Seminary: 58 Alma 20

Background: The people of Lamoni were converted unto the Lord.


Hold up an object, and ask a student to change it into something else.

Why can’t you do it?

What difference would it make if the Lord told you to do it?

What commandments, if any, had the Lord given that seem impossible to keep?

Who are some people from the scriptures who were asked by the Lord to do things that might have seemed impossible?

What made is possible for each person to accomplish the command?

Why do you think they even attempted such tasks?

Did they always know beforehand how they would accomplish their tasks?

What could they rely on until the commandment was fulfilled?

Alma 20:1-3

What task did the Lord give Ammon?

Why would this assignment be difficult?

Why was Ammon ready to do as the Lord asked prior to knowing how to accomplish it?

Alma 20:4 – first sentence

How did Lamoni show that he had faith in the Lord’s ability to help His children accomplish his commands?

Romans 8:31

What principles do these passages speak of?

Alma 20:4-7

How did the Lord provide a way for Ammon to accomplish the command that he gave him?

-Change of subject

Why do people get angry?

On the way to Middoni Ammon and Lamoni run into Lamoni’s father.

3 Nephi 11:29

Who is the source of angry feelings?

What did Ammon warn the king about his anger?

Why do you think that Ammon told the king about the spiritual danger of anger rather than simply defending Lamoni with his sword?

Why is it difficult to feel the Spirit when we are angry?

Elder Lynn G. Robbins:

“We can ‘do away’ with anger, for He has so taught and commanded us.

“Anger is a yielding to Satan’s influence by surrendering our self-control. It is the thought-sin that leads to hostile feelings or behavior. It is the detonator of road rage on the freeway, flare-ups in the sports arena, and domestic violence in homes.

“Unchecked, anger can quickly trigger an explosion of cruel words and other forms of emotional abuse that can scar a tender heart.”
(Ensign, May 1998, 80-81)

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“May I suggest that you watch your temper now, in these formative years of your life….This is the season to develop the power and capacity to discipline yourselves. You may think it is the macho thing to flare up in anger and swear and profane the name of the Lord. It is not the macho thing. It is an indication of weakness. Anger is not an expression of strength. It is an indication of one’s inability to control his thoughts, words, his emotions. Of course it is easy to get angry. When the weakness of anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves. Cultivate within yourselves the mighty power of self-discipline”
(Ensign, Nov. 1991, 51)

“If you have a temper, now is the time to learn to control it. The more you do so while you are young, the more easily it will happen. Let no member of this Church ever lose control of himself in such an unnecessary and vicious manner.”
(Ensign, May 1998, 50)