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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Book of Mormon
Alma 17–22
Week 27: July 1–7
“I Will Make an Instrument of Thee”
“Enter into the Rest of the Lord”
FAIR Faithful Resources for Come, Follow Me 2024 July 1–7. Alma 17–22: “I Will Make an Instrument of Thee”. These trusted sources can help you find answers to difficult questions and help you in your learning and teaching.
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Chapter Summaries
Alma 17
Alma 18
Alma 19
Alma 20
Alma 21
Alma 22
Alma 17
1-5: As Alma heads toward the land of Manti, he encounters the sons of Mosiah who have spent the past 14 years preaching to the Lamanites. They rejoice to see each other again and begin to recount their experiences to Alma. Their story will comprise chapters 17-27 of the book of Alma.
6-12: When the sons of Mosiah began their journey, they fasted and prayed mightily so that the Lord would bless their efforts. They received assurance that they would be instruments in the hands of God to bless the Lamanites, even though they would experience trials and afflictions.
13-17: The sons of Mosiah each go their separate ways as they begin their missions. The condition of the Lamanites is described.
18-39: Ammon goes to the city of Ishmael, ruled by King Lamoni. He is captured and brought before the king. Ammon expresses a desire to live among the Lamanites and becomes a servant in King Lamoni’s household. While performing the task of watching and watering the king’s sheep, he has an encounter with some ruffians who try to scatter and steal the sheep. Ammon defeats the offenders and protects the sheep. He and the other servants return home.
Alma 18
1-11: The servants who witnessed Ammon’s courage tell the king about his accomplishments at the Waters of Sebus. Both the servants and the king wonder if Alma is the “Great Spirit” and not just a man. King Lamoni fears that the Great Spirit may have come to punish him for his harsh treatment of his servants. Meanwhile, Ammon is continuing his service, taking care of the horses.
12-23: After finishing his chores, Ammon returns to the presence of the king to get his next task. The king is silent for an hour. Alma, guided by the Spirit, is able to perceive the reason for King Lamoni’s hesitation. This further convinces the king that Ammon is the Great Spirit. Ammon explains that he is not, and asks the king to give heed to the message he will share.
24-43: Ammon begins teaching King Lamoni, explaining to him about the nature of God, Adam and Eve, the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ. He shares the history of the family of Lehi and the enmity that has developed between the Nephites and Lamanites. King Lamoni accepts and believes Ammon’s message and is overcome by the Spirit, falling down unconscious.
Alma 19
1-1: King Lamoni is unconscious for two full days. Some believe him to be dead. King Lamoni’s wife asks to see Ammon. He checks on the status of the king at her request and confirms to her that the king is not dead but being taught by the Spirit. He assures her that the king will awaken on the next day.
12-18: The king rises, shares a portion of what was manifested to him during those three days and all in the room are overcome by the Spirit and fall to the ground, except Abish. She sees this as a great opportunity to help others in the land of Ishmael to learn about God, so goes house to house and tells of what has just happened. They gather in the house of the king and are amazed.
19-28: Those gathered try to find an explanation for what they see, some blaming Lamoni while others blame Ammon. One person tries to kill Ammon, but dies in the process. All remain confused and contentious.
29-36: Abish, hoping to end the contention, takes the queen by the hand. She awakens. All the others arise, all bearing testimony of the glorious things they were taught and their spiritual rebirth. Many are influenced and baptized.
Alma 20
1-8: King Lamoni wants to take Ammon to meet his father. However, Ammon learns through the Spirit that he needs to go to Middoni to assist his brethren who have been imprisoned. King Lamoni goes with him. En route they meet King Lamoni’s father.
9-16: King Lamoni’s father is angry with his son for having missed an event to which he had been summoned and for traveling with and helping a Nephite. He orders King Lamoni to slay Ammon. King Lamoni refuses. King Lamoni’s father, in anger, prepares to slay his son.
17-25: Ammon intercedes and protects King Lamoni. Gaining the upper hand over the older king, he negotiates the release of his brethren in Middoni and the ability for King Lamoni to continue his rule according to the dictates of his conscience.
26-30: Seeing the love that Ammon has for his son, King Lamoni’s father agrees to Ammon’s terms. They go to Middoni and facilitate the release of Ammon’s brethren, who suffered greatly in their missionary efforts.
Alma 21
1-14: Prior to being imprisoned in Midoni, Aaron had preached in Jerusalem (a Lamanite/Amulonite/Amalekite city) where he was mocked and rebuffed. He then went to the city of Anti Anit where he joined others of his brethren. They were rejected in Anti Anti and went to Midoni, where they were imprisoned. They are found and freed by Ammon and King Lamoni.
15-23: They continue to preach in Midoni and their second missionary effort is more successful. Ammon and King Lamoni return to Ishmael where the king encourages and participates in Ammon’s continuing ministry. The people of Ishmael grow in faith and righteousness.
Alma 22
1-18: While Ammon labors in Ishmael, Aaron is led to the palace of King Lamoni’s father, king of all the land, who has been reflecting on Ammon’s behavior and message since their previous encounter. Aaron teaches him the entire plan of salvation. The king pleads to God to know the truth and falls to the ground unconscious.
19-27: Fearing her husband is dead, the queen orders the death of Aaron and his brethren. However, before they can be killed, Aaron raises the king from off the floor. The king testifies of the truths he has learned and his whole household is converted, along with many others who were present.
28-35: The geography of Nephite and Lamanite lands is described.
Lesson Devotional
“I Will Make an Instrument of Thee”
By Michelle Pack
Usually while studying Alma chapters 17 to 22, we focus on Ammon, the conversion of King Lamoni, and the differences between the missions of Ammon and his brethren. We also study the teaching methods of Ammon and his brethren, looking for ways to touch those around us with the Spirit. However, I like to focus on a woman who became an instrument in the Lord’s hands, who didn’t hesitate to share her testimony with others: Abish, the Lamanite servant of the queen.
Abish had been “converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father,” but “never . . . made it known” (Alma 19:16–17). When Ammon and the royal family were overcome with the Spirit and fell to the earth, Abish “knew that it was the power of God,” and she believed that if the people saw “this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people” (Alma 19:17).
Abish didn’t hesitate to use this opportunity to become an instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach others about Christ. When the people gathered and saw Ammon and the royal family on the ground, disagreements arose. Abish, seeing the contention, was upset and “went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet” (Alma 19:29). Abish showed great faith and bravery by allowing the Lord to use her for His purposes.
Are we afraid to act when we have been prompted? We can follow the example of Abish and act, even when we feel weak. The work we are being asked to do, like that of the sons of Mosiah, is important and eternally impactful. We are asked to gather Israel. As President Russell M. Nelson said in the October 2020 general conference, “When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve.” [1] Allowing the Lord to use us to touch the lives of His children is a blessing.
In the April 1896 general conference, President Wilford Woodruff spoke of the priesthood and the blessing of missionaries. He said, “The Lord . . . has given to us an army of sons and daughters, and our sons are called to go to the nations of the earth. We want to instill into their minds the importance of these blessings to the inhabitants of the earth and the saving of souls from sin. You give unto any soul the principles of life and salvation and administer these ordinances to him, and you become an instrument in the hands of God in the salvation of that soul.” [2]
May we be brave and become instruments in the hands of the Lord so that He can use us to bring others to Him.
Endnotes
[1] Russell M. Nelson. “Let God Prevail,” October 2020 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
[2] Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, April 5, 1896, p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1896-04-05.
Michelle Pack
Michelle graduated from Utah State University–Eastern in 1995 with an associate degree in Graphic Design. After serving in the Guatemala, Guatemala North Mission from 1996 to 1998, she continued her education at Utah Valley University, graduating in 1999 with an associate degree in Paralegal Studies and in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management and an emphasis in Graphic Design. She worked as a paralegal for two years before having her children and becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom. Her two children are now in college. Not wanting to let her children suffer through college alone, Michelle went back to school and is now attending Utah Tech University, working on her master’s in Technical Writing and Digital Rhetoric. Michelle loves the gospel, family history, and the temple. She and her husband enjoy camping, hiking, and spending time together. She is excited to be a volunteer with the Wilford Woodruff Papers.
Lesson devotionals are provided by the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. Its mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from 1833 to 1898. It seeks to make Wilford Woodruff’s records universally accessible to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. See wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
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