"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.
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.
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.
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."
Alma 21:14-17
This is part of the story of Ammon and King Lamoni, and the overall missionary journey that Alma and the sons of Mosiah took to try to convert the Lamanites. Ammon had remarkable success, but his fellow missionaries had it pretty hard, as we can see here when it tells us that they needed to be fed and clothed, since they hadn't been while in prison.
The miracle here I think is the next verse which says they went forth again, rather than giving up... and then in the final verse of the selection it tells us that the Lord "began" to bless them.
Why did Ammon have so much success, and these men had to wade through so much affliction? I mean, I don't think that is really answerable, but perhaps one of the reasons is that God needed someone to have success in order to get the other ones out of jail. :) Our lives fit together like that... our gains make up for others' lacks, and vice versa.
We all have different challenges at different times of our lives, and sometimes it seems like we're failing and sometimes it seems like we're succeeding, but the real test I think is shown here... do we persist in trying to do what is right, whether or not the result causes us pain or discomfort? If we keep going and are determined to do what is right, then the Lord will give us success and back our efforts. :) Maybe there will be ups and downs. Sometimes we're going to be like Ammon and other times we're going to be the ones naked and starving in prison, but the Lord will be with us either way, and help us. Today, let's be determined to go forth again to serve him and do good, whatever the circumstances.
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.
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.
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."
Alma 21:14-17
This is part of the story of Ammon and King Lamoni, and the overall missionary journey that Alma and the sons of Mosiah took to try to convert the Lamanites. Ammon had remarkable success, but his fellow missionaries had it pretty hard, as we can see here when it tells us that they needed to be fed and clothed, since they hadn't been while in prison.
The miracle here I think is the next verse which says they went forth again, rather than giving up... and then in the final verse of the selection it tells us that the Lord "began" to bless them.
Why did Ammon have so much success, and these men had to wade through so much affliction? I mean, I don't think that is really answerable, but perhaps one of the reasons is that God needed someone to have success in order to get the other ones out of jail. :) Our lives fit together like that... our gains make up for others' lacks, and vice versa.
We all have different challenges at different times of our lives, and sometimes it seems like we're failing and sometimes it seems like we're succeeding, but the real test I think is shown here... do we persist in trying to do what is right, whether or not the result causes us pain or discomfort? If we keep going and are determined to do what is right, then the Lord will give us success and back our efforts. :) Maybe there will be ups and downs. Sometimes we're going to be like Ammon and other times we're going to be the ones naked and starving in prison, but the Lord will be with us either way, and help us. Today, let's be determined to go forth again to serve him and do good, whatever the circumstances.
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