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. |
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21:2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the
people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called
Jerusalem. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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21:6 Thou also sayest, 1except 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. |
[1] Luke 13:3: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish. |
21:7 Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that
the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their
sins? |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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21:19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon
should serve him, or be his servant. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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