Alma 21

Chapter Overview

What happens in Alma 21

While Ammon finds success among King Lamoni's people, his brother Aaron and companions face fierce resistance in the lands of Jerusalem and Ani-Anti, where the Amalekites and Amulonites have hardened the Lamanites against the truth. After imprisonment and release, they eventually find success among a more receptive people and are reunited with Ammon's thriving mission in Ishmael.

Scripture

Aaron preaches in Jerusalem and debates the Amalekites

Study note

Aaron travels to the Lamanite city of Jerusalem, built by a mixed population of Lamanites, Amalekites, and people of Amulon. The Amalekites and Amulonites are harder than the Lamanites themselves, having built synagogues and adopted a form of worship that denies the coming of Christ. Aaron enters their synagogues and preaches the coming of Christ, His atonement, and the resurrection, but the people contend against him. Their objections are theological -- they challenge the idea that God would send His Son to atone for sins -- showing that intellectual pride can be a greater barrier to faith than ignorance.

1 Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.

2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.

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.

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 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.

5 Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, 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 angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are 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? 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 God. We do believe that God will save all men.

7 Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins?

8 And the man said unto him: 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 fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.

Rejection, imprisonment, and release

Study note

Aaron and his brethren are rejected and imprisoned in the land of Middoni. After much suffering, they are delivered through the intervention of Lamoni and Ammon, as described in the previous chapter. Once released, they continue their preaching efforts, moving to other areas but finding that the hardened Amalekites and Amulonites have poisoned the minds of many Lamanites against them. Despite their best efforts, some ground proves too hard for the seed to take root.

9 Now Aaron 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 his blood.

10 And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake.

11 Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed 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.

12 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.

13 Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about.

14 And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed.

Success among receptive Lamanites and the flourishing church in Ishmael

Study note

Aaron and his companions eventually find a more receptive people in the wilderness and begin to have success in their preaching. Meanwhile, the narrative returns to Ammon's thriving mission in Ishmael, where King Lamoni has granted complete religious liberty. Ammon builds synagogues and teaches the people, and none who are converted ever fall away from the faith. The church flourishes and the work of the Lord is established among the Lamanites. The contrast between the hardened Amalekites and the receptive people of Ishmael illustrates that the same message produces different outcomes depending on the condition of the listeners' hearts.

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.

16 And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit 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.

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 convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

18 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land of their inheritance.

19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant.

20 But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together.

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 free 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 liberty 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.

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 zealous for keeping the commandments of God.

Key Themes

Themes in Alma 21

Intellectual pride as a barrier to faithThe varying reception of the gospel based on heart conditionPerseverance in missionary work despite rejectionReligious liberty as a foundation for the gospelThe corrupting influence of apostates on othersThe faithfulness of genuine converts

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Alma 21:4-8 Acts 17:1-5

Aaron entering the synagogues to preach Christ and facing opposition from those who contend against the doctrine parallels Paul's pattern of entering synagogues to reason from the scriptures about Jesus, where some believed and others were enraged.

Alma 21:3 2 Timothy 3:5

The Amalekites who built synagogues and practiced outward religion yet denied the power and coming of Christ parallel Paul's warning about those who have a form of godliness but deny its power.

Alma 21:22-23 Acts 14:21-23

Ammon establishing synagogues and teaching the people in Ishmael, with the church flourishing under Lamoni's protection, parallels Paul and Barnabas establishing churches, appointing elders, and strengthening disciples across Asia Minor.

Apply This Today

Living Alma 21

Aaron's experience in Jerusalem shows that those who have had some exposure to truth but have distorted it can be harder to reach than those with no knowledge at all. The Amalekites had built synagogues and practiced religion, but their pride in their own understanding prevented them from receiving the fullness of the gospel. This chapter reminds us that intellectual sophistication is no substitute for spiritual humility. At the same time, Aaron's perseverance encourages us: when one door closes, God opens another. Not every effort will succeed in the way we hope, but faithful persistence will find its harvest.

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