Sunday, May 31, 2015

Alma 19:24-36

Elder L. Tom Perry, member of the Quorum of the Twelve, died yesterday.  A little over a month ago, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  He continued to perform his duties.  Four days earlier, he was too weak to perform his duties.  On Friday, it was announced he had terminal cancer.  It had spread throughout the body.  The next day, he died.

I always enjoyed Elder Perry’s talks. It was almost like listening to a grandfather give me advice on how to live my life.  I developed a great respect and admiration for him.

When the Brigham City Temple was dedicated, we attended the second session.  During the first session, former Brigham City resident, Elder Boyd K. Packer, gave the initial dedicatory prayer.  In our session, Elder Perry gave the dedicatory prayer.  I was please he gave the prayer during our session.  His giving the prayer made the dedication of our temple that much more special for me. 

He will be missed.
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24 And it came to pass that when the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead, who lifted the sword to slay Ammon, fear came upon them all, and they durst not put forth their hands to touch him or any of those who had fallen; and they began to marvel again among themselves what could be the cause of this great power, or what all these things could mean.
25 And it came to pass that there were many among them who said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was sent by the Great Spirit;
26 But others rebuked them all, saying that he was a monster, who had been sent from the Nephites to torment them.
27 And there were some who said that Ammon was sent by the Great Spirit to afflict them because of their iniquities; and that it was the Great Spirit that had always attended the Nephites, who had ever delivered them out of their hands; and they said that it was this Great Spirit who had destroyed so many of their brethren, the Lamanites.
28 And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them.  And while they were thus contending, the woman servant who had caused the multitude to be gathered together came, and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears.
29 And it came to pass that 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, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell!  O blessed God, have mercy on this people!
30 And when she had said this, she clasped her hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not understood; and when she had done this, she took the king, Lamoni, by the hand, and behold he arose and stood upon his feet.
31 And he, immediately, seeing the contention among his people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.
32 But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way.
33 And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.
34 And behold, many did declare unto the people that they had seen angels and had conversed with them; and thus they had told them things of God, and of his righteousness.
35 And it came to pass that there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them.
36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to ball people who will repent and believe on his name.
Alma 19:24-36

The brother of the leader of that gang, who was killed by Ammon, was struck dead when he tried to kill Ammon.[1]  They crowd had no idea what was going on.  Some were fearful, others were surprised.  They began to wonder by what power this could have occurred. “The action that most miraculously shows forth the power of God is the death of the man who tries to kill the unconscious Ammon—an event that causes great contention among the people as to the ‘cause of this great power’ (Alma 19:24)” (emphasis in original).[2]

Some said Ammon was the Great Spirit.  Others said he was sent by the Great Spirit.  Others claimed he was a monster “sent from the Nephites to torment them” (Alma 19:26). Others claimed Ammon was sent to punish them because of their sins because the Great Spirit had always delivered the Nephites. 

Abish looked upon the contention and began to mourn.  She had hoped this would be a glorious, spiritual experience; it had turned into chaos.  Because of the contention, Abish took the queen by the hand, hoping to help her stand.  No sooner had she touched the queen’s hand, she stood and began to testify to the crowd.  She proclaimed Jesus had saved her from an awful hell[3] and asked the Lord to have mercy on her people.

She then took Lamoni by the hand and he stood on his feet.  Seeing the contention among the people, he went among them, rebuking them and teaching him Ammon’s words.[4]  Many heard his words and believed.  Many, however, rejected his words and left.[5]

After all this occurred, Ammon stood and began to administer to the people.  The servants of Lamoni assisted Ammon in his efforts.  A change had come over the people.  They no longer had desire to sin.  After his great sermon, King Benjamin’s people had the same desire.  “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).

They declared to the people they had seen and conversed with angels who taught them the things of God.

Many were baptized and became a righteous people.  A church was organized among Lamoni’s people.  Here began the work among the Lamanites.  Mormon tells us “and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name” (Alma 19:36).


[1] Enoch had received a similar promise from the Lord.  “And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him. And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent–keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us. And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God” (Moses 6:37-39).
[3] “And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end” (1 Nephi 14:3).
[4] “Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem. And he also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth.  And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time. 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 all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them” (Alma 18:36-39).
[5] The Savior experienced rejection. “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you.  Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.  These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him” (John 12:35-37).

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