Alma 21-22

Reading Assignment for class on Friday, Jan. 26: Alma 21-22

Learning Activities:

1) Read this introduction for some context: 
Introduction
Ammon’s brother Aaron taught the Amalekites, but they rejected his message about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Then he preached in Middoni, where he and some of his companions were eventually imprisoned. They remained faithful during their time of adversity, and they continued their mission to share the gospel after Ammon and King Lamoni secured their release. After Lamoni’s father was prepared through the example of Ammon, he learned from Aaron about how to be “born of God” (Alma 22:15). Lamoni’s father learned that by repenting of his sins he could come to know God and eventually receive eternal life.
2) As you read these 2 chapters, look for actions and thoughts from Aaron and his brethren that could help you finish this sentence
If we patiently persist through trials, …
3) As you read Alma 22, ponder these two questions:
  • Why do you want to receive eternal life?
  • What would you be willing to give up in order to receive eternal life?
What were they willing to give up?
4) Copy this quote into your scriptures by Alma 22:17-18
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“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).

Want More?
Watch this talk by Pres. Nelson:
Alma 21:16–17. “They brought many to the knowledge of the truth”
Aaron and his companions endured many hardships before they were able to help others turn to the Lord. President Thomas S. Monson taught:
“To reach, to teach, to touch the precious souls whom our Father has prepared for His message is a monumental task. Success is rarely simple. Generally it is preceded by tears, trials, trust, and testimony” (Thomas S. Monson, “Tears, Trials, Trust, Testimony,” Ensign, May 1987, 43).

Alma 22:18. “I will give away all my sins to know thee”
Like Lamoni’s father, we must be willing to sacrifice all things to be born of God. In the Lectures on Faith, we learn the importance of sacrifice in our eternal progression:

“Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life” (Lectures on Faith [1985], 69).

Alma 22:18. “He was struck as if he were dead”
The king “was struck as if he were dead” (Alma 22:18) when he received a manifestation of the Spirit that was so powerful that it caused him to lose physical strength. He had an experience similar to that of his son Lamoni, who had appeared to be dead but who had actually experienced “the light of the glory of God” to such a degree that it “had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God” (Alma 19:6).