THE BOOK OF ALMA Chapter 13

    An account of the preaching of Aharon, and Muloki, and their brothers, to the Lamanites.

  1. Now when Ammon and his brothers separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold, Aharon took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Yerushalayim, calling it after the land of their fathers’ nativity; and it was away joining the borders of M’raman. Now the Lamanites, and the Amlicites, and the people of Amulon had built a great city which was called Yerushalayim. Now the Lamanites, of themselves, were sufficiently hardened; but the Amlicites and the Amulonites were still harder. Therefore, they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should grow stronger in wickedness and their abominations.
  2. And it came to pass that Aharon came to the city of Yerushalayim, and first began to preach to the Amlicites. 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 Amlicites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors. Therefore, as Aharon entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold, there arose an Amlicite and began to contend with him, saying, What is that that you have testified? Have you seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold, are not this people as good as your people? You also say, except we repent we shall perish. How do you know the thought and intent of our heart? How do you know that we have cause to repent? How do you know that we are not a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship Elohim. We do believe that Elohim will save all men.
  3. Now Aharon said unto him, Do you believe that the Son of Elohim shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? And the man said unto him, We do not believe that you know any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that you know of things to come, neither do we believe that your fathers, and also that our fathers, did know concerning the things which they spoke of — that which is to come.
  4. Now Aharon began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Mashiach, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind except it were through the death and sufferings of Mashiach, and the atonement of his blood. And it came to pass that as he began to explain these things unto them, they were angry with him, and began to mock him, and they would not hear the words which he spoke. Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of the 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 brothers. And they contended with many about the word. 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. Nevertheless, Aharon and a certain number of his brothers were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about. 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. 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. And they went forth wherever they were led by the spirit of yhwh, preaching the word of Elohim in every synagogue of the Amlicites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted.
  5. And it came to pass that yhwh began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yes, they did convince many of their sins, and of the tradition of their fathers which were not correct.
  6. And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Yishma’el, which was the land of their inheritance. And king Lamoni would not allow that Ammon should serve him or be his servant, but he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Yishma’el; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together. 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 oppression of the king, his father, for his father had granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the land of Yishma’el and in all the land round about. And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshipping yhwh their Elohim according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni. 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 mitzvot of Elohim. Now, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the account of Aharon and his other brothers; for after he departed from the land of Middoni, he was led by the spirit to the land of Nefi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land, except it were the land of Yishma’el; and he was the father of Lamoni.
  7. And it came to pass that he went in unto him, into the king’s palace, with his brothers, and bowed himself before the king, and said unto him, Behold, O king, we are the brothers of Ammon whom you have delivered out of prison. And now, O king, if you will spare our lives, we will be your servants. And the king said unto them, Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not allow that you shall be my servants, but I will insist that you shall minister unto me, for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of your brother Ammon, and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni with you. And Aharon said unto the king, Behold, the spirit of yhwh has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Yishma’el to teach the people of Lamoni. Now the king said unto them, What is this that you have said concerning the spirit of yhwh? Behold, this is the thing which does trouble me. And also, what is this that Ammon said? — If you will repent, you shall be saved, and if you will not repent, you shall be cast off at the last day? And Aharon answered him, and said unto him, Do you believe that there is an Elohim? And the king said, I know that the Amlicites say that there is an Elohim, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now you say there is an Elohim, behold, I will believe.116
  8. And now when Aharon heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said, Behold, assuredly as you live, O king, there is an Elohim. And the king said, Is Elohim that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Yerushalayim? And Aharon said unto him, Yes, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things, both in Heaven and in earth.117 Do you believe this? And he said, Yes, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that you should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe your words.118
  9. And it came to pass that when Aharon saw that the king would believe his words, he began, from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king: how Elohim created man after his own image, and that Elohim gave him mitzvot, and that because of transgression, man had fallen. And Aharon did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state, and also the plan of redemption which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Mashiach, for all whosoever would believe on his name. And since man had fallen, he could not merit anything of himself. But the suffering and death of Mashiach atones for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth, and that he breaks the bands of death that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory. And Aharon did explain all these things unto the king. And it came to pass that after Aharon had explained these things unto him, the king said, What shall I do that I may have this Eternal life of which you have spoken? Yes, what shall I do that I may be born of Elohim, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his spirit that I may be filled with joy? That I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yes, I will abandon my kingdom that I may receive this great joy. But Aharon said unto him, If you desire this thing, if you will bow down before Elohim — yes, if you repent of all your sins, and will bow down before Elohim, and call on his name in faith, believing that you shall receive, then shall you receive the hope which you desire.119
  10. And it came to pass that when Aharon had said these words, the king did bow down before yhwh upon his knees, yes, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying, O Elohim, Aharon has told me that there is an Elohim, and if there is an Elohim, and if you are Elohim, will you make yourself known unto me? And I will give away all my sins to know you, and that I may be raised from the dead and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.
  11. And it came to pass that his servants ran and told the queen all that had happened unto the king, and she came in unto the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also Aharon and his brothers standing as though they had been the cause of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay them. Now the servants had seen the cause of the king’s fall, therefore they dared not lay their hands on Aharon and his brothers. And they pled with the queen, saying, Why do you command that we should slay these men when, behold, one of them is mightier than us all? Therefore, we shall fall before them. Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants, she also began to fear exceedingly that there should some evil come upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aharon and his brothers.
  12. Now when Aharon saw the determination of the queen, and he also knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, feared that a multitude should assemble themselves together and there should be a great contention and a disturbance among them, therefore he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth, and said unto him, Stand. And he stood upon his feet, receiving his strength. Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of his servants. And when they saw it, they greatly marveled and began to fear. And the king stood forth and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them insomuch that his whole household was converted unto yhwh. Now there was a multitude gathered together because of the commandment of the queen, and there began to be great murmurings among them because of Aharon and his brothers. But the king stood forth among them and ministered unto them, and they were pacified towards Aharon and those who were with him.
  13. And it came to pass that when the king saw that the people were pacified, he caused that Aharon and his brothers should stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should preach the word unto them. And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land, among all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zerach’mla by a narrow strip of wilderness which ran from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the seashore and the borders of the wilderness which was on the north by the land of Zerach’mla, through the borders of Manti by the head of the river Tzidon running from the east towards the west; and thus were the Lamanites and the Nefites divided. Now the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness and lived in tents. And they were spread through the wilderness on the west in the land of Nefi, yes, and also on the west of the land of Zerach’mla, in the borders by the seashore, and on the west in the land of Nefi, in the place of their fathers’ first inheritance, and thus bordering along by the seashore. And also, there were many Lamanites on the east by the seashore, where the Nefites had driven them. And thus the Nefites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites. Nevertheless, the Nefites had taken possession of all the northern parts of the land bordering on the wilderness at the head of the river Tzidon, from the east to the west, round about on the wilderness side on the north, even until they came to the land which they called Bountiful. And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and had been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zerach’mla, it being the place of their first landing. And they came from there up into the south wilderness. Thus, the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the wilderness which was filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind, a part of which had come from the land northward for food. And now it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nefite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nefi and the land of Zerach’mla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward.
  14. And it came to pass that the Nefites had inhabited the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea, and thus the Nefites, in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies, had hemmed in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should have no more possession on the north, that they might not overrun the land northward. Therefore, the Lamanites could have no more possessions, only in the land of Nefi and in the wilderness round about. Now this was wisdom in the Nefites, as the Lamanites were an enemy to them; they would not suffer their afflictions on every side, and also that they might have a country to where they might flee, according to their desires. And now I, after having said this, return again to the account of Ammon, and Aharon, Omner, and Himni, and their brothers.