Sunday, October 7, 2018

Alma 21:15-23


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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