Alma 22 - What Do I Teach?

Alma 22 – Aaron teaches Plan of Salvation

Again we see the first thing that is taught to the Lamanites is the basic Plan of Salvation.  This is important to know.  Why?  Let’s examine what exactly is taught when Aaron expounds the scriptures:

• Creation of Adam
• Fall of man
• Carnal state of man
• Plan of redemption
• Plan of redemption prepared from the foundation of the world
• Christ’s roll in Plan of Redemption
• Man is powerless to redeem self
• Christ atones for our sins
• Faith and repentance are the key to accessing that atonement
• Christ breaks the bands of death, so grave shall have no victory
• Sting of death swallowed up in hopes of glory

 The fascinating thing to me is all this knowledge is spelled out in two verses, Alma 22:13-14. 

What was King Lamoni’s response to this truckload of information?  Remember this is the same man, the father of Lamoni, who Aaron tried to teach earlier under a hostile encounter.  Now he has asked what needed to be done to root the evil out of his being and have this spirit that would fill him with joy.  Whereas before he was willing to give only half of his kingdom to spare his life, now he is willing to give everything he owns that he might have this spirit.  What a transformation!  (verse 15)

Aaron’s response is simple.  Verse 16 – “. . . bow down before God (pray) if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.”  This is the same instruction given to converts who are searching for truth.  It is not a hard, long list.  What was the result of King Lamoni’s prayer?  He too was overcome by the Spirit of God to the point of being struck as though he were dead.  (v18)   I don’t think we see much of that these days. 

When King Lamoni was revived, what was his next action?  In verse 23 we see he ministered to his people insomuch that his entire household were converted unto the Lord.  In Luke 22:32 Christ tells Simon Peter that “. . . when we are converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  I believe this is a natural tendency of a righteous man anyway.  We want to share the joy that comes to us.  Nobody wants to be happy alone.  At least that is my experience.

This is a chapter we must remember when we’re given the opportunity to “open our mouths” to share the gospel.  It is extremely dense in gospel doctrine.