Missionary letters and emails
When I was a young missionary over 50 years ago, I faithfully wrote a letter to my parents every week for the two years I served in southern England. They saved those letters as a record of my mission. I wish I had them all today. My parents also wrote me just as faithfully each week. The turn-around time from when I wrote to them until they got my letter, responded and I got their returning letter was 2-3 weeks. The only times we were in “real time” with each other were twice each year, on Christmas Day and on Mother’s Day, when I would go to a red phone box on the corner and call home for a few minutes.
How things have changed! Now young missionaries send weekly emails and often speak with their parents on their Preparation Day and other special days and are often in “real time” with their parents and family. It’s better the way it is now. Missions are tough enough as it is! It’s wonderful that parents and sometimes other loved ones can provide support for missionaries as they experience the highs and lows of missionary work. Hopefully, it is helping more of our young people stay in the mission field regardless of challenges they may experience and successfully complete their missions.
Regardless of how they come – by “snail mail” or by email – we love to receive missionaries’ letters and read of their amazing experiences in sharing the gospel. Emails are now circulated widely to family and friends and may be posted to a blog (like this one) for many to read. People young and old are inspired by missionary letters. I know that I am! I love reading the email letters from our granddaughter, Lizzie, who served initially in Brazil and is now in Missouri. I rejoice in the missionary experiences of Sister Emily Kidd from North Wales, a member of the Church for only two years this month, who is now teaching the gospel in Greece. And there are others we follow, as well, as I suspect you do. If missionary work is the lifeblood of the Church (and in many ways it is!), then missionary letters are small transfusions of that lifeblood to those of us who read them and share in the joy and the sorrows, the challenges, the tender mercies and the miracles that attend each missionaries’ labors.
Well, this week’s Book of Mormon reading in Come, Follow Me is like reading the missionary letters or emails from some of the most remarkable missionaries in the history of the world – the sons of Mosiah. How inspiring and how instructive they are! We also get to read of some of the most powerful conversion stories any missionary has ever had – the conversions of Lamoni, his wife and household and then of Lamoni’s father, his wife and household. What a treasure these “missionary letters” are for us! We are so grateful that Mormon was inspired to include them in the sacred book that bears his name!
Alma Chapter 17[1]
Reunion of Alma with the sons of Mosiah
It’s the end of the 14th year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi (BC 77) – 14 years since the sons of Mosiah left on their missions and 5 years since Alma gave the position of chief judge to Nephihah and began preaching throughout the land of Zarahemla. As Alma (and, presumably, Amulek, who is his devoted missionary companion) was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti to his astonishment, … he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla. They are leading the people of Anti-Nephi Lehi (the people of Ammon) northward out of the Land of Nephi to escape the unconverted, vengeful Lamanites. More about that next week.
This was an unexpected but joyful meeting. Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord. Sounds like Alma hadn’t had any emails or letters from Ammon and his brethren. That’s not surprising since the sons of Mosiah had been laboring among a people who are the traditional enemies of the Nephites. There probably wasn’t very good mail service between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
The best part was that his friends had been on the covenant path and were still his brethren. It’s always a treat to meet old friends.[2] For those who have served missions, meeting a former missionary companion or associate is always special. But it’s even better when you learn that they have stayed faithful in the gospel. Unfortunately, not all returned missionaries continue on the path of the gospel they once taught. It’s hard to understand, but it does happen.
How were the sons of Mosiah able to stay on the gospel path? Because they they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation. Just as Alma had had to fast and pray many days (5:46) for his knowledge of the truth, the sons of Mosiah, though they were with him when the angel appeared, also had to pay the price for their testimonies of the gospel. We all do! And because they did pay the price, they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding. The formula works for all of those who will pay the price. There is no shortcut – no other way!
Lori and I have noticed that, when we meet people whom we may not have seen for as long as twenty or thirty years or more, if they have stayed on the covenant path (i.e. remained active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) as we have endeavored to do, we very quickly close the gap in time since seeing them and have virtually instant rapport. It’s almost like there is nothing lost because we still have the same values and our life experiences parallel each other’s. It’s easy to pick up right where we left off and nothing is lost. We had that experience just this week. A missionary companion from my first mission to England and his wife have been in town this week. We had them to dinner one evening on our patio (social distancing). We haven’t seen them for over 50 years, but we had a delightful visit. We had so much in common to talk about sharing stories from our lives, including our missions as couples to England (and, for us, to Wales) after retirement, as our lives have been on parallel gospel paths. On the other hand, for those whose lives have followed a different path, it’s often awkward to find things in common to share and it feels like we have grown quite distant. Alma and the sons of Mosiah have instant rapport with each other because they have been on the same gospel path, though physically separated for fourteen years.
Two flashbacks
Beginning with verse six in this chapter, we will have two flashbacks in the next 11 chapters of the book of Alma. The first of these jumps backward from 77 BC to 91 BC when the sons of Mosiah and their associates begins their missionary labors. The second begins in Alma 21. After relating the experiences of Ammon in the Land of Ishmael, the record jumps back to 91 BC again and relates the experiences of Aaron and his brethren.[3]
Before saying more, I need to give you the link to the Book of Mormon video for chapters 17-19. It is powerful! You’ve got to love Ammon and Lamoni and his queen! This is a must see for your Come, Follow Me experience this week. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/alma-17-19/2020-03-0600-ammon-serves-and-teaches-king-lamoni-alma-17-19-1080p
An unusual missionary farewell
Technically we don’t have missionary “farewells” these days as we did years ago. But missionaries still need to say goodbye to those they love, be set apart for the work and depart. Sometimes it can be pretty painful, both for the missionary and for his or her family. I remember taking our first missionary (our second daughter, Melissa) to the Provo MTC to begin her mission to Brazil. We sat in that room with “two doors” and watched part of the movie Called to Serve. After it was over, the missionaries went out one door and the families left by the other door. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Fortunately, our daughter was braver than we were and raised her fist into the air as she went through the door and shouted, “Hurrah for Israel!” We we were told that one brother, a fairly recent convert to the Church, came out of that room after saying goodbye to his missionary and said, “If I had known it was going to be like this, I wouldn’t have joined this church!” Be we made it through her departure and she, along with four of her sisters and her brother after her, had wonderful missionary experiences and returned home safely to continue their lives. Here is what the missionary farewell of the sons of Mosiah looked like.
After the sons of Mosiah had taken leave of their father, Mosiah, in the first year of the judges; having refused the kingdom which their father was desirous to confer upon them, … they departed out of the land of Zarahemla. They took some others with them whom they had selected and weapons to obtain food and headed south up to the land of Nephi. Did they leave wives and children behind? We aren’t told. I hope not. That would be a long time for wives and children to be on their own without their missionary husbands and fathers! But some missions in the early years of our church, usually for married men with wives and children, lasted 4 to 7 years or more.
While traveling many days in the wilderness, they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
The Lord responded and did visit them with his Spirit. He said to them, Be comforted. And they were comforted. What a blessing! He also said to them, Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. What a wonderful promise! That is the hope of every missionary – to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord.
Ammon acts as their servant-leader. He is probably the oldest brother. Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land. It sounds like Ammon gave them blessings or, as we would say, set them apart, probably individually. He also encouraged and taught them before they separated. They probably didn’t know when they would see each other again. Did they know that their missions would last for 14 years? That’s a long time to serve and be away from “home.” But as they grew to love the Lamanites by serving them, the lands of the Lamanites became “home” to them, just as their field of labor becomes “home” to missionaries today for their term of service. Most missionaries find it harder to leave the “mission field”, i.e. the places where they have served, than it was to leave their home and family at the beginning of their mission. In the case of these missionaries, they will actually bring their “converts” home with them back to Zarahemla. We’ll talk about that next week.
Ammon serves in the land of Ishmael
Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land being called after the sons of Ishmael, who also became Lamanites. We aren’t told how Ammon chose to go to the land of Ishmael. I presume it was by inspiration. It’s interesting that he went alone. If they had gone as a group to any one city, they would have looked more like invaders and may have been killed without delivering their message.
No surprise, Ammon was captured and carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael. Lamoni’s father, as Ammon will later learn, was king over all the land. I presume that means that Lamoni’s father was also a descendant of Ishmael. Were the rulers among the Lamanites those who descended from Ishmael? We don’t know. Were the descendants of Ishmael more willing to believe and accept the gospel? i.e. were they of more “believing blood”? We don’t know.
King Lamoni asks Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people. Ammon’s response is a classic and a model for the servant-leader. Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.
I recall standing before the people of Chester Ward in March of 2018 with my companion, Sister Boyer, as new missionaries in their midst. We were given the opportunity to bear our testimonies in sacrament meeting. I told the people that we just wanted to live among them and serve them like Ammon. And then I added, “Perhaps until we die, which may not be that long as I am trying to remember how to drive on your roads!” (In 18 months, we went through three mission cars and drove approximately 50,000 miles on the roads of England and Wales. Gratefully, we didn’t die and were able to complete our full term as missionaries.)
We aren’t told, but perhaps Lamoni learns that Ammon is actually a prince, a son of the late king Mosiah. A marriage of state would be good politics, so Lamoni offers Ammon to take one of his daughters to wife. (I wonder how his daughter felt about that.)
Rather than becoming a son-in-law and prince in Lamoni’s court, Ammon prefers to be a servant. He answers simply, Nay, but I will be thy servant.[4]
Ammon is a Christ figure. Already we can see ways in which he is like Christ. He gives up his kingdom with his father to go “down” to a fallen world and offers to become a servant there. He will eventually share the gospel with them and save them spiritually from the darkness of their lives. Watch for ways in which Ammon is like our Savior. Remember that the Book of Mormon is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” It’s appropriate to look for Him in all things in the Book of Mormon. The more you look for Him, the more you will find Him.
Ammon defends the king’s flocks
Every young boy in the Church knows the story of Ammon’s defending the king’s flocks and cutting off the arms of those who would scatter the flocks. It is a favorite story for little boys in Primary to act out. I hope they get something good out of it. We know one creative grandmother who, for “camp” in the summer with her grandsons, makes “arms” out of old nylon stockings stuffed with cotton for the re-enactment of Ammon’s heroics. Very creative!
You know the story. After he had been in the service of the king three days (There is the timeframe of three days again! Probably no accident.) Ammon shows his strength and courage by defending the flocks of the king from those who would drive them off. Notice that Ammon was serving with Lamanitish servants (perhaps other descendants of Ishmael) and the flocks were scattered by a certain number of the Lamanites. Was there competition or contention between those who descended from Ishmael and those who descended from Laman and Lemuel? Perhaps so.
When the servants of the king wept because of the fear of being slain, Ammon by contrast had his heart … swollen within him with joy. He saw this challenge as an opportunity to win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words. Notice the great difference between fear and faith! We want to be like Ammon when faced with difficult challenges and see them as opportunities rather than as disasters.
Where did Ammon learn to fight? We aren’t told specifically, but remember that he was a prince in the court of his father, king Mosiah. I presume princes were taught to fight with swords and other weapons and had the luxury of time to play or even seriously practice martial arts. But it wasn’t Ammon’s physical prowess that saved him. It was the Lord. The Lamanite servants began to be astonished at his power. They didn’t know that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord.
Mormon gives us the dead body and severed arm count of the skirmish with Ammon. Six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few. To us in our modern day, it seems pretty barbaric to be killing people and cutting off the arms of others. But these people lived in a violent world, as we will see when we see a thousand of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis are brutally killed in one day.
As Ammon returns with the other servants to the palace, the servants of the king went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony of the things which they had done. I’ve always thought that was pretty gross – taking all those severed arms to the king. Wouldn’t he just take their word for it? There is an interesting KnowWhy on Book of Mormon Central this week that explains that it was a known practice in both the Old and the New World to display the severed body parts as evidence of military victory. Here is the reference, if you’d like to know more. https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-did-the-servants-present-lamoni-with-the-arms-of-his-enemies
Alma chapter 18
The conversion of Lamoni
After hearing the account of his servants and seeing the severed arms, Lamoni was astonished exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders?
When Lamoni learns that Ammon was faithfully serving him by feeding his horses and preparing his chariot to travel to the land of Nephi for a great feast, as the king had commanded his servants to do, he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon. Ammon’s humble service and obedience to the king have opened the door to the king’s previously hardened heart.
The king says, Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.
An interesting silent drama unfolds. Ammon is brought into the court of the king and recognizes right away that the countenance of the king was changed. The king won’t speak for an hour. That seems strange to us, but I remember someone telling me once (I think it was a nephew) that, while serving among some Native American people, an older native brother came to him to ask a question but sat in silence for over an hour before asking the question. Apparently, the tradition continues among these people.
The king doesn’t have to ask his question. Ammon, [was] filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. Ammon is given the gift of discernment, one of the gifts of the Spirit for which missionaries pray and frequently enjoy. Missionaries can often see, at least partly, into the hearts of the people they are teaching and perceive their questions, doubts and concerns. It’s an amazing thing and it is real! It also works for priesthood leaders.
Ammon continues in the role as the servant-leader. I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do. Marveling that Ammon could perceive his thoughts, the king asks, Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?
Lamoni’s heart is now open. He is in a position to be taught. In their Book of Mormon Insights for this week, Griffin and Halverson talk about an imaginary “receptivity-o-meter” which measures the degree of receptiveness of different individuals in this week’s stories. Their discussion this week is really good! Here is the YouTube link. You can also find it as a podcast. https://youtu.be/SC-qE9iEsaA
Ammon can now teach Lamoni. The king’s “receptivity-o-meter” is reading very high. Ammon begins by teaching the nature of God and then teaches the “Three Pillars of Eternity” – the Creation, the Fall and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.[5] This is a powerful model for teaching anyone with an open heart. This is the model on which the missionary lessons in Preach My Gospel are based, particularly lessons two and three in Chapter three, which contains the five lessons the missionaries teach to investigating friends and new members.
Ammon also teaches Lamoni about the story of his people – Ishmael (his ancestor) and Lehi, the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael and all that has happened since that time. He also expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them.
It must have taken hours for Ammon to explain all these things. And Ammon must have had scriptures with him or committed many to memory to teach these things. And then the true miracle occurs - the king believed all his words. It is always a miracle when someone accepts the truths of the gospel and is willing to change their life.
The king began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people. Having said that, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.[6] He is mourned by his wife and by his sons and daughters for two days and two nights.
Alma Chapter 19
The faith of the queen
Some of the people believe that Lamoni is dead. But the queen feels that he is still alive. After two days, the queen gets a bright idea - having heard of the fame of Ammon, therefore she sent and desired that he should come in unto her. Why didn’t she think to call him sooner? Why didn’t one of the servants tell her about Ammon and his conversation with the king before the king went into a trance? We don’t know. But the queen calls for Ammon. He comes at her request and she says to him, thou art a prophet of a holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name. She asks Ammon to go into her husband.
Some people think Lamoni is dead and stinks, but to the queen as for myself, to me he doth not stink. Lori and I have often said we think that is the most romantic line in the whole Book of Mormon! On one level, Lamoni’s wife, the queen, is holding on to the possibility that he is still alive. But her statement can be applied to each of our marriages. Despite our weaknesses, faults and failings, our loyal spouses believe in us and so to them, we don’t “stink”, meaning they hold to and trust in the goodness in us. I’m so grateful that to my loyal queen, Lori, even though I am far from perfect and may even “stink” to others on occasion, she still sees the good in me and so to her, I don’t “stink.” Thank you, darling!
Ammon knows that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God. What a wonderful description of what it means to be born again! We don’t have to be in a trance like Lamoni to have darkness dispelled from our minds and hearts, to be filled with the “marvelous light of His goodness” and to have our souls “infused with joy and the light of everlasting life.” It can happen to each of us. And it can happen, though maybe not on as dramatic a scale as this, to us each time we turn our hearts to our loving Father and His Son and trust in Them. It is wonderful!
Ammon assures the queen that, He is not dead, but he sleepeth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again; therefore bury him not. Then he tests her faith by asking, Believest thou this? Her response is a classic demonstration of faith. I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said. Her response ranks with the words of Mary spoken less than a century later, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. (Luke 1:38)
Ammon replies, Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites. Women generally have softer hearts and more faith than men. I’m not sure why it is true, but it definitely is. (There must be an anti-faith gene on the Y chromosome!) Look at virtually any congregation of Saints in the Church and there will be more faithful women than men. Being daughters of Eve, women somehow possess a more gentle, teachable spirit and are more quick to recognize truth and act upon it, just as Eve was first to recognize the reality of their predicament in Eden and had the courage to move forward before Adam. In most marriages of which I am aware, my own included, the woman is the more tender and naturally in tune with the Spirit of the pair. Men do well to listen to the women in their lives, especially their wives and mothers.
Lamoni’s wife patiently watches over her sleeping husband until the next day when, after three days and three nights (just as Christ’s body was in the tomb), he arose, according to the words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto the woman, and said: Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou. Tyler Griffin points out there are only two persons to whom we are commanded to give all of our heart, to the Lord and to our spouse. Lamoni blesses both upon awakening from his conversion trance.
Lamoni bears testimony of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. With this declaration of faith and testimony, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit. The queen will now be converted, as well. Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, … fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth.
Now there are three overcome with joy and in a spiritual trance. Finally, when the servants of the king had seen that they had fallen, they also began to cry unto God, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them also, … [and] did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth.
The faith of Abish
There is only one person left conscious in the court of Lamoni, a servant woman named Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father.
It’s not clear from the text about the “remarkable vision” referred to. Did the father of Abish have a “remarkable vision” which became the anchor of her faith? Or did Abish have a “remarkable vision” of her father, presumably after he died? Or, as Taylor Halverson suggests this week, did Abish have a “remarkable vision” of the Father, as suggested by her name which means in Hebrew “Father is a man.”[7]
Abish knew that it was the power of God; so she goes house to house to [make] it known unto the people. As John Welch points out, Abish is a great example of a member missionary!
Unfortunately, the people who come to the palace don’t all have the same faith as she has and they began to murmur among themselves; some saying that it was a great evil that had come upon them, or upon the king and his house. One of them, a brother of the man whom Ammon killed with a sword at the waters of Sebus, tries to kill Ammon but is instead struck dead himself by the Lord.
Abish, seeing the contention among the people became exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears. With great faith, she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground. It’s interesting that Abish raised the queen. She was already the queen’s servant, so it makes sense. Woman have great faith and can do mighty miracles.
The queen, having now had her own conversion experience while in a trance (It didn’t take three days to change her heart.), stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! She goes on to speak in tongues and then raises Lamoni to his feet.
Lamoni immediately, seeing the contention among his people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon. All of the people gathered were present as he spoke, but only some of them “heard” his words. As many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord. But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way. It is just like the people who are taught by the missionaries today – all those with whom the missionaries come in contact hear the missionaries speak but only some “hear” their words . Often it is even like that in sacrament meeting, or in a stake or general conference meeting. Many are gathered but not all “hear” the words that are spoken.
Ammon arose [and] also administered unto them as did the servants of Lamoni. They did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. It is no coincidence that, having their hearts changed, these new converts had exactly the same experience as the people of Benjamin when they were converted. Even the words are the same. “They had no more desire to do evil.” (see Mosiah 5) It is the same today. When we are truly converted, we lose any desire to do evil and desire only to do good continually.
Mormon makes the following summary comments about this remarkable conversion experience: There were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them.
And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name. Watch for profound “thus we see” comments by Mormon interspersed throughout the Book of Mormon. As I said earlier, his fingerprints are all over this book that bears his name.
Alma Chapters 20 – 22
There are three more chapters for this week’s reading, but I’m not going to review them in detail. I encourage you read and discover your own insights in these chapters.
Chapter 20 concludes the account of Ammon for now. It tells of his inspiration to go to the land of Middoni where Aaron and two of his brethren are in prison. Lamoni goes with him to try and persuade Antiomno, the king of Middoni, to release the Nephite missionaries. It tells of their meeting Lamoni’s father along the way and the interesting interaction between Lamoni, his father, the king, and with Ammon. This encounter sets the stage for Aaron to teach the gospel to the father of Lamoni.
Chapter 21 begins another flashback and tells of Aaron and his missionary travels. He has a tougher time than Ammon, being rejected by the wicked Amalekites and people of Amulon in the city of Jerusalem, all of whom were after the order of the Nehors. It is interesting that during the great destruction that occurs in 34 AD at the time of Christ’s crucifixion and death, this city Jerusalem, as well as several others, is destroyed. The city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face. (3 Nephi 9:7).
Aaron and his brethren are imprisoned in Middoni and suffered many things. They are eventually released by Ammon and Lamoni. They continue their missionary labors and went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, … [and] 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 Chapter 22, Aaron is led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land. He teaches the father of Lamoni[8] who has a remarkable conversion experience similar to that of his son Lamoni. His wife, the queen, though not quite as quick to believe as the wife of Lamoni, is also converted with their whole household.
Don’t miss the humble prayer of this old king. 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? I have read this prayer to many people who are learning to pray for the first time to show how simple and sincere our prayers can be. The same is true for those of us who have been praying for years. The faith of the father of Lamoni is a great example to all of us.
And don’t miss the progression of what this old king is willing to give up for what he wants most. When his life is threatened by Ammon, he is willing to give up half his kingdom to save his life. If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom. (20:23) Later, as Aaron teaches him, to receive the joy of which Aaron is teaching, he says, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. Finally, as his heart is changed, to know God he says in humble prayer, I will give away all my sins to know thee.
What are we willing to give up to know God and to “hear Him” as we have been admonished to do by our Prophet?[9] For those of us who have made sacred temple covenants, what part of “all” are we not willing to sacrifice to know God? What part of “everything” are we not willing to consecrate to Him in order to build His Kingdom? The humble prayer of this Lamanite king is a great example for each of us today.
The king, now converted with his queen and his household, sends out a proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about. We don’t learn until the next chapter what is in the proclamation. We’ll talk about that next week.
For some reason, Mormon feels that it is important at this point to take a detour and describe the geography of the land and give quite a bit of detail about the relative locations of where the Lamanites and the Nephites are located. Perhaps he felt this was important because that will change with the conversion of many Lamanites and their joining with the Nephites in coming chapters. As I’ve mentioned before, the BYU Book of Mormon relational map is very helpful in understanding the relative locations of these places. If you want to carefully read and understand these eight verses dealing with locations and geography, you’ll need a map. Here is the link: https://bom.byu.edu/download-bom-maps-in-hd/
Testimony
I began by writing about missionary letters and emails. We’ve had the privilege of reading this week the “emails” of some of the greatest missionaries in all of scripture – Ammon, Aaron and their brethren. And we’ve thrilled at the humility, faith and conversion experiences of some of their “converts” including Lamoni and his queen and the father of Lamoni and his queen. As I said before, missionary work, both in Book of Mormon times and today, is in many ways the “lifeblood” of the Church. It keeps the Church living and growing. I hope you have felt a “transfusion” of some of that lifeblood as you have read about the missionary efforts of Ammon and Aaron this week.
All of us who are members of this Church are products of missionary labors. We are all indebted to someone who brought the gospel to us or to our ancestors. In my case, I am so grateful for those faithful missionaries of the 1800s who took the gospel to my relatives in England, Wales, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts and other places and for my ancestors who had the faith to “hear” the missionaries’ words. For those of you who are first generation members of the Church, you can recall well your conversion experiences with “your missionaries.” I’m grateful to have been privileged to be one of the missionaries that first shared the gospel with some of you.
We are all part of a great latter-day work. As President Nelson has reminded us, the greatest work of this generation is to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil.[10] What a privilege to be part of this great work! What a joy it is when anyone repents and comes to Christ! What an honor to serve in the temple for those on the other side of the veil, many of whom have already accepted the gospel and are now waiting for us to do their work!
I conclude this week with the inspired words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
(Wentworth Letter, 1842, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2002/07/the-wentworth-letter)
Thanks for reading!
Richard
Endnotes
Notice that Mormon, in compiling the Book of Mormon, provides brief editorial explanatory comments before some chapters in the Book of Mormon. These are more frequently seen in the Book of Alma than in other books he edited, probably to help us keep track of where we are in the record. These explanatory comments are found above the heading of a new chapter and are in regular type, not italics. For instance, before the heading for Chapter 17, we see the short paragraph:
“An account of the sons of Mosiah, who rejected their rights to the kingdom for the word of God, and went up to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites; their sufferings and deliverance—according to the record of Alma.”
I presume that was written by Mormon as he was doing the editing and compilation on the plates of his book. Notice that just below that paragraph is the short notation in italics, Comprising chapters 17 through 27. That is a comment added later by modern-day editors of the Book of Mormon. The same is true for the chapter summaries, also in italics, found below each chapter heading.
I like to look for Mormon in the Book of Mormon. In subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways his “fingerprints” are all over the book. It is one of the small but profound internal evidences of the authenticity of this book. It was not contrived by any modern author, Joseph Smith or anyone else. Watch for Mormon. It helps make the Book of Mormon become even more real and more true.
[2] Love of missionary companions
There is a love, a brotherhood or sisterhood, a bond shared by those who labor in the Lord’s service that surpasses all other feelings of comradery. Such are the emotions experienced in this unexpected missionary reunion. Alma and the sons of Mosiah parted company fourteen years before with little to offer the Lord but willing hearts and youthful exuberance. They now meet as men of seasoned faith, men of sound understanding—an understanding that comes only by an earnest desire for the word of the Lord, coupled with faithful service in his name.
Millet & McConkie, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon
[3] Flashbacks in the book of Alma
The Notes by John Welch for this week contains many fascinating insights for these chapters, including a chart of flashbacks in the Book of Alma. It may be helpful to you. Here is the link: https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/archive-files/pdf/welch/2020-06-21/alma_17-22_formatted.pdf
After the chart, Brother Welch makes the following interesting comment: Keeping all these comings and goings straight is hard enough for readers. Imagine what it was like for Joseph Smith. It is strong evidence that Joseph Smith was translating an actual record. If he were just making it up off the top of his head, it would likely have been impossible for him to keep track of each of these people, their names, styles, concerns, and characters, as well as the smooth interconnections between these interlocking narratives, both in time and place. For, in addition to the dovetailing chronological details, the corresponding geography is also consistent throughout the Book of Mormon record. The complexity of these combined chapters, as well as the coherent accuracy of each individual account, are wonderful testimonies of Joseph Smith’s role as prophet in translating this ancient record.
Here we see one of the primary characteristics of a successful missionary: a love of the people and a love for the land in which the missionaries serve. For all we know, Ammon may have left behind wife and children, at least friends and acquaintances. He left the comfort and peace and predictability of the known for a new life—fourteen years—life among the unknown, among a people who had been enemies to the Nephites for generations. But Ammon was focused, dedicated, his eye single to the glory of God. He had put his hand to the plough and had no inclination to look back (see Luke 9:62). He had been born of the Spirit and in that condition he was “desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for [he] could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause [him] to quake and tremble”(see Mosiah 28:3).
Millet & McConkie, Commentary
[5] Three pillars of eternity
The three pillars of eternity: the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. One cannot appreciate the need for Christ unless and until he knows that there was a Fall; that the Fall brought corruption and death; and that the Fall opened the way for men and women to become carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature. Simply stated, one does not crave water until he knows he needs water.
Millet & McConkie, Commentary
[6] Religious trances
Why do so many people in the Book of Mormon fall into a trance? Here is the link to an interesting KnowWhy from Book of Mormon Central that may be useful to you in answering this question. https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-are-people-exhausted-by-powerful-spiritual-experiences
Millet and McConkie also have some excellent thoughts on this question in their Commentary.
From what we can deduce from scriptural writ, it appears that a trance is a state in which the body and its functions become quiescent in order that the full powers of the Spirit may be centered on the revelations of heaven. Freed from the fetters of a mortal body, man’s spirit can be ushered into the divine presence; it can hear what otherwise could not be heard and see what otherwise could not be seen—even the visions of eternity and even the Almighty himself. Yet the trance, like all other spiritual experiences, is subject to counterfeiting. Such counterfeits were common, for instance, to the frontier camp meetings of the United States. The trance might be likened to another medium of revelation, namely that of the gift of tongues, which was also commonly mimicked at the camp meetings and in many other settings. None would question tongues as a legitimate gift of heaven, and likewise there is no question that the gift of tongues has been and is often counterfeited.
The story of Ammon and Lamoni affirms religious trances as a legitimate revelatory device. Lamoni, as already noted, came forth from his trance testifying that he had seen the Redeemer and then prophesied relative to the Savior’s birth and the necessity of all mankind believing on his name. The testimony of his servants was that while they were in this state of physical insensibility, angels instructed them in the principles of salvation and their obligation to live righteously. Indeed, they experienced a change of heart and no longer had a desire to do evil.
Such is the state in which the power of God overcomes the “natural frame” and one is “carried away in God.” The test of the legitimacy of the religious trance, like that of tongues, is the efficacy of its purpose. Its genuineness must be ascertained by the same standards that determine the verity of revelation in all other forms—that is, by the asking of such questions as: Does it teach faith in Christ, repentance, sacrifice, obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, and loyalty to the Lord’s current and constituted Church and his anointed servants?
[7] Abish
There are six women mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon. Three of them, Sariah, Abish and Isabel, are Book of Mormon persons. The other three, Eve, Sarah and Mary, are Biblical persons mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Sariah is the wife of Lehi and mother of Nephi and his brothers and sisters. Isabel is a shadowy figure, a harlot in the land of Siron who seduced Corianton away from his missionary labors.
Abish is the female servant of Lamoni’s wife, the queen in the land of Ishmael. Why is she referred to by her name? I first gained this insight from Barnaby Dickenson in an Institute lesson in the Chester Stake. Here is the notation I made at that time on my iPad in the Gospel Library App:
Abish = The (Heavenly) Father is a Man, Ab = Father, as in Absalom or Abraham
She is one of only three named women in the Book of Mormon. Why record her name? Because it testifies of the truth which Lamoni, his Queen and their servants had just learned.
Amazing! Barnaby Dickenson, Chester YSA, 8/29/19
This understanding is confirmed by Griffin and Halverson in this week’s Insights (I’ve already given you the link)
It is also confirmed in this KnowWhy from Book of Mormon Central: https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-was-abish-mentioned-by-name
[8] Name of the father of Lamoni
Why don’t we ever learn the name of the father of Lamoni? I’ve never heard an explanation. If any of you has an idea why, please share it with me.
In Mosiah 24:3, we read, the name of the king of the Lamanites was Laman, being called after the name of his father; and therefore he was called king Laman. And he was king over a numerous people. This was sometime before 120 BC, about 30 years or more before Ammon and his brethren go to the land of Nephi as missionaries. By that time, the king over all the land is old enough to have a son, Lamoni, who is also king. He is even referred to as the old king (20:24). It is very likely that the king referred to in this verse from Mosiah 24 is, in fact, the father of Lamoni. If so, why Mormon never refers to him by name, Laman, is unclear. Maybe it was because he had a powerful conversion and became a different person. He was no longer king Laman, but was a new man. He names his son Anti-Nephi-Lehi (Alma 24:3). Perhaps he used that name for himself after his conversion. Regardless, he became a faithful follower of Christ and is a great example of a formerly wicked person whose heart was permanently changed.
[9] Hear Him!
I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him? I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often.
Pres. Russell M. Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/how-do-you-hearhim-a-special-invitation?lang=eng
[10] Gathering Israel on both sides of the veil
See, for instance, Elder Cook in General Conference April 2020.
Those of us currently serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have been blessed in our day as significant revelations have come through recent prophets. President Russell M. Nelson has been a commissioned agent of the Lord especially with respect to revelations to help families build sanctuaries of faith in their homes, gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil, and bless endowed members in sacred temple ordinance matters. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/52cook
I have been wondering all week about the mission of Aaron and the other brothers of Ammon. As you point out, Ammon was obviously the eldest brother and the district leader of the missionaries and his story is, of course, the quintessential scriptural missionary story. It is interesting that Aaron was the one the people wanted appointed as their king. I wonder why it wasn't Ammon. Also, Aaron gets a phenomenal missionary opportunity in the end and converts the main king, and it's obvious that he's a great missionary. In the meantime, however, Aaron like so many gets a "bummer" of a mission assignment. He gets sent to Jerusalem with lots of Amalekites and Amulonites and is driven out, then he tries Anti-Anti and finally ends up in Middoni where he, with Muloki and others, are cast into prison. In Alma 20:29-30 we find that they had a pretty rough experience. Without taking away the grand experiences of Ammon, I think most of us get missionary calls and assignments similar to those of Aaron and his brethren. Hopefully, it all ends up with meaning but for many, they never know the good they might have done.
ReplyDelete