Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 26

Introduction

Bill Cosby has a routine in which he describes life at home with a newborn baby.  At first everyone is completely enthralled by everything the new baby does.  The proud new parents report everything to the happy grandparents, and someone even suggests bronzing the first dirty diaper.  After two months, God puts odor in the dirty diapers and no one thinks they’re cute anymore.  What do you do with a dirty diaper on a kid?  You change it!  Why?  Because the dirty one is nasty, unpleasant, and if left unchanged, unsanitary and ultimately dangerous.  What is it like after it is changed?  It’s clean again and pleasant to be around.  It’s the standard we strive for.

 

What on earth does this have to do with the Book of Mormon?  Last week we discussed Limhi and his father, and their miraculous experience being taught by Ammon, Aaron, and others.  These leaders and many of their people were totally converted (remember, converted means changed) to the Lord, and we will see some of the qualities of those who are completely changed by their testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies are converted to the Lord

In Alma 23 we pick up where we left off last week, with Lamoni’s father being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As the high king over the land, he didn’t command all of his people to be baptized because that is not the Lord’s way.  What did he do?  Read Alma 23:1-3.  What was the result of this command?  Read Alma 23:4-7. 

How did the Anti-Nephi-Lehies demonstrate the extent of their conversion?

a.       They “were converted unto the Lord” (Alma 23:6). Why is it essential that Jesus Christ be at the center of our conversion? For what other reasons might people be drawn to the Church? (Answers may include the personalities of missionaries, the influence of friends, or the appeal of social programs.) Why do these things alone fail to bring about true conversion?

b.       They “were desirous … that they might be distinguished from their brethren” (Alma 23:16). In what ways did the converted Lamanites choose to distinguish themselves from their brethren who remained wicked?

                     i.            Alma 23:16–18 – They took a new name upon themselves.

                    ii.            Alma 27:27–30 – They were completely honest in all things.  They did not delight in bloodshed or fear death.  Don’t all those things sound a little peculiar in today’s world? 

                  iii.            In what ways are we distinguished from the world when we are converted? Why is it important to distinguish ourselves in such ways?

c.        They expressed gratitude to God even in times of trial and affliction (Alma 24:6–10, 23).  As a result of their conversion, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies faced tremendous problems.

                     i.            Alma 24:1-2 – The unconverted subjects rejected their king.

                    ii.            Alma 24:20-22; 27:1–3. – Over a thousand faithful converts were slaughtered by the sword.

                  iii.            Despite these afflictions, what were they grateful for? (See Alma 24:7–10.) They were primarily grateful for the opportunity to repent!  How many of us want to repent when things aren’t going our way?  How can gratitude to God help us face trials and afflictions?

d.       “They took their swords … and they did bury them up deep in the earth” (Alma 24:15–17). Why did the Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their swords and other weapons? (See Alma 23:7; 24:11–13, 18–19.) Why was it significant that they buried their weapons rather than simply promising not to use them? How might we sometimes “rebel against God”? What can we do to bury our “weapons of rebellion”?

                     i.            We’ve been talking about why the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi did what they did.  We also get a quick reminder of why God does what he does in the middle of Alma 24:14 – “Because he loveth our souls…”  How can we remember God’s love when it feels like your enemies are running at your with swords?

e.        They showed “great love” for their brethren (Alma 26:31). In what ways can conversion increase a person’s love for others? Does that happen automatically, or do we need to work for it?

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies go to Jershon

After seeing the destruction of the converted Lamanites by those who remained wicked, Ammon suggests asking the Nephites for protection.  The Lamanite king doesn’t like that idea and is sure the Nephites will kill them.  After Ammon inquires of the Lord and tells the Lamanite king that it is God’s will that they seek safety in the land of the Nephites, then the king is willing to go and accept whatever consequences follow.  They settle in the land of Jershon and support the Nephite armies with what they produce.

Ammon and Alma Rejoice

In Alma 26:1-9 Ammon celebrates the wonderful things God has done for the Lamanites, and that he got to be a part of.  When Aaron rebuked him for boasting, Ammon clarified his feelings.  Read Alma 26:11-12.  What does Ammon mean when he says that in God’s strength he can do all things?  What does this mean for you??

 

It wasn’t always easy to be a missionary.  Read Alma 26:27-28.  Ammon explains the key to their endurance at the very end of verse 28 – they relied upon the mercies of God.  What does this mean?  How can we rely on God’s mercies when things go wrong in our lives?

 

Alma’s greatest desire was to proclaim the gospel to all people.  Read Alma 29:1-2.  The result of the type of preaching Alma wants to engage in is an end of all sorrow.  This is what will happen at the end, but God defines when that end will be.  Until then, we like Alma need to be content with what the Lord has allotted to us (see verse 3).

Conclusion

We can and must follow the example of the converted Lamanites and be changed by the influence of Jesus Christ in our lives.  As we do so, our old sinful desires will be swallowed up by the joy that comes from turning our hearts, lives, and desires over to him.  We need to identify the weapons of our rebellion and bury them deep in the earth.

Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 25

Introduction

Elder Carlos E. Asay related the following experience:

“Not too long ago, I heard the testimony of a new convert—a young man obviously touched by the Spirit. Among other things, he indicated that it was his great desire to share the restored gospel with his family and friends. With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his voice, he said:

“ ‘I want them to know what I know.

“ ‘I want them to feel what I feel.

“ ‘I want them to do what I have done.’

“There is a missionary spirit—a spirit which urges us to live outside ourselves and to be concerned for the welfare of others. And anyone who has ever served an honorable mission, assisted in the conversion of a friend, supported a son or daughter in the mission field, or enjoyed close associations with missionaries will testify of its reality” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, 58; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, 42).

The sons of Mosiah felt so strongly about what they knew that they had to do something about it.  They became some of the greatest missionaries in the scriptures.

Today’s lesson primarily discusses missionary work and how we can be better missionaries.  This is a responsibility we all share.  I also believe that the principles we are going to discuss today relate to many other righteous responsibilities we have.  Consider how you can apply what we discuss today in your life, whether in your family, career, schooling, etc.

In the last couple of weeks we have talked about Alma’s preaching in Zarahemla, Middoni, Ammonihah, and other Nephite lands.  This chapter begins as Alma is traveling toward Manti and is surprised to bump into Ammon and his brothers who were going to Zarahemla.

The sons of Mosiah preach to the Lamanites

Why were the sons of Mosiah so successful?  Read Alma 17:2-3.  Make a list on the chalkboard listing principles from today’s lesson.  Point #1: Study, fast and pray.

• How does our personal worthiness and preparation affect our ability to be effective in our righteous efforts?
• How have you or someone you know been blessed because of their preparation?

What did these missionaries sacrifice to preach the gospel?  Read Alma 17:5-6.  Why did they do this?  (See Alma 17:9, 16)  Point #2: Love God and others.

Ammon and company had a tough assignment to preach to a group of wicked, unrepentant people.  God wanted this done, but he didn’t miraculously make it easy.  Read Alma 17:10-11.  Verse 11 talks about being patient in long-suffering.  To me this implies that some of our problems may not pass very quickly, and that our responsibility is to be patient, not necessarily to solve the problem.  As we do so, God can use our experience for his glory and to bless others.  How can we develop this patience?  How have you seen blessings come through afflictions?  Point #3: Be patient.

Ammon teaches King Lamoni

After arriving in the Lamanite lands, the missionaries split up, and Ammon went to the land of Ishmael and met King Lamoni.  Ask someone to summarize the events in Alma 17:19-39. 

Ammon declined an opportunity to marry one of Lamoni’s daughters!  Becoming a Lamanite prince may have seemed like a great way to further the work of the Lord, but Ammon declined, offering instead to be a servant.

How did Ammon respond when the flocks were scattered?  Why?  (See Alma 17:29)  Point #4: Find opportunities in challenges.

After preserving the flocks, what did Ammon do next?  He simply went on to his next assignment rather than looking for praise.  See Alma 18:8-10.  Point #5: Give service and develop trust.

Read Alma 18:24-33.  Point #6: Build on common beliefs.

Read Alma 18:36, 39.  Point #7: Teach the plan of salvation from the scriptures.

King Lamoni believed Ammon’s teachings.  Read Alma 18:40-41.  Summarize the story in Alma 19.  The end result is recorded in Alma 19:33.  True doctrine taught by the power of the Holy Ghost changes lives.

Lamoni’s father is taught

Summarize the story of Ammon and King Lamoni traveling to the land of Middoni and meeting Lamoni’s father on the way.  Read Alma 20:23.  Note that the king was willing to give up half of his kingdom in exchange for his mortal life.  We’ll come back to this idea in a minute.

Aaron and others had been thrown in prison where they suffered much.  Read Alma 21:14-15.  Point #8: Be diligent in spite of setbacks.

Read Alma 22:2-3.  This always makes me smile.  Aaron knew what had worked for Ammon, so he decided to try the same.  Lamoni’s father already trusted Aaron, and he was too anxious to be taught to bother with the preliminary stuff.  Point #9: Be a good example, and follow the good examples of others.

Aaron followed the same teaching pattern Ammon had used, teaching Lamoni’s father from the scriptures about God, the creation, fall and atonement.  Read Alma 22:15-16.  I think an important point is contained in verse 15.  Remember that to spare his mortal life, the king was willing to give up half of his kingdom.  But once he felt the Spirit testify of the truths of the gospel, he was willing to give up all that he possessed.  What lessons are there for us in this experience of King Lamoni’s father?

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each of us must surrender our sins if we are to really know Christ. For we do not know Him until we become like Him. There are some, like this king, who must pray until they, too, have ‘a wicked spirit rooted’ from them so they can find the same joy” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1983, 63; or Ensign, Nov. 1983, 43).

Conclusion

These principles taught by Ammon, Aaron, and others, and demonstrated in the experiences of Lamoni and his father are keys to our success in missionary work, and in life.  As we follow the 9 points listed above, we will not only help others become converted, we too will be converted.