“Aaron, Messenger of Hope”

Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen

Aaron is another among the faithful missionary figures of the Book of Mormon. Like the other sons of King Mosiah, he is initially “numbered among the unbelievers” (Mosiah 27:8). But the Lord has an important calling for these young men and sends a heavenly messenger to intervene and bring about their spiritual transformation (Mosiah 27:11–18). After that, they go about “preaching the word of God in much tribulation” (see Mosiah 27:32), confirming their newly found faith, and bringing about much good in their own land and later among the Lamanites.

Following their miraculous conversion, Aaron and his brethren are filled with an overwhelming motivation to carry the gospel message to the Lamanites: “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble” (see Mosiah 28:3). Thus, rather than accept the voice of the people as first choice to succeed his father as king (Mosiah 29:2–3), Aaron embarks on a missionary journey of service and hope that lasts fourteen years (approx. 90 b.c. to 77 b.c.; see Alma 17:4).

Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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