Alma 21:9-15

9 Now Aaron 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.

10 And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake.

11 Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani-Anti, and there he found Muloki preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren.  And they contended with many about the word.

12 And it came to pass that they saw that the people would harden their hearts, therefore they departed and came over into the land of Middoni.  And they did preach the word unto many, and few believed on the words which they taught.

13 Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about.

14 And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed.

Alma 21:9-15

After being challenged by an Amalekite, Aaron turned to the scriptures to teaching them about Christ’s coming and resurrection.[1] He taught them there could be no salvation save it be through Christ’s atonement.[2]  “The ultimate source of power by which redemption is made possible is the atonement of the Savior (Mosiah 3:17, 16:6, Alma 21:9, etc.). The active force by which this redemptive power is ministered in the lives of men, however, is the Holy Ghost.”^[3]

The people began to mock him and refused to listen to his words.  These are the people Lehi saw in his vision of the Tree of Life.  “And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit” (1 Nephi 8:27).

On the Day of Pentecost, as some spoke different languages, the non-believers mocked them.  “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13). In Athens, Paul was mocked.  “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked” (Acts 17:32).  Early missionaries were also mocked. Paul tells us, “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment” (Hebrews 11:36).

The words of Solomon sum up these people.  “Fools make a mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9).

Seeing they refused to accept his teachings, Aaron left and traveled to Ani-Anti where he found two of his group, Ammah and Muloki, preaching the word.  They ended up contending with the people about the word of God.

[W]hen the sons of Mosiah traveled to the land of Nephi, they were likewise considered strangers and suffered imprisonment and judicial mistreatment (see Alma 21:13), showing the vulnerability of foreigners in places where people were highly suspicious of outsiders.[4]

They had no success in Ani-Anti and went to the land of Middoni.  There, they had a few who accepted their word, but most rejected them.[5]  Aaron and a few of his group were thrown into prison.  The remainder of the group fled out of Middoni.  It was at this point Ammon received the word of the Lord to rescue his brethren.[6] After suffering greatly, Ammon and Lamoni successful received their release.  They were clothed and fed.

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[1] “For many of [the Lamanites], after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness” (Alma 25:6) and “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” (Alma 22:14).

[2] “And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free.  There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives” (Mosiah 5:8) and “And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.  Behold, he is the life and the light of the world.  Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness” (Alma 38:9).

[3] Cry Redemption: The Plan of Redemption as Taught in the Book of Mormon, Corbin T. Volluz, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 7, 2015.

[4] The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon – The Ideal of Righteous Judgment, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 7, 2015.

[5] “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

[6] “And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison” (Alma 20:2).