Seminary: 60 Alma 23-26

Background: Ammon’s brethren were released from prison and went to the land of Nephi to teach the King. He and his family were converted and established religious freedom to the Lamanites, and commanded his people to allow the sons of Mosiah free access to their churches and to not cause them any harm.

Play video of conversion story (Disclaimer)

Why are people typically enthusiastic about the Gospel when they share their conversion stories?

True conversion to the gospel brings many blessings.

President Ezra Taft Benson:

“Men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. To paraphrase President Harold B. Lee, they set fire in others because they are on fire. (See Stand Ye in Holy Places [Salt Lake City: Desert Book Co., 1974], p. 192.)

“Their will is swallowed up in His will. (See John 5:30)

“They do always those things that please the Lord (See John 8:29)

“Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to live for Him.

“Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, the words and acts reveal them as Christians.

“They stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places. (See Mosiah 18:9)”
(Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6-7)

Divide class into four groups: Those Who are Truly Converted – Have them read the quotes and passages and teach the rest of the class.
Alma 23:1-7, 16-18

“Social, ethical, cultural, or educational converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless their taproots go down to the fullness of the gospel which the Book of Mormon contains (Ensign, May 1975, 65)

“The Book of Mormon…speaks of God, the creation of man, the Fall, the Atonement, the ascension of Christ into heaven, prophets, faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, endurance, prayer, justification and sanctification through grace, and loving and serving God.

“We must know these essential truths. Aaron and Ammon and their brethren in the Book of Mormon taught these same kinds of truths to the Lamanite (see Alma 18:22-39), who were ‘in the darkest abyss’ (Alma 26:3). After accepting these eternal truths, the Book of Mormon states, those converted Lamanites never did fall away. (See Alma 23:6)" (Ensign, Nov. 1984, 7)

Alma 24:6, 16-26

“In former days, disciples of the Lord ‘were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin’ [Alma 24:19]. In latter days, devoted disciples of the Lord are just as firm”
(Ensign, May 1994, 71).

“The nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 51).

Alma 26:11-17, 35-37

“I feel so profoundly grateful in my heart for the blessings of the Lord. How good and kind and generous and wonderful He has been to us, as His sons and daughters. How thankful we ought to be every day of our lives” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Messages of Inspiration from President Hinckley,” Church News, 5 Dec. 1998, 2).

“Gospel gladness can be experienced…,as with Ammon, in rejoicing over being part of the Lord’s work” (Neal A. Maxwell, Meek and Lowly [1987], 39).

Alma 29:1-3, 9-14

“No joy is equal to bringing another to the light of the gospel” (Ensign, May 1984, 44).

See also D&C 18:15-16