15 And they went forth
again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out
of prison; and thus they had suffered.
16 And they went forth
whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of
God in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites
where they could be admitted.
17 And it came to pass
that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the
knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the
traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
18 And it came to pass
that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael,
which was the land of their inheritance.
19 And king Lamoni
would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant.
20 But he caused that
there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his
people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves
together.
21 And he did rejoice
over them, and he did teach them many things. And he did also declare unto them
that they were a people who were under him, and that they were a free people,
that they were free from the oppressions of the king, his father; for that his
father had granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the
land of Ishmael, and in all the land round about.
22 And he also
declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord
their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it
were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni.
23 And Ammon did
preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach
them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did
exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and
they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God. (Alma 21:15-23)
Aaron and his brethren were released from prison. They
continued preaching to the people. They were guided by the Spirit during the
mission. They preached in the Amalekites synagogue. They preached anywhere
where they were allowed to preach.
They experienced success in their missionary efforts. Where
they had been rejected by Lamanite, Amalekite, and Amulonite congregations,
they began to find success in their missionary efforts. They convinced them to
repent of their sins. They also convinced them the traditions of their fathers
were not correct.
Having freed Aaron and his brethren, Lamoni and Ammon
returned to the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael.
Once they returned, Lamoni rejected Ammon’s offer to serve
him or be his servant.[1]
He built synagogues throughout the land. He then had his people assemble
therein.
Lamoni taught his people many things. He told them they were
now free from oppressions from his father, the king of the land. He was given
sole power to rule the people in his land.
He gave them the liberty to worship the Lord however and
wherever they desired through his land.
Joseph Smith emphasized the importance of the freedom to practice
religion. “We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are
amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their
religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of
others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in
prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms
for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain
crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress
the freedom of the soul” (D&C 134:4).
Ammon preached to the people in King Lamoni’s kingdom. he
taught gospel principles and to keep God’s commandments.
The people accepted his words and were zealous in keeping
God’s commandments.
“Teaching our members and families about the things
pertaining to righteousness is essential in the process of achieving an
enduring conversion since it can lead them to obtain a correct knowledge of the
Lord’s commandments, the principles and doctrines of the gospel, and the
requirements and ordinances with which we must comply in order to achieve
salvation in the Lord’s kingdom.
“There are many examples in the scriptures that confirm the
importance of teaching the ‘things pertaining to righteousness’ to help obtain
an enduring conversion. In the account that is given of Ammon and his brethren
preaching the gospel among the Lamanites, we read: ‘And Ammon did preach unto
the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all
things concerning things pertaining to righteousness’ (Alma 21:23).”[2]
[1] “But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy
servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni. And it came to pass
that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according
to the custom of the Lamanites” (Alma 17:25).
[2] Things
Pertaining to Righteousness, Elder Francisco J. ViƱas, April 2010 General
Conference.
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