Alma 21

When King Mosiah’s sons and their missionary companions entered the Lamanite lands and went their different ways, Ammon’s brother Aaron went to the great city called Jerusalem. The Lamanites who lived there were known as Amalekites and Amulonites (named after Amulon the leader of King Noah’s renegade priests). These apostate Nephites were even more stubborn, sinful, and abominable than the average Lamanites.

When Aaron began preaching to the Amalekites in their synagogue, one of them began arguing with him. “Are you telling us you’ve seen an angel? We don’t see them. Do you think you are better than us? You tell us that unless we repent, we will perish. How do you know our thoughts and intents? How do you know we have any reason to repent? What makes you so sure we aren’t righteous people? Look around you. We’ve built this synagogue to gather in and worship God. We believe that God will save us all.”

“Do you believe that the Son of God will come to redeem mankind from their sins?” asked Aaron.

“We don’t believe you know anything about this,” the man replied. “We don’t believe in your foolish traditions. We don’t believe you or your ancestors know the future.”

As Aaron explained what the scriptures said about the coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the redemption of mankind through the death and suffering of Jesus Christ, and the atonement of his blood, they became angry with him. They made fun of him and wouldn’t listen to what he had to say. When Aaron saw that he was getting nowhere, he left, and went to a village named Ani-Anti. There he found his missionary companions Muloki and Ammah, who were preaching to the local villagers. No one would listen to them there, either, so they went next to the land of Middoni. Again, very few people listened to them or believed what they said. When Aaron and some of his companions were arrested and thrown in prison, the rest of their party fled.

Aaron and his companions suffered in prison until his brother Ammon and King Lamoni arrived to free them. Afterwards, they were led by the Spirit of God to preach in all the Amalekite synagogues and assemblies of Lamanites where they were allowed. Because God blessed Aaron’s mission, many people became convinced of their sins and the incorrect traditions of their ancestors.

After a short time, Ammon and Lamoni returned to the land of Ishmael, and Lamoni refused to allow Ammon to be his servant any longer. Lamoni began a campaign to build synagogues for his people where they could gather and learn about God. Lamoni’s father had granted him the right to reign in the land of Ishmael, and so Lamoni declared that his people were also free to worship God according to their own wishes. Ammon preached to King Lamoni’s people and they became vigilant in their devotion to the commandments of God.