Alma 21

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 Green 4/21 orange 7/22 tan highlights are text I am commenting on. Yellow highlights are from a previous study period The Black text is original Book of Mormon text.)

An account of the preaching of Aaron, and Muloki, and their brethren, to the Lamanites.

Comprising chapters 21 through 25.

Chapter 21

Aaron teaches the Amalekites about Christ and His Atonement—Aaron and his brethren are imprisoned in Middoni—After their deliverance, they teach in the synagogues and make many converts—Lamoni grants religious freedom to the people in the land of Ishmael. About 90–77 B.C.

  1 Now when Ammon and his brethren ^aseparated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, ^bJerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers’ nativity; These people still knew where their fathers had come from.  and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.
  2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of ^aAmulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem. If the Lamanites name this city, they had not rejected their foundational heritages over 300 years earlier!
  3 Now 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. Apostates are almost always impossible to convert. But that was Alma the younger's condition, so it is always worth holding hope out for it. This shows there are “degrees” of wickedness and hard-heartedness. 
  4 And 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 ^asynagogues, for they had built synagogues after the ^border of the Nehors; secret combinations are full of counterfeits for many of the Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors. Unlike the Lamanites who just stopped believing in the scriptures, the Amalekites and Amulonites actually knew the truth and actively covenanted to destroy it in league with Satan.
  5 Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their ^asynagogues to preach unto the people, anyone could just walk in to a church and start preaching? 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 ^bangel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Perhaps deep down this really bothered him...that they had no visitation from angels (assuming they really thought they were righteous...)Behold ^care not this people as good as thy people?
  6 Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? works don’t matter? “by their fruits ye shall know them” How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a ^arighteous people? Behold, we have built ^bsanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship ^cGod. We do believe that God will save all men. “see...our works are good, so you can only condemn us if you say you know our intentions and our hearts; but we know that only God can know that. So on what grounds do you condemn us?” I think we’re going to see the “God saves everyone” belief rise up again...
  7 Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? Here comes the answer...but it begins with a question. Use questions to get more information until the Spirit tells you to speak the words that God gives you. 
  8 And the man said unto him: We do not ^abelieve 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. I’m thinking since they had no visitations or revelation, and they saw themselves as “good” they just made the conclusion that there is no such thing as revelation or prophecy. 
  9 Now Aaron began to open the ^ascriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be ^bno redemption for mankind ^csave it were through the ^ddeath and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood. Use the scriptures to teach
 10 And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to ^amock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake. The goal of anger and mocking is to stop your voice and replace it with their voice so they don’t have to hear anymore words, because there is POWER in the word of God and they don’t want to yield.
 11 Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed leave when you know it's of no use 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. There is a lot of quoting that since Christ said “contention is not of me” that if our words cause contention then it’s our fault for starting it. This is a false belief! 
 12 And it came to pass that they saw that the people would harden their hearts, therefore they departed But they did not stay in contention with them and came over into the land of ^aMiddoni. And they did preach the word unto many, and ^bfew believed on the words which they taught. Lesson: give it a try. But if they will not listen, it’s okay to stop trying to convince them. If we are looking for the “one” then it matters that even just “a few believed.” 
 13 Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren literally his brothers or new “brothers” in Christ? were taken and cast into ^aprison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about. How many were there? Is it better to suffer or to flee? 
 14 And those who were cast into prison ^asuffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed.
 15 And 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. They were fearless. Just kept going and going no matter the suffering.
 16 And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the ^aSpirit 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. Interesting that sometimes they were “admitted” to preach.
 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 ^aconvince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. This would keep you going. If you are strong and do not murmur in your trials, God will not only deliver you, but He will give you future miracles. How does God do this? How does He bless you to be successful without violating agency? Is it the degree of power that He gives you through His word? 
 18 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of ^aIshmael, which was the land of their inheritance.
 19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his ^aservant.
 20 But he caused that there should be ^asynagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together. It’s important to gather to keep testimonies strong.
 21 And 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 ^afree 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.
 22 And he also declared unto them that they might have the ^aliberty 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. He established the church but didn’t force anyone to believe. 
 23 And 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 ^azealous for keeping the commandments of God. Is there a tie between teaching DAILY and being ZEALOUS for keeping the commandments? Remember we should talk of Christ daily "that our children may know". I think Come Follow Me is trying to give us the tools to accomplish this. Look at the staff! It's not that hard, but it will make all the difference!