Lesson 84 Alma 21–22

Ammon had success in teaching King Lamoni and his people, Aaron and his companions encountered tremendous adversity in a different part of the land.

Divide into four groups. Assign each group one of the passages written on the board. Prepare to give a brief summary of their assigned passages and to describe any hardships Aaron and his companions endured.

Alma 21:5–8

Alma 21:9–11

Alma 21:12–13

Alma 20:29–30.

According to Alma 20:29, how did Aaron and his brethren endure their trials?

If we patiently persist through trials, …

Alma 21:16–17.

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.

In what ways did the Lord bless Aaron and his brethren after they were freed from prison?

If we patiently persist through trials, the Lord will bless us with His Spirit and help us do His work.

What challenges might you face as you try to accomplish these things?

Why is it important that we patiently persist in these areas of the Lord’s work even when it may be difficult to do so?

After helping secure the release of Aaron and his brethren from prison, Ammon and Lamoni returned to the land of Ishmael, where they continued to preach the gospel. Lamoni granted religious liberty to his people.

“Eternal life, or exaltation, is to inherit a place in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, where we will live in God’s presence and continue as families (see D&C 131:1–4). … This gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 52).

Alma 22:1.

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.

Where did the Spirit lead Aaron?

What do you remember about Lamoni’s father from the previous lesson?

Alma 22:5–6.

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?

Divide small groups. Invite the groups to read Alma 22:7–14 together and make a list of doctrines that Aaron taught to Lamoni’s father.

How do these doctrines answer the king’s question in Alma 22:6?

Alma 22:15.

15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

What did the king say he was willing to give up in order to receive these blessings?

Alma 22:16.

16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

What did Aaron say that the king needed to do?

What principle can we learn from verse 16 about what we must do to be born of God, receive His Spirit, be filled with joy, and inherit eternal life?

Alma 22:17–18.

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.

How did the king demonstrate his desire to receive eternal life?

What do you think it means to “give away” our sins?

Why do you think it is necessary to repent of all of our sins, not only some of them?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

“The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. ‘Repent’ is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Repentance and Change,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 37).

After the king was overcome by the Spirit, his servants ran and told the queen all that had happened. She was angry and commanded the servants to kill Aaron and his brethren. Afraid of the power of the Nephite missionaries, the servants refused. The queen was also afraid but was determined to have the Nephites killed. She commanded the servants to go and bring the people to kill Aaron and his companions.

Alma 22:22–26.

24 Now there was a multitude gathered together because of the commandment of the queen, and there began to be great murmurings among them because of Aaron and his brethren.

22 Now when Aaron saw the determination of the queen, he, also knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, feared lest that a multitude should assemble themselves together, and there should be a great contention and a disturbance among them; therefore he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth, and said unto him: Stand. And he stood upon his feet, receiving his strength.

25 But the king stood forth among them and administered unto them. And they were pacified towards Aaron and those who were with him.

23 Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord.

26 And it came to pass that when the king saw that the people were pacified, he caused that Aaron and his brethren should stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should preach the word unto them.

What did Aaron and the king do to help the queen and the other Lamanites?

Mormon, the Nephite prophet who abridged and compiled the Book of Mormon, described the geography of the land where the Nephites and Lamanites lived.