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proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favour in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison.

29. And when Ammon did meet them, he was exceeding sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly, because of being bound with 2astrong cords. And they also had 20suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.

30. And as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arriven to the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with 2dstrong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon.

An account of the preaching of Aaron, and Muloki, and their brethren, to the Lamanites.

CHAPTER 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 father's nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.

2. Now the Lamanites, and the Amalekites, and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.

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.

4. And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and firstly 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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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?

6. Thou also sayest, except we repent, we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our heart? 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 mall men.

7. Now Aaron said unto him, Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins?

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.

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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

19. And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant;

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.

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.

22. And he also declared unto them, that they might have the liberty of worshipping 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.

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.

CHAPTER 22.

1. Now as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the account of Aaron and his brethren; for after he departed from the "land of Middoni, he was led by the Spirit to the 'land of Nephi; even to the house of the king which was cover all the land, save it were the land of Ishmael; and he was the "father of Lamoni.

t, see u, Alma 16. u, see n, Jacob 7. v, see b, Alma 20. w, see w, Alma 17. 2, Alma 17: 25. y, see u, Alma 16. z, Alma 20: 24, 26. d, see w,

22: 1.

a, see b, Alma 20. b, see b, 11. Nep. 5.
e, Alma 20: 8, 9.

Alma 17.

c, Alma 20: 8.

2. And it came to pass that he went in unto him into the king's palace, with his brethren, and bowed himself before the king, and said unto him, Behold, O king, we are the brethren of Ammon, whom thou hast delivered out of prison.

3. And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants. And the king said unto them, Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind, because of the generosity, and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of "Middoni with thee.

4. And Aaron said unto the king, Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni.

5. Now the king said unto them, What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me.

6. And also, what is this that Ammon said-*If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day?

7. And Aaron answered him and said unto him, Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said, I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build 'sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe.

8. And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said, Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God.

9. And the king said, Is God that "Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem?

10. And Aaron said unto him, Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth: Believest thou this?

11. And he said yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.

12. And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the "creation of Adam, 'reading the scriptures unto the king: how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had

fallen.

13. And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures, from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the "foundation of the world,

f, Alma 20: 26, 27. g, Alma 20: 26. h, see b, Alma 20. w, Alma 17. j, ver. 4. ke, Alma 20: 17, 18.

i, see 1, see t, Alma 15.

m, see b, Alma 18.1 n, ver. 13. See m, Mos. 2. o, copy from the Brass

Plates. Alma 63: 12.

P, see d, Mos. 4.

through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his

name.

14. And since man had fallen, he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ, atoneth for their sins, through faith and repentance, &c.; and that he "breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the 'sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.

15. And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said, What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do, that I may be "born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess; yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

16. But Aaron said unto him, If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt "bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and "call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

17. And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did "prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying,

18. O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck 2"as if he were dead.

19. And it came to pass that his servants ran and told the queen all that had happened unto the king. And she came in unto the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also Aaron and his brethren standing as 26though they had been the cause of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay them.

20. Now the servants had seen the cause of the king's fall, therefore they durst not lay their hands on Aaron and his brethren; and they plead with the queen, saying, Why commandest thou that we should slay these men, when behold one of them is mightier than us all? Therefore we shall fall before them.

21. Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants, she r, see g and j, 11. Nep. 9.

q, see f, II. Nep. 2. t, see i, Mos. 16. 17, 18.

2a, ver. 19.

u, see c, Mos. 5.
x, see e, II. Nep. 32.
2 b, ver. 18.

v, see q,

Mos.

8, see h, Mos. 16.
2.
w, vers

y, ver. 16.

2, see e, II. Nep. 32.

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