On Thursday, September 22nd, Kim prepared dinner that we delivered it to Helio Gustavo & Bruna Gardim Andrade. This is Vicente, he was born just before midnight on September 14th.
SCRIPTURE POWER
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
The Book of Mormon contains one of the greatest love stories ever told, in the conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies or people of Ammon.
“we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren” (Alma 26:31) “so great love in all the land” (Alma 26:33)
It begins when the unnamed “old king” (Alma 20:24) “saw the great love he [Ammon] had for his son Lamoni…he was desirous to learn” (Alma 20:26-27). “his whole household were converted unto the Lord.” (Alma 22:23) they experienced “sore repentance” (Alma 27:23) and wanted a name “that they might be distinguished from their brethren [the Lamanites]” (Alma 23:16). The king after consulting with Aaron and others decides on the name: Anti-Nephi-Lehi. This appears to mean: “those of Nephi and Lehi”. They “began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites.” (Alma 23:18)
The unconverted Lamanites “were stirred up by the Amalikites and by the Amunonites to anger against their brethren. And their hatred became exceedingly sore…even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king” [old king] (Alma 24:2) At this point the old king confers the kingdom upon his son and dies in this same year. (Alma 24: 3-4) Whenever there was a new king, there was instant instability.
Ammon, and his brothers see “the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their” converts. (Alma 24:5) They travel to Midian then to Ishmael which is ruled independently by Lamoni. They hold a council on “what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites.” (Alma 24:5)
Lamoni’s brother (Anti-Nephi-Lehi) who was recently appointed king over all the remaining land has traveled from Nephi to Ishmael. In this setting Mormon, includes “the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter:” (Alma 24:7) His persuasive speech is only ten (10) verses but packed with power and doctrine (Alma 24: 7-16). Interestingly, the proposal to bury their swords deep and sacrifice their lives does not come from Ammon, Aaron or any of the missionaries but from their recent convert. His speech is so effective that “not one soul..would take up arms against their brethren” (Alma 24:6)
This group of new converts enter into a covenant. “they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin..” (Alma 24: 19) and they “praised God even in the very act of perishing.” (Alma 24:23) “they never did fall away” (Alma 23:6)
They subsequently refused to defend themselves when under Lamanite attack and allowed themselves to be slaughtered on two occasions by their Lamanite brethren. Following the second assault, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies emigrated to the Nephite land of Jershon, where the Nephites protected them from further Lamanite attack. “they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things” (Alma 27:27)
This very unique covenant only occurs once in the Book of Mormon. In fact just a few years later we read how captain Moroni inspired by a “better cause” (Alma 43:45) leads the armies of the Nephites against the Lamanites “ the duty which they owed to their God…ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. (Alma 43: 46-47) (see also Alma 26:34)
The basis for the covenant is centered in their faith on Jesus Christ. “they were firm in the faith of Christ even unto the end…they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection” (Alma 27:27-28) In fact in this very short ten (10) verse speech, the prophet king Anti-Nephi-Lehi mentions six of the seven elements of faith that Alma the younger teaches to the apostate Zoramites. Aaron, also taught these same elements of faith (Alma 21: 7, 9)
7 elements of faith or the “word” which should be planted in our hearts. Alma 33:23
Alma 33:22 Alma the younger
1.) ‘believe in the Son of God’
2.) ‘that he will come to redeem his people’
3.) ‘that he shall suffer and die’
4.) ‘to atone for their sins’
5.) ‘that he shall rise again from the dead’
6.) ‘which shall bring to pass the resurrection’
7.) ‘that all men shall stand before him, to be judged’
Alma 24: 7-16 Anti-Nephi-Lehi who was probably taught by Aaron.
1.) “the Son of our great God” (Alma 24:13)
2.) “through the merits of his Son.” (Alma 24:10)
3.) “the blood of the Son...which shall be shed..” (Alma 24:13)
4.) “for the atonement of our sins” (Alma 24: 13)
5.) resurrection is not mentioned in these 10 verses, nonetheless, it was an important principle. See (Alma 27:28)
6.) “the last day”...”the last day” (Alma 24: 15,16) (see John 6: 39,40,44,54; Jn. 11:24)
7.) “brought to stand before him to be judged” (Alma 24: 15)
Alma 21:7, 9 Aaron
1.)“the Son of God shall come” (Alma 21:7) “the coming of Christ” (Alma 21:9)
2.)“to redeem mankind from their sins” (Alma 21:7) “no redemption for mankind save it were through…Christ” (Alma 21:9)
3.) “through the death and sufferings of Christ” (Alma 21:9)
4.) “the atonement of his blood” (Alma 21:9)
5.) “the resurrection of the dead” (Alma 21:9)
Prior to their conversion the Lamanites were described as: “whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood..” (Alma 26: 24) Now after their conversion Ammon says: “we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.” (Alma 26:31) “they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren.” (Alma 26:32) “I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not, even among the Nephites.” (Alma 26:33) “these have laid down their lives…because of their love and of their hatred to sin” (Alma 26: 34)
Anti-Nephi-Lehi taught them that “my Great God..hath granted unto us that we might repent..he hath forgiven us of those are many sins..and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.” (Alma 24:10) “the great God..loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children..” (Alma 24: 14) He taught his people to love their brethren. They sacrifice their lives because of their faith in Christ and love for their brethren even though those that slay them “the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors.” (Alma 24:28)
They demonstrate their love years later when those members of the apostate Zoramites who are re-converted are cast out of the land of Antionum by the “more popular part of the Zoramites” and “the people of Ammon [Anti-Nephi-Lehies]…they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites..they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants.” (Alma 35:9)
The covenant they entered into contained 3 parts (Alma 24:18): “covenanting with God, that”
1.) “rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and
2.) “rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and
3.) “rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.”
Their sons (the 2,000 stripling solders) who had not been guilty of the same sins and murders were not encouraged to continue the covenant related to burying deep their weapons of war and sacrificing their lives. Their covenant was just the opposite.
The 2,000 stripling warriors: “..they entered into a covenant” (Alma 53:17)
1.) “to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea,”
2.) “to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted”
3.) “that they never would give up their liberty, but”
4.) “they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.” (Alma 53:17)
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