Alma 22

Some time after Ammon left, Aaron and his companions traveled to the land of Nephi where Lamoni’s father was king. They presented themselves at the king’s palace and Aaron introduced themselves as the companions of Ammon, who had been freed from prison. “If you will spare our lives,” Aaron said, “we will be your servants.”

“I will grant you your lives,” said the king, “but I don’t want you to be my servants. However, I do want to understand the generosity and great words of your brother, Ammon. I also want to know why he hasn’t come from Middoni with you.”

“The Spirit of God has called Ammon to go another way, ” said Aaron, “to teach to the people of your son Lamoni in the land of Ishmael.”

“What do you mean by the Spirit of God?” the king asked. “This is what troubles me. And what did Ammon mean when he said, ‘If you repent you will be saved, and if you don’t repent you will be cast off on the last day?”

“Do you believe that there is a God?” asked Aaron.

“I know that the Amalekites say there is a God,” replied the king. “I have allowed them to build sanctuaries where they can gather to worship him. If you say there is a God, I will believe you.”

Aaron rejoiced when he heard this. “Assuredly,” he said, “there is a God.”

“Is he the Great Spirit who brought our ancestors out of Jerusalem?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Aaron, “he is that Great Spirit. He created everything in heaven and earth. Do you believe this?”

“I believe that the Great Spirit created everything,” said the king. “I want you to tell me everything you know, and I will believe your words.”

Aaron read the scriptures describing God’s creation of Adam in his own image, how God had given him commandments, and how because of Adam’s disregard for the commandments man had fallen. Aaron expounded upon the scriptures and described the plan for redemption which had been prepared from the beginning, through Jesus Christ and all who believed in him. He described man’s fallen state, how the suffering and death of Jesus Christ were required to atone for the sins of mankind, and how Jesus Christ would put an end to death through faith and repentance.

When Aaron had spoken the king asked, “If I want this eternal life, what do I have to do? How may I be born of God, and root this wicked spirit out of me? I want to be filled with joy and not be cast off on the last day. I will give up everything I have to receive this.”

“If you want this,” Aaron replied, “you need to bow down before God. You need to repent for all of your sins, call on his name in faith, and believe that you will receive what you hope for.”

Accordingly, the king bowed down before God and cried out, “Oh, God, Aaron has told me that you will make yourself known to me if I repent my sins before you and ask to know you. He says that I will be raised from the dead and be saved on the last day.” When the king said these things, he was struck down as if he were dead.

The king’s servants ran out and told the queen what had happened. When she came to see for herself, she saw the king lying on the ground as if he were dead and Aaron and his companions standing around as though it was they who had knocked him down. The queen became angry and ordered the servants to take them away and kill them. Because the servants had seen what caused the king’s fall, they didn’t dare to touch Aaron and his companions. Instead, they pleaded with the queen. “Any one of these men is mightier than all of us,” they said. “If we try to kill them, we will fall, too.”

When the queen saw the fear of the king’s servants, she became frightened, too. She ordered the servants to go call in more people to kill Aaron and his companions.

Aaron saw danger in the gathering mob, so he put out his hand and raised the king, saying, “Stand.” When the king rose from his apparent death, in the presence of his queen and servants, they were all astounded and fearful. Afterwards, the king’s entire household was converted to God.

As people gathered in compliance with the queen’s orders, they raised their voices against Aaron and his companions. But the king reassured them, and the tension eased. Later, the king called upon Aaron and his companions to preach the word, and sent a proclamation out among his people throughout all his lands.