he was prompted to
ask Ammon if he wanted to live there. Offered freedom, Ammon chose to be a
servant, and in so doing put himself in a situation to demonstrate the power of
the Lord.
Ammon built a relationship of trust with Lamoni. Here is
Pres. Eyring, “I have always focused before on how mixed up Lamoni was in his
doctrine, without seeing the miracle. The miracle was that a spiritual need was
created in a man, that he might be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. His heart
was broken. He felt guilt. And it came from the temporal things that Ammon had
done. … Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of doing temporal
things well for those whom you serve. Be their servants, and you will love
them. And they will feel your love. And more important, they will feel God’s
love” (“The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, Feb. 2004, 13–14).
So now we learn from Ammon how we teach. The lesson manual
gives us these insights: (1) teach in a way the listener can understand (Alma
18:24–33). (2) Teach the plan of redemption from the scriptures (Alma 34–39). Lamoni
starts to pray, so Ammon must have taught him how to do that. And one by one
they were overcome.
The
story of Abish has always concerned me somewhat. Again one of those snippets
like Aminadi interpreting the writing in the temple, Abish was “converted unto
the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father.” And
so finally here was confirmation of what she had known for years and she wants
to share it, but it all goes pear-shaped. The Lamanite hatred for Nephites
dominates the conversation, even to the extent of trying to kill Ammon, so
Abish “was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears. . .
. She went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise
her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood
upon her feet” (19:28–29). As a result “as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a
righteous people, and they did establish a church among them” (vs. 35). We
don’t hear any more about Abish, but in a few short, harrowing hours she
fulfilled her mission and that of her father.
Elder
Scott has some interesting insights into the conversion of the Lamanites here:
“Changing a profoundly embedded pattern of life can be very difficult. Former
friends can ridicule, criticize, and even persecute. Persistent faith in the Savior
and obedience will see you through such hardships to greater blessings. . . .
[A] dramatic example of discarding long-established traditions is the change of
warlike Lamanites into humble followers of Christ willing to die before
violating covenants made as members of His kingdom. I encourage you who have
already made correct cultural choices to help others to do likewise. Teach them
to recognize the long-term blessings of peace and happiness that come from a
decision to place Father in Heaven, His plan, and His Son at the center of
their priorities. Follow Ammon’s example. He patiently taught King Lamoni to
recognize and to abandon incorrect traditions. Many were blessed by his
decision to discard them. Ammon taught truth so clearly that Lamoni was touched
by the Spirit and desired to give up all of his false traditions (see Alma
18:24–41; Alma 19:35–36).[1]
3. Ammon is led by the Spirit to deliver his brethren.
Lamoni’s father is converted. Alma 20–22
So here we have the first test of
Lamoni’s conversion—an encounter with his father whose summons he had ignored
because he wanted to know why Ammon had served him so faithfully. Not only
that, he was going with Ammon to help rescue Ammon’s brethren. Ammon’s physical
strength is again a factor in preparing Lamoni’s father to receive the gospel.
But it is his brother, Aaron who completes the teaching that leads to
conversion which is equally remarkable and shows how the Lord can prepare a
people. For those of us who have experienced a conversion in our lives, can we
understand Lamoni’s father’s words, “I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18)?
Pres. Benson: “Each of us must surrender our sins if we are to really know
Christ. For we do not know Him until we become like Him. There are some, like
this king, who must pray until they, too, have ‘a wicked spirit rooted’ from
them so they can find the same joy” (Ensign,
Nov. 1983, 43).
Aaron and his brethren have not faired so well as Ammon. And
this runs the gamut of missionary experiences. They went to at least three
places and were met by disaffected Nephites—Amalekites and Amulonites—whose
hearts were more hardened than even the Lamanites. But nevertheless, they “began to open the scriptures unto them concerning
the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and
that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death
and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood” (Alma 21:9). Pres.
Eyring: “Why should I speak to anyone about the gospel who seems content? What
danger is there to them or to me if I do or say nothing? Well, the danger
may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us. For instance, at
some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what
you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association
with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus
Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those
with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be
together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples
of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember
whether you offered them what someone had offered you” (Ensign, Nov.
1998, 33).
Aaron and some of his brethren
convert a “few” in Middoni but are imprisoned. When Lamoni and Ammon come to
release them, “they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because
of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst,
and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their
sufferings” (20:29). I am not sure that I am patient in any of my sufferings,
let alone all. There are many lessons to be learned from these chapters.
Alexander B. Morrison sums it up, “Someone has said that the price of a
Christian life is the same today as always: it is simply to give all that we
have, holding back nothing, to ‘give away all [our] sins to know [Him]’ (Alma
22:18). When we fall short of that standard by reason of sloth, indifference,
or wickedness; when we are evil or envious, selfish, sensual, or shallow; we,
in a sense at least, crucify Him afresh. And when we try consistently to be our
very best, when we care for and serve others, when we overcome selfishness with
love, when we place the welfare of others above our own, when we bear each
other’s burdens and ‘mourn with those that mourn,’ when we ‘comfort those that
stand in need of comfort, and … stand as witnesses of God at all times and in
all things, and in all places’ (Mosiah 18:8–9), then we honor Him and draw from
His power and become more and more like Him, growing ‘brighter and brighter,’
if we persist, ‘until the perfect day’ (D&C 50:24)” (Ensign, Nov. 1999, 27).
