Engaging Gospel Doctrine (Episode 199.1 and 199.2)

Lesson 25: Alma 17-22

Manual Goal: To inspire class members to follow the example of the sons of Mosiah by sharing the gospel and ministering to others.

Engaging Gospel Doctrine Goal: To inspire class members to apply the lessons of these chapters by authentically engaging with God and others, and seeking greater joy and giving away our sins to know God.

Introduction to the new format (Two minute take home, fresh read through, conclusion)

Two Minute Take Home: (I remember that I was going to begin with Lesson 26, but I pushed ahead and rushed to get this one out because this reading has two of the most powerful female characters in the Book of Mormon)

1.  Faith, authenticity, vulnerability

  1. The prayer of Lamoni’s father (22:18; still one of my favorite moments of scripture, reaching out EXACTLY where you are, expressing all your doubts and hopes and fears, being open to answers and even miracles…)
  2. Queen Lamoni
  3. first goes through appropriate grieving practices, but then is proactive, sent for Ammon, asked him what was going on, asked him to resolve the problem.
  4. “I have had no witness save they word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless, I believe that it shall be according as thou has said.” (19:9).
  5. Watches over the bed of her husband until he wakes (faith motivating to action)
  6. Abish
  7. Another strong, proactive woman
  8. Had been converted, faithfully held to held to that conversion
  9. Took action when the King, queen, and Ammon all fell to the earth (Behold, he was a Nephite” is funny)
  10. Her actions had unintended outcomes, which she then needed to set right.

2.  Ammon’s humility, love, dedication.

  1. Before he teaches Lamoni a word, he completely wins him over through service, devotion, and courage
  2. Deeply sensitive, easily overpowered by joy
  3. Carries out all commands
  4. “Whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that I will do” (Alma 18:17)
  5. Chooses serving over status (refuses the king’s daughter, which would have been dangerous. “I will serve you, perhaps until the day I die” [“which could be today” seems implied]

3.  Seeing others as kin rather than enemies (“those he termed to be his brethren”, 17:30)

4.  Heart of the Lesson: The price of transformation: Open ourselves to reshaping our natures. Traits often have positive and negative components, so it isn’t so much us being transformed, as properly aligned. We do need to give away our sins, familiar parts of our nature. We can love ourselves, accept our tendencies, and then direct them toward good.

5.  Quest for joy: What can we do to experience greater joy in our lives?

Fresh Read Through:

Goal / Students will appreciate how the gospel can transform our nature
Hook / A tale of two kings. Today will be telling a story of kings and queens, of violence and intrigue, and fainting. Lots of fainting. But ultimately transformation.
Main Points / These chapters at their core are about changing our natures. Will dig into the key stories first, and then address other points and details. Other important insights are the connection between expectations and interactions, and how to engage with those of different backgrounds and beliefs
[Give overview here + discussion of parallels]
Discuss in depth sections
·  Ammon and Lamoni
·  Aaron and Lamoni’s father
·  Abish and aftermath
Overview / These chapters have a more complex chronology than most, as Mormon weaves several stories together. Here is how it breaks down:
17:1-4 (Alma meets the sons of Mosiah after their respective missions; 77/78 BC)
Based on dating in our scriptures, missions from about 91 to 77 BC—refer to Hardy’s point about dating.
17:5-17 (introduction to and beginning of sons of Mosiah’s missions; 90 BC)
17:18-19:36 (Ammon teaches Lamoni and his people)
20 (Ammon and Lamoni meet Lamoni’s father on their way to rescue Ammon’s brothers and friends)
21:1-17 (Aaron, Muloki, and their companions begin their missions with no success; we don’t know how long “many days” was that they were in prison, but does seem toward beginning of the fourteen years)
21:18-23 (Mormon’s summary conclusion of Ammon and Lamoni narrative)
22:1-26 (Ammon teaches Lamoni’s father)
22:27-35 (Digression about geography)
Concluding Points / Speak about transformation, willingness to give up those parts of our character that our holding us back from actualization, godlike traits, realize that often strengths and weaknesses two sides of same trait, weaknesses turning into strengths, speaking to people in a way that they can understand, working with others to get to the point where we can be “edified together”. Also the importance of prioritizing love and friendship in our relationships—no matter what we have to share, what we want to teach, if we have disagreements—the people we are speaking to must feel loved and listened to or we will accomplish nothing.

Some of these parallels are common sense—of course both kings would have a wife and servants, etc, but the two narratives seem crafted to act as foils to each other. (Refer to other interesting parallels by Joseph Spencer here: http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2011/04/something-like-a-feminist-interpretation-of-a-book-of-mormon-text-2-queen-and-servant/)

Ammon (17-19) / Aaron (22:1-26)
King / Lamoni; dialog / Lamoni’s father; extraordinary preemptive faith
Queen / Exemplary faithfulness / Anger, fear, hardheartedness
Service / Wins over king / Opportunity refused
Servants / Engaged—testify to king, part of conversion process / Passive—on the sidelines
People / Key previous convert, but still contention / Fear there will be contention; murmuring
Emotions / Astonished; Fainting 18:42 “fell unto the earth, as if he were dead” / Troubled, Fainting 22:18 “he was struck as if he were dead”
teaching / God, Ammon rewords as Great Spirit, heavens and earth, spirit, creation of world, Adam “told him” (18:36), scriptures, prophets down to Lehi, story of Lehites, “expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time” (38). “expounded” plan of redemption prepared from foundation of world, coming of Christ, “all the works of the Lord” / God, king asks if it is Great Spirit, heavens and earth, “reading the scriptures unto the king” (22:12); creation of Adam, man after image, commandments, transgression and fall, carnal state, plan of redemption, prepared from foundation of world; atonement, resurrection
result / King cries for mercy for himself and his people, is overcome. “Oh Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou has had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people” (18:41) Queen sends for Ammon, she responds in faith. She and servants are overcome. Story of Abish. People are converted. / King prays to know God “make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and saved at the last day”. Queen tries repeatedly to get Aaron killed; people are pacified.
Other Comments and Discussion starters / (See Reading Notes)
Personal Reading
Hardy’s Reader’s Edition
Other Sources