GOSPEL
DOCTRINE LESSON
Supplements for
LDS Sunday School Courses for the Book of Mormon
(Including
Information for
Preparing Gospel Doctrine Lessons in Hebrew)
by Daniel Rona
Lesson Number
25
"They Taught with Power and Authority of God"
(Alma 17-22)
The chapters being considered in this lesson deal with proselytizing in a very genuine way. Proselytizing is an anathema to Jews and that is why proselytizing to Jews is considered part of "antisemitism." Yet, one of the Hasidic groups of the Jews, the Habad, makes quite a "propaganda" effort to convert Jews (and others) to become more orthodox or actually convert to Judaism.
"The uniqueness of Habad lies in the fact that it tries to reach other Jews and, if not to make "Habadniks" out of them, at least to draw them a little closer to Orthodoxy. Habad representatives make regular visits to college campuses and military camps. They conduct a once-a-month kindergarten for a small number of Jewish children who live miles away from the nearest synagogue or Jewish school, and they will even send a mohel to circumcise a child on a remote Caribbean island."
"Habad has developed a widespread network of schools, and it was the first Hasidic group to open yeshivot for the study of Torah and other religious subjects. They are also very active in attempting to help Russian Jews to emigrate to Israel. They run a strong "propaganda" campaign and, in Jerusalem, the tourist visiting the Western Wall is likely to be approached by a Habad Hasid with a pair of tefillin in his hand, suggesting that he put them on then and there." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Outside the realm of proselytizing, Israel as a nation, seeks opportunities to be of service to surrounding nations. Recent earthquakes in nearby Turkey and fires in neighboring Cyprus brought scores of Israelis with equipment to their rescue operations. Recent history also includes accounts of Israelis protecting the late King Hussein in neighboring Jordan from assassination attempts.
In the Book of Mormon's accounts of rescues and unusual service, Ammon takes the opportunity afforded him because of his service to the king, to take the King back to the thing he believed, (the great spirit) and then brings him forward to an understanding of whom the "great spirit" was. We learn something of Ammon's teaching skills, power and authority as he follows the spirit and likewise, takes the king back to the creation and progresses forward as prophecies were fulfilled and are still being anticipated.
I would like to think that Ammon's experience might be a parallel to what may happen eventually to the Jews in Israel. I also see the foundation of the kind of faith, described in Ammon's account, in some of the people in Israel. I sense, that given a chance to stop and start again, many have the character to follow the Lord's spirit and be part of miraculous experiences. Just look what they've done without the gifts of spirit and priesthood in building a nation and restoring the land already. Modern religious Jews are anticipating the return of prophets (Elijah, Moses, Joseph, and David - just to mention a few) to come with power and authority to restore the ancient kingdom, temple and covenant with God.
The challenges lie in the conflict of ideologies and ethnic misunderstandings of some that are widely echoed in media reports. The father of Lamoni was gripped with the rhetoric and even the "pack of lies" of his days. It created the animosity he had. That kind of animosity exists in Israel, both with Arabs and Jews, fed by untruths that a few continue to propagate. In some instances, force needs to be used to stop the hatred that develops.
Ammon chose times to show through force, a force that had righteous intent. In each case, the force was necessary to protect property or to save someone. The judgement of modern Israel might be compared to these accounts. The comparison could help in determining the length that Israel had to go, or is going or might yet have to go in fulfilling its God given destiny.
"Thou, O Lord, did once move the heart of Cyrus to show favor unto Jerusalem and her children. Do Thou now also be pleased to inspire the hearts of kings and the powers of the earth to look with a friendly eye towards this place, and with a desire to see Thy righteous purposes executed in relation thereto. Let them know that it is Thy good pleasure to restore the kingdom unto Israel raise up Jerusalem as its capital, and constitute her people a distinct nation and government, with David Thy servant, even a descendant from the loins of ancient David to be their king."
"Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham's children, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight. Let not their enemies prevail against them, neither let pestilence or famine overcome them, but let the glory of Israel overshadow them, and the power of the Highest protect them; while that nation or kingdom that will not serve Thee in this glorious work must perish, according to Thy word -- Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." (History of the Church, vol. 4, pp. 456-57.)
The connection to the past and its recall can often take us beyond our present narrow focus and get beyond our concerns. Even in their fallen state and distant from their forefather's connection to their erstwhile homeland, they called a new city, Jerusalem, City of Shalom, City of Peace. Every time peace prevailed, it was as a result of righteous "power and authority."
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