21:1 Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the
borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey
towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling
it after the land of their fathers’ nativity; and it was away joining
the borders of Mormon.
21:2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had
built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.
21:3 Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but
the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did
cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they
should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations.
21:4 And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and
first began to preach to the Amalekites. 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 Amalekites and the Amulonites were after
the order of the Nehors.
21:5 Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach
unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose
an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou
hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto
us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people?
21:6 Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest
thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we
have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous
people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves
together to worship God. We do believe that God will save all men.
21:7 Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall
come to redeem mankind from their sins?
21:8 And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any
such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not
believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that
thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things
which they spake, of that which is to come.
21:9 Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the
coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and
that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the
death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood.
21:10 And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them
they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not
hear the words which he spake.
21:11 Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he
departed out of their 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 brethren. And they contended with many
about the word.
21:12 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.
21:13 Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were
taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them fled out of the
land of Middoni unto the regions round about.
21:14 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.
21:15 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.
21:16 And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of
the Lord, preaching the word of God in every synagogue of the
Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be
admitted.
21:17 And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch
that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did
convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers,
which were not correct.
21:18 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land
of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land of their
inheritance.
21:19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or
be his servant.
21:20 But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land
of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under
his reign, should assemble themselves together.
21:21 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 oppressions of the king, his father; for that his father had
granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the
land of Ishmael, and in all the land round about.
21:22 And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty
of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in
whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under
the reign of king Lamoni.
21:23 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
commandments of God.