Lamoni’s Father- 5 Steps to Baptism of Fire & Holy Ghost
Aaron taught Lamoni’s father (the Lamanite king) how to come unto Christ and be born of God. The steps were simple, precise and accurate. The king followed these instructions with faith, believing he too could enjoy the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Ammon witnessed first hand the mighty conversion of the king and the remarkable fruits in the lives of his believing people.
📖 Summary & Study guide
Lamoni’s Father Receives a Softened Heart
Alma chapter 20 begins with Ammon and Lamoni traveling to deliver Ammon’s brothers from prison in Middoni. During their journey, they encounter King Lamoni’s father (King of the Lamanites), who is unreceptive with a hardened heart. While his heart was hard at first, the Lord gave Lamoni’s father the experiences he needed to soften his heart. This led to him releasing Ammon’s brothers from prison (Alma 20:1-30).
Aaron’s Brothers Rejected & Cast Into Prison
Aaron first preached redemption through Christ to the Amalekites in Jershon, but with no success. The Amalekites were of the Order of Nehor and claimed “we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship God. We do believe that God will save all men.” The Amalekites became angry, mocked him, and would not listen to the doctrine of Christ (Alma 21:1-10).
Ammon left, then met up with his missionary brethren and preached to the people in Ani-Anti, who also hardened their hearts and rejected the message.
Aaron and his brothers went to the city of Middoni, but again few believed. The people of Middoni cast Aaron and some of his brothers into prison, while the rest escaped (Alma 21:13).
Lamoni’s People Accept the Gospel
After Ammon and Lamoni delivered Aaron and his brothers from prison, they went forth preaching, being led by the spirit. They began to have some success among the people, by convincing them of their sins and false traditions:
17 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.
Ammon and Lamoni returned and taught Lamoni’s people the gospel in the land Ishmael. Lamoni’s people received the word with gladness and became zealous in keeping God’s commandments (Alma 21:18-23), which would go on to be a catalyst for Lamoni’s father desiring the same blessings for his greater kingdom later on, when Aaron taught him.
Aaron Teaches Lamoni’s Father
Aaron was lead to the land of Nephi, to the house of Lamoni’s father, the king of the Lamanites. There, he offers to serve the king, but the King wants Aaron to teach him instead, due to the kindness of Ammon to his son.
3 And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants. And the king said unto them: Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon;
After learning the plan of redemption, the King inquired what he must do to be born of God. Aaron gives Lamoni’s father specific instructions on how to receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Aaron focused his teachings around how to come unto a broken heart and contrite spirit, the key that unlocks the spiritual rebirth.
Steps to Baptism of Fire & The Holy Ghost
16 But Aaron said unto him: 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.
- Desire to be born of God – “If thou desirest this thing”
- Pray (submit your will to His) – “if thou wilt bow down before God”
- Repent – “if thou wilt repent of all thy sins”
- Call on His name in faith (invite and then follow the direction of the spirit) – “and call on his name in faith”
- Believe – “believing that ye shall receive”
When these 5 steps are done “with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent“ (2 Nephi 31:13) one will Receive (the baptism of fire and Holy Ghost, be born again). This is to “receive the hope which thou desirest” which in this case for Lamoni’s father, was to be reborn of God.
After the King complies with Ammon’s teachings, he “did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily” (Alma 22:17). Lamoni’s dad fell to the earth as he experienced repentance and the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.
Fruits of Being Born of God
In the wake of this rebirth experience, the queen wanted her servants to kill Aaron. Ammon then raises up the King, who pacified to his wife and servants. The king then requested that Aaron administer to his household.
As the first item of business for the newly reborn king, he sent a proclamation to all of his kingdom which granted Aaron and his brothers the ability to preach the gospel freely, without persecution (Alma 22:19-27). The people believe and they convert thousands unto the Lord through the doctrine of Christ. The converted Lamanites take upon themselves the name Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 23:1-18).
