Day 45 Alma 20-22

In Alma 20, King Lamoni and Ammon went to rescue Ammons brothers from Prison.  They met with King Lamoni's father and King Lamoni's father wanted to kill Ammon.  Ammon overpowered him and the King asked him to spare his life and if he did, he would grant Ammon his desires.  All Ammon asked for was the King Lamoni could keep his kingdom and run it the way he desired, and that Ammon and King Lamoni would be allowed to journey to Middoni to rescue Ammon's brothers.  

King Lamoni's father granted their request because he was thankful that Ammon spared his life.  He also asked that when he rescued his brothers, they return and teach him because he believed Ammon's words and that he was a holy man.  Ammon got to his brothers and saw that they were in bad shape.  They had been beaten, tied up, their skin torn, their bodies starved, and they were weak but Ammon also noticed that they were enduring their suffering with patience.

Likening Chapter 20 Unto Me

Do I endure my suffering well?  Am I patient in afflictions?  Do I even desire those attributes.  I believe that I do.  I have cried many nights unto God because my own heart has been heavy and weighed down by sorrows that don't even seem possible to bare in my life at that moment.  I know that Christ is with me and I know that I am loved.  I know that suffering can strengthen and refine me.  I, however, often times experience my suffering to the point that I feel anguish, real anguish.  I get headaches, I cry until I can't breath through my nose, and my heart starts to physically hurt.  Not just physical, but emotional suffering can be very overwhelming.  

I know that there are promises that are obtained from enduring suffering and being patient.  The promise of God's love, not being alone, and even deliverance when God's timing is right.  This for me is not an act of faith, but a sure knowledge at this point.  I have seen it happen in my life.  When I read about Ammon finding his brothers in that condition I am sure it made his heart hurt to see.  I also know that these brothers must have been very valiant and strong for Ammon to recognize their patience in suffering.  I am sure they rejoiced or felt that joy even amidst their pain just to see Ammon and King Lamoni.

In Alma Chapter 21, when Ammon and King Lamoni rescued Ammon's brothers, they noticed that the people that had held them prisoner were Amulonites, Amalekites, and Lamanites. The first two groups were more wicked than the Lamanites, but all three were ravenous.  They inprisoned Ammons brothers and tortured them.  After Ammon rescued his brothers, the rescued as well as Ammon and King Lamoni went about teaching the Amalekites.  Ammon taught the people about the coming of Christ and except a man believe in Christ and be saved, they could not enter the Kingdom of God.

King Lamoni told Ammon that he didn't want him to be his servant any longer.  He called for Synagogues to be built and that all of the people in the land of Ishmael would be free to worship God as they desired to.  Ammon taught King Lamoni's people the Gospel and they believed him and wanted to be strong in worshipping God.

In Alma Chapter 22, remember when King Lamoni's father allowed Ammon to save his brothers, but then requested they come back and teach him?  Well, the brothers of Ammon went back to the city of Nephi to teach King Lamoni's father and explained that Ammon was not with them because he had to go and preach to the people of King Lamoni.

I want to point out a very cool thing about the way Alma, Ammon, King Lamoni, and the brothers of Ammon teach people.  After they teach a principle of the Gospel they always asked, "Believest this thing we are telling you?"  I love that they do this because they are asking those who are being taught not only to listen but then asking them to ask themselves and answer if they believe.  I think this is a really cool way to teach the gospel to people who are seeking Christ.  Each time they testify of truth, to ask the person listening, "Do you believe what you are hearing?  Do you believe what you are being taught?"  It makes them do an examination of their own conscience in relationship to what they are learning.  Brilliant!

When Aaron heard that King Lamoni's father believed what he was saying about there being a God, he then proceeded to share with him from the Beginning of Adam, the fall of man, the plan of redemption, and Christ's coming.  This reminded me so much of my own full-time mission.  When we started teaching it was always about God first.  Then we would ask if they believed in God.  When they said they did we would continue teaching, starting with the First Vision of Joseph Smith when he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Each subsequent lesson we taught line upon line and progressed until they were ready for baptism and confirmation, then we would finish 6 discussions with them.  I see the pattern we modeled on my mission mirrored the missionaries in The Book of Mormon!

The king asked how he could receive eternal life?  Aaron shared with him that he needed to repent, call of the name of God and believe.  The King told Aaron he believed and then like his son he fell into a sleep.  The servants went and got his wife, the Queen, who got angry and demanded the servants kill Aaron.  The servants refused because they knew that he was a holy and good man.  Aaron raised King Lamoni's father.  The Queen and family saw this and all converted.  The King sent a proclamation that Aaron teach everyone.

Likening These Chapters Unto Myself

I had a really neat experience reading and recording this blog post.  Many reminders to me of my own time on a full-time mission came flooding back.  The warm memories that I had teaching and testifying, sharing, and allowing people to hear the gospel, seeing people feel The Holy Spirit, which testified of truth, and converted them to the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

#1 Our faith has been 100% modeled after, and is in line with the experiences and missionary teachings of the early Church of God.  Alma, Ammon, King Lamoni, and Ammons brothers in a sense taught me how to teach and serve!  

#2 Continually these chapters teach repentance, belief in Christ, acceptance of Christ's Atonement, and Enduring to the End.

#3 I am daily reminded as I read The Book of Mormon of how much Christ is with me, walks with me, and carries me through this life.  I love reading The Book of Mormon and daily being reminded of blessings, covenants, and spiritual miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost that constantly is reflected in my daily reading!

#4 I am thankful for the example that The Book of Mormon Prophets give me every time I read.  To be daily reminded of their goodness and wanting to model their lives in my own is my new goal these days.