28 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison.
29 And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold 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.
30 And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon.
Alma 20:28-30 (Emphasis mine)
Lamoni and Ammon left to win the release of Ammon’s brethren from prison. Interestingly, even though Lamoni’s father had agreed to their release, Lamoni still had to convince the king of the land to release them. Lamoni was able to use his friendship to gain their freedom.
When the prisoners were freed, it was obvious they had been abused in prison. They had been kept naked; they were provided little food and water. They had suffered “all kinds of affliction.” (verse 29). They were in bad shape.
Yet, they had endured this abuse. They were patient, knowing they would be freed. These were men of great faith.
Writing about this, Hugh Nibley said, “If [the king] and Lamoni hadn't got along they never would have got out; [Lamoni] had influence. But they were really in a terrible condition when they came out because they had had a rough time.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
The people Aaron and his brethren taught were just the opposite of Lamoni and his people. Those people rejected their teachings. Not only did the reject their teachings, they physically persecuted them as they attempted to spread the gospel.
The challenge of a stiffnecked people has been an issue throughout the scriptures.
6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
2 Chronicles 30:6-8 (Emphasis mine)
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
Psalms 75:4-5 (Emphasis mine)
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
Ezekiel 2:3-5 (Emphasis mine)
51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Acts 7:51-53 (Emphasis mine)
Our story now shifts to the experiences of Aaron and his brethren.
An account of the preaching of Aaron, and Muloki, and their brethren, to the Lamanites.
Comprising chapters 21 to 26 inclusive.
Chapter 21
Aaron teaches the Amalekites about Christ and his atonement—Aaron and his brethren are imprisoned in Middoni—After their deliverance they teach in the synagogues and make many converts—Lamoni grants religious freedom to the people in the land of Ishmael. About 90–77 B.C.
1 NOW when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.
2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.
3 Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations.
Alma 21:1-3 (Emphasis mine)
Aaron and company went to the land of Jerusalem. There, along with the Lamanites were the Amalekites and the people of Amulon.
Who are the Amalekites? They are not mentioned as a people until verse 2.
“Another group of Nephite dissenters, the Amalekites, lived in the land of Nephi (Alma 21:2—3; 43:13). Their origin is never explained. However, based on the names and dates, it is possible that they constituted the Amlicite remnant previously mentioned … Many of them, like the Amlicites, belonged to the religious order of Nehor and built sanctuaries or synagogues where they worshipped (Alma 21:4, 6).” [2] (Emphasis mine)
We’ll take a quick look at the Amlicites.
“One of the earliest groups of Nephite dissenters was the Amlicites. Ambitious Amlici, a disciple of Nehor, likely claiming noble birth (Alma 51:8), gathered a large body of followers and challenged the innovative Nephite system of rule by judges instituted by Mosiah2; Amlici wished to be king. When his aim was defeated by "the voice of the people," he plotted an attack coordinated with the Lamanites that nearly succeeded in capturing Zarahemla, the Nephite capital. Loyal forces under Alma(2) finally succeeded in destroying or scattering the enemy (Alma 2:1—31). Amlici was slain, but the fate of his forces is unclear. Likely, elements of them went with the defeated Lamanite army to the land of Nephi. The name Amlicite is not used thereafter.” [3] (Emphasis mine)
The people of Amulon are descendents of Amulon, an evil priest of King Noah.
[1] Lecture 52: Alma 19-22, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 14, 2011.
[2] Peoples of the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 14, 2011.
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