Alma 17-22 contains a popular Book of Mormon story about Ammon, the son of King Mosiah, and how he became a servant of King Lamoni. Ammon single-handedly protects King Lamoni's sheep from being scattered by wicked Lamanites with a sling and his sword. He kills many of the attacking Lamanites and smites off the arms of the Lamanites that try to come close to him. We know he was able to do this because he had the Lord protecting him. Ammon's heroic deeds are re-told to King Lamoni, who ends up becoming converted to the Lord.
I love this story because Ammon shows such great faith, and a merciful Lord again is seeking to convert his people (King Lamoni) through the work of his faithful servants (Ammon).
There are parts of this story that are emphasized a little less frequently that I wanted to share my thoughts on today.
An Instrument for the Lord
When Ammon became converted to the Lord (Mosiah 27), as the oldest son of King Mosiah, he turned down the succession of King of the land. His brothers did too, but I'm sure he was a great example to them there in making that decision. Being king wouldn't have been easy, but he was already beloved by the people, and instead chose to go to Lamanite land where his life was constantly in danger. In fact, the first thing that happened to him upon crossing into King Laman's land was that he was bound and carried before the king for sentencing, possibly to either jail or to his death.
Next, he impressed King Lamoni enough that King Lamoni offered to have Ammon marry one of his sons. That would essentially make him a prince of the land, right? However, he said "no" and offered to be a servant instead, and was set out to defend the flocks. No cushy bed with a princess. Nope, he was out guarding sheep.
I think about Alma 17:11-12 and why Ammon and his brothers were able to choose those difficult paths, "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethern, 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. And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God."
2020 has been a particularly tumultuous year for many of us, and I "take courage" in these long-ago words, to be "patient in long-suffering and afflictions." If we do so, always with an eye facing the Lord, and remember the patience and long-suffering of so many that came before us, the storms will maybe not seem quite so fierce or quite so long-lasting.
The Lord Protects and Guides
I love the story of Abish in Alma 19:16-17, that she had secretly converted to the Lord, and when she saw King Lamoni and his Queen respond to the truth of Ammon's word, that they, and then Ammon, were all so overcome with the Spirit that they all lay as if dead, that she thought, "I'm going to get people to come see this so that they know their is a God." Her plan could have backfired on her. In fact, Abish momentarily thought it had backfired because the people that had come in to see King Lamoni for themselves fought about it. They argued if this was of God or of if Ammon was a monster. Their arguing became so contentious that it says that Abish was "exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears." (Alma 19:28).
So many miracles happened during this time frame though. First, one of the brothers of the men that Ammon slay tried to take this opportunity to put a sword to Ammon, and this brother "fell dead" the moment he lifted his sword. It says in Alma 19:23, "for the Lord has said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith - therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord."
Next, Abish, sorrowing that she had made the wrong decision, reached out for her queen's hands and in doing so, awakened the queen, who jumped up "being filled with joy" about all that she had learned while seemingly dead. (Alma 19:30).
So many people - in fact, all that would do one simple thing - "listen" - were converted that day. (See Alma 19:31-32).
Love and Equality
Love and equality has been a big theme in the news today. The Lord's stance on this is quite simple. He loves us all and wants us all to return to him.
Alma 19:36 - "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."
The scriptures share repeatedly that God is not a respecter of persons, meaning, he loves all of us, and he wants all of us to return to him.
Again, this is reiterated in Alma 20:26 when the King of the Lamanites pre-judges Ammon as a Nephite, only to realize that Ammon loves his son King Lamoni and protects him. In seeing Ammon act with love toward "the enemy" (two groups that did not see eye to eye on things), the king is humbled and becomes "desirous to learn." (Alma 20:27).
This king is so humbled and prepared that a little while later, when Ammon and King Lamoni have successfully freed his brother from prison, and Aaron approaches King Lamoni's father, the King of all Lamanites, he is prepared to listen, and in fact, is struck as if dead in the same way as his son King Lamoni was when he was taught the gospel for the first time.
There are parts of this story that are emphasized a little less frequently that I wanted to share my thoughts on today.
An Instrument for the Lord
When Ammon became converted to the Lord (Mosiah 27), as the oldest son of King Mosiah, he turned down the succession of King of the land. His brothers did too, but I'm sure he was a great example to them there in making that decision. Being king wouldn't have been easy, but he was already beloved by the people, and instead chose to go to Lamanite land where his life was constantly in danger. In fact, the first thing that happened to him upon crossing into King Laman's land was that he was bound and carried before the king for sentencing, possibly to either jail or to his death.
Next, he impressed King Lamoni enough that King Lamoni offered to have Ammon marry one of his sons. That would essentially make him a prince of the land, right? However, he said "no" and offered to be a servant instead, and was set out to defend the flocks. No cushy bed with a princess. Nope, he was out guarding sheep.
I think about Alma 17:11-12 and why Ammon and his brothers were able to choose those difficult paths, "And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethern, 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. And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God."
2020 has been a particularly tumultuous year for many of us, and I "take courage" in these long-ago words, to be "patient in long-suffering and afflictions." If we do so, always with an eye facing the Lord, and remember the patience and long-suffering of so many that came before us, the storms will maybe not seem quite so fierce or quite so long-lasting.
The Lord Protects and Guides
I love the story of Abish in Alma 19:16-17, that she had secretly converted to the Lord, and when she saw King Lamoni and his Queen respond to the truth of Ammon's word, that they, and then Ammon, were all so overcome with the Spirit that they all lay as if dead, that she thought, "I'm going to get people to come see this so that they know their is a God." Her plan could have backfired on her. In fact, Abish momentarily thought it had backfired because the people that had come in to see King Lamoni for themselves fought about it. They argued if this was of God or of if Ammon was a monster. Their arguing became so contentious that it says that Abish was "exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears." (Alma 19:28).
So many miracles happened during this time frame though. First, one of the brothers of the men that Ammon slay tried to take this opportunity to put a sword to Ammon, and this brother "fell dead" the moment he lifted his sword. It says in Alma 19:23, "for the Lord has said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith - therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord."
Next, Abish, sorrowing that she had made the wrong decision, reached out for her queen's hands and in doing so, awakened the queen, who jumped up "being filled with joy" about all that she had learned while seemingly dead. (Alma 19:30).
So many people - in fact, all that would do one simple thing - "listen" - were converted that day. (See Alma 19:31-32).
Love and Equality
Love and equality has been a big theme in the news today. The Lord's stance on this is quite simple. He loves us all and wants us all to return to him.
Alma 19:36 - "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."
The scriptures share repeatedly that God is not a respecter of persons, meaning, he loves all of us, and he wants all of us to return to him.
Again, this is reiterated in Alma 20:26 when the King of the Lamanites pre-judges Ammon as a Nephite, only to realize that Ammon loves his son King Lamoni and protects him. In seeing Ammon act with love toward "the enemy" (two groups that did not see eye to eye on things), the king is humbled and becomes "desirous to learn." (Alma 20:27).
This king is so humbled and prepared that a little while later, when Ammon and King Lamoni have successfully freed his brother from prison, and Aaron approaches King Lamoni's father, the King of all Lamanites, he is prepared to listen, and in fact, is struck as if dead in the same way as his son King Lamoni was when he was taught the gospel for the first time.
No comments:
Post a Comment