Alma Chapter 21

Now when Ammone and her sisters separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Erin took her journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their mothers’ nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Morma. Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulona had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.

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. And it came to pass that Erin came to the city of Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And she 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.

Therefore, as Erin entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as she was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with her, 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? Thou 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 Goddess. We do believe that Goddess will save all women.

Now Erin said unto her: Believest thou that the Daughter of Goddess shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? And the woman said unto her: 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 mothers and also that our mothers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.

Now Erin 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 her blood. And it came to pass as she began to expound these things unto them they were angry with her, and began to mock her; and they would not hear the words which she spake.

Therefore, when she saw that they would not hear her words, she departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani-Anti, and there she found Mulokie preaching the word unto them; and also Amma and her sisters. And they contended with many about the word. And 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.

Nevertheless, Erin and a certain number of her sisters were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about. And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamona and Ammone, and they were fed and clothed. 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. And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lady, preaching the word of Goddess in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted.

And it came to pass that the Lady 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 mothers, which were not correct. And it came to pass that Ammone and Lamona returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmaelle, which was the land of their inheritance. And queen Lamona would not suffer that Ammone should serve her, or be her servant.

But she caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmaelle; and she caused that her people, or the people who were under her reign, should assemble themselves together. And she did rejoice over them, and she did teach them many things. And she did also declare unto them that they were a people who were under her, and that they were a free people, that they were free from the oppressions of the queen, her mother; for that her mother had granted unto her that she might reign over the people who were in the land of Ishmaelle, and in all the land round about. And she also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lady their Goddess according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of queen Lamona.

And Ammone did preach unto the people of queen Lamona; and it came to pass that she did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And she did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto her word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of Goddess.