Alma 19

“His Arm Is Extended to All Who Repent and Believe”

As you think about sharing the gospel with others, do you ever feel like there are some people who would be unlikely to ever accept the Savior’s teachings? How do you think Heavenly Father views these people? From Ammon’s missionary experiences with the Lamanites, we see that the Lord is preparing the hearts of people from all walks of life to receive His gospel. This lesson can help you understand that the Lord loves all people and desires them to come unto Him.

Respecting others’ beliefs and opinions. Seek to foster an environment where people respect the beliefs and opinions of others. Encourage students to listen and try to understand why others may believe differently than they do. Help students learn to acknowledge others’ beliefs and practice sharing their own beliefs with kindness and consideration. This practice can prepare them to share the gospel with others respectfully.

Student preparation: Invite students to study Alma 19 and look for the impact the Savior’s gospel had on the Lamanites Ammon taught.

Possible Learning Activities

Survey yourself

Display the following survey and give students time to answer thoughtfully and truthfully. If not too personal, invite students to share their responses.

Rate yourself on a scale of 1–5 on how likely you think you would be to invite the following people to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. Someone you know who has expressed interest in the Church

2. A friend or family member who already generally follows the standards of the gospel but is not yet a member

3. A friend or family member who does not follow the standards of the gospel

4. Someone you know who has declined previous invitations from others to learn more about the gospel

Ponder the reasons why you responded the way you did.

• How might our personal opinions about others affect our efforts to share the gospel?

When the sons of Mosiah began their mission to the Lamanites, many people laughed at them and doubted that they would ever have success among such wicked people (see Alma 26:23–25). However, Ammon and his brothers did experience success. You might remember that after Ammon taught the gospel to King Lamoni, the king believed Ammon’s words, prayed for mercy, and fell to the earth as he was overcome by the Spirit (see Alma 18:40–43).

Today you will learn about the events that occurred in Lamoni’s household after Ammon taught the king. As you study, look for truths that can help you better understand the way Heavenly Father sees His children, including those who may seem unlikely to accept the gospel.

Ammon continued to teach Lamoni’s household

The purpose of this section of the lesson is to help students study the events recorded in Alma 19 and identify the principle taught in verse 36. You could consider using different methods from the ones listed in this section to help students study this chapter before identifying the principle.

For example, you could present this chapter as a reader’s theater in which you select six students and assign a part to each one. One student could serve as the narrator (who would read verses 1, 6–7, 11–12, 15, 33–36), and the other five could read the words of or about the queen (verses 2, 4–5, 9, 29–30), Ammon (verses 3, 6–8, 10, 14, 22–23), King Lamoni (verses 12–13, 31), Abish (verses 16–17, 28), and the other Lamanites (verses 18–21, 24–27, 32). It may help to make these assignments before the beginning of class so students can identify the verses they will be reading.

Another approach could be to show the video “Ammon Serves and Teaches King Lamoni” from time code 15:18 to 23:04. This video, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, depicts the events recorded in Alma 19:1–36. The students could follow along in their scriptures while they watch the video.

When the queen of the Lamanites learned of her husband’s death, she sent for Ammon so she could speak to him (see Alma 19:1–3).

Read Alma 19:4–17, looking for what the queen and others experienced after speaking with Ammon. You may also want to watch “Ammon Serves and Teaches King Lamoni” from time code 15:18 to 20:06. This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Ammon Serves and Teaches King Lamoni | Alma 17–19

Ammon and the sons of Mosiah go to teach the Lamanites the word of God. Ammon becomes King Lamoni’s servant and teaches him the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• What do you learn about the queen from these verses?

• What had Lamoni learned about Jesus Christ during the previous three days?

• Why do you think this knowledge brought Lamoni such joy?

After gathering others to the king’s house, the queen’s servant Abish was surprised and saddened when the people began to contend among themselves about why the king and the others were lying on the earth as if they were dead (see Alma 19:18–28).

Read Alma 19:29–36, looking for what Abish did in this contentious moment and what happened among the Lamanites afterward. You may also want to watch “Ammon Serves and Teaches King Lamoni” from time code 20:07 to 23:04. This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Ammon Serves and Teaches King Lamoni | Alma 17–19

Ammon and the sons of Mosiah go to teach the Lamanites the word of God. Ammon becomes King Lamoni’s servant and teaches him the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• What impact did the gospel of Jesus Christ have on the many Lamanites who chose to believe?

• What truth about the Lord did Mormon teach in verse 36 after sharing this account?

The Lord’s desire for all to come unto Him

From Mormon’s words in verse 36, we learn that the Lord’s arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on His name. Consider marking this truth in your scriptures.

In this context, the Lord’s arm being extended includes His mercy and willingness to forgive.

• What experiences have helped you to see the truthfulness of this principle in your own life or in the lives of others?

Invite students to share experiences that are not too personal. You may also want to share an experience.

It may also be helpful to spend time finding examples from the Savior’s life in which He demonstrated His willingness to reach out to people from all walks of life to help them come unto Him. Among many others, some examples of scripture passages you could refer students to include Matthew 9:10–13; Mark 5:25–34; Luke 5:18–25; and John 8:2–11. You could also have students study 2 Nephi 26:33 and have them link this verse with Alma 19:36 in their scriptures.

Sometimes we may incorrectly decide that someone would not be interested in the gospel because of how that person looks or what he or she has done in the past. Take a moment to imagine someone in this situation. This could be a specific person you know, or you could just think about people who generally fit this description.

You could ask students to draw a stick figure in their study journals that represents the person described in the previous paragraph. They could record their answers to the following questions below the stick figure they drew. Then discuss what students wrote.

• How does God feel about this person?

• How can understanding the way God feels about this person influence your feelings toward them?

Testify of the truths you have discussed today, and encourage students to seek to see others more as God does.

Commentary and Background Information

Can I become converted to the Lord from one powerful experience?

The Lamanites Ammon taught experienced conversion in such a dramatic way that they were overpowered by the Spirit and fell to the earth. This is not typical of how most of Heavenly Father’s children experience conversion.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Converted unto the Lord

Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion.

For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience. (David A. Bednar, “Converted Unto the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 107–8)

How does Jesus Christ feel about those who are not accepted by others?

Sister Sharon Eubank, former First Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, taught:

Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness

Sister Eubank teaches that if we make Christ the center of our lives, He will support us in our trials and be our light in the darkness.

The New Testament shows the great efforts Jesus made to reach out to all kinds of people: lepers, tax collectors, children, Galileans, harlots, women, Pharisees, sinners, Samaritans, widows, Roman soldiers, adulterers, the ritually unclean. In almost every story, He is reaching someone who wasn’t traditionally accepted in society. (Sharon Eubank, “Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 74)

How can trying to see others as God does impact me?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Through God’s Eyes

Dale G. Renlund teaches that to truly serve others, we need to see them as Heavenly Father sees them.

To effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. (Dale G. Renlund, “Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 94)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Nephites’ past attempts to share the gospel with the Lamanites

Toward the beginning of the lesson, students will learn that many of the Nephites mocked Ammon and his brothers for their attempt to preach to the Lamanites (see Alma 26:23–25). It may be helpful to point out that some of these feelings may have been influenced by the past attempts of the Nephites to preach to the Lamanites. You could study Jacob 7:24 and Enos 1:20 to read about these past attempts.

Alma 19:36. God’s arm is extended to all

To help students see a modern-day illustration of the truth discussed in the lesson, consider showing the video “Jesus is Real: Calyann’s Experience with the Book of Mormon” (12:02). (Please note that this video was also suggested as a supplemental learning activity in the 2 Nephi 26 lesson as well.)

Jesus is Real: Calyann's Experience with the Book of Mormon

Friends, fun, success—Calyann had it all! That was until she realized she lived in a prison of her own making. While learning of Jesus Christ, Calyann felt His love, which is available to all who seek Him.

Similar responses among many who were converted in the Book of Mormon

Many of the people in the Book of Mormon who experienced conversion in dramatic ways said similar things after their conversion experience. They often praised God, spoke of their changed desires, and encouraged others to follow the Savior. Students may be interested to see examples of this pattern. Consider sharing the following verses and inviting students to look for similarities in the responses of the people speaking: Mosiah 5:2–3; 27:23–26; Alma 19:12–14, 29, 33.