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“They
Taught with Power
and Authority of God”
Alma 17–22
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Lesson
25
Summary |
Scripture
Summary: |
The sons of Mosiah have the spirit of
prophecy and of revelation—They go their several ways to declare the word
to the Lamanites—Ammon goes to the land of Ishmael and becomes the
servant of King Lamoni—Ammon saves the king’s flocks and slays his
enemies at the waters of Sebus. [From about 91 to 77 B.C.] |
King Lamoni
supposes that Ammon is the Great Spirit—Ammon teaches the king of the
creation, of God’s dealings with men, and of the redemption that comes
through Christ—Lamoni believes and falls to the earth as if dead. [About
90 B.C.]
Lamoni receives the light of everlasting life and sees the Redeemer—His
household fall into a trance, and some see angels—Ammon is preserved
miraculously—He baptizes many and establishes a church among them.
[About 90 B.C.]
The Lord sends Ammon to Middoni to deliver his imprisoned brethren—Ammon
and Lamoni meet Lamoni’s father, who is king over all the land—Ammon
compels the old king to approve the release of his brethren. [About 90
B.C.]
Aaron teaches the Amalekites about Christ and his atonement—Aaron and
his brethren are imprisoned in Middoni—After their deliverance they
teach in the synagogues and make many converts—Lamoni grants religious
freedom to the people in the land of Ishmael. [Between 90 and 77 B.C.]
Aaron teaches Lamoni’s father about the creation, the fall of Adam, and
the plan of redemption through Christ—The king and all his household are
converted—How the land was divided between the Nephites and the
Lamanites. [Between 90 and 77 B.C.] |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights:
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Proselytizing and the Jews: 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.
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Be More Orthodox:
"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."
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Promoting Gathering:
"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.)
Service to Neighbors:
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.
Ammon Serves: 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 bring him forward to an understanding of who the
"great spirit" was. We learn something of Ammon’s
teaching skills, power and authority as he follows the spirit and
takes the king back to the creation then forward to prophecies
already fulfilled and still anticipated.
An Ammon-like Future for Israel?
I would like to think that Ammon’s experience might be a parallel
to what may eventually happen 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
already done without the gifts of spirit and priesthood in building
a nation and restoring the land. 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.
How Many Views of the Middle-East are a Pack of
Lies? 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 felt. 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.
When Should Force be Used?
At times, Ammon chose to show his beliefs through force, a force
that had righteous intent. In each case, the force was necessary to
protect property or to save someone. A look at modern Israel might
be compared to these accounts. This could help in determining the
length that Israel had to go to, or is going or might yet have to go
to in fulfilling its God-given destiny.
Orson Hyde’s Prophetic View of Israel’s
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.)
Real Peace has Power and Authority:
The connection to the past and its recall can often take us beyond
our present narrow focus and get beyond our present concerns. Even
in their fallen state and distant from their forefather’s
connection to their 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." And those
that have it . . . quite naturally want to share it! |
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