The Legacies of Aaron and Amulon

Alma 25 recounts the story of how some of the Lamanites, after battling the Nephites, went into the east wilderness and were converted. They were “stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites.” Unfortunately the next verse records, “And it came to pass that those rulers who were the remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to death, yea, all those that believed in these things” (Alma 25:6-7). These were the children of the priests of king Noah, and true to their fathers (and the prophecy of Abinadi), they participated in the horrible killing of true believers. What their fathers had done to Abinadi, they then tragically did to other believers. The thought that struck me as I considered this was the contrast between the legacies of Aaron and Amulon described here. On the one hand Aaron had spent fourteen years among the Lamanites testifying of the truths of the gospel, and now here were Lamanites who originally had not repented but ultimately remembered his words and became converted to the Lord. His preaching and example had a powerful effect that lasted for generations, through the stripling warriors and further. Amulon, on the other hand, left a legacy of wickedness that was followed by his children in such a way that his choice to burn Abinadi led to further killings many years later. What a contrast!

               Isaiah wrote, “the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned” (Isaiah 14:20). I take this to mean that though the wicked may do much evil and harm in their day, ultimately the world will take account of their wickedness and their influence will diminish over time and even be fought against. For example, if we look at the awful blood-thirsty leaders of some nations in WWII, they are generally remembered for their brutality and depravity and what they worked for has been destroyed. This is what happened to the seed of Amulon and the priests of Noah. Though they had their time for a few decades, causing the death of Abinadi and other believers, Mormon recorded, “The Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the east wilderness. And behold they are hunted at this day by the Lamanites” (Alma 25:8-9). That was the legacy they left: they were completely rejected by both societies, the Lamanites and Nephites. And though we remember them even today because of the Book of Mormon, it is only to warn against becoming like them. Aaron, on the other hand, is loved and studied by Book of Mormon readers over 2000 years after he lived. His example of service and love and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ as a missionary still teaches us today. In a time when much of the world mocks the idea of God, we rejoice in Aaron’s testimony to the king: “Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God.” His testimony born to the Lamanites still bears witness of truth to us today as we read of it: “Since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; 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.” And as we desire to follow in the paths of righteousness, his invitation and promise still have power today: “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” (Alma 22:8,14,16). We too can have hope through Christ as we seek to repent and call upon God in faith as this great missionary taught. Amulon, on the other hand, left nothing of value for the future except an example not to follow. His life focused on worldliness was for naught, making no impact for good to later generations to the point that his descendants were destroyed. The stories of Aaron and Amulon invite us each to consider our own lives and ask: What kind of legacy will I leave?