Alma 21
People in this chapter
When the brothers separated at the borders of the Lamanite lands (Alma 17:13), Aaron went to a great city the Lamanites had named Jerusalem, after the land of their fathers. It had been built by Lamanites together with Amalekites and the people of Amulon, and Mormon says the latter two groups were harder than the Lamanites themselves (v. 3). Many of them followed the order of the Nehors, the teaching that everyone will be saved regardless (Alma 1:4).
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Alma 21:1-6Hast Thou Seen an Angel?
1Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon. 2Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem. 3Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations. 4And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And he began to preach to them in their synagogues, for they had built synagogues after the order of the Nehors; for many of the Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors.
Aaron goes to a Lamanite city named Jerusalem. It was built together with the Amalekites and the people of Amulon, who were even harder than the Lamanites and made them harder too.
Many of the Amalekites and Amulonites followed the teachings of Nehor, who said that all people would be saved no matter what.
5Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people? 6Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship God. We do believe that God will save all men.
An Amalekite challenges Aaron: Why should angels come to you and not us? How do you know we need to repent? We believe God will save everyone.
Alma 21:7-10Believest Thou That the Son of God Shall Come?
7Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? 8And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come. 9Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood. 10And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake.
The Amalekite rejects the idea that anyone can know the future and calls it a foolish tradition. When Aaron teaches Christ's atonement, they become angry and mock him.
Alma 21:11-17They Went Forth Again to Declare the Word
11Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani-Anti, and there he found Muloki preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren. And they contended with many about the word. 12And it came to pass that they saw that the people would harden their hearts, therefore they departed and came over into the land of Middoni. And they did preach the word unto many, and few believed on the words which they taught. 13Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about. 14And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed. 15And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus they had suffered.
Aaron leaves, joins Muloki and Ammah, and preaches in Middoni, where few believe. Aaron and some companions are imprisoned until Lamoni and Ammon free them.
Freed from prison, they immediately go back to preaching, led by the Spirit. This time the Lord blesses them, and they bring many to the truth.
16And 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. 17And 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.
Alma 21:18-23A Free People
18And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land of their inheritance. 19And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant. 20But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together. 21And he did rejoice over them, and he did teach them many things. And he did also declare unto them that they were a people who were under him, and that they were a free people, that they were free from the oppressions of the king, his father; for that his father had granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the land of Ishmael, and in all the land round about. 22And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni.
Back home, Lamoni will no longer let Ammon be his servant. He builds synagogues, teaches his people, and declares them free, including free to worship God as they choose.
23And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God.
Ammon teaches Lamoni's people daily, and they become eager to keep God's commandments.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Aaron, Son of MosiahScripture references for Aaron's mission among the Lamanites.
- Atone, AtonementThe doctrine Aaron taught in verse 9: redemption only through the death, sufferings and atoning blood of Christ.
- ResurrectionScriptures on the resurrection of the dead, which Aaron opened to the Amalekites (v. 9).
- LibertyScripture on freedom, including the liberty of worship Lamoni declared (v. 22).
Where this echoes in Scripture
Hast Thou Seen an Angel?
- Alma 1:4All mankind should be saved at the last day, and… they need not fear nor tremble.The doctrine of Nehor.
- Mosiah 24:1Amulon did gain favor in the eyes of the king of the Lamanites.How Amulon and his people came among the Lamanites.
- Luke 18:11God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are.
- Alma 24:29Among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor.How this group responded to the mission as a whole.
Believest Thou That the Son of God Shall Come?
- Acts 4:12There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- Mosiah 3:17There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come… only in and through the name of Christ.
- Alma 34:9There must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures… and that he rose again the third day.
- Alma 30:13-15No man can know of anything which is to come… they are foolish traditions of your fathers.Korihor later makes the Amalekite's argument.
They Went Forth Again to Declare the Word
- Acts 16:23-25They cast them into prison… And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.
- Alma 26:29We have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks.Ammon later remembers what the brothers endured.
- Matthew 5:10-12Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Alma 20:29-30Nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.The same imprisonment, as Ammon saw it.
A Free People
- Articles of Faith 1:11We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege.
- Alma 20:24Grant that he may do according to his own desires in whatsoever thing he thinketh.The freedom Ammon secured for Lamoni.
- Alma 23:6As many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.
- D&C 134:4We believe that religion is instituted of God… and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it.
- Galatians 5:13Ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.