Preach Again

One of the messages of the Book of Mormon is to not give up teaching the gospel, even to those who reject it.  We see in a dramatic way how Lehi and Nephi tried over and over to teach Laman and Lemuel the gospel.  From the beginning of their travels when Lehi pled with his two sons to run to the “fountain of all righteousness” and to be “immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord” to the very end of his life when he implored them, “Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent,” Lehi was continually seeking to teach his rebellious sons (1 Nephi 2:9-10, 2 Nephi 4:14).  Even though they ultimately rejected the gospel, this story teaches us to never give up on loved ones, to always hold out hope for them to turn to the Lord.  As Mormon told his son Moroni, “My beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently” (Moroni 9:6).  Even though the people were headed straight for destruction and would not listen to Mormon, he and Moroni still tried their best to teach the gospel and testify of the Savior. 

            We see several other stories in the Book of Mormon that highlight the need to give others multiple chances to accept the gospel and repent.  Alma learned this as a priest for King Noah, for Abinadi preached multiple tines and even came back to the city when he had been first rejected.  Alma the Younger learned of the Lord’s willingness to give multiple chances to repent came when he was cast out of Ammonihah but subsequently told by the angel: “I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them” (Alma 8:16).  He himself knew a lot about second chances for he was given the opportunity to repent after years of great wickedness.  Nephi the son of Helaman did not even go home after he learned that he was to continue preaching to his wicked people who were hardly heeding him: “He did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were scattered about upon the face of the land, and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord” (Helaman 10:12).  Samuel the Lamanite of course likewise learned that he had to give the people as many chances as possible to accept the gospel after he was cast out but then told by an angel: “But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his hear” (Helaman 13:3).  The people at Zarahemla, even though most of them would reject Samuel, needed a chance to hear the word of God again.  These stories all point to the love and patience God has towards us—even those who would ultimately reject the prophets sent to them, like the people of Ammonihah, were still offered multiple chances to repent and come unto the Lord. 

When the Savior visited the Nephites He told them, “Ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent” (3 Nephi 18:22).  Surely that counsel is meant for us as well today in our teaching of the gospel.  We simply can’t ever give up on the possibility that those who are now off the covenant path may one day find their way to it—we must always continue to minister.