The Fourteen Year Mission

We really don’t have very many details about the great mission to the Lamanites that the sons of Mosiah and their associates undertook.  We have a lot of information about a few stories, but they were there among the Lamanites for many years and there is much that wasn’t recorded.  They left for their mission about 91 BC, and they met back up with Alma as they were journeying back to Zarahemla about 77 BC.  Describing this return Mormon said, “They had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites” (Alma 17:4).  That seems to suggest that they never went back to Zarahemla during the whole period.  It was indeed an incredible sacrifice and show of love on their part, and their example is an inspiration to all missionaries today. 

               After they left their father Mosiah, we know that they “journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them” (Alma 17:9).  I don’t think that they went immediately and started preaching; rather it seems that they experienced some trials in this initial period as they went through the wilderness and prepared to go among the Lamanites.  We read of this time, “And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted” (Alma 17:10).  It appears that part of their struggle was the treatment they received from the other Nephites who discouraged their mission.  After describing how the other Nephites had “laughed us to scorn” Ammon recounted, “But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls. Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:23, 26-27).  It seems that they were close to giving it all up right from the start as they traveled in the wilderness from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi (where the Lamanites were) and had time to consider all of the discouraging words from their peers.  But, to their great credit, they did not shirk but went forth and “separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord” (Alma 17:13). 

               The text suggests that the great miracles Ammon had with king Lamoni were very soon after his arrival among the people.  At the end of the story we read, “And it came to pass that there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them” (Alma 19:35).  Despite how easy it all seemed with the conversion of the king, Ammon’s labors among the people in the land of Ishmael were significant.  After Ammon freed his brethren from prison, he returned to Lamoni’s people and we read that he was “teaching the people of Lamoni continually.”  He “did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence” (Alma 21:23, 22:1).  It’s easy to get the idea that Ammon had it easy and didn’t have to do much after the initial great conversion, but reading closely we see that he was laboring diligently every day for those fourteen years to teach and bring along the new converts in the gospel.  After Aaron and his brethren taught and helped convert the king over all of the land, they likewise tirelessly taught the gospel thanks to the king’s support.  We read, “And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city, and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them” (Alma 23:4).  The experience with the two kings, Lamoni and his father, probably took place in the first year of their missionary labors, and after that we know little except that they worked and worked to take the gospel to as many Lamanites as possible.  There were seven cities or lands that all accepted the gospel because of their efforts, and though we have little information about what transpired in particular after the kings’ conversions, it is clear that these missionaries indeed thrust in their sickles with their might. 

                 Ammon gave us a brief description of what those many years among the Lamanites were like when he summarized: “And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again. And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul” (Alma 26:29-30).  That they could serve and suffer for so many years among their former enemies is an incredible show of love that all missionaries should follow.