A Study Guide Companion for The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
ALMA CHAPTERS
13 - 24
Alma Chapter 13
Alma reminded his listeners that when Adam and Eve were sent forth from the Garden of Eden to begin to have children—and their children began to have children—angels came to tell them about the Plan of Salvation.
The Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God is Eternal. It has always existed, and it will always exist. It is the Holy Power of God. It was given to mankind with priests ordained to bless the people.
The Priesthood was put on Earth so ordained priests could teach the world of the Redemption that would be brought by Jesus Christ. For the privilege of using this Power, Priesthood holders make sacred commitments, and they are ordained [from the word order] to act in their chosen offices.
Alma recounted righteous high priests who had lived and testified throughout history. His lesson included those who would yet be born. In a comprehensive view of Eternity, Alma taught that the men who were blessed and would be blessed to be Priesthood leaders were called in the pre-mortal life, because God, in His perfect knowledge, knew what they would do on Earth. These men were called and ordained before they came to Earth because of their pre-mortal righteous choices.
Alma contrasted those who were called with those not called. Then he exhorted the people to follow the example of the righteous priests, who fulfilled the calling of God. They were called to this holy calling on account of their faith,
while others would reject the Spirit of God with hard hearts and blind minds.
Alma called upon the people to follow the examples of the great leaders who had lived before them—so that they might also enter into the rest of God.
When the righteous high priests and prophets came to Earth, they lived up to their commitments made in their pre-mortal lives and the Lord sanctified them. He reminded them of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was a righteous prince over the land of Salem (the land later called Jerusalem). He preached with such mighty faith to wicked people of his land that they repented. So, [because of their universal righteousness] peace was established in the land and he was called a “prince of peace.” Although there were many great priests who lived and preached both before and after Melchizedek, Alma said that none were greater. (This was the same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes—see verse 15 and Genesis 14:18-20)
Often sisters do not realize their part in the Priesthood—other than in a “supportive role” (which is important!). Although everything regarding women and the Holy Priesthood has not yet been revealed, we know that women’s role is vital to the Salvation of men as well as to themselves in God’s Kingdom. The largest women’s organization in the world, the Relief Society, is part of the Priesthood organization. When President Brigham Young re-established it after the pioneers were in the Salt Lake Valley, he was inspired to put it in its proper place—not for men to have ‘control,’ but to proclaim its true position within the Holy Order after the Son of God—the Holy Order of the Priesthood.
Women as well as men were set apart to great callings in the pre-mortal life. A “noble and great” woman, the “Mother of all Living,” Eve, was chosen and ordained to motherhood before she was born. She was actually granted her title before she fulfilled her mission. She also made a subsequent choice—to bravely give up her easy life in the Garden of Eden in order to further God’s Plan to bring His children onto Earth. She was the first to choose to obey God’s greatest commandment and He blessed her and admonished her to always obey His law.
Reminding his listeners that they had the scriptures, Alma told them not to mess with them, changing them. They are plain to understand.
Many things Alma said in verses 21 and 22 apply strongly to us, who live in the latter-days. Our daily perspective of time is very different from time of the Lord and His prophets. Prophets often use the words “soon” and “nigh” when referring to even thousands of years in the future. Sometimes the events of which they speak will be immediate.
Alma called upon the people to follow the examples of the great leaders who had lived before them—so that they might also enter into the rest of God.
When the righteous high priests and prophets came to Earth, they lived up to their commitments made in their pre-mortal lives and the Lord sanctified them. He reminded them of Melchizedek.
Alma, like Isaiah and Nephi, had likely seen the spectrum of the world, its history and its future. Many things he said in verses 21 and 22 apply strongly to us, who live in the latter-days. Our daily perspective of time is very different from time of the Lord and His prophets. Prophets often use the words “soon” and “nigh” when referring to even thousands of years in the future. Sometimes the events of which they speak will be immediate. Or, as we learned in the writings of Isaiah, they may be multi-layered, referring to more than one instance.
Alma was so enthusiastic to have the Lord come to Earth that he wished it would be in his day. Yet he was excited about the greatest event that would ever occur (the Lord coming to Earth to fulfill His calling to redeem us all from physical death and to give all of us the opportunity of Eternal Life) whether or not it was in Alma’s own lifetime.
Alma prophesied angels and prophets would declare the great event of Christ’s birth, even though it would take place on the other side of the world.
Alma felt such great anxiety for the people of Ammonihah that he was actually in pain. Through his own conversion experience, he knew what the bitter consequences would be if they did not repent and begin living God’s commandments.
He pleaded with the Ammonihahites to follow the example of the early high priests and repent, humbling themselves before God, being led by His Holy Spirit—and, like the righteous high priests, being prayerful, meek, submissive, patient, and long-suffering, having faith on the Lord, a hope of receiving Eternal Life, and having the love of God always in their hearts.
Because he cared so much about all people, Alma pleaded with the Ammonihahites to save themselves by repenting. If they suffered punishment through their disobedience, it would not be because the Lord sent the punishment, but because they brought the punishment down upon themselves.
CHAPTER 14
Alma reached out to the Ammonihahites in love and fellowship. He definitely told them that they needed to repent, but he also told them (from personal experience) that great joy would come from repentance and following the commandments of the Lord.
When resigning from his responsibilities as Chief Judge, Alma’s goal was to help save souls, going among the people, preaching with “pure testimony.” This pure testimony reached the hearts of many. But the majority refused to soften their hearts, and they wickedly set out to kill both Alma and Amulek.
The jeering crowd kept harping on the same misinterpretations of what Alma and Amulek had said, even though the two missionaries were very clear in their messages, likely because of that the angry people deliberately chose to misunderstand the plain meanings. Comfortable with their wicked lives, they wanted no disruptions to their nefarious practices. Because they were satisfied with their evil state, Satan’s awful whisperings seemed more desirable to them than did listening to the jarring truth coming from Alma and Amulek.
Satan set out an evil agenda and these people followed him like dumb animals, making his plan a blueprint for their own goals. Figuring to be well on their way to accomplishing this goal—namely, enslaving other Nephites—they looked forward to becoming powerful and even more self-indulgent.
Then, “spoiling” their skewed vision of themselves, Alma, joined by Amulek, told them that their wickedness was not a secret. And the two missionaries also told them that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed.
The only reason they had not been destroyed up until that time was because of the minority of righteous citizens among them. If they ever cast out the righteous, they would certainly be destroyed.
The people decided to secretly kill the missionaries. They brought Alma and Amulek before the highest judge in Ammonihah .
Likely this high judge was one of the conspirators to overthrow the freedom of the Nephites. He certainly made a travesty of the courts of justice originally set up by king Mosiah.
Many false witnesses came to testify against Alma and Amulek. First they intentionally misinterpreted what Alma and Amulek had said about the tricks of the lawyers, the judges, and the wickedness of the people.
And then they lied about what Alma and Amulek had said about the Plan of Salvation.
Zeezrom, who had been a strong opponent of the missionaries, and one of the cleverest lawyers in the land—having become wealthy mostly by trickery, now listened to the false witnesses, astonished. He heard the lies and recognized the blindness of their minds and knew that he had contributed to it. He began to feel horribly guilty.
Zeezrom suddenly realized that he had been converted to the truth of what the missionaries had taught. He stood up and began to plead for the missionaries, admitting that he was the guilty one and that Alma and Amulek were spotless before God.
Instead of following Zeezrom’s repentant example, others turned on this former leader, accusing him of being possessed with the devil. The attacks turned violent.
The accusers attacked all the righteous converts who believed Alma and Amulek—including many of their own wives and children, who had been converted to the truth.
They stoned and cast the converted men out of the city, and then these fiends of hell and supporters of Satan built a fire and burned all women and children who believed, or had been taught to believe, in God; they also burned any records containing the sacred scriptures, throwing them into to the burning blaze to be consumed.
Alma and Amulek were bound and forced to watch the martyrdom of these righteous women and children. Amulek, watching the horrible burning, was filled with great anguish.
Three days later, the chief judge with many other wicked lawyers, judges, priests, and teachers came to question the two missionaries who were now in prison; again the missionaries refused to answer.
For many days, the evil mob mocked them, withheld food from them, withheld water from them, stripped them naked, and bound them in strong cords.
The whole mob attacked them, hitting and beating on them, when suddenly the power of God came upon the missionaries and they rose and stood upon their feet.
It was too little too late for these evil people. They fell to earth with great fear and the outer door of the prison and the Earth shook so that the prison walls came crashing down. The attackers were killed instantly.
Finally, Alma and Amulek came forth from prison, the only ones left alive.
The people of the city heard the great noise and came running. They saw the two missionaries emerge, unhurt. Now they were struck with great fear and ran from their presence. But they still did not repent.
Alma and Amulek were unhurt and loosed from their bands. They left the wicked city.
CHAPTER 15
The Lord commanded Alma and Amulek to leave Ammonihah. All good
people in that land had been stoned and cast out or had been cruelly killed.
Even Amulek’s own family—although he had always taken care of them
and Alma had blessed them—as well as his former friends— had disowned
Amulek.
Amulek left all his worldly goods to travel with Alma. When they reached land of Sidom, the two missionary prophets found the converts who had been cast out from Ammonihah. The reunion
was tragic, because they had to tell the converts of the horrible martyrdom of
their women and children.
Notwithstanding their horror and grief, all of them had joy in knowing that
God had taken His martyred children into His glory and had prepared a place for
all who would come to Him.
The missionaries recounted their own deliverance from prison.
Zeezrom was one who had been cast out. Because of the guilt of his soul,
he had become sick with a burning fever. He was afraid that Alma and Amulek
had been killed and he knew he had caused much of the tragedy for others. He also was tormented by many other sins he had committed.
Upon hearing of the safety of Alma and Amulek, Zeezrom had his first bit
of hope. He sent a message asking them to come to him.
Alma and Amulek immediately went to Zeezrom and found him upon his
bed, burning up with fever and sick in mind, contemplating all his iniquities.
Jesus Christ constantly stretches forth His Hand to welcome us back to
Him.
Our responsibility and blessing is to symbolically stretch forth our hands in
repentance and in love—to meet the Savior. Such a meeting of repentance and
love took place when Zeezrom reached out in humility to Christ’s
representatives.
Zeezrom, grateful for a second chance, was baptized and then he began
preaching the Gospel according to his own testimony.
Alma, like Zeezrom, had earlier in his life been given a second chance.
Think about how their experiences were alike and how they were different.
Word of the miracle of Zeezrom’s conversion and of his healing spread
quickly throughout the land of Sidom.
The missionary effort then accelerated as
Zeezrom joined the missionary team, bearing his own testimony. Alma
established a Church and consecrated priests and teachers to baptize. People
who lived in and around the Sidom area, in great numbers, repented of their sins
and were baptized.
In Ammonihah, people remained stiffnecked and hard-hearted
while the people in the Sidom area humbled themselves before God and to
assembled themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the
altar, watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from
death and destruction.
After establishing the Church in Sidom, Alma took Amulek home with him
to Zarahemla. Amulek had given up his home, his livelihood, and all his
possessions. Most heartbreaking, his friends and family had turned against him.
Knowing that they would be destroyed in their wickedness, he was filled with
sorrow. Alma “did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him
in the Lord."
CHAPTER 16
(Review)
Alma preached in Zarahemla, Gideon, Melek, and finally in the land of Sidom, experiencing much success. Before going to Sidom, he went to Ammonihah.
A few choice spirit children of God, then living in Ammonihah, were converted to Alma’s message and some were even martyred for the cause of truth. It was in Ammonihah that Alma met his stalwart companion Amulek. Zeezrom, who had been a rogue lawyer in Ammonihah, was converted to the Gospel. He repented and became a strong missionary for truth. Mormon retained impressive sermons that Alma and Amulek preached to the people in that wicked city of Ammonihah, along with their experiences.
(End Review)
Although most of the time for the last several years, peace had reigned throughout the land, Lamanites (for reasons we will read of later when we study the missionary experiences of the sons of king Mosiah) now swooped down on Nephites, beginning with the city of Ammonihah.
Before an army could be raised to drive out the Lamanites, the entire city of Ammonihah was destroyed, all of its inhabitants killed—and some people around the borders of Noah were killed. Others were taken captive into the wilderness.
A man named Zoram was now chief captain over the Nephite armies. Zoram was not High Priest over the Church as Alma had been when he led the Nephites to battle, but Zoram recognized the Power of God and wanted to do His will. With his two sons, Zoram went to Alma for advice before embarking on a rescue mission for those Nephites who had been captured by the Lamanites.
The Lord revealed to Alma that the Nephite army should indeed rescue the captive Nephites. Alma told Zoram where to go to meet the Lamanites and promised that the Lord would deliver them.
In obedience to the Lord’s instructions, Zoram and his sons led the Nephite armies across the river Sidon, and then marched beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness on the east side of the river Sidon. All of the captives were recovered.
The Lamanites were sufficiently routed out of the land. However, the city of Ammonihah, with all of its wicked people, was completely destroyed.
The prophecies concerning Ammonihah were fulfilled; Alma and Amulek continued their missionary labors; with them were many others the Lord called to help them; they traveled throughout all of the land of the Nephites establishing Churches.
The Holy Ghost entered the hearts of many good people that they believed in the Lord who was to come, so they would be prepared to receive His Gospel. The people wanted to learn all they could about the Savior. The missionaries taught them that He would appear on the new Promised Land after His Resurrection.
CHAPTER 17
(Review)
As young men, Alma and Mosiah’s sons went about destroying the work of God that they had been taught by their righteous fathers, Alma the Elder and King Mosiah, and they persuaded many to believe Satan’s lies.
While Alma was with the sons of Mosiah, in response to prayers of their fathers and many caring saints, an angel came to him. Alma had a frightening near-death experience, and he realized how close he had come to chaining his soul to the devil.
Through repentance—and because of the overwhelming love of our Savior, who would soon come to Earth to suffer and die for all sins of mankind—Alma’s ugliness of spirit was transformed to a conversion of goodness and truth. Knowing then the awful alternative to following the true Savior, Alma determined a life-long commitment to help save as many souls as possible for Christ.
Mosiah’s sons also experienced remorse for their wickedness. They gave up the opportunity of kingship to devote their lives to bringing the Gospel to the Lamanites.
(End Review)
Fourteen years following the conversion of the sons of Mosiah, they met Alma—as they were heading for Zarahemla. Mosiah’s sons had remained true to their commitment.
It was “near” the time the Lord would come to earth and eventually visit the Promised Land. The hearts of many—including the hearts of some of the Lamanites—were being prepared to receive Him.
Mormon was not able to write fourteen years’ worth of details, but in briefly recounting the years Mosiah’s sons spent among the Lamanites, he included essential ideas and faith-promoting experiences as well as many great lessons for future readers. Those years, although full of many blessings, had certainly not been easy for the missionaries.
Fourteen years before, following the conversion of Alma and the sons of Mosiah. King Mosiah, after consulting with the Lord, allowed his sons to go into hostile Lamanite territory. Although the Nephites wanted at least one of Mosiah’s sons to be king after Mosiah died, the king instituted a new form of government—judges (ratified by the voice, or vote, of the people). A reason for this change in government was that king Mosiah wanted to be sure his sons would not come back, return to their wicked ways, and start a civil war against any new king who might be on the throne.
Alma, voted in as the first Chief Judge, “kept God’s commandments, and judged righteously.” With the transition of government, there was “continual peace throughout the land (Mosiah 29:42 & 43).” However, as we have read, the devil soon was on the look-out for weak people to tempt with greed for power—and he met with some success.
In the meantime, Mosiah’s sons and their companions were kept busy in the Lord’s service among the Lamanites. Mormon summarized these years of service.
The newly converted young men took with them faithful friends. he young men took only what immediate provisions and supplies they would need for survival.
They headed toward the same area from which two other groups—Alma the Elder’s and ing Lamoni’s—had escaped antagonistic Lamanite territory during the last generation. They were going because the Spirit of the Lord told them this was where they needed to be, and the Lord visited them with His Spirit, saying “Be comforted.”
The Lord assured them that it was His holy will that they were to go into Lamanite territory, even though it would cause them “long suffering and afflictions.” It would ultimately be worth tribulations for the sake of bringing Lamanite souls to Christ.
The Lord offered Mosiah’s sons and their friends the opportunity to suffer for the souls of others. Remember, the Lord Himself would suffer infinitely more than we can imagine for the souls of others. He extended the prospect of Mosiah’s sons and their friends to share in this great blessing, to show their love and compassion for others, even to the point of being willing to suffer, although He, the Greatest of all, would suffer entirely.
The missionaries were men who had been wicked; before they were converted to the truth, they had led many astray. Although Christ atoned for their sins when they repented, He now gave them the chance to show the extent of their commitment to righteousness.
Both patience and meekness were absolutely necessary for the sons of Mosiah and their companions, who were about to go among their fierce and angry cousins, the Lamanites. No show of force would do.
It was a blessing to these Nephite missionaries to know ahead of time that the Lord had called them and sanctified their efforts—and that, in time, they would help bring Salvation to many souls. The assurances gave them courage.
Mormon made a commentary on the state of the Lamanites at the time the sons of Mosiah were called to preach to them: “they were wild, hardened, and ferocious, delighting in robbing, plundering, and murdering Nephites."
The sons of Mosiah and companions hoped to bring them to repentance.
Ammon was called to be leader of the band of missionaries. He received instructions from God. Before the brothers separated, Ammon gave his brothers and friends God’s instructions and blessed them and administered to them.
With great courage and faith, and fortified by God’s holy Power, the young men separated.
Because of enmity Lamanites felt toward Nephites, any Nephite who ventured into Lamanite territory was “fair game” to be killed, or imprisoned, or tortured, or enslaved, with the Lamanite king deciding individual case.
Ammon was brought before King Lamoni, who was descended from Ishmael. After learning that Ammon's motives were good, King Lamoni offered one of his daughters as a wife, but Ammon said that he had come to serve the king.
The servants, Ammon now one of them, took the king’s flocks to drink from the water of Sebus. This was a watering place for all Lamanites in that area; many groups of shepherds and cattlemen probably met there.
A motley collection of renegade Lamanites selected the water of Sebus as a probable place to rustle flocks and to cause trouble for others. Their tactic was to wait with their stolen flocks for a particularly rich flocks to show up to drink, and then to rush among the newcomer’s flocks and scatter them. They would round up many of the flocks for themselves. But their main purpose was to create mischief and cause grief to others, just as the devil’s main purpose is to make everyone miserable. They would willingly murder anyone who tried to stop them. It was a big gang of outlaws who were not afraid to attack the king’s servants.
Ammon was instructed in humility and meekness before the Lord to be patient in his missionary labors, but that did not mean he had to put up with plunder and intimidation. The king’s servants were frightened of the king’s reaction to the scattering of the flocks. They began to weep, afraid they would be killed by the king for the loss of the flocks.
Ammon was inspired to know that he was given this experience as a missionary tool; the Spirit of the Lord filled him with joy.
The outlaws certainly were not afraid to see only one man come after them. They were following their master Satan in wickedness and knew nothing of God. In fact, they thought it was wonderful to get the servants killed—which was the main reason they scattered the flocks. They had no idea that Ammon was a missionary of the true and living God, who had promised the missionary’s father that his sons would not be killed while on their missionary labors.
Slings were strong and powerful weapons of that day. An expert marksman could bring down his target from a distance as he propelled a deadly stone with the sling. The gang threw shots at Ammon with their slings, but could not hit him.
Ammon cast several stones at his attackers—and he hit those at whom he aimed. Although the outlaws were astonished at Ammon’s skill with the sling, they still did not recognize that it was the Power of God defeating them. Instead they were angry someone would have the effrontery to kill any of their murderous numbers. So then they assumed that they could overpower him and kill him with clubs.
The Lamanite outlaws made a disastrous decision to try to attack Ammon. He was under the protection of God and was working under the direction of the Holy Ghost. The scoundrels charged after him with clubs raised to kill him. Ammon simply lifted his sword and cut off the murderers’ raised arms.
Ammon killed six attackers with his sling and cut off six murderous arms, but the only one he killed with his sword was the gang’s leader.
Ammon called the servants to bring back the gathered flock and give them water. Then the servants gathered up the cut-off arms and took them back to the king.
CHAPTER 18
King Lamoni was tremendously impressed when his servants told him what happened to the outlaws who had already caused grief and mayhem and had plundered the king’s flocks.
The king thought Ammon must be the Great Spirit. Nephites had had the Holy Scriptures since leaving the Lamanites centuries before—but the Lamanites must have kept some memory of God or, as they called Him, the Great Spirit. Lamanite belief seems to have been abstract tradition rather than a guide for daily living or a belief that Earth life influenced consequences of Eternity. Lamanites of Ammon’s time were not afraid to murder and plunder.
The king had told the servants that after the flocks were watered to prepare the horses and chariots, because he was scheduled to go to a great feast to be given by his father, king over all the land as well as over all the other kings. King Lamoni was completely astounded that following such a harrowing experience, Ammon was so faithful that he remembered the original instructions.
The king wanted to see Ammon, but he was afraid in case he was the Great Spirit ready to exact retribution. Nevertheless, when Ammon finished the horses and chariots, he did go into the king. He saw that the king’s appearance was changed, but he did not understand that the king thought he was God. Not knowing what was in the king’s mind, Ammon turned to leave the room.
One of the king’s servants, referring to Ammon as “Rabbanah,” called to him, telling him the king wanted him to stay.
Ammon taught the king and the servants the true history of the world through the time Lehi and his colony came to the Promised Land.
But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the Plan of Redemption,
which was prepared from the foundation of the world;
and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ,
and he taught them all the works of the Lord.
CHAPTER 19
We have two parts to our souls—our bodies and our spirits. While we are in mortality, our bodies are subject to corruption and death. Our spirits do not die. When king Lamoni was in process of being converted by the teachings of Ammon, through the Power of the Holy Ghost, he fell into a state that looked very much like death. In fact, there was great controversy as to whether or not he was dead. His wife, the queen, did not think he was dead. However, others thought he was not only dead, but that his body was beginning to smell and that he should be buried. The queen, who was not convinced that her husband was dead, sent for Ammon.
Ammon knew in extreme cases, the Lord might take a person’s spirit during this conversion process, as the “dark veil of unbelief” is cast from the person’s mind so that he or she can see Eternal Light. With the spirit in another dimension, the body of the person would appear dead.
Ammon’s thoughts, in beautiful metaphoric language, express the contrast of the “darkness of unbelief” with the “Light of belief.”
This was what Ammon desired,
for he knew that king Lamoni was under the Power of God;
he [Ammon] knew that the dark veil of unbelief
was being cast away from his [king Lamoni’s] mind,
and the Light which did light up his mind,
which was the Light of the glory of God,
which was a marvelous Light of goodness—
yea, this Light had infused such joy into his soul,
the darkness having been dispelled,
and that the Light of Everlasting Life was lit up in his soul,
yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame,
and he was carried away in God.
The queen had pure faith. She had been raised a Lamanite, and was taught only to hate Nephites and to believe in an abstract Great Spirit. Yet she was of such purity of heart—the Holy Ghost immediately bore witness to her of the truth of Ammon’s words. The Holy Ghost also bore witness to Ammon of the powerful faith of this woman.
King Lamoni arose when Ammon called him with a wonderful understanding, and he realized the great faith of his queen. It seems that the first thing he wished to do was to share his experience with his wife. As he related his fabulous vision, both the king and queen were overcome by the Holy Spirit and they both sank down.
As the Holy Spirit overcame the bodies of this royal couple, they lay still. Bodies are tabernacles for spirits. The joy these people felt was so profound that their Earthly tabernacles could not easily contain their spirits and their spirits were taken beyond the veil. Their Earthly bodies were forced to rest to the point that they did not physically respond.
This occurrence was amazing to Ammon. The Lord had blessed his missionary efforts beyond his wildest dreams in the miraculous conversion of the Lamanites. As result of his own prayers and faith in Jesus Christ, filled with the Power of the Holy Ghost to this astounding extent.
Ammon sank to his knees expressing heartfelt gratitude to God, and then he also was so overcome by the Holy Spirit that his body lay still.
The servants of the king who had been with Ammon at the time he overcame the outlaws were already amazed. Now they had seen the king fall into a coma-like state for two days, then arise and testify of our Redeemer and then fall again into a seemingly lifeless state. They also saw the queen and the powerful Ammon, fall into the same comatose condition.
They and the other servants were terrified, and even though they had not been previously taught of God, they knew of Ammon’s Power and they remembered Ammon’s testimony; they believed in God’s great Power and they began to call out to Him. The Lord heard the servants’ prayers and answered them in the way they could never have expected. The Holy Spirit overcame them and they, with one exception (a Lamanite woman, Abish, who had been converted to the true Gospel years before), fell to the Earth.
Abish did not fall, as did the other servants, overcome by the Spirit of God. This was not because she was less humble or faithful; the Lord had a special task for her to do. Grabbing the occasion as a missionary effort, Abish spurred into action, running from “house to house,” calling to people to come see this marvelous thing.
People began to gather. But they did not understand the meaning of the many people lying on the Earth. They talked among themselves, and some decided evil had come to the household because they had a Nephite among them.
Others, while agreeing a great evil had come, thought it came because the king had killed his servants.
Among the gathering were members of the outlaw gang who had scattered the king’s flock and were subsequently foiled by Ammon’s intervention. The outlaws, still angry with Ammon, saw him lying—apparently helpless—on the ground.
An the outlaw lifted the sword with murderous intent; however, he fell over dead.
Wondering among themselves of the cause, some attributed it to the Great Spirit; others proclaimed Ammon a monster of torment. The people were in a state of confusion.
Arguing and dissention were certainly not what Abish had had in mind when she called the Lamanites to come and witness this miracle. She went immediately to her mistress, the queen, and took her hand. As soon as she had been touched, the queen arose and began crying out in a loud voice.
Although she was filled with obvious joy, the people could not understand much of what she said. Then she went to the prostrate king and took him by the hand. He also arose (verse 30).
When the king arose, he rebuked the arguing and contention; he began to teach them the words Ammon had taught. Those who heard him (spiritually) believed him. They who were converted unto the Lord were those whose hearts were open. The merely physical listeners “would [chose] not to hear.” They were not converted.
Ammon and the other servants arose and administered to the rest of the people. The servants declared their testimonies and proclaimed that their hearts had been changed. The visions these people lived through were interactive. They did not just watch something occur, they actually conversed with angels.
Many Lamanites were converted to the Gospel. The Church of God, with righteous people as members, was established in the land.
The work of the Lord continued among the Lamanites; the Lord pours out His spirit upon them. We see that His Arm is extended to all people
who will repent and believe on His name.
CHAPTER 20
After Ammon withstood the outlaws and saved the king’s flocks, he immediately went to prepare the horses and chariots for a journey the king was planning to take to attend a feast hosted by his father, the king of all the Lamanites. King Lamoni cancelled the planned journey—first, because of the spiritual awakening he had experienced, and then because of the effort involved in helping Ammon establish the Church in Ishmael, he postponed another visit.
King Lamoni wanted his father to meet the great Nephite prophet. King Lamoni’s father, who was the over-king of all the Lamanites, lived in the land of Nephi.
The over-king had much power—and he was used to having all of his commandments obeyed. He obviously had no doubt that Lamoni would do what he said—and kill Ammon.
The Lord, who can understand all of our intentions, knew that king Lamoni’s father was not at all ready to immediately accept the Gospel. Inspired by God, Ammon also knew the over-king would try to kill him. Furthermore, Ammon’s brother, Aaron, and two of his companions, Muloki and Ammah, were in prison. The Lord told Ammon to go rescue them.
King Lamoni, who knew the king of Middoni, wanted to help. There were certainly no high-tech communication devices to deliver Ammon the news of his brothers’ imprisonment. King Lamoni was curious as to how Ammon knew about it. Ammon told the king that God commanded him to go the rescue.
This seemed like a good plan, but on the way to Middoni, they met the over-king (whom the Lord said would try to kill Ammon if they went to his capital at Nephi!) Seeing his son, who had missed the feast and was now cavorting with a Nephite, sparked the over-king’s anger.
King Lamoni did not want to offend his father—but he did tell him the truth, including where he was and what he did during the time of the feast and since! Perhaps he thought his father would believe him and soften his heart. Lamoni was “astonished” that his father was still angry after he had explained himself.
King Lamoni’s “heart had been changed.” He only had room in his heart for the goodness and Light of the Lord. It was amazing to him that others would not willingly partake of the same joy in the Lord that he was experiencing.
Lamoni’s father was furious; he drew his sword, ready to kill his own son. However, Ammon stood between them
With Ammon standing right in front of him, the over-king had a new target. His anger then switched from his son to Ammon.
With this, Lamoni’s father lunged for Ammon, but Ammon, strong, and made stronger through the Power of God, protected himself from the over-king’s blows and hit the king’s arm so he could not use it. The king realized that now he was at the mercy of this Nephite and began to plead with Ammon to spare his life.
Ammon probably would not have killed the king, but he used his advantage as a bargaining chip to gain the release of Aaron and his companions from prison.
The old king began to rejoice because he knew he would live longer. He also was astonished because he saw that Ammon did not want to kill him and that Ammon loved the old king’s son, Lamoni.
The Holy Ghost touched the old king’s heart. Having gained respect for Ammon, the king wanted to learn more about the message that so impressed his son.
Ammon and Lamoni headed for Middoni, and there king Lamoni talked his fellow-king into releasing Ammon’s brothers from prison.
Naked and suffering from results of abuse, Aaron and his friends were united with Ammon. They had kept the faith and had been patient in their sufferings, but they had had a rough time.
After the brothers had separated, Aaron and his companions had fallen in with people who, unlike king Lamoni, were hard-hearted and stiff-necked. They beat the missionaries and drove them from “house to house and place to place” until finally they were thrown into prison.
Although Aaron and his friends had more difficult times than did Ammon, they weathered adversities, maintaining their faith. Imagine their relief—and their astonishment—to have Ammon, their brother, in concert with Lamanite kings, rescue them according to the will and the Power of the Lord.
CHAPTER 21
When the sons of Mosiah and the other missionaries split up at the beginning of their mission, Aaron and his companions came to a city, built by both Amalekites—a disaffected Nephite group, and the people of Amulon, descended from the wicked priests of Noah and the Lamanite women they had kidnapped, and other Lamanites. The city was called Jerusalem, after the capital city of the land Lehi’s family left centuries before.
The Lamanites were hard-hearted enough on their own, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites egged them on to greater wickedness than ever.
The sons of Mosiah did not go ignorantly into Lamanite territory. Aaron and his companions knew the type of people that they would be facing. They knew they were going into a hostile land full of suspicious and murderous inhabitants. Yet they went—in spite of an almost sure knowledge that they would be in personal danger. Because they had such strong desires in their hearts to bring souls back to the Savior, they disregarded their own safety to go courageously into the “lion’s den,” (figuratively) and preach the Gospel of Christ.
It was the custom to allow visiting preachers to use synagogues and other church buildings. Aaron boldly marched into a synagogue, built “after the order of Nehor,” and began preaching the true Gospel.
The Lamanites were hard-hearted enough on their own, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites egged them on to greater wickedness than ever.
The sons of Mosiah did not go ignorantly into Lamanite territory. Aaron and his companions knew the type of people that they would be facing. They knew they were going into a hostile land full of suspicious and murderous inhabitants. Yet they went—in spite of an almost sure knowledge that they would be in personal danger. Because they had such strong desires in their hearts to bring souls back to the Savior, they disregarded their own safety to go courageously into the “lion’s den,” (figuratively) and preach the Gospel of Christ.
It was the custom to allow visiting preachers to use synagogues and other church buildings. Aaron boldly marched into a synagogue, built “after the order of Nehor,” and began preaching the true Gospel.
To refute arguments of that Amalekite follower of Satan, Aaron brought out “powerful ammunition”—scriptures that testified of Christ with surety—Christ’s coming, His and our consequently our Resurrection, Christ’s suffering and death and His Atonement making our Redemption possible.
Although from scriptures, Aaron proved beyond any doubt the truthfulness of his message, people are not converted to spiritual things, except by the Holy Spirit. And these people refused to let the Holy Spirit into their hearts. They would not “hear,” or keep their hearts open, to accept the truth. Instead they filled the atmosphere with anger and mockery.
Realizing that this group of people would not “hear his words,” or would not allow the Holy Ghost to enter their hearts, Aaron and his companions then left the city of Jerusalem and went to Ani-Anti where his missionary friends were trying to teach the Gospel among many contentious mocking people.
Since the people of Ani-Anti would not listen to the message, the missionaries traveled to the land of Middoni. Mormon stated that most of the people did not believe their words, but a few did believe.
We are not told how many companions the sons of Mosiah had; in verse 13 Mormon said Aaron and “some of his brethren” were thrown into prison in Middoni while others escaped.
Although we can only imagine the joyous atmosphere that accompanied their deliverance, we know that the missionaries stayed strong in the faith of Jesus Christ.
Following promptings of the Holy Ghost, in spite of their recent incarceration and realizing that they would very likely again be cast into prison, they immediately went into every synagogue and assembly where they were allowed, and again began preaching.
God’s Holy Spirit touched the hearts of many good Lamanites, and they were converted to the true God.
Meanwhile, following the rescue of Aaron and his companions, king Lamoni and Ammon returned to the land of Ishmael and began building up the Church. King Lamoni would not let Ammon be his servant any longer. He insisted Ammon use his time in God’s work, with the king assisting him in any way possible.
King Lamoni’s change of heart went beyond things concerning the Church. It involved every aspect of his life. His father had granted him autonomy in his rule of Ishmael and the surrounding area, and so King Lamoni made the land under his rule a land of freedom.
Ammon, worthy leader and prophet, continued to strengthen the people in righteousness.
CHAPTER 22
After the rescue of Aaron and his brethren, the Spirit of the Lord directed that Ammon return to the land of Ismael with king Lamont to further establish the Church there, and that Aaron and his companions go to the old king in Nephi.
Aaron and his brethren had been through a brutal time—they were reviled, mocked, thrown into prison, and bound with rough cords—yet they followed the Spirit of the Lord and went right to the palace of one who could easily be an antagonistic enemy—the king who had power over all the Lamanites.
Before Aaron came, the king had been particularly troubled concerning God. Neither arguments nor logic can convert people to God. Only the Holy Ghost can convert.
Aaron, as he had done without success in the city of Jerusalem, brought out the scriptures to read. The difference was that the king was willing and anxious to be taught. The king listened with a heart open to receive the truth.
Aaron did not say the king would automatically receive Eternal Life by merely bowing down, but that he would receive hope for what he desired (hope for Eternal Life). The king accepted the words of Aaron and prostrated himself upon Earth. He prayed aloud.
After the king had humbly prayed, he was then prostrated—he was struck as if he were dead.
The queen of the old king acted quite differently from her daughter-in-law. She commanded her servants to kill Aaron and his brethren.
Fortunately, the servants were too frightened to obey the queen, so she told them to call in the people to kill them.
Aaron could see that things were getting out-of-hand, so he reached out to the king and told him to arise—and he did arise.
Although they were astonished and surely glad that their king was not hurt, these proceedings were so strange as well as marvelous that the people were frightened. But the king had undergone such a mighty change that he began to administer to them. The household was converted to the Lord, but the rest of the people, with misinformation that the king was either hurt or dead, had gathered, angry at the Nephites.
The king went out into the multitude and administered to them and they were pacified toward the Nephite After his subjects calmed down, the king had Aaron and his fellow missionaries teach the Gospel. The king sent a proclamation to all of his people.
Lamanite territory, which included their cities, was located south of Nephite territory, and the wilderness—where many Lamanites lived—divided the two and also surrounded the Nephites on the east and on the west sides. North of Nephite territory was a land called Desolation.
Close to Desolation, was beautiful Bountiful, which was filled with wild animals that had migrated from even farther north. The wilderness east and west of Nephite territory came close to these areas, which were bordered on the north to a “small neck of land.”
CHAPTER 23
After his time with Aaron and the other missionaries, the king of the all Lamanites sent a proclamation to his subjects throughout the territories that would protect the missionaries. The king prohibited any violence or disrepect toward the missionaries and granted them full access to places of worship and all of the land.
The king, completely overturned. King Lamoni, people throughout the land of Ishmael, and the over-king himself, were converted to the true God. The brother missionaries had freedom to preach to all the Lamanites without fear.
The missionary success was now phenomenal. Not only were many Lamanites converted to the truth, many of them were also consecrated as priest and teachers. These priests and teachers would preach in the newly established Churches, encouraging and sustaining new converts in the faith, and teaching more and more of their people. Thousands joined the Church of the true God, and began to learn and study the scriptures, many of which were, after all, ancient records of their own people.
The sons of Mosiah and their missionary companions taught and labored among the Lamanites for fourteen years. During that time, the quality of the converts to the Church was wonderful. Because of the absolute and sincere faith of these people, the Lord could work many miracles among them.
The missionaries had the Spirit of prophecy, meaning through the gift of the Holy Spirit and strong testimonies of Jesus Christ that they were able to do the will of the Lord constantly; and they had the Spirit of revelation—to teach the ordained leaders what they needed to do to keep and nurture their already strong overpowering testimonies, and how to minister to the converts. The Lamanite converts, in great humility, also had immensely powerful testimonies. Mormon wrote that no converted Lamanite ever fell away from the true Gospel.
The proclamation of the old king, as well as earlier parts of The Book of Mormon, reveals that lives of violent and hostile behavior was normal for the Lamanites, based on false traditions of their ancestors, including their falsely taught justification of hatred toward the Nephites. Now those that were converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, swore solemnly to never again use their weapons—against God’s people or against their believing or unbelieving fellow-Lamanites.
The new converts called themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to distinguish themselves those who were not converted.
Incorporating a new lifestyle change, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies began industrious living, becoming friendly with Nephites, even opening a correspondence (communicating and likely trading) with them, and the “curse of God” did no more follow them.
CHAPTER 24
Unbelieving Lamanites up to anger and hatred against the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and to rebel against the king.
As the unbelieving Lamanites began to prepare for war, the old king conferred the kingdom on a son, whom he called Anti-Nephi-Lehi, after the special designation of the people of the Church. Then the king died.
The missionaries and the two righteous Lamanite kings, Anti-Nephi-Lehi and Lamoni, met in the land of Ishmael to discuss the defense they could make against the rebels.
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies had repented with their whole hearts. Now they decided not to prepare for war, even to defend their homes or their lives. King Anti-Nephi-Lehi wholly promoted this position. He knew that life with God Eternally was the only lasting kind of life and that the decisions they made on Earth, particularly after they had been given witness of Jesus Christ, determined their Everlasting destinies.
Anti-Nephi-Lehi spoke to his people. He expressed his gratitude for God’s blessings; he also expressed thanks for the chance he and his people had been given to repent.
The king expressed thanks for knowing, (recognizing) that the way he and his people had been living was wicked. For centuries, ever since Laman and Lemuel “brainwashed” followers and descendants, the Lamanites had been taught that it was perfectly all right to murder Nephites.
Anti-Nephi-Lehi thanked God for the missionaries—and thanked Him for other Nephites, they had come to know with correspondence. Through interaction and getting to understand other Nephites, these converts were made further aware of centuries of false assumptions that they had believed regarding Nephites as a whole—and so they became more aware of their past sins (from verses 7-9).
Next the king thanked God for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ atoned and died for our sins; this assured that all mankind would be resurrected, but gaining Eternal Life has conditions; for this great Gift, we must repent and obey His commandments.
Jesus Christ was the only perfect spirit Son of God as well as the only perfect mortal; therefore, He was the only one worthy enough who could take away our sins—by taking them upon Himself and suffering punishment for them. Heavenly Father knew that His beloved Son, Jehovah, who is Jesus Christ, was the only One capable of performing such an inexplicably infinite Atonement. Because of His great love for us, God our Father accepted Christ’s infinitely selfless offer to execute this agonizing task. Our obligation in the Plan of Salvation is to repent of our sins and to forsake them.
Since never again committing the sins of which one repents and to not even having the desire to commit themis the “heart-changing” sealing part of the repentance process, Anti-Nephi-Lehi reminded his people of their responsibility, and that even though they might die, they would be better off in the long run of Eternity if they kept their promise faithfully; otherwise they might not be able to repent again. Notice the metaphor he used—that “the Son of God had washed their weapons,” meaning Christ had cleansed them from the horrible sins that they had committed with those weapons—cleansed them with His blood.”
He reminded his people that God was merciful in atoning for their sins and in revealing, through missionaries and visitations of angels, the great Plan of Salvation. He reminded them that they were children of God. God loved them and their descendants who would be born.
Anti-Nephi-Lehi wanted his people to demonstrate by token that they would never again use their destructive weapons. He asked them to bury the weapons as a sign to God that they would rather die than kill again, even in self-defense.
Willing to die rather than to use their weapons against anyone—enemy or not—the Anti-Nephi-Lehies buried them deep in Earth, covenanting with God never to use them.
Satan did not encourage his followers, apostate Amalekites and Amulonites, to bury weapons. These unrepentant instigators followed their evil master’s desire and continually stirred up a susceptible part of the Lamanite population to treason and rebellion as they prepared for war against God.
We can only imagine the horror, as well as the courage, of these righteous Anti-Nephi-Lehies seeing a deadly army, fellow-Lamanites—march against them, led and encouraged by murderous Amalekites and Amulonites. But they prostrated themselves on the Earth, and called on the name of the Lord as the Lamanites began to kill them.
One thousand five of them died. These faithful Anti-Nephi-Lehies had hearkened to missionary-prophets; they had seen angels; they had truly been converted to God. And they finally sealed their testimonies with their blood.
Many Lamanites who were attacking the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were completely shocked when they realized that they were killing fellow-countrymen who would not fight back but just put up their arms and accepted sword thrusts without resistance. Their “hearts were swollen” as they watched their brethren still praise their God as they died.
The metaphor “swollen hearts” is used to express feelings that came over the Lamanites. In this instance, it was the great Power of the Holy Ghost upon them; they immediately felt “Godly sorrow,” repented, were instantly converted, and lay down themselves to take the next sword thrust. More than 1,000 Lamanites were brought to a knowledge of the truth during this battle.
More Lamanites were converted to the truth than were killed that day, so although there was sorrow for the slain martyrs, there was also joy—because those who were killed were saved in God’s Kingdom, and more than a thousand new converts were to find joy in Salvation.
The Amalekites and Amulonites had encouraged descendants of Laman and Lemuel into starting the civil war. Many of these initiators were Satan’s followers, “after the order of the Nehors.” They did most of the killing and none of them were converted—the converts were only blood descendants of Laman and Lemuel.
Once a people have been enlightened by God’s Holy Spirit and a sure knowledge of the truth, then reject Him and His Power, are in worse condition than those who have never known the truth.
