"And he, immediately, seeing the contention among his people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.
But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way.
And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Alma 19:31-33
Continuing the story of Ammon's mission, this is just after a woman named Abish, who had been converted to the Lord and who was one of the king's servants, witnesses the whole royal court being overcome by the spirit and falling down as though they were dead. She realizes that it is the power of the Lord, and goes and calls everyone in the area to come see what has happened, thinking that they will understand and believe. Unfortunately, when she comes back, they are arguing about what evil has caused this whole thing, which causes her to cry and try to revive the queen. The queen gets up, and then gets her husband up, which is where we come in.
The first verse says "as many as heard his words believed," which out of context seems like everyone. As we continue though, we realize that even though the words were said to everyone, many "would not hear." I think that is a little scary, and means that we need to be really careful as we are listening to the Lord and his servants. Is it getting through to us, or are we determined not to listen and to go our own way from the start? In order to truly listen to the Lord, we can't be biased against hearing certain messages, like needing to repent and change our lives, for instance. :)
In the last version we finally realize what was happening to everyone as they were overcome by the spirit. God was changing their hearts, removing the desire to do evil. Not of course by force or without their permission, like reprogramming a robot, but because they wanted to be new people, to change, and make their lives right before the Lord. I love the idea of not wanting to do evil, and I even think that we get there sometimes. When we're feeling the spirit, we're never wanting to be somewhere else, engaged in sin. But sometimes, later, we forget. Today, maybe we can remember both to actively hear the Lord, and to keep that spirit with us, never forgetting what it is like to want to be better, to be clean and free of sin, and not wanting to ever go there again. And when we do forget, let's make sure that we have those things in our lives that help us to feel the spirit, and remember God. Like praying, going to church, and reading our scriptures. :)
But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way.
And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Alma 19:31-33
Continuing the story of Ammon's mission, this is just after a woman named Abish, who had been converted to the Lord and who was one of the king's servants, witnesses the whole royal court being overcome by the spirit and falling down as though they were dead. She realizes that it is the power of the Lord, and goes and calls everyone in the area to come see what has happened, thinking that they will understand and believe. Unfortunately, when she comes back, they are arguing about what evil has caused this whole thing, which causes her to cry and try to revive the queen. The queen gets up, and then gets her husband up, which is where we come in.
The first verse says "as many as heard his words believed," which out of context seems like everyone. As we continue though, we realize that even though the words were said to everyone, many "would not hear." I think that is a little scary, and means that we need to be really careful as we are listening to the Lord and his servants. Is it getting through to us, or are we determined not to listen and to go our own way from the start? In order to truly listen to the Lord, we can't be biased against hearing certain messages, like needing to repent and change our lives, for instance. :)
In the last version we finally realize what was happening to everyone as they were overcome by the spirit. God was changing their hearts, removing the desire to do evil. Not of course by force or without their permission, like reprogramming a robot, but because they wanted to be new people, to change, and make their lives right before the Lord. I love the idea of not wanting to do evil, and I even think that we get there sometimes. When we're feeling the spirit, we're never wanting to be somewhere else, engaged in sin. But sometimes, later, we forget. Today, maybe we can remember both to actively hear the Lord, and to keep that spirit with us, never forgetting what it is like to want to be better, to be clean and free of sin, and not wanting to ever go there again. And when we do forget, let's make sure that we have those things in our lives that help us to feel the spirit, and remember God. Like praying, going to church, and reading our scriptures. :)
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