Alma 22:1-14

We now return to Aaron’s ministry.

Chapter 22

Aaron teaches Lamoni's father about the creation, the fall of Adam, and the plan of redemption through Christ—The king and all his household are converted—How the land was divided between the Nephites and the Lamanites. About 90–77 B.C.

1  NOW, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the account of Aaron and his brethren; for after he departed from the land of Middoni he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land save it were the land of Ishmael; and he was the father of Lamoni.

2  And it came to pass that he went in unto him into the king's palace, with his brethren, and bowed himself before the king, and said unto him: Behold, O king, we are the brethren of Ammon, whom thou hast delivered out of prison.

3  And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants.  And the king said unto them: Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni with thee.

Alma 22:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

After Aaron and his group left Middoni, he went to the land of Nephi.  There he went before Lamoni’s father.  He made the same offer Ammon made – “We will be your servants.”

This time, the situation was different.  When Ammon went before Lamoni, he was unknown.  His offer was unexpected.  This was the best way for him to prove himself worthy of Lamoni’s trust.

Lamoni’s father – I want to pause for a moment.  We know Lamoni.  We will get to know Lamoni’s father.  Except for one thing.  We never learn his name.  I don’t know if Alma(2) didn’t record it or Mormon felt knowing his name was not that important.  Here we have a major character that is essential to the preaching and the gospel, and we just know him as Lamoni’s father.

Lamoni’s father was aware of what they were doing.  After trying to unsuccessful have Lamoni kill Ammon, and then his failed attempt to kill him, he became aware of the power of God.  He knew there was something different about Ammon, because his son was so loyal to him and Ammon was so loyal to his son.  He left with many questions.

This why it’s not surprising the king rejected Aaron’s offer to be his servant.  He knew Aaron had something he wanted to learn.  That’s what mattered to the King. 

He must have expected to Ammon because one of his first questions was where Ammon is.  Aaron explains.

4  And Aaron said unto the king: Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni.

5  Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord?  Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me.

6  And also, what is this that Ammon said—If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day?

Alma 22:4-6 (Emphasis mine)

Ammon was teaching the people of Lamoni.  That’s why he wasn’t there.  This answer satisfied the king because he begins his questions.

These questions are very similar to the questions Lamoni had for Ammon.  “What is this Spirit of the Lord?  What is this repent or be cast off?”  Two very important questions.

Hugh Nibley explains:

“Then he asked Aaron questions about the Spirit of the Lord, is there a God, etc. Remember, they are trying to establish a bridge with the Lamanites, who for hundreds of years had been going their own way and had their own version of the gospel. They had kept the Great Spirit, and they still have. They still believe all these things. It's a complex picture we have here. “ ^[i] (Emphasis mine)

7  And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?  And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him.  And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe.

8  And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God.

9  And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem?

10  And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth.  Believest thou this?

11  And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.

                         Alma 22:7-11 (Emphasis mine)

First we have to establish what we mean.  I quoted Hugh Nibley in an earlier post about the terms being used.[ii]  If I were asked by a Native American if I believe in the Great Spirit, my answer would be yes.  Even though we are using different terms, we are talking about the same Person.  We believe in the same Person.  We just call Him by different names.

When the king mentions the Amalekites believe in God and he allowed them to build their places of worship.  Then we see another powerful and great example of faith.  The king tells Aaron that “if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe.” (verse 7).  Later, he tells Aaron that he wants him to teach him about “all these things, and I will believe thy words.” (verse 11).  He is ready to believe Aaron’s words.  He is satisfied he will hear the truth from Aaron and he know places his faith in Aaron’s words.  Here we see the beginnings of a testimony.

12  And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen.

13  And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.

14  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 22:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

We see a Aaron following a similar approach to teaching the King as did Ammon.  He explained that through Adam, men fell.  We entered a carnal state. 

A plan was prepared that, through Christ, we would all obtain forgiveness of our sins through faith and repentance.  There is no way we can do this ourselves (see verse 14).  We can only obtain this through the atonement of Christ.

Noel Reynolds writes about the importance of these teachings.

“Teaching the Lamanites, Aaron began at the creation of Adam, using the scriptures to explain how man had fallen by disobeying the commandments of God and how God had prepared a plan of redemption through Christ: ‘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’ (Alma 22:14; cf. 22:12—13). As presented by the Nephite prophets, this ‘plan of salvation’ or ‘great plan of happiness’ provides the context for understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and the reasons why men and women should believe and trust in him. Not only is he their creator, he is their redeemer, having provided a way by which they can be delivered from their sins.” [iii] (Emphasis mine)

 

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[i] Lecture 52: Alma 19-22, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 18, 2011.

[ii] See Lecture 52: Alma 19-22, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 18, 2011.

[iii] The True Points of My Doctrine, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 18, 2011.

Mosiah 16:1-8

Chapter 16

God redeems men from their lost and fallen state—Those who are carnal remain as though there was no redemption—Christ brings to pass a resurrection to endless life or to endless damnation. About 148 B.C.

1  AND now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.
2  And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
3  For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.

Mosiah 16:1-3 (Emphasis mine))

At the time of salvation, everyone will confess before God that the judgments that they receive are just.  They will know they have been cast out because they have not listened to and followed the commandments of the Lord; through their choices, they have subjected themselves to devil.

Hugh Nibley wrote:

"The next chapter begins by repeating the theme of universality 'when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.' Well, that will be Zion indeed when it's universal. "\'And then shall the wicked be cast out.' It will be a purged society then, and they will be of one heart and one mind. Those who would not participate will be simply wild at being left out, but what could they expect 'because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord.' He wanted to redeem them, but it all depended on their agency.

"Even becoming carnal, sensual, and devilish, you are not completely sunk in evil ... It was just a bluff, "knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil." You do that freely ...Well, this is the normal declination of human nature, and it would have been final. After all, if you are carnal, sensual, and devilish, where are you going? You are not going to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. What can you do then?" (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

11  God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12  Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Psalms 62:11-12 (Emphasis mine)

10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

Proverbs 28:10 (Emphasis mine)

6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no bend, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (Emphasis mine)

5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1 Peter 4:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (Emphasis mine)

4  Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
5  But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him.  Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

Mosiah 16:4-5 (Emphasis mine)

Through the Fall, we were all lost.  Had it not been for the atonement, would would have remained lost.  

There are those that choose not to accept the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  These people remain in their fallen state; they are in the power of the devil.

Once again, the words of Hugh Nibley.

"Man has long been in a condition where he makes his own selection—natural selection "ceased" a long time ago with the human family. We do our own selection now, and it's a deliberate selection. How long has that been the case? Verse 4 says that mankind would have been lost, but God redeemed his people. 'But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature [that's your vicious circle; he makes himself worse; it's an obsession, like the paranoid, etc., he is not going to get out of it], and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remainethHe has declared himself for the other side ... When redemption is made, how could he possibly be lost? Well, it happens. It's a fact." (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23 (Emphasis mine)

5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8 (Emphasis mine)

6  And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
7  And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
8  But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

Mosiah 16:6-8 (Emphasis mine)

It all comes down to Christ.  Without Him, there is no redemption.  Without Him, the grave keeps its victory and there is no resurrection.  Abinadi paints a very bleak picture and future for us without Christ.

But Christ came to Earth; He died and was resurrected; the grave no longer has victory and death is swallowed up in Christ.  

So, it all comes down to Him.  Without Him, we're nothing.  Because of His sacrifice, we can have eternal life in our Father's presence.

Hugh Nibley continues.

"Notice that the time is relative here. He hadn't come yet, but ... the plan was working and had been going on all along. Those who follow the prophets are qualified for it, just as those who would be here in the time of Christ. Christ had to come personally here to make it possible—to loose the bands of death. Now that is the bottom line, again. 'And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.' "  (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Hosea 13:14 (Emphasis mine)

8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 25:8 (Emphasis mine)

53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?
56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:53-56 (Emphasis mine)

Alma 42:12-14

12  And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;

Alma 42:12

Alma(2) reviewed the Fall and the consequences that followed earlier.  Now, he makes it clear that there is no way that we can be reclaimed from the fall.  This is because "had brought [this] upon himself because of his own disobedience."  God did not force the Fall.  Adam and Eve were given choices, and they chose disobedience.  Their actions and their actions alone were responsible for the fall.

Paul wrote that "by [Adam] came death ... [for] as in Adam all die..."  (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22 - emphasis mine).  (Yes, I know that there is more to those scriptures, but this is not the place I want to discuss the other parts of the two verses.)

Solomon described some consequences of man's disobedience.

12  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
13  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Proverbs 5:12 - 13 (emphasis mine)

Those who choose to be disobedient ignore the voice and instruction of the Lord and His teachers.  The word of the Lord no longer has a place in their lives.

Isaiah mentioned a result of this disobedience.

5  The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 24:5 (emphasis mine)

Stephen bluntly told the Jews the consequences of their disobedience. 

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)

These few examples point out how disobedient man had become.  Man defiled the law.  He did not listen to the voice of his teachers.  He persecuted and killed the prophets.  After receiving the law, he did not keep it.

Man's fallen condition brought much pain and suffering upon all.  And, after the Fall, there was no way to reclaim man.  Why?

Alma(2) continues...

13  Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.  Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:12-13

Alma(2) tells us that, because of the Fall, the demands of justice could not be destroyed.  There was no way that mercy could take effect.  

Alma(2) then makes a statement that has been misconstrued by the critics of the Book of Mormon.   "Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God."  Our critics claim we believe that "God [could] cease to be God."  They claim this shows how far away from their definition of "true" Christianity we are.  And,  they would be correct, save they take this statement out of context.  What is the correct context?

Remember the circumstances giving rise to this epistle.  Corianton has committed serious sin and harmed the work of the Lord.  There is evidence that he is remorseful and wants to obtain forgiveness, but is concerned about the words of the Lord.  Is there mercy?  Must justice always prevail? 

Alma(2) explains to his son that God pronounces his law.  If he were to ignore (if you will) his own law and the demands of justice, He would cease to be God.  Note, Alma(2) is saying that only if God ignores His words, would he cease to be God.  Alma(2) goes on to state that...

14  And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

 Alma 42:14 (emphasis mine)

So we see that, because of the fallen state of man, we were "in the grasp if justice; yea, the justice of God..."  And, Alma(2) writes that because of these demands, man would be cut off from the presence of God forever.  He makes very clear that the demands of justice will be met.  God will make no exception.   So, taking the entire context of Alma(2)'s words, it is clear that God will not violate His own commands, and the He will not cease to be God.  This is another example of having an opinion about the Book of Mormon even though you have not bothered to read it.