Aaron’s Rejection Among the Amalekites in Jerusalem

Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers’ nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon. Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.

Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations.

And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And he began to preach to them in their synagogues, for they had built synagogues after the order of the Nehors; for many of the Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the Nehors.

Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying:

“What is that thou hast testified?
hast thou seen an angel?
why do not angels appear unto us?
behold are not this people as good as thy people?
thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish.

How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts?
how knowest thou that we have cause to repent?
how knowest thou that we are not a righteous people?
behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do
assemble ourselves together to worship God.

We do believe that God will save all men.”

Now Aaron said unto him:

“Believest thou that the Son of God
shall come to redeem mankind from their sins?”

And the man said unto him:

“We do not believe
that thou knowest any such thing.

We do not believe in these foolish traditions.
we do not believe
that thou knowest of things to come,
neither do we believe that thy fathers
and also that our fathers did know
concerning the things which they spake,
of that which is to come.”

Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood.

And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake.

Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani–Anti, and there he found Muloki preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren. And they contended with many about the word.